Awful lot of red there... enough to give McCain the win.

And consider - they haven't even announced their VP picks yet.

Man, I'm so tired of the Eternal Campaign I could scream. And it's only going to get worse over the next couple of months. Only thing is - the more we see of McCain, the more it's apparent that Obama isn't thoughtful and nuanced so much as he is really, really bad at making actuall ethical decisions and then sticking to them. You can dress up his noncomittal attitudes all you want - but the job of President is to make decisions, and it looks like Obama's spent most of his Senate career avoiding them like the plague.

And with all the exposure he's getting - unlike a Clairol commercial, the closer you get the worse he looks. I don't see him improving things at all.

J.

Mt Ruapehu is claiming the biggest snow base ever recorded for a New Zealand skifield with over 4.5m of snow on the ground.
Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, operator of Mt Ruapehu ski area, was celebrating what it called a major milestone today.

The snow measuring stake at Turoa previously only stood at 380cm so had to be extended to measure today's 455cm snow base.

The Whakapapa side of the mountain also had 350cm of snow, the biggest since 1995.I don't think one of the signs of global warming is the need to extend your measuring stake. That's almost 15 feet of snow... which is a good winter by anyone's standards...

J.

Go take a look at the video at the above link - it's VERY good.

In fact - I wouldn't think it long before they start using this process to get rid of some of the overpriced 'talent' in Hollywood...

J.

You ever notice Obama can't come out and actually give an opinion about something controversial? It's always hedged, always cloaked in bafflegab. Part may be his legal training - but it's really getting old. Nuance or no - some things deserve clear, straight answers, and here was his chance... and he failed.

I think the man's already operating way above his pay grade. I don't believe I want to see him as President as all.

J.

With the current cooling trends, the next few years ought to get interesting. The sulfur dioxide released by the volcano on theisald of Kasatochi in the Aleutian Islands ought to prove out the theory that sulfur dioxide can cause significant cooling...

Hmmm. Maybe I need to add long underwear to the new coat...

J.

FOXNews.com - Environmentalists Prompt Nuclear Power Wake-Up Call - Opinion

Environmentalists Prompt Nuclear Power Wake-Up Call
Thursday, August 14, 2008
By Steven Milloy

What did the nuclear power industry get for playing footsie with the "greens" on global warming? A knife in the back, it looks like. The greens now are saying that emission-free nuclear power may actually contribute to climate change.

After decades of having its growth entirely stymied by anti-nuclear environmentalists, the industry decided to help the greens lobby for global warming regulation in hopes of easing opposition to the expansion of nuclear power. Companies like Exelon, FPL Group and NRG Energy, for example, helped the greens form the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) — a coalition of big businesses and green groups that has been leading the charge on Capitol Hill for global warming regulation.

But as the saying goes, when you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.

A case in point is the proposed addition of a third reactor at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in southern Maryland. The greens formed a group euphemistically called the Chesapeake Safe Energy Coalition (CSEC) to oppose the new reactor. Members of the CSEC are hardcore anti-nuclear activists including the Sierra Club, Public Citizen, Maryland Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), the Maryland Green Party and the Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility.

A June 2007 report by Maryland PIRG lays out the standard anti-nuclear objections against the proposed reactor, including that nuclear plants are expensive to build, radiation is inherently dangerous, uranium mining is environmentally destructive, and that nuclear waste "remains dangerous for thousands of years and no nation on earth has developed an acceptable solution for safely disposing of it."

But in this era of global warming hysteria, the standard arguments apparently aren't working.

The governor's picking nukes over wind must have sent the greens into meltdown. So in response, the desperate greens came up with a bizarre new argument: nuclear power causes global warming.

That's right, nuclear is the latest form of "dirty" energy. How can that be, you ask? Nuclear power doesn't produce greenhouse gases, does it? Well, not directly, the greens argue. But nuclear power "worsens climate change," says prominent environmentalist Amory Lovins in a new paper, because it diverts money away from alternative energy and efficiency efforts that would otherwise reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Adding insult to injury, Lovins also says that nuclear power is "grossly uncompetitive, unneeded and obsolete" and "weakens electric reliability and national security."

The head of Maryland PIRG picked up on Lovins' line of thinking, telling Carbon Control News (Aug. 8) that "efficiency programs and renewables such as wind and solar can provide more carbon-abatement per dollar while avoiding the downsides of nuclear power."

By the way, you know that Global Warming stuff? The Denver Airport reported a 128 year LOW temp on the 15th of August - 59 degrees.

Anecdotal cold weather news from around the world ｫ Watts Up With That?

And I checked a place I used to live - Cheyenne, Wyoming...

Yesterday's high was 49 degrees. Normal is 80. The minimum record was set in 1893, at 38.

If this is 'global warming' I think someone flipped their thermometer.

J.

FOXNews.com - Bounty Hunter, Bondsman to Spring Missing Florida Toddler's Mom - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

A uncle-and-nephew bondsman and bounty hunter team plan to bail Casey Anthony out of jail because, they say, the Florida mother could be more help in finding her missing toddler if she is free.

The bounty hunter, Leonard Padilla, told FOX News’ Greta Van Susteren that Anthony, who has been the Orange County jail since last month, might supply more information on the outside – and he thinks Anthony's 3-yaer-old daughter, Caylee, is still alive.

"I somewhat believe that, in her own mind, the mother has given up some truths in the statements she has made," Padilla told FOX News on Friday, and keeping her in jail hasn’t helped. "It hasn’t worked for 30 days so let’s try something different."

I think the only one who really knows is the mom, and she ain't tellin'...

J.

BOSTON (WBZ) ― Barack Obama has yet to name a vice presidential nominee and some are wondering if he might turn to Massachusetts to round out the ticket.

John Kerry for vice president?

Don't dismiss the notion just yet.

Some political insiders are telling WBZ it could happen.

So why would Obama reach out to Kerry as his choice?

Kerry brings more money and name recognition to the table than any other name on the Obama list so far. Americans do tend to love a comeback kid and this would be the most amazing political comeback since Richard Nixon came back from the dead forty years ago.But on the other hand, the idea does have a certain 'appeal'.

You've got Do-Nothing Kerry. And Done-Nothing Obama. Between the two of them, it's quite possible the next 4 years would see our government at a complete standstill.

Assuming, of course, you think that's a GOOD thing.

But if such a matchup happens, I don't really care how the Democratic Party will try to spin it - I think it'd show their rank and file just how little any sort of actual accomplishment means when it comes to who they're gonna nominate for the top job. Do they really think they can get by on just image and fantasy?

And I guess it also shows just how much Kerry depends on being someone else's sock puppet...

J.

Next Big Future: Blacklight Power follow up and other claims

According to the chart, the installed cost on a 1000 KW plant would be about $500 per KW, as opposed to $2700/KW for coal, $4700 for nuclear. This would make it VERY competitive indeed - if true.

I'm still of two minds on this whole BLP/Hydrino thing... IF it pans out, it'll be revolutionary. The SF reader in me wants it very much to be true. But the part of me that knows some science doesn't really see how it CAN be true.

However - if BLP is really ready to ship 50 KW prototypes, then I'll just have to go with the flow.

J.

DOHERTY: NEW SCIENTIFIC DATA JUSTIFIES REPEALING GLOBAL WARMING RESPONSE ACT | Politicker NJ

Responding to various new scientific reports questioning the concept of global warming, Assemblyman Michael Doherty today called on Governor Corzine to hold off on proposing any new regulations associated with the state’s Global Warming Response Act and urged the Legislature to repeal that act when it returns to legislative business after Labor Day.

“There are many credible members of the scientific community who have questioned the theory of global warming, and now we have some scientists actually suggesting the earth’s temperatures may be entering a period of dramatic cooling,” said Doherty, R-Warren and Hunterdon. “With this growing level of scientific uncertainty, it makes no sense to enact a new set of economically damaging regulations prompted by the global warming hysteria of recent years.”

But then, the diehard AGW believers are in good company...

FOXNews.com - Believers in Flat Earth Not About to Change Minds

J.

However, Poland has extended a middle digit in Russia's direction.

Bloomberg.com: Worldwide

Aug. 14 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. and Poland signed a preliminary accord today that will allow for 10 U.S. interceptor missiles to be based in the eastern European country, completing a defense system that Russia opposes.

The U.S. has agreed to Polish requests including modernization of its armed forces in exchange for the location of the missiles, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in an interview with private broadcaster TVN24 this evening.

J.

Still bangin' around 60 or so. The Flux Table is showing that it didn't start getting into the '60s until last June or so - and aside from a one month blip in Dec 07 -Jan 08, the solar flux has been mid/high 60s to very low '70s.

What does it all mean? You tell me. But I think I'm getting a new winter coat...

J.

With the Obama campaign saying McCain's statements about Georgia are "aggressive" and "belligerent" and "very aggressive" and "very belligerent" at that, it might be time to remind ourselves of Harry Jaffa's words, written for Barry Goldwater once upon a time: "Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue."

I think it should be noted that nothing McCain has said is as aggressive as the actions of Russia. It strikes me odd right now to complain of aggressive words in the defense of democracy rather than condemning aggressive actions against a democracy.What strikes me as odd (and probably strikes the Russians as fortuitous) is that we don't have a graduated scale of response any more. For instance, we can put a limited number of troops into Georgia - but not really enough to stop a Russian land grab if they were determined. Or - we can go nuclear. The state of our forces and the logistics of getting them to Georgia for battle would make providing anything over a token force difficult indeed, so we've got basically two levels of response now..

I think we can pretty well rule out any UN action on this one - since Russia sits on the Security Council.

It'll be interesting to see how this plays out over the next few days. But don't you find it odd that you're not supposed to say anything that might be construed as belligerant or agressive against Russia? You'd almost think that it was holy ground or something...

J.

Barack Obama is not a left candidate. This fact has seemingly surprised a number of progressive people who are bemoaning Obama’s “shift to the center.” (Right-wingers are happy to join them, suggesting Obama is a “flip-flopper.”) It’s sad that some who seek progressive change are missing the forest for the trees. But they will not dampen the wide and deep enthusiasm for blocking a third Bush term represented by John McCain, or for bringing Obama by a landslide into the White House with a large Democratic congressional majority.

A broad multiclass, multiracial movement is converging around Obama’s “Hope, change and unity” campaign because they see in it the thrilling opportunity to end 30 years of ultra-right rule and move our nation forward with a broadly progressive agenda. Would you feel good about it?

That Obama's been endorsed by the CPUSA... somehow I'm just not terribly surprised.

(One of the commenters says even Cynthia McKinney would be better than Obama... well, guess that shows how far gone THEY are...)

J.

At first, Rick Husong was stunned by the overwhelming wave of negative and sometimes crude reactions to his bid revealed in Whispers last week to build a pro-Sen. Barack Obama movement around a hand salute dubbed the Big-O. Among the hundreds of comments posted on the Whispers site were those comparing it to a gang gesture, a Nazi salute, or worse. "This is how Sieg Heil got started. And, no I'm not saying Obama is Hitler. I just think people should be careful about slipping into a personality cult for a charismatic leader," wrote Jake of Tennessee. Husong tells me that he was pretty depressed by the reaction to his idea and free design offered on the website of Loyalty Inc., his California creative company. That is until he heard of a fan walking on Venice Beach wearing a T-shirt displaying the artwork. In fact, despite the tsunami of criticism, the artwork has been downloaded 7,700 times and his site has been hit 214,000 times since the first Whisper went live. "I would call that a raving success," he says, adding that he plans to make his Big-O the "peace sign of our generation."Frankly, it looks like you're getting ready to get a sperm count from a giraffe...

You just gotta wonder - what IS it about Obama that seems to draw the nuts?

J.