Looking forward, looking back . . . . . . . . . "It's the environment, stupid!"

Happy New Year Y'all.

As 2006 draws to a close, here is some perspective to focus on in 2007.
Quote:

In Europe, which has long eclipsed the United States in such matters, even conservative parties have taken up the environmental banner. And in the pivotal U.S. mid-term elections, analysts were surprised to find that global warming played a role in many races, often at the expense of incumbents who had ignored the problem. As a result, climate policy will be high on the agendas of both Democratic and Republican legislators in 2007.

and . . .

Without the leadership of the world’s leading superpower—and biggest polluter—it is impossible to mobilize the global consensus needed to tackle this daunting problem, or to galvanize the second and third most important countries, China and India.

Goodbye "Cowboy Diplomacy" - - - - - - Hello "Cowgirl Duplicity"

Ever heard of Debra Saunders? Thanks to the Newsless Courier, I finally have.

In the Op-ed section on Monday, Dec 18, the Courier published Miss Debbie's article under the headline - "Revised global warming estimates appear more realistic". To their credit, the editors saw fit to change the headliner from the title used online -

"The cows missed the movie" .

I kid you not, just follow the link, but y'all be sure to come back for more!

The gist of the article is that cows world-wide contribute more to greenhouse gas production than cars - 18% vs 6%. From there, Miss Debbie takes aim at Al Gore, from the front seat of her SUV, with a double cheese burger and fries in her lap, and an automatic carbine poken' out the window for good effect. Indeed, the cows missed the movie, both ways: they were not mentioned in the movie, and they could not have seen the movie to know that they should curb their greenhouse-aggravating emissions. Of course, in the end, it is Miss Debbie who misses the point, as do most rightwing bloviators. Gore may use hyperbole, but his position is being given credence thanks to those Republicans with some measure of integrity, like Gov Schwartzeneger (see Terminator 4 in the Climate Watch) and Sen Lindsay Graham, to name just two. Both of them see the need to do something about man's contribution to greenhouse-gas production.

So, just some tidbits for y'all to chew on and ruminate:

1 Miss Debbie - please be careful. An article like this tends to lend credence to the great science fiction of global warming. The discussion is no longer "if", but "how fast"?

2 Miss Debbie - if you eat less cow meat, its good for your cholesterol AND the invironment.

For more lessons from cows:

The "2 cow method" of understanding global economics

And now for CowPower - this is not just an afterthought from the "Hot Air" department. Learn how some farmers are generating power from methane. ( This online article is geared to education in physics, earth sciences and the environment, and also addresses a few principles of mammalian biology. From the standpoint of journalistic themes, it is interesting to note that this includes discussion of bovine and human burping - and there is a key difference between them. So, check it out.)

Hmmmm. Maybe it is time to rename the Kvetch corner the "Hot Air Department". Indeed, I should do so in honor of Miss Debbie and the rest of the rightwing blowhards.)

Chanukkah greetings . . . and all that Jazz.

The Three Amigos celebrate Chanukkah! . . . any resemblence to person or persons, real or fictional, is purely coincidental.

Jews in the News . . . They say "bad" news comes in 3's.

"What were they thinking?"

and well might you ask.

A Seattle-based Lubavitch Rabbi opened the set with his assertive moves on Christmas Trees at his local airport. (Links to this may be found under the title - "How to win friends..." on the ECF.)

Then, some Rabbis attended an International Holocaust Denial Conference in Iran, and kissed you-know-who. (This link takes you to a new blog by A Dershowitz on Jerusalem post website - see his take on this.)

As Jon Stewart said on the Daily Show, at a Holocaust Deniers Conference, "you probably don't want to be the guy ordering the Kosher meal." (See more on this take - you may be surprised to see exactly where on the web.)

And then, to help the other Sasha Cohen make it back into the news, some city official stirred up another Christmas Carol storm-in-a-tea-cup.

Talk about finding creative ways of generating bad press!

The take home message is this: some people's actions are so outrageous, that their viewpoints represent nothing more than kvatch. In some cases, we should afford such people only disdain, but as for the Rabbis who attended the conference in Iran, we should settle for nothing less than their complete isolation. not just from the religious community, but from the wider community of civilized nations as well.

How to win friends . . .

. . . and influence people.

Just remember, you still have to live with yourself in the morning.

Could be coming to a community near you!

Global Warning! Squirrels ARE evolving . . .

I know I shouldn't say it, but . . .

I TOLD YOU SO!

Go on, have a look, just a report about a recent scientific study from the Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B (DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2002.2224)
***

Unhappy Beat - Things get grim for Beck and the right.

I haven't sorted this out yet. It's clearly not very simple.

I mean, is "Happy Feet" left wing propaganda? Let me mull this over a bisl.

Mmmm.... It does not look good. I am afraid this is going to consume the whole of my Sunday musings on the desperate state of the world. We have untold hot spots in the Muddle West, nukes on the Korean peninsula and soon in the Iranian desert, cancelled ski races in Europe due to climate change, and a dozen other crises keeping me up at night - international and local.

And last night I took a lighthearted break to see "Happy Feet", and it was fun. "Nemo" was better, but both were fun. Take your kids, if you haven't already. Just don't let your guard down, right? (or is that don't let your "Rightguard" down?)

So, this is bothering me? NO, it's just Beck et al ranting and crying "Fowl". (I guess they don't speak "Penguin".)

NO. I think I have it! Beck and the rest of the right wingers in and on the media have taken several big hits. They are sinking in a wash of setbacks, and clutching at straws. I guess they are afraid that Hollywood will get to their children's minds before the kindler, gentler, fair-and-balanced Fox. Not to mention that "Rove lost to Abe", but then, what does the electorate know? Could they be tuning Beck, Rush and Fox out when they "have make intelligent decision?"

Face it folks, they cannot handle the fact that the electorate gave the House and Senate back to the Dems, and that Republicans in all sorts of places are conceeding the merits of climate change, and looking for real answers and solutions.

So, go online and tell Mr Beck he might as well give some time to the "Swift Boat" team. Now that's what I call proper gander!
_____________
ps: Forr djor conveniente, 'eez email address:
me@glennbeck.com

Go ahead, "Give it a gander"

The Case against Carter

The original posting is below the dividing line:

Here is the case against Simon and Schuster, link added Jan 17th, 2007
________________________________
Carter defends his book.

Dershowitz responds to Carter's book.

And a professor resigns from The Carter Center of Emory University:

"This note is to inform you that yesterday, I sent letters to President Jimmy Carter, Emory University President Jim Wagner, and Dr. John Hardman, Executive Director of the Carter Center resigning my position, effectively immediately, as Middle East Fellow of the Carter Center of Emory University."

and

"President Carter's book on the Middle East, a title too inflammatory to even print, is not based on unvarnished analyses; it is replete with factual errors, copied materials not cited, superficialities, glaring omissions, and simply invented segments."
___________
Update 12-17-06 in Jerusalem Post - Carter explains his use of "Apartheid".

To which: Talkback 160. Inciting violence
Peter R - USA
12/18/2006 03:47

Under US law one may be charged for inciting violence. I am sure Mr Carter is aware of this provision. It is quite clear to most fairminded people, no less to Mr Carter, that the words "Apartheid" and "Nazi" have very clearly defined meanings. Their use requires no "explanation". Thus, the use of "Apartheid" in the context of the Palestinian conflict is purely inflammatory and utterly reckless. No explanation can strip it of its (clearly intended) accusation of "racism".
_____________________

Having written a book of limited merit, Carter seems to have chosen a catchy-hook-title to gain media attention. Here is more on the failings of his book - Carter's compromised statemanship - by David A Harris

Our debt to Milton Friedman.

On the passing of a champion of being free to choose . .

Article by Ben Stein in Time