Other shoes continue to drop in the ongoing story about the activities of the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia, which is regularly cited as one of the world’s leading proponents of the global warming hypothesis. I’ve previously noted the curious e-mails obtained as a result of a criminal computer hacking episode. [...]
Archive for November, 2009
A Hot Topic (Cont.)
Posted in America, Environment, Politics, Science, World, tagged America, climate change, Climatic Research Unit, Environment, global warming, Politics, Science, weather, World on November 30, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Cash For Christmas?
Posted in America, Family, Happiness, The Economy, tagged America, Christmas, Christmas shopping, economy, Family, Gift cards, Happiness, Holidays on November 30, 2009 | 1 Comment »
A relatively new book, entitled Scroogenomics:Why You Shouldn’t Buy Presents for the Holidays, argues that holiday shopping is wealth destroying because we end up buying presents people don’t want. The author, Joel Waldfogel, is an economist who makes a classic economics argument — that resources are most wisely allocated by people who make decisions for [...]
Not Smart (Cont.)
Posted in The Economy, tagged Colleges, economy, Harvard, Harvard University, Investments on November 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I’ve written before on the enormous losses Harvard recently sustained as a result of the investments of its endowment funds and capital accounts. The Boston Globe has now published an article on how the losses happened. It’s a familiar story and good lesson for anyone managing their 401(k) account. People made aggressive investments notwithstanding cautions [...]
Stalwart Opposition
Posted in Columbus, Ohio, Politics, tagged casino gambling, casinos, Columbus, Columbus Arena District, Ohio, Politics on November 29, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Although Ohio Issue 3, which amended the Ohio Constitution to allow for the building of casinos in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Toledo, was approved by voters statewide, it was strongly rejected by voters in central Ohio. Now, local politicians are trying to figure out what they can do to try to prevent the casino from [...]
A Hot Topic (Cont.)
Posted in America, Environment, Science, weather, World, tagged America, climate change, Environment, global warming, Science, weather, World on November 29, 2009 | 1 Comment »
The fallout continues from the data breach that led to the release of e-mail exchanges between climate scientists about global warming data. This New York Times piece indicates that the controversy about the e-mails, and their true meaning as it relates to the science of global warming, has had broad repercussions. Hacking into a computer [...]
Gatecrashers
Posted in America, TV, tagged America, Politics, President Obama, Secret Service, TV, White House on November 28, 2009 | 1 Comment »
The developing story about a Virginia couple that apparently “gatecrashed” the White House state dinner for the Prime Minister of India is pretty disturbing. According to the new reports, the couple did not have an invitation but showed up at the event in their formal wear, went through screening, and had their pictures taken with [...]
Uh Oh
Posted in The Economy, World, tagged Dubai, economy, global economy, stock market, World, World Economy on November 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Dubai World, the state-owned company that has been borrowing like crazy and building artificial islands, fantasy structures, and other projects to convert Dubai into a kind of vacation wonderland, has announced that it will not be making interest payments on its loan debt. In other parts of the world, where the markets aren’t closed for [...]
Black Friday
Posted in America, The Economy, tagged America, Black Friday, Christmas shopping, Consumer confidence, economy, recession on November 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I’m not quite sure when the day after Thanksgiving started to be called Black Friday — apparently because, for many stores, their sales on that day are what first pushes their year into the black — but I know that the day after Thanksgiving has been the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season for [...]
Thankful
Posted in America, Family, Food, tagged America, Andrew Zimmern, Anthony Bourdain, Family, Food, Thanksgiving on November 26, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
We will soon have a full house for Thanksgiving. Richard and Russell (and a very shaggy Russell at that) are home and the rest of the extended Webner/Hartnett clan will be arriving shortly. The kitchen table is groaning with an assortment of cheeses, nuts, meats, and fruits. For dinner itself we will be serving two [...]
You Are Getting Warmer
Posted in Uncategorized on November 25, 2009 | 1 Comment »
I’m not smart enough to know whether or not there is or isn’t global warming going on right now (see blog “A Hot Topic” dated 11/22/09), but aren’t these pictures a little bothersome and when we begin to see things like this should we begin to worry ?
It was Worth Doing – It’s Made a Difference
Posted in Uncategorized on November 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I am puzzled as to how an editorial writer (see blog titled – Editorializing on the Failed Stimulus) can make a determiniation as to whether or not a public policy is a success or a failure when only a quarter of the stimulus money is out the door so far in the first nine months. Here’s [...]
The Crab Nebula, From Three Perspectives
Posted in Science, tagged Crab Nebula, Hubble space telescope, NASA, Science, Space on November 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
If you like science and space, you can do worse than regularly visit the NASA website, just to see the latest information and images posted there. Recently they put up a very interesting depiction of the Crab Nebula, based on combining the Chandra X-ray image (shown in blue), the Hubble Space Telescope optical image (shown [...]
Jesse Jackson’s Modest Proposal
Posted in America, Politics, tagged A Modest Proposal, America, bailouts, Cash for Clunkers, Government spending, Jesse Jackson, Jonathan Swift, Politics, stimulus spending on November 24, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Jesse Jackson says that the United States Government can’t be a “tightwad” now. Yes, that’s right — after the federal government has spent hundreds of billions of dollars in borrowed money on TARP funds, the “stimulus” package, “Cash for Clunkers,” bank bailouts, home ownership incentive programs, GM and Chrysler bailouts, and countless other examples of [...]
The World’s Greatest Deliberative Body
Posted in Healthcare Reform, Politics, tagged Health Care Reform, Healthcare Reform, Politics, United States Constitution, United States Senate on November 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Senate used to be known as The World’s Greatest Deliberative Body. Under the careful design of the Constitution, the House of Representatives, where every member must stand for reelection every two years, is supposed to reflect the current passions and will of the voting populace. In the Senate, on the other hand, only one-third [...]
