Category Archives: Scribbles

Snowfall: Rare or abundant?

The warmist cult wants to have it both ways.

From the Independent, March 20th, 2000:

“According to Dr David Viner, a senior research scientist at the climatic research unit (CRU) of the University of East Anglia, within a few years winter snowfall will become ‘a very rare and exciting event.'”
Meanwhile, almost a decade later…

“….for the second year in a row, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales [and most of the Midwest and East Coast U.S.] is covered with snow. Meanwhile, AGW proponents like the Guardian’s George Monbiot are furiously spinning to make it look like AGW causes more snow, rather than less.”
Weather, as they say, is what causes global warming. And short memories and gullibility.

Via Instapundit.

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OMG I missed the Singularity?

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The unbiquitous cell phone

Approaching 3.3 billion—half the world’s population.

“No technology has ever spread faster around the globe: the mobile phone took less than two decades to reach this degree of penetration.”

Actually I had one at work, about the size of a WW2 Walky-Talky, in 1983—which is almost three decades back.

I have a cell, of course. But I usually keep it in the car for breakdowns or other contacts of sudden need. I do not carry it about with me all the time.

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Merry Christmas Y’all

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Beggars In Spain

This first of a Nancy Kress sci-fi classic trilogy could as readily be titled Beggars In Dallas, even though it was only a metaphor in the first place. Some of the rest of the book, despite its focus on genetic enhancements, has a sort of outdated feel to it, as well. Well, it was written several decades ago.

But the philosophical argument the story and characters illustrate, between Ayn Rand individualism and the Russian immigrant author’s despised forced altruism is as fresh as the deficit-reducing Tea Party versus Obamacare.

In the end, Kress’s main protagonist decides a compromise between producers and beggars works best and that seems wise. It’s also rather obvious, but in the author’s deft hands, getting there is well worth the journey.

Rogues Gallery

The Top Twenty “earmarkers” in the Den of Thieves called the U.S. Senate.

  • Cochran (R-MS) 230
  • Wicker (R-MS) 199
  • Murray (D-WA) 172
  • Harkin (D-IA) 152
  • Reid (D-NV) 129
  • Menendez (D-NJ) 123
  • Feinstein (D-CA) 121
  • Lautenberg (D-NJ) 120
  • Lincoln (D-AR) 114
  • Inouye (D-HI) 113
  • Schumer (D-NY) 106
  • Johnson (D-SD) 105
  • Landrieu (D-LA) 104
  • Specter (D-PA) 103
  • Pryor (D-AR) 96
  • Levin (D-MI) 93
  • Stabenow (D-MI) 91
  • Boxer (D-CA) 90
  • Brown (D-OH) 87
  • Grassley (R-IA) 86

“They are taking the American taxpayers’ money — your money — and distributing it in near complete secrecy, with virtually no discussion and as quickly as possible, to their friends, supporters, pet projects, etc.”

Fortunately, though perhaps only temporarily, the bill they were piggybacking their private pork on has yet to come to a vote.

UPDATE:  The number after each name is the $M of their haul.

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The Original BBW, Rubens Venus: Rule 5

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