America Needs a Stable, Diverse and Affordable Energy Supply

It is interesting to note that the majority of oil imports to the US come from "our friends in Canada". ABFreedom has frequently blogged on the oil sands developments in Alberta which can only result in increased imports from Canada and reduced dependence on mid-east oil.

Are we just crying wolf here?

In my recollection of the fable, when the boy cried wolf too many times, the people stopped believing him. I get the impression that this article from the Houston Chronicle is concerned about the same thing happening.

The normal debate and discussion that takes place between scientists in peer reviewed journals and at conferences has been infiltrated by politically motivated individuals how see an opportunity to further their agenda and have pounced. Some scientists have expressed concerns regarding green house gas global warming and the alarmists have used these concerns as a rallying cry complete with exaggeration and hyperbole.



Trackposted to Perri Nelson's Website, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, basil's blog, Pirate's Cove, Planck's Constant, The Pink Flamingo, Common Folk Using Common Sense, The Amboy Times, Conservative Cat, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Alabama meteorologist fights back

Link from The Birmingham News


There is a quote displayed on the Dumb Ox Daily News site from Edmund Burke:

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

Comparing Global Warming hysteria to evil is stretching it a bit but the concept is the same. Unfortunately many of us sit quiet and ignore statements that claim that the sole cause of global warming is human induced and especially by people in the western world. The result is continued indoctrination of the masses with the same half truths and junk science.

The debate on the existence and causes of catastrophic global warming took a turn to the nasty the other day when Dr. Heidi Cullen of the Weather Channel stated that weather forecasters that did not state the party line should have their AMS certification revoked. This is outrageous. Why don't we hear cries of censorship from the media, ACLU and other organizations that supposedly champion free speech. Could it be that since the message is the one they support they actually concur that those dissenters should be silenced?

Well one weather prognosticator would not sit quietly. James Spann, meteorologist from ABC-TV 33/40 in Birmingham, Alabama wrote a rebuttal in his blog that by now I am sure most of us have read or heard about.

"The Weather Channel Mess"

The Drudge Report linked to the blog and the result has been over 400 comments and a thousand e-mails to Mr. Spann.

Mr. Spann responded to all the attention with the following: An Interesting Day at the Office. I am sure that Mr. Spann wasn't trying to achieve any level of fame or celebrity beyond that which he has earned as a result of his TV appearances, but he now has national exposure.

Once again someone with scientific expertise has said what we've all known - it's about the money. The so-called scientific consensus is is the recognition that if you say what you are "supposed to" you will continue to get your grant money.

When the Weather Channel set up their One Degree website, I decided to link to it knowing that they would likely champion a position that global warming was a human induced phenomenon and that CO2 emissions were the likely cause. It was my hope that they would be presenting the science behind their statements so that we could discriminate the arguments on both sides of the issue and make an intelligent determination of reality. Unfortunately, as with most things that take on a political undertone - especially from the point of view on the left - there is no argument of ideas. Instead the side with the weaker argument tries to censor and squelch all input that doesn't support their position. As a result of this latest position by Dr. Cullen, I will be removing the direct link to the One Degree site from my blog. I will keep the Weather Channel link but if anyone wants to read Dr. Cullen's comments you will have to drill down yourself.

I have no argument with presenting differing views and that is why I put the link up in the first place. Dr. Cullen has demonstrated that she is not interested in the science but instead will only push the party line. I will not support that.



Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Perri Nelson's Website, The Random Yak, Big Dog's Weblog, basil's blog, Stuck On Stupid, Rightwing Guy, Wake Up America, 123 Beta, third world county, Faultline USA, Woman Honor Thyself, stikNstein... has no mercy, The Uncooperative Blogger ®, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, Pirate's Cove, Blue Star Chronicles, The Right Nation, Dumb Ox Daily News, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Latest SE Texas Winter update

This is the 6 pm update from KHOU Channel 11 in Houston. The northern counties of SE Texas are under an Ice Storm Warning while some of the counties closer to the coast including Harris County (Houston) is under a Winter Storm Watch. The counties right along the coast are not predicted to drop below freezing. My backyard thermometer has been holding around 38 F. With the cloud cover it may not get much colder but the wind chill is easily taking off an additional 10 - 15 degrees.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forecast from KFDM Channel 6 Weather Center in Beaumont, TX with forecasts for the Golden Triangle (Beaumont, Orange and Port Arthur, TX) and for the Lakes area (near Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend reservoirs) both of which are in extreme southeast Texas.

Forecast Discussion Forecasted By: Greg Bostwick Last Updated: January 15, 2007 - 3:49PM

Winter Storm Possible... Colder air continues to take over resulting in slowly falling temperatures. Readings are currently dropping to freezing in the Tyler County area with the freeze line moving into the Triangle later tonight and Tuesday morning. Little if any change in temperatures is expected Tuesday into Wednesday morning with readings staying near freezing. An upper level disturbance is moving northeastward out of Mexico. This system will bring us periods of freezing rain and freezing drizzle tonight into Wednesday morning with the main impact to the northwest of a Kirbyville to Liberty line. At this time, ice accumulations of up to 1/4 of an inch will be possible. This is in contrast to the 1997 ice storm which produced up to one inch of ice. Lakes Area Forecast.... Tonight.....Cloudy with a 60 percent coverage of rain likely becoming freezing rain overnight. Temperatures falling to near 30. Winds north to northwest 5-20 mph. Tuesday.....A 90 percent coverage of freezing rain and freezing drizzle. Temperatures holding near freezing. Winds northerly 6-18 mph. Triangle Forecast..... Tonight....Cloudy with a 60 percent coverage of rain possibly becoming freezing rain and freezing drizzle by daybreak. Lows near 32. Winds north to northwest 6-22 mph. Tuesday.......A 90 percent coverage of light rain with possible freezing rain and freezing drizzle. Highs near 33. Winds northerly 6-20 mph. Marine Forecast for Tuesday..... Winds......N 15-32 knots. Small Craft Advisory. Seas.......5-7 feet. Bays.......Rough. Water temp......58. Weather........Cloudy with a few showers. Outlook for Wednesday......N/NE 8-24 knots. Seas 4-5 feet. Widespread rain. Sabine Pass Tides for Tuesday.... High...........3:38 P.M. Low............7:12 A.M. Sunrise Tuesday.....7:13 A.M. Sunset Tuesday......5:39 P.M. Record Low Tuesday.........22 in 1972 Record High Tuesday........78 in 1952

Midwest storms claim 14 lives

This storm is a monster. Frozen weather is stretching from sunny southern California through the mid-west and all the way to eastern New York State. The front is expected to reach the Gulf Coast by Tuesday. It will be interesting to see if it reaches all the way into Florida.

Winter is coming to the southland

Click the link for updated Hazardous Weather Outlook and Special Weather Statement for the Houston area.

It is hard to write about an impending ice storm and hard freeze when it is 75 F outside but it is a coming down. As the map shows (courtesy of The Weather Channel) there is a sharp temperature gradient cutting across southeast Texas from Laredo, TX to Sheveport, LA. The temperatures here in SE Houston haven't started to drop yet but they should start falling around midnight and continue down with predictions as low as the mid-20's by Tuesday night.

These super cold temperatures are very welcome because a hard freeze will deplete the ravenous mosquito population that has been eating us alive for the past few years. We will certainly see a drop off in the number of mosquitoes as well as the size. Having smaller and fewer bloodsuckers divebombing us in the early evening is a welcome change.

The weather predictions are also calling for sleet and freezing rain to come as far south as downtown Houston and may even make it to the coast. When the NY Times published a reasonably fair and balanced article I said the hell has frozen over. My euphemism for this is that South Texas will get snow (sorry Gayle) as a result. Well maybe we will get some snow or at least a couple millimeters of sleet with this Arctic blast.


In all seriousness, a strong Arctic front will push through southeast Texas tomorrow and may make the next few days a bit exciting. Fortunately the kids have tomorrow off for MLK day but we may be looking at a "snow day" on Tuesday if the worse of the weather drive through.

Since when is a warm winter a bad thing?

I've seen a bunch of articles screaming about climate change and global warming this past week. Since half the country is having higher than normal temperatures, the alarmists can yell about global warming. Last year it was hard to yell global warming while everyone's teeth were rattling. By the same token, the heavy now in Colorado is also being blamed on global warming as well.

It seems to me that having a lower than normal heating bill due to unusually warm temperatures is a good thing. Growing up in the northeast, I remember my parents fretting when it was really cold and worrying that the oil truck would get held up. Warmer winters were always welcome but they never lasted long. By late January to mid-February we always got some snow and an Alberta Clipper or a nor'easter would come in reminding us what time of year it is. I bet the same thing will happen again this year. (Reuters)

Unfortunately, the MSM and the alarmists all point to current weather conditions to say that we are in a crisis right now.

So because of global warming we have:

• Warm weather in the eastern half of the US and in Europe (see this USA Today article in the link)
• Excessive snow in Colorado (APNews My Way)
  
• Snow in Alaska (KTUU)
  
• Calving of ancient ice sheet from Canada (Breitbart) (I always thought that was normal, but what do I know)

It seems to me that these are all within normal variations.

(Hat tip: Drudge Report)



Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Perri Nelson's Website, The Random Yak, Adam's Blog, Stuck On Stupid, The Amboy Times, The Uncooperative Blogger ®, Conservative Cat, 123 Beta, Wake Up America, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, The HILL Chronicles, third world county, Faultline USA, Woman Honor Thyself, The Uncooperative Blogger ®, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, stikNstein... has no mercy, The World According to Carl, Pirate's Cove, Dumb Ox News, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Best Wishes to Max Mayfield

H/T Drudge Report

I learned today that Max Mayfield has decided to retire from the National Hurricane Center. Yesterday was his last day. I wish him the best and want to add that I appreciate his clear and professional assessment of developing and oncoming storms. Whenever Dr. Mayfield gave a report updating the predictions of an approaching storm I felt as if I learned something. When the global warming alarmists screamed that CO2 "emissions" are the cause of more frequent and more intense hurricanes he, along with a few others used reason and data to show why the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons were within natural variations and introduced us to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation

As this article explains, part of his frustration was the "people and politicians who refuse to listen and learn". I remember Dr. Mayfield clearly calling for evacuation of New Orleans as Katrina approached while the city and state governments refused to demand complete evacuation until it was too late. Building codes along the Gulf coast are in major need of overhaul. The areas in Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana where Hurricane Rita landed have a large number of poorly constructed homes and businesses. Buildings that look like they are falling down on sunny days, let alone during the wind and floods of a tropical storm. Levees and sea walls have been built around the world using the latest technology but here in the greatest nation on the planet we just pile dirt higher and hope for the best.

I doubt that Dr. Mayfield will ever read this. I hope I will see and learn from him again in the near future and I wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Always Open Trackbacks

Trackposted to Blue Star Chronicles, Planck's Constant, Dumb Ox News, The HILL Chronicles, stikNstein... has no mercy, Conservative Cat, and Don Surber, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
Woman Honor Thyself

Just some fun - try it yourself

You Are 72% Republican

You have a good deal of elephant running through your blood, and you're proud to be conservative. You don't fit every Republican stereotype, but you definitely belong in the Republican party.

How Republican Are You?

You Are 16% Democrat

If you have anything in common with the Democrat party, it's by sheer chance. You're a staunch conservative, and nothing is going to change that!

How Democrat Are You?

Hat tip to Blonde Sagacity