Moonlight Graham

The Blackbird has always been very cool. Had a big G.I. Joe plane that looked like one as a kid. Black and everything. Badass!! This is a helicopter, but i also love the AH64-D Apache Longbow. Its too bad the Taliban don't use tanks because i'm sure the Longbow would be wildly effective among the mountains/hills in Aghanistan:

I probably don't have anything "new" to offer if you've already discussed the MBH98 graph at length. McIntyre & McKitrick did a good job at questioning the methodology of the graph in the journal Energy & Environment in 2003. The main thing for me is that the MPH98 graph is based greatly on tree rings, which is a pretty crappy proxy for temperature. Trees do no grow just based on temperature, clearly. The amount of precipitation is also a huge factor in tree growth. So how do you separate the two in looking at tree rings? Not to mentioned even more factors that go into tree growth, such as sunlight exposure and CO2 levels.

I don't understand the fascination with Environment Canada. The U.S. surface measurements have proven to be the most accurate in the world, despite the urban heat island effect. Also, until recent months the Environment Canada website still had the Mann hockey stick graph posted on their website being used as a public reference for temperature, even though it has long been proven to be inaccurate. The other issue is that the Canada temperatures show a regional bias, like any other country. But if you prefer Canada temps, then why not use more accurate satellite measurements from 1979-onwards. I think the biggest thing that the global temp level since 2003 showing stasis rather continued warming shows is that temp does not work in lock-step correlation with CO2 levels, and that there are many other variables that determine climate. But this is something most modestly informed people know anyways.

Ya right. The Liberals stuck 500 troops in there to follow NATO, not exactly a rousing sign of enthusiasm. Upon defeat of the Liberals the CPC was very quick to send 4x as many troops over there and put them in the most dangerous area of the country. One would be foolish to think there isn't an ideological difference between the parties. The CPC is also ruling with a minority, which tugs them hard to the center in order get legislation passed.

Maybe he'll get a boner?

I doubt they will even be able to get accurate models this century, let alone right now. There are just too many variables. It's similar as to why meteorologist can only get the weather accurate to within 2-3 days at best. Once you get to a certain point the models all just start the break down because of the insanely complex variables.

Dont worry, the ISI and Iran will get them some more ammo.

The Bible isn't the word of God. As you stated, it wasn't written by God but by many other folks. I find it impossible that they got the translation from God/Jesus's words and/or event to the book with significant accuracy enough to live by these quotes as if they are the Alpha and Omega of moral code. Certain "editorial creativity" by the actual authors must have also been a result.

Maybe in your particular field of work it may be difficult to compete with immigrants, however immingration was also blamed by many for the unemployment rates seen during the Canadian recession of the early 1990's but economists said this was not the case. Economists concluded that immigrants are actually good for the economy because they spend money and infuse more cash into the economy, which creates more jobs.

I never said i was "very new to the debate". Here is exactly what i posted: Being undecided on the debate and educating myself doesn't mean i'm entirely new to the issues. I've read a bunch of material, watched a slathering of videos, and have even recently taken a University course on climate change. I suppose i can see how people assumed i am "brand new" to the debate, which made some people post some basics about how the greenhouse effect works etc. While i sincerely appreciate the effort to help, i am already aware of how the greenhouse effect works. I also know how the physics of things like carbon-14 dating and oxygen-16/oxygen-18 isotopes work, how glaciers form/retreat/advance, and know my Oligocene from my Pleistocene etc. etc. I'm certainly no scientist, but i am no dummy either. On an issue as complex and divisive as "global warming" and with so much bullcrap on all sides of the debate, it takes a long time to figure out the facts and the truth. So far the only conclusion i have come up with is that there is indeed a lot of bullcrap mixed with the facts on all sides of the debate (even among the scientists), and until i discover otherwise my stance is that because climate change is such a complex, fast-changing, and disputed/debated issue where there is so much that scientists still do not know about climate change and so many variables i simply think nobody has a clue yet with what the heck is going to happen to climate 5, 50, or 100 years from now. I'm sleepy i'll try to comment on your other stuff later.

I'd like to say that the IPCC isn't exactly the most spotless organization in regards to the accuracy/reliability of their info, given glacier-gate, the Mann hockey stick etc. There certainly needs to be a review in how they operate and how they formulate their reports/info.

oh yeah forgot about the cancer thing. well i wish him the best

I concur. Put Layton or most any modern politician on a "Favorite 1000 Canadians" list and you'd see most of them far down on the list. If Layton was popular at all among a majority of Canadians he would have been in Vancouver. A lot of Canada's favorite Canadians were at the opening and closing ceremonies. If Jack or Ignatieff or even the PM got in front of a mic to speak you would have heard some boos. i just can't believe some people don't realize that smilin' Jack was there for his photo op. It wasn't a coincidence. The media didn't follow him into the bar. "Hey look at me Canada i'm Jack Layton and i'm at a bar havin' a beer with my blue-collar joe canadian buddies watchin' the ol' hockey game and supporting the boys for the gold. I'm awesome vote for me!"

actually i think what kimmy does is quite healthy. Its not violence if the thing getting hurt is a punching bag. That said, i wouldn't say its the 100% most ideal way to express anger. But it works and it harms nobody. If i had kids watching i wouldn't do it. Maybe i'd go off on my own and yell into a pillow or something.

Don't you mean he's the 2nd least-hated federal leader? Also, i'm not a conservative.

C'mon man you've got to be kidding me.

Exactly. And to make things fair, Harper was also at the game at least partly for political reasons. He got face time, and with the Great One no less. But i'd argue that its partly expected for him, as PM, to be there. There might have been minor criticism on him if he didn't show up to such an important/historical Canadian event.

No. The difference is WHY a person at that bar would want to get on TV? An ordinary joe trying to get on national TV is doing it obviously because its exciting and fun, something to laugh and boast about with your friends/family, and maybe a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Jack was simply doing it to score cheap political points & to make himself look good to the electorate. And it makes him look as phony as a 3-dollar bill.

Regarding the IPCC, this was all over the news last week: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/26/ipcc-independent-scientific-review

This obviously wasn't assault, but Layton is still an arse. Him finding a place to get his mug on TV during the games and scoping out a prime spot in the front row just so he could get maximum airtime just shows how fake this dork is. Layton was trying to look like Mr. Patriotic Everyman Canadian but he just comes off as a phony attention-seeking arse. What a loser. i actually found it amusing watching him during the games and seeing how badly he was trying to get on TV.

Agreed 100%.

Exactly. Trudeau acknowledges that the U.S. can be as friendly as possible, yet every move it makes still affects Canada in a significant way.

good one i like that.

i agree with you 100% on both issues.

I never heard this quote before until today: I love this, it's so true (except the "beast" part, he probably could have found a better word lol)