The only silver lining about this bill is that it will automatically sunset in six months. But yeah, it was a s***ty last night of session move on their behalf. Fortunately, my Rep voted against it.

 

Republican Dave Weldon is my Rep and there was no question as to how he was going to vote. There never is. My Democratic Senator (Nelson) unfortunately also sold me out the day before and I've lost a lot of respect I had for him. His office received a call and an email expressing my displeasure - I'm sure he'll get it after the recess.

Link to World Meteorological Assoc.

In January and April 2007 it is likely that global land surface temperatures ranked warmest since records began in 1880, 1.89°C warmer than average for January and 1.37°C warmer than average for April. Several regions have experienced extremely heavy precipitation, leading to severe floods. The Fourth Assessment Report of the WMO /UNEP Intergovernmental Group on Climate Change (IPCC) notes an increasing trend in extreme events observed during the last 50 years. IPCC further projects it to be very likely that hot extremes, heat waves and heavy precipitation events will continue to become more frequent.

 

...

According to the most recent climate change scientific assessment reports of the joint WMO/UNEP Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the warming of the climate system is unequivocal. Eleven of the last twelve years (1995-2006) rank among the 12 warmest years in the instrumental record of global surface temperature. The 100-year trend (1906-2005) is 0.74°C. The linear warming trend over the last 50 years (0.13°C per decade) is nearly twice that for the last 100 years. Paleoclimatic studies suggest that the average Northern Hemisphere temperatures during the second half of the 20th century were very likely higher than during any other 50-year period in the last 500 years and likely the highest in the past 1,300 years.

 

IPCC further notes that there has been an increasing trend in the extreme events observed during the last 50 years, particularly heavy precipitation events, hot days, hot nights and heat waves.

 

Climate change projections indicate it to be very likely that hot extremes, heat waves and heavy precipitation events will continue to become more frequent.

But heavy precipitation makes it cooler...

 

 

That was bad, I know.

 

But heavy precipitation makes it cooler...

 

 

That was bad, I know.

You clearly weren't outside in Chicago yesterday afternoon, when it was 90 degrees, raining and the humidity was about 238917562785692876923487567%.

 

You clearly weren't outside in Chicago yesterday afternoon, when it was 90 degrees, raining and the humidity was about 238917562785692876923487567%.

 

It's been that way here this summer. Now, we're getting Texas weather, plus the humidity, because the ground's moist from all the rain. Air temp of 102 + humidity. Nice!

 

 

It's been that way here this summer. Now, we're getting Texas weather, plus the humidity, because the ground's moist from all the rain. Air temp of 102 + humidity. Nice!

Oh my. How can anyone live in that God forsaken climate?

Oh my. How can anyone live in that God forsaken climate?

We'll talk about it in the winter.

 

We'll talk about it in the winter.

Well with global warming (yes it exists!!) Chicago winters have become rather mild. It rarely snows.

Well with global warming (yes it exists!!) Chicago winters have become rather mild. It rarely snows.

Wow, pretty soon, Chicago will have Dallas winters. I might move back then.

 

Well with global warming (yes it exists!!) Chicago winters have become rather mild. It rarely snows.

 

 

Can we stop calling it global warming? It doesn't convince me of changing ANY of my behaviors. It's cold in PA 5 months of the year. So in fact, I'm more llikely to just let my car run so that it's 75 in the winter time. Not to mention, I HATE Jersey, so having a beach like 20 minutes away and no more Jersey drivers, I would love that.

 

When did the word "pollution" lose its effectiveness? It still makes me not want to throw my trash on the ground and take a walk when I could drive.

Know the feeling?

I love it. That should be our new Filibuster entrance.

 

The added license plate "POO PMPR" is just an added bonus.

Truly, we are a beacon to the world.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Friday signed into law the controversial Interception of Communications Bill, which gives his government the authority to eavesdrop on phone and Internet communications and read physical mail.

 

The legislation has drawn outspoken opposition from the political opposition and civil society organizations as trampling on the civil rights of Zimbabweans.

 

Spokesman Nelson Chamisa of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change faction of Morgan Tsvangirai called it an addition to "the dictator's tool kit."

 

...

Human rights lawyer Otto Saki told VOA that the law interferes and undermines the enjoyment of rights enshrined in the constitution and is a sign Mr. Mugabe wants to consolidate his power by "any means necessary or unnecessary."

 

But Communications Minister Christopher Mushowe said Zimbabwe is not unique in the world in passing such legislation, citing electronic eavesdropping programs in the United States, the United Kingdom and South Africa, among other countries.

 

I don't know who this guy is...

 

I don't know who this guy is...

 

Ain't that a kicker. 10 years before the invasion he was able to anticipate all of the the things 'nobody could have anticipated' before the war started.

 

So, am I the only one who's hoping that TD 4 does actually become "Hurricane Dean"?

 

 

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAARHHHHGGGGGG!!!!!!!

So, am I the only one who's hoping that TD 4 does actually become "Hurricane Dean"?

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAARHHHHGGGGGG!!!!!!!

 

Do Not Cheer on the Hurricanes! :stick

 

Mudslides, western forest fires, and San Andreas fault tremors on the other hand. . .

Do Not Cheer on the Hurricanes!

There are probably what, a few hundred thousand Miami alums who would disagree?

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- One of the Senate's top Republicans has called on President Bush to start bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq by Christmas, telling reporters Thursday that a pullout was needed to spur Iraqi leaders to action.

 

Sen. John Warner of Virginia, the influential former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he has recommended that Bush announce the beginning of a U.S. withdrawal in mid-September, after a report is released from the top U.S. officials in Iraq.

 

"In my humble judgment, that would get everyone's attention the attention that is not being paid at this time," said Warner.

 

Warner met at the White House on Thursday with Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, the White House official responsible for coordinating Iraq issues.

 

Warner said the president and other leading Bush administration officials have repeatedly said the American commitment to Iraq was not open-ended.

 

"The time has come to put some meaningful teeth into those comments -- to back them up with some clear, decisive action," Warner added.

So, let's see...

 

John Warner thinks its time to set a timetable to begin withdrawing some troops from Iraq.

 

George W. Bush adamantly says that we should not withdraw any troops from Iraq and the nation will not do so as long as he's in the White House...even going so far yesterday as to say that the reason we lost Vietnam was that we left.

 

Therefore....Warner has declared that he will support Congress as it does...absolutely nothing to set a timetable to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq, and will continue to oppose efforts in Congress to mandate that.

 

Joy.

Michael Moore's interview with Heston in Bowling for Colombine = sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeazy.

Senator Tim Johnson makes his public return after surviving a stroke late last year.

Senator Tim Johnson makes his public return after surviving a stroke late last year.

 

I'm happy for him. He still has a little way to go, but I hope he gets back to Washington.

 

 

2 years ago today...John McCain turned 69 years of age.