Clipmarks | abailart's Comments

Four Colossal Holes in the Theory of Man-Made Global Warming

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:16:57 GMT

clipped by: Jacob173

Four Colossal Holes in the Theory of Man-Made Global Warming
(Read WP posts from John Hawkins) | (Read MT posts from John Hawkins)

Climate change has been around as long as the earth:

However, the reality is far different, as even the New York Times has been willing to admit:

In October, Dr. (Don) Easterbrook made similar points at the geological society meeting in Philadelphia. He hotly disputed Mr. Gore's claim that "our civilization has never experienced any environmental shift remotely similar to this" threatened change.

Nonsense, Dr. Easterbrook told the crowded session. He flashed a slide that showed temperature trends for the past 15,000 years.

In fear of 'Eurabia'?

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:19:50 GMT

clipped by: tabsey

Clip Source: english.aljazeera.net

The images were clearly intended to get out the vote, and judging by the 57 per cent "yes" vote to ban the construction of minarets in Switzerland on Sunday, they worked all too well.

They included the depiction of minarets piercing through the Swiss flag; minarets on top of the flag, with a menacing, niqab-wearing Muslim woman in the foreground.

One could be forgiven for imagining that the Muslims were at the gates of Vienna, or even Lucerne, threatening to overrun Christian Europe. And of course, for the proponents of the ban, that is precisely the situation Europe faces today

For centuries, the peoples of Europe have defined their continental identity against the threat of Islam. So much so that it is hard to imagine a European identity that does not have Islam as its foil.

There are, of course, good historical reasons for this.

From the eighth century Europe was in fact surrounded by Muslims to the East and South, who ruled much of the Eastern continent for the next millennium.

Tags: racism

Death By Bad Reviews

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 22:32:57 GMT

clipped by: Mike Danger
clipper's remarks: Poetry is a deadly game.

Clip Source: entertainment.timesonline.co.uk

Who killed John Keats?

A letter by Keats's old friend makes clear how much "sensative-bitterness" the poet felt after attacks on him by critics

The letter’s account of Keats’s sensitivity to the critics’ attacks has never been fully integrated into the poet’s biography. That may be partly because the identity of Y is not entirely certain, and partly because Blunden’s book, which was printed in a limited edition of 390, is a collector’s item usually lodged in rare book rooms. But there may be another more important reason. At the heart of the letter is a description of Keats lying awake “through the whole night” talking with “sensative-bitterness” [sic] about the attacks by his critics. This challenges Keats’s own claims that the hostile articles written about him in Blackwood’s and the Quarterly affected him less than his own self-criticism (claims always cited to rebut the myth that he was killed by a review).

Tags: poetry, death

Tolstoy on War and Light

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:17:34 GMT

clipped by: abailart
clipper's remarks: You say if enemies, such as Germans, Turks, or savages, come to attack you, and if you do not make war, they will kill you all. This is an error. If there were a society of Christians who did no evil to anybody, and who gave the surplus of their labor to others, no enemies, either Germans, Turks, or savages, would torture or kill them. They would take what these Christians (for whom there would exist no difference between Germans, Turks, or savages) would give up to them. If a Christian is called upon to take part in war, that is the moment for him to testify the truth to those who do not know it.

Clip Source: en.wikisource.org

Christ has revealed to me that the fifth snare is ‘the distinction we make between our own and foreign nations.’ If, therefore, a feeling of enmity arises in my heart against a foreigner, I cannot help acknowledging, after a few moments’ serious reflection, that the feeling is a wicked one; I can no longer justify this feeling to myself by acknowledging the superiority of my own nation over others, or by the cruelty or barbarity of any other nation.

All that I formerly prized as something worthy of respect – love for our native land, pride in our country, and our administration in military exploits – now seems not only pitiful but also hideous to me. Cosmopolitanism, which I had formerly despised, now seems a noble thing to me.

Men linked together by deception form, we might say, a compact body. In the compactness of this body lies all the evil of the world.

Deeds, which bring the light to each man’s heart, can alone destroy the chain

this has gone on for eighteen hundred years.

Tags: tolstoy, 'what i believe'

Understanding the psychology of Authoritarianism

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:19:32 GMT

clipped by: Lexica

Clip Source: www.boingboing.net

Mike sez, "Bob Altemeyer's excellent book 'The Authoritarians' is online in full pdf format. It's a result of 30+ years of research into what he calls 'right-wing authoritarianism'- right in the sense of 'might makes' rather than 'opposite of left'. It's a fascinating explanation of how the minds of this subset of the population works- or in some cases, fails to: how they are able to assiduously apply double standards, fail to notice inconsistencies in their beliefs, justify abominable behavior, etc. Somehow, knowing that these people really, truly, can't reason in the same way the majority of us can makes them a little less irksome, if not less frightening."

The Authoritarians

Tags: republicans, conservatives, sarah-palin, rush-limbaugh, james-dobson, authoritarianism, fascism, psychology

Financial Crisis Hits Dubai, in pictures [37 photos]

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:09:21 GMT

clipped by: clip-on-tie

Clip Source: blogs.denverpost.com

(AP) Just a year after the global downturn derailed Dubai’s explosive growth, the city is now so swamped in debt that it’s asking for a six-month reprieve on paying its bills – causing a drop on world markets Thursday and raising questions about Dubai’s reputation as a magnet for international investment.

The fallout came swiftly and was felt globally after Wednesday statement that Dubai’s main development engine, Dubai World, would ask creditors for a “standstill” on paying back its $60 billion debt until at least May. The company’s real estate arm, Nakheel – whose projects include the palm-shaped island in the Gulf – shoulders the bulk of money due to banks, investment houses and outside development contractors.

Clip Source: www.copytaste.com

via

Clip Source: blogs.denverpost.com

In total, the state-backed networks nicknamed Dubai Inc. are $80 billion in the red and the emirate needed a bailout earlier this year from its oil-rich neighbor Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

Tags: dubai

6 feet away from a rat "Wigan Ukulele Club"

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:23:20 GMT

clipped by: wiganfootie

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

Renounce your pomp!

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:03:33 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: scienceblogs.com

I think I like this woman. Nell McCafferty rips into representatives of the Catholic church, asking, "What's holy about the Vatican?" and insisting that they ought to set aside the titles of "Father" and "Grace" and so forth, because they've betrayed them. I love the Irish when they get that fire in their eye!

[Video]

Irish police hid years of child sex abuse

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:01:44 GMT

clipped by: sincitykitty
clipper's remarks: A shocking report reveals that sexual abuse by Catholic priests in Ireland was covered up for decades by both the church and police.

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Irish police hid years of child sex abuse

A shocking report reveals that sexual abuse by Catholic priests in Ireland was covered up for decades by both the church and police.

The confronting report details the abuse of children by the clergy between 1975 and 2004 and accuses both the clergy and police of colluding to cover up the scandal.

The 720-page report says the official policy was to protect the reputation of the church at the expense of the victims.

Irish police hid years of child sex abuse

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:01:44 GMT

clipped by: sincitykitty
clipper's remarks: A shocking report reveals that sexual abuse by Catholic priests in Ireland was covered up for decades by both the church and police.

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Irish police hid years of child sex abuse

A shocking report reveals that sexual abuse by Catholic priests in Ireland was covered up for decades by both the church and police.

The confronting report details the abuse of children by the clergy between 1975 and 2004 and accuses both the clergy and police of colluding to cover up the scandal.

The 720-page report says the official policy was to protect the reputation of the church at the expense of the victims.

What Was Number 1 The Day You Were Born?

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:29:29 GMT

clipped by: carrerinyes
clipper's remarks: Aww it didn't clip properly! If you enter your birth date and the country of your choice find out what was number 1 on the the day you were born. My number 1 was "The Battle Of New Orleans" by Johnnie Horton in the US and in the UK "Roulette" by Russ Conway. (I'm 21 and a bit)

Clip Source: www.thisdayinmusic.com

Squirrel mother goes nuts and attacks dog trying to eat her baby

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:40:01 GMT

clipped by: countryboylife
clipper's remarks: the female of the species is more deadly than the male - especially when it comes to babies

Clip Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Moments before the hapless baby would have been torn apart, these images show its mother appearing to leap off a nearby tree and attacking the surprised dog.

Using its sharp teeth and claws, the squirrel tore into its canine opponent and distracted it so the baby could escape to freedom.

The baby squirrel appears to have fallen to the ground as it was being helped up the tree.

That's my baby! The dog snarls in pain as the squirrel leaps in to attack it - and the baby makes a leap for the safety of the tree

Thanks mum: The heroic squirrel ushers its baby back up the tree to safety

Tags: animals, squirrels

Some Precepts of Engaged Buddhism

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:38:36 GMT

clipped by: abailart

Clip Source: www.viewonbuddhism.org

Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones.

Do not think the knowledge you presently possess is changeless, absolute truth. Avoid being narrow minded and bound to present views. Learn and practice nonattachment from views in order to be open to receive others' viewpoints. Truth is found in life and not merely in conceptual knowledge. Be ready to learn throughout your entire life and to observe reality in yourself and in the world at all times.

help others renounce fanaticism and narrow-mindedness.

Do not accumulate wealth while millions are hungry.

Do not spread news that you do not know to be certain. Do not criticize or condemn things of which you are not sure.

Do not kill. Do not let others kill.

Respect the property of others, but prevent others from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other species on Earth.

From the book 'Interbeing': Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism, revised edition: Oct. l993 by Thich Nhat Hanh

Tags: thich nhat hanh, engaged buddhism

Banning the Importation of Goods Made With Child Labor

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:16:27 GMT

clipped by: chestnut501
clipper's remarks: Business groups are worried by the potential effects of provisions banning the import of all goods made with forced or indentured child labor that were included in a customs bill sponsored by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Charles Grassley (R-IA)

Clip Source: thinkprogress.org

One of the worst abuses in the international labor markets is the use of child labor

In order to combat the issue, the Senate Finance Committee has included sections in S.1631, the

Trade Enforcement Reauthorization Act of 2009,

the use of child and slave labor.

Business groups are worried by the potential effects of provisions banning the import of all goods made with convict labor, forced labor, or forced or indentured child labor

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow covered the story

last night. Addressing the business interests opposing the measure directly, she said, “You think that child labor and slave labor and forced convict labor are cheap and therefore cool with you? Go ahead, make your case. I would love to hear it …. you child labor-endorsing, pro-slavery freaks.” Watch it:

[Video]

Tags: politics, business, child-labor, lobbyists, greed

SARTRE -- Safe Road Trains for the Environment

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:29:49 GMT

clipped by: rj3sp

Clip Source: www.wired.com

With Road Trains, Highways Become Public Transportation

Researchers in the European Union are using telematics to create “road trains” that join the benefits of carpooling with the freedom of driving alone.

Clip Source: www.ricardo.com

Cars that drive themselves can become reality within ten years

A new EU project SARTRE is being launched to develop and test technology for vehicles that can drive themselves in long road trains on motorways. This technology has the potential to improve traffic flow and journey times, offer greater comfort to drivers, reduce accidents, and improve fuel consumption and hence lower CO2 emissions.

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

'Road trains' get ready to roll

How a road train could work

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

The lead vehicle would be handled by a professional driver who would monitor the status of the road train. Those in following vehicles could take their hands off the wheel, read a book or watch TV, while they travel along the motorway. Their vehicle would be controlled by the lead vehicle.

Tags: cars, environment, road trains, sartre