The Science Was Settled, Except... Reforestation Raises Global Warming?

The NY Times continues to disorient their readers with a new Unsettled Science piece and a bit of a plug for Ronald Reagan; this time we hear from the Tree Deniers:

To Save the Planet, Don’t Plant Trees

By NADINE UNGERSEPT. 19, 2014

Apparently it is all about the albedo and the air pollution caused by, yes, trees.

 

NEW HAVEN — AS international leaders gather in New York next week for a United Nations climate summit, they will be preoccupied with how to tackle the rising rate of carbon emissions. To mitigate the crisis, one measure they are likely to promote is reducing deforestation and planting trees.

...

Deforestation accounts for about 20 percent of global emissions of carbon dioxide. The assumption is that planting trees and avoiding further deforestation provides a convenient carbon capture and storage facility on the land.

That is the conventional wisdom. But the conventional wisdom is wrong.

In reality, the cycling of carbon, energy and water between the land and the atmosphere is much more complex. Considering all the interactions, large-scale increases in forest cover can actually make global warming worse.

This is counterintuitive...

I'll say. As trees grow they act as a carbon sink but:

Besides the amount of greenhouse gases in the air, another important switch on the planetary thermostat is how much of the sun’s energy is taken up by the earth’s surface, compared to how much is reflected back to space. The dark color of trees means that they absorb more of the sun’s energy and raise the planet’s surface temperature.

Climate scientists have calculated the effect of increasing forest cover on surface temperature. Their conclusion is that planting trees in the tropics would lead to cooling, but in colder regions, it would cause warming.

In order to grow food, humans have changed about 50 percent of the earth’s surface area from native forests and grasslands to crops, pasture and wood harvest. Unfortunately, there is no scientific consensus on whether this land use has caused overall global warming or cooling. Since we don’t know that, we can’t reliably predict whether large-scale forestation would help to control the earth’s rising temperatures.

And...

Worse, trees emit reactive volatile gases that contribute to air pollution and are hazardous to human health. These emissions are crucial to trees — to protect themselves from environmental stresses like sweltering heat and bug infestations. In summer, the eastern United States is the world’s major hot spot for volatile organic compounds (V.O.C.s) from trees.

Trees cause air pollution? Wait for it...

As these compounds mix with fossil-fuel pollution from cars and industry, an even more harmful cocktail of airborne toxic chemicals is created. President Ronald Reagan was widely ridiculed in 1981 when he said, “Trees cause more pollution than automobiles do.” He was wrong on the science — but less wrong than many assumed.

OK, I had, and have a hard time believing trees can outdo cars, but still - two plugs for Reagan in one Saturday? OK, polluting trees shouldn't be news (2003, 2004) but I try to learn something new every day.

Chemical reactions involving tree V.O.C.s produce methane and ozone, two powerful greenhouse gases, and form particles that can affect the condensation of clouds. Research by my group at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and by other laboratories, suggests that changes in tree V.O.C.s affect the climate on a scale similar to changes in the earth’s surface color and carbon storage capacity.

While trees provide carbon storage, forestry is not a permanent solution because trees and soil also “breathe” — that is, burn oxygen and release carbon dioxide back into the air. Eventually, all of the carbon finds its way back into the atmosphere when trees die or burn.

Interesting - if trees are burnt the sequestered carbon is back where it started in the atmosphere. But if trees rot and produce methane, that is worse in the short run, since methane is a shorter-lived but more active greenhouse gas.

The Big Finish:

Planting trees and avoiding deforestation do offer unambiguous benefits to biodiversity and many forms of life. But relying on forestry to slow or reverse global warming is another matter entirely.

The science says that spending precious dollars for climate change mitigation on forestry is high-risk: We don’t know that it would cool the planet, and we have good reason to fear it might have precisely the opposite effect. More funding for forestry might seem like a tempting easy win for the world leaders at the United Nations, but it’s a bad bet.

So much for settled science.

SINCE YOU ASK: I score it as extremely unlikely that Reagan actually said "“Trees cause more pollution than automobiles do"; I suspect that was a Ted Kennedy paraphrase. This is from the Times in 1980:

The 2004 research paper provides this Reagan quote:

Reagan said: "Approximately 80 percent of our air pollution stems from hydrocarbons released by vegetation."

At a Snopes message board I glean this:

Here's what Reagan said, in September 1980: "Approximately 80 percent of our air pollution stems from hydrocarbons released by vegetation, so let's not go overboard in setting and enforcing tough emission standards from man-made sources.''

A month later, he denied what he had said: "First of all, I didn't say 80 percent. I said 92 percent, 93 percent, pardon me. And I didn't say air pollution, I said oxides of nitrogen, And I am right. Growing and decaying vegetation in this land are responsible for 93 percent of the oxides of nitrogen.''

September 1980, above, probably ought to be August. However, Google has an archived news story that jibes with 93%:

Layers of fact checkers...

As to the Reagan comment in the Times story that he Smoky Mountains got their name due to "oxides of nitrogen from decaying vegetation", I will say hmm; Dr. Ozone summarizes an explanation I also find elsewhere:

The Cherokee Indians referred to the Appalachian Highlands on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee as the "Place of Blue Smoke," so the Smoky Mountains probably had a blue haze long before pollution by industry and automobile exhaust. Haze is due to light scattering by very small particles. Those particles can be of natural or anthropogenic (human) origin. The Great Smoky Mountain haze was probably due to emissions of terpenes [organic compounds with formulas (C5H8)n] by trees. The terpenes may have reacted with natural levels of ozone to form light-scattering particles. 

So not really oxides of nitrogen, which are no laughing matter. But as to when that science was settled and what report Reagan might have read, who knows?

Comments

[Jim Eagle]

Iggy = Global Warming.

I demand he cut down his trees to save the planet.

[MarkO]

These are monstrously stupid people.

[Threadkiller]

To think we relied on Snopes and the NYT wrt The Selma Fib.

[boatbuilder]

"Deforestation accounts for about 20 percent of global emissions of carbon dioxide."

What, exactly, does that mean?

[peter]

What is the carbon footprint for the First Lady and the President taking separate helicopters to Camp David?

[Jane]

What is the "carbon foodprint" measured by? Quarts? Inches? Miles? I'm confused.

[anonamom]

As my brother says:
"When they can give me an accurate five day forecast, I'll start paying attention."

Goodness-have these people not seen the Grand Canyon? We are but a piece of dust in the timeline of this planet, let alone the universe.

[anonamom]

I'm thinking the Secret Service is as sick of him as everyone else appears to be--why else didn't they shoot this guy?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/21/us/politics/intruder-white-house.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

[Centralcal on iPad]

Dunno, peter, but riffing on Jane's "carbon foodprint," I would says FLOTUS' is huge.

[Centralcal on iPad]

Oh, and Jane, for FLOTUS it is measured in inches.

[Threadkiller]

why else didn't they shoot this guy?

From the article:

Security Service officials said they could prevent such intrusions by shutting down Pennsylvania Avenue to pedestrians. 

They probably hired him.

[Threadkiller]

for FLOTUS it is measured in inches.

Indeed.

[Soylent Red]

Oh, and Jane, for FLOTUS it is measured in inches area codes.

FIFY.

These are monstrously stupid people.

It's bizarre that after all of the clear demonstrations that they are just throwing shit to the wall to see what sticks, anyone pays any attention to them at all.

[Ignatz]

Shoot, here I've been bragging about what they say about a man with a big carbon footprint and it turns out it's not so big.
Gonna have to plant a lot of trees this winter if for no other reason than my self esteem.

[Jim Eagle]

TK @ 2:39.

What the hell is that thing below the waist? Don't tell me its what I don't want to think it is?

[lyle]

It's her junk, JiB.

[peter]

TK, if doubts about Obama's circumstances of birth makes one a birther, what do doubts about whether the first lady is transgendered make one, a "transer?"

[Beasts of England]

She gots some junk in her trunk front!

[Jim Eagle]

Ready for KO at Bryant-Denny: Tide v. Gators.

Best WR in college ball against the best DB in college ball.

Pistachios and a glass of wine.

Go Gators.

[Beasts of England]

Allie LaForce loves me!

[peter]

One thing is for sure, the whole kerfuffle about Neil Degrasse Tyson (Bronx Science class of '76) is hysterical. Wonder if he was a beneficiary of the Discovery program?

[Jim Eagle]

Can I delete my 3:38? Or edit it?

[Jim Eagle]

At least the defense is rested.

[Beasts of England]

Lots of golf left in this match, JiB!

[narciso]

if you've ticked off, Tommy Boy:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-18/maduro-orders-media-probe-saying-cnn-causing-alarm.html?dtoc

[Jim Eagle]

On second tbought....:)

[Threadkiller]

A Coocher.

[narciso]

It was a cunning plan, to draw in Alabama, that's my story.

[Jim Eagle]

Holy Moly!

I was not aware Florida was so athletic and fast - much faster than Bama. My surprise meter has spiked.

Mushcamp is still the coach I can not support.

[Beasts of England]

Is golf on? ;)

[Danube on iPad]

Why is Beener still at Va. Tech?

[Jim Miller]

Very off topic: This noon, at lunch, I encountered another Gail Collins column, and was struck by the fact that I have been unable to explain her jobs at the NYT, as editorial writer, editorial page editor, and now columnist.

And that's really kind of weird.

I may not think as much of Maureen Dowd, Paul Krugman, or Tom Friedman as the newspaper does, but I can -- at least to some extent -- explain why they are writing for our newspaper of record.

But I can't explain Collins. Can any of you help me?

(If she were single, I'd entertain a rather nasty hypothesis, but she is married to NBC producer, Dan Collins. Which makes that explanation -- I hope -- less likely.)

[Beasts of England]

Nothing boring about that 1st quarter!

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Serious question for Beasts: is this Bama defense a slight notch under where you want it to be?

Allie LaForce, a fine Ahia girl, used to do local tv here, including some Christmas car commercials with a Santa's Helper outfit cut just under the cooch that is seared in my memory.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

DoT, Beamerball is probably the best they'll do in Blacksburg.

[Danube on iPad]

So what kind of face does the real Hillary have?

"CBS is putting its Hillary-inspired drama 'Madam Secretary' on Sunday nights next to 'The Good Wife.' In Friday´s New York Times, TV critic Alessandra Stanley discussed the two shows and slammed Hillary. 'Hillary Rodham Clinton is the obvious inspiration, but this is Hillary with a human face,' she wrote."

[Beasts of England]

@Captain: Sure is. However, the O-line is our Achilles heel.

[narciso]

yes, she is married to Dan collins, but that doesn't seem to be enough, it was a very thin gruel, that she put forth,

Strigoi, next question,

[Beasts of England]

Couldn't find her Santa's helper outfit on the webz, Capt., but I found this one - which she's allowed to wear on our first date...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bpo9mEGCYAAs65p.jpg:large

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Terps with a nice win at Syracuse on the Bojangles network. Maryland will probably get manhandled by the top B1G teams but they have enough speed to possibly pull off an upset with the right game plan and not turning it over. Even Tim Brant was talking about how many injuries they've had over the last few years and also how odd it was with Syracuse as an ACC member and Maryland OOC.

[Jim Eagle]

That Cooper kid is making the NFL drool. Incredible and he will never fave the speed of Forida defense all year. Pretty impressive. But Muschcamp is scerwing it up on coverages - his speciality.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

That's our Allie!

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

On a trailer for Madame Secretary I've heard one Benghazi reference so I wouldn't automatically assume it's a Muffer fluffer. CBS runs some reasonably conservative fare away from the newsroom.

[Beasts of England]

Tebow in the house! Class act...

[Danube on iPad]

Allie's uncle scored a touchdown for Navy in the 1968 Army-Navy game. But we lost.

[matt]

Pine trees and some other species contain and emit terpenes, from which turpentine is derived. Orange and citrus trees create d-limonene in the rinds from which your citrus solvents are derived. The fact that most "pollution" is natural has been known for a very long time.

Most of what consumers know as solvents are organic and many of the sources are growing all around us. Reagan was right.

If we could ever harness cow methane we could run cities. Smelly cities, but still.

What really fascinates me is the methane and propane oceans on Titan.

[clarice]

There's been substantial reforestation in the US..does it matter? Basically, I think Reagen's point whenever he made it was right.

[Bori]

Matt, those things are not (pollution, pollution) as Whoopie would say.

[Jim Miller]

Just to add to matt's point: Some forests would be illegal, if they were factories.

Two bits from the Wikipedia article:

"Terpenes are released by trees more actively in warmer weather, acting as a natural form of cloud seeding. The clouds reflect sunlight, allowing the forest to regulate its temperature.[2]

The aroma and flavor of hops, highly desirable in some beers, comes from terpenes.?

[Beasts of England]

Interesting that Bama's AD (Bill Battle) and OC (Kiffin) are both former head coaches at Tennessee. That would have been unthinkable twenty years ago...

[GMax]

Florida just tied up the game with Bama. OH MY!

[Danube on iPad]

When political correctnesses collide:

"Domestic violence, also known as intimate partner violence, is defined as the physical, sexual or psychological harm caused by the current or former intimate partner. Since the 1970s, concern regarding the issue began in response to the women´s movement. Most of the traditional studies looked at the abuse women faced from men in heterosexual relationships. But, the latest study by Northwestern Medicine scientists found that domestic violence is more common among same-sex couples and excess stress raises the risk of this abuse."

[Beasts of England]

Gee, I hope Alabama doesn't make any mistakes in this game. Seriously - what the heck?

[matt]

you mean like the guy in Hollywood who ate parts of his boyfriend? Or like Jeffry Dahmer? There is some serious mental illness associated with some gays.

[Threadkiller]

Is one guy taking it up the ass from another guy considered domestic violence?

[Beasts of England]

Ned Beatty had the hardest part...

[Jane]

Dot,

Is that women as well as men?

[narciso]

there's serious violence, possibly even torturing of facts here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/how-the-gop-stopped-caring-about-you-how-therepublicans-became-selfish/2014/09/17/7fe87a70-3dc5-11e4-9587-5dafd96295f0_story.html?tid=pm_opinions_pop

[Jim Miller]

Jane - Yes.

Here's a vague article describing the study. And here's a quote from the article:

"Of the research that has examined same-sex domestic violence, most has concentrated on lesbians rather than gay men and bisexuals.

"Men may not want to see themselves as the victim, to present themselves as un-masculine and unable to defend themselves," Carroll said."

No numbers, not even rough estimates, which is annoying.

[Jim Miller]

My mistake. There were some numbers, near the very beginning:

"Previous studies, when analyzed together, indicate that domestic violence affects 25 percent to 75 percent of lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals. However, a lack of representative data and underreporting of abuse paints an incomplete picture of the true landscape, suggesting even higher rates. An estimated one in four heterosexual women experience domestic abuse, with rates significantly lower for heterosexual men."

25 to 75 percent. That's not very precise, even for this kind of study.

[Danube on iPad]

Total yardage through three quarters. Bama 546, Gators 143"

This ballgame is l'histoire.

[Jim Eagle]

Its all over but the crying. No more from me tonight. Have a good book.

[jimmyk]

Reagan definitely got the Sarah Palin treatment, or perhaps I should say vice versa: Things he supposedly said but were really said by others misquoting him.

[Danube on iPad]

With nine minutes to go the East Carolina Pirates have 63 on the board against North Carolina.

[daddy]

G'day Mate's from DownUnder with cheery news.

Local Aussie News on TV is gripped with a breaking story of corruption in the previous Labor Government of former PM's Gillard and Rudd:

Labor’s blood money: Kevin Rudd’s secret severance deal with Julia Gillard laid bare in FoI documents

KEVIN Rudd has lost a six month battle to block the release of documents detailing his taxpayer-funded perks as an ex-PM including Julia Gillard’s offer of “the highest class of travel available”.

Basically former PM Gillard secretly gave ex-PM Rudd about a half a million bucks to get lost, and that fiscal corrupt use of taxpayer dollars just now being revealed is angering all the morning talking heads on the TV shows, and generating real anger at the Left. All this makes PM Tony Abbott look better and better in comparison, especially with the recent arrest of the Aussie head choppers.

It's 9 AM here and the stragglers in the Sydney Marathon are just crossing the finish line about a block from the hotel this rainy morning.

[daddy]

With nine minutes to go the East Carolina Pirates have 63 on the board against North Carolina.

Ughh:( A good day to be on the far side of the planet.

[miss Marple]

daddy,

What a valuable report! Thanks!

[Jane]

Daddy,

You are in Sydney?

How are people feeling post beheading threat?

Do they think they got them all.

I know a really great restaurant in Sydney. Too bad I can't remember the name.

[daddy]

if trees are burnt the sequestered carbon is back where it started in the atmosphere. But if trees rot and produce methane, that is worse

So if I understand the Times correctly, General Sherman, in burning a 300 mile long, ten mile wide swath thru Georgia, was actually the greatest "Environmentalist" in American History!

Perhaps thats why we named the largest living tree on Earth after him?

[Threadkiller]

En-Pyro-mentalist.

[jimmyk on iPad]

I thought the largest living thing on Earth was what TK posted at 2:39.

[Beasts of England]

Here's a quote from Bama's notoriously reserved Amari Cooper that Jameis Winston should take to heart:

'I just abstain from doing activities that won't help me with school or football or where I want to be.'

Impressive.

[henry]

HB CentralCal and JamesD!

Now 3 fresh threads to catch up on.

[Captain Hate]

HB James D.

Bob Stoops team playing with no composure against the Mountainqueers.

[daddy]

Jane,

I'd need to be here longer to get a decent read on that, but what I am noticing is not a single cheap shot has been taken at Abbott on the Sunday Talk Shows I've been watching this morning. On previous visits I'd usually see carping at him from these sorts of shows, treating him somewhat as a misguided rookie and an Anti-Environmentalist, but it appears to me that he has been doing so well lately, and doing what the Public has wanted and earning their respect, that the media guys sense that and are treating him very respectfully and as a very solid figure who wears the office well.

"Tony Abbott's Star continues to rise..." one of the panelists just said, and everyone at the table nodded and agreed with her, and they showed some headlines from the New York Post praising Abbott for his Anti-terror stand He also just spent a week living in some Aborigine community way out in the Bush, and even at that he is getting sincere praise instead of being mocked as some sort of gimmick.

I also really think that the terrible performance of our President is on open display and impossible for anyone to ignore, as many of the Aussie Political cartoons in a segment they just did show Obama as a somewhat incompetent boob, and Abbott comes off looking Churchillian in contrast.

On the Terror thing, Legislators are taking that seriously and working up bills to possibly ban the wearing of the Bhurka, and other things having to do with banning Passports, etc. The big topics of my last visit, Abbott's effort to repeal Gillard's Carbon Tax, has been accomplished, and with this arrest of these terrorists I think the Illegal Alien movement has really been knocked on it's arse, so I think the Enviro's and the Left right now really don't have anything they can unite behind to scream about.

[Danube on iPad]

I thimk Sherman had three separate columns, advancing roughly parallel to one another and spanning maybe seventy miles wingtip to wingtip. This confused the hell out of the rebels when Sherman headed out of Atlanta; they couldn't figure out where he was headed.

An epic of scorched earth in the enemy's rear.

[henry]

No surprise here. Milwaukee activist group petition WI SC to delay voter ID past November. Note the WI SC already approved voter ID given a change to no fee for ID (in place). The 7th Circuit appeal court also ended a stay on voter ID, given the WI SC ruling and props US SC rulings. But stopping cheating is racist or something.

[narciso]

blue and blue attacks are brutal

http://therightscoop.com/msnbcs-women-panelists-freak-out-when-someone-dares-to-bring-up-hope-solo-domestic-violence-charge/

[Beasts of England]

Vandy leading South Carolina? Miss. State leading LSU? Dogs and cats living together?

Film at 11:00.

[Jane on Ipad]

Daddy,

That makes my heart sing. Can I stow away in your plane next time you go? BTW, I'm not much of a zoo goer, but the Sydney zoo is very cool. My house is full of pix I took there.

[Jane on Ipad]

Henry, the highest % of minority voters are all in places with voter ID. Why the hell we don't scream that from the rooftops is beyond me.

[Beasts of England]

I believe minority turnout increased in Mississippi with the advent of Voter ID.

[henry]

Jane, the excuse cited in the article was 300,000 students and "people from out of state" where fibs (local slur for Illinisians) might make up the bulk of those 300,000 w/o WI ID, but free bus rides to multiple polling places in November. Perhaps Voces de la Frontera is worried about 300,000 illegales that can't get ID. To them disenfranchising "people from out of state" / non citizens in a WI election for governor is a bad thing.

[CO2 sinks are naturally recruited as CO2 rises.]

Read Steve Koonin in the WSJ. The easiest and most lucid way to get up to date on the state of climate science.

[daddy]

Come on along, Jane!

Yesterday we arrived at about 3:45 PM and the weather was beautiful. We got routed to a point about 50 miles due east of Sydney Harbor, then turned directly toward the coastline, and gradually you can pick out Botany Bay, where Cook landed and where the Runway is built out into the bay, and also you can see the Parramatta River and Port Jackson and Sydney---all totally gorgeous.

Then since we were landing on Runway 16R due to winds, they vectored us inland about 20 miles, then gave us a big right turn right over the River heading due East, with the town all spread out beautiful below us much like this:

We were at about the top right of the photo, heading right down the waterway, and then a few miles before the bridge they turn us southbound, basically parallel to the bridge, and we just coasted on in about 8 miles to the runway in Botany Bay. It's so pretty that you almost have to slap yourself to pay attention instead of just gawking at everything:) Over here I've got on the Florida State-Clemson game.

[jimmyk]

daddy, the couple of times I went to Sydney for a conference I stayed at the conference center right opposite the Opera House near the middle of your picture, in the area called Kirribilli. The Prime Minister's residence is just to the left in the picture, also overlooking the harbor. You can pick up a ferry right there that takes you across the harbor to the downtown (Circular Quay). Such a beautiful place.

[Beasts of England]

Gorgeous hardly covers it, daddy -- what a great sight!

[daddy]

JimmyK,

Just about to do the Botanical Gardens walk since it looks like the rain has completely quit. Cheers, mates.

[jimmyk]

daddy, after you do that you should walk over to "The Rocks" area near the bridge. Lots of nice bars and restaurants in an old industrial looking area.

[Jane on Ipad]

My friend's house overlooked the water, up a hill with a huge glass room stretching the whole back of the house. It was an amazing view. Another thing that blew my mind was taking the subway to the Opera House, and the absolutely amazing view when the doors opened.

I really really love Sydney, but I love Western Australia even more.

[Jane on Ipad]

Jimmy, it took me a few days to realize that I could take a ferry almost anywhere . It was a great way to travel.

[miss Marple]

Greta is running a special on ISIS. So far, it is pretty good.

[clarice]

Henry, I can't imagine how the WI Supremes can do this without defying the 7th Cir and getting such an order slapped down faster than the speed of light.

[sbw]

I'm sure I mentioned before I spent a year as an exchange student in Australia in 1964: 3 months in Sydney (Parramatta School, living in West Pennant Hills), 8 months in Darwin, and a month in Alice Springs.

Went back for 3 weeks in 1986 with my wife, courtesy of the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers Assn to present using PCs/Ethernet.

If America collapses and St. Janes is not yet afloat, I'd go back.

[Captain Hate]

Beasts, has the Mad Hatter finally reached the expiration date on his Houdini act?

[henry]

Clarice, if the WI SC does this chaos ensues. Not sure if Abrahamson can force it to be heard, or if she can get one of the conservative justices to go along with it. The progs are definitely going all out to get Walker, and the polls were going his way before the plagiarism fun captured the news cycle on Burke. Further the ad AG candidate was outed for leniency toward a sex offender that she was selling property to. The John Doe is blowing up with Bice unmasking his evil nature re the whistle blower on the DAs. Good jobs number last week too, blunting the one unfulfilled Walker promise. Facing a meltdown, they'll fling anything they can find.

[Dave (in MA)]

On a trailer for Madame Secretary I've heard one Benghazi reference so I wouldn't automatically assume it's a Muffer fluffer. CBS runs some reasonably conservative fare away from the newsroom.

Having Duchovny's bony ex spend 3 hours a day in makeup getting prosthetic cankles seems a bit much, or am I being too literal?

[Richter 8. Watch for the tsunami.]

Koonin's article is a blockbuster. It's a preview of the upcoming American Physical Society's new position paper on climate science. The APS is the largest organization of physical scientists on the planet. This will cause a widespread re-evaluation.

[Learned to play chess in a Park Slope synagogue.]

Chess lovers, read in Slate about the recent Cinquefield Tournament in St. Louis. One kid won 7 matches in a row against the toughest field ever assembled.

[Captain Hate]

Having Duchovny's bony ex spend 3 hours a day in makeup getting prosthetic cankles seems a bit much, or am I being too literal?

I just don't see a show where the main character actually accomplishes a fair number of significant things can be used as a campaign tool of somebody who did nothing except drain a lot of Coronas.