Wall Street Journal occupied by ignorant climate denier.

This is the dumbest written example of climate denial on record.  And before you say "Napoleon, like anyone could know that.." read it yourself.  Hoo-boy..

WSJ: The Great Global Warming Fizzle: The climate religion fades in spasms of anger and twitches of boredom.

First Stephens makes a case that climate science is actually a religion.  The flavor is a mix of weak tea and Kool Aid.

Consider the case of global warming, another system of doomsaying prophecy and faith in things unseen. 

As with religion, it is presided over by a caste of spectacularly unattractive people pretending to an obscure form of knowledge that promises to make the seas retreat and the winds abate. As with religion, it comes with an elaborate list of virtues, vices and indulgences. As with religion, its claims are often non-falsifiable, hence the convenience of the term "climate change" when thermometers don't oblige the expected trend lines. As with religion, it is harsh toward skeptics, heretics and other "deniers." And as with religion, it is susceptible to the earthly temptations of money, power, politics, arrogance and deceit.

Then he makes a case that climate change stopped being a priority because of the financial crisis.

Yet a funny thing happened on the way to the climate apocalypse. Namely, the financial apocalypse.

The U.S., Russia, Japan, Canada and the EU have all but confirmed they won't be signing on to a new Kyoto. The Chinese and Indians won't make a move unless the West does. The notion that rich (or formerly rich) countries are going to ship $100 billion every year to the Micronesias of the world is risible, especially after they've spent it all on Greece. 

I'm not sure how that undermines climate science or makes it a religion. What we decide to do or not do politically to address climate change is a whole other question than is the science itself legitimate. Go ahead and hate Kyoto all you want, I do.  But when you attack the science in order to oppose Kyoto or any other policy you just come off looking like one more loudmouth dumbass.

Then he dives right into the denier playbook by citing the dreaded climategate emails.  His Uncle Paul must have sent him some e-mails to bring him up to speed on the mother of all non-troversies.. 

That's where the Climategate emails come in.

Climategate  is nothing but trumped up nonsense that climate deniers use to try to discredit all the data and science that point to the warming trend. But the truth does not depend on anyone's opinion of it.   Whatever it was scientist X e-mailed to scientist Y does not change the fact that every day 7 billion people use energy and create more waste heat and carbon dioxide.  The oceans are warming, the air is warming, and the permafrost in the Arctic is melting.  We are on a slippery slope already.  Climategate does not change that. 

Then this final bit of wisdom from Stephens..

On Sunday, 2,232 days will have elapsed since a category 3 hurricane made landfall in the U.S., the longest period in more than a century that the U.S. has been spared a devastating storm.

As if the only proof that climate change is genuine is the quantity of category 3 hurricanes that make landfall in the USA.  I am not sure if he is actually that stupid or if he thinks his readers are.   Here is a site that explains how climate change will and is affecting weather patterns in the world.  NRDC: The Consequences of Global Warming 

Stephens is a shining example of the willful ignorance of the modern GOP and right wing.  They oppose the political solutions for how to address human impact on the environment not by providing alternative solutions or ideas, but rather by attacking the science and scientists.  The whole article is one long ad hominen attack. Stephens never provides a shred of evidence to support his claims, he just tries to discredit the other side.

Good thing for him his target audience is even dumber than he is.

Corporate greed blamed for everything bad in the world

Whatever corporate greed is, it sure does get blamed for a lot of the bad stuff that happens in the world.

If you see an injustice, you can rest assured that someone else out there with a Twitter Account has already witnessed this same injustice and in 160 characters or less has indicted "corporate greed" for bringing such calamitous repercussions to society, including but not limited to the displays of bad behavior by shoppers on Black Friday.  For perspective, here are some videos..

Now tell me, is this really corporate greed on display or is it consumer greed or perhaps just just extreme rudeness.

Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.  It is a tradition around here to head downtown early for the Thanksgiving Parade on Woodward.  Stake out a spot and enjoy the parade, then hustle back home to watch the first half of the Lion's game on TV, then a short drive during halftime to meet up with the family to watch the rest of the game and have dinner. All followed by a three-day weekend of more  football, family and food. 

For those who haven't been to the parade in Detroit, here are some scenes from this morning.

And here is a picture of the only thing I want for Christmas.  A motorized Lazyboy chair.

Super Committee FAIL

OK, first I move to officially change the name from Super Committee to Typical Committee.  They had so much power to effect real change and all they did was sit there in their pee pants and give up.  So instead we get some kind of random number generator to figure out how to cut the deficit.  All this highly paid elected brainpower and a staff of thousands more highly paid assistants and this is all we get?  "We give up.  Let HAL figure it out ".   


We might as well replace all of Congress with a room full of interns at Google to use game software like Sim City to figure out budget decisions for the USA.  The algorithm will run a kazillion separate simulation runs testing every potential decision and determine the eventual impact on society and then we will just agree to go with the decisions that should screw things up the least.  And save a shit ton of cash for taxpayers.

Oh enough of me ranting.  Lonely Island's turn.    

Another Happy Day in NYC

We road tripped to NYC so we could see Another Happy Day on the big screen at Village East Cinema yesterday night. It is a dark compelling movie with an all star cast featuring stellar performances by Ellen Barkin, Ellen Bursytn, Ezra Miller, Kate Bosworth and George Kennedy (my order..) And I would also include Jeffrey DeMunn who had the whole theater laughing out loud several times with some much needed comic relief from the disturbing storylines that weaved through the film.

The movie is allegedly about a wedding, but the wedding is just the excuse for this highly dysfunctional family to get together in close quarters where the sport is to tear down Lynn (Ellen Barkin) and gossip about her son Elliot (Ezra Miller). Everyone is shitty to her but Lynn just soldiers on through it all. Themes include drug addiction, asperger's syndrome, domestic abuse, self mutilation, alzheimers disease, alcoholism, nudism, catfights, and explicit profanity. The film is unrated and probably not destined for mass distribution at the box office but I recommend seeing it when it arrives. Oh, and take some eye bleach. You'll thank me later for that. Cudos to director Sam Levinson for such a memorable and provocative first film. I hope Ellen Barkin is recognized with an Oscar nomination for her role. 


As an extra bonus for our trip, Sam Levinson and Ellen Barkin made an appearance and answered questions from the opening night crowd after the movie was finished. Then we got to hang out at have some words with them in the lobby of the Village East Cinema. We haven't seen Ellen or Sam since the movie was filmed in MI last September.   Also, actor Daniel Yelsky who played Barken's son Ben in the film was there looking quite the handsome young man.   Ellen seemed really happy to see Molly show up from out of the blue. 

Here are a few pictures..

 

And here is a clip of Sam answering a question about an unflattering review in the NY Post.  He is not interested in making comfortable films.  Mission accomplished.

Jerry Sandusky picks up a shovel and starts digging.

What the hell is this disgusting creepazoid talking about?  Are you freaking kidding me?
Sandusky: He 'horsed around' but insists he's no pedophile

"I could say that I have done some of those things. I have horsed around with kids I have showered after workouts. I have hugged them and I have touched their legs without intent of sexual contact," Sandusky said in the interview being aired on NBC News' Rock Center, according to the program's website.

"I shouldn't have showered with those kids,'' Sandusky added.

Is Sandusky setting himself up for an insanity plea? Does he think any reasonable people will agree with him that showering with kids and touching their legs amounted to "horseplay" and not pedophilia. And why the heck would any lawyer allow his client to get interviewed in public prior to the trial, especially when the client is creeper pedophile whose proclivities are enough to make a reasonable person sick to their stomach. Maybe Sandusky is going all-in using the media to pollute the jury pool with haters so that his lawyers can try to have the trial moved to another jurisdiction where he might find a more sympathetic jury? good luck with that Coach.

As for Joe Pa and all the rest of the Penn State officials who have been sacked so far, I say good riddance. Joe Pa can go to hell in a bucket for all I care and to all his loyalists who think the 84 year old coach got the shaft I would just point out that it was actually just "horseplay".

If there was justice every person at Penn State, the 2nd Mile charity or in law enforcement who knew or heard of Sandusky's abuse but didn't care enough to stop it would have to make the perp walk in cuffs to their arraignment.   But since that isn't in the cards, then the court of public opinion will have to step in and squash all of these people like bugs.

Work accident at Iranian munitions depot.. or was it?

Interesting series of stories..
17 killed in massive explosions at munitions depot near Tehran

TEHRAN – Seventeen personnel of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps were killed by two huge explosions that occurred on Saturday at an IRGC munitions depot near the town of Malard in Alborz Province, about 30 kilometers west of Tehran.

“Seventeen official servicemen of the Sepah (IRGC) were martyred due to explosions which occurred during the transportation of ammunition,” the director of the IRGC public relations office told the Mehr News Agency. 

Sounds like a really high death toll for explosions that ocurred during the transportation of ammunition.  The Iranian dissident group MEK is claiming that the depot was actually a missile site.   Iran exile group claims blast near Tehran hit closely guarded missile base

Former MEK spokesman Alireza Jafarzadeh, citing what he called reliable sources inside Iran, said that the explosion hit the Modarres Garrison of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps west of Tehran.

Jafarzadeh said in an email that the Modarres Garrison belongs to the IGRC’s missile unit and the blasts “resulted from the explosion of IRGC missiles.” He did not say what he believes triggered the explosion.

Just a couple days ago Iran was making threats to Israel about how far their missiles could reach into Israeli territory.    Senior Commander: Israel's Dimona N. Center within Iran's Missile Range 

Responding to a question about Iran's capability to target Dimona nuclear facility in the occupied Palestinian territories, Iranian Armed Forces Deputy Chief of Staff for Cultural Affairs and Defense Publicity Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri told Al Alam News Network that the center "is the most accessible center to Iran", and stressed that Iran enjoys the capability even to target areas farther the nuclear plant.

And there have been stories about how the Iranians have been getting some help with their nuclear and missile programs  from the North Koreans so its not out of the question that they would either have or be close to that technology.  Source: Hundreds of NK nuclear and missile experts working in Iran   

Hundreds of North Korean nuclear and missile experts have been collaborating with their Iranian counterparts in more than 10 locations across the Islamic state, a diplomatic source said Sunday.

The revelation lends credence to long-held suspicions that North Korea was helping Iran with a secret nuclear and missile program.

I doubt that this was just a work accident at a munitions depot. I also doubt that the Iranians would ever admit that their prized missile installation was successfully attacked.  I think it just could be a quiet demonstration of terrorizing the terrorists.

Another Happy Day trailer..

I wrote before about how my daughter landed a supporting role as a daughter of Demi Moore and Thomas Haden Church in "Another Happy Day" a movie that was filmed in Michigan last September.  Here were some of my impressions from hanging around the set for a week or so.     Pathteacher: From the set of Another Happy Day..

The movie premieres in NY and LA only on November 18th.  It will probably be released in more cities after that but it will depend on how much buzz it generates initially.

Here is the trailer..

I think it will be a great film.  We're planning on a NYC road trip next week to see the film at the premiere.  You only get one chance to take your daughter to her very first movie premiere.  

And here is a cool picture I snapped of Molly and Demi right after their picture wrap.  If you look close, you will see the brim of Ashton's Chicago Bear's cap.  But it's barely in the picture.  And here a year or so later by the time the movie finally comes out,  he's totally out of the picture.  ha.  

  





Rick Perry Memory Lapse. Bravo!

I have been truly and profoundly disinterested in politics lately.  The GOP primaries have not attracted my attention at all.  The Democrats already have their 2012 nominee so they don't have anything to debate about.

Tonight while the GOP candidates were having a very important debate at nearby Oakland University, I was having a McRib sandwich and fries at McDonalds.  These jokers will keep coming back, but the McRib is available for a limited time only. 

Here is classic case of a politician who is not ready for prime time.  Rick Perry had 3 government agencies in mind for the chopping block, but in the heat of the moment, he could only remember 2 of them. 

To me it is proof he is a phony.  When a leader is truly passionate about his goals for those he leads, he doesn't have to memorize the to-do list. 

Amy Lavere heading to Europe

Congrats to Amy LaVere for reaching her goal of raising enough money on Kickstarter to help lauch her and her band's European tour.  I was honored to help kick in a bit.  She is an amazing talent and I know she will make more new fans whenever people hear her sing and play the bass.  There are a lot of great performers out there, but Amy is unmistakably unique and set apart from all the rest. 

Shanghai, new and old..

A pair of cool photos taken by my pal Dean who is currently working in Shanghai.   Amazing contrast of old and new.

 

How big is that iceberg??

Competing stories on Yahoo News..  One says that there is a giant iceberg as big as New York City that is soon going to break free from Antarctica.   Giant crack growing in Antarctica

WASHINGTON (AP) — NASA scientists are watching a giant crack forming over a vulnerable Antarctic glacier and they think it will soon break off into an iceberg the size of New York City.

And then there is another story that says the iceberg is the size of Brazil. Giant crack glimpsed in Antarctica.

WASHINGTON — A massive crack is growing wider in the Antarctic ice sheet and could break apart in the coming months, forming an iceberg the size of Brazil, NASA scientists warned Thursday. 

For reference..

Land area of New York City:             305 square miles
Land area of Brazil:                 3,300,000 square miles

BTW, the NYC comparison was the closer one.  How the AFP let the Brazil comparison slip through is pretty darn funny to me. In math you learn the technique of looking at your answer and asking   hmm is that even plausible?  Like if your answer was that the object had negative mass you would know you must have made a math mistake along the way.

I mean really? Someone actually thought there could possibly be an iceberg the size of Brazil getting set to break free and just float around?  And how many other dolts will read the Brazil comparison and run with it without even stopping to ask if that is even plausible?

Huge increase in greenhouse gas emissions worldwide in 2010

This isn't good.  "Monster" greenhouse gas levels seen ''

(AP) WASHINGTON - The global output of heat-trapping carbon dioxide jumped by the biggest amount on record, the U.S. Department of Energy calculated, a sign of how feeble the world's efforts are at slowing man-made global warming. 

The new figures for 2010 mean that levels of greenhouse gases are higher than the worst case scenario outlined by climate experts just four years ago...

The world pumped about 564 million more tons of carbon into the air in 2010 than it did in 2009. That's an increase of 6 percent. That amount of extra pollution eclipses the individual emissions of all but three countries - China, the United States and India, the world's top producers of greenhouse gases. 

It is a "monster" increase that is unheard of, said Gregg Marland, a professor of geology at Appalachian State University, who has helped calculate Department of Energy figures in the past.

Its past the time for debating whether or not human activity is affecting the climate.  Its time to focus on ways to stem the rising tide of greenhouse gas emissions and lay the groundwork for significant reductions.  We owe it to our children and grandchildren and beyond to leave this campsite we call Earth cleaner than we found it.  This is a horrible legacy we are leaving for future generations.   Someday they will wonder how it was we were so advanced yet so dumb.  Hopefully someone will be around to wonder anyway.     

Hank Williams: Lovesick Blues

Hank Williams in 1949 singing Lovesick Blues.   America's first rock star singing a country song about having the blues.  That's why I say Hank is when it all came together.  Everyone knows who came next.  Not everyone knows who was there first.