SEC. B
page 1

Etc., etc., etc. …...

Coming in future issues…..

Progress Report on Fontenelle Trees

New Website Launched

Today, top climate scientists will launch a unique website to provide
commentary on the emerging new results from climate science. The site is
designed as a tool for journalists and members of the public, and will
provide a quick response to developing stories and provide the context
sometimes missing in mainstream commentary. The discussion is
restricted solely to scientific topics and will not address political
issues.

"We are trying to ensure that science doesn't get trampled by
politics," said Gavin Schmidt.

"We hope this site will serve as a resource that can challenge
misrepresentations or misunderstandings of the science as they occur in real time," said Michael Mann.

Schmidt, Mann, Stefan Rahmstorf, Rasmus Benestad, Caspar Ammann,
Ray Bradley, William Connolley, Eric Steig, and Amy Clement are all
contributors to the site. This group includes two "Scientific American
50 Research Leader" award winners and recipients of prestigious fellowship awards from the McDonnell and Comer foundations.

Information on the site includes commentary on breaking news such as
the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment as well as the latest scientific
findings on greenhouse gases, the paleoclimatic record, climate
modeling, and connections between the sun's variability and climate.

The scientific contributors work in their personal capacity, and receive no financial compensation for this work.
Journalists may also read their biographies, request more information,
or reach the scientists through the site www.realclimate.org or contact the scientists directly:

Gavin Schmidt 212-678-5627 gschmidt@giss.nasa.gov.
Michael Mann 434-924-7770 mann@virginia.edu
Eric Steig 206-543-6327 steig@ess.washington.edu
Stefan Rahmstorf +49 331 288 2688 rahmstorf@pik-potsdam.de (Germany)
Rasmus Benestad +47 2296 3377 rasmus.benestad-at-met.no

Nebraska Barns         

More WPA stories about Nebraska by Nebraskans

Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) said 12/20 that worsening problems in Iraq are due to "the arrogance and incompetency of the civilian leadership at the Pen-tagon" (Lincoln Journal Star). ….PA Gov. Ed Rendell (D) said: "Of the eight basic campaign promises I made, there has been significant progress in all of them, with the exception of the envi-ronment" (Philadelphia Inquirer). ….VA "should be allowed to execute criminals for murder even if they didn't do the actual killing," says AG Jerry Kilgore (R) (Richmond Times-Dispatch). ….A CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll shows a 4 point drop in Pres. Bush's approval rating to 49% in the past 2 weeks. 46% of adults disapprove of his job as pres (release). An ABC News/Washington Post poll shows Pres. Bush's job approval rating at 48% among adults, down 2% since 10/20. His disapproval rate, 49%, rose by 3 (release). ..."Bush is finding that, with some careful deflection of questions, he can hold a nearly hour-long news conference without serious gaffes or unintentionally making news" -- Washington Post's Dana Milbank. ..."Honestly, I don't know. I just hate the president" -- convicted Bush threatener Catherine Guertin, testifying in court on why she threatened Bush (AP)...Ending the third and probably the last recount, Democratic nominee Gregoire apparently defeated Republican Rossi  in the contest for governor in Washington state. Rossi trailed by 129 votes after emerging as a 42 vote winner in the days after the election in November. No reports on whether or not the furious state Republican party will appeal the recount or litigate, however, the Washington Supreme Court unanimously held the 755 ballots from King County-which eventually gave Gregoire her victory- could be counted since they were wrongly thrown out by election officials originally. The 129 vote margin is the closest in Washington state history. Nearly 2.9 million votes were cast  in the

SEC. B, p2
Senate Moments

SEC. B, p3
HISTORY
SCRAMBLE