Daily Archives: April 17, 2011

Education and outreach? What are they trying to teach bed bugs?

Posted on April 17, 2011 | 1 Comment

Grant Awards to Support Bed Bug Education: Activity as a Substitute for Accomplishment, Part IV
By Rich Kozlovich

Bed bugs have been with mankind for as long as mankind has existed. Records about bed bugs are available that go back 4000 years to ancient Egypt, and archeologists have artifacts that show they are “identical to the present day pest.” Since they took the time to talk about them in ancient Egypt I think that we can reasonably assume that they didn’t like them any more than we do today. Historians have noted that manuals for their elimination have existed for centuries. In 1730 there was “A Treaties of Buggs” where the author recommended a “liquor” for their destruction.

In 1777, “The Compleat Vermin-Killer,” recommended “to fill the cracks of the bed with gunpowder and light it on fire.”  Sounds silly I know, but people do silly things when they are desperate.  An Ohio man set his apartment building on fire because he attempted to rid his apartment of bed bugs using alcohol while smoking a cigarette.

Somehow I don’t think burning down houses is the answer we want.

Continue reading →

→ 1 Comment

Posted in EPA, Pesticide

Consensus, bought and paid for

Posted on April 17, 2011 | 1 Comment

Ten Major Failures of Consensus Science
Written by Joseph D’Aleo, CCM, AMS Fellow
Thursday, 14 April 2011 09:16

The US congress sub-committee on Energy and Commerce Committee held hearings on whether to restrict in some way the EPA’s regulatory authority relative to greenhouse gas emissions.

There were 7 scientists invited to testify. Three of the four who argued not to restrict the EPA played a key role in the last IPCC report (and will also in the next one) and generally started with the position that IPCC science was sound and there was a consensus of all real scientists.

In the attached analysis we take a look at the IPCC based science. (SPPI)

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Climate change, IPCC

More on the EPA and their political “science”

Posted on April 17, 2011 | 1 Comment

Ron Arnold: Suppressed EPA Hushgate climate report returns to snag CO2 regulation
Source: The Examiner
by Ron Arnold

Inside the National Center for Environmental Economics, analysts scurried to finish the vital technical support document to fulfill President Obama’s most draconian campaign pledge: “Implement an economywide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.”

Continue reading →

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Cap and tax, EPA

Ceding sovereign power to the UN global government?

Posted on April 17, 2011 | Leave a comment

UN Agenda 21 Will Rule The US Waves

Written by Dennis Ambler
Thursday, 14 April 2011 10:03

Whilst everyone has been occupied with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson’s defense before Congress of the EPA’s attempts to regulate CO2 emissions, the Administration has continued to move towards International Ocean Governance with the establishment of a Governance Coordinating Committee for the National Ocean Council, (NOC). The NOC has been long in the making and earlier history of Ocean legislation can be found here, going back to the 1969 Stratton Commission and beyond. However the current impetus dates to the Pew Oceans Commission in 2003 and the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy - An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century in 2004, mandated by the Oceans Act 2000. (SPPI)

→ Leave a comment

Posted in UN

They’re from the government. They’re here to…

Posted on April 17, 2011 | 4 Comments

The Real Reason Drug Companies are Failing? (Medical Progress Today)
The FDA has gotten tougher, but that’s not the only problem
By Jonathan (Josh) Bloom, Ph.D.
Posted: Friday, April 15, 2011

Trouble in the pharmaceutical industry has become so evident that major news organizations are belatedly taking note of it. This was evidenced by a recent plethora of stories about the slew of looming patent expirations major drug companies are facing. Some important reasons have been examined, but there is much more to the story. As a former pharmaceutical researcher for more than two decades I can fill in a few gaps that are not being discussed.

Continue reading →

→ 4 Comments

Posted in Health care

Yeah? Well, I’m sticking with beef steaks

Posted on April 17, 2011 | Leave a comment

Saving the World…One Mouthful at a Time

By Hilmar Schmundt

Westerners might get a bit queasy when they think about eating locusts, spiders or ants, but they make up delicacies and key sources of protein in much of the world. A new movement is trying to bring them onto Western plates in an effort to save the environment.

“Mister Ambassador, could you please pass the salted worms?” asks Sir David King, a distinguished British gentleman and renowned scientist.

“Please, try these delicious ants as well!” replies His Excellency Mauricio Rodríguez Múnera, Colombia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom. The two men toast, raising glasses filled with golden mezcal con gusano, a Mexican agave liquor with one exquisite additional ingredient — a butterfly larva of the Megathymus genus.
As the meal is served, 10 fearless gourmet diners turn their attention to the creations of celebrity English chef Thomasina “Tommi” Miers. It’s a sunny Sunday in spring at a long table on the front lawn of the Museum of Natural History at the venerable University of Oxford.

Artist Angela Palmer sent out the invitations to this “Grand Banquet of Rainforest Insects” to garner support for rainforest protection by offering a meal with courses made up of insect dishes. Yes, eating ants, dragonflies and locusts is apparently good for the environment. (Spiegel)

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Agriculture

How “independent” is having no access to sufficient energy supplies?

Posted on April 17, 2011 | Leave a comment

Energy Independence: Obama Embraces the Department of Nutty Ideas
By Steve H. Hanke
Posted on Apr. 13, 2011

Every president since Richard Nixon has asserted that we are sitting ducks for those who brandish the oil weapon. To keep the evildoers at bay, the government must adopt policies that ensure our energy independence. Like his predecessors, President Obama is worshiping at this altar. And why not? How many elections have been lost by blaming foreigners for an impending crisis? (Energy Tribune)

Enviros blast updated review of major oil pipeline project
Continue reading →

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Energy

NYT certainly doing its best to create fracking hysteria

Posted on April 17, 2011 | Leave a comment

I’m waiting to see The Crone run the headline: “Millions of people bathe in bio-chemical soup” with the subhead “Water heavily contaminated with metallic salts, mineral oil, radioactive substances, heavy metals, toxins of all kinds, known and suspected carcinogens and seething with pathogens” … other people might describe this as a day at the beach and contact with pristine sea water.

Chemicals Were Injected Into Wells, Report Says
By IAN URBINA

WASHINGTON — Oil and gas companies injected hundreds of millions of gallons of hazardous or carcinogenic chemicals into wells in more than 13 states from 2005 to 2009, according to an investigation by Congressional Democrats.

The chemicals were used by companies during a drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking, which involves the high-pressure injection of a mixture of water, sand and chemical additives into rock formations deep underground. The process, which is being used to tap into large reserves of natural gas around the country, opens fissures in the rock to stimulate the release of oil and gas.

Hydrofracking has attracted increased scrutiny from lawmakers and environmentalists in part because of fears that the chemicals used during the process can contaminate underground sources of drinking water.

“Questions about the safety of hydraulic fracturing persist, which are compounded by the secrecy surrounding the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing fluids,” said the report, which was written by Representatives Henry A. Waxman of California, Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts and Diana DeGette of Colorado. (New York Times)

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Activists, Fracking, Silly scares

Al tries to establish new botnet

Posted on April 17, 2011 | Leave a comment

So Al, how’d that $300 million climate change indoctrination campaign work out for you? Are you a carbon indulgence billionaire yet?

Gore to young advocates: Battle industry lobbyists to turn the tide on climate
By Ben Geman – 04/15/11 09:10 PM ET

Al Gore told young green energy advocates Friday that progress on global warming must come from a strong grassroots movement that can counter the oil and coal lobbies, which he alleged have “paralyzed” governments.

Gore – who compared action on global warming to the Civil Rights movement – was the keynote speaker at Power Shift 2011, a Washington, D.C. conference attended largely by college students.

Continue reading →

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Activists, Climate change, Crazy carbon schemes, Energy, Enviros, Green scams

Consuming unripe energy and; wind pains

Posted on April 17, 2011 | Leave a comment

On Green Energy: Renewable Energy Fails to Green the U.K. Economy
By Kenneth P. Green
Friday, April 15, 2011

Pursuing a new green energy economy in the United Kingdom has led to lost jobs and higher energy prices. (The American)

Dust in the Wind? (Eagle Claw Oklahoma project is government-dependent, iffy)
by Mike Riley
April 14, 2011

The total government subsidy given to industrial windpower rivals the price of natural gas paid by power generators– yet wind still cannot compete without mandates. With our nation being challenged to reduce its debt and shrink the federal budget, realistic business economics is confounding the hype about this once darling of renewable energy. (MasterResource)

Spanish Wind, Revisited
by Robert Peltier
April 13, 2011

Two years ago, Spain’s fixation on renewables and “green jobs” was praised by President Obama as a success story worthy of our emulation. With Obama making renewables a centerpiece of his administration with an eye toward the 2012 election, the obvious question is: How is Spain doing today? (MasterResource)

“Clean Energy Standard”: Time to Revisit Fundamental Assumptions;
by Glenn Schleede
April 12, 2011

Continue reading →

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Energy, Green jobs, Wind

Australia’s proposed “carbon tax” bringing down a government

Posted on April 17, 2011 | 1 Comment

Does anyone actually believe a bureaucratic nightmare will efficiently encourage greater energy efficiency without costing anyone anything? Really?

Labor support slumps amid carbon tax revolt

The latest Nielsen opinion poll shows federal Labor’s support hitting a 15-year low as it tries to head off a business revolt over the carbon tax. (Australian Broadcasting Corp.)

Carbon price dissent rises along with former leaders

RESISTANCE to a carbon price is growing, with 45 export companies and industry groups writing to Julia Gillard yesterday to demand they not be disadvantaged and the welfare sector expressing concern about compensation arrangements for the needy.

Continue reading →

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Cap and tax, Crazy carbon schemes

The hazards of “biofuel” mandates – burning food leads to:

Posted on April 17, 2011 | 1 Comment

Global food crisis “one shock away”, says World Bank chief

April 18, 2011 – 8:05AM

The global economy is “one shock away” from a crisis in food supplies and prices, says World Bank President Robert Zoellick.

Zoellick estimated 44 million people have fallen into poverty due to rising food prices in the past year, and a 10 per cent increase in the food price index would send 10 million more people into poverty. The United Nations FAO Food Price index jumped 25 per cent last year, the second-steepest increase since at least 1991, and surged to a record in February. (Bloomberg)

US farmers should be warned – inflationary pressures will inevitably cause significant interest pain on borrowings while debt, social pressures and an eventual outbreak of common sense will eliminate biofuel/ethanol mandates and subsidies. Continue reading →

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Agriculture, Biofuel, Ethanol

Whoops! Broad scale agriculture of bright plants cools planet

Posted on April 17, 2011 | Leave a comment

They’re dancing as fast as they can but the inevitable conclusion is that crops like corn and large swathes of cereal grain increase albedo, especially as they ripen in hot summer months. Less solar radiation absorbed at surface means a cooler planet. Whether increased evapotranspiration warms or cools locally depends absolute humidity. Topography and distance from sizable bodies of water, coupled with any influence on ascending air bodies may make a difference over a wide area (does it increase or decrease lofting and afternoon sea breezes bringing cooler maritime air, sometimes significant distances inland?), these things are determined by much more than mere local vegetation.

Over the years we’ve had hypotheses raised that Europeans precipitated the Little Ice Age by clearing dark forests and planting bright crops, increasing albedo and retarding Earth’s natural thaw since the last great glacial retreat. Maybe. Maybe not. Climate is a complicated and unpredictable thing. But these guys have certainly demonstrated that vegetation type and area makes a discernible difference, even while they try to distract readers with balloons and streamers labeled “CO2″.

Sugarcane cools climate

Continue reading →

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Agriculture, Climate change

Obama to the people’s representatives: “Screw you!”

Posted on April 17, 2011 | 1 Comment

Obama: Not so fast on defunding climate ‘czar’

By Andrew Restuccia - 04/16/11 12:08 PM ET

The Hill’s Michael O’Brien reported Friday night that President Obama signed into law legislation to keep the government operating through the end of September.

But, in a signing statement, he said he would not abide by a part of the law that would block funding for his so-called policy “czars.”

Republicans have long criticized the czars, particularly Obama’s climate and energy policy adviser, noting that they have not been confirmed by Congress. Carol Browner, Obama’s climate czar, recently left the White House. (E2 Wire)

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Activists, Cap and tax, Climate change

Oh this is rich…

Posted on April 17, 2011 | 1 Comment

After all the billions wasted “because we are changing the climate” they now want a system to warn in case we might change it…

Scientists want climate change early-warning system

By Gerard Wynn
LONDON | Sun Apr 17, 2011 7:30pm EDT

A better monitoring network for greenhouses gases is needed to warn of significant changes and to keep countries that have agreed to cut their emissions honest, scientists said in papers published Monday. (Reuters)

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Activists, Climate change