Harry Read Me File

[Calabrio]

Harry Read Me File, What It’s All About
December 2, 2009 by · 3 Comments
Filed under: Uncategorized


The file from the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia in Britain that has been hacked and posted online is now called the “Harry Read Me” file. If you read the emails of the scientists, you would read references to the infamous “Harry Read Me” file, which is 247 pages long.

Toronto Sun was able to dissect the file:

- The file — 274 pages long — describes the efforts of a climatologist/programmer at the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) of the University of East Anglia to update a huge statistical database (11,000 files) of important climate data between 2006 and 2009.

The computer coding, along with the programmer’s apparently unsuccessful efforts to complete the project, involve data that are the foundation of the study of climate change — recordings from hundreds of weather stations around the world of temperature and precipitation measurements from 1901 to 2006, sun/cloud computer simulations, and the like.

The CRU at East Anglia University is considered by many as the world’s leading climate research agency. Here’s how CBSNews.com…’s Declan McCullagh describes its enormous impact on policymakers:

“In global warming circles, the CRU wields outsize influence: It claims the world’s largest temperature data set, and its work and mathematical models were incorporated into the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 2007 report. The report .. is what the Environmental Protection Agency acknowledged it ‘relies on most heavily’ when concluding carbon dioxide emissions endanger public health and should be regulated.”

As you read the programmer’s comments below, remember, this is only a fraction of what he says.

- “But what are all those monthly files? DON’T KNOW, UNDOCUMENTED. Wherever I look, there are data files, no info about what they are other than their names. And that’s useless …” (Page 17)

- “It’s botch after botch after botch.” (18)

- “The biggest immediate problem was the loss of an hour’s edits to the program, when the network died … no explanation from anyone, I hope it’s not a return to last year’s troubles … This surely is the worst project I’ve ever attempted. Eeeek.” (31)

- “Oh, GOD, if I could start this project again and actually argue the case for junking the inherited program suite.” (37)

- “… this should all have been rewritten from scratch a year ago!” (45)

- “Am I the first person to attempt to get the CRU databases in working order?!!” (47)

- “As far as I can see, this renders the (weather) station counts totally meaningless.” (57)

- “COBAR AIRPORT AWS (data from an Australian weather station) cannot start in 1962, it didn’t open until 1993!” (71)

- “What the hell is supposed to happen here? Oh yeah — there is no ’supposed,’ I can make it up. So I have : – )” (98)

- “You can’t imagine what this has cost me — to actually allow the operator to assign false WMO (World Meteorological Organization) codes!! But what else is there in such situations? Especially when dealing with a ‘Master’ database of dubious provenance …” (98)

- “So with a somewhat cynical shrug, I added the nuclear option — to match every WMO possible, and turn the rest into new stations … In other words what CRU usually do. It will allow bad databases to pass unnoticed, and good databases to become bad …” (98-9)

- “OH F— THIS. It’s Sunday evening, I’ve worked all weekend, and just when I thought it was done, I’m hitting yet another problem that’s based on the hopeless state of our databases.” (241).

- “This whole project is SUCH A MESS…” (266)

The “Harry Read Me” file is a must read. Download it here.

 

[JohnnyBz00LS]

SO? A frustrated, sarcastic programmer struggling to get 11,000 different data files from probably 1,000 different sources in a 1,000 different formats to fit into a single, uniform database vents his frustrations in this "read-me" file. YOU think this is some sort of a "smoking gun" that proves global warming is NOT occuring??? :bowrofl:

 

[MonsterMark]

Jokes on you Johnny.

 

[Calabrio]

SO? A frustrated, sarcastic programmer struggling to get 11,000 different data files from probably 1,000 different sources in a 1,000 different formats to fit into a single, uniform database vents his frustrations in this "read-me" file. YOU think this is some sort of a "smoking gun" that proves global warming is NOT occuring??? :bowrofl:

You haven't been following this story have you?
Why is that? Is it because it simply hasn't been covered very much in the American media or is it because you're in some kind of twisted denial?

Not only have you not been following the news, you didn't even read what I posted, yet still felt compelled to respond in aggressive yet dismissive tone.

Even in the Harry Read Me files, the point isn't about a sarcastic programer having trouble with code. It's about the veracity of the data and the way it's been handled and manipulated.

“As far as I can see, this renders the (weather) station counts totally meaningless.”

“What the hell is supposed to happen here? Oh yeah — there is no ’supposed,’ I can make it up. So I have : – )”

- “You can’t imagine what this has cost me — to actually allow the operator to assign false WMO (World Meteorological Organization) codes!! But what else is there in such situations? Especially when dealing with a ‘Master’ database of dubious provenance …”

- “So with a somewhat cynical shrug, I added the nuclear option — to match every WMO possible, and turn the rest into new stations … In other words what CRU usually do. It will allow bad databases to pass unnoticed, and good databases to become bad …”

This alone isn't "the smoking gun," it's just another piece of the broader story exposing this international scandal and bastardization of science.

Unfortunately, you're just not aware of the story.

Here's a little article from the 11/28 UK Telegraph, you can read it online here.

And then, maybe after you're a little better well read, you can participate in a conversation.

 

[MonsterMark]

We must save the Polar Bears. That is all that matters.

 

[fossten]

Johnny's 'smoking gun' is nothing but moving the goalposts.

Again, it is incumbent on the AGW crowd, especially since they are the ones advocating taxing us into oblivion as a result, to prove their case.

They have only fraudulently argued so far.

Even Jon Stewart has turned on the AGW believers. Watch the video - it's very funny.

 

[JohnnyBz00LS]

This alone isn't "the smoking gun,"

That's all you needed to say. The rest is pure speculation and conjecture.

 

[Calabrio]

That's all you needed to say. The rest is pure speculation and conjecture.

...so would you like to commit the country to TRILLIONS of dollars of economic losses in pursuit of this "speculation and conjecture?"

 

[fossten]

That's all you needed to say. The rest is pure speculation and conjecture.

I agree, that's all GW is. Thanks for confirming.

So Johnny, speculate for me...

Why is NASA refusing to release their data where they changed their story?

 

[JohnnyBz00LS]

...so would you like to commit the country to TRILLIONS of dollars of economic losses in pursuit of this "speculation and conjecture?"

I agree, that's all GW is. Thanks for confirming.

As typical and predictable, both of you have twisted my statement to fit your perverted little view of the world. Seems that is the only way you can hope to win an argument, through distortion of facts and other's statements. Pathetic.

To clarify, the rest of YOUR POST that makes a weak attempt at propping up the "Harry Read Me File" as proof that GW is not occuring is pure "speculation and conjecture".

Why is NASA refusing to release their data where they changed their story?

Care to expand on how this is relevant to this discussion about the "Harry Read Me" file? If you want to move those goalposts to include a discussion about NASA, maybe you should start another thread. And while you are at it, provide a source of this story.

 

[fossten]

As typical and predictable, both of you have twisted my statement to fit your perverted little view of the world. Seems that is the only way you can hope to win an argument, through distortion of facts and other's statements. Pathetic.

To clarify, the rest of YOUR POST that makes a weak attempt at propping up the "Harry Read Me File" as proof that GW is not occuring is pure "speculation and conjecture".



Care to expand on how this is relevant to this discussion about the "Harry Read Me" file? If you want to move those goalposts to include a discussion about NASA, maybe you should start another thread. And while you are at it, provide a source of this story.

So cute. Just like the AGW crowd, trying to stifle discussion. When you become moderator, get back to me.

The only distortion we're talking about is the distortion that AGW has done to the earth temp data.

This story is relevant to that distortion. It's not moving the goalposts, it's part of the preponderance of evidence.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/03/researcher-says-nasa-hiding-climate-data/

 

[JohnnyBz00LS]

So cute. Just like the AGW crowd, trying to stifle discussion.

You are halucinating, nobody is trying to stifle discussion. Merely asking that you keep the topics seperated unless they are related.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/03/researcher-says-nasa-hiding-climate-data/

See? That wasn't so hard, was it? And if you would've read the article, there'd be no need for me to speculate on anything......

Mark Hess, public affairs director for the Goddard Space Flight Center which runs the GISS laboratory, said they are working on Mr. Horner's request, though he couldn't say why they have taken so long.

"We're collecting the information and will respond with all the responsive relevant information to all of his requests," Mr. Hess said. "It's just a process you have to go through where you have to collect data that's responsive."

NASA is not refusing to release any data. Mr. Horner is just an impatient little bastard. And your myopic views prevented you from reading past the headline.

 

[fossten]

NASA is not refusing to release any data. Mr. Horner is just an impatient little bastard. And your myopic views prevented you from reading past the headline.

Yeah, two years is waaaaay too quick to make copies - errrrrrrrr - shred documents - errrrrrrrr - use whiteout.

Have you read NONE of the exposed emails? Jeez talk about myopic.

 

[Calabrio]

As typical and predictable, both of you have twisted my statement to fit your perverted little view of the world. Seems that is the only way you can hope to win an argument, through distortion of facts and other's statements. Pathetic.

Nice attempt to dodge. Unfortunately, I didn't have to twist anything, I merely ASKED you a question seeking your clarification.

If you're unable or unwilling to answer, we'll understand.
In fact, we expect that of you.

 

[JohnnyBz00LS]

Nice attempt to dodge. Unfortunately, I didn't have to twist anything, I merely ASKED you a question seeking your clarification.

If you're unable or unwilling to answer, we'll understand.
In fact, we expect that of you.

Are you going to continue to obsfucate my statements, or am I wasting my time with someone who is incapable of debating in good faith?

The (loaded) question you ASKED:

...so would you like to commit the country to TRILLIONS of dollars of economic losses in pursuit of this "speculation and conjecture?"

... clearly misconstrues my earlier statement and infers that I said that GW is "speculation and conjecture". Did you miss my clarification?

To clarify, the rest of YOUR POST that makes a weak attempt at propping up the "Harry Read Me File" as proof that GW is not occuring is pure "speculation and conjecture".

Your question also ASSUMES that countering GW will cost the country trillions of dollars. It can also be fairly argued that doing nothing to avert GW will result property, buisness and life losses far exceeding any costs incurred by taking those steps to avert GW to begin with, resulting in a net long-term savings. So I'll answer you question with another question: Would you like to commit the country to TRILLIONS of dollars of property, buisness and life losses in pursuit of this "speculation and conjecture"??

 

[fossten]

Your question also ASSUMES that countering GW will cost the country trillions of dollars. It can also be fairly argued that doing nothing to avert GW will result property, buisness and life losses far exceeding any costs incurred by taking those steps to avert GW to begin with, resulting in a net long-term savings. So I'll answer you question with another question: Would you like to commit the country to TRILLIONS of dollars of property, buisness and life losses in pursuit of this "speculation and conjecture"??

Heh. A true believer. It's a religion with you. Amazing.

I'll answer the question - not a chance unless and until the case can be proven. Considering the dishonesty of the wackos on YOUR SIDE being exposed, you don't have much of a credible leg to stand on. Your side - trust us, take our word for it, and NO YOU CAN'T SEE THE DATA. Why should we believe you? What part of 'hide the decline' do you not understand?

Keep stomping those little feet, though.

 

[Calabrio]

... clearly misconstrues my earlier statement and infers that I said that GW is "speculation and conjecture". Did you miss my clarification?

No, it infers that I am saying that global warming is based on speculation and conjecture because the information now available shows an organized effort designed to mislead the public, falsify information, and silence dissenting opinions. They destroyed the peer review process and destroyed the source material.

So my question still stands.

Your question also ASSUMES that countering GW will cost the country trillions of dollars. It can also be fairly argued that doing nothing to avert GW will result property, buisness and life losses far exceeding any costs incurred by taking those steps to avert GW to begin with, resulting in a net long-term savings. So I'll answer you question with another question: Would you like to commit the country to TRILLIONS of dollars of property, buisness and life losses in pursuit of this "speculation and conjecture"??

I don't need to "assume" the cost of reckless regulation and taxation done under the banner of "climate change" will cost the country trillions of dollars. Are you disputing this?

We could also argue that doing nothing to prevent the spaghetti monster from attacking the planet will far exceed the cost of building an intergalactic strainer in space.... are you willing to take that risk?

 

[fossten]

We could also argue that doing nothing to prevent the spaghetti monster from attacking the planet will far exceed the cost of building an intergalactic strainer in space.... are you willing to take that risk?

:bowrofl:

You win the thread, Cal.

 

[foxpaws]

I think we need to be working on that strainer - it is obviously not working...

 

[Calabrio]

I think we need to be working on that strainer - it is obviously not working...

...can we really afford not to?