With his singular style, Tom Toles tackles the complex issues of the day. This Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist skillfully targets political, economic and social concerns — in particular complicated environmental issues — with a clear-eyed precision that hits the mark every time.
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Comments (75) (Please sign in to comment)
dtroutma
said, over 1 year ago
Too bad the atmosphere isn’t really that thick in proportion to the size of the planet, only about as deep as the “guys” in the drawing.
Ira Nayman said, over 1 year ago
Consider it overkill…
truecanadianliberal said, over 1 year ago
Not really.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1300563/combined
JAMES MCWILLIAMS
said, over 1 year ago
actualy I agree.
Doughfoot said, over 1 year ago
As I understand it, in proportion to the size of the earth, the atmosphere is about as thick as the skin on an apple. The atmosphere is pretty darn thin more than 10 miles up (90% of the atmosphere is below that altitude), and hardly exists more than 50 miles up. You can subtract 5 miles from that if you are standing on the top of Everest, or 6 miles if you are in an airliner.
The earth’s diameter is more than 7900 miles. So you can see how small an addition to that the atmosphere makes. Even with all the mountains and trenches, the earth is smoother than the average apple. The air is a scum of gas around it. And all living things exist within that thin envelope!
From space, “sky high” is a rather laughable phrase.
Rockngolfer said, over 1 year ago
There was another show on yesterday about spy planes like the U-2 and the SR-71 Blackbird. Interesting stuff.
The Blackbird could fly at Mach 3.2 at 80,000 ft.
Even today that is about as high as a jet can go.
onguard said, over 1 year ago
The only thing that has ever darkened/polluted the whole earth’s atmosphere at one time is a super volcano eruption. We are about due for one based on history.
ne7minder55 said, over 1 year ago
onguard – you are due for some updating. We have polluted the entire atmosphere to the point where is is causing the oceans to warm causing wild weather events. It is getting worse and it is getting worse faster than scientists predicted it would. Those are facts no actual climate scientist disputes.
masterskrain said, over 1 year ago
All I know is that last year at this time here in Kentucky we had 8" of snow on the ground.
Yesterday I was walking around in shirtsleeves in 60*+ Temperatures.
Draw your own conclusions.
jmattadams
said, over 1 year ago
Predictions of climate doom have been as numerous and as wrong as predictions of Biblical Armageddon. Life on this planet will end when the sun evolves to the point where its enormous energy output boils away all the water and turns Earth into another Venus. That’ll take another billion years, so enjoy your life today because in 999 million years things are going to get a bit hairy.
ARodney said, over 1 year ago
The problem with your argument, Adams, is that the predictions of human-caused global warming have NOT been wrong, they are positive, measurable, seen in almost every branch of earth and life science, and there is no plan to mitigate it at all. The GOP will be seen in the future about as kindly as the guy who released rabbits in Australia, the folks who imported the chestnut and elm diseases to America, only resulting in much greater suffering, cost, and death.
JudeTheObtuse
said, over 1 year ago
@jmattadams
Your typically shallow, pompous response ignores issues like “quality of life”, and what life forms will continue to exist until that final planet extinction. You should read “Empire of the Beetle” if you’re really interested in the effects of global climate change. If we allow things to go unchecked as they are, there may be life on the planet when the sun finally goes Nova, but it won’t be human. Try going beyond your tendency to settle for the simple and read a little. Life is going to become extremely uncomfortable for humans if people like you remain in power.
walruscarver2000 said, over 1 year ago
Both side argue from insufficient data.
Andy said, over 1 year ago
It’s a carTOON—and you’re arguing about accuracy of scale?
The phrase, “Time to up your medication” leaps to mind.
Radish
said, over 1 year ago
@masterskrain
If I could draw my conclusions I’d be a cartoonist.