Monthly Archives: April 2008

Methane Levels Jump: AGW to Accelerate?

According to a press release from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmopheric Association), the percentage of methane in the atmosphere jumped sharply in 2007. Could this be the beginning of the long-feared melting of the methane deposits frozen in permafrost? Methane levels rose last year for the first time since 1998. Methane is 25 timesContinue reading “Methane Levels Jump: AGW to Accelerate?”

A President: Somebody Who Will Tell You the Truth

By God, an issue has cropped up in this three-person race for the Presidency, and two candidates have shown themselves ready and willing to become Panderer-in-Chief, and one has not. Numerous commentators have made the point: James Fallows: The pandering and ignorance-across-party-lines represented by the John McCain-Hillary Clinton united front for a temporary reduction inContinue reading “A President: Somebody Who Will Tell You the Truth”

Newt and Nancy: Together — for the First Time Ever!

Yours truly wasn’t thrilled with the first major TV ad from the Alliance for Climate Protection, because I think both Al Sharpton and Pat Robertson are frauds, each in his own way, but this one — featuring Nancy Pelosi and Newt Gingrinch — makes me smile. They look so cute together! On a more seriousContinue reading “Newt and Nancy: Together — for the First Time Ever!”

“Gas Tax Holiday” Will Flop, Experts Say

Now that the would-be Panderer-in-Chief, Hillary Clinton, has joined with Republican candidate John McCain in calling for a "gas tax holiday" this summer, the Wa-Po’s "Fact Checker" asks: Will it work? Short answer: no. Why? Two words: supply and demand. Some economists say that a nationwide "gas tax holiday" would have even less impact onContinue reading ““Gas Tax Holiday” Will Flop, Experts Say”

The Storm (we can’t see)

A new poem from Charles Simic, current poet laureate of the US, on an oncoming storm we cannot seem to see…is this about AGW? You can decide for yourself… THE STORM I’m going over to see what those weeds By the stone wall are worried about. Perhaps, they don’t care for the way The shadowsContinue reading “The Storm (we can’t see)”

On the Hood (until the end)

…new issue from the Department of Rock and Roll Will Never Die. It’s a band called Matt Mays and El Torpedo. hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia… It all began without warningOn a strange winter’s morningThe sky turned redThe vibrations went deadWith these terrible songs on a rainy dayThe pressure just started to fallYour scene doesn’tContinue reading “On the Hood (until the end)”

McCain, Hillary Ignore Law (of Economics)

A lot of environmentalists have criticized GOP presidential candidate-to-be John McCain for calling for an elimination of the Federal gas tax for this summer, arguing that such a cut would encourage fossil fuel consumption and lead to emission of more greenhouse gases. Maybe, maybe not. A much simpler argument against that pandering exists, simpler evenContinue reading “McCain, Hillary Ignore Law (of Economics)”

Barack on the Verge of Triumph in Pennsylvania

Though still trailing in the polls, the possibility of eking out a victory in Pennsylvania and deep-sixing Hillary Clinton has Obama backers, including me, hoping and praying. Some examples: A reporter from the UK Telegraph reports on the excitement: In an effort to rebut Mrs Clinton’s charge that he does nothing more than give "woop-de-dooContinue reading “Barack on the Verge of Triumph in Pennsylvania”