Sure, 2007 may have been unusual with arctic ice cover well below the trend line (which can be seen halfway down this page). This is hardly evidence of a reversal of the trend. GP is correct in describing the continuing decline in arctic ice cover as "unprecedented".

Perhaps a clarification will help: Cox (cable) may have access to your modem, but I assure you that QWEST (DSL) does not have access to mine.

The proposition that "every broadband provider has access" is false.

My provider allows third party modems. Absent a conspiracy between manufacturers and providers, there is no way they can force updates on my equipment.

You are correct about the fine print, though. They reserve the right to update their software on my equipment (including computers). The simple solution there is not installing their software in the first place.

Repeater access depends on location. There are no ham repeaters within range of the best backcountry skiing in CO (nor at my ski resort of choice, for that matter). Still, I use a 2m HT (Handy Talkie, a.k.a. walkie talkie) with a high degree of success to communicate with friends when skiing in the backcountry. Reaching a base camp after crossing a couple of ridges is not something I have tested. If you want to get an idea of effectiveness, grab a pair of cheap FRS radios and try them next time you are out. If they give decent performance, get you ham license and you can get better, more powerful equipment, and can also modify it to transmit on local sheriff/SAR frequencies in case of emergency.

I also hold an Extra class license, but only for bragging rights.

"Exceptionally ill informed"? Really?

If you don't believe Breashears' photos in this news blurb, try the videos from the Extreme Ice Survey. Or the conclusion based on data from NASA's GRACE satellites that the rate of glacier thinning in the Himalayas is 22 cm per annum. Or visit a glacier and see the signs of retreat for yourself.

You are correct that someone is misinformed here. Alas, my friend, it is not me.

As I understand it, global warming does not explain the incredibly fast retreat of these glaciers.

Soot may be to blame.

"Nonsense"???

We have a lot more than a few photographs supporting this. The worldwide retreat of glaciers is well established and is know to acutely affect the Himalayas, potentially threatening water supplies for millions of people.

Also, can you provide some sort of reference for your claim that the photos were taken in different seasons? I find this unlikely, since the regularity of the Monsoon storms and lengthy acclimatization process tend to force Everest climbers to focus their efforts during the same season each year. There are exceptions, but it is unlikely that Breashears would have intentionally chosen to retrace the old expeditions steps for documentary purposes off season.

Finally, why focus on the erroneous report, when the correct prediction suggests dire consequences for millions of people who rely on the rivers fed by those glaciers. "Several hundred years" might seem like a long time, but it is a geological blink of an eye. We should be very concerned.

You are assuming most of the new paper made from virgin fiber remains intact. In fact, most of it will be disposed of: Either incinerated or stored in a landfill. Landfill storage turns out to be problematic: "Quantification of methane emissions from landfilled paper is still imprecise, but if it is included, at the least, the yield, measured in terms of CO2 equivalents, will be increased by a factor of 2.5 compared with the CO2 emitted during complete incineration." [Wood in Our Future: The Role of Life-Cycle Analysis: Proceedings of a Symposium (1997) ]

Either way, paper is a net contributor of greenhouse gasses. Also note the original reference I chose was from a "green" paper company. Estimates from environmental groups, such as the Environmental Defense Fund Paper Calculator, indicate far higher net CO2-equivalent impact - 5882 lb CO2 equivalent per ton of copy paper according to the EDF, a ton more than Verso's estimate.

Redo.

Read this analysis of the lifecycle carbon cost of paper by a paper company. The bottom line is is an estimated cost of 1.81 tons CO2-equivalent impact per ton of paper (see paper for details).

Paper appears to be the opposite of a carbon sink.

Research supports parent, suggesting ads, rather than the TV programs, are responsible for obesity.

My own theory is the effectiveness of those ads can be greatly reduced by parents who watch TV with their children and discuss how the ads are trying to manipulate them. Even little kids will understand that Mt. Dew won't make you a better skateboarder when you explain it to them. They'll still ask for soft drinks at every opportunity. When my 7yo son asks for junk food, I sometimes reply with the question: "what would a good father say?". He always chooses the healthy option when I do this. Sometimes I say yes, because the forbidden fruit is always the sweetest.

More importantly, doodling may actually improve focus.

Regeneration might recover 30% of the energy with there is no loss of efficiency. That's because at 20 mph, 190lbs of bicycle+rider has 3,500 joules of kinetic energy, but it costs 12,000 joules to travel 1/4 mile. 30% is pretty good, but not so good as a charged battery offering several times the specific energy. Even with electric motors, regeneration current loses to more efficient geared drives on ebikes.

References?

My source suggests otherwise: "Comparing to the data given for rechargeable batteries, this makes the advanced fiber-reinforced bottle example comparable to the lead-acid battery in terms of energy density and advanced battery systems are several times better. Batteries also provide nearly constant voltage over their entire charge level, whereas the pressure of compressed air storage varies greatly with charge level. It is technically challenging to design air engines to maintain high efficiency and sufficient power over such a wide range of pressures."

This `\<\(\w+\) \1\>' regexp matches identical word pairs using word related capabilities built into emacs' regexps (and relative to the local syntax table).

For OP: The key sequence you are looking for is:
<C-M\>s\<\(\w+\) \1\>