Tidbits on a Thursday

Hot Air

Global warming disappeared in January and February 2011. The global temperature anomaly was negative for two straight months. "Anomaly" means the difference of (A) the month's global average minus (B) the global average for the benchmark 1980-2010 period. IF global warming computer models were correct, such a consecutive monthly negative anomaly would not happen with a very high degree of probability. The existence of these two negative anomalies in 2011 - after a trend up for 30 years - proves the models simply are wrong and do not contain correct physics.

The "scientists" pushing those claims should be fired for either incompetence or knavery; eviscerate those grants. That's one big glob of fat in the federal government that needs to be cut now.

Just Say No

That applies to call for US intervention in Libya. First, it's the Libyans' fight; let them do it. Second, Libya is in Europe's backyard; let them do it. Just Say No. US: stay out of it.

Consolidation

News Corp. received U. K. government approval to buy satellite news service, BSkyB, leading to more consolidation in the news industry. Why this is in the public interest is beyond my feeble mental powers.

Unions

I am fiercely pro-union except when basic principles of liberty are violated. The Ohio Senate passed a bill to eliminate union powers to extract money from voters without legislative votes (aka Taxation without Representation):

"The bargaining rights of public workers in Ohio would be dramatically reduced and strikes would be banned under a bill narrowly passed by the Ohio Senate on Wednesday. ... A GOP-backed measure that would restrict the collective bargaining rights of roughly 350,000 teachers, firefighters, police officers and other public employees squeaked through the state Senate on a 17-16 vote. Six Republicans sided with Democrats against the measure.

"The bill would ban strikes by public workers and establish penalties for those who do participate in walkouts. Unionized workers could negotiate wages, hours and certain work conditions — but not health care, sick time or pension benefits.The legislation would also set up a new process to settle worker disputes, giving elected officials the final say in contract disagreements. "

That's how it MUST be. Elected officials have the final say. That's what a republican form of government requires and that is mandated by the U. S. Constitution. Let's hope Ohio leads the way.

Word of the Day

"Poteen" - noun [$10] Irish, also potheen. [from Irish poitin, the diminutive of pota, meaning 'pot'.
Poteen means alcohol made illicitly, usu. from potatoes.
Sentence: My great, great, great grandfather opened a saloon in central Ohio when it was first being settled circa 1805, but I suppose he made and sold moonshine made from grain, not poteen from potatoes.

PS: I saw that word in reading Playboy of the Western World, a play by J. M. Synge written in 1907 and first performed in Dublin in the Abbey Theatre.