intlibber

that is true about her relationship with her dad, typically kids are in general agreement with parents politically (even if they dont get along) or are vehemently allergic to their views (even if they do get along). Angelina tends to lean feminist/anarchist/libertarian. I think Palin is going to have some influence on her choice.

Ya, frankly the dem ticket is backwards, Biden should be the prez cand and obama is at best, qualified for the veep spot, he's got less experience in politics than Palin does. It's a joke that his campaign is attacking her already, but goes to show how scared they actually are. Dems go on the attack more the more they are scared.

money as in L$, personal property as in items in one's avatar inventory.

One issue I have with the settlement source is the information they've been putting out has been not reflecting reality. Arctic Ice Cover has been running 30% greater than last summer this time, but Colorado is only claiming 10%, a significant discrepancy. I would dispute using this settlement source as credible.

Also bigken1, the industrial revolution began long before the 1880s. It was already in full swing in Britain by the 1850's, and here in the US by the 1860's, where the Civil War's barbarity was exacerbated by our industrial power being used to manufacture more and more weapons capable of maiming and killing more men who were still using pre-industrial napoleonic combat strategies.

However, even back then, warming began BEFORE CO2 started to increase. As previously stated, CO2 is always a lagging indicator, which you as a self proclaimed scientist must admit is therefore not a cause of warming, but an effect of warming. While it may be possible that CO2 is providing somewhat of a feedback mechanism, you, nor the other AGW proponents, have yet admitted or demonstrated what the original warming is from. The main reason you refuse to do so is because it is something we humans can do nothing about: the sun. While the industrial revolution began decades before the 1880's, what DID begin in the 1880's was a drastic increase in solar irradiance and solar maxima peak amplitudes (i.e. a lot more sunspots, indicating a hotter, more compact and active solar magnetic field).

Prior to the Little Ice Age, grapes were cultivated in Greenland, wine was made, among other crops considered typical of relatively temperate climates. Rome even sent a Bishop to tend to the dioscese of Greenland. All the ice the AGW chicken littles crow about is ice formed since then, during the LIA.

This brings up good questions about whether warming might not be a bad thing. Warming in the tundra and steppes of Canada and Siberia means much more arable land for cultivation, which in this day and age is a good thing given historically high food prices. This will also mean more precipitation in the middle east, which could mean the return to the historic climate there that gave it the name "The Fertile Crescent".

The reverse, cooling, is not so great an idea. Global cooling makes for crop failures, famines, starvation, disease, and war.

bigken1,
I dispute your claim that most scientists believe that climate warming is real, or more specifically, that anthropogenic global warming is real. While the IPCC has 3,000 scientists in support, a group of 30,000 scientists recently signed a petition contesting the claims of the IPCC. Furthermore, the primary 'evidence' for AGW is Dr. Mann's much discredited "hockey stick chart" (which you may have seen in Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" as his primary evidence). Mann and the other AGW proponents are now getting caught committing rather significant academic fraud in trying to shore up the hockey stick, now that two statisticians have proven that Mann's software fraudulently produces hockey stick charts out of random noise.

While there has been warming in the latter 20th century in concert with a historically unprecedented series of unusually high solar maxima, this warming has all been neutralized in the past year and a half and we are back to temperatures typical of the 1870's. Solar astronomers are now predicting solar cycle 25 (coming around year 2018) will be the lowest sunspot count since the Dalton Minimum of 1790-1820, which also not-so-coincidentally coincided with a period of global cooling on the order of 1.5-2.0 C. The Wolf Minimum, the Sporer Minimum, and the Maunder Minimum are all extended periods of extremely low sunspot counts and an expanded, cooler, slower rotating sun which resulted in much cooler earth from the 1300's up to the early 19th century. These are indisputable scientific facts. While 3,000 leftist scientists may support the IPCC, there are over 30,000 objective scientists who do not.

ah well from my perspective, some internet cowards who once thought to harass me in RL decided otherwise when they found out I keep an assault rifle by my desk....

Are you going to count Fay crossing the Keys as "landfall" or Fay hitting the actual coastline?

http://www.hubdub.com/e/Market/Will_a_Cat_3_or_higher_Hurricane_make_landfall_in_Florida_by_Aug_30th_6653

Related market.

Highest probability is hitting the florida coast south of Tampa, at cat 2 strength, however that is all dependent upon the steering winds, particularly how fast the high pressure system now over Florida recedes eastward. If the eye remains off the west coast of florida and heads toward the panhandle, this could easily be a cat 3 storm.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4657110a26500.html

The besieged vice-president of the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) is coming under increasing heat at his daily press conferences as western journalists probe for stories on human rights issues and political freedom in China.

Yesterday's Q&A at times resembled a high-level fencing contest with subtle and sharp digs on both sides while at other times it was more like a heavyweight boxing bout.

Questioned by the BBC on why there had not yet been a single protest approved to take place in one of the three designated protest areas, Wang replied: "Chinese people are allowed to demonstrate but they must first apply for a permit and the application needs to be approved. That no-one has been approved to demonstrate is not a BOCOG issue."

The journalist responded by implying that this was hardly the way forward for China, to which Wang countered with a stinging: "You cannot under-estimate the wisdom of the Chinese people. You cannot come here and think you are the smartest."

Earlier he had been asked why an IOC official had refused to allow a question to a Georgian judoka about the current Russia-Georgia crisis. "Under rule 51.3 of the Olympic charter, within Olympic venues ... there is no promotion of political or religious agendas so I can see with the IOC would not encourage that question; if you start another debate it won't end happily."

Riding shotgun with Wang was IOC communications director Giselle Davies.

She too had to deal with a few curly ones, including her view on an advertisement that showed Spanish basketballers pulling back their eyelids in an age-old imitation of the Chinese facial features. "It was clearly inappropriate but the team has apologised and said no offence was intended so as far as we're concerned the matter rests there."

She found it tougher when she was asked whether the IOC was embarrassed by China's many broken promises. She danced, with surprising verbal elegance, around that one with responses about how pleased the IOC was with the sporting event that was being put on for the athletes.

"Giselle, we're not getting anywhere are we," the reporter bit back. "Everyone in the room knows you're not answering the question."

Wang then charged in with his view that the Olympics were, in fact, helping China move forward and that journalists should be reporting how China is "so different" to the picture painted in western media.

"The people are so friendly, the people are leading a good life, everyone is happy, people are optimists. Of course there are few exceptions but we can't let the country go into chaos.

"But we welcome suggestions and advice from all people but a few people come here to pick and be critical, to dig into smaller details and find faults. That does not mean we are not keeping our promises."

After a bit more rhetoric another journo chipped in with another critique of China at which point Wang shut down the conversation with: "This is not a debate, you have your turn and I have mine."

It's fair to say, that approaching halftime the media have been hot on attack but the great defending of Wang has kept the score to a 1-all draw.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/wrestling/7563231.stm

Swedish wrestler Ara Abrahamian has been disqualified and stripped of his Olympic bronze medal.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said the Swede was punished for violating the spirit of fair play during the medal ceremony.

Abrahamian, who came third in the 84kg Greco-Roman category, dumped his medal on the floor after receiving it and strode off in protest.

He was furious at a controversial penalty call in his semi-final.

The call decided the match against Italy's Andrea Minguzzi, who went on to win the gold medal.

Following the semi-final loss to Minguzzi, Abrahamian, who won silver in the Athens Olympics four years ago, had to be restrained by his team-mates.

The IOC executive board ruled that the wrestler's action amounted to a political demonstration and a mark of disrespect to his fellow athletes.

They added that no athlete will receive Abrahamian's medal.

sounds like I should have made this question less narrow.... lol

ya the satellite imagry clearly shows 30% more ice cover than this time last year, and while this ice is first year ice, thus thinner than old ice, it also has much higher albedo due to a lack of accumulation of soot depositions, so it has higher reflectivity than old ice and thus should provide more cooling.

That said, the North Atlantic Occillation, which is the prime mover of ice cycles in the arctic (has nothing to do with global warming) is causing increased storm activity, the wave and wind action is the prime driver of ice breakups right now, not solar activity.

McCain is up on points. The main things in Obama's favor is his youth and sex appeal, I think, which always appeals in superficial Hollywood, though Jolie tends to be rather more intelligent than the typical vapid celebrity. Also her father is pretty conservative.

Actually it looks like since McCain is soft on illegal immigration, thats a neutral issue for both candidates.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at1+shtml/143514.shtml?5day#contents

NOAA is saying it will make landfall south of Tampa, while others are projecting a panhandle landfall. The more time it spends over the gulf waters the more powerful it will be. The tipping point on this will be when it starts turning northward from the Cuba area, and then how powerful the steering winds will be in directing its northward trek.

the fists raised in the photograph on this question are of two african americans who protested segregation and the disproportionate drafting of blacks to serve in vietnam. It is a historic photograph.

http://blogs.chron.com/sciguy/archives/2008/08/fay_nears_cuba_1.html

"Because of these factors we cannot discount the possibility of Fay striking the Florida panhandle as a major storm"

I think fears as dieseldog states are overblown. Based on personal experience, most all internet bullies are RL cowards.

Looks like the media fix is starting to set in:

http://wattsupwiththat.wordpress.com/2008/08/15/arctic-ice-extent-discrepancy-nsidc-versus-cryosphere-today/

http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r1550597893&f=9946

Again: Despite satellite images showing tons of ice cover, the AGW chichen little disasturbationists are putting out fake data claiming otherwise.

Market is closed for the day, http://www.kitcosilver.com/

Closing prices were all well below 18.00

Whats the chances of reaching cat 3 on this storm?

http://www.kitco.com/charts/livesilver.html

without some global disaster, this is a no brainer.

NOAA is putting odds of tropical cyclone formation on this low pressure system at over 50%.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tafb_latest/danger_atl_latestBW.gif

POSSIBLE TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IN THE NEXT 48 HOURS

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIADSAAT+shtml/151500.shtml?

Atlantic SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENT

000
WONT41 KNHC 151500
DSAAT
SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENT
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
11 AM EDT FRI AUG 15 2008

SATELLITE IMAGERY AND RADAR DATA FROM PUERTO RICO AND THE DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC INDICATE THAT THE LOW PRESSURE AREA CENTERED OVER THE MONA
PASSAGE IS BECOMING BETTER ORGANIZED. THE SYSTEM MAY DEVELOP INTO
A TROPICAL DEPRESSION BEFORE THE LOW MOVES WEST-NORTHWESTWARD NEAR
OR OVER THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC THIS AFTERNOON. NOAA AND AIR FORCE
RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT ARE SCHEDULED TO INVESTIGATE THE
SYSTEM THIS AFTERNOON.

THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BRING LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS AND GUSTY WINDS
TO PORTIONS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS... PUERTO RICO...HISPANIOLA...
EASTERN CUBA...AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS INTERESTS IN THESE
AREAS...AS WELL AS IN THE REMAINDER OF THE BAHAMAS...THE REMAINDER
OF CUBA...AND SOUTHERN FLORIDA...SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF
THIS SYSTEM.

Anyways, verification of fraud can easily be determined: get a satellite image of the geographic north pole from the date the news media claims to be broadcasting from open seas there.

notablenotices,
You are exactly right. In 5000 BC there were hippopotami living in the Thames river in England. In 1200-1300 AD, Icelanders settled Greenland, where they farmed, herded, produced wine, and even had a Bishop sent from Rome to serve them. Then began a period of massive global cooling known as the Little Ice Age, which exterminated the settlers in Greenland, and was caused by the Wolf Minimum, continued by the Sporer Minimum, and was extended by the Maunder Minimum, where fewer than 100 sunspots were seen over a century of observation. This period of three severe and extended solar minima has not been repeated since.

In the 1770s the world was so cold that the Hudson River froze so solid that huge cannons captured from Fort Ticonderoga were shuttled across the ice to be moved to Charlestown to take part in the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the canals of Amsterdam had regular frozen solid since the time of Louis the XIV, who was known as The Sun King, as it appears his 85 year reign coincided with most of the Maunder Minimum, when the sun was unblemished by sunspots, and was large, redder, and cooler.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sp%C3%B6rer_Minimum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maunder_minimum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalton_Minimum

The last extended minimum, the Dalton Minimum, lasted from 1790 to 1820 and was noted by extremely bitter winters globally as far south as the middle east, florida, north africa, etc.

Now, as for global warming, bigken1, you still need to overcome another serious challenge to the claims of the IPCC report: the source of sufficient carbon. The IPCC report is making projects about the amount of various fossil fuels consumed over the 21st century to justify its projection of a 6 degree warming. The problem is that they are claiming we will consume more than 10 TIMES more oil over this century than the Peak Oil theory proponents claim is even in the ground. Without this oil being present, then we wont be burning oil that does not exist, and we will instead move more quickly to a nuclear, wind, and solar driven economy, and we wont see 6 degrees of warming.

Now, the hilarious thing is the anthropogenic global warming theory was created and is promoted by the Club of Rome and their disasturbationist malthusian socialist allies, who ARE ALSO THE ORIGINATORS OF THE PEAK OIL THEORY. Please explain how you can reconcile these two mutually contradictory theories put out by the same people while magically creating 10 times more oil to make your global warming fantasies come true.

lol bigken1,
The point being: given that astronomers are observing warming on every planet in the solar system RIGHT NOW, this means that every planet, including Earth, is being warmed by something OTHER than anthropogenic CO2. So what is it? One only has to look at the solar cycles since the beginning of observations in 1610 to see that the latter half of the 20th century has seen the biggest solar maximums AND the longest uninterrupted chain of high solar maxima, since Galileo started observing sunspots. Given that low sunspots = cool sun and high sunspots = hot sun, it becomes abundantly clear to anybody with any rational faculties, who is not religiously committed to some political agenda, where the warming is coming from.

I believe this question has been answered.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gl3910JlgH5mrH6L1yqP183Oc10gD92HDGKO0

8 activists detained after Olympics protest

By AUDRA ANG – 8 hours ago

BEIJING (AP) — A British journalist, apparently mistaken by police for a protester, was wrestled to the ground and briefly detained Wednesday while trying to film a pro-Tibet demonstration by eight activists arrested near the main Olympics venue.

Seven of the detainees were Americans; the eighth was a half-Tibetan woman with Japanese citizenship, said Lhadon Tethong, executive director of Students for a Free Tibet, the group that organized the protest.

John Ray of London-based ITV News said he was rushing to enter the Chinese Ethnic Culture Park, south of the National Stadium, where two protesters were unfurling a "Free Tibet" banner on a park bridge.

Another five activists blocked the entrance of the park, which prominently features a Tibet-related exhibit, and handcuffed themselves to each other and to bicycles around them. A sixth protester explained the reason for the demonstration, Tethong said.

The group says it has not heard from the eight protesters since.

Ray, 44, said he was stopped by an officer and a small struggle ensued before things got more violent when more police arrived.

"They bundled me out of the park. They forced me to the floor, dragged me, manhandled me into a restaurant next door," said Ray, who said he repeatedly told police he was a journalist but was not displaying his official Olympics media accreditation.

Later dragged to the back of a nearby van, a woman asked in English what his views were on Tibet and he repeated that he was a journalist, he said.

"Only at this stage am I able to reach in my pocket and show them my Olympic credential," Ray said. "The van door opened and I just got out and walked."

An official from the spokesman's office of the Beijing Public Security Bureau said officers mistook him for an activist.

"At the time, he was among the protesters," said the official, who gave only his surname, Zhang. "The police did not understand his identity. So they took him away to check his identity. After that, they let him go."

At a regular briefing Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang issued a stern warning.

"No matter Chinese citizens or foreigners, in China if you want to have processions or demonstrations, you should abide by Chinese laws and regulations," Qin said.

Beijing has promised foreign journalists complete freedom to report the games.

International Olympic Committee spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau said officials were checking reports that a British journalist "was allegedly assaulted" Wednesday.

"The IOC's position is clear: the media must be free to report on the Olympic Games," she said in a statement. "We are endeavoring to discover the full facts of this incident and, if necessary, will raise our concerns with the appropriate authority."

Chinese authorities have been extra sensitive about Tibet since bloody anti-government protests in March in the region's capital and surrounding provinces.

Wednesday's incident was the largest in a string of brief demonstrations — mostly by foreigners hoping to use the Olympics to draw attention to their causes — in Beijing since the games started last week. Most have had less than five people and foreign activists have been deported.

Also Wednesday, a rights group said Chinese activist Ji Sizun was taken away by security agents after applying for permission to protest against corruption during the Olympics.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/aug/13/olympics2008.chinathemedia?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

Police in Beijing roughed up and detained a British journalist after he covered a Free Tibet protest close to the city's main Olympic zone earlier today.

The incident appeared to be the clearest breach yet of the host nation's promise of free media access during the Games.

John Ray, of Independent Television News, said he was pinned down by police, dragged along the ground and pushed into a police van.

He said the authorities had also confiscated his equipment, pulled off his shoes, filmed him and accused him of trying to unfurl a Tibetan flag.

After his release some 30 minutes later, he said he was shaken but unharmed.

Beijing police said eight foreign Free Tibet protesters, including seven US citizens and a Japanese national, were arrested and their deportation was being supervised. They made no comment about Ray's treatment.

Today's incident, which came five days into the Games, is likely to embarrass the International Olympic Committee.

It is also awkward for the Beijing hosts, who are keen to keep the spotlight on the Olympics, which are being covered by more than 20,000 foreign journalists.

The incident happened when a number of activists from Students for a Free Tibet gathered at the entrance and on a bridge inside the Ethnic Minorities park, less than half a mile from the Bird's Nest stadium.

A British passport holder, who escaped arrest, was also among the protesters.

When demonstrators tried to unfurl a Tibetan Snow Lion flag and banner on the bridge, a group of foreign journalists attempted to enter the park to film them.

Ray said he had fallen behind the main group, tussled with park guards and was then set upon by a four or five uniformed police. They pushed him to the ground, dragging him off to a nearby restaurant as he shouted: "I am a British journalist" to startled diners.

"My accreditation was in my pocket, but they wouldn't let me get it out to show them," he said after being released.

Police swung him on to a couch and pinned him down by sitting on his arms. When they relaxed, he tried to get away but was tripped up. He was then bundled into a police van and asked him what his views on Tibet were.

"I could see that they threw in behind me a yellow Tibetan flag or banner. I couldn't see exactly what it was," he said.

"They are claiming I tried to unfurl a Tibet banner. I did not at any time try to unfurl a banner and I have never possessed any banner or protest material. I was there simply to report on a demonstration, not to take part in it in any way."

Beijing police said the activists had been undertaking illegal activities.

The Olympics has been hit by a series of small-scale protests by foreigners in Beijing calling for greater human rights, religious freedom and support for Tibet.

Police have quickly cleared most demonstrations and deported those involved. In today's incident, the Students for a Free Tibet activists - mostly Canadians and Americans - were rounded up by police after chanting: "Tibetans are dying for freedom" at the entrance of the park.

"Chinese people are great, but shame on the Chinese government because they are lying to China," Pemba Yoko, a British-Tibetan woman from London, said.

"Chinese people have a right to be Chinese. Why can't Tibetans have the right to be Tibetan? China is illegally occupying my country. We are proud to be Tibetan. We will never give up. This is a non-violent war."

Chinese officials recently apologised for two incidents of harrassment of foreign reporters, including the beating of two Japanese journalists trying to cover the deadly upsurge of unrest in Xinjiang last week.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hAxwgyQTCFoDMARmZFN3ZEg7M9oA

Chinese police rough up British journalists at Olympic protest

14 hours ago

BEIJING (AFP) — Chinese police dragged a British journalist along the ground and detained him on Wednesday after he tried to report on a pro-Tibet protest near the main Olympic stadium, witnesses told AFP.

Uniformed police pounced on John Ray, China correspondent for Independent Television News (ITN), and wrestled him to the ground shortly after foreign protesters unfurled a pro-Tibet banner, witnesses and the reporter said.

Up to seven protesters were arrested within seconds, while Ray was dragged into a nearby restaurant and forcibly held down by officers who also stamped on his hands, they said.

Ray, who is fully accredited to report in Beijing during the Olympic Games, said he was detained for around 20 minutes in the restaurant and in a police car before being released, and that his equipment bag was confiscated.

"This was an assault in my mind, I am incredibly angry about this," Ray told AFP minutes after he was released.

His shoes were scuffed, the back of his trousers and shirt were covered in grime and he displayed some bruising on his hand.

ITN cameraman Ben England said he tried to film the protest but was physically prevented from doing so by police who manhandled him and used umbrellas to try to block his camera.

China has repeatedly pledged to allow foreign broad media freedoms to do their work during the Games, but have come under criticism for continuing to stop them from reporting on sensitive issues.

Ray said he clearly told the officers in Chinese that he was a journalist during the incident, which happened about one kilometre (0.6 miles) south of the main Olympic Stadium in northern Beijing.

"I tried to explain to them that I was a British journalist but they would not even let me take out my identifiction documents, they were very rough," Ray said.

"I am just wondering where this fits in with China's solemn undertaking to allow us to report freely during the Olympics."

Beijing police would not comment on the incident over the phone, asking AFP to send a fax of questions.

http://voanews.com/english/2008-08-13-voa27.cfm

"Police have also continued to detain and harass foreign journalists despite Beijing's promise of media freedom during the summer games.

Police roughed up and briefly detained a British journalist who tried to report on Wednesday's protest. They also confiscated his equipment.

Foreign journalists trying to cover alleged "terrorist" attacks against police and security in China's northwest Xinjiang province have reported being beaten, detained, and having their work erased by police."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/moslive/article-1022472/Ive-got-Tomb-Raider-guns--Im-afraid-use-says-Angelina.html

'I've got my Tomb Raider guns - and I'm not afraid to use them,' says Angelina

Angelina Jolie has revealed she owns real versions of the guns she toted in the movie Tomb Raider - and she and partner Brad Pitt wouldn't be afraid to use them. The actress, who is rumoured to have given birth to twin girls Isla and Amelie, says she and Pitt keep a firearm in their house to protect themselves and their expanding brood...

Angelina Jolie is clearly pro-2nd Amendment. This leans her toward McCain.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/02/angelina-jolie.html

Angelina Jolie: US Must Stay In Iraq

February 29, 2008 8:01 AM

In a Washington Post op-ed all-but-ignored by most of the media, actress and United Nations High Commission for Refugees goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie writes seems to make the case against an immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.

"My visit left me even more deeply convinced that we not only have a moral obligation to help displaced Iraqi families, but also a serious, long-term, national security interest in ending this crisis," she writes.

"Today's humanitarian crisis in Iraq -- and the potential consequences for our national security -- are great. Can the United States afford to gamble that 4 million or more poor and displaced people, in the heart of Middle East, won't explode in violent desperation, sending the whole region into further disorder?

"What we cannot afford, in my view, is to squander the progress that has been made. ...As for the question of whether the surge is working, I can only state what I witnessed: U.N. staff and those of non-governmental organizations seem to feel they have the right set of circumstances to attempt to scale up their programs. And when I asked the troops if they wanted to go home as soon as possible, they said that they miss home but feel invested in Iraq. They have lost many friends and want to be a part of the humanitarian progress they now feel is possible…"

She is for staying in Iraq. One more point in favor of her supporting McCain.

She played the wife of slain reporter Daniel Pearl in a movie about him, which was produced by husband Brad Pitt. Possible point in McCains favor.

http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2005/06/mr_mrs_smith_pl.html

After a visit to the Al-Ruweished Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan, Jolie quoted them approvingly in her journal: "Be patient we will take our revenge [sic] we will take our homes back . . . . (Smiles, fists in the air) Palestine, your name is in our veins." Jolie explains, "Their dream is to see their homeland. . . . It was very moving to hear them speak of the dream." Like the late Yasser Arafat, Ms. Jolie finds Palestinian kids' call for "revenge" with fists in the air "very moving." Is this what she's teaching her adopted son, Maddox? She now sports an Arabic tattoo she got on her Christmas vacation with Maddox to Lebanon and Egypt.

Jolie was honored at a March benefit for refugees at the Kuwaiti embassy. But her buddies in Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and the rest of the Muslim world refuse to give a penny to her young Palestinian refugee friends who live in their midst.

Then there's Jolie's absurd politics here. For those who want to stop illegal immigration, Jolie is not your man - or woman. She pushed for establishment of a National Center for Refugee and Immigrant Children and lobbied for the Alien Child Protection Act, a bill that would provide lawyers refugee minors who come to the U.S. But these benefit one type of immigrant children - illegal ones. We don't need to provide "centers" and ACLU-style lawyers for illegal immigrants. We need to deport them. Sympathy, like that of Jolie, for under-age illegal aliens is exactly what their parents are counting on when they take advantage of America and smuggle themselves in. In many cases, these are children of terror suspects, and they grow up with the same anti-American ideologies.

Late last year, Jolie made a check-up on a Homeland Security facilities for asylum seekers in Phoenix. Her UN commission opposes detention of these illegal aliens (perhaps we should just let them escape into thin air). Good ole Angelina was there to monitor conditions and make sure we Americans are acting humanely. No surprise that she told Marie Claire her favorite website belongs to the far-left, anti-American Human Rights Watch.

Pro-palestinian, pro-illegal-immigrant... points in Obama's favor.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,254640,00.html

Angelina Jolie to Join Council on Foreign Relations

Monday, February 26, 2007

NEW YORK — The prestigious Council on Foreign Relations is about to get a jolt of sex appeal.

The exclusive, Manhattan-based foreign-policy group has decided to admit actress Angelina Jolie, a U.N. goodwill ambassador who has taken more than 30 trips worldwide to advocate for refugees, AIDS orphans and disaster victims.

On Friday night, the council's membership accepted Jolie's nomination — meaning she will soon be rubbing elbows with other club members such as Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice, Henry Kissinger, Colin Powell and Alan Greenspan.

The group requires no academic credentials but looks for members who take part in world affairs.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,502444,00.html

SPIEGEL: Can you picture yourself going into politics?

Jolie: I'm able to be very effective now because I'm not a Democrat, I'm not a Republican. So, I'm not tied, and I'd never want to be tied to anything, to some constituency that I would have to answer to.

bigken1,
Then please explain to the readers how astrophysicists have now observed global warming increases on every planet in the solar system. Warming on other planets cannot be caused by human beings. CO2 increases are an effect of solar forced warming. While the increases in CO2 may be contributing to the warming, most of that CO2 is not manmade, its being outgassed from tundra, the ocean, etc.

gold is dropping like a rock along with oil, silver, and other commodities. the markets are making a major change moving money from commidities to financial markets.

lol bigken1, suggest reading the rest of the comments. you act like CO2 is some sort of poison or toxin.

btw there are worldwide plants that sequester CO2, its called oceanic plankton, and seeding plankton blooms with iron is one proven method for sequestering massive amounts of CO2 cheaply and easily, even if CO2 was actually causing climate change (CO2 increases are lagging behind temp increases, not leading them, so its not scientifically supportable that CO2 is causing warming). Scientific proof requires that effect follow cause, not the reverse.

Is there any hubdub rule against investigating things? For instance, if they are reporting from a ship, contacting the ship owners to find out where the ship was that day?

I think this will be a simple case of intentional misrepresentation, of the reporters calling the magnetic or geomagnetic north pole the "North Pole", when as far as climate is concerned, the true geographic north pole at 90 deg N latitude is what most people and climatologists consider the true north pole. Having a magnetic pole by greenland ice free is one thing, but the geographic north pole being ice free is an entirely different can of worms.

This is why I was so clear in the question about what is and is not the "North Pole" wrt this question.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080810/ap_on_re_as/china_explosions;_ylt=AhIi_i6sy0SThTSjLE.94dtbbBAF

"Police picked up an Associated Press reporter and photographer while they were reporting Sunday near the scene and drove them to a hotel where they were kept for hours. On the way to the hotel, they saw one of the explosion sites: a storefront in a line of shops was burnt out, and a three-wheeled vehicle parked in front of the store was completely charred."

This sounds very close to an arrest.

What do I need to do to get this suspension released? It seems to me to be suppression of criticism of media manipulation to keep this under suspension.

The real purpose of LHC is its a plot by the French, German, and other European nations tax authorities to destroy Switzerland as a tax haven.... lol

The cited article is obviously biased, claiming he was not tried by a jury when the rest of the article clearly stated that he was in fact tried by a jury. What is more, he has it better than in civilian court wrt sentencing, as the jury is empowered to sentence him, not the judge. As for Miranda warnings, those were thrown out by the US Supreme Court over a decade ago, they are only used today because state laws require them for arrests in the states.

That said, I am impressed they acquitted him of conspiracy. While his presence at meetings of conspirators places him in a position to be potentially guilty, it would be like sentencing Hitler's maid for the holocaust.

No its not a duplicate. This is not about any environmental event, this is a question asking whether the media will commit journalistic fraud, alleging an event which has not in fact occured, by broadcasting from one location but claiming to be in another.

Firstly, we need to see the media make such a report, then it can be investigated where they actually were when they made the report. For instance, I fully expect someone in the major medial to make such a report, but to do so from either the North Magnetic Pole or the North Geomagnetic Pole and claiming to be "at the north pole", when the true north pole is the Geographical North Pole at 90 degrees latitute (as I specify in the question). The magnetic pole locations are over 1000 miles from the geographical north pole.

I was VERY clear in my question and do not understand why you feel you need further clarification.

http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r1543134005&f=9946

"For the month of August, the team expects four named storms, three hurricanes, and one intense hurricane for the Atlantic basin. This activity is approximately 180 percent of the average activity expected during the month of August."

Colorado tends to overestimate hurricane severity a bit. This new estimate means ONE cat 3 or higher hurricane in the entire atlantic in the month of august. So the question remaining is where will it make landfall? Florida is only one possible target, the course of any hurricane of course is highly dependent upon prevailing winds that steer hurricanes.

Wow looks like Hitler finally got his revenge, sponging Chrysler dry.

I think analysts are not realizing how much easier it is to prototype and tool up for new products vs 30 years ago. Cerberus will need to totally dump union contracts or win major concessions from them to rescue Chrysler. I think all the big three will use this as a chance to do that.

Um when did Chrysler split from Daimler Chrysler?

Do we have any resources about where the HQs are for each airline?

Wellll sheeatt, all yus Canadians keep claiming when we yanks give up our guns that our crime will go away and we'll all learn to live in peace and harmony like y'all up nawth o the bordah....

My only question is.... do you think he decided we taste like chicken?

If this passes, Denver will steal California's status as kookiest place in America.

If you are talking about what the Govt did for Chrysler in 1980, they guaranteed private loans made between Chrysler and private banks.. Thats not really a 'bailout' by the government though its often portrayed as such, because the government risks no money to do so other than the risk that Chrysler would have defaulted on the loan and left the taxpayer responsible.

NOTE: The SEC has banned hedgers from selling naked shorts on a number of major mortgage lenders, including freddiemac, fanniemay, and several others.

http://www.forbes.com/2008/07/29/sec-short-order-biz-wall-cx_lm_0729bizsec.html

Federal reserve has extended borrowing to these companies as well. However: "A number of companies not protected by the order have lobbied to have it extended to their shares, but to no avail. Washington Mutual (nyse: WM - news - people ), National City Corp. (nyse: NCC - news - people ) and other big banks, not to mention other nonfinancial companies, are still excluded."

So watch for the unprotected companies to get whacked by short sellers, and possibly taken over by the FDIC.

I disagree with robuk. This should be settled as a NO.

Of course. Greenpeace uses the same attack/extortion methods as Jesse jackson.

The argument is not sensical. There is more young ice because last year was the record melting, this past winter saw the coldest temps since the 1870's so a lot more new ice formed than usual, so much so that even Svalbard is reporting massive ice in the area when its normally ice free in that area this time of year.

Latest satellite images show lots of ice persisting into the end of July, more so than in past years.

http://www.hubdub.com/m10139/Will_the_North_Pole_be_ice_free_at_any_point_in_2008

Related market, has my comments. Arctic has more ice than average at present.

Fauna of Meghalaya region:

"The Animal Kingdom
The species found here are - Hoolock - the only tailless ape in India, Golden Cat, Leopard Cat, Jungle Cat, Large Indian Civet, Binturong or Bear Cat, Himalayan Black Bear, Barking Deer, Pangolin.

Some species of various families of mammals namely Primates, the Cats, Civets, Mongooses, Dogs, Bear, Weasels, Bats, Rodents, Elephants, Gaur, Wild Buffalo, Serow, Deer, Pigs and Pangolins are seen roaming in the forests of Meghalaya. In Meghalaya we come across apes as well as monkeys and lemurs. In Meghalaya you will also come across Hoolock Gibbon, macaques and langurs, Rhesus Macaque and Assamese Macaque. The Golden Langur is a very rare species of Meghalaya and is on the verge of extinction. Among lemurs, the Slow Loris is found in Meghalaya."

Hoolock Gibbon and Golden Langur are the likely culprits if it is not something new altogether, however there are a couple bear species in that area, though nothing that is three meters tall.

jchiang, right apes and monkeys are separate families, however homo sapiens is an ape species (as DNA tests show, there is less genetic variation between male human and chimp than between male and female humans (same for females of the two species)), all apes are properly labeled "Hominids" or Hominidae.

Heres a good taxonomy:
http://homepage.mac.com/wildlifeweb/primate/photos/species.html

Cheirogaleidae Dwarf Lemurs and Mouse Lemurs
Lemuridae Lemurs
Megaladapidae Lepilemur
Indridae Avahi, Indris, and Sifakas
Daubentoniidae Aye-aye
Loridae Pottos and Lorises
Galagoniidae Galagos
Tarsiidae Tarsiers
Callitrichidae Marmosets and Tamarins
Cebidae Cebid Monkeys
Cercopithecidae Old World Monkeys
Hylobatidae Gibbons and Siamang
Hominidae Great Apes and Man

If this researcher found commonalities between this hair and other great apes and man, then it is likely a hominid of some sort. That negates the boar, bear, and yak choices. If it was from a known ape species, you'd think an ape expert could tell you which one.

http://www.courant.com/business/hc-oilprices0801.artaug01,0,5241881.story

Light, sweet crude for September delivery fell $2.69 to settle at $124.08 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, a day after the contract soared more than $4 in the biggest one-day jump in two weeks. Prices have now fallen in four of the last seven sessions and are 14 percent off their all-time trading high above $147, reached July 11.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tafb_latest/danger_atl_latestBW.gif

"THERE IS NO TROPICAL CYCLONE ACTIVITY IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN"

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-07-18-0156.html

"Nationally, Amtrak's June ridership grew 11.7 percent compared with last June, according to Tracy Connell, a spokeswoman for the rail corporation in Washington."

This percentage, based on the above statistics, comes out to: 2559549

I think this prediction has been confirmed.

http://www.hubdub.com/m10139/Will_the_North_Pole_be_ice_free_at_any_point_in_2008

Watch the postings on this prediction. Looks like the arctic is nowhere near as ice free as the MSM is trying to make us believe.

http://formerspook.blogspot.com/2008/07/crossing-red-line.html

"The scenario is further complicated by the availability of other bases in the region. Earlier this week, Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez called on Russia to form an alliance with his nation and Cuba, to resist “American aggression” in the Caribbean. Russian bombers could (potentially) shuttle between Cuba and Venezuela, avoiding prolonged stays in one location that would invite a U.S. response.

Potential bomber deployments to Venezuela are equally troubling, since it would place them within easy striking distance of the Panama Canal—and targets in the CONUS—but far enough away to avoid the red line issue.

And, unlike Cuba, Venezuela has cash and the gas to support a long-term Russian military presence. Readers will note that Cuba is being mentioned as only a refueling base for the Blackjacks; that suggests that Moscow may be angling for another location in the region to serve as a forward operating base, with Venezuela at the top of that list.

It won’t be another Cuban Missile Crisis—unless we discover that the Blackjacks deployed with nuclear weapons. But the prospective bomber deployment could pose a serious security challenge for the next administration. Someone ought to ask Senator McCain and Senator Obama about their thoughts on TU-160s in Cuba or Venezuela, and when such deployments would cross that proverbial “red line.”"

http://eldib.wordpress.com/2008/07/25/breaking-russian-s-300-missiles-would-ensure-venezuelas-oil-security/

"BREAKING: Russian S-300 missiles ‘would ensure Venezuela’s oil security’"

MOSCOW, July 24 (RIA Novosti) - Russian S-300 air-defense missile systems would enable Venezuela to fully ensure the security of its hydrocarbon resources, a Russian military expert said Thursday.

“Needless to say, should S-300s be delivered to Venezuela, they would effectively strengthen its defense capability, and it would not be easy for its possible adversaries to punish the country by striking at its oil fields,” former Air Force commander Gen. Anatoly Kornukov said.

He added that as an oil-rich country Venezuela had to protect its natural resources.

“It is difficult to say how many air-defense systems Venezuela would need, since it has to protect not separate sites, but its entire territory,” he said, adding that 10 S-300 battalions, each comprising six launchers, “should be enough.”

The Venezuelan government on Wednesday accused international and domestic media of deliberately misinterpreting information on President Hugo Chavez’s recent visit to Russia.

Some media reports said Chavez offered to host Russian military bases in Venezuela and to buy $30 billion worth of Russian weaponry in the next four years.

Venezuela’s 1999 Constitution prohibits the hosting of foreign military bases in the country.

In 2005-2006, Venezuela bought more than 50 combat helicopters, 24 Su-30MK2 fighters, 12 Tor-M1 air defense missile systems and 100,000 AK-103 assault rifles from Russia. Current contracts are worth about $4 billion, according to various sources.

Future deliveries may include Amur-class diesel submarines, Il-76MD military transport planes, Il-78 aerial tankers and air-defense missile systems.

There are massive weapons sales of jets, tanks, missiles, etc going on between Russia and Venezuela. The two countries are negotiating right now building an air base for nuclear armed Russian Backfire bombers to be based at (A reprise of the Cuban Missile Crisis, anyone?). Expect things to heat up, and I expect the Bush administration to take full advantage of the situation, giving McCain a chance to get all hawkish with justification, driving his poll numbers up to win the election.

http://wattsupwiththat.wordpress.com/2008/07/13/satellite-imagery-shows-artic-ice-still-unmelted/

Satellite Imagery Shows Arctic Ice Still Unmelted
13 07 2008

"There has been a great deal of speculation about the possibility that the arctic sea ice could, at the worst case, melt entirely, or more realistic, possibly break the record sea ice melt set last year.

Judge for yourself. This photo with 1 kilometer/pixel resolution was taken yesterday July 12th at 17:05 UTC:" http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/aqua_image_071208.jpg

These very recent (July 12th) satellite images of the arctic ice cap show NOTHING like what is being claimed in major media, there is hardly ANY significant ice loss.

The only thing melting here is the campaign by malthusian disasturbationists to use the media to promote a lie. You have to wonder what ever happened to journalistic integrity. You have to wonder why none of the major corporate media is reporting on this. What the HELL is going on with the propaganda we are all being fed of massive meltings and imminent danger of extinction of polar bears and other BS. These satellite images clearly expose the claims of the global warming people are completely and utterly false.

LATEST NEWS:
http://wattsupwiththat.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/polar-ice-check-still-a-lot-of-ice-up-there/

"Polar Ice Check - Still a lot of ice up there
30 07 2008

During our last check in, we had a look at northern Canada from the Arctic Circle to the North pole, and found we had quite a ways to go before we see an “ice free arctic” this year as some have speculated.

Today I did a check of the NASA rapidfire site for TERRA/MODIS satellite images and grabbed a view showing northern Greenland all the way to the North Pole.

There’s some bergy bits on the northeastern shore of Greenland, but in the cloud free area extending all the way to the pole, it appears to still be solid ice."
http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/arctic_aqua_ice_073008.jpg

I might make my own prediction: before the end of summer, at least one major media outlet will claim to be broadcasting from the 'north pole' with open seas, but will not be within 1,000 miles of the north pole.

If she doesn't accept VP, she's likely looking for 8 more years as Secty of State to establish a long record there that will stay in the history books.

This will likely take a few months to get accurate data from Amtrak or the government.

volume of gold per ounce can be deduced from its density

based on growth between feb and june of last year, I predict this years june ridership should be on the order of 2.5+ million, which would make it Amtrak's best year yet.

http://www.bts.gov/publications/white_house_economic_statistics_briefing_room/may_2008/html/rail_amtrak_ridership.html

Amtrak ridership numbers

Month passengers passengers (x1000)
Jun-06 2,191,444 2,191
Jul-06 2,219,010 2,219
Aug-06 2,211,471 2,211
Sep-06 1,938,601 1,939
Oct-06 2,135,602 2,136
Nov-06 2,154,199 2,154
Dec-06 2,068,565 2,069
Jan-07 1,797,382 1,797
Feb-07 1,778,662 1,779
Mar-07 2,174,315 2,174
Apr-07 2,207,139 2,207
May-07 2,295,604 2,296
Jun-07 2,291,449 2,291
Jul-07 2,414,051 2,414
Aug-07 2,429,470 2,429
Sep-07 2,101,002 2,101
Oct-07 2,336,370 2,336
Nov-07 2,413,851 2,414
Dec-07 2,311,615 2,312
Jan-08 2,005,038 2,005
Feb-08 2,029,448

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-07-18-0156.html

http://www.waltonsun.com/news/shark_1677___article.html/whale_attack.html

UPDATED: Mother whale and calf beach themselves after shark attack
July 5, 2008 - 11:59PM
Pauline Sutcliffe as told to Gwen Break

Beach walkers at Lakewood beach entrance found two pygmy sperm whales, a female and her calf, beached Friday morning. Here's a personal accounty of the drama from Seacrest resident Pauline Sutcliffe.

"Mom whale and young calf were picked up by Gulf World shortly after I took these photos and it was established the calf was about a year old.

I WIN!!!!

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hV3bjwCgp9kcKRyWieMp8zHBGdSQD91VPP1O0

Calif condors' animal instinct takes over in fire

By TRACIE CONE – 5 days ago

BIG SUR, Calif. (AP) — As wildfire whipped toward a remote sanctuary of the endangered California condor last month, the rare birds got their biggest test in survival after years of pampering by biologists: They had to live completely on their own.

Forced away by flames, their scientist handlers could only hope the birds' animal instincts would kick in. To their delight, they did.

The birds found fresh air, and food: a beached whale and decaying California sea lion at the edge of Big Sur's cliffs.

^^^^^^^^^^^^ does this count?

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080624/BREAKINGNEWS/80624043/1086/NEWS01

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=ahUE6Sr9ayok&refer=asia

Singh Seeks Support for India Nuclear Deal After Surviving Vote

By Cherian Thomas and Bibhudatta Pradhan
Enlarge Image/Details

July 23 (Bloomberg) -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will revive his push to import nuclear reactors and fuel next week with support from President George W. Bush after his government survived a confidence vote in parliament.

Singh's Congress Party-led coalition won enough votes to extend its four-year term after a two-day debate on the U.S. nuclear accord marred by allegations of bribery and intimidation. The U.S. will urge other board members of the International Atomic Energy Agency to support an inspection plan tied to the accord during a meeting on Aug. 1, State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said in Washington.

``The government will press on the accelerator regarding the nuclear deal,'' said N. Bhaskara Rao, chairman of the Center for Media Studies, a political policy group in New Delhi. ``Singh will also attempt to move ahead on other economic reforms.''

The 2005 accord signed between Singh and Bush gives India access to fuel and nuclear reactors without joining the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It would lift restrictions imposed on suppliers to provide India with atomic technologies since it tested a nuclear weapon in 1974 without being listed as an atomic weapons state.

India can now seek the nuclear deal's approval from the IAEA and the Nuclear Suppliers Group, a mandatory requirement before the U.S. Congress can ratify it. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino predicted approval in Congress should the plans succeed with the IAEA and the 45-nation suppliers group.

Legislative Calendar

``We're certainly mindful of the legislative calendar,'' Perino told reporters at the White House before the final tally in India. ``But we think that there's enough support in Congress that we would be able to get this done, should we be able to bring it to Congress for a vote.''

In the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the U.S., U.K., France, Russia, Japan, China, and most recently Australia have voiced support for giving India the necessary exemptions it needs to conduct trade in nuclear material and equipment with the member countries, the U.S.-India Business Council said.

``Time is tight in that the U.S. congressional calendar is jam-packed between now and the U.S. presidential election'' in November, Ron Somers, president of the business council, said in a statement after the Indian vote.

Singh had to demonstrate his strength in parliament after his communist allies withdrew support on concern the accord will weaken the nation's foreign policy. Singh won 275 votes in his favor and 256 against in the confidence motion late yesterday.

``Parliament has spoken in an unambiguous manner,'' Singh said after the vote. ``This augurs well for the country's development and for India's efforts to find its rightful place in the comity of nations. It is a convincing victory.''

Stocks Rise

Indian stocks rose in U.S. trading after the government's victory. ICICI Bank Ltd., India's second biggest, climbed 13 percent to $33.89. HDFC Bank Ltd., the third-largest, soared 9.8 percent to $85.97.

The two-day debate was repeatedly adjourned as lawmakers cutting across party lines shouted down the speakers and hurled allegations.

Parliamentarians from the Bahujan Samaj Party alleged that an emissary from the government threatened them with the prosecution of their leader, Mayawati, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, unless they supported the motion.

The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party lawmakers displayed purported bundles of currency notes in parliament, which they said were offered to their lawmakers in return for support to the government.

Indian Concerns

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Lal Krishna Advani had pledged to renegotiate the nuclear energy accord if it came to power, because the deal makes India ``subservient'' to the U.S.

Singh says the accord will help increase nuclear generation 10-fold and end blackouts in the world's second-most populous country, after China. Shortage of power and other infrastructure shaves 2 percentage points from India's annual economic growth, the finance ministry estimates. India needs to bridge that deficit to sustain growth of more than 10 percent and ease poverty.

The Bush administration bills the overall agreement as a way to help India meet its energy needs, bolster non-proliferation controls and strengthen U.S. relations with the Asian subcontinent.

``We continue, obviously, to support this,'' Gallegos told reporters in Washington after the final vote in New Delhi. ``We're going to be working with our folks here in the United States to move forward with it.''

To contact the reporters on this story: Cherian Thomas in New Delhi at cthomas1@bloomberg.net; Bibhudatta Pradhan in New Delhi at bpradhan@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: July 22, 2008 16:47 EDT

This past year saw the largest cooling since 1870's:
http://wattsupwiththat.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/january-2008-4-sources-say-globally-cooler-in-the-past-12-months/

"As atmospheric CO2 has not dropped and the heat loss to space was accelerated as compared to recent years (yes, I realize temp is a noisy proxie of heat but has Anthony and others have shown, it is difficult for it to be biased cold vs. high)

As the study of the climate is an on going endeavor and the actual drivers of the system are still being discovered, the recent temperature drop pushes down the confidence of CO2 as a significant driver and increases the confidence other drivers are now more likely to be more significant. (To date, those other drivers being primarily PDO, AMO, Solar Variance)"

"Putting 0.6 degrees in perspective– That is the amount of energy we get from sun in about 3.7 hours.

assuming:
(a) Heat capacity of atmosphere ~ 3.8*10^21 Joule/K
(b) incident radiation ~ 1366 Watt/m^2)
(c) surface temp is approximative of the whole atmosphere. (big assumption)

Losing (or gaining) .6 deg over the course of a year is not a big deal percentage wise. That would mean we averaged a radiative imbalance of -0.04% in the last 12 months, and about +0.0007% over the last century.

I think a lot of people who worry about GW don’t have a good feel for the amounts of energy they are talking about.

As an example, a solar eclipse deprives the earth of ~3.3*10^20 Joules. (Assuming it happens in the daytime, ha ha) This alone is enough to drop the Atmosphere’s avg temp by 0.085 deg K.

(assumptions: solar eclipse transit time = 7 hrs, radius of moon= 0.27*radius of earth)"

"I’m amazed that no one else is commenting on the Northern Hemisphere land (where 90% of people live) average temp falling 2.4C (jan 2007 to jan 200 8) in 12 months.

The IPCC is saying we will get that amount of warming in 50 years and it will be a catastrophe. Yet, we get that amount of cooling in a year and no one bats an eyelid.

I think the reason is that both sides of the debate instinctively believe that whatever happens, climate changes slowly and therefore a 2.4C drop in average temperature in a year must be a statistical quirk or anomaly.

Well maybe it isn’t and climate can change rapidly. There is some evidence that at the start of the Little Ice Age we had an abrupt cooling of around 3C in just a few years (perhaps 5 years).

BTW, I went and checked there wasn’t a mistake in the Jan 2007 NH land temp and found in fact it had been adjusted down slightly in the jan 2008 report and the cooling would have been -2.45C using the jan 2007 value.

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2007/jan/global.html#Temp "

Jan 2008 NOAA Global Temperature Anomalies chart: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/2008/jan/map-blended-mntp-200801-pg.gif

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2008/jan/global.html#Temp

"The January global land surface average was below the 20th century mean for the first time since 1982. La Niña, the cold phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, persisted in the equatorial Pacific, damping ocean surface temperatures."

2007 ranks as only the 63rd warmest year in the past century or so, for global land temperatures. The pacific occillation La Nina/El Nino is in a strong La Nina phase that coincides with the extended solar minimum we've been in. Cooling is predicted to extend for at least another 6 months, after which Solar Cycle 24 will be back in swing and solar radiance levels will climb again, and La Nina will have subsided after significantly cooling the Pacific.

Note also: one of the four main temperature indexes includes the poles, while the other three do not. This one index showed the largest change in temps, indicating that the poles cooled the most out of most locations on the planet (you see that NOAA's maps do not count the polar areas in their measurments, hence why NOAA only recorded an average 0.1 C reduction in temps). As the Arctic saw the largest cooling in many decades (as did Antarctica), it therefore lends credence to the argument that the North Pole will NOT be free of ice within the time frame specified.

Oh, heres another "inconvenient truth": Fully half of the CO2 being released by all countries in this world is coming from underground coal fires. If you truly believe that CO2 is at fault here, the easiest solution to 'fixing' your problem without impacting the economy, would be to launch a global campaign to put out undergound coal fires. These are typically in long abandoned mines, most of which happen to be in China, but many are in the US, Germany, and other locations.

the dying bees a few years ago was due to a fungus.

The only real environmental problems we have in this world are caused by too many people. The only way to solve this is by STOP HAVING KIDS. Stop sending foreign aid to countries whose problems come from too many kids. At most, send em condoms, birth control pills, and sterilization kits.

Oh and Euthanasia too isn't a kids anime fan club. Encourage your baby boomer parents to strongly consider it to do their part for the planet.

Krujis, I am not the arrogant one. I think it is incredibly arrogant for some people to think that we mere humans, whose total energy budget globally is a tiny fraction of 1% of the solar energy that hits the planet, who to date have been completely incapable of starting or stopping a single tsunami, hurricane, tornado, draught, earthquake, or major flood, yet theres this small group of scientists (3,000 supporting the IPCC reports, vs the 30,000 who have disputed it) claims we are somehow completely changing the entire planetary ecosystem ourselves. THAT is arrogance.

The idea that climate should remain the same in perpetuity is also an arrogant opinion of the GW proponents. The only constant in nature is change. Climate is always changing. In the late 18th and early 19th century, which was during the Dalton Minimum (ya, low sunspot counts for 30 years) they had supercold winters, weak summers. You may have read in your history books about how cold it was at Valley Forge during the American revolution. That was the first year of the Dalton Minimum. It was not til the late 19th century that the Earth came out of a period that began in the 13th century called the 'Little Ice Age". The LIA was what killed off very vibrant and prosperous viking communities in Greenland (which was called greenland because in the middle ages it was much greener than it is even now) and made the stories of Lief Ericson and Eric the Red settling in the new world into myths.

Now, was there warming in the late 20th century? Yes there was, but it was NOT human caused, it was caused by long term and consistent high sunspot counts in every solar cycle, something we have not seen in recorded history.

As for the IPCC, the predictions of future CO2 emissions are not the only thing thats faulty. You may have seen in Al Gore's movie "An Inconvenient Truth" a chart claiming to show warming that looks like a 'hockey stick'. This was produced by a fraudster named Michael Mann, whose software has now been proven to put out junk data, as some statisticians fed white noise data into it (thats random data) and out popped the same hockey stick that Al Gore claims is 'proving' the evidence of global warming since the 19th century. This means no matter what data you put into the software, a hockey stick comes out: hence its a fraud.

I'd vote for it if Las Vegas renames the biggest whore house the "Bill Clinton Snatch Ranch"

The correct answer to this challenge is that its not going to cost anywhere near 45 trillion USD to 'fix' global warming, because the premises upon which such an estimate are based are badly flawed.

For instance:
a) the IPCC predictions for warming over the course of the 21st century predict that we will consume ten times more oil than the Peak Oilers claim is in the ground, in total. Whats more hilarious is that both Peak Oil and 'anthropogenic' Global Warming are theories invented and promoted by the Club of Rome, a group of european based malthusian socialists (though people like Paul Ehrlich, Donella Meadows, and Fritjof Kapra are among them) whose true goal is a one world global socialist state controlled economy. "Theories" like Global Warming and Peak Oil are mere propaganda meant to push governments toward the ends they desire. If you think this is crazy talk, look at where the europeans that have instituted energy taxes are spending the money raised: not on carbon sequestration, but on welfare state socialist bureaucracies. They want the US to volunteer to hobble itself with similar laws so europe can compete economically with the US. Why else would the group promote two mutually exclusive, contradictory, theories as absolute scientific proof?
b) Its all about the sunspots: global climate tracks to changes in sunspot counts for the past 400 years, since Galileo first started counting them in 1610, to the present era. While CO2 levels are a lagging indicator (i.e. CO2 levels go up AFTER warming happens, not before, ergo CO2 doesnt cause global warming), sunspots are a leading indicator. Look up terms "Maunder Minimum" and "Dalton Minimum" in wikipedia. Why do sunspots matter now? Firstly, the 20th century saw the highest solar maximums in recorded solar astronomic history (since 1610), and particularly the last 30 years of the 20th saw every solar maximum peaking at historic highs, which obviously resulted in the measurable global warming of about a half degree C.
c) Solar Cycle 25 is now being predicted by NASA solar astronomers to have such a low sunspot count that astronomers are predicting the resulting global cooling will range from 1.5-2.0 C between 2018-2029, and cooling could persist for another 11 year solar cycle beyond number 25, as these sort of Minima tend to come in pairs or more. This means the globe will likely be significantly cooler from 2018 to 2040. If you think the globe warmed a lot in the 20th, it will cool four times more within a decade or so. Once the solar cycles return to normal (if they do quickly, keep in mind the Maunder Minimum lasted over a century, and there are no signs that the coming solar minimum wont last as long) it will take decades to warm Earth up again.

So, it wont cost us a cent to 'fix' global warming, we can sit back and watch nature do what it always does: change climate to a greater degree than humans ever could. It really speaks to an incredible degree of hubris for people to think the human race can really disturb a global climate like that. I realize many people are used to ideas like "nuclear winter" and like to disasturbate about how evil the human race is and were going to destroy ourselves, but really, 99% of disasters in this world are natural disasters that we have absolutely no way to prevent or replicate ourselves.

ok thx

NOTE: This past year saw the largest global cooling on record, this winter was so cold on average that it broke records going back to the 1870's in many areas. This is of course do to the actual cause of climate change: the sun. We are in a solar minimum period right now, minimal sunspots means the sun is very cool, thus warming the earth less, resulting in cooling.

While we will see a temporary return to warming over the next 5-7 years, in 2018 a complete shutdown in the suns conveyor belt system currently underway (observed by NASA solar astronomers) is being predicted to cause massive global cooling of 1.5-2.0 C, 3-4 times more cooling than the earth has warmed in the past half century.

its really sad that this question has been suspended, reflecting political bias in site management.

how about a prediction about the number of crimes prevented by this policy?

Then again she is a minority and she filed in Los Angeles..... free money is sure to follow.

I think it depends on the physical stature of the woman. If she's perceived as overweight, she would lose the case and Victorias Secret would be smart to push for a trial. If she is not, they would be smart to settle.

They're welcome to come try to blow me up, my bullets are now constitutionally protected equal opportunity killers. DC v. Heller (SCOTUS 2008)

http://typhoon.atmos.colostate.edu/forecasts/2008/june2008/jun2008.pdf

"In a global warming or global cooling world, the atmosphere’s upper air temperatures will warm or cool in unison with the sea surface temperatures. Vertical lapse rates will not be significantly altered. We have no plausible physical reasons for believing that Atlantic hurricane frequency or intensity will change significantly if global ocean temperatures continue to rise. For instance, in the quarter-century period from 1945-1969 when the globe was undergoing a weak cooling trend, the Atlantic basin experienced 80 major (Cat 3-4-5) hurricanes and 201 major hurricane days. By contrast, in a similar 25-year period from 1970-1994 when the globe was undergoing a general warming trend, there were only 38 major hurricanes (48% as many) and 63 major hurricane days (31% as many). Atlantic sea surface temperatures and hurricane activity do not necessarily follow global mean temperature trends.
The most reliable long-period hurricane records we have are the measurements of US landfalling tropical cyclones since 1900 (Table 19). Although global mean ocean and Atlantic sea surface temperatures have increased by about 0.4oC between these two 50-year periods (1900-1949 compared with 1958-2007), the frequency of US landfall numbers actually shows a slight downward trend for the later period. If we chose to make a similar comparison between US landfall from the earlier 30-year period of 1900-1929 when global mean surface temperatures were estimated to be about 0.5°C colder than they were during the 30-year period from 1976-2005, we find exactly the same US hurricane landfall numbers (54 to 54) and major hurricane landfall numbers (21 to 21).
We should not read too much into the two hurricane seasons of 2004-2005. The activity of these two years was unusual but well within natural bounds of hurricane variation. In addition, following the two very active seasons of 2004 and 2005, both 2006 and 2007 had slightly below-average and average activity, respectively, and only one Category 1 hurricane (Humberto) made United States landfall.
Between 1966 and 2003, US major hurricane landfall numbers were below the long-term average. Of the 79 major hurricanes that formed in the Atlantic basin from 1966-2003, only 19 (24 percent) made US landfall. During the two seasons of 2004-2005, seven of 13 (54 percent) came ashore. Zero of the four major hurricanes that formed in 2006 and 2007 made US landfall. This is how nature sometimes works.
What made the 2004-2005 seasons so unusually destructive was not the high frequency of major hurricanes but the high percentage of major hurricanes that were steered over the US coastline. The major US hurricane landfall events of 2004-2005 were primarily a result of the favorable upper-air steering currents present during these two years."