Anna Brown was removed from a hospital where seek sought help with severe. Doctor examiner her, claim that she if faking, engaging in drug seeking behaviour, and fit for confinement in a local jail.
She was dragged from a wheel chair, dragged out of the police vehicle, and lifted to a cell.where she is left groaning. Fifteen minutes later food delivery staff find her cold and dead.
The background to this story is that a tornado destroyed her home and had to move with her two children, The trauma of the tornado appears to have disturbed her psychological equilibrium. She lost her job and could not cope eventually utilities are shut off. Authorities enlist Anna mother's help but insist they she can only have Anna children or Anna. This leaves Anna living in shelters. While trying to regain custody of her children, on multiple occasions she is tested for drug abuse each test comes back negative. Leaving Anna to ask why are you testing me?
Source: The Young Turks
Friday 30 March 2012
Thursday 29 March 2012
29/3 Iranian public executions highest in 10 years
According to the annual report of Iran's Human Rights been s 2011, Iran has executed 676 people. This is the highest number of executions in a single year report by Amnesty international in 11 years. There has also been a dramatic increase in public executions, three times higher than just two years ago. In 2010 there were 19 public executions, in 2011 there were 61 executions in public
Iranian authorities, worried the loss of support from even their most loyal base, are using the death penalty as a political tool and to rule by fear.
While the international applies pressure in a few cases form time to time, Iranian Authorities don't mind giving up a few executions because also long as the keep up the numbers there purpose is served.
Source: Amnesty International
Editorial
This escalation may be an early of the iron fisted grip of the failure Iranian government. History is replete with failed regimes that squeezed tighter while the power of the people slipped through there fingers. Younger Iranians have been growing disenchanted with the death grip on power the ayatollahs hold in Iranian politics.
Iranian authorities, worried the loss of support from even their most loyal base, are using the death penalty as a political tool and to rule by fear.
While the international applies pressure in a few cases form time to time, Iranian Authorities don't mind giving up a few executions because also long as the keep up the numbers there purpose is served.
Source: Amnesty International
Editorial
This escalation may be an early of the iron fisted grip of the failure Iranian government. History is replete with failed regimes that squeezed tighter while the power of the people slipped through there fingers. Younger Iranians have been growing disenchanted with the death grip on power the ayatollahs hold in Iranian politics.
29/3 India's National Shame
"India's shame" The is how Priminister Manmohan Singh, described the epidemic of gendercide on the Indian subcontinent.
Families concerned by the prospect of pay a traditional dowry prefer to abortion or infanticide.
The problem has been recognized and gender test has been illegal for some time. however to the law is routinely ignored.
In recent years dowry too has been illegal for years, but the law is ignored and dowry values have increased and families can be subject to many years of debt bondage. If the families do not keep up with payments the married daughters may be beaten or burned to death.
The problem is not limited to the poor or ill-educated, with high income and wealthy families, easy access to ultrasound gender selection the problem is more prevalent among wealthy families. Census figures show the problem is so bad that in some areas there are 30 girls to 100 boys.
Dr.Mitu Khurana's experience was that her in-laws and husband pressured to have ultrasound, she refused, and they later gave her a cake containing egg to which they knew she was allergic, in the hope of a miscarriage. While she was hospitalised they arranged for ultrasound. After the twins were born, her mother-in-law pushed one the little girls down stairs. Dr Khurana is fighting a legal battle to prosecute her in-laws, it is an up hill battle there is little will in the justice to support her fight as many in the justice system themselves prac tice grendercide. Dr Khurana describes herself as being treated "like a criminal".
Gendercide, sadly, is not unique to India, it also happens in China, Sudan, and some cases may have occurred in America.
Here is a link to an online petition to help Dr Khurana.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/a-mothers-fight-to-save-her-daughters/
Source ABC part 1, part 2
What do you think?
Families concerned by the prospect of pay a traditional dowry prefer to abortion or infanticide.
The problem has been recognized and gender test has been illegal for some time. however to the law is routinely ignored.
In recent years dowry too has been illegal for years, but the law is ignored and dowry values have increased and families can be subject to many years of debt bondage. If the families do not keep up with payments the married daughters may be beaten or burned to death.
The problem is not limited to the poor or ill-educated, with high income and wealthy families, easy access to ultrasound gender selection the problem is more prevalent among wealthy families. Census figures show the problem is so bad that in some areas there are 30 girls to 100 boys.
Dr.Mitu Khurana's experience was that her in-laws and husband pressured to have ultrasound, she refused, and they later gave her a cake containing egg to which they knew she was allergic, in the hope of a miscarriage. While she was hospitalised they arranged for ultrasound. After the twins were born, her mother-in-law pushed one the little girls down stairs. Dr Khurana is fighting a legal battle to prosecute her in-laws, it is an up hill battle there is little will in the justice to support her fight as many in the justice system themselves prac tice grendercide. Dr Khurana describes herself as being treated "like a criminal".
Gendercide, sadly, is not unique to India, it also happens in China, Sudan, and some cases may have occurred in America.
Here is a link to an online petition to help Dr Khurana.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/a-mothers-fight-to-save-her-daughters/
Source ABC part 1, part 2
What do you think?
Wednesday 28 March 2012
28/3 Rush Limbaugh Advertiser: Email is the new Terrorism
Mark Stevens on Monday afternoon with Megan Kelly described emails criticizing MSCO's decision to stay with Rush Limbaugh radio after Limbaugh spent three days slut shaming Sandra Fluke after she testified before Democrat congressmen on medical applications of hormonal contraception.
"I think the word boycott puts a nice sugar coating over the fact that this really is internal American terrorism. You don't have to strap on a suicide bombers belt to engage in terrorism. Terrorism comes from a term to invoke fear in people. Tehy'v called my people in my company, they've called the women in my company and told them that they're women haters -- the most horrible terms. They told me, there are tens of thousands of emails by the way, most of them positive. But the small group they told us we are under surveillance. The email subject line says 'Citizen of the internet', 'police of the internet', 'mark you are in danger', 'you house is going to be shut up by busses', 'Your business is goining to be destroyed', 'your people are in trouble'. This is Terrorism, why don't we start calling it what it is?"
He presented no evidence of these emails.
When asked if these emails cause him some concern, he said "Absolutely no concern. Let them come. ... The country is at risk ... Bring on the busses." He rambles about not being cowed by these "hissy-fitters".
His charges are of course ridiculous hyperbole, if he had reason toexpect that buss load of terrorists were set to converge on his home. he'd be calling the FBI in a heart beat.
The first amendment guarantees free expression, and he has not demonstrated any instance of violent threats made. Given the invective nature of Rush Limbaugh's comments it would naive to expect no critical communications. The market naturally prefers to avoid connection abhorrent politics and suggest of delaterious effects on business maintaining contact with such views are a natural consequence, and to say that such things may happen is simply precautionary advice.
Source The Young Turks,
What do you think?
Tuesday 27 March 2012
27/3 Fox Lies about reason rally
Fox's "The rally for nothing in particular" piece by Larry Alex Taunton, starts to stray from journalism in the second paragraph referring to a celebrating belief in "nothingness". This is a misrepresentation atheism of the highest order. By abandoning superstition Atheists are free to explore the nature of things without regard to dogmatic assertions in place of facts.
Organizers say the Reason Rally is to celebrate reason and to bring together community. The event was attended by 10,000 people. A very happy well behaved crowd. Tim Minchin proclaimed "It's a pity, 300 years after the Enlightenment, we have to be here having a rally about the fucking obvious". Many themes are of concern to Atheists and Secular Americans, civil rights, freedom of thought, Discrimination on the basis of conscience, reproductive freedom, Science Education, separation of church and state as guaranteed by The first Amendment of the Constitution.
Taunton cites "abuses of religion" as "low hanging fruit". But in the religious context what really distinguishes abuses from true observation. Perhaps the catholic pedophile scandal, and the suicide bombers are low hanging fruit. Can the same be said Faith healing Christian Scientists and Jehovah's Wittinesses denying themselves and their children medical care and causing incredible suffering and living shorter lives; the Catholic prohibition on contraception has caused endless suffering throughout Africa; Religiously motivated politcal campaigns to curb the civil rights of the LGBT community and the reproductive rights of women.
Taunton claims atheism is a religion, yet according to Miraim-Webster religion is
Organizers say the Reason Rally is to celebrate reason and to bring together community. The event was attended by 10,000 people. A very happy well behaved crowd. Tim Minchin proclaimed "It's a pity, 300 years after the Enlightenment, we have to be here having a rally about the fucking obvious". Many themes are of concern to Atheists and Secular Americans, civil rights, freedom of thought, Discrimination on the basis of conscience, reproductive freedom, Science Education, separation of church and state as guaranteed by The first Amendment of the Constitution.
Taunton cites "abuses of religion" as "low hanging fruit". But in the religious context what really distinguishes abuses from true observation. Perhaps the catholic pedophile scandal, and the suicide bombers are low hanging fruit. Can the same be said Faith healing Christian Scientists and Jehovah's Wittinesses denying themselves and their children medical care and causing incredible suffering and living shorter lives; the Catholic prohibition on contraception has caused endless suffering throughout Africa; Religiously motivated politcal campaigns to curb the civil rights of the LGBT community and the reproductive rights of women.
Taunton claims atheism is a religion, yet according to Miraim-Webster religion is
1a : the state of a religious <a nun in her 20th year of religion> b (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices3archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness4: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith
Yet
1 without God or Faith atheism fails this definition. Atheism accepts many things because their is evidence. With the rejection of the supernatural atheism fails this definition.
2 Atheist beliefs, attitudes are not religious and the are no practices. Atheism fails this definition.
3 scrupulous conformity; there is no doctrine no dogma, and nothing to conform to and indeed atheist are such a diverse groups there is such a wide variety of opinion that the formation of community has been delayed.
4 Atheism only accepts that which is evidently true; If an accepted theory is falsified, it becomes rejected an the search for a new theory or modification of an existing begins. So atheism only holds to a belief as long as it is supported by science and so fails the definition.
Taunton's charge is a misrepresentation like saying Christianity is a form of Satanism or the Atheism is a form of Satanism. Or the cat is a kind of kangaroo.
As Bill Maher famously quipped "Atheism is a religion like abstinence is a sex position!" Taunton accuses Christopher Hitchens of being a saint and Richard Dawkins of being a high priest. These are filthy scurrilous accustions unsubstantiated. There how ever, a social phenomenon, known as fandom, it comes from agreement an appreciation of thought. Hitchens and dawkins are not considered holy in any fashion, their messages an fine oratory are greatly appreciated. How that is religious is beyond reason.
Taunton claims Christianty gave rise the the West as we know it. This often used credit stealing comment ignores the fact that reason, practiced by Atheists, Christians and others, actually did the heavy lifting of despite the dogma of the church and efforts of the church to suppress conclusions contrary to dogma. Two of the best known case are those of Galileo, Copernicus. Taunton quotes the Declaration of Indepence "We hold these truths to be self-evident. That all men are created equal." Who's author John Adams was a probably deist.
Taunton cites Vishi Mangalwadi saying there is nothing self evident about the equality of men. That is not born out by the science. What true is the everyone thinks they are superior to everyone else.
Then comes the canard alluding to atrocities of despotic madmen of communist Soviet Union, Cambodia, Mao's China, North Korea. Taunton then follows up with accusing atheists of valuing life less than those know God. We love life it is the only life have we don't have option of after life so we try to not mess around with it.
No nation was founded atheism, that might be true but America was the first secular nation arrangements desired at the time because the various religious dominations lived in fear of each other. We find now the disparate forces of God are cooperating to take control from Secular authority or at least mold it in the image of the church.
Much of Europe was a mess after WWII and has become more secular since and remains vastly improved because of it. Yes Europe has challenges ahead Corporate mismanagement is threatening the European economy just as it in America.
Taunton quotes athiest George Washington as saying "Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." Which perhaps creates a false impression Washington was most likely a deist who also hoped that "bigotry and superstition" would be overcome by "truth and reason" in the United States.
How can we explain this canard filled crapfest? Look at the last sentence of the mission statement of the Fixed Point Foundation of which Taunton is executive director.
As Bill Maher famously quipped "Atheism is a religion like abstinence is a sex position!" Taunton accuses Christopher Hitchens of being a saint and Richard Dawkins of being a high priest. These are filthy scurrilous accustions unsubstantiated. There how ever, a social phenomenon, known as fandom, it comes from agreement an appreciation of thought. Hitchens and dawkins are not considered holy in any fashion, their messages an fine oratory are greatly appreciated. How that is religious is beyond reason.
Taunton claims Christianty gave rise the the West as we know it. This often used credit stealing comment ignores the fact that reason, practiced by Atheists, Christians and others, actually did the heavy lifting of despite the dogma of the church and efforts of the church to suppress conclusions contrary to dogma. Two of the best known case are those of Galileo, Copernicus. Taunton quotes the Declaration of Indepence "We hold these truths to be self-evident. That all men are created equal." Who's author John Adams was a probably deist.
Taunton cites Vishi Mangalwadi saying there is nothing self evident about the equality of men. That is not born out by the science. What true is the everyone thinks they are superior to everyone else.
Then comes the canard alluding to atrocities of despotic madmen of communist Soviet Union, Cambodia, Mao's China, North Korea. Taunton then follows up with accusing atheists of valuing life less than those know God. We love life it is the only life have we don't have option of after life so we try to not mess around with it.
No nation was founded atheism, that might be true but America was the first secular nation arrangements desired at the time because the various religious dominations lived in fear of each other. We find now the disparate forces of God are cooperating to take control from Secular authority or at least mold it in the image of the church.
Much of Europe was a mess after WWII and has become more secular since and remains vastly improved because of it. Yes Europe has challenges ahead Corporate mismanagement is threatening the European economy just as it in America.
Taunton quotes athiest George Washington as saying "Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." Which perhaps creates a false impression Washington was most likely a deist who also hoped that "bigotry and superstition" would be overcome by "truth and reason" in the United States.
How can we explain this canard filled crapfest? Look at the last sentence of the mission statement of the Fixed Point Foundation of which Taunton is executive director.
Fixed Point is an expression of the Church speaking into the culture, challenging the unbelief of skeptics and restoring the Christian’s confidence that the Bible is precisely what it claims to be—True.
Monday 26 March 2012
26/3 Lockheed Martin F-35: Trillion dollar White Elephant
 |
| F-35B test aircraft BF-3 flies with weapons bay doors open March 2012. Photo: Lockheed |
New estimates put production back to 2018. the original production date was set to be 2010. Many believe the 2018 date to be unrealistically optimistic.
The F-35 programme is already the most expensive contention weapons programme on record. The Navy Corps and Airforce, are count on buying 2500 F-35 aircraft.
Software for the F-35 requires 10million lines of code, compared to the F-22's 5m and the F/A-18 Super hornets 1.5m lines of code. The GAO has warned "Software providing essential JSF capability has grown in size and complexity and is taking longer to complete than expected."
Prompted by the plane's mechanical and safety problems. Program chief Admiral David Veniet has backed away from a firm schedule for the fighters front-line deployment
The programme has already cost $400 billion an is set to grow later this year when pentagon recomputes the baseline for the sixth time sine 2001. Except for reducing the purchase by 400 planes the Pentagon has opted to increase the programmes budget. Deficit constraints mean this is no longer feasible, Air force Secretary Michal Donley told congress "To the extent that there to be cost growth or challenges .... we'll have to take down the number of aircraft".
The overseeing authority for the Air Forces fighter squadrons Air Combat Command concurs "We cannot simply buy our way out of problems or shortfall as we have been able to do in the past.
If cuts do occur, th US will have fine company, Australia, Canada and Japan have already begun to back away from the JSF programme and the new plane has exceeded their budgets. There are a variety of alternatives, The Super Hornet, a revamped F-15. But the US military still prefers the F-35 "We[Air Combat Command] will remain committed to the long term success of the F-35 program."
Sources: The Young Turks, Wired
26/3 Atheists not quite human?
 |
| Michael Nugent |
It's hard to imagine that anyone in the developed world would offer this gross liable in a developed country in the 21st century but Just a few days ago a Catholic Professor said exactly this, at a Pluralism in Education conference held in Limerick titled Towards Mutual Ground: Religious Pluralism in Educational Practice in Irish Schools. The event was attended by representatives of Atheist Ireland including Michael Nugent. While the conference generally progressed well, the second key note speaker Prof Gavin D’Costa, embarrassed himself his church and his nation by echoing a claim by Cardinal Murphy O’Connor made on BBC radio that suggested that atheist are not quite human. To make matters worse when challenged on this canard he repeated claiming to be religious revelation describing atheist as "not fully formed" as reported by delegate Micheal Nugent.
DeCosta also argued atheism is a religion. He also described it as a nonreligious position. When challenged he acknowledge the inconsistency and claim the denying atheism is religion is kidding ourselves
DeCosta also argued atheism is a religion. He also described it as a nonreligious position. When challenged he acknowledge the inconsistency and claim the denying atheism is religion is kidding ourselves
Anti-atheist epithets may be wide spread in Ireland's education system provided schools that are 96% denominational. Even teachers colleges Herbinia College was critised for requiing student teaher to tae the position that "Atheist humanism produced the worst horrors history has ever witnessed". What makes this remarkable is this poisonous liable was being offered a now religious school. Considering the role atheist had in "the troubles" this is an even more gross distortion of moral superiority at work in Irish culture.
Source atheist.ie
Source atheist.ie
Sunday 25 March 2012
23/3 Is Christopher Monkton a troll?
Lord Christopher Monkton, is known for evangelizing non anthropogenic climate change or the Bart Simpson defense for Carbon emitting industry depending on who you ask.
YouTube user potholer54 debated Monkton representations on What's Up With That(WUWT). Lets see what potholer54 found when he examined Monkton's claims.
15 - Lord Monckton Bunkum Part 1 - Global cooling and melting ice"
Claim 1 "we've had nine years of a global cooling trend since 1 January 2001" At St Paul in 2009. However:
Monkton Bunkum Part 2 - Sensitivity
Claim 4 - Global cooling
Here Monkton, totally confuses himself, his audience and a US Congressional Committee.
One of the the more difficult aspects of the climate debate is matching a denier with the a scientist who has expertise in the specialty or knowledge of the particular claims offered. Monkton totally takes advantage of this when Ben McNeil, expert in oceanic CO2 absorption by steering the debate to climate sensitivity. Perhaps leaving McNeil feeling he needed to do more homework while Monkton left him in a cloud of metaphorical bull dust.
The term "forcing" describes the amount of warming by any mechanism, sun light cloud cover, loss of reflective ice atmospheric CO2 etc. For a doubling of atmospheric CO2 are around 3.5-3.7 watts/m2(according 3 IPCC Scientific assessments and Professor Lindzen in 2007). Given and amount of forcing the earth temperature will rise until the amount of heat absorbed is match by the amount of heat escaping this the equilibrium temperature, to calculate this we multiply the forcing(F) by the earths sensitivity(λ) so T=F×λ or to denote change in temperature and force it is usually written as ΔT=ΔF×λ. This will be important later because Monkton makes a mess of it. But first an example ΔT=3.7w/m2 × 0.27 we get a result of 0.999 or about 1℃. However due to changes in the environment we need to take a more studied view of the environment to find to true figure for sensitivity(λ). Multiple studies put true climate sensitivity at 2.4-to 4.5.
Lindzen's hypothesis, who Monkton borrows from heavily, has several glaring flaws, Lindzen claims that more water vapor leads to more clouds that reflect light back into space while ignoring that they also reflect longer waves back to earth thus introduction positive feedback, work is limited to the tropics not the whole Earth, Meanwhile the geogologic record tells us that feedback is averall positive, so some warming result in further warming from environmental changes caused by the initial warming. Other positive feedback include melting perma forst releasing methane, more water vapor adds to greenhouse effect, and ice that would relect light and heat melts and absorbs heat as ocean water.
What Monkton has done here is cherry picked Lindzen work to fit his own argument without mentioning the problems identified by other researchers.
In his "peer reviewed" paper, Monkton takes a low figure for forcing and divides it by 3. Which is a problem because what he is really doing is mucking around with sensitivity. Surely, no one can be this mistaken and testify to Congress?!
Lay audiences are easily dazzled formulae flash up quickly, because they don't the knowledge to seperate good physics from bad. Even if their is evidence right in their faces, ever notice how a clear winter's night is often colder than overcast?
Monkton also goes on to claim that a satellite study by a Dr Pinker shows a "natural" decline in cloud cover has lead to an increase in temperature. Later at a debate in opponent his ready with a rebuttal from Dr Pinker which I will paraphrase as "Monkton, you are talking nonsense!". To compound the problem Monkton continue this fallacy in his congressional testimony. Am I wrong here has proven global cooling by showing a temperature increase? No Pinker's specific critique is that "The CO2 forcing value that Mr Christopher Monkton refers to impact on the Earths radiative balance. The numbers that we quote in our paper represent the change in surface short wave radiation due to changes in the atmosphere, clouds, water-vapor, aerosols. These two number cannot be compare at their face value. To the best of my understanding this the source of the misunderstanding."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpF48b6Lsbo
Claim 5 There is no correlation between CO2 and global temperature over geological time.
If you house has central heating and air conditioning you know the temperature inside bare little relation to the weather. This demonstrates fallacy of Monktons claim that CO2 levels should track with temperature change. It is the idea that the house must be hot if the heating is on, ignoring that the weather may drop the temperature low enough to drop the inside temperature more than the heating can handle. thus demonstrating that house temperature is not related to heating system. output even thought the chill is mitigated by the heating system.
Monkton cites data from a study by Robert Berner who concluded in his atmospheric CO2 research "This means the over the long term[600 million years] there is indeed a correlation between CO2 and paleotemperature, as manifestes by the the greenhouse effect". What we see here is Monkton using Berner's data in a ludicrous quote mine. What is laughable is Monkton attempts to use raw temperature studies over a similar period without adjusting for other factor including solar output and presents this graph claiming that there is no correlation between the two.
Dana Royer also reviewed all data for the last 600 million years and found a strong correlation through out the Phanerozoic era by adjusting for solar output.
Monkton gives reference to an early Cambrian ice age known as snow ball earth which lasted about 2million years and asks how there could have been so much ice and so much CO2 int the atmosphere. At the time the sun was about 6% less powerful than we see today, and this ice began with a relatively low level of CO2. Since the earth's surface was white and reflected the little solar radiation it was getting it was set to remain frozen for a long time. Volcanic fissures remain exposed, they pumped CO2 into the air. This CO2 would have been absorbed by the oceans and formed carbonate compounds but was blocked by ice. Atmosphere CO2 rose causing the green house that saw temperatures rise and the eventual melting of the ice, once the oceans were exposed the process accelerated as the blue oceans did not reflect the light from the sun. The process further continues until the hot house earth of the late Cambrian era which saw the evolutionary explosion life.
Claim 6 The Himalayan glaciers showing no particular change in 200 years (except Gangotri)
Monkton cites Prof M I Bhat of the Indian Geological Survey and whom he describes as the person responsible for monitoring Himalayan glaciers. Referencing 200 years of records "from the days of the Raj When first began monitoring these don't you know?", Monkton claims that "there is little evidence of any change except for Gangotri which is experiencing local geological instability nothing to do with global warming. All the others are doing fine." When pressed for a publish source for this opinion Monkton fails to provide the requested citation and instead insists that M I Bhat is the "man on the ground" for this field of study. and that "locally produced literature tends to support this". When pressed again he again did not provide citations but gave an email address of the person monitoring them. At this point Monkton appears to have no research to back up his claim. Buried at the bottom of a long email Monkton admits "Yes, mountain glaciers in many regions, including the Himalayas, have been receding."
On the occasions where a politician evade questions as Monkton did in the previous email exchange, it often means tehy are hiding something. When contacted by potholer 54, M I Bhat responded to question "Could I describe you as the person responsible for monitoring Himalayan glaciers?" with
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3giRaGNTMA
Claim 6: I did not say what you said id said -quote mining.
One preferred strategy of unscientific politcos is to compile a list of quotes and use them out of context or change them to fit the argument to be pushed.
Kevin Trenberth: Monkton attributes Trenberth as saying "There has been no global warming for a decade. we cannot explain why. It is a travesty that we cant't" in one those climate gate emails. Trenberth is lamenting a lack of data "The fact is that we can't account for the lack of warmng at the moment..." Why did Monkton change it?
Justice Burton: Monkton misqotes Justice Burton comment as "The Armageddon scenario that he depicts is not base on any scientific view" from his judgment concerning a case concerning the use of An Inconvenient Truth in education. The orignal comment was in relation to the speed of a 7m rise in sea level, later Monkton reframes to reference to whole work in an interview with Climate Depot. What Burton actually said was "It is common ground that if indeed Greenland melted it would release this amount of water, but only after and over millenia, so that Armageddon scenario he predicts, insofar as it suggests that sea level rises of 7 meters might occur in the immediate future isnot in with the scientific consensus."
Dr Murari Lal: In a comedy of errors around a speculative comment suggest the Himalayan glaciers might melt completely by 2035 that misreported in New Scientist copied by the Worldwide Fund for Nature and used in The Inconvenient Truth by principle writer for the Himalayan segment. Lal notes in an interview with David Rose for The Mail, "We knew the WWF report with the 2035 date was "grey literature" [material that is not not published in a peer-reviewed journal]. But it was never pickup by any if the authors in our group, nor by any of the more than 500 external reviewers. by the governments to which it was sent, or by the final IPC review editors."
Monkton somehow turns it into an admission that Lal knew it was false. David Rose is moved to respond "I did not, however accuse him[Lal] of knowingly publishing false information, as others have implied." Again we see Monkton just making stuff up.
Sir John Houghton: The first Chairman of the science panel of the IPCC, "Unless we announce disasters no one will listen." accord to Monkton, but Hougton never said this. The Independent newspaper says the quote was made up. Either Monkton is just making this stuff up, or someone badly paraphrased the quote with the bloggersphere, but Peirs Akerman who publish it should really have taken more care, but it appears that he could really remember where he got and cited Global Warming the complete Briefing from 1994. But the quote is not in that book.The quote has been traced to an article in The Daily Telegraph and reads "If we want good environmental policy int the future, we'll have to have a disaster. It's like safety on public transport. The only way humans will act is if there's been an accident". While wound back from using the Monkton keeps using it.
It is interest ingthat he quotes Fox News "We report, you decide". Which would be fine, if Fox News had a history of accurate reporting, but he, like Fox News, have a demonstrated lack of regard for accuracy in reporting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRCyctTvuCo
Claim 7 Mars' polar ice caps are melting
It turns out that is not true. And the Earth's thermal dynamics are distinct from those of the other planets. Except for last 50 years years CO2 levels have been relatively stable over the last few centuries. Variations in the sun's output measured with sun spot activity track well with temperature changes. More recently the sun output has remain static at a relatively high level temperatures are continuing to climb, something else is pushing them up. Since the 50s CO2 levels have been climbing.
Monkton Claims Scafetta and West attributes 69% of warming to increase activity of the sun and that the international astronomical union accepted this at a 2004 synposium. Actually the 69% figure was an outside limit for warming since 1900 and most astronomers in the field use a much lower number. and IAU did not accept this opinion at supposed synposium of which no record could be found. Monkton did write to Spencer Davies admitting his this was a mistake.
In all, potholer54 identified 21 glaring errors in his presentations, but that is not all, at this point having 5 x 1/4 hour videos debunking the crapfest. potholer54 felt it best to not bore his audience any further. I though it was intriguing how one man so eminent as Lord Monkton could be a font of such a stupendous crapfest. Perhaps the fact that his title is hereditary will help explain it.
Wiki has this to say on Monkton's Climate views
YouTube user potholer54 debated Monkton representations on What's Up With That(WUWT). Lets see what potholer54 found when he examined Monkton's claims.
15 - Lord Monckton Bunkum Part 1 - Global cooling and melting ice"
What do we see when he presents his argument? Lets see...
- Monkton claims to have been Margeret Thatcher's Science advisor yet Thatcher's autobiography disagrees referring instead to George Guise in the policy unit, who advise her on climate change before she spoke to the Royal Society and established the Climatic Research Unit.
- Monkton claims he has written peer reviewed papers. A claim that stems from an opinion peace that he was invited to write and appeared the newsletter to the American Physical Society. Monkton's subsequent insistence that the article was peer reviewed prompted the editor to publish a rebuttal pointion out that it was not peer reviewed.
- Monkton is not a scientist, he has degrees in journalism and Classics. While he does not need a science because accurate reporting interpretation of scientific data and science opinion are all he is required to provide to make his case - just lie the school girls who tested Ribenna's Vitamin C levels a while back and found that they did not reach the advertised level.
Claim 1 "we've had nine years of a global cooling trend since 1 January 2001" At St Paul in 2009. However:
In Waiting for Global Cooling by Robert Fawcett and David Jones in April 2008 published by the the National Climate Centre at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology in Melbourne wrote "In all three data sets, the linear trend over 1998-2007 is upward (i.e., one of warming), even if the warming is weaker in the British date set than in the American data sets."Claim 2 No long-term loss of Arctic ice in the Arctic
1998 was warmer than 2001, Monktons starting point. AP reported "In a blind test, the AP gave temperature data to independent statisticians and asked them to look for trends, without telling them what the numbers represented. The experts found not true temperature declines over time. Statisticians who analyzed the data found a distinct decades-long upwards trend in the numbers, but could not find a significant drop in the past ten years in either data set. The ups and downs during the last decade repeat random variability in the data as far back as 1880". AP goes on to quote Deke Arndt of NOAA "The last 10 years are the warmest 10-year period of modern record, Even if you analyse the trend during that 10 years the trends is actually positive which means warming." - AP 26 Oct 2009 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33482750/ns/us_news-evironment/
Where is the evidence supporting Monkton claim, Monkton does not offer any. In a set of rapid changing if you choose an early high point and a late low you can hide an overall upward trend. Climate is subject ot el-nino and la-nina fluctuations every few years and the solar cycle every 11 years and Monkton has cherry picked his data set so that it start with a warm el-nino in finished with an exceptional solar minima thus skewing the result. To avoid this A technique of moving average reveals a long trend within data and using more data perhaps over decades proves a more accurate picture.
"Once again we are not looking at a sort of long term systematic loss of ice in the arctic" - C Monkton in Melbourne 2009, When potholer54 pressed for sources Monkton on January 6 2011 replied "Arctic sea ice has indeed been declining for 30 years, and the Monthly CO2 Reports fairly reflect this...". This seems quite a turn around and is in line with the other research. "According to scientific measurements, Arctic sea ice has declined dramatically over at least the past thirty years, with the most extreme decline seen in the summer melt season." (Arctic Sea Ice News and Analysis, Nation Snow and Ice Data Center http://nside.org/arcticseaicenews/2011/010511.html)Claim 3 No nett loss of ice from Greenland
Monkton claims a very diligent Dutch researcher Ola M Johannessan measured Gleenland's ice using laser altimetry between 1992-2003, he then claims "The average thickness of the vast Greenland ice sheet increased by two inches a year." But what did Ola really mean. Johannesson wrote in the paper Monkton cites that "First, we cannot make an integrated assessment of elevation changes - let alone ice volume and its equivelment sea-level change - for the whole Greenland ice Sheet, including its outlet glaciers, from these observations alone, because marginal areas are not measure completely using ERS-1/ERS-2 altimetry (see Fig 1). it is conceivable that pronounced ablation (e.g. 10,11) in low elevation marginal areas could offset the elevation increases that we observed in the interior areas." Since publication of this paper the loss of lower altitude has been demonstrated to exceed the higher altitude gains and since these were published 2006 Monkton would have had these available to him during his 2009 delivery. Johanneson concluded that the high altitude gains were predicted by climate models and could be explain something like the North Atlantic oscillation.
Monkton Bunkum Part 2 - Sensitivity
Claim 4 - Global cooling
Here Monkton, totally confuses himself, his audience and a US Congressional Committee.
One of the the more difficult aspects of the climate debate is matching a denier with the a scientist who has expertise in the specialty or knowledge of the particular claims offered. Monkton totally takes advantage of this when Ben McNeil, expert in oceanic CO2 absorption by steering the debate to climate sensitivity. Perhaps leaving McNeil feeling he needed to do more homework while Monkton left him in a cloud of metaphorical bull dust.
The term "forcing" describes the amount of warming by any mechanism, sun light cloud cover, loss of reflective ice atmospheric CO2 etc. For a doubling of atmospheric CO2 are around 3.5-3.7 watts/m2(according 3 IPCC Scientific assessments and Professor Lindzen in 2007). Given and amount of forcing the earth temperature will rise until the amount of heat absorbed is match by the amount of heat escaping this the equilibrium temperature, to calculate this we multiply the forcing(F) by the earths sensitivity(λ) so T=F×λ or to denote change in temperature and force it is usually written as ΔT=ΔF×λ. This will be important later because Monkton makes a mess of it. But first an example ΔT=3.7w/m2 × 0.27 we get a result of 0.999 or about 1℃. However due to changes in the environment we need to take a more studied view of the environment to find to true figure for sensitivity(λ). Multiple studies put true climate sensitivity at 2.4-to 4.5.
Lindzen's hypothesis, who Monkton borrows from heavily, has several glaring flaws, Lindzen claims that more water vapor leads to more clouds that reflect light back into space while ignoring that they also reflect longer waves back to earth thus introduction positive feedback, work is limited to the tropics not the whole Earth, Meanwhile the geogologic record tells us that feedback is averall positive, so some warming result in further warming from environmental changes caused by the initial warming. Other positive feedback include melting perma forst releasing methane, more water vapor adds to greenhouse effect, and ice that would relect light and heat melts and absorbs heat as ocean water.
What Monkton has done here is cherry picked Lindzen work to fit his own argument without mentioning the problems identified by other researchers.
In his "peer reviewed" paper, Monkton takes a low figure for forcing and divides it by 3. Which is a problem because what he is really doing is mucking around with sensitivity. Surely, no one can be this mistaken and testify to Congress?!
Lay audiences are easily dazzled formulae flash up quickly, because they don't the knowledge to seperate good physics from bad. Even if their is evidence right in their faces, ever notice how a clear winter's night is often colder than overcast?
Monkton also goes on to claim that a satellite study by a Dr Pinker shows a "natural" decline in cloud cover has lead to an increase in temperature. Later at a debate in opponent his ready with a rebuttal from Dr Pinker which I will paraphrase as "Monkton, you are talking nonsense!". To compound the problem Monkton continue this fallacy in his congressional testimony. Am I wrong here has proven global cooling by showing a temperature increase? No Pinker's specific critique is that "The CO2 forcing value that Mr Christopher Monkton refers to impact on the Earths radiative balance. The numbers that we quote in our paper represent the change in surface short wave radiation due to changes in the atmosphere, clouds, water-vapor, aerosols. These two number cannot be compare at their face value. To the best of my understanding this the source of the misunderstanding."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpF48b6Lsbo
Claim 5 There is no correlation between CO2 and global temperature over geological time.
If you house has central heating and air conditioning you know the temperature inside bare little relation to the weather. This demonstrates fallacy of Monktons claim that CO2 levels should track with temperature change. It is the idea that the house must be hot if the heating is on, ignoring that the weather may drop the temperature low enough to drop the inside temperature more than the heating can handle. thus demonstrating that house temperature is not related to heating system. output even thought the chill is mitigated by the heating system.
Monkton cites data from a study by Robert Berner who concluded in his atmospheric CO2 research "This means the over the long term[600 million years] there is indeed a correlation between CO2 and paleotemperature, as manifestes by the the greenhouse effect". What we see here is Monkton using Berner's data in a ludicrous quote mine. What is laughable is Monkton attempts to use raw temperature studies over a similar period without adjusting for other factor including solar output and presents this graph claiming that there is no correlation between the two.
Dana Royer also reviewed all data for the last 600 million years and found a strong correlation through out the Phanerozoic era by adjusting for solar output.
Monkton gives reference to an early Cambrian ice age known as snow ball earth which lasted about 2million years and asks how there could have been so much ice and so much CO2 int the atmosphere. At the time the sun was about 6% less powerful than we see today, and this ice began with a relatively low level of CO2. Since the earth's surface was white and reflected the little solar radiation it was getting it was set to remain frozen for a long time. Volcanic fissures remain exposed, they pumped CO2 into the air. This CO2 would have been absorbed by the oceans and formed carbonate compounds but was blocked by ice. Atmosphere CO2 rose causing the green house that saw temperatures rise and the eventual melting of the ice, once the oceans were exposed the process accelerated as the blue oceans did not reflect the light from the sun. The process further continues until the hot house earth of the late Cambrian era which saw the evolutionary explosion life.
Claim 6 The Himalayan glaciers showing no particular change in 200 years (except Gangotri)
Monkton cites Prof M I Bhat of the Indian Geological Survey and whom he describes as the person responsible for monitoring Himalayan glaciers. Referencing 200 years of records "from the days of the Raj When first began monitoring these don't you know?", Monkton claims that "there is little evidence of any change except for Gangotri which is experiencing local geological instability nothing to do with global warming. All the others are doing fine." When pressed for a publish source for this opinion Monkton fails to provide the requested citation and instead insists that M I Bhat is the "man on the ground" for this field of study. and that "locally produced literature tends to support this". When pressed again he again did not provide citations but gave an email address of the person monitoring them. At this point Monkton appears to have no research to back up his claim. Buried at the bottom of a long email Monkton admits "Yes, mountain glaciers in many regions, including the Himalayas, have been receding."
On the occasions where a politician evade questions as Monkton did in the previous email exchange, it often means tehy are hiding something. When contacted by potholer 54, M I Bhat responded to question "Could I describe you as the person responsible for monitoring Himalayan glaciers?" with
"The big and loud answer is: NO."In fairly typical fashion Monkton revises his qualification of M I Bhat form "the person responsible for monitoring Himalayan glaciers" to "someone who seems to be knowledgeable" and still no peer reviewed literature to be seen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3giRaGNTMA
Claim 6: I did not say what you said id said -quote mining.
One preferred strategy of unscientific politcos is to compile a list of quotes and use them out of context or change them to fit the argument to be pushed.
Kevin Trenberth: Monkton attributes Trenberth as saying "There has been no global warming for a decade. we cannot explain why. It is a travesty that we cant't" in one those climate gate emails. Trenberth is lamenting a lack of data "The fact is that we can't account for the lack of warmng at the moment..." Why did Monkton change it?
Justice Burton: Monkton misqotes Justice Burton comment as "The Armageddon scenario that he depicts is not base on any scientific view" from his judgment concerning a case concerning the use of An Inconvenient Truth in education. The orignal comment was in relation to the speed of a 7m rise in sea level, later Monkton reframes to reference to whole work in an interview with Climate Depot. What Burton actually said was "It is common ground that if indeed Greenland melted it would release this amount of water, but only after and over millenia, so that Armageddon scenario he predicts, insofar as it suggests that sea level rises of 7 meters might occur in the immediate future isnot in with the scientific consensus."
Dr Murari Lal: In a comedy of errors around a speculative comment suggest the Himalayan glaciers might melt completely by 2035 that misreported in New Scientist copied by the Worldwide Fund for Nature and used in The Inconvenient Truth by principle writer for the Himalayan segment. Lal notes in an interview with David Rose for The Mail, "We knew the WWF report with the 2035 date was "grey literature" [material that is not not published in a peer-reviewed journal]. But it was never pickup by any if the authors in our group, nor by any of the more than 500 external reviewers. by the governments to which it was sent, or by the final IPC review editors."
Monkton somehow turns it into an admission that Lal knew it was false. David Rose is moved to respond "I did not, however accuse him[Lal] of knowingly publishing false information, as others have implied." Again we see Monkton just making stuff up.
Sir John Houghton: The first Chairman of the science panel of the IPCC, "Unless we announce disasters no one will listen." accord to Monkton, but Hougton never said this. The Independent newspaper says the quote was made up. Either Monkton is just making this stuff up, or someone badly paraphrased the quote with the bloggersphere, but Peirs Akerman who publish it should really have taken more care, but it appears that he could really remember where he got and cited Global Warming the complete Briefing from 1994. But the quote is not in that book.The quote has been traced to an article in The Daily Telegraph and reads "If we want good environmental policy int the future, we'll have to have a disaster. It's like safety on public transport. The only way humans will act is if there's been an accident". While wound back from using the Monkton keeps using it.
It is interest ingthat he quotes Fox News "We report, you decide". Which would be fine, if Fox News had a history of accurate reporting, but he, like Fox News, have a demonstrated lack of regard for accuracy in reporting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRCyctTvuCo
Claim 7 Mars' polar ice caps are melting
It turns out that is not true. And the Earth's thermal dynamics are distinct from those of the other planets. Except for last 50 years years CO2 levels have been relatively stable over the last few centuries. Variations in the sun's output measured with sun spot activity track well with temperature changes. More recently the sun output has remain static at a relatively high level temperatures are continuing to climb, something else is pushing them up. Since the 50s CO2 levels have been climbing.
Monkton Claims Scafetta and West attributes 69% of warming to increase activity of the sun and that the international astronomical union accepted this at a 2004 synposium. Actually the 69% figure was an outside limit for warming since 1900 and most astronomers in the field use a much lower number. and IAU did not accept this opinion at supposed synposium of which no record could be found. Monkton did write to Spencer Davies admitting his this was a mistake.
In all, potholer54 identified 21 glaring errors in his presentations, but that is not all, at this point having 5 x 1/4 hour videos debunking the crapfest. potholer54 felt it best to not bore his audience any further. I though it was intriguing how one man so eminent as Lord Monkton could be a font of such a stupendous crapfest. Perhaps the fact that his title is hereditary will help explain it.
Wiki has this to say on Monkton's Climate views
Monckton is on record as accepting that there is a greenhouse effect,[34] and that CO2 contributes to it. However, he has said "there is a startling absence of correlation between the CO2-concentration trend and the temperature trend, necessarily implying that—at least in the short term—there is little or no causative link between the two", but that, on a different timescale, there is "a close correlation between CO2 concentration and temperature: but it was temperature that changed first".[35] In a 2006 article he questioned the appropriateness of using a near-zero discount rate in the Stern Review, which, he wrote, had underestimated the costs of mitigation and overstated its benefits. He said that mitigation was "expensively futile without the consent of the Third World's fast-growing nations".[36]
After a presentation by Monckton at Bethel University (Minnesota), Professor John P Abraham[37] of University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) produced a rebuttal to Monckton's claims.[38] Abraham investigated the origins of many of the claims by contacting the authors of those papers Monckton had cited[39][40] and concluded that "he had misrepresented the science".[40] Monckton "initiated the process of having Abraham hauled up before whatever academic panel his Bible College can muster, to answer disciplinary charges of willful academic dishonesty amounting to gross professional misconduct unbecoming a member of his profession",[41] and asked that Abraham's talk be removed from the University servers, and a donation of $10,000 and $100,000 be made respectively by Abraham and the University to the "United States Association of the Order of Malta for its charitable work in Haiti".[42][43] The university responded that "The University of St Thomas respects your right to disagree with Professor Abraham, just as the University respects Professor Abraham's right to disagree with you. What we object to are your personal attacks against Father Dease, and Professor Abraham, your inflammatory language, and your decision to disparage Professor Abraham Father Dease and The University of St Thomas",[44][45] and it refused all of Monckton's demands.[46]What do you think? Comment below.
Saturday 24 March 2012
Corrosion
First they came for the blacks,
Is said nothing.
I'm not black.
Then they came for the women,
Is said nothing.
I'm male.
Then they came for the gays,
Is said nothing.
I'm straight.
Again, they came for the unionists,
Is said nothing.
I'm not union
Then they came for the sick,
Is said nothing.
I'm healthy.
Then they came for the students,
Is said nothing.
I'm not studyng.
Then they came for the poor,
Is said nothing.
I'm not poor.
Finally, they came for job.
Who is left to speak me?
Is said nothing.
I'm not black.
Then they came for the women,
Is said nothing.
I'm male.
Then they came for the gays,
Is said nothing.
I'm straight.
Again, they came for the unionists,
Is said nothing.
I'm not union
Then they came for the sick,
Is said nothing.
I'm healthy.
Then they came for the students,
Is said nothing.
I'm not studyng.
Then they came for the poor,
Is said nothing.
I'm not poor.
Finally, they came for job.
Who is left to speak me?
Friday 23 March 2012
23/3 New NASA Hockey stick models: Sea level
Current readings put sea level rise at 3mm this is a 50% rise in the last 50 years.
In part glacial melt and partly due to thermal expansion of ocean water.
According to the record sea level has risen 20cm in the last 230-250 years at rates best estimated to be from 1mm/year about 100 year ago to 2mm about 50 years ago and to 3mm now.
According to US Navy Admiral David Titley, Chief Oceanographer, speaking at TEDx we should expect to see sea rise 3 to 6 feet in the 21st century.
Source NASA, US Navy
In part glacial melt and partly due to thermal expansion of ocean water.
According to the record sea level has risen 20cm in the last 230-250 years at rates best estimated to be from 1mm/year about 100 year ago to 2mm about 50 years ago and to 3mm now.
According to US Navy Admiral David Titley, Chief Oceanographer, speaking at TEDx we should expect to see sea rise 3 to 6 feet in the 21st century.
Source NASA, US Navy
Meanwhile in 2009 Media Matters reported:
Center for Naval Analysis Concluded that Climate Change has "Grave Implications For Our National Security." A 2007 Center for Naval Analysis study was authored by 11 retired generals and admirals. It stated that "[t]he nature and pace of climate changes being observed today and the consequences projected by the consensus scientific opinion are grave and pose equally grave implications for our national security."
The report issued four conclusions:
1) "Projected climate change poses a serious threat to America's national security."Chairman Of Bush's National Intelligence Council: Climate Change Has "Wide-Ranging Implications For US National Security Interests." - June 25, 2008
2) "Climate change acts as a threat multiplier for instability in some of the most volatile regions of the world."
3) "Projected climate change will add to tensions even in stable regions of the world."
4) "Climate change, national security, and energy dependence are a related set of global challenges." [Center for Naval Analysis, 2007]
Editorial
Global warming is not a liberal conspiracy. It is a fact. The work of navies all over the world depends on good science and this is what the science is saying. The US Government's own security assessments are that climate change is a major threat to US security in the 21st century. It is worth noting that the 2007 study occurred before the 2008 presidential election and could not have been significantly influence by political pressure from Democrats and thus debunking "Liberal conspiracy" conspiracy theory. perhaps better still the quote from Bush's own administration.
Thursday 22 March 2012
22/3 Which GOP Pesidential hopeful is Opus Dei?
Which Candidate Celebrated the life of of the Opus Dei founder Josemaria Escriva on the public dime? Would you believe it was Rick Santorum?Prominent Catholics from around the globe, gathered in celebration of Spanish Catholic priest Josemaria Escriva in 2002 and Rick Santorum accompanied them claiming it to be part of his offical duties as a U.S. senator for Pennsylvania. At this occasion Santorum claimed that "blessed Josemaria guides my way" and that he publicly fights to uphold "absolute truth".
The transcript of Santorums speech contains remarks including ‘As long as you are making straight for your goal, head and heart intoxicated with God, why worry . . . ?’ which is a quote of Escriva.
There are around 3000 Opus Dei members in the USA and many of them in positions of power. Member wear a spiked chain around their thigh for two hours each day to empathize with Christ's suffering.
Santorum campaign group , who declined to comment, claims Santorum is not a member of Opus Dei, and to what extent he adhere to its tenets remains unclear.
Opus Dei remains a significant feature of Santorum's life counting amoung his friends Rev C. John McCloskey whom he accompanied to Rome for the celebration of Escriva's life and bapitised one of the Santorum children.
Monsignor William Stetson, a priest with the organization who knew Santorum after he left the Senate in 2007 said “He was attracted to Escriva and the spirit of Opus Dei, the idea of lay Catholics . . . giving Jesus Christ a presence in the workplace,"
Source TheYoungTurks, Washington Post
What do you think? Comment below...
22/3 Kim Dotcom wins back money
Kim Dotcom is set to receive $20,000 per month from interest on Government investment in order to cover legal expenses and $301,000 at $40,000 per month for living expenses accord to a decision by Judge Judith Potter.
This will come as some relief to contractors and staff of the Dotcom mansion who have been out of pocket since the spectacular raid in January.
Dotcom is still awaiting extradition, to the US where he faces charges of racketeering, copyright infringement and money laundering.
The asset seizure may have been subject to a procedural error, but this has yet to be determined by a judge.
Source 3News
This will come as some relief to contractors and staff of the Dotcom mansion who have been out of pocket since the spectacular raid in January.
Dotcom is still awaiting extradition, to the US where he faces charges of racketeering, copyright infringement and money laundering.
The asset seizure may have been subject to a procedural error, but this has yet to be determined by a judge.
Source 3News
22/3 French Synagogue, arrest immanent
French police are surround an apartment building in which occupant, Jihadi Mohamed Merah, has fired upon and wounded three police office and claims his assault on a Toulouse synagogue that killed 3 children and a rabbi was revenge for Palestinian children.
He has thrown a hand gun out of a window, and intends surrender in the afternoon. He has claimed that he is a member of the al-queda linked Forzan Aleeza.
Source YouTube
What do you think?
Update 22/3 3:30 GMT
Merah was killed in an intense shoot out with French police after a 30 hour seige. One officer is wound and another is in shock. The conclusion to the incident was report in a press scrum by Claude Gueant, the French Interior Minister.
21/3 Fox News Causes Suicide
Tracey Knauss reports on his face book page that his senior citizen mother, Haille, refused to seek medical attention after a fall. She made out her will and subsequently died. Her reasons were:
- that she feared Obama-care getting her personal information;
- she did not want to appear in front of one Fox's fictional Obama death panels;
- she feared her money would go to the Muslim Brotherhood.
She did not invent these crazy fantasies on her own, they came from Fox News which she watched religiously.
This is the sought of result one would expect when a news agency totally abandons adherence to facts and balance.
This is not the first time Fox has been implicated the deaths. In 2009 George Tiller was described by Bill O'Reilly as "tiller the baby killer" in 28 shows, then Scott Reoder went into A Wichita Church and killed Tiller. In 2010, Glen Beck Trash talked Tides as a non-profit organization promoting progressivism being use to destroy America. Then Byron Williams was stopped for speeding on his way to San Fransisco with a truck full of guns and the intent to kill people at the ACLU office and then Tides. When stopped, Williams fired upon and wound two offiicers.
Human life is the cost of reckless reporting, To my mind Bill O'Rielly and Glenn Beck may be liable for incitement to violence.
What Do you think?
Source Youtube
This is the sought of result one would expect when a news agency totally abandons adherence to facts and balance.
This is not the first time Fox has been implicated the deaths. In 2009 George Tiller was described by Bill O'Reilly as "tiller the baby killer" in 28 shows, then Scott Reoder went into A Wichita Church and killed Tiller. In 2010, Glen Beck Trash talked Tides as a non-profit organization promoting progressivism being use to destroy America. Then Byron Williams was stopped for speeding on his way to San Fransisco with a truck full of guns and the intent to kill people at the ACLU office and then Tides. When stopped, Williams fired upon and wound two offiicers.
Human life is the cost of reckless reporting, To my mind Bill O'Rielly and Glenn Beck may be liable for incitement to violence.
What Do you think?
Source Youtube
Wednesday 21 March 2012
21/3 Theocrats attack TYT Fights back
When Sean Faircloth wrote Attack of the Theocrats:who religion harms us all, highlighting his 10 point vision for a secular America. he was talking about the kind of subversive opinion uttered by Dennis Terry in his introduction of Rick Santorum.
This movement act like it already controls the Nation of USA. If you understand that America is a secular nation you don't need to be reminded that the constitution says
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
or that the Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli authored by Joel Barlow 1976, and read before congress and endorsed unanimously by the congress before sign by John Adams.
"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
The first amendment prevents government from acquiescing to the Christian Rights demands, does not stop criticism of ludicrous, even seditious statements from the pulpit, whether that criticism comes from "liberal" media or private citizens acting in concert to peaceably protest, ridicule, lampoon and demand rejection hateful misogynistic, racist and jingoistic policies and rhetoric.
Source: The Young Turks
Tell me, what do you think?
21/3 "F***ng coons" - Zimmerman
George Zimmerman whispers this racial epithet during his 911 call before he murders Trayvon martin on Feb 26.
The case for this incident to be considered a hate crime is growing as more information comes to light. including the resident of the area who say they were witnesses who had not been contacted by police weeks after the incident.
The case for this incident to be considered a hate crime is growing as more information comes to light. including the resident of the area who say they were witnesses who had not been contacted by police weeks after the incident.
Source the Young Turks
21/3 FCC decission to bring back peoples voice
The FCC have made a decision that offers communities the opportunity to counter messages from major corporations on low power FM radio in short an end to the virtual monoploy right wing-pudits like Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.
The decision(PDF) was issued on Monday comes in the same week where it has been revealed that 69% of voters hate Citizen's United - the statue that allows corporations to spend unlimited sums for political adverting.
The decision(PDF) was issued on Monday comes in the same week where it has been revealed that 69% of voters hate Citizen's United - the statue that allows corporations to spend unlimited sums for political adverting.
Source: Raw Story, The Young Turks
Editorial
Why is Citizens United so dangerous? Whitehouse staff fear negative ad campaigns and work avoid offending lobbyists because report backs can lead to donation to opposing super PACs
21/3 Dutch Catholics Castrate Boys and Youth
At least 10 boys and young men were castrated by Dutch Catholic Church in the 1950's as a treatment for homosexuality an as retribution for reporting sexual abuse by clergy.
One of the young men castrated was Henk Heithuis, 20 years old at the time he was dead two years later - in a car crash. Cornelius Rogge, friend of the Heithuis family friend testified to the Deetman inquiry:
"We once asked Henk to drop his pants when the women were gone. He did that. He was maimed totally. It was a huge shock,"
More than 1800 report of abuse have been report to the Deetman inquiry some of these reports going back to 1945. Former Dutch Prime-minister Vic Marijnen is implicated because he was the chairman of the Catholic boys home where Heithuis was abused.
Editorial
With this kind of depravity in the Catholic Church's cultural background is it any wonder that Rick Santorum slanders gay people and denies their human right to marry?
Tuesday 20 March 2012
20/3 New York Police Breaking Bones and Smashing Heads
Commemorating six months of Occupy Wall Street, the New York movement organized large peaceful protests and were viciously attack by police officers in uniform.
Breaking ribs, thumbs, jaws, and slamming one mans head into a glass door.
Officers made 70 arrests in a public-private park in which protesters had legal right to enter.
Source: The Young Turks
Editorial
Many of have seen the photo of Occupy protesters lined up while sitting on the ground while A police officer pepper sprays. Conservatives have labeled protesters as violent. But for the most part this is not supported. People under attack sometimes retaliate, while under physical assault even by police peaceful people can lose their shit, In the midst of such attackers authority barely factors in the decision making capacity of the assailed. Which leads me to retort to conservatives that Occupy protesters are so violent they sit there and take it.
I don't condone violence I have not yet seen occupiers doing much more than passive resistance. Thus they maintain the moral high ground while police officers humiliate and embarrass themselves and their departments.
Tell me what you think below.
I don't condone violence I have not yet seen occupiers doing much more than passive resistance. Thus they maintain the moral high ground while police officers humiliate and embarrass themselves and their departments.
Tell me what you think below.
20/3 99% are so screwed - Occupy
During the 1933-34 recovery the 90% gained 8.8% in house hold income and the super rich 0.1% lost lost 3.4%.
Now the super rich 0.1% have raked in 21.5% more in 2010 than 2009. and the 90% have lost income 0.4%.
Trickle down myth exposed.
Corporate profits are up 88%
Sources: Think Progress and The Young Turks
Now the super rich 0.1% have raked in 21.5% more in 2010 than 2009. and the 90% have lost income 0.4%.
Trickle down myth exposed.
Corporate profits are up 88%
Sources: Think Progress and The Young Turks
20/3 Graphene just got better, again!
 |
| Carbon atoms in graphene structure |
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have shown graphene how to stick to its knitting. Outside electrical interference has been a major problem for graphene, a problem that needed to be solved for electronics applications.
Graphene has promise in new generation batteries, hydrogen fuel storage, scratch resistant coating, invisible electrode for display devices, new type of photovoltaic cells.
Graphene has promise in new generation batteries, hydrogen fuel storage, scratch resistant coating, invisible electrode for display devices, new type of photovoltaic cells.
Graphene, naturally occurs in graphite. graphene is a single one atom thick layer of graphite bonded weakly to adjacent layers, is why it leaves a black mark on paper when you drag a pencil across the surface as you grip the pencil.
Graphene has remarkable chemical properties, it lets water pass easily through, look out for new water filters. and it can contain very slippery helium.
Application for graphene may include new faster computing technology, anti scratch visual surfaces, structural strength building technology, fuel cell technology, high performance photovoltaic technology.
Graphene has remarkable chemical properties, it lets water pass easily through, look out for new water filters. and it can contain very slippery helium.
Application for graphene may include new faster computing technology, anti scratch visual surfaces, structural strength building technology, fuel cell technology, high performance photovoltaic technology.
Source: Science Alert
What do you think? comment below. :)
20/3 End to hypocrisy: No more Vasectomies in GA? ;)
Yasmin Neal(D) has introduced a satirical bill into the Georgia senate asking to ban Vasectomies
"Thousand of children are deprived of birth in this state every year because of the lack of state regulation over vasectomies.
It is patently unfair that men can avoid unwanted fatherhood by presuming that their judgment over such matter is more valid than that of the general assembly, while women's ability to decide is constantly up for debate throughout the United States. "
Source: The Young Turks
Monday 19 March 2012
19/3 Murdered for being Atheist?
Texas Rangers think this may have happened to Josie Ramerez in a small texas town of Petriolia.
Remerez was described by the chief suspect as a hateful man who did not believe in the Lord. By that description he could talking about Ricky Gervais (just kidding Ricky, you're brilliant really). Certainly not brilliant is the suspect who kept Ramerez's credit card.
Sunday 18 March 2012
18/3 16yo suicides after rape and forced marriage to rapist.
Morocco, 16 year old, Amina al-Filah, committed suicide, after she was forced to marry her rapist by a Sharia court. Her hushand, then beat her regularly, and she ask her mother for advice and the was told to be patient.
With in a week she could suffer the abuse and the prospect of spending the rest of her life with her brutal "husband" no longer and committed suicide on Saturday 11, by drinking a lethal amount of rat poison, .
Aminas story has sparked outrage in Morocco with a 200 strong protest outside the Moroccan parliament brandishing placards "Martyr Amina", "We are all Aminas", and "The law killed me".
Amina's family agreed to the judgement to have her marry her rapist, because they beleived she had brought shame to their family by losing her virginity. This is not uncommon within the Muslim community.Lahcen al-Filali, Amina's father, was reluctant to permit this marriage, his wife insisted that it should be allowed, Lahcen told AFP, at the Thursday protest, "She said we had to do it so people would stop deriding us, to remove the shame, Can you imagine that a man who has forced a girl to follow him with a knife, and who rapes her, could then want to marry her?"
Democratic Association of Women member, Houda Bouzil, also told AFP "In 2008, the government introduced a bill, which has since been shelved, to demand an overhaul of the penal code in order to end discrimination and violence."Tunisia and Algeria have similar legislation
The story has exploded on the internet and media and on-line petitions to repeal the law.
With in a week she could suffer the abuse and the prospect of spending the rest of her life with her brutal "husband" no longer and committed suicide on Saturday 11, by drinking a lethal amount of rat poison, .
Aminas story has sparked outrage in Morocco with a 200 strong protest outside the Moroccan parliament brandishing placards "Martyr Amina", "We are all Aminas", and "The law killed me".
Amina's family agreed to the judgement to have her marry her rapist, because they beleived she had brought shame to their family by losing her virginity. This is not uncommon within the Muslim community.Lahcen al-Filali, Amina's father, was reluctant to permit this marriage, his wife insisted that it should be allowed, Lahcen told AFP, at the Thursday protest, "She said we had to do it so people would stop deriding us, to remove the shame, Can you imagine that a man who has forced a girl to follow him with a knife, and who rapes her, could then want to marry her?"
Democratic Association of Women member, Houda Bouzil, also told AFP "In 2008, the government introduced a bill, which has since been shelved, to demand an overhaul of the penal code in order to end discrimination and violence."Tunisia and Algeria have similar legislation
The story has exploded on the internet and media and on-line petitions to repeal the law.
Moroccan statute, punishes rape with 10 years, or 10-20 years in prison if the victim is under 18, and a fine of 200-500 dirhams (18-45 euros) unless he marries the victim. The marriage can never be reverse.
On Thurday an additional protest of 300 occured outside the court that mad the judgement that forced Amina to marry her rapist.
On Thurday an additional protest of 300 occured outside the court that mad the judgement that forced Amina to marry her rapist.
Editorial
Is the fox guarding the hen house? It is worth noting that Morocco as country is not that backward.
We must give credit to her father for understanding how wrong the arrangement was, however then blows it by not protecting his daughter. For good people to bad things you need religion. This has been a tragic experience for all concerned. If Amina's story has a value, it is in highlighting the sanity in the practise of Sharia. Moroccans are no longer desert tribe-people, those ancient customary laws are no longer befitting in the modern world.
I get the sense that derision levelled at the family of a rape victim is little more than bully and a perversion of the the course of justice in order that the rapist may escape the just consequences of their actions.
Update
Source: AFPTV
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18/3 Seven Mountain Dominionists scheming against body-snatchers.
AtheismTV spotted this one a day or two ago, The conspiracy theory driving afforts to take over the Unite States government. Conspiracy theories taken as entertainment are the stuff of a cosy night on the couch with friends a bowl of popcorn and a dvd, a point lost on Patricia King and Randy DeMain
They endeavour to have Christianity take over the world, and believe that people who wear a suit and tie to work are evil. The seven mountains metaphorically refer to Business, Art, Entertainment, Science, Medicine, Government, Media. The Seven Mountain Dominionists aim to take control in each of these areas of American life
Any serious study of history reveals great risks to society of theocracy. The Spanish Inquisition, the Crusades. The logical outcome of dominionist doctrine, suggests a purge of scientist, politicians, journalists, writers, and entrepreneurs that come into conflict with Dominionist establishment.
They endeavour to have Christianity take over the world, and believe that people who wear a suit and tie to work are evil. The seven mountains metaphorically refer to Business, Art, Entertainment, Science, Medicine, Government, Media. The Seven Mountain Dominionists aim to take control in each of these areas of American life
Any serious study of history reveals great risks to society of theocracy. The Spanish Inquisition, the Crusades. The logical outcome of dominionist doctrine, suggests a purge of scientist, politicians, journalists, writers, and entrepreneurs that come into conflict with Dominionist establishment.
Of course it would be ill considered to take the word of a single source, lets see what King and DeMan say themselves.
They continue, and we discover how to spot a nephilim - MiB?!
And now, how Nephilim work. fantasy
Saturday 17 March 2012
17/3 Jason Russell(Kony2012) Arrested: Public Masturbation
There is one way to distract from a highly criticized public campaign. There are conflicting reports that Russell was on something or suffering form exhaustion, dehydration and malnutrition.
It is alleged, the star of the Kony2012 campaign was seen in various states of undress dance shouting and interfering with traffic.
http://gawker.com/5894041/invisible-children-founder-and-kony-2012-star-found-masturbating-in-public
There a sense of dejevu, evangelical leaders have a peculiar habit of indiscretion. Ted Haggard, then President of the Southern Baptist Convention, in 2006 was found frequenting the services of a male prostitute and buying amphetamines. Jim Baker, Ministry started to fall because of an affair and related financial irregularities. Wiki offers this fascinating low lights.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_scandals_involving_evangelical_Christians
People tend to create what they think about and other times they rail against their nature inclinations either these folk lead themselves into humiliating and sometimes criminal behaviour.
Friday 16 March 2012
16/3 More War on Women: Planned Parenthood, get rid of that - Romney.
The war on women continues with Mitt Romney vowing to end Planned Parenthood. A service that the primary health care provider for 60% of its 5 million clients.
"Planned Parenthood, gonna get rid of that." Why would he say that? Well it would give $300 million in tax cuts to 262 millionaires. Or is it revenge for not getting Planned Parenthood's endorsement 10 years ago.
Gingrich is gangrene
His campaign has failed to win enough delegates to have a theoretical chance at winning the nomination race.. Now the race is between the aloof snobby misogynistic predatory rich ass-hole from a crackpot church and the elitist snobby homophobic misogynistic theocratic racist from a paedophile church. Still not much of a choice is it.
Update
Employers to get up in Arizona's women's business?
The senate Judiciary committee of Arizona has voted to endorse legislation to allow bosses to enquire of the purpose contraceptive prescription and allow termination of employment if the purpose violate employers morality. Republicans are walk into Orwell's 1984 totalitarian state with a smile in hope of junk cleaned up, but these showers have not water.
The senate Judiciary committee of Arizona has voted to endorse legislation to allow bosses to enquire of the purpose contraceptive prescription and allow termination of employment if the purpose violate employers morality. Republicans are walk into Orwell's 1984 totalitarian state with a smile in hope of junk cleaned up, but these showers have not water.
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Thursday 15 March 2012
15/3 Beheading the monster, how to achieve a just balance, if we can.
How should democracy tackle the spector of the corporation becoming the controlling entity of the society that it is charged with protecting while corporate interests seek to influence government to the detriment of society as a whole?
A small town instituted a city ordnance restricting the number of big fast food chain restaurants to 9. Here Local government at the behest of it people set a limit on corporate activity, mindful of cost to health of it citizenry.
Chittenden, Vermont, 53 communities voted to over turn Citizens United asking for a constitutional amendment. The amendment would see the end to vast sums of political contributions going to electoral campaigns. If all voters contributed $300 to a political campaign one corporation could out spend at all those voters.
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/310793/20120307/vermont-resolution-ban-corporate-personhood-overturning-citizens.htm
Recently the protect put in place to protect investors are set to be repealed. This likely a move engineered by corporate lobbyng.. The pressure on protections that are there to maintain order.
For an example of the value of corporates lobbying government, look at this.
American Jobs Creation Act Drop tax rate from 35% to 5% (Source: TheYoungTurks)
Some how the acceptance of the lobbying seen in Washington is much like leaving house keys under the door mat in the most lawless part of town. Somehow this does not lend itself to being a sensible arrangement.
A small town instituted a city ordnance restricting the number of big fast food chain restaurants to 9. Here Local government at the behest of it people set a limit on corporate activity, mindful of cost to health of it citizenry.
Chittenden, Vermont, 53 communities voted to over turn Citizens United asking for a constitutional amendment. The amendment would see the end to vast sums of political contributions going to electoral campaigns. If all voters contributed $300 to a political campaign one corporation could out spend at all those voters.
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/310793/20120307/vermont-resolution-ban-corporate-personhood-overturning-citizens.htm
Recently the protect put in place to protect investors are set to be repealed. This likely a move engineered by corporate lobbyng.. The pressure on protections that are there to maintain order.
For an example of the value of corporates lobbying government, look at this.
American Jobs Creation Act Drop tax rate from 35% to 5% (Source: TheYoungTurks)
Some how the acceptance of the lobbying seen in Washington is much like leaving house keys under the door mat in the most lawless part of town. Somehow this does not lend itself to being a sensible arrangement.
The Occupy movement, maligned by the press and conservatives, are keenly aware of this issue. The people in the movement want to work and they want value for their work. Many are well qualified for and/or experienced at working they would like work some more. Even the buy who applied for over 900 jobs. Any anybody who says he's lazy is not observing the facts.
It seems many Americans see the corporate as some sort god like entity that will trade citizens' productivity for the promise of wealth. But all they get is the promise, an old euphemism for fraud would describe the victim as being sold a bill of goods, meaning the victim had paid for the paperwork for goods they expected to receive, rather than the expected goods themselves.
Somehow the American people getting the bills, and little of good.
Wednesday 14 March 2012
14/3 The Corporation - if you haven't seen it, you should.
Get the popcorn ready pull up the duvet click play and discover how the corporate entity has become a pervasive influence in society sometimes good sometimes not so much. 2h44m
Tuesday 13 March 2012
13/3 Is the quality of police judgment falling?
How far removed from common sense and human compassion does one need to be to tazer a 9 year-old?
13/3 On disliking a YT charity drive.
Who would "dislike" a YouTube video form a respected source promoting a large fund-raising effort against cancer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZHLvGOEje8&feature=player_detailpage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZHLvGOEje8&feature=player_detailpage
It has only been up few hours and already has "dislikes". But exercising the satirical spirit Youtubers have identified the cause of the dislikes - tumours - yes cancer is fighting a culture war :) Perhaps secularism and freethought is no longer as popular as it was during the framing of the constitution of the United States of America.
AronRa's granddaughter was lost to leukemia last December, so this is certainly an important cause for him. Thanks to AronRa's efforts last year American children are a little safer from being taught the impossible nonsense of Intelligent Design in the class room.
At least check the video and consider supporting the cause.
Beyond reason it is possible that some Christian members of the audience may imagine this charity drive an exercise in self aggrandizement.
Would it not better to see people do going things and applaud it, until evidence and reason suggest other wise? Tell me what you think.
AronRa's granddaughter was lost to leukemia last December, so this is certainly an important cause for him. Thanks to AronRa's efforts last year American children are a little safer from being taught the impossible nonsense of Intelligent Design in the class room.
At least check the video and consider supporting the cause.
Beyond reason it is possible that some Christian members of the audience may imagine this charity drive an exercise in self aggrandizement.
Would it not better to see people do going things and applaud it, until evidence and reason suggest other wise? Tell me what you think.
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