How much carbon is around to effect massive climate change?

I read a news report today about Barack Obama easing permissions for offshore drilling of oil and gas. I expect the usual backlash of of various interested parties regarding this news. I see the point from both sides, those vehemently against any kind of fossil fuel exploration and of the USA trying to protect its national interests and lessen its dependancy on foreign supplies.

I watch the third BBC episode, Tropic of Cancer and listened to Steven Reeve talk to government official from Oman about how they must invest in tourism because one day the oil will run out. This reminded me of a talk I heard many years ago about how demand and supply will naturally protect diminishing resources like rain forests.

I suddenly got this thought.... is there not a finite supply of carbon on the planet? The carbon that was collected by the plants and animals which in time turned into the fossil fuels we have today had to come from somewhere.

How much carbon in various forms (e.g. CO2 and Methane) can our environment cope with? Once we have consumed all fossil fuel reserves we will have a plan for alternative energy, demand and supply will dictate this in some shape or fashion. At that point our environment will be able to recover (unless we have found another poison).

The question is: will we have the luxury to witness this? I still don't really have a strong personal view on the full extent of the carbon impact on our environment, largely due to all the contrasting opinions. What motivates me is the enormous amounts of waist in our modern day lifestyles and I feel this has a far greater general impact on the world around us.

So is there enough carbon around to change our environment enough to seriously threaten our existance? I really don't know and I would love to hear your views.

Brilliant! Use Skype for 0800 calls

I had a problem today with my telephone handset as it was not ringing. I also had to make calls to a few utility companies and you know how long you can be tied up on the phone!! I used the callback feature from on of the utility companies an got onto a call with the next one. So between calls and the fact that my phone was not ringing I missed all of them as wasted 2 hours.

I just hate spending time and occupying my phone lines while on hold with 0800 numbers. I then got an idea to use Skype and googled to see if anyone knew about calling 0800 numbers at discounted rate or for free.

Well you can and for free! I found out that people from France, Poland, the UK, and the U.S. can call 0800 numbers in their respective countries for free. I tried it and it works ... you don't even need to by any Skype call credits.

So if you are at work, don't want to use mobile phone minutes or don't want to clog up your phone lines try Skype for 0800 numbers!