Douglas Adams: The Hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxy

- Understatement
a statement that is restrained in ironic contrast to what might have been said

Example: (page22)
Ford: No, its just that the world's going to end.

- Irony
A statement that, when taken in context, may actually mean the opposite of what is written literally; the use of words expressing something other ...

Example: (page 19)
Arthur: I eventually had to go down to the cellar
Prosser: That's the display department
Arthur: …with a torch?
Prosser: Ah, the lights had probably gone.
Arthur: So had the stairs

- Pun
a humorous play on words

- Sarcasm
witty language used to convey insults or scorn

Three other examples of something funny:

1. (page 19)
Prosser: Have you any idea how much damage that bulldozer would suffer if I just let it roll straight over you?
Arthur: How much?
Prosser: None at all!

2. (page20)
Ford: …Look, are you busy?
Arthur: Well, I've just got this bulldozer to lie in front of, otherwise no, not especially.

3. (page21)
Arthur: Six pints of bitter. And quickly please, the world's about to end.
Barman: Oh yes, sir? Nice weather for it. Going to watch the match this afternoon sir?

How it all ends

- Why we debate whether the humans can really change the climate or not, we are at the same time, running the experiment. There is no matter what is the experiment, we are in the test tube.

- You can never be 100% certain so every choice carries a risk

- Action: harm to the economy
- Inaction: destruction and upheaval
--> which is the more acceptable risk to take?
- If we take no action and global warming really exists, we face global disasters
-Environmental
-Political
-Social
-Public
-Health
-Economic

- What is the wisest thing to do given the uncertainties and the risk? Are the humans the problem?

-->Basic risk management<--

- Science is never finished
- Every single scientific statement carries with it some sort of how big the estimate is
- the better word to use is Global Climate destabilization not global warming or global climate change
- Policy changes/ you should change the culture