WattsUpWithThat Drive By

Solar Roadways

From time to time, if bored, I will stop in over at wattsupwiththat for a good laugh at the expense of the ridiculous trolls who author and comment at the site. It's a haven for anti-science wingnuts (Anthony Watts being their High King), so when they make fun of stuff based on bad science I find it particularly rich, ironic, and amusing.

On this particular visit, we find the Watts chuckle patch stumbling and bumbling their way through a critique of solar roadways. Now, this is one of those very rare occasions where I happen to agree with Watts and Spencer to a degree, in as much as they are a terrible idea for our roadways. However, Thunderf00t over on YouTube has posted a much more skillful dismantling than Watts and Spencer are capable of whipping up:



Here's where I quickly part ways with the pseudoscience-loving circus over at wattsupwiththat...that a bad idea like solar roadways in any way, shape, or form calls into question the peer-reviewed research behind climate change. Does homeopathy or acupuncture tarnish modern medicine at all? Nope, and notice how Thunderf00t doesn't go there. He's smart enough to focus on the real problems with the idea, rather than make ones up.

Watts, Spencer, and their intellectually-challenged minions can't control their illogical selves, however...

Dr. Roy Spencer and I have been watching this project with amusement combined with incredulity...The best part? The impetus was for this idea was global warming.

Yup, Watts, only an idiot troll like you would find that to be the "best part." Is the best part of Kevin Trudeau's snake oil the fact that it's a fake remedy for real medical conditions? Did I mention you're an idiot troll, you idiot troll?

Dr. Roy Spencer felt the need to shoot off an ironic rocket of a comment...

Roy Spencer says:
June 4, 2014 at 6:18 am
this was one of the most controversial posts I ever had. The popular support for “solar roadways” is amazing, the shallowness of the supporters arguments for it equally amazing.

Hmmm, speaking of amazing shallowness, how about signing your name onto this bullshit?

We believe Earth and its ecosystems—created by God’s intelligent design and infinite power and sustained by His faithful providence —are robust, resilient, self-regulating, and self-correcting, admirably suited for human flourishing, and displaying His glory.

Prominent Signers of An Evangelical Declaration on Global Warming...scientists and medical doctors like Dr. Roy W. Spencer...

Oh, brother, the absurdity of moments like these really calls for at least two faces to palm. One just isn't enough.



And then the trolls that comment at this brainless black hole begin trying to outdo one another...

Myron Mesecke says:
June 4, 2014 at 6:34 am
The same lack of common sense, little education and no real interest in science is why both the solar roadway and the global warming scam are so popular.

Ric Werme says:
June 4, 2014 at 6:37 am
This is something I posted on a couple FaceBook groups, including “Scientific Mensa” that has a several member convinced that AGW is going to destroy us all but buy into this scheme without doing the most rudimentary calculations...

grayjohn says:
June 4, 2014 at 6:39 am
Bullshit derived from the fantasy of alternative energy. Awesome.

Do I really need to post more of these? You can go scroll through the comments, if you have an urge for self-torture, but, remember, if you don't laugh at this overflowing clown car turned Web forum, you'll probably end up despairing for your own species. If it turns out wattsupwiththat contributors actually belong to the same species as the rest of us, that is...