reddit Gallery CLXII

Another excursion into the world of reddit Pictures. See: reddit Pics for sources.  Click on pictures to enlarge them.  Enjoy!

1880's Telephone Wires - NYC

Frog on a Rock

Show-off

USA

Janis Joplin's Porsche 356

reddit Gallery CLXI - Agriculture

Another excursion into the world of reddit Pictures. See: reddit Pics for sources.  Click on pictures to enlarge them.  Enjoy!

China Canola Fields

Lavender Fields at Dusk

Tea Farm

Rice Paddies

Butchart Gardens

Sea Levels

The Obama administration has started its all-out press to once-again kowtow Americans into fiscal submission on the question of global warming … aka, climate change … and now being called “climate disruptions.” (How can anyone debate “climate disruptions?”) This is a semantic dance by our ever-intrusive government to find the right wordings to stampede us stupid non-scientists into acceding to more regulations, more taxes, and more crony capitalism. The mantra that is being ballyhooed now is increasing sea-levels … which, of course, are going to cause economic havoc and loss of lives along all the coastlines of the world. Unless you live miles back from the shore, you are doomed! Yikes!

Well, as it turns out, sea levels are rising … and they are falling … as they have been doing for eons. It all depends on where you are located … see: SPPI Analysis. The rationale for this "predicted" catastrophic rising of sea levels is centered on ice melting at the poles and in Greenland … which has pretty much stopped … if not reversed … see: Skeptical Science. So the polar bears are not in imminent danger of disappearing and the Emperor penguins should survive another winter in Antarctica.

But the arm-waving climate-frauds‘ claims that gall me most are that this is all "settled science" and that 97% of scientists agree that we are doomed by our rising CO2 levels.  This is all  hogwash.  There is no such thing as "settled science" and the following is but a small list of eminent scientist who are global-warming skeptics (from Wikipedia). There are many many others:

Scientists questioning the accuracy of IPCC climate projections 

Scientists in this section have made comments that it is not possible to project global climate accurately enough to justify the ranges projected for temperature and sea-level rise over the next century. They may not conclude specifically that the current IPCC projections are either too high or too low, but that the projections are likely to be inaccurate due to inadequacies of current global climate modeling. 

Freeman Dyson, professor emeritus of the School of Natural Sciences, Institute for Advanced Study; Fellow of the Royal SocietyRichard Lindzen, Alfred P. Sloan emeritus professor of atmospheric science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and member of the National Academy of Sciences 

Nils-Axel Mörner, retired head of the Paleogeophysics and Geodynamics department at Stockholm University, former chairman of the INQUA Commission on Sea Level Changes and Coastal Evolution (1999–2003) 

Garth Paltridge, retired chief research scientist, CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research and retired director of the Institute of the Antarctic Cooperative Research Centre, visiting fellow ANU 

Peter Stilbs, professor of physical chemistry at Royal Institute of Technology, StockholmPhilip Stott, professor emeritus of biogeography at the University of London 

Hendrik Tennekes, retired director of research, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute 

Fritz Vahrenholt, German politician and energy executive with a doctorate in chemistry 

 Scientists arguing that global warming is primarily caused by natural process 

Scientists in this section have made comments that the observed warming is more likely attributable to natural causes than to human activities. 

Khabibullo Abdusamatov, mathematician and astronomer at Pulkovo Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences 

Sallie Baliunas, astronomer, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for AstrophysicsTim Ball, professor emeritus of geography at the University of Winnipeg 

Robert M. Carter, former head of the school of earth sciences at James Cook University 

Ian Clark, hydrogeologist, professor, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Ottawa 

Chris de Freitas, associate professor, School of Geography, Geology and Environmental Science, University of Auckland 

David Douglass, solid-state physicist, professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester 

Don Easterbrook, emeritus professor of geology, Western Washington University 

William M. Gray, professor emeritus and head of the Tropical Meteorology Project, Department of Atmospheric Science,Colorado State University 

William Happer, physicist specializing in optics and spectroscopy, Princeton University 

Ole Humlum, professor of geology at the University of Oslo 

Wibjörn Karlén, professor emeritus of geography and geology at the University of Stockholm 

William Kininmonth, meteorologist, former Australian delegate to World Meteorological Organization Commission for Climatology 

David Legates, associate professor of geography and director of the Center for Climatic Research, University of Delaware 

Anthony Lupo, professor of atmospheric science at the University of Missouri 

Tad Murty, oceanographer; adjunct professor, Departments of Civil Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Ottawa 

Tim Patterson, paleoclimatologist and professor of geology at Carleton University in Canada 

Ian Plimer, professor emeritus of Mining Geology, the University of Adelaide 

Arthur B. Robinson, biochemist and former faculty member at the University of California, San Diego

 Murry Salby, former chair of climate at Macquarie University 

Nicola Scafetta, research scientist in the physics department at Duke UniversityTom Segalstad, head of the Geology Museum at the University of Oslo 

Fred Singer, professor emeritus of environmental sciences at the University of Virginia 

Willie Soon, astrophysicist, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics 

Roy Spencer, principal research scientist, University of Alabama in HuntsvilleHenrik Svensmark, Danish National Space Center 

George H. Taylor, former director of the Oregon Climate Service at Oregon State University 

Jan Veizer, environmental geochemist, professor emeritus from University of Ottawa  

Scientists arguing that the cause of global warming is unknown 

Scientists in this section have made comments that no principal cause can be ascribed to the observed rising temperatures, whether man-made or natural. 

Syun-Ichi Akasofu, retired professor of geophysics and founding director of the International Arctic Research Center of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. 

Claude Allègre, politician; geochemist, emeritus professor at Institute of Geophysics (Paris). 

Robert Balling, a professor of geography at Arizona State University. 

John Christy, professor of atmospheric science and director of the Earth System Science Center at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, contributor to several IPCC reports. 

Petr Chylek, space and remote sensing sciences researcher, Los Alamos National Laboratory. 

David Deming, geology professor at the University of Oklahoma. 

Ivar Giaever, professor emeritus of physics at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 

Vincent R. Gray, New Zealander physical chemist with expertise in coal ashes 

Keith Idso, botanist, former adjunct professor of biology at Maricopa County Community College District and the vice president of the Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change 

Antonino Zichichi, emeritus professor of nuclear physics at the University of Bologna and president of the World Federation of Scientists.  

Scientists arguing that global warming will have few negative consequences

Scientists in this section have made comments that projected rising temperatures will be of little impact or a net positive for human society and/or the Earth's environment. 

Craig D. Idso, faculty researcher, Office of Climatology, Arizona State University and founder of the Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change  

Sherwood Idso, former research physicist, USDA Water Conservation Laboratory, and adjunct professor, Arizona State University 

Patrick Michaels, senior fellow at the Cato Institute and retired research professor of environmental science at the University of Virginia

QED

Afterthought: Why does no one ever point out that there are clearly a few instances of the land sinking (or uplifting) ... due to the Earth's plate tectonics shifting ... instead of the sea level rising (or falling)?  EXTRA: I found a reference ... the term for this land sinking is "subsidence" and can occur for other reasons too. To read more on this process see: Norfolk, VA Investigation.

Afterward: Read what happens to a distinguished climatologist who has second thoughts about global warming ... see: Breitbart Story.

More Afterward: Here is an interesting take on the 97% claim: Powerline Revelations.

Headline of the Day

Monica Lewinsky

Hollywood Navel Gazing

It seems that President Obama is spending more and more time among his friends in Hollywood … and they, in turn, seek out his company to justify their importance … see: Variety Story. I think that Rush Limbaugh once wrote that Washington, DC is Hollywood for ugly people. So it stands to reason that these two centers of power and influence like to sit in one big drug- and alcohol-enhanced circle gazing at their navels.

In this frenzy of self-congratulations, Obama reinforces their cockamamie ideas and they empty their wallets and purses for his political war chest … all very very cozy and incestuous. Hollywood believes that it is the paragon of tolerance and diversity while doing its level best to ostracize any poor schlub who doesn’t follow its political orthodoxy (hello Mel Gibson) … echoing the black lists of the 1940’s and 1950’s … only from the obverse side. In fact, Hollywood is so wrapped up in the current political correctness that it most often chooses to ignore opportunities to make money from movies that would appeal to a broader conservative audience … all very strange and illogical.

President Obama’s rhetoric castigates the one-percenters as he preaches to a tent-full of this very demographic … the one percent of the one-percenters. Do these court favorites then get to feel freed of this stigma because their President laughs and jokes with them?  I think so. And does the President get his jollies hobnobbing with all these botoxed bimbos and bozos? Clearly.

These days I find it next to impossible to find any movie of merit coming out of all this Hollywood navel gazing. But then that’s just me.

Today’s Thought

“if you like your health insurance, you can keep your health insurance.”

 "[We] underscore the need for urgent action to combat the threats from climate change, protect American citizens and communities today, and build a sustainable future for our kids and grandkids."

A government which, in times of peace, lies to its people for its own profit… is not a government … it is a tyranny. -- A Blogger

Blah Blah Blah

No, this isn't a scene from "Seinfeld." It is an editorial board meeting from the Willamette Week, a clearly biased Oregon newspaper interviewing Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate. In this meeting, one of these candidates, Mark Callahan, calls out a reporter for writing down "blah, blah, blah, blah" as his notes as the response from a female Republican aspirant. There then starts a series of truculent comments by this paper's editor and one reporter to, what I consider, quite reasonable retorts from Mr. Callahan. You really need to watch the video of this exchange to judge for yourself as to who won this sparring match ... see:Real Clear Politics Video.

What I find even a bit more surprising is the infantile arrogance exhibited by this newspaper in releasing this video. They truly must believe that they came off as the heroes here ... and that Mark Callahan was the ogre. Clearly the opposite is true. Just two things that I wish ... (1) that the rest of the Republican candidates would have also walked out of this meeting in sympathy with Mr. Callahan, and (2) I was an Oregon voter.

reddir Gallery CLX

Another excursion into the world of reddit Pictures. See: reddit Pics for sources.  Click on pictures to enlarge them.  Enjoy!

Passing Fashion

Orbiting Earth Satellites

Spiral Cloud

Magnified Butterfly Wing

Gone But Not Forgotten

Reagan vs. Obama

John Hinderaker has an interesting post at the Powerline blog. Basically it uses three charts from the Senate Budget Committee to track the strength of the 5 plus-year recoveries after the 1981 recession (under Reagan) and the 2007 recession (under Obama) … see: Powerline Blog (it’s short and sweet). For those of us who care, the difference is dramatic,

Why Dirty Harry Reid would allow a committee under his soiled thumb to publish this raw and revealing truth is surprising.  Perhaps he really is getting senile?

reddit Gallery CLIX

Another excursion into the world of reddit Pictures. See: reddit Pics for sources.  Click on pictures to enlarge them.  Enjoy!

First One In!

3,000 Year-old Tocharian Mummy

Tornado and Lightning

1962 Shark Roadster

Glaucus Atlanticus

Fish Head

Former Obama National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor was quizzed by Bret Baier last night on Fox News. When asked about whether he changed Susan Rice’s talking points for her five Benghazi TV appearances on Sept. 16, 2012’s Sunday talk shows … from using the word “attack” to “demonstration?” His reply was “Dude, that was two years ago” … see: Breitbart Story.

It seems to me that such disrespectful talking-down is endemic in the current administration.  Remember, Attorney General, Eric Holder’s response to a Congressman’s question about whether he was upset about being held in contempt of Congress? “You don’t want to go there, buddy!” … see: Buddy.  I would humbly opine that the Obama administration (including that common streetwalker, Jay Carney) is in serious need of an attitude adjustment.

And, as is well known, a fish rots from the head down …

Flat Line

The United States reported yesterday its first quarter GDP growth at 0.1% … see: My Way News Story. Wow ... a measly 0.1%! This is clearly flat-line economic growth after 4.5 years of mucho-trillions of dollars of fiscal pump-priming by this administration and the unprecedented monetary expansion by our Federal Reserve Bank. This anemic financial news, instead of being reported by banner front-page headlines in the New York Times was relegated to the “Business Day” sub-section of this Obama public relations rag.

Can the media suppress this bad news until after this fall’s elections? Sure … it has a quiver full of Obama’s distracting phony stories to mitigate such voter downsides … the war on women, increasing the minimum wage, rampant racism, the Koch brothers, immigration reform, etc. Yes, the stock market is up substantially since 2009 … primarily due to the Federal Reserve Bank’s easy-money policies. Yes, “reported” unemployment is down to 6.7% … mainly because over three million otherwise-employable adults have dropped out of the work force … see: Christian Science Monitor Story.

It is clear as glass that this administration cares not a twit about economic growth or reducing real unemployment. There are a plethora of levers that they could pull to improve things … meaningful tax reform, oking the Keystone pipeline, more international trade reforms … particularly in the Far East and in Latin America, reducing bureaucratic regulations, reforming entitlements, streamlining government, etc.... none of which seem to be being grabbed.

Actually when one ponders this anemic economic growth, one could easily justify this 0.1% number just with the extravagant spending that taxpayers are footing to keep the Obama clan living in the luxurious style to which they have become accustomed … see: WND Story.

reddit Gallery CLVIII

Another excursion into the world of reddit Pictures. See: reddit Pics for sources.  Click on pictures to enlarge them.  Enjoy!

Mt. Roraima, Venezuela

London at Dusk

Inside a Raw Opal

Bat-eared Foxes

Tom Toms

News Flash

After his antisemitic reference to Israel becoming an apartheid state, Secretary of State John Kerry (see: NY Times Story)  has been sanctioned by the Trilateral Commission.  He has been fined 2.5 million bottles of ketchup and told that he must sell the State Department.

Eye of a Needle

Pope Francis would like to remedy all the social evils of the world … starting with wealth inequality … see: Truth Revolt Story. And this has delighted President Obama who also fervently believes “to each according to his need.” Ever since the time of Jesus, Christians have echoed this mantra … chuck-a-block full of romantic agony. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God,” sayeth Christ (Matthew 19:24 … see: The Bible Hub).

So is the Catholic Church donating all of its hoarded finery to remedy these wealth inequalities? No. Is President Obama impoverishing himself and his family to stand as an example to the rest of the world? No. Somehow, owning wealth can be forgiven if one does one’s hypocritical best to conscript others into obeying Christ’s teachings on this matter.

Yes, one must concede that using more of the world’s resources than one’s “rightful share” has, within it, a certain tinge of evil. But then again, envy is as wicked a deadly sin as greed … particularly when it is preached as being saintly.

High Dudgeon

This nation’s media and our black leadership have their panties twisted in a bunch about the racists comments of the Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy (see:The Guardian Story.) and Donald Sterling, owner of the LA Clippers basketball team (see: Forbes Story.) Such naive and inappropriate utterances do deserve condemnation, but, for once, I would love to see the same media treatment of the equally offensive comments made by the likes of Louis Farrakhan, Jessie, Jackson, Bill Clinton, Al Sharpton, Harry Reid, Eric Holder, Jay-Z and Jeremiah Wright. I’m sure with a little thought or Goggling dear reader you can recall of what I write.

Such a narrative has always seemed to me to be strangely disproportionate when prominent blacks say offensive things. The media subtext usually reduces itself to “boys will be boys” and, with a wink and a nod, their mild discomfort never lasts more than one news cycle. And, even weirder, very often those actually condemning such hypocrisy receive the brunt of the media’s tsk-tsking. (And I am reasonably certain that many of you have already classified me as a racist for pointing out this gross disparity.) 

Very strange and diabolical indeed!

Sanctions

President Obama has announced a new round of rigorous sanctions against the Russian Federation for its interference in the Ukraine. Even though somewhat vague, this list I am sure includes at the very least the following conscriptions:

-        The West will no longer permit the publication of any bare-chested Putin pictures.

-        Stoli vodka can no longer be sold in any flavored form inside Washington, DC.

-        Russian oligarchs cannot withdraw more than $1 billion per day from U.S. banks.

-        The U.S. intends to boycott the next Russian Winter Olympics, whenever that is.

-        Michelle Obama will no longer accompany Barack to any meetings in Russia.

-        Russian Sevruga caviar can now only be served at the White House.

-        The LA Clippers must play all their 2015 games in Moscow.

That’ll teach them.

Milestone

I have been writing this blog for about seven years and, two days ago, marked its 100,000 views. I realize that some blogs get 100,000 views in a much shorter time period, but nevertheless, kind readers, I am thrilled that you have endorsed my silliness to even this extent. Thank you!

Regurgitation

I just finished reading two interesting news articles about Hillary Clinton:

1) How she is turning to religious faith to help her transcend politics … see: Associated Press Story

2) How she is extremely sorry for how the Benghazi crisis was handled on her watch at the State Department … see: Fox News Story

Please note that both of these self-serving confessions were given during speeches for which, I am certain, Hillary received six-figure fees.

I think I just threw up in my mouth.

Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour

Back in the day there was a radio program called “Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour” … kind of like these new televised talent-search programs such as Star Search, American Idol and America's Got Talent. … only not so contrived.  Back then, there were true amateurs striving for their big break … and a few actually got one … such as Gladys Knight, Ann Margaret and Pat Boone.

Of late I can think of no better analog to the U.S. foreign policy than another “amateur hour.” We appear fumbling and directionless. Russia’s Putin is running circles around our hapless State Department and our feckless Secretary of State, John Kerry. We are sending oodles of mixed signals as to how we plan to deal with the world’s crises … the Israeli/Palestinian [lack of] peace process, the threat of an Ukrainian invasion by Russia, China’s expansionist designs, and our finger-in-the-wind dealings with Syria and Iran. It honestly appears that we are making things up as we go along.

I wish that President Obama’s Teleprompter could, for once, tell the world, in just a few clear sentences, what exactly our foreign policy is. Can the evil-doers of the world have their way with us without any real consequences? Are there limits to our possible responses to the mischief these bad actors are engaged in? Are we at all interested in improving circumstances around the world? Does our nuclear deterrent mean anything anymore? Why are we so hell-bent on leading from [our] behind?

Perhaps we might call our current foreign policy “lazy fare?” And just where are the grown-ups, such as Dick Cheney and Jim Baker, now that we really need them?