Framing the Dialogue

Posts Tagged ‘global warming’

Update – One To Watch

“When we take a position that isn’t willing to embrace evolution, when we take a position that basically runs counter to what 98 of 100 climate scientists have said, what the National Academy of Science has said about what is causing climate change and man’s contribution to it, I think we find ourselves on the wrong side of science, and, therefore, in a losing position,”

“we actually were willing to shun science and become a party that was antithetical to science. I’m not sure that’s good for our future and it’s not a winning formula,”

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News Briefs – Volume XXVI

News briefs are a collection of interesting news stories…

Brief 1: The progressives are all in a tizzy over something that Scholastic Books published that was favorable to the coal industry. An editorial in the New York Times outlined the “transgressions” committed by the book company,

“The lessons talked about the benefits of coal and the pervasiveness of power plants fueled by it — while omitting any mention of minor things like toxic waste, mountain-top removal and greenhouse gases.”

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End of the World Commencement

We recently had the good fortune of attending the graduation ceremony for our oldest as he moves from university life to working life. This is even more gratifying for him as he has secured gainful employment in a field that he loves. Congratulations Kevin!

The ceremony was full of pomp and circumstance befitting the achievements of the now former students. Professors in robes, loud trumpets blared, and around 250 graduated in their blue cap and gowns. Speeches were made and diplomas (really just place holders until the real ones are mailed this week) were handed out. The university is a Catholic school and I would say fairly conservative for a college these days and this was the graduation from only the business school which, in general, is even a little more conservative.

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Predisposition (pree-dis-puh-zish-uhn)

The dictionary defines predispositions as:

  1. the fact or condition of being predisposed: a predisposition to think optimistically.
  2. Medicine/Medical . tendency to a condition or quality, usually based on the combined effects of genetic and environmental factors.

Synonyms: tendency, inclination, predilection, BIAS [emphasis added]

“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”

John Adams

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Headline Humor – Volume V

I know many of these stories are serious, but the headlines removed the restrain from my brain and we get headline humor. These are the actual headlines as I found on-line. When you click on the headline you will be taken to the original story which more often than not has nothing to do with my vision of the headline.

Helen Thomas returns to journalism

UFC Fighter Jacob Volkmann Calls Out President Barack Obama, Gets A Visit From the Secret Service

‘Mother,’ ‘Father’ Changing to ‘Parent One,’ ‘Parent Two’ on Passport Applications

Dem ID down five points

Elderly Swedes bloodied in snow shovel brawl

Global Warming Prediction: Dire Outlook by Year 3000

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United Against U.S. Nations

The United Nations was founded in 1945 against the backdrop of World War II and had lofty goals to ease international disputes, provide security, improve economic development and improve human rights.  There are few who would argue against these goals even today, but did the United Nations experiment deliver?  It delivered, but not really on any of those promises.  Here we are 65 years later and the world has many disputes, security seems to be worse, we are in a severe economic downturn, and the UN is attacking the United States for human rights violations.

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News Briefs – Volume XVI

News briefs are a collection of interesting news stories…

Brief 1:  Pennsylvania’s legislature is earning their money as they consider a ground-breaking piece of legislation.  The legislation, described by Rep. Scott Perry, will allow citizens to defend themselves “anywhere you have a lawful right to be…It’s important we are allowed to avail ourselves of our constitutional right to protect ourselves.  Right now, the scales are tipped to criminals or perpetrators, and I want to see the scales tipped back to law-abiding citizens.”  If they can pass the legislation you you would be able to defend yourself without having to flee first.  If this is a “constitutional right” then why do we need a bill to allow it?  Perhaps the saddest thing is not so much that we need this legislation, but that our legislature cannot seem to pass it and that Gov. Rendell seems hesitant to sign it into law.  Maybe there is a critical vote on Pennsylvania’s state cookie.

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Super Freakonomics

In the follow-up to their best selling and controversial book Freakonomics, authors Levitt and Dubner traveled a less controversial path.  As usual they provide interesting theories, but I found Super Freakonomics to to have missed the connection and detail relating to economics.  The book is probably more readable for the general public, but I missed the details in every story.

One of best parts of the book was a discussion about global warming near the end of the book.  It was the first balanced discussion that I have ever read.  The discussion centers around a group of brilliant men and should be part of a robust public debate:

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Is Blackmail Too Strong A Word?

You can be the judge regarding whether the term blackmail should be attributed to the actions of government officials in the following two stories. 

blackmail ravenstahlThe first story features local politicians in the City of Pittsburgh.  As a little background, the City of Pittsburgh has been in state receivership for a number of years because city officials cannot control their spending.  One of the biggest factors is their underfunded pension funds.  Pittsburgh’s Democrat boy mayor, Luke Ravenstahl, has quite a scheme to raise taxes (it always seems to be about raising taxes) without really ticking off his constituents.  He has decided to impose a one percent tax “tuition” tax on all students attending institutions of higher educations within city limits.  His position is that they receive “services,” but do not pay anything towards them.

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