If All You See…

…is heat created snow, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is The Other McCain, with a post comparing Obama’s economic plan to South Park.

Read: If All You See… »

Kid Ballerinas Booted From Practice Hall For Obama Interview

Let’s imagine this occurred while a Republican was president

(Fox News) A group of young ballerinas rehearsing for “The Nutcracker” was kicked out of American University’s theatre so MSNBC host Chris Matthews could interview President Obama on Thursday.

American University admitted they dumped Ballet Petite’s two final dress rehearsals so they could host MSNBC’s “Hardball College Tour.” Matthews will be presiding over a one-hour conversation with the man he’s likened to President Kennedy’s last brother, President Abraham Lincoln and Jesus Christ.

The ballet company had been scheduled to rehearse on Wednesday and Thursday in preparation for their opening performance on Sunday.

But, wait, it gets better!

Melissa Carney, the ballet company’s artistic director told The Washington Post they had signed a contract to rent the theatre in January. They were told they were being shoved out so Matthews could interview Obama on Tuesday.

In the Era Of Obama, contracts can be violated without penalty, simply so Obama can engage in a softball tee-ball interview  with a guy who thinks Obama is the Messiah. How many health insurance contracts were cancelled? Anyhow, AU offered some concessions, but no apology for breaking the contract, but, really, had Bush done this the media would be up in arms about how shoddily he treated these 6 and 7 year old girls, and would trot out the “war on women” meme.

Read: Kid Ballerinas Booted From Practice Hall For Obama Interview »

German Scientists Warn Of Coming Cool Period – Eh, It’s Probably “Climate Change”

As always, I’ll stay skeptical, and say that I will believe it when I see it

(Daily Caller) Better start investing in some warm clothes because German scientists are predicting that the Earth will cool over the next century.

German scientists found that two naturally occurring cycles will combine to lower global temperatures during the 21st century, eventually dropping to levels corresponding with the “little ice age” of 1870.

“Due to the de Vries cycle, the global temperature will drop until 2100 to a value corresponding to the ‘little ice age’ of 1870,” write German scientists Horst-Joachim Luedecke and Carl-Otto Weiss of the European Institute for Climate and Energy.

Researchers used historical temperature data and data from cave stalagmites to show a 200-year solar cycle, called the de Vries cycle.

They also factored into their work a well-established 65-year Atlantic and Pacific Ocean oscillation cycle. Global warming that has occurred since 1870 can be attributed almost entirely to both these factors, the scientists argue.

According to the scientists, the oft-cited “stagnation” in rising global temperatures over the last 15 years is due to the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean oscillation cycle, which lasts about 65 years. Ocean oscillation is past its “maximum,” leading to small decreases in global temperature.

Fortunately, if they’re talking 1870, the earth was rebounding from the Little Ice Age at that time, so it won’t be like the true depth of the Little Ice Age, or previous cool periods during the Holocene. But, as The Lonely Conservative writes

In other words, global temperature is controlled by things far outside the realm of human control. What we can control is how we deal with it. So get ready to bundle up!

The mechanisms for Earth’s climate are primarily natural, with a small smattering of anthropogenic causation, mostly from agriculture, landfills, land use, and the Urban Heat Island Effect. But, you know, cold and snow are caused by climate change

Climate change warning: Killer winter storms for next THIRTY years

KILLER freezes, floods and heatwaves will devastate Britain during the next 30 years, climate ­experts have warned.

And it gets much better when we head over to the United Nation’s UNICEF blog

Children in Mongolia experience climate change and extreme cold

When we think of climate change we often think of rising temperatures, but children are also affected in colder climates, experiencing harsher winters and declining water resources. In Mongolia some children can spend 3 to 4 hours every day collecting water, braving frozen rivers and wells, and hauling water containers over extremely long distances.

In western Mongolia in 2010, heavy snow, strong winds and extreme cold created crisis conditions in over half the country’s provinces. Temperatures fell to minus-50 degrees Celsius, and snow meant access to food, fuel, sanitation and basic medical care was even tougher.

If the Earth enters a cool period like we saw from the late 1940’s into the late 1970’s, a milder cool time like the 1870’s, or one of the full cool periods as has happened off and on since the end of the last glacial period during the Holocene, Warmists will blame Mankind for it. They already blame Man, ie, “climate change”, for snow, ice, cold, blizzards, winter storms, you name it.

Read: German Scientists Warn Of Coming Cool Period – Eh, It’s Probably “Climate Change” »

USA Today: Obamacare Isn’t Perfect, But It’s A “Decent” Fix

This one’s from 12/3, but it’s a hoot

Obamacare isn’t perfect, but it’s a decent fix

“Decent”. Millions have seen their health insurance dropped, Team Obama’s mid-range estimate is that 93 million will ultimately lose their plans, health care networks are being restricted, premiums and deductibles have gone through the roof, fewer people are actually eligible for subsidies, and many of those subsidies are tiny, etc and so on, and we haven’t even gotten to the point where people are going to attempt to use the insurance.

As the problems with HealthCare.gov, the website marketplace for individual health insurance for people in states which opted not to run their own health care exchanges, begin to fade, we will have more of an opportunity to examine the deeper flaws in the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. (snip)

The best feature of Obamacare with respect to affordability is its expansion of Medicaid, at least for states which have decided to accept the additional federal funding for the program. Individuals with incomes of up to 133% of the federal poverty level will be able to sign up for Medicaid, and will be notified of this option if they attempt to shop for insurance plans through the federal or eligible state health insurance exchanges.

If that’s the best feature, then we are in much worse trouble than we thought. More people moved directly under the government banner.

And the cheapest plans are cheaper for a reason. Their coverage is not nearly generous enough, with higher copays and deductibles. Those who have these plans and who experience an adverse health event due sudden illness or accident will likely still find themselves faced with an unaffordable bill.

Yeah, but it’s “decent”!

But all of these problems with Obamacare are really just problems with our current system of private health insurance. Before Obamacare, it was expensive. There were junk policies that offered little real coverage to people, and even supposedly “good” insurance policies had holes in them. Those fortunate enough to have high quality employer-provided health insurance have had decent enough affordable coverage, but very few on the individual market — basically just high income people without pre-existing conditions — did.

So Obamacare increases costs for negligible benefits while reducing networks, and let’s not forget the “death panels”, ie, Independent Payment Advisory Board. Can’t wait to see what the holes in O-care plans are.

Duncan Black writes the blog Eschaton under the pseudonym of Atrios and is a fellow at Media Matters for America.

If Black, a big time far left liberal writer, who writes for the aforementioned unhinged Media Matters, can’t provide much in the way of positive support for O-care, then it must be pretty darned bad. This is a law that affects 1/6th of our economy and will touch the lives of every single American, few in a good way. If we’re lucky, the law ends up affecting most of us neutrally. I think it needs to be a bit more than “decent”.

Crossed at Right Wing News.

Read: USA Today: Obamacare Isn’t Perfect, But It’s A “Decent” Fix »

Daily Android – Calling Extras

First up, we have Current Caller ID. Why is this so great?

Over 300 million home, business and mobile phone numbers identified for free, from the #1 and most trusted people directory.

It’s linked in to The White Pages, because the app was developed by The White Pages. It can even ID text messages. It can show you the weather in the area code the person is using, as well as news from that area. It can also link in to several social media sites (I do not enable that).

It also comes with a handy widget for most dial calls. As far as that goes, try Callist. It’s quicker way of adding favorites to call, rather than digging deep into the contacts. Some phones may provide easier access, but neither of my two Droids did. You also have the option of adding call reminders. It does so much more. Check out the page.

Read: Daily Android – Calling Extras »

Dem Jared Polis Freaks Out On House Floor

It was for the children or something

(The Hill) Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) on Wednesday night lost his cool on the House floor over the issue of immigration, after the presiding officer warned another Democrat not to refer to people sitting in the House gallery.

Democrats were calling for House passage of a comprehensive immigration bill, and Rep. Joe Garcia (D-Fla.) used his remarks to note supporters of such a bill that were sitting in the gallery.

He was told not to address the people in the gallery, which is Against The Rules. But, Rules only matter if they help Democrats, ya know

“Madame Speaker, the gentle people in the gallery… would not have to be in the gallery… advocating if this House simply took up the bill,” he began. “Do you think they want to be spending their time here, Madame Speaker? Is that what you think?”

“And you’re saying we’re addressing them, and that’s what you’re upset about Madame Speaker?” he continued, moving into a full scream. “I want you, Madame Speaker, to address the reason that they are here! They are here because our government is tearing apart their families, Madame Speaker!”

Getting beyond his meltdown (check out the vid at the link), let’s consider something: was Polis implying that illegal aliens were sitting in the House gallery? Who authorized them to be there? One has to obtain a ticket to sit in the gallery from a House members office. If you are a foreigner, you can get a limited time ticket. A US citizen can get a lifetime pass. I have one from former NC 13th District rep Brad Miller’s office. Interestingly, I had to show ID to obtain it. I also had to show ID to get in to the House gallery. Did sitting members of the House of Representatives give tickets to people who are in this country illegally? Would that not constitute a crime? Yes. Yes it would.

Read: Dem Jared Polis Freaks Out On House Floor »

If All You See…

…is an evil axe used to cut down trees which pull evil carbon pollution out of the air (unless the trees are replaced with wind turbines, then it’s OK), you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is A View From The Beach, with a post on young Obama voters upset with Obama.

Read: If All You See… »

Don’t Forget To Give Back This Christmas, Cause “Climate Change”

No, really

(Bath Chronicle, so, yeah, England) It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of Christmas; the wrapping and unwrapping of presents, decorating the tree and the big Christmas dinner. it can be all to easy to forget that many people might not be so lucky, and charities often struggle during the festive season as people spend money on celebrations rather than donations. If you’re buying a gift for somebody that already has it all, or just want to do something different, virtual charity gifts are a great alternative to the traditional gift.

Some of the gifts aren’t bad, and giving a charity gift could be a good idea, depending on what it is. Buuuuuut….

Polar bears depend on Arctic ice to hunt and raise their young. But the ice is shrinking. You can help protect them and their habitat by adopting a polar bear with the WWF.

From £3 a month you can help conserve the Arctic region’s rich biodiversity, maintaining a healthy Arctic environment with undisturbed ecosystems and healthy wildlife populations and raise awareness of the threats of climate change.

Adopters will receive a cuddly toy (optional), My Polar Bears and Wild World magazine three times a year, a factbook, certificate, bookmarks, stickers and more.

Hey, kids, if you want to give your climate change believing parents a great gift, go purchase a tire lock, slap it on their fossil fueled vehicle, and force them to walk the talk.

Read: Don’t Forget To Give Back This Christmas, Cause “Climate Change” »

Obama’s Really Proud Of That Free Contraception Mandate

Really, really proud. He probably made Sandra Fluke squeal like a schoolgirl

(CNS News) In a speech at TheArc arts school in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, President Barack Obama said that “100 million Americans” have gained the right to free contraception thanks to the Affordable Care Act.

“In the three years since we passed this law, the share of Americans with insurance is up, the growth of health care costs are down to their slowest rate in 50 years,” Obama said at an event hosted by the liberal Center for American Progress.

Except for the 5.6 million who have lost their plans (so far), and the administrations own mid-line estimate that 90 million will lose their plans overall, once the employer mandate kicks in.

“More people have insurance, and more have new benefits and protections – 100 million Americans who have gained the right for free preventive care like mammograms and contraception; the more than 7 million Americans who have saved an average of $1,200 on their prescription medicine; every American who won’t go broke when they get sick because their insurance can’t limit their care anymore.”

Of course, to get that “free” contraception, people need to pay much higher premiums and deductibles while having their medical networks severely restricted. Remember this from Obama’s creepy “Life Of Julia”?

Liberals are psyched that they can now have meaningless sex with people they just met and not worry about paying a few bucks for condoms and birth control pills, and, hey, if they’re too drunk or stoned to remember, abortifacients are available free, too! Because babies are apparently bad for women’s health or something.

The speech overall was yet more class warfare agitprop. He stated that “inequality is the defining issue of our time”. First, note that “the rich” are doing really, really well under the economic stewardship of Obama, who is himself a 1%er. Second, I though “climate change” was the defining issue? Or was it jobs? Green energy? Anyhow, he and his Dem comrades have also hosed seniors

Obamacare “raided” $300 billion for Medicare Advantage and seniors will begin feeling the cuts next year, according to an analysis Tuesday by the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee.

That’s added to the $700 billion they raided from Medicare itself. But, then, for proper Government run health care, Seniors do not provide much return to The State, so, here’s a cane instead of hip replacement surgery.

Read: Obama’s Really Proud Of That Free Contraception Mandate »

Democrat Introduces Vehicle Miles Tax Bill

Earl Blumenenauer is fed up with legislative gridlock or something

(Politico) Rep. Earl Blumenauer has had enough.

With some of the top players in next year’s transportation bill stuck in a staring contest over how to raise billions of dollars, the Democrat introduced two simple bills on Wednesday to address what he calls the upcoming “infrastructure cliff.” (snip)

The other bill would let states look into charging drivers by the mile — a so-called vehicle miles traveled fee — by expanding a pilot program started in Blumenauer’s home state of Oregon. The program would be voluntary and allow states to choose how exactly to test the concept of charging for road use.

In short, his idea is the “big and bold” proposal that former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood had promised would come from the White House but so far has not materialized.

I’ve written before that I’m not against a vehicle mile tax (VMT). The changing landscape of vehicles, with more and more hybrids (which I like) and smattering of electric cars on the road, along with many pure gas vehicles that get excellent MPG, has reduced the inflow of tax money that supports the transportation infrastructure. But I have noted that it should replace the regular gas tax. Of course, not in Democrat World

One would raise the gas tax to 33.4 cents cents per gallon, nearly double the current rate of 18.4 cents, over the next few years. That bill would also peg the tax rate to inflation so that its purchasing power doesn’t decline over time.

Surprise! Blumenauer, like a good little Democrat, not only wants a dramatic increase in the gas tax, he wants both taxes. Of course, he couches the VMT in a cute way, by “allowing” states to experiment. Those run by Democrats will surely jump at the prospect of double taxation. Without doing away with their own state gas tax.

These bills are obviously going nowhere at this time. Even Obama wouldn’t allow a simple 5 cents increase in the gas tax. But, that was 2009. Dems might be willing to accept the VMT, though. The Republican led House won’t. This is a good view into the mind of a Liberal.

Crossed at Right Wing News.

Read: Democrat Introduces Vehicle Miles Tax Bill »

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