I Just Gets Weirder and Weirder

‘Climate change created ISIS’ is now #49 on the ‘official list’ of things supposedly caused by global warming

Kids

What'll they do next?

Well, Waddayouknow!

It`s about damned time, Europe!!

Muslims flee Northern Ireland to escape anti-Islam violence

And that`s not the only place:

France

``Calais, France has become a magnet for fake asylum seekers. Their real ultimate goal is to sneak onto stolen boats and make their way into the United Kingdom where the word is, they can get the best deal. They know the saps in England hand out more free stuff to maggots like them than anywhere else.

Of course, the usual suspects were right there to sabotage the effort to shut down these camps. They handed out new tents to the fleeing illegal Muslims who vowed to keep trying to get to the promise land of England’s shores, where they get everything free and can live in virtual assurance that they will be immune from English laws.``

Meanwhile, the persecution of Christians in Muslim lands continues apace.

But in some quarters, Christians are fighting back.

``Tens of thousands of Muslims are fleeing to neighboring countries by plane and truck as Christian militias stage brutal attacks, shattering the social fabric of this war-ravaged nation.

In towns and villages as well as here in the capital, Christian vigilantes wielding machetes have killed scores of Muslims, who are a minority here, and burned and looted their houses and mosques in recent days, according to witnesses, aid agencies and peacekeepers. Tens of thousands of Muslims have fled their homes.

The cycle of chaos is fast becoming one of the worst outbreaks of violence along Muslim-Christian fault lines in recent memory in sub-Saharan Africa, tensions that have also plagued countries such as Nigeria and Sudan.``

I Knew This,,,

...but a lot of people don't. And some people don't want you to know, especially the grievance industry:

What He Said...

I do declare, political correctness is taking another big hit each day. Better late than never.

BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Delusional Daydreams of Total Tyranny

"Despite sanctimoniously posturing as a climate warrior, Hollyweird’s Leonardo DiCaprio chooses to live a life of conspicuous consumption:

He has bought three properties since February: a $10 million apartment in New York’s Greenwich Village, an $8 million apartment adjacent to his existing $4 million one in the city’s Battery Park, and a $5.2 million, six-bedroom, 1.34 acre mansion in Palm Springs. He also owns a large waterfront home in Malibu.

Such excess has a majorly negative impact on the environment. According to the World Economic Forum, buildings contribute around 40 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, consume huge amounts of natural resources, and are major solid waste and water pollution generators."

My Sentiments, Exactly

Oops, Again

Assessing Future Rice Yields in China

"In the words of Yu et al. (2014), "rice is the main food staple in China" and "18.5% of the world's rice-growing area is located in this country." In addition, they say that "China contributed 28.0% of the global production of rice in 2011,"

[---]

"Taking their own advice on the matter, Yu et al. estimated the impacts of climate change, CO2 fertilization, crop adaptation and the interactions of these three factors on Chinese rice yields via model simulations for four hypothetical scenarios. In the words of the three researchers, and according to the results of their model simulations, they found that (1) "rice yields without CO2 fertilization are predicted to decrease by 3.3% in the 2040s," that (2) "considering a constant rice-growing season (GS), the rice yields are predicted to increase by 3.2%," that (3) "when the effect of CO2 fertilization is integrated into the Agro-C model, the expected rice yields increase by 20.9%," and that (4) "when constant GS and CO2 fertilization are both integrated into the model, the predicted rice yield increases by 28.6%."" (Emphasis mine)

Somebody Needs To Tell...

UPDATE: Another illustration of the biggest CO2 emitters:

 Countries With Highest CO2 Emissions

Canada is way down the list.

==============Original Starts Here=============
...the AGW crowd this:

These people that the biggest emitter of CO2 is China.

Climate Movement Drops Mask, Admits Communist Agenda

Piece of watermelon, anyone?

Hmmmmmm

Is this one of those pre-election goodies?

Oh, For The Good Old Days...

...when they promised us global warming:


Calgary's mature trees damaged by snowstorm should be avoided in windy weather, says city


City of Calgary crews to blitz neighbourhoods hardest hit by summer snow storm to clear debris


Prairies may be in for extreme winter after an already wicked summer


Southern Sask. gets some snow, frost possible tonight


Cool snap ending, summery weather to return

What?! The French And The English Don't Like Each Other???

To Put Things In Perspective

The second largest country in the world has the second lowest carbon emissions.

And Another

Another Good One!

Climate Science Is Not Settled

"The idea that "Climate science is settled" runs through today's popular and policy discussions. Unfortunately, that claim is misguided."

[---]

"Nor is the crucial question whether humans are influencing the climate. That is no hoax: There is little doubt in the scientific community that continually growing amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, due largely to carbon-dioxide emissions from the conventional use of fossil fuels, are influencing the climate. There is also little doubt that the carbon dioxide will persist in the atmosphere for several centuries. The impact today of human activity appears to be comparable to the intrinsic, natural variability of the climate system itself.

Rather, the crucial, unsettled scientific question for policy is, "How will the climate change over the next century under both natural and human influences?" Answers to that question at the global and regional levels, as well as to equally complex questions of how ecosystems and human activities will be affected, should inform our choices about energy and infrastructure.

But—here's the catch—those questions are the hardest ones to answer. They challenge, in a fundamental way, what science can tell us about future climates.

Even though human influences could have serious consequences for the climate, they are physically small in relation to the climate system as a whole. For example, human additions to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by the middle of the 21st century are expected to directly shift the atmosphere's natural greenhouse effect by only 1% to 2%. Since the climate system is highly variable on its own, that smallness sets a very high bar for confidently projecting the consequences of human influences.

A second challenge to "knowing" future climate is today's poor understanding of the oceans. The oceans, which change over decades and centuries, hold most of the climate's heat and strongly influence the atmosphere. Unfortunately, precise, comprehensive observations of the oceans are available only for the past few decades; the reliable record is still far too short to adequately understand how the oceans will change and how that will affect climate.

A third fundamental challenge arises from feedbacks that can dramatically amplify or mute the climate's response to human and natural influences. One important feedback, which is thought to approximately double the direct heating effect of carbon dioxide, involves water vapor, clouds and temperature."[---]"Although the Earth's average surface temperature rose sharply by 0.9 degree Fahrenheit during the last quarter of the 20th century, it has increased much more slowly for the past 16 years, even as the human contribution to atmospheric carbon dioxide has risen by some 25%."

Leftarded Myths

As Bill Shakespeare Said...

"first, kill all the lawyers":

Ottawa revoking passports of Canadians who join extremist groups: Alexander

"Citizenship and immigration lawyer Joel Sandaluk said while it’s true the government is within its rights to revoke passports, the apparent secrecy surrounding the decisions is troubling.

“The thing that’s curious about this is, it’s not exactly all that clear on what information the government is basing these revocations,” he said. “The government is asking us to place an extraordinary amount of faith in their ability to operate.”

Without any insight into how the government is collecting its information, it’s possible decisions are being made based on suspicions and imperfect information, Sandaluk told CTV’s News Channel."

Tuff titty, Mr. Sandaluk.

Does Anybody Think It Will Work?

In either case? I have my doubts:

Rival Ukraine forces ready pullback under new peace plan


Israel, Hamas to resume indirect cease-fire talks in Cairo

Hallelujah, there is a God!

Government invalidating passports of Canadians who joined extremist groups

I'll sleep easier tonight.

Ukraine

Ukraine conflict: How we got here - in two minutes

Don't Tell The Warmanistas

They'll crap their pants - er - diapers:


Antarctic Sea Ice Extent sets new record, pierces 20 million square kilometer barrier

Amazing!!!!

Animals blending in.

Politicians

Where would we be without 'em.

Joke

"A pirate walks into a bar with a steering wheel down the front of his pants. Bartender says "What's with the steering wheel down the front of your pants?" The pirate says, "Aaaaargh! It's driving me nuts!""

Now For The "Easy Go" Part

It's gonna be close to $20,800 or more, but I now have a new boiler and a new faucet and taps in the kitchen sink. Better last a good long time. The old boiler was about 60 years old so I suppose it had to die sometime.

They're Killing Each Other

I think we should just get some popcorn, sit back, and let 'em have at it.

"No" It Is

Scotland rejects independence with decisive 55% ‘No’ vote

I wouldn't call 55% all that decisive. There were four districts in which the "Yes" side won. I'd say we have another Quebec situation. Gimmie. Gimmie. Gimmie. Gimmie, or we'll keep doing this until we get what we want. However, the Quebec separatists who went over to Scotland as observers must be very disappointed.

I Didn't Know That

The origin of the nursery rhyme - Humpty-Dumpty:

"This classic nursery rhyme is also a history lesson in the English Civil War. Humpty Dumpty was not originally an egg, as immortalized by John Tenniel, illustrator of Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass published in 1871. Rather, the name referred to a cannon used by the army of Charles I in 1648 to deter the opposing army of Parliamentarians. In fact, there are two preceding verses, now mostly forgotten, that name the expert gunner, One-Eyed Thompson, and the cannon, Humpty Dumpty. The cannon was mounted on a church tower and effectively defended the town of Colchester for nearly three months. Eventually, however, the church tower was knocked down and the cannon tumbled into the marsh below, never to be found. Thus all the kings horses and all the kings men couldn’t put Humpty together again."

Iran: Ruled By Madmen

‘Happy in Tehran’ Dancers Are Given Suspended Sentences

"A group of young Iranian men and women known as the “Happy in Tehran” dancers, arrested in May for videotaping themselves cavorting to Pharrell Williams’s popular dance hit, were informed on Thursday of their punishments: 91 lashes and six months of imprisonment for each."

You're not allowed to have fun, I guess. When will that regime fall?

I Guess Journalists Have Gone To Bed

The count should be in by now, but no word other than the No vote seems to be leading:

Scotland independence results give 'No' side early lead

Early returns from Scotland show lead for 'No' on independence

No campaign claims victory in Scots vote

But they're having a party, regardless.

Could He Be Right?

Hollande faults Europe for Scottish independence drive

"President François Hollande yesterday attributed the strength of the pro-independence movement in Scotland to the failings of the European Union.

“Europe must ask this question . . . Why is Europe not capable of creating a federating project in which everyone could find their identity,” Mr Hollande told a press conference. “We didn’t make Europe to get to this point, for there to be deconstruction of nations.”

The idea of 'getting smaller, allegedly to be stronger” was “the very opposite of the European ideal', Mr Hollande said. 'The referendum in Scotland may decide not only the future of the United Kingdom, but also the future of the EU. There’s a risk of Europe falling apart.'"

Forbidden Love?

Ancient Skeletons Found Holding Hands in England

Skeletons found 'holding hands' after 700 years

Skeletons discovered holding hands 700 years after being buried

They have to have been buried alive.

It's Going Viral

Scottish separatism fuels movements in Spain and Italy

"From Spain’s Basque Country to Veneto in north-eastern Italy, independence-minded European regions are licking their lips at the prospect that Scotland will vote to secede from the UK in its September 18 referendum...."

I'm wondering if a "yes" vote will cause a tidal wave that makes its way up the St. Lawrence all the way to Quebec City.

You Gotta Love It

These two headlines appeared practically one after the other on news.google.ca:

Leonardo DiCaprio appointed UN climate change representative

Antarctic sea ice set for record high as Arctic heads for sixth lowest extent

You'll notice it claims the lowest on record was in 2013. What happened to the other 4.5+ billion years.

The UN is not a serious organization.

Hilarious!

And, of course, there's a song for everything.

I Like This List

Global Warming Quotes & Climate Change Quotes: Human-Caused Global Warming Advocates/Supporters

I like the one by Christine Stewart: “No matter if the science is all phoney, there are collateral environmental benefits.... climate change [provides] the greatest chance to bring about justice and equality in the world.”

Yes, that Christine Stewart. Liberal Party member of parliament, member of Jean Chretien's cabinet. Environment minister, no less.

Teachers

As much as I hate to link to Daily Kos, this one is too good to pass up:

Are you sick of highly-paid teachers?

"Teachers' hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work nine or ten months a year! It's time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do -- babysit!

We can get that for less than minimum wage."

Yah, right. For that we need four years of university and the kids just teach themselves how to read and do complex mathematical problems. Happens all the time. /sarc

Besides, if we didn't have summers off, when would YOU take your paid vacations?? Hummmm?

Think about that next time you need a heart surgeon. He or she started out in grade one, or earlier, and twelve or more teachers later was equipped to attend medical school. Do you want to go under the knife wielded by someone who doesn't know how to read? Think about it.

Sorry we didn't do a better job on teaching them to write legibly.

Forget Smallpox Blankets...

...thank your lucky stars we live in an age of antiboitics, vaccines, inoculations:

"The greatest killer in the history of mankind."

Six and a half centuries of it.

"Imagine There's A Climate Conference, But No One Goes"

"Already months ago South Korean UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon busily sent out invitations to world leaders, kindly requesting them to appear at the Climate Change Special Conference in New York on 23 September 2014. The aim of the conference is to agree on concrete actions for a CO2 reduced world in order to curb a menacing climate catastrophe. At the German Huffington Post Ban Ki-moon set forth his underlying motivation for September 2014 conference (translated from the German):

I have travelled the world in order to see the impacts with my own eyes. From the Arctic to the Antarctic, from low-lying islands of the Pacuífic, which are threatened by rising sea levels, to the melting glaciers of Greenland, the Andes and the Alps. I have seen expanding deserts in Mongolia and in the Sahel Zone, and threatened rainforests in Brazil. Everywhere I have spoken with the affected people who are deeply worried about the threat to their way of life and their future because of climate change.”

Dear Mr General Secretary: If you really wish to cut back on CO2 emissions, then you should NOT jet around the globe in your UN jet to supposedly see climate change with your own eyes. Perhaps you have heard that the Pacific Atolls are living corals that are growing along with sea level rise. The glaciers already melted before, 1000 years ago during the Medieval Warm Period when it was as warm as today. Currently the Sahel desert regions are not expanding as you claim, rather they are becoming greener. Moreover the rainforests of Brazil are threatened foremost by deforestation thanks to palm oil and biofuels. That is something to be really worried about, and not about climate change.

As opposed to the UN General Secretary, many world leaders have obviously realized that the science is overheated. An increasing number of scientists are distancing themselves explicitly from the catastrophe mindset. After 16 years of no global warming, the basis for trust between policymaking and the IPCC scientists is sustainably disturbed. We believed you and you’ve disappointed us, the scathed politicians bemoan behind closed doors."

You know, this just might be the thing that puts an end to the Useless Nations. Here's hoping.

"So it is little surprise that hardly anyone has the desire to attend the Climate Summit Circus. Already in May, 2014, German Chancellor Angela Merkel respectfully declined -she had other more important appointments. What could they possibly be about? Even today there is still no entry in Merkel’s Online appointment book for the 23rd of September. Perhaps an appointment with the hairdresser that can no longer be put off? Crochet evening with good friends? Let’s keep it a surprise for now."

LOL!!

"In the middle of August 2014 India Prime Minister Narendra Modi also declined the invitation to attend. India today is the world’s third largest CO2 emitter. Perhaps someone in New Delhi got cold feet over the requested “concrete measures”. Or perhaps they simply looked at the latest global temperature charts.

Also in Peking they were not amused. Suddenly the world’s largest CO2 emitter, China, no longer has much desire to show up in New York. Chinese Prrsident Xi Jinping wasted little time in canceling his flight ticket. Nothing will result from all the negotiations anyway, the UN needs to know."

[---]

"No German Chancellor, no Indian Prime Minister and no Chinese President."

[---]

"Now if all citizens of Bonn made massive efforts, then they would be able to offset the Indian and Chinese CO2 surpluses of the next few years in about an estimated 2 billion years."

[---]

The famous Kyoto-Protocol expired at the end of 2012. At that climate conference in Doha, 144 countries promised to vote to extend the treaty by 2020. So far today 11 countries have signed the extension document. In the meantime, have the other 133 countries reconsidered? So far not a single one of the 28 EU countries have signed on, also not Germany. But already Mauritius and Micronesia are on board (they would be beneficiaries of climate protection payments).

Meanwhile, every time there's a storm or a major flood all the CAGW groupies find solace in their belief that they are all caused by global warming, er, climate change because such events have never, ever, ever, ever happened before.

Ad Nauseam

Extent of Antarctic sea ice reaches record levels, scientists say

Does Antarctic sea ice growth negate climate change? Scientists say no

How Climate Change is Causing Antarctic Sea-ice to Expand

Leo vs. science: vanishing evidence for climate change

``Was it "Titanic" that made him an expert? Leonardo DiCaprio speaks at the State Department's "Our Ocean" conference earlier this year.``

Scotland

At the moment I have a young English immigrant in my house doing something or other to my boiler, which conked out a few days ago. We chatted for a bit about how my ancestors came from England, and of course, of Scotland's bid for independence. I likened it to Quebec. I gather, from our conversation, there is no love lost for Scotland in jolly old England, at least not in his Cockney heart.

Cowtown Gets Some "Global Warming"

Just a bit early.



I suppose it has to come this way.

From The Late Great..

...Leonardo Michelangelo (6 March 1475 – 18 February 1564):

Wise words

"Educated men will look at what I do and say it is useless work, but the words they breathe from their mouths are as wise as the wind they fart from their asses."

Not much has changed.

This Post Needs No Title

The message is obvious:

"It has been said even putting baseball scores into Mann's computer model would generate a hockey stick."

BWHAHAHAHA!!!

By now the catastrophists ought to be hiding under their beds, wetting their pants.

Global Warming Nonsense

Some of the more pithy quotes:

"On the corruption of science, Goethe wryly observed:'Most men only care for science so far as they get a living by it, but they will worship error when it affords them a subsistence.'"

[---]

"Upton Sinclair's comment in the early 1900s is instructive:

'It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.'"

[---]

"Then there was the question about the Middle Ages being warmer than the 1930s and the establishment had to eliminate the Medieval Warm Period."

Where's The Hurricanes?

2014 Hurricane season a bust so far – no named storms at peak of season, last time was 1992

"So far, four storms have gotten names in the Atlantic this year. In records going back to 1851, Sept. 10 is the day when the odds are greatest there will be at least one tropical storm or hurricane somewhere in the Atlantic. The statistical peak of the Atlantic hurricane season has arrived and for the first time since 1992 there isn’t a named storm in the basin.

While forecasters are watching a pair of potential systems, neither is likely to grow into a tropical storm by the end of today. So far, four storms have gotten names in the Atlantic this year."

Wouser!!

First, there was the discovery of Franklin's ship, some discoveries of ancient ruins underneath Stonehenge, ancient Jewish artifacts in Israel, and now this: a 232.08 carat white diamond. Next thing you know, they'll finally find Harper's hidden agenda.

9/11 Remembered

The seven minutes.

Whaddid I Tell Ya'

Not sure where I said this (maybe at SNN) but I was certain Harper would pull some goodies out of his hat shortly before the next election. Well lookie here:

"While in London, England last week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the assembled media that reducing personal income taxes was next on his government’s agenda."

Forgive me for being cynical, but that's timed for the next election.

Must Watch

Hans Rosling again:



Tell that to a leftard.

Don't tell the Pals

Ancient Golden Treasure Discovered by Jerusalem's Temple Mount

"The gold rush has begun at the foot of Jerusalem's Temple Mount. During summer excavations conducted by Hebrew University of Jerusalem archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar, two bundles of treasures were found. The treasure trove contained 36 gold coins, gold and silver jewelry, and a gold medallion with the menorah (Temple candelabrum) symbol etched into it. Also etched into the 10-cm medallion are a shofar (ram's horn) and a Torah scroll. The extraordinary find is known as the "Ophel Treasure."

The ancient menorah medallion, shown below, is most likely an ornament for a Torah scroll making it the earliest Torah scroll ornament found to date in archaeological excavations. Several other Torah scroll ornaments, including a smaller gold medallion, two pendants, a gold coil and a silver clasp, were found buried with the medallion."

I Never Thought Of That

The Franklin discovery’s not about what, but where

"...discovering one of the ships would enhance Canada’s claim to the Arctic, at least symbolically. Several countries, including the United States, challenge this country’s claim to ownership of the Northwest Passage. They argue that it is an international strait.

While the two Franklin ships have already been designated as national historic sites no matter their location, the actual discovery of a ship would increase Canada’s chances of having UNESCO declare its location a World Heritage Site."

And Queen Liz is happy about this.

"Queen Elizabeth sent a message for Canadians to the Governor General on Tuesday following the discovery.

"I was greatly interested to learn of the discovery of one of the long-lost ships of Captain Sir John Franklin. Prince Philip joins me in sending congratulations and good wishes to all those who played a part in this historic achievement," she said in a statement."

Count Iggy Resurfaces

Iggy was always much better at this sort of Ivory Tower baffle gab stuff than actually implementing solutions to political problems. Here's in interesting interview with him about the current round of slaughter in the Middle East:

Michael Ignatieff Interview:'Those Fighting Islamic State Are the Lesser Evil'

Separatism Goes Viral

There are separatist movements in Quebec, Scotland, and now, Catalonia.

Absolutely Fascinating Series

...of primarily North African Arab-Muslim speakers on the subject of terrorism:

Insights On Terrorism

Very, Very, Very, Very Cool

Franklin's ship has been found:

Global Weirding

Snail, believed extinct due to climate change, found ‘alive and well’

Blue Whale Population Rebounds In Pacific Ocean

RUSH: John Kerry Cites Bible in Climate Change Outreach to Muslim Countries

Yup. It's global weirding.

Har, Har!

Even Disasters Sets Me To Thinking Of Music

Shipwreck from 1833 discovered in Lake Ontario

The story behind “The Mary Ellen Carter”

Tommy Mulcair Is Delusional

'The first three-way race in Canadian history’ is coming in 2015 federal election: Mulcair

"Tom Mulcair predicts the next federal election will be an historic first: a three-way battle for power among Conservatives, New Democrats and Liberals.

Despite opinion polls that suggest the NDP has been eclipsed by Justin Trudeau’s ascendant Liberals, Mulcair is confident his party will be back in the hunt once a campaign actually gets under way in the fall of 2015."

We, in the West, know enough about the Dippers to prevent that. You replaced the Bloc, Tom. Don't let it go to you're head. Although it would be good if you were to replace the Liberals, too, but only by pushing them into extinction, which shouldn't take much.

Hypocrites

Arab League agrees to combat Islamic State group

"The Arab League agreed Monday to combat extremists like the Islamic State group as one of its suicide bombers killed 16 people at a meeting of Sunni tribal fighters and security troops in Iraq."

They can dish it out, but they can't take it.

Related:


The trend of breakaway Islamists

"Arab tribes have been fighting and allying with each other for centuries. And tribes also tend to unite against an invasion by outsiders."

[---]

'Lee Smith uses this statement by bin Laden in his book, The Strong Horse: Power, Politics, and the Clash of Arab Civilizations, explaining, “The wars waged between Arabs according to the strong horse principle make the Arabic-speaking peoples of the Middle East a much graver threat to themselves than they are to anyone else.'”

That could explain the new Egyptian leader's crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood.

Super Cool

Viking fortress discovered

"Archaeologists in Denmark have found a ring-shaped Viking fortress on the island of Zealand, around 50km south of Copenhagen. It is the fifth circular fortress to be unearthed, and the first in more than 60 years.

Lasse Sonne, a Viking historian at the University of Copenhagen, said: "Although there were Vikings in other countries, these circular fortresses are unique to Denmark. Many have given up hope that there were many of them left."

Like previously discovered ring fortresses, the Vallo Borgring is thought to date back to the late 10th century and the reign of Harald Bluetooth, the King who christianised Denmark and Norway.

Some historians contend the fortresses were constructed by his son Sweyn Forkbeard, the first Danish King of England, as a military training camp or barracks from which to launch his invasions of England.

Forkbeard seized London in 1013 and was declared King of England."

Viking 'ring fortress' discovered in Denmark

"Historians believe distinctive geometric fortresses may have been built by Sweyn Forkbeard as a military training camp from which to launch his invasion of England"

ARRRRGH!

And even more super cool:

Greece unearths two Caryatids at massive Alexander-era tomb

"Greek archaeologists have unearthed two beautiful Caryatids during the ongoing excavation at the massive Alexander the Great era tomb in the ancient city of Amphipolis in northern Greece, the culture ministry announced on Sunday.

The two statues of female figures which are similar to the Caryatids known worldwide from the Acropolis temples in Athens were found on Saturday.

They were made of marble from the nearby island of Thassos and support expectations of experts that the newly discovered burial site at Amphipolis, at a distance of about 550 km north of the Greek capital, was of a high ranking official at the hierarchy of the Macedonian kingdom in the fourth century B.C.

Over the past month, since Greek archaeologists first unveiled the entrance of the tomb, the largest ever discovered in Greece, they have managed to discover two spectacular three-meter-high sphinxes, a sculpted 5 meter high lion, a mosaic and other exquisite findings."

[---]

"Most Greek archaeologists have ruled out the possibility that the tomb could be that of Alexander the Great himself as he is believed to have been buried in Egypt in 323 B.C.

However, Alexander's Persian wife, Roxana, and his son, Alexander IV, were banished to Amphipolis and murdered there in around 310 B.C. and other important figures of the time could be buried at the site."

Stunning Alexander-era statues found guarding ancient tomb in Amphipolis, Greece

"The two female figures in long-sleeved tunics were found standing guard at the opening to the mysterious Alexander The Great-era tomb near Amphipolis in the Macedonia region of northern Greece, archaeologists said.

"The left arm of one and the right arm of the other are raised in a symbolic gesture to refuse entry to the tomb," a statement from the Culture Ministry said.

Speculation is mounting that the tomb, which dates from Alexander's lifetime (356-323BC), may be untouched, with its treasures intact.

Previous evacuations of Macedonian tombs have uncovered amazing troves of gold jewellery and sculptures."

[---]

"Theories abound about who could be buried in the tumulus tomb, ranging from Alexander's Bactrian wife Roxane, to his mother Olympias or one of his generals.

Experts say the chances of Alexander himself being buried there are small, however.

After his death at 32 in Babylon, the most celebrated conqueror of the ancient world is believed to have been buried in Alexandria, the Egyptian city he founded - although no grave has ever been found there."

For Some Reason....

...I've been thinking of Arnie Boldt, the one-legged athlete, who amazed the world by winning high-jumping and racing competitions in the Special Olympics:



He and his family lived next door to us in Saskatoon. An amazing kid. He lost his leg in a farm accident involving stepping onto a grain auger. Must have been gawd awful. But he personified the meaning of "indomitable spirit".

Perhaps All Is Not Lost...

...Burn Isis Flag Challenge' Goes Viral in Arab World

"A social media viral campaign has sprung up in the Arab world that involves burning the Isis flag.

The trend started after three Lebanese youths posted pictures of them burning the flag associated with the militant group, also known as Islamic State, in the middle of Sassine Square in Beirut.

Soon afterwards, a Lebanese YouTube user uploaded a video of himself burning a flag. Similar to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in which people choose others to their do own videos, the user nominated "the whole world " to take part in the #BurnISISFlagChallenge.

The campaign soon went viral, especially in Lebanon following the beheading of one of the country's soldiers by IS."

I hope this virus spreads.

Great Video!!!

Dinesh D'Souza demolishes cherished lefty myths:

Stuff I Didn't Know...

...about The Beatles and the Cold War. You learn something new every day.

The Climbdown Continues

Matt Ridley in the WSJ: Whatever Happened to Global Warming?

"On Sept. 23 the United Nations will host a party for world leaders in New York to pledge urgent action against climate change. Yet leaders from China, India and Germany have already announced that they won’t attend the summit and others are likely to follow, leaving President Obama looking a bit lonely. Could it be that they no longer regard it as an urgent threat that some time later in this century the air may get a bit warmer?

In effect, this is all that’s left of the global-warming emergency the U.N. declared in its first report on the subject in 1990. The U.N. no longer claims that there will be dangerous or rapid climate change in the next two decades. Last September, between the second and final draft of its fifth assessment report, the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change quietly downgraded the warming it expected in the 30 years following 1995, to about 0.5 degrees Celsius from 0.7 (or, in Fahrenheit, to about 0.9 degrees, from 1.3).

Even that is likely to be too high. The climate-research establishment has finally admitted openly what skeptic scientists have been saying for nearly a decade: Global warming has stopped since shortly before this century began.

First the climate-research establishment denied that a pause existed, noting that if there was a pause, it would invalidate their theories. Now they say there is a pause (or “hiatus”), but that it doesn’t after all invalidate their theories.

On Sept. 23 the United Nations will host a party for world leaders in New York to pledge urgent action against climate change. Yet leaders from China, India and Germany have already announced that they won’t attend the summit and others are likely to follow, leaving President Obama looking a bit lonely. Could it be that they no longer regard it as an urgent threat that some time later in this century the air may get a bit warmer?

In effect, this is all that’s left of the global-warming emergency the U.N. declared in its first report on the subject in 1990. The U.N. no longer claims that there will be dangerous or rapid climate change in the next two decades. Last September, between the second and final draft of its fifth assessment report, the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change quietly downgraded the warming it expected in the 30 years following 1995, to about 0.5 degrees Celsius from 0.7 (or, in Fahrenheit, to about 0.9 degrees, from 1.3).

Even that is likely to be too high. The climate-research establishment has finally admitted openly what skeptic scientists have been saying for nearly a decade: Global warming has stopped since shortly before this century began.

First the climate-research establishment denied that a pause existed, noting that if there was a pause, it would invalidate their theories. Now they say there is a pause (or “hiatus”), but that it doesn’t after all invalidate their theories."

(Emphasis mine.)

Oops. Caught red handed.

More:

IPCC silently slashes its global warming predictions in the AR5 final draft

1960’s satellite imagery of polar ice discovers “enormous holes” in the sea ice

Please, please, please, please, please,,,

...I hope this is not true:

New data backs 'ice age' prediction

"As the United Nations prepares for its 2014 Climate Summit in New York this month with an agenda to advance a new carbon-emissions regulatory agreement to supersede the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, the Russian scientist who correctly predicted the lack of global warming over the past 19 years has gained new scientific support for his belief that Earth is in the beginning of a prolonged ice age. (Emphasis mine)
A new study from Lund University in Sweden, published Aug. 17 in Nature Geoscience, has reconstructed solar activity during the last ice age, the last so-called “global maximum” extending from 20,000 to 10,000 years ago. Analysis of trace elements in ice cores in Greenland and from cave formations in China indicates the growth and melting of a thick ice sheet stretching from the Arctic to northern Germany were related to variations in the sun’s UV radiation output.

“The study shows an unexpected link between solar activity and climate change. It shows both that changes in solar activity are nothing new and that solar activity influences the climate, especially on a regional level."

Maybe he's just trying to bolster the justification for the seizure of Crimea by the big boss in Moscow.

Contrast and compare:

Certainty Humans Are Driving Global Warming: New Study

Al Gore’s global-warming rhetoric is put on ice

I Hate It, Hate It, Hate It, Hate it...

One in 10 girls sexually abused, says UN report

Six in 10 children face regular physical assault, report warns

I know we live in an imperfect world, but if we could change just one thing, make it this.

Good Grief!!

Glenn Beck: Let’s face it, Hillary’s going to be the next president

Can you imagine a world with Shillary as Pres of the USA and Baby Trudeau as PM?

Scaaaaaaaaaaaaaary, and then some.

Looks Like The World Is United...

...Europe and North America, in any case:

Kerry, Hagel Urge Coalition Against Islamic State

US Seeks 'Core Coalition' To Combat IS Threat

U.S. Forms Anti-ISIS Coalition at NATO Summit

U.S. says forms "core coalition" to counter Iraq militants

NATO leaders approve rapid response force

NATO members vow to reinvent the alliance to deal with crises

NATO allies unite against Islamic State

It's got people talking:


Debating just-war theory in light of Islamic State and past Iraqi wars

ISIS too extreme for the extremists?

Who Cares What 'Lying Brian' Thinks

Brian Mulroney gives Stephen Harper piece of his mind

You Go Girls!!

Female fighters of the PKK may be the Islamic State's worst nightmare

"It’s an Islamic State fighter’s worst fear: to be killed by a woman.

In northern Iraq, where Kurdish forces are rapidly regaining territory held by the Islamic State, that’s becoming real risk for the extremists.

There are plenty of female Kurdish soldiers on the front lines. They’re smaller than their male comrades, but they talk just as tough as they prowl the battlefield clutching automatic rifles and vowing vengeance for those victimized by the Islamic State.

“We are equal with the men,” said Zekia Karhan, 26, a female guerrilla from Turkey who is with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, known as the PKK. “Every responsibility for a man is the same for a woman. We are treated equally, and that is why we are fighting.”"

Kill as many as you can!!

Hallelulja!! There Is A God!

Right Hand of ISIS Leader Killed in U.S. Airstrike in Mosul

Enjoy your virgins.

I expect Obama Derangement Syndrome to break out any minute now. Oh wait....

Global Affairs...

...are extremely tense right now. It's like walking on broken glass. I don't remember it ever being like this, not even during the Cold War.

Four NATO warships to enter the Black Sea before September 7

The Russian Bear versus everyone else.

From Russia...

...with chuckles:

Plug Your Ears And Go "Me. Me. Me. Me. Me."

New We Know

Here’s Why ‘Moderate’ Muslims Aren’t Speaking Out Against Extremists #NotAllMuslims?

Hope He Does Something About It

The Senate that is:

About Time!

The overarching power of unions appears to be under a full on attack:
Pro-business group launches ads targeting alleged union influence over Ontario government

Fight Back Against Union Bosses

New non-partisan anti-union group emerges as Tories push labour issues to the forefront

"A new anti-union group has sprung up just as the Progressive Conservatives threaten to make labour issues a key ballot question in the next election.

With Ontarians expected to go to the polls as early as May, Working Canadians wants to raise awareness about the influence of “union bosses” on the province.

Like Working Families, a coalition of unions that has successfully run ads attacking the Conservatives in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 provincial elections, Working Canadians considers itself non-partisan.

“Part of the purpose is to counter the Working Families and that type of organization,” spokesperson Catherine Swift, chair of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said Monday.

Swift stressed the CFIB is not officially part of the new organization, which is run by volunteers and funded by small businesses and Merit Canada, which lobbies for “open shop,” or non-union, construction companies.

“It’s not partisan, it’s just making sense,” she said, noting a decade of hefty contracts to unionized public servants, such as teachers, nurses, and police officers, has helped create a “structural deficit” in Ontario."

And they're fighting back:
New ads to ‘fight back’ against union influence

"There are plenty of bones to pick with the charges levelled by Working Canadians, as Ms. Swift’s group has branded itself. Taxes have not gone up in any significant way since the last election; the deficit has gone down, albeit more slowly than many would wish; organized labour’s culpability for unemployment rates is highly debatable.

But then, those on Ontario’s right would argue that turnabout is fair play. For years, they have complained that Working Families – the coalition of unions to which Working Canadians is an obvious response – has done the governing Liberals’ bidding by spending buckets of cash demonizing the Tories. Ms. Swift’s effort is a manifestation of those frustrations; it is also, in its scale, evidence of the uphill battle to provide a counterbalance."

Yup. They've done that in Saskatchewan, too.

I Have Some New Heroes

Filipino force defied UN commander in Golan crisis

Canada: Land of the Free

Canada: Land of the Free

Money shot:

"...with the abolition of the Canadian Criminal Code’s Section 13, which punished so-called “hate speech,” Canada leads the Western world in reclaiming the right of individual free expression from the ravenous maw of political correctness."

The ravenous maw of political correctness. I like that.

UFO...

...caught on tape:

 

What Not To Do...

...with a beached whale: