Just look at this climate-change destroyed snow cover!!!!! Even the sameness is extreme!!!!!
What will we ever do about this?!?!?!?!??! I know!!!! We’ll create a tax to make the February snow cooperate to our liking!!!
Source for the graph. Graph is in sq km.
Just for fun, here’s a 4th order …..
Sine waves and cycles ……. hmmm ……
Well, there’s a lot out there on this, but, I think it best to let the man speak for himself.
From Breitbart, my bold.
STATEMENT BY DR. WEI-HOCK SOON
In recent weeks I have been the target of attacks in the press by various radical environmental and politically motivated groups. This effort should be seen for what it is: a shameless attempt to silence my scientific research and writings, and to make an example out of me as a warning to any other researcher who may dare question in the slightest their fervently held orthodoxy of anthropogenic global warming.
I am saddened and appalled by this effort, not only because of the personal hurt it causes me and my family and friends, but also because of the damage it does to the integrity of the scientific process. I am willing to debate the substance of my research and competing views of climate change with anyone, anytime, anywhere. It is a shame that those who disagree with me resolutely decline all public debate and stoop instead to underhanded and unscientific ad hominem tactics.
Let me be clear. I have never been motivated by financial gain to write any scientific paper, nor have I ever hidden grants or any other alleged conflict of interest. I have been a solar and stellar physicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics for a quarter of a century, during which time I have published numerous peer-reviewed, scholarly articles. The fact that my research has been supported in part by donations to the Smithsonian Institution from many sources, including some energy producers, has long been a matter of public record. In submitting my academic writings I have always complied with what I understood to be disclosure practices in my field generally, consistent with the level of disclosure made by many of my Smithsonian colleagues.
If the standards for disclosure are to change, then let them change evenly. If a journal that has peer-reviewed and published my work concludes that additional disclosures are appropriate, I am happy to comply. I would ask only that other authors—on all sides of the debate—are also required to make similar disclosures. And I call on the media outlets that have so quickly repeated my attackers’ accusations to similarly look into the motivations of and disclosures that may or may not have been made by their preferred, IPCC-linked scientists.
I regret deeply that the attacks on me now appear to have spilled over onto other scientists who have dared to question the degree to which human activities might be causing dangerous global warming, a topic that ought rightly be the subject of rigorous open debate, not personal attack. I similarly regret the terrible message this pillorying sends young researchers about the costs of questioning widely accepted “truths.”
Finally, I thank all my many colleagues and friends who have bravely objected to this smear campaign on my behalf and I challenge all parties involved to focus on real scientific issues for the betterment of humanity.
Well, it looks like our leftarded friends find themselves in a state of overreach.
But, I wanted to highlight one of Willie’s quote ….
I am willing to debate the substance of my research and competing views of climate change with anyone, anytime, anywhere. It is a shame that those who disagree with me resolutely decline all public debate and stoop instead to underhanded and unscientific ad hominem tactics.
Well, now, you see, that’s the problem. The climate crazies have long since given up on open debate. They won’t because they can’t. Some used to try, but, they lost, each and every time. Sometimes they would have formal debates, and they’d lose. Back in the day, they used to try to debate on the blogs, but, they fail, each time. Oh, sure, there are still the occasional trolls and whatnot, but, they’re usually pretty funny, in a amusingly pathetic sense.
The fact is, the skeptics have long since won the debate. It’s mostly because of the grandiose claims made by the climate crazies, but, the argument has long been over. The models so dearly held by the lunatics have been completely debunked. Whatever magical crystal ball they thought they had has failed, over and over again. The claims of a doomed part of the earth (most often the Arctic) never seems to materialize, even after a quarter of a century of dire prognostications. Nothing ever happens!
I think one of the most hilarious and most often overlooked part of the argument is/was their incessant insistence that weather isn’t climate, and, yet, they’re reduced to looking towards weather events as their “proof” of climate change. But, then, that older nuanced version of global warming belies the fact that skeptics have always argued that the climate always changes and it’s impossible to distinguish regular changes to whatever changes may or may not be attributable to humans for whatever reason.
I don’t remember the first paper I read with Dr. Soon’s name on it, but, I’ve always found his papers to be well thought, well researched, and well done. That the lunatics on the left have been reduced to their idiotic witch hunt is all the evidence one needs to know the actual argument is over.
I thought both of these stories were special …. they’re funny, really …. well, if it wasn’t so sad. The first story I thought to read was this one ………
US manufacturing slows as output and hiring weaken
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. factories expanded last month at their weakest pace in a year, with orders, hiring and production all growing more slowly.
The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing managers, said Monday that its manufacturing index slipped to 52.9 in February from 53.5 in January. It was the fourth straight drop and the lowest reading since January 2014. Still, any reading above 50 signals expansion.
The ISM’s measures of production and employment fell sharply, though they remained in expansionary territory. That suggests that factories are still adding jobs but at a slower pace than in January.
U.S. manufacturers have been held back in recent months by weak growth in China, Europe and Japan. That’s been partly offset by strong consumer demand in the United States. ……
Wait!!! What? That last part ….. I skipped another headline to read this story, let’s see what that one was…..
If you read the story attached to the above headline, you’ll see a nice re-write. Apparently, dropping consumer spending doesn’t fit the narrative. So, they do what I’ve never seen done before, adjust the consumer spending to price changes …… which is ridiculous.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumers spent less for a second consecutive month in January, but the weakness came from a big decline in gas prices. Excluding price changes, consumer spending was up in January and analysts expect strong income gains will fuel further solid increases in spending in the months ahead.
Consumer spending declined 0.2 percent in January following a 0.3 percent drop in December, the Commerce Department reported Monday. But the weakness in both months was heavily influenced by big declines in gas prices. Excluding price changes, consumer spending rose 0.3 percent in January and would have been down a smaller 0.1 percent in December. ……
I would have spent more if the prices weren’t so low …….. :| Idiots. They’re actually trying to describe purchases of goods and services, rather than describe actual consumer spending.
OTOH, we can all take some time to point and laugh at them for powning themselves and their deflationary death spiral nonsense they continuously spew.
A couple of other notes …. as I recollect, the gasoline prices had pretty much stabilized in January. They’re on their way back up, now. Much of the price increase in the US for gasoline prices is because the refineries have to stop refining and switch over to the way it is demanded of them for the summer. Summer gasoline demand is always much higher than winter demand. I don’t know where the prices will end up, but, I’m thinking somewhere south of $3/gallon. For the $2/gallon, we won’t see it until next winter, if then.
First US-backed Syrian rebel group to get weapons disbands
The first Syrian rebel group to receive major military aid from the United States announced over the weekend that it was disbanding.
The Wall Street Journal reported that leaders of Harakat Hazm, mostly based in northern Syria, decided to dissolve the group after a series of battles against the Nusra Front, an Al Qaeda-linked group that has emerged alongside ISIS as a major force in Syria’s kaleidoscopic civil war.
Hazm spokesman Ahmad al-Ataribi told the Journal on Sunday that dozens of its fighters were killed fighting against the Nusra Front, which recently seized a key base from the Free Syrian Army, another Western-backed group. Al-Ataribi said that as long as the group remained extant, it would continue to be a target for more extreme opposition groups and serve as a distraction from the organization’s ultimate goal of overthrowing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The group had received American-made antitank missiles late last year as part of the Obama administration’s stated goal of increasing military aid to moderate rebel groups. However, Hazm members said what military aid did arrive was never enough to sustain operations, and also made them targets of their more radical Islamist rivals, who looked at them as U.S. puppets.
“Moderate forces, backed by Western countries and moderate Arab countries, have this scarlet letter on their backs, yet they are not sufficiently resourced in terms of military aid to defeat Nusra,” said Oubai Shahbandar a former spokesman for the exiled Syrian National Coalition. “So there’s a clear contradiction in terms of Western strategy in fighting extremism in Syria.”
And, because of the success of this arms program, we plan on repeating it. I feel sorry for the ambassador and team in Syria when the CIA begins that weapons buy-back program.
Well, the fact that Zero and team has no shame shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone with an operating synapse. But, they’re not even trying anymore.
Fact-checker calls out Obama for saying Keystone ‘bypasses’ US
President Obama earned a double-barreled rebuke Monday from The Washington Post’s fact-checker, for repeating a faulty claim that the Keystone XL pipeline “bypasses” the U.S. — and for saying it would only carry “Canadian oil.”
The president made the claims in an interview last week with WDAY of Fargo, N.D. Obama continued to downplay the impact of the Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline, just days after vetoing a bipartisan-backed bill that would approve the construction project. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has teed up a vote to override that veto later this week.
In the local interview, Obama said:
“I’ve already said I’m happy to look at how we can increase pipeline production for U.S. oil, but Keystone is for Canadian oil to send that down to the Gulf. It bypasses the United States and is estimated to create a little over 250, maybe 300 permanent jobs. We should be focusing more broadly on American infrastructure for American jobs and American producers, and that’s something that we very much support.”
The president has been called out before for claiming the oil would bypass the U.S.
Washington Post fact-checker Glenn Kessler explained Monday that while the crude oil would travel to the Gulf Coast, it would then be refined into products like gasoline — and much of it certainly would be used in the U.S.
“Current trends suggest that only about half of that refined product would be exported, and it could easily be lower,” Kessler said.
He cited a February report by energy industry consultant IHS Energy, which predicted most of the refined products would likely be “consumed in the United States.”
Further, even the State Department issued a report downplaying the notion that a large amount of that crude would be exported, since foreign refiners would have to shoulder additional transportation charges.
Kessler said with his recent comments, Obama “appears to be purposely ignoring the findings of the lead Cabinet agency on the issue.”
Further, he challenged Obama’s claim that Keystone would just be for Canadian oil, since producers in North Dakota and Montana want to move oil from the Bakken area through it.
Kessler gave Obama “four Pinocchios” for his comments — the worst rating on his fact-check scale.
“If he disagrees with the State Department’s findings, he should begin to make the case why it is wrong, rather than assert the opposite, without any factual basis,” Kessler wrote. “Moreover, by telling North Dakota listeners that the pipeline has no benefit for Americans, he is again being misleading, given that producers in the region have signed contracts to transport some of their production through the pipeline.”
McConnell is aiming for a final vote on the Keystone veto override on Wednesday, with a procedural vote set for Tuesday. So far, supporters of the pipeline have not demonstrated they have the necessary two-thirds majority in Congress to override.
Obama, in opposing that bill, has argued the State Department needs to be allowed to finish its official review of the pipeline.
Well, most of the arguments refuting Zero’s mendacious idiocy has already been stated, many, many times before, so I won’t beleaguer the point. I’ll just make a few observations …….
Of course the pipeline wouldn’t quarantine American oil. IT’S AN INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADE!!!!!
I’ve never seen someone work so hard against 300 free jobs! If it only created 50 permanent jobs, so what? The money invested is all from private companies. But, then, I’ve also never seen someone who openly disregarded construction workers, as if those aren’t real jobs. And, again, those thousands upon thousands of construction jobs would be all paid for by private entities. The thousands of construction workers and the hundreds of the permanent job workers would all be cashing their checks, and paying taxes, while providing an infrastructure upgrade for the US, securing an ethical oil supply, and ensuring a more safe, and cheaper transport of the oil which is coming out of the ground, anyway.
Simply put, anyone opposing the Keystone pipeline is in opposition to the direct interests of the American people.
Guest post by Jeanette Andrade
March 2 Scripture Selection: Deuteronomy 25-27
Food for Thought: Deut. 25:4
Most of us do not have oxen, much less those who tread out grain. Yet all scripture is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (II Tim. 3:16),” and the New Testament makes the concept of Deuteronomy 25:4 applicable to our lives for the benefit of the Body of Christ beyond the literal use of the verse.
The apostle Paul refers to this scripture twice, both in reference to the financial support of those who have given their lives to the ministry of sharing the Gospel. To understand the context, it would be helpful to read I Corinthians 9:1-18, with particular attention to verses 8-11: “Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?” Paul and Barnabas were so driven to minister the Word regardless of the cost that they did so often at their own expense. However, Paul pointed out to the Corinthians that it was not the best way to do things, and it actually made life much more difficult for Paul and Barnabas.
Lest anyone accuse Paul of using this admonition for his own lucre, his letter to Timothy makes it clear that was not his motive. He was concerned about the elders who were in the ministry. In
I Timothy 5:17, 18, he says, “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,’ and, ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages.’” The truth is, people give to what they value. (They don’t mind spending $20 at the movies or a sports event!) Those who take lightly the Word that is shared with them also underrate the messenger and the personal cost it takes to share the Word. This disregard for their leaders and the Word they minister actually can lead to greater issues of dishonor and insubmission.
Giving is not only beneficial to the one on the receiving end, but also to the giver. Jesus Himself said, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you (Luke 6:38).” Paul acknowledges that concept when discussing financial support for him in Philippians 4:17: “Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.” The Lord set this up as a win-win situation. As we give liberally to those who have devoted their lives to minister to us, we receive the precious Word of God, and the Lord makes sure that we are provided for financially, as well.
Digging Deeper (What scriptures can further enhance today’s reading?):
Getting Personal (What has God shown you in today’s reading?):
Confession of Faith (Example: Lord, based on Mat. 1:21 and 23, I understand that Jesus is God, and I receive Him as my personal Lord and Savior.):
Important Events on This Day (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.):
Guest post by Jeanette Andrade
March 1 Scripture Selection: Deuteronomy 22-24
Food for Thought: Deut. 22:22
In their desperation to entrap the Lord, those Pharisees who caught the woman in adultery, recorded in John 8:1-11, didn’t even get the law right. They were so eager to find a way to accuse Jesus of heresy that they either overlooked the part about the man involved to be stoned as well, or they orchestrated the scene. Was the man involved actually one of them? We will never know on this side of heaven, but what we can know is that the Lord did not condemn the woman who was to be stoned.
The Lord continues to reject condemnation today. His very purpose in coming to earth was not to condemn us, but to save us (John 3:17). Even though it isn’t the Lord Who condemns us, we were already condemned just by living in darkness, until we came into the Light and believed in Jesus as Lord and Savior (John 3:18). That changes everything. Now, as Romans 8:1 says, “There is, therefore, now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…” In addition, just as the Lord does not condemn the sinner, He expects that we do not do so, either (see Is. 58:9, 10). Rather, He prefers that we, like Him, in love restore people instead of stoning them, as Galatians 6:1 suggests: “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”
That doesn’t mean that we all have free reign on whatever sin we would want to indulge in. On the contrary. Romans 6:1, 2 addresses this issue: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” In fact, the last thing Jesus said to the adulteress after telling her that he did not condemn her was, “Go, and sin no more,” not because she ran out of chances for mercy, but because the Lord knows that every sin has its painful consequences and He wouldn’t want to see anyone suffer from the harm of it.
While the Lord desires to see us free from the snares of sin, He offers His love and forgiveness unconditionally, regardless. If that weren’t so, His purpose for dying on the cross would have been in vain, and there would be an awfully large amount of bloody stones lying around and very few—if any—standing upright. Praise God for the freedom His grace offers us!
Digging Deeper (What scriptures can further enhance today’s reading?):
Getting Personal (What has God shown you in today’s reading?):
Confession of Faith (Example: Lord, based on Mat. 1:21 and 23, I understand that Jesus is God, and I receive Him as my personal Lord and Savior.):
Important Events on This Day (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.):
I’m off for some more Trivial pursuit while imbibing a bit!
Shot: …… from Jezebel
Scott Walker Wants Colleges to Stop Reporting Sexual Assaults [UPDATE 2]
Chaser …..
U. of Wisconsin asks Walker to remove redundant sexual assault report requirement
Of course, the lying story was reported by The Daily Beast without so much as checking any of the story. Unbelievable nonsense. But, of course, thousands of cretins are now believing Walker doesn’t want people to report rape.
BBS!!!
Guest post by Jeanette Andrade
February 28 Scripture Selection: Deuteronomy 19-21
Food for Thought: Deut. 20:1-4
Like the Israelites, we have been told, commanded, to “fear not.” As long as our eyes are on the strength and size of the enemy, that can be a very tall order. But the Lord reminds us that we should not fear “for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you (vs. 4).” When our eyes are fixed on Him, the enemy becomes minuscule and insignificant. All we have to do is remember our position in Him, stand on the Word, and see the hand of God at work.
It has always been a priority of the Lord to reassure us and keep us from fear because fear blocks the complete flow of faith, and faith is what moves the mountain. In Isaiah 44:8, He tells us, “Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.” Jesus later encourages His followers in John 14:26, 27, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Later, Peter instructs us, “ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. ‘And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled (I Pet. 3:14).’”
If the Lord tells us not to be afraid, then we must have a choice about it. We can decide to fear or not. We, as believers, have dominion over that because our hope is in the Word of God. As the psalmist said in Psalm 56:11, “In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Yes, it can be a very scary world, but we have a very big God. Greater is He that is in us that he that is in the world (I John 4:4)! So fear not!
Digging Deeper (What scriptures can further enhance today’s reading?):
Getting Personal (What has God shown you in today’s reading?):
Confession of Faith (Example: Lord, based on Mat. 1:21 and 23, I understand that Jesus is God, and I receive Him as my personal Lord and Savior.):
Important Events on This Day (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.):
US economic growth in Q4 revised down to 2.2 percent
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy slowed more sharply in the final three months of the year than initial estimates, reflecting weaker business stockpiling and a bigger trade deficit.
The Commerce Department said Friday that the economy as measured by the gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of 2.2 percent in the October-December quarter, weaker than the 2.6 percent first estimated last month. It marked a major slowdown from the third quarter, which had been the strongest growth in 11 years.
Economists, however, remain optimistic that the deceleration was temporary. Many forecast that growth will rise above 3 percent in 2015, which would give the country the strongest economic growth in a decade. They say the job market has healed enough to generate strong consumer spending going forward.
The economy is “doing just fine,” said Paul Ashworth, chief U.S. economist at Capital Economics, who noted that although GDP growth slowed in the fourth quarter, the U.S. added an average of 284,000 new jobs from October through December.
For all of 2014, the economy expanded 2.4 percent, up slightly from 2.2 percent growth in 2013. …..
Read more at the link.
The “new jobs” created in the last year were primarily due to Zerocare and the work week mandate. Any worker with more than 30 hours a week had to be provided job provided health insurance from most businesses. (All with more than 50 employees). So, what did many businesses do? They cut hours and hired more people. Job creation at it’s finest!!!!
Given the perverse manner in which the GDP is now calculated, a 2.2% growth in GDP is a backwards motion for the overall health of the US GDP. (This would vary from nation to nation.) The fact of the matter is, GDP no longer holds much meaning towards the fiscal health of the populace. GDP is easily manipulated by government spending, unfunded retirement schemes, and whatnot, none of which makes the gross domestic population any wealthier by any real standard.
Indeed, for a basis alone, a real measure of actual increase must first, subtract population growth (both legal and illegal) and deficit spending, (because we all have to pay the deficit back, there’s no economic growth in increased spending for the sake of increased spending.) Many more things should also be subtracted (such as unfunded retirement plans), to get a true measure of actual growth, but, none of that will be recognized in our lifetimes.
