Say NOAA to bad science

Protesters head to court next week

Posted by Kate Sheppard at 8:30 PM on 08 Dec 2006

The two folks arrested in the NOAA protest -- profiled in Mike Tidwell's piece last month -- go to court next week. Ted Glick and Paul Burman have been charged with disorderly conduct after they climbed onto a ledge over the entrance to the NOAA headquarters in Silver Spring, Md. on Oct. 23. They face up to five years, five months in jail and a $6,000 fine if convicted on Tuesday.

Says Burman, 23: "I took this action because of my deep concern for the future."

Glick, who gets certifiable badass points for staying in-your-face on this stuff at the age of 57, offered a more tenured stance: "On October 23rd I acted on behalf of my son, my nieces and nephews and children everywhere who need many more older Americans to do the right thing on this fundamental issue."

Way back, oh, four years ago when I was young and idealistic and liked to piss my parents off by putting Green Party lawn signs in front of their house in the middle of the night, I worked for Ted Glick's senatorial campaign in New Jersey. I was continually awed by his passion for good causes, the degree to which his senate campaign was not a vanity affair, and the squintiness of his eyes. He's a cool guy, so if you can come out to support them in court on Tuesday, go for it.

For story: Say NOAA to bad science
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Weird laws

Five years for disorderly conduct? Some people get less for murder. And for lying and starting wars....

Best wishes to both of them!!

patrick

by bookerly at 9:53 PM on 08 Dec 2006

Age-ism rearing its ugly visage

Glick, who gets certifiable badass points for staying in-your-face on this stuff at the age of 57, offered a more tenured stance: "On October 23rd I acted on behalf of my son, my nieces and nephews and children everywhere who need many more older Americans to do the right thing on this fundamental issue."

So Ted Glick is 57? Gee, Kate, I guess it's, like, a wonder he still can even get around without a Zimmer frame. And amazing how he could keep up with co-perp Berman 23 out on that ledge!

So when did 57 become 'old'? (While we're at it, what's a "tenured stance"?)

In any case, all kudos to Berman, 23 and Glick, 57. This is great stuff.

Robert Delfs, 58 (since apparently it matters)

Robert Delfs

by Robert Delfs at 8:27 PM on 09 Dec 2006

Yeah, yeah, Rob. You're old.

smile

It's okay. I'm old, too. (By which I mean, I'm twenty-seven and haven't illegally sat on a ledge in recent years.)

So, shall we get together and organize a protest?

by Pathos at 9:46 AM on 10 Dec 2006

"badass"

Oh, dear old Robert, be of good cheer. Yes, we superannuated types are lucky to be granted the grateful opportunity to lick up crumbs from the floor beneath the table of these glorious bambini-in-charge. But, let us put on a happy face. Old fart that I am, I cannot help observing how "badass" was brought into the popular lexicon by us, not by them.

Meanwhile, I am spending hours in front of the mirror, working on my adorable squint. When I get it just right, my plan is to linger at a corner of Broadway, waiting for a smooth-cheeked, doe-eyed freshman soccer player/skuller/surfer/whatever to take me by the arm and escort me across the street, in the goodness of his noble young heart (OK, I would not say No to a sophomore). On the far side, of course I should give him my grandfatherly benediction, advising him however that it is not altogether operational unless he gives me his phone number and e-mail address. This would be the proper occasion for all sorts of holy counsel and sacred conversation: "Did you ever think of posing for a photographer? Not one of the lower class ones of course, I mean a real artist ... "

As for that 23-year-old out on that ledge with that 57-year-old, good for them. The prison sentence is scary, and absurd. From the photo, the entrance way does not look all that grand, the ledge does not look horribly high, and the banner does not look remarkably huge. No doubt it was an effective statement, for some. It would be unduly harsh for a judge to make examples of them, and clap them away in prison.

With all respect to Mr. Glick, I have a fear of ledges, even one so relatively low. I get nightmares. And anyway, being bent over, requiring my hickory cane, with my white beard down around my ankles, it is all I can do to get up and down a flight of steps.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 11:22 AM on 10 Dec 2006

Squinty eyes

are usually a way of saying, "Don't mess with me."

A male mandrill can knock another monkey off a log just by looking mean.

Matriarchs and patriarchs are the leaders of groups of social mammals for good reasons. They know more (are typically wiser). Not to say that all matriarchs and partriarchs are wise (Bush). However, it is customary to send the young ones over the ramparts rather than go yourself.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

by biodiversivist at 12:19 PM on 10 Dec 2006

Mandrill chic

I already got the burnt-yellow teeth. I wonder if Duane Reade has the cherry-scarlet and ice-blue face paint. The muzzy and goatee are there, when I let myself go for a few days, though getting the color right might require some work. The brow ridge, however, looks like it will cost some serious dead presidents.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 12:33 PM on 10 Dec 2006

Age

I'm a veritable rug-rat, and I don't plan on climbing any ledges anytime soon. Thus, Ted is a badass, and I just blog about it.

Kate Sheppard

by Kate Sheppard at 12:50 PM on 11 Dec 2006

What Happened?

Dear Kate, I missed the final results. Is the news good or bad?

patrick (who is 54 or 55 depending on where he is living).

by bookerly at 4:38 PM on 16 Dec 2006

Am I old yet?

Hey, I'm not even 30 yet and I feel old already (or at least, I think the ground is a lot farther away than it used to be when my young and very energetic horse starts trying to buck me off...). Badass, not so much; I am wiser already than I was ten years ago, when I used to specialize in riding horses other people were afraid of, and I expect to be wiser still when I'm 57, although hopefully not so wise as to avoid entirely the talented but slightly crazed equine companions. :)

And, btw, it's not just environmentalists going to jail for ridiculously long times for ridiculously inoffensive offenses.

by willa at 10:30 PM on 16 Dec 2006

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