In the (Royal) Navy

This email came from our friends in Canada:

The Royal Navy is proud of its new fleet of Type 45 destroyers. Having initially named the first two ships HMS Daring and HMS Dauntless, the Naming Committee has, after intensive pressure from Brussels, renamed them HMS Cautious and HMS Prudence. The next five ships are to be named HMS Empathy, HMS Circumspect, HMS Nervous, HMS Timorous and HMS Apologist. 

Costing £850 million each, they meet the needs of the 21st century and comply with the very latest employment, equality, health & safety and human rights laws. The new user-friendly crow's nest comes equipped with wheelchair access. Live ammunition has been replaced with paintballs to reduce the risk of anyone getting hurt and to cut down on the number of compensation claims. Stress counsellors and lawyers will be on duty 24hrs a day and each ship will have its on-board industrial tribunal. The crew will be 50/50 men and women, and balanced in accordance with the latest Home Office directives on race, gender, sexuality, and disability. Sailors will only have to work a maximum of 37hrs per week in line with Brussels Health & Safety rules, even in wartime. All the vessels will come equipped with a maternity ward and nursery, situated on the same deck as the Gay Disco. Tobacco will be banned throughout the ship, but cannabis will be allowed in the wardroom and messes.

The Royal Navy is eager to shed its traditional reputation for; "Rum, sodomy and the lash"; so out has gone the occasional rum ration which is to be replaced by sparkling water. Although sodomy remains, it has now been extended to include all ratings under 18. The lash will still be available but only on request. Condoms can be obtained from the Boatswain in a variety of flavours, except Capstan Full Strength. Saluting officers has been abolished because it is deemed elitist and is to be replaced by the more informal, "Hello Sailor".  

All information on notices boards will be printed in 37 different languages and Braille. Crew members will now no longer be required to ask permission to grow beards or moustaches - this applies equally to women crew members. The MoD is working on a new "non-specific" flag because the White Ensign is considered to be offensive to minorities. The Union Flag had already been discarded.  

The newly re-named HMS Cautious is due to be commissioned soon in a ceremony conducted by Captain Hook from the Finsbury Park Mosque who will break a petrol bomb over the hull. She will gently slide into the water as the Royal Marines Band plays "In the Navy" by the Village People.

Her first deployment will be to escort boat loads of illegal immigrants across the channel to ports on England's south coast. The Prime Minister said, "While these ships reflect the very latest in modern thinking, they are also capable of being up-graded to comply with any new legislation coming out of Brussels." His final words were, "Britannia waives the rules."

Thanks to Dave and Maddie for sending me this. 

How Liberals Think

This is from an email circulating on the Internet:

How liberals think on 10 major issues of the day:

1. The U.S. Constitution Is Unconstitutional

   According to liberal dogma, the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights are unconstitutional because all were crafted by an exclusive conclave of white male Christians.

   Women, Hispanics, African-Americans, Asians, gays, lesbians, transsexuals, the handicapped, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and the blind were all under represented, if at all.

   Because of this devastating lack of diversity, the Constitution must be regarded as a “living document,” subject to change in accordance with ever changing demographics and contemporary values.

2. Free Speech

   Freedom of speech must never be quashed, except for criticism directed at minorities and sensitive constituencies of the Democrat party.

   Burning Old Glory is protected free speech, whereas expressions of conservative values by people like Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage are unacceptable “hate speech,” which must be subjected to “fairness” censoring by the federal government.

3. Abortion, the Death Penalty and Assisted Suicide

   On issues of life and death, liberals are especially vulnerable to tripping on their own hypocritical double talk.

   Namely: A woman’s right to abort the life of an innocent child is inalienable; whereas execution of a convicted killer is cruel, unusual & barbaric.

   Starving a helpless victim like Terri Schaivo to death is acceptable; but using lethal injection to end the life of a brutal killer is not.

4. Religion

   Religious faith and belief in God are outdated pagan concepts, which do more harm than good. Sophisticated citizens can rely on the government for support from cradle to grave, obviating the need to rely on beliefs and rituals long since debunked.

   Symbols of Christianity such as the Ten Commandments, the Cross, Christmas trees, nativity scenes, and the like must be hidden from public view so as to offend no one.

   Publicly wishing a friend or family member “Merry Christmas” is clearly an act of civil disobedience and unconstitutional.

   While Christianity is to be suppressed at all costs, Islam must be openly promoted in the name of religious awareness, sensitivity and tolerance.

   The separation of state and government applies fully when dealing with Christianity or Judaism, but is irrelevant with regard to Islam and all other religions.

   Delivery of Christmas cards and gifts by the United States Postal Service is an unconstitutional violation of state-religion separation and must end immediately.

5. Taxes

   Leveling the playing field between haves and have-nots is the most important function of government, even more critical than national security.

   To support that objective, no government role is more essential than levying and collecting taxes, otherwise known as redistribution of wealth.

   Tax cuts are wrong when returned to people who actually paid taxes, but are perfectly fine when sent to those who paid none.

   Although most liberals deny that Jesus even lived, many use the quote in Matthew 22:21, “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s…” to justify higher taxes.

   Paying taxes is the “Christian Conservative” thing to do!

6. Marriage and Same-Sex Issues

   The traditional American family consisting of one man and one woman is just one of several possible arrangements, all of which are equally moral and acceptable.

   Marriage is no longer necessary to sanctify man-woman relationships.

   Although the institution of marriage is no longer vital to heterosexual partners, it is absolutely essential that same-sex couples be allowed to marry. To deny them that basic right is discriminatory, immoral, unfair, and clearly unconstitutional.

7. Racism, Diversity and Affirmative Action

   Liberals believe that discrimination based on race or gender is wrong. Except when waged against Caucasian men, in which case it is mandated by law and called Affirmative Action.

   “Our Diversity Is our Greatest Strength” is the liberal pledge of allegiance to socialism.

   Enforcing U.S. borders and immigration laws, including deportation of illegal aliens, is wrong because it targets Hispanics, obviously based on racial profiling.

   Those who support English as the official language of America are racists. But those who prefer Spanish and other foreign languages over English are not because of the inherent value of diversity.

   Conservatives who seek to preserve American language and culture are bigoted hate mongers, whereas new immigrants, including illegal aliens, must be allowed to maintain and celebrate their cultural heritage at all costs, even if it interferes with assimilation into mainstream America.

8. Preserving the American Dream for Working Class Americans

   According to liberal propaganda, they are the only hope for American families, notwithstanding the fact that Democrats support the influx of millions of illegal aliens who work for lower wages and without benefits, and drive down the standard of living for working families.

   Skyrocketing gasoline prices devastate working American families, but protecting Alaskan wild life is a greater priority.

   Businesses are oppressive institutions that must not be allowed to become too large and powerful. By contrast, government creates wealth & happiness and should be expanded whenever possible.

   Outsourcing of American jobs to foreign nations is driven by immoral corporate greed. By contrast, open borders and amnesty are acceptable because most illegal aliens are future Democrats.

   Huge profits are obscene and un-American, except when enjoyed by Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, George Soros, Oprah Winfrey, Ted Turner, and other liberals.

9. Global Warming, the Environment, and Energy Independence

   According to liberal technocrats like Al Gore, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, and Dennis Kucinich, global warming is a greater threat to the health and well being of humanity than terrorism.

   Some liberal extremists even think that the colors of the American flag should be changed to green, white, and blue so as to reflect the importance of the environment to our nation, while simultaneously deleting the color red, which symbolizes blood shed in illegal wars waged by Bushes 41 and 43.

10. Use of Military Force, Invading Foreign Nations

    Military force must never be used, except when needed to advance interests not vital to the United States, or to obscure a Democrat president’s sexual misconduct in the Oval Office.

    Invading a foreign nation is wrong, except when aliens from Mexico invade America.

Understanding liberal thinking is probably more trouble than it is worth. The more prudent action would be to take all necessary steps to assure that liberals are not elected or reelected to political office.

If you disagree with this list, click on "comments" below, and explain your position. I have some thoughts on a few points here myself, so I'll get the ball rolling with some comments of my own.

The True Nature of Islam

There is an email going around the Internet called "High Fashion at the Mosque" and this picture, with the caption, "Perhaps it is time that we learn the true nature of Islam..."

I have several problems with this. First of all, the person in the picture may not be Muslim, and we don't know why he's wearing the shirt. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, and suggest that he stands with America regarding the 9/11 attacks.

Having said that, I will now say this:

If people haven't learned the true nature of Islam by now, they never will. A shirt with pictures of the burning twin towers is nothing compared to the actual burning twin towers, and we all sleepily opened our eyes, hit snooze, and went back to sheep sleep. Oh sure, we used it as an excuse to fight a couple of wars, for which the lives and treasure spent, the Obama regime subsequently squandered.

We had a huge public debate about whether it was OK to build a mosque near ground zero (What? Does nobody know Islamic history? It's what Muslims do when they make a conquest! Duh!) It has taken us more than a decade to replace the towers. A country with any pride would have replaced them immediately, with something even more modern and impressive, as a statement to the world. But no, we spent our time wringing our hands about cultural "sensitivity"! This is all about culture! A good culture vs. a bad one. Who cares if "they" think theirs is the good one? If we don't think ours is, then it is the beginning of the fall of Western Civilization. We'd better wise up quickly, if it isn't already too late. It's The Enlightenment, stupid!

SOPA Support Crumbles under Pressure

A few days ago, I posted a letter I sent to my representatives in Washington, D.C. Apparently, it (and millions like it, as well as Google blacking out their logo, and Wikipedia going completely dark) got their attention. Heritage Action for America reports:

This week, controversial legislation that could result in government censorship of the internet and stifle innovation came under fire. Supporters of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA), which claim to crack down on online piracy overseas, started peeling off the bills.

A day before any popular websites launched protests on Wednesday, Heritage Action released its key vote against SOPA and PIPA. It was picked up around the country, and thanks to dedicated conservatives taking action, made a big difference in Congress: (Continue reading...)

Keep slogging, anti-kakistocrats! It's an uphill battle. The natural progress of things is to deteriorate without maintenance. Our liberty requires maintenance.

Don't Censor the Net -- Success!

It looks as if SOPA/PIPA have been killed "in their present form". Red State Advocacy says:

On Wednesday, RedState joined sites around the Internet, including Wikipedia and Google, in a global protest against the deceptively named Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and PROTECT IP Act (PIPA). It was an historic occasion for Americans to stand up to out-of-touch Washington politicians. (Continue reading...)

We cannot let our guard down. As Thomas Jefferson said, "The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." The bills were killed in their present form, but they can always shape-shift into a different form, and be just as dangerous. We need to keep our eyes on "Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade" (OPEN) Act (S. 2029). It might be better; it might not. Some of the supporters of SOPA/PIPA (Hollywood) are agin it, so it has that going for it.

Letter to Larsen, Murray and Cantwell

I sent this short message to my congressman and senators:

Please reject SOPA/PIPA: Which article of The Constitution authorizes government to do that? Please check. See also, The First Amendment.

Please do not let special interests stampede you into usurping our natural rights. We the People granted a few of them to the government to exercise on our behalf. Our right to free speech wasn't one of them.

Must we beg our government not to uslurp our right to free speech? It should go without saying. If we continue along these lines, it will have to.

---

Update -- Senator Cantwell responds:

Dear Mr. Uppiano,

Thank you for contacting me about the internet streaming of copyrighted material. I appreciate hearing from you on this issue.

On May 12, 2011, Senator Leahy (D-VT) introduced S. 968, the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property (PROTECT IP) Act. While I am supportive of the goals of the bill, I am deeply concerned that the definitions and the means by which the legislation seeks to accomplish these goals will have unintended consequences and hurt innovation, job creation, and threaten online speech and security. On November 17, 2011, I signed a letter along with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) objecting to the bill as it is currently written.

On December 17, 2011, Senator Wyden introduced the "Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade" (OPEN) Act (S. 2029), of which I am an original co-sponsor. The bill has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee, where it is currently awaiting further review. The OPEN Act is a more effective approach to stopping foreign web sites that are found to be primarily and willfully used to infringe intellectual property rights. The OPEN Act builds on the existing legal framework used by the International Trade Commission for addressing unfair acts in the importation of articles into the United States, or in their sale for importation, or sale within the United States after importation.

Our trade laws have yet to catch up to deal with the global digital economy. The OPEN Act recognizes that the Internet has created new opportunities for foreign products to reach the U.S. market and that there is little difference between downloading a pirated movie from a foreign website and importing a counterfeit movie DVD from a foreign company. For those foreign web sites that are determined after an investigation to be primarily and willfully infringing, the International Trade Commission will issue a "Cease and Desist" order. The "Cease and Desist" order may also be served on financial intermediaries that provide services to that foreign web site, compelling financial payment processors and online advertising providers to cease doing business with the foreign site in question. This would cut off financial incentives for this illegal activity and deter these unfair imports from reaching the U.S. market.

The OPEN Act addresses the same challenges as the PROTECT IP Act, while protecting freedom of speech, innovation, and security on the Internet. The challenge of rogue web sites is one that many nation's face. The United State has always been seen as a leader on Internet issues. Laws we establish in the United States regarding the Internet are likely to be used as models around the world. And because the Internet is global in nature, it is important that we carefully consider how the laws and policies we adopt in this area may be received and translated by other countries.

Thank you again for contacting me to share your thoughts on this matter. You may also be interested in signing up for periodic updates for Washington State residents. If you are interested in subscribing to this update, please visit my website at http://cantwell.senate.gov. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,
Maria Cantwell
United States Senator

For future correspondence with my office, please visit my website at
http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/

Now I'll have to go study the OPEN Act. It may take some time to ascertain which article of The Constitution gives government the authority to do this.

---

Update -- Congressman Larsen responds:

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Uppiano:

Thank you for contacting me about the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA). I wanted to update you on my views on this important issue.

I am opposed to SOPA and PIPA in their current forms. I believe that these bills create unacceptable threats to free speech and free access to the internet. I have heard from many of you in Northwest Washington who are deeply concerned about the potential impacts of SOPA and PIPA.

Online piracy is a serious problem that costs U.S. businesses billions of dollars. Government agencies must be empowered to stop and prosecute intellectual property thieves. But in doing so we cannot undermine freedom of speech or jeopardize the free flow of information on the internet. I will work with my colleagues to see that any final anti-online piracy legislation protects the internet and does not encroach on free speech rights.

Please be assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind should I have the opportunity to vote on any legislation that would impact online piracy and internet freedom on the House floor.

Again, thank you for contacting me. I encourage you to contact me in the future about this or any other issue of importance to you.

Sincerely,

Rick Larsen
United States Representative
Washington State, 2nd District

To All The Kids Who Survived the 1930s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s

Adapted from an email circulating the Internet:

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant. They took aspirin, ate bleu cheese dressing, tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes. Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps, not helmets on our heads. As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes. Riding in the back of a pick-up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one actually died from this. We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And, we weren't overweight. Why? Because we were always outside playing, that's why! We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day, and we were OK.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem. We did not have Playstations, Nintendos and X-boxes. There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround sound or CDs, no cell phones, No personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms. We had friends, and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever. We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them. Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that! The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever. The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all. If you are one of them, congratulations! You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives -- "for our own good". While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave and lucky their parents were. It makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it ?

This has been a pet peeve of mine for at least a decade. Don't even get me started on bicycle helmets! (Oops! Too late!) Consider how many bicycle rides end successfully, without incident, and without the need for a helmet. Think about all the times, as a kid, you just hopped your bike and rode to a friend's house, or just enjoyed the wind in your hair (try that with a helmet). We used to be on and off of our bikes 100 times a day. Sure there's a risk, but helmets would have been a serious impediment to good excercise.

Now, stop and think how many bicycle rides never happen because the kids today can't be bothered to "suit up" just to get to make a short hop. It's inconvenient and time consuming, so they don't do it. "Ride my bike? That's a hassle; I'll just text". Are they better off because of it? Does the risk of injury outweigh the lack of exercise? I think you know the politically correct answer to that question, as well as the common-sense answer.

---

Epilogue: Illiberal control freaks will notice that I have filed this article under the keyword oppression. They'll point derisively and shriek, "That's not oppression!" Oh, yes it is. Oppression is the opposite of liberty. Liberty includes freedom to prioritize risk, for yourself and for your kids. And to teach your kids to do the same.

Yes We Can! (When Government Says We Can)

From an email circulating on the Internet:

This video is fresh (for the public). It was made just six weeks ago in the Atlantic, just off Newport News (Hampton Roads), Virginia .

These are the latest sea trials of the F-35B on the USS Wasp. They were very successful, with 74 VL's and STO's in a three week period. The media and the program critics had predicted that we would burn holes in the deck and wash sailors overboard. Neither of which happened. You will notice a sailor standing on the bow of the ship as the jet rotates. That was an intentional part of the sea trials.

The USS Wasp is an amphibious assault ship designed to embark a Marine Expeditionary Unit. It is capable of simultaneously supporting rotary and fixed wing STOVL aircraft and amphibious landing craft operations. For this test deployment the USS Wasp was outfitted with special instrumentation to support and measure the unique operating environment as the F-35B conducted short takeoffs and vertical landings.

No catapult... No hook...

The shape and scope of warfare – worldwide – just changed.

Okay, but forget about warfare for a minute: That aircraft is amazing! Sure, we've had VTOL before, but watch the grace and precision with which this thing moves. This is what Americans can do when we put our minds to something. Imagine what we could accomplish if we didn't need so much government oppression approval and regulation for things to be "Made in USA".

Ferndale Oath of Office

On Tuesday, January 3, I witnessed the new members of the Ferndale City Council being sworn in. Here's what they promised, in front of God and everybody:

I, [name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the State of Washington, and that I will faithfully and impartially perform and discharge the duties of the office of [Title of Appointed Official] in and for the County of Whatcom, State of Washington, according to law and to the best of my ability, so help me God.

It is important to note that The Constitution of the United States and the State of Washington are included therein. The question I intend to ask (whenever necessary) is, "Which article of The Constitution gives government the authority to do that?"

This isn't some kind of "gotcha" moment. I simply believe that this is a fundamentally important question to ask. We the People are sovereign; government derives its just power from the consent of the governed. Those powers (and no more) are enumerated in The Constitution(s) and the City of Ferndale charter, as granted to government on our behalf by our forebears when they ratified or amended those documents.

A New Type of Automobile For You and For Me

I Fisk an email circulating on the Interntet:

What is this? Will it be the next big thing? Tata Motors of India thinks so. What will the Oil Companies do to stop it?

The oil companies? Nothing! Absolutely nothing. Everyone blames the oil companies for suppressing every impractical alternative energy source since perpetual motion. If someone ever does develop an energy source that is cheaper, cleaner and more practical than gas or diesel, they will become very rich. The oil companies cannot suppress it. There's too much money to be had. It. Simply. Won't. Happen.

It is an auto engine that runs on air. That's right; air not gas or diesel or electric but just the air around us. Take a look.

It's a cute little engine they have there. But it doesn't run on air. It runs on energy stored in compressed air, from a compressor. Powered by fossil fuel, or nuclear, or hydroelectric. I actually don't think compressed air is a very practical energy storage medium. The energy contained in compressed air is similar to winding up a rubber band; there's nothing particularly efficient about it. Plus, there are thermal losses (PV=nRT).

Tata Motors of India has scheduled the Air Car to hit Indian streets by August 2012

Air powered? Zero emissions? Hardly! You have to charge it from some other energy source, so there are emissions, unless your power grid is hydroelectric.

The Air Car, developed by ex-Formula One engineer Guy N. For Luxembourg-based MDI, uses compressed air to push its engine's pistons and make the car go.

The Air Car, called the "Mini CAT" could cost around 365,757 rupees in India or $8,177 US.

The Mini CAT which is a simple, light urban car, with a tubular chassis, a body of fiberglass that is glued not welded and powered by compressed air. A Microprocessor is used to control all electrical functions of the car. One tiny radio transmitter sends instructions to the lights, turn signals and every other electrical device on the car. Which are not many.

Good thing, too. You won't have much excess energy to waste on electrical accessories.

The temperature of the clean air expelled by the exhaust pipe is between 0-15 degrees below zero, which makes it suitable for use by the internal air conditioning system with no need for gases or loss of power.

So if you need air conditioning, you could recover some of the heat lost after compressing the air. Small consolation...

There are no keys, just an access card which can be read by the car from your pocket. According to the designers, it costs less than 50 rupees per 100 KM, that's about a tenth the cost of a car running on gas. It's mileage is about double that of the most advanced electric car, a factor which makes it a perfect choice for city motorists. The car has a top speed of 105 KM per hour or 60 mph and would have a range of around 300 km or 185 miles between refuels. Refilling the car will take place at adapted gas stations with special air compressors. A fill up will only take two to three minutes and costs approximately 100 rupees and the car will be ready to go another 300 kilometers.

It might be practical as a small runabout. Its primary advantage is that it is small and light. That's how it saves energy; there is no free lunch here. Gas or battery (or rubber band) powered cars of similar size and weight would be as efficient.

This car can also be filled at home with it's on board compressor. It will take 3-4 hours to refill the tank, but it can be done while you sleep.

From the power grid.

Because there is no combustion engine, changing the 1 liter of vegetable oil is only necessary every 50,000 KM or 30,000 miles. Due to its simplicity, there is very little maintenance to be done on this car.

That is an advantage, I'll grant you that.

This Air Car almost sounds too good to be true. We'll see in August. 2012

Not too good to be true. Just true. Light, tiny, limited in power, range and creature comforts.

Speaking of clean, cheap, practical energy sources, I actually believe gasoline and diesel are about as close to perfection as we're ever likely to see, especially with today's computerized engines. There are some possible further improvements on the internal combustion engine (so we don't throw away so much excess heat), but given the number of people using them (literally millions worldwide), the problems are actually remarkably few, and the environmental impact about as low as you could ask.

I'll guaran-damn-tee you that if battery technology improved by the order of magnitude necessary to make it practical, and millions of people started driving electric vehicles (or even hybrids) the environmental damage from manufacturing and disposing of all those batteries would be catastrophic. Much worse than the manifold predicted catastrophes that the watermelons pretend to obsess about for fossil fuel.

The real tragedy here is, the six-stroke engines are estimated to be 40% more efficient and less polluting than conventional engines -- a practical and significant improvement -- but since they're fossil fuel engines, the watermelons don’t like them. And, unlike the oil companies suppressing technology, government can and does. So you won't see President Obama giving grants to improved internal combustion engine designs, only to electric cars, and solar and wind power. Therefore, improved I-C designs languish, under capitalized, and competing against impractical, artificially propped-up "alternatives". Not that I think government should be subsidizing them either; government shouldn't be picking winners and losers at all. That's what people voting with their hard-earned dollars every day -- in a free market -- are best at.

Professor Ross McKitrick testifies at the Canadian Senate Hearing - December 15, 2011

Here's some very interesting and critical testimony about IPCC and global warming climate change:

Hat tip to Small Dead Animals. More testimony at the Heartland Institute...

Ave Maria -- Franz Schubert, arr. Franz Liszt

Valentina just recorded this one.

It may seem like a simple tune, but it is very difficult to play well. Valentina wrote, "Liszt made sure it is one of the most difficult transcriptions - ever".

Happy New Year, Anti-Kakistocrats

It's 2012, election year. You know what to do...