"Cars are saving the planet"

NewBusters reports on a fascinating op-ed published in, of all places, the Atlanta Journal Constitution. University of Georgia's David Lee, an economics professor, offers a startling insight into emissions:

...Based on a recent study by the Food and Agricultural Organization, The Independent reports that "livestock are responsible for 18 percent of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming, more than cars, planes and all other forms of transport put together." ...Long before global warming became an environmental concern, however, the move from the power provided by animals to that provided by gasoline had greatly improved the environment. The emissions that came out of the tailpipes of horses were much more lethal pollutants that those now coming out of the tailpipes of cars. Horse emissions did more than make our town and cities stink; they spread fly-borne diseases and polluted water supplies that killed people at a far greater rate than the pollution from cars and trucks ever have...

Al Gore Edition™ Ford Expedition
Put simply, the internal-combustion engine has replaced scads of farm-yard animals. These animals not only contributed to massive amounts of methane but also helped spread diseases such as cholera, diphtheria, and tetanus.

Lee also notes that, in 1900, farm animals required food that consumed nearly 100 million acres of land. Most of that land has since returned to woodlands, which has in turn reduced global warming through the increased absorption of CO2.

I'm going out right this minute to start my car up. I'll let it sit in the driveway and idle all night long, which will gradually cool the Earth. It's just a small 'thank you' to Exxon-Mobil and Halliburton for their efforts in improving the environment.

The Associated Press Parade of Stupidity, chapter 16,212

Witness Mark Lavie's blurb on the first Arab President... of Israel:

...Arabs, who make up about 20 percent of Israel's population of 7 million, have suffered from decades of discrimination at the hands of successive governments, landing them in the top percentiles of unemployment and bottom rankings in income and education...

As opposed to the treatment of Jews in Arab countries, where they were expelled or killed decades ago. That's why there aren't significant numbers of Jews living in any Arab country. In all, millions of Jews were forcibly expelled (if they were not executed) from Arab countries.

These explusions followed harassment, persecution, confiscation of property, and true discrimination (i.e., dhimmi status for both Christians and Jews). Many of these families had lived within Arab lands for centuries before the advent and spread of Islam in the seventh century.

[The] British Vice Consul in Mosul, wrote in 1909: The attitude of the Muslims toward the Christians and the Jews is that of a master towards slaves, whom he treats with a certain lordly tolerance so long as they keep their place. Any sign of pretension to equality is promptly repressed. More than a thousand Jews were killed in anti-Jewish rioting during the 1940's in Iraq, Libya, Egypt, Syria and Yemen. This helped trigger the mass exodus of Jews from Arab countries.

Consider the irony. Israel has an Arab President - and the best the AP can come up with is to retail Jimmy Carter's apartheid meme. Just like death and taxes, you can always count on the Associated Press to put their own "special" spin on a story.

Also see:
IIT: Forced Migration of Jews from Arab Countries
Middle East Quarterly: Why Jews Fled the Arab Countries

A donation has been made in your name

Friends of Science has produced a set of climate change myths and facts.


Why do I get the distinct impression that "global warming" hysteria is simply Al Gore's version of George Costanza's fraudulent charity?

Another Tomb Found!

James Cameron and The Discovery Channel are set to unveil a documentary ("The Last Tomb Of Christ") later this week. In it, they supposedly reveal the "discovery" of the coffin of Jesus of Nazareth, his wife Mary Magdelene, his mother Mary, and son Judah.


This has about as much to do with genuine archaeological discovery as a six year-old digging up an anthill.


Oven-baked good readin', just like Mama used to make:
Alpha and Omega, Anchoress, The Autopsy, Ben Witherington, Captain's Quarters, Ed Driscoll, Hot Air, Macsmind, Pursuing Holiness, Texas Rainmaker

Breaking/Exclusive: Shocking Photos from the Oscars!

Don't you just adore the outfits that the Hollywood elite are wearing this year? Yo quiero Taco Bell, darling.

Uhmm... I guess they really don't support the troops

A startling disclosure on popular leftist website DailyKos (hat tip and linkage: LGF). Here's one of several money quotes:

...it is certainly conceivable that at some point in the future, the Bush administration will be able to provide genuine evidence of Iranian aid to militant groups in Iraq. Will it then follow that an attack on Iran is justified? The question is an interesting one: should we despise Iran for aiding the insurgent attacks that are killing our troops, or should we respect them for it?

Is it okay to question their patriotism now?

I hate to say I told you so, but...

Charles at LGF observes that a certain band of --er-- leftwing "zealots" have ramped up their censorship of conservative posts on Digg. They do so by marking stories -- even if perfectly accurate and newsworthy -- as spam (such as this, this, and this).

In August of 2006, I predicted the failure of Digg-style sites for general, politically-charged news. It looks like that assessment was accurate:

This fundamental flaw in the Digg-approach to general news is worth pointing out: some users -- on both sides of the political spectrum -- will abuse the collaboration tools in order to push their own side's agenda.

For general news, I believe what is required is a new voting formula. It must encompass stories that are spun to the right or left; those that are truly centrist; and (of course) spam and adware.

Last year, Spinr attempted the feat, but it has since shut down. The jamokes who master this genre will end up billionaires. Maybe George Soros will fund such an effort. Hey, one can dream, can't one?

How the mainstream media covered (up) the ACLU case

A past chapter president of the ACLU was arrested for possession of videotapes that show unspeakable crimes against children. Bill O'Reilly of Fox News posed an interesting question: would the mainstream media cover this story? Or cover it up?

To their credit, ABC wrote an in-depth story on Friday. As for legacy print media?

Boston Globe: No mention
Los Angeles Times: No mention
New York Times: No mention
San Francisco Chronicle: No mention
Seattle Times: No mention
Washington Post: Page B05 - two paragraph "Virginia Briefing"

Ah, that's the good old mainstream media we know and love! Upholding a rich tradition of censorship that would do the Sulzberger family proud.

And management wonders what they can do to fix their plummeting financials. The obvious keeps escaping them: try telling the truth someday.

The incredible value of Leftstream Media, part II

Radio Equalizer is reporting an interesting facet to the Air America bankruptcy deal.


Quick quiz: what does the figure above represent?

A) The number of unshakable, core beliefs held by Hillary Clinton
B) The number of times Democrats have sided with President George W. Bush on any issue of national security since they authorized the use of force in Iraq
C) The total value of the Air America network
D) All of the above

The correct answer is, of course, D. Hey! Idea for a new logo!


Should the folks at Air need a new logo, well, what the hey - they can use this one for free. After all, I'm a compassionate conservative.

L.A. Times rearranges deck chairs

The Tribune Company, owner of the Los Angeles Times, reports a catastrophic drop in revenue and circulation:

Tribune Company today reported its summary of revenues and newspaper advertising volume for January (ending February 4). It said consolidated revenues for the period were $442 million, down 5.0% from last year's $465 million, due to a slide in publishing revenues. The company said that for its publishing division, total revenue fell 6% to $345 million. Advertising revenue plummeted 7.3% to $268 million...

A 7.3% drop in ad revenue?


Women and children to the lifeboats, if you please!

The Tehran Times View on U.S. Immigration

Tear down the wall? Perhaps it's escaped the attention of this rocket-scientist headline writer, but the U.S. is trying to keep illegals out, not our citizens in. Aside from that trivial detail, the analogy holds.

Tehran Times: Apartheid Wall

Line o' the Day

"Blackberry -- it's like the crystal meth of technological devices." --ESPN's Bill Simmons

Exclusive: CNN's Amanpour interviews Ahmadinejad

I'm CNN chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour. I recently visited Tehran, Iran for an exclusive interview with president Mahmoud Ahmedinejad.


Do you see? Do you see, Christiane???


What is this you're waving, Mr. President?


It's the New York Times! Thomas Friedman! We are natural allies!


How do you mean?


We are not after conflict. We are peaceful people. We are not after war.


Is this the view of, say, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei? Your supreme leader?


No... it's the view of Mayor McCheese. Yes, Khamenei!


But how do you feel about Washington increasing pressure against Iran lately? Blaming Tehran for funneling weapons into Iraq?


A patent falsehood! Those explosively formed penetrators were manufactured in --er-- some other country. Like... Al Qaeda-istan!


What about Iran's nuclear program? Are you really after civilian nuclear power? Or something more?


We considered windmills, but Al Gore convinced us that global warming would destroy their effectiveness. We require nuclear power because oil is so expensive.


But do you want the bomb?


No... no... it's all about power. Peaceful power. And... peace... peace will guide the planets. And love will fill the sun!


Is it time for Iran and America to talk directly?


Each of us is afraid of looking weak if we take the first step. We must say to each other, "I am not weak." I am not weak! Check out these biceps! I call them the 'pythons of jihad'... easily a foot in circumference.


Some would ask how we can be allies when many say you are creating chaos on Iraq??


Al Qaeda!


What??


Al Qaeda is our enemy! Enemies of us both! For example, they don't believe in Santa Claus. Or Elvis even.


But why are you interested in extending an olive branch now? Why now?


When your President Bush talks about our involvement with Iraq... my sphincter is clenching. Forcefully. I am having to withhold leakage from my underpants.


What about Israel? Why would you help Hezbollah?


The old saying: the enema of our enema is our friend.


Even so, what about critics who say that Iran has been at war with America since 1979?


When Mr. Bush called us an 'Axis of Evil', we were psychologically damaged. We had to go on Paxil. We were insulted. We were very much scratching our heads, since we have been seeking a way of engaging with the U.S.


But which country will take the first step at rapprochement?


We must both take a step in a direction of peace. Christiane, I must say your eyes... are bedeviling...


You... You know you don't have to act with me, Mahmoud.


I am becoming tumescent, Christiane...


You don't have to say anything, and you don't have to do anything. Not a thing.


...


Oh, maybe just whistle. You know how to whistle, don't you, Mahmoud? You just put your lips together and... blow.


Piano player! Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By.'


...A beautiful song... so... romantic...


Of all the gin joints... in all the towns... in all the world, she walks into mine.


This is Christiane Amanpour... signing off from Tehran... for the night, at the very least.


It's tragically typical that CNN's 'journalists' can't ask the simple questions that even a nineteen year-old cub reporter could have come up with. Perhaps a question about Iran's declaration of war against the U.S., the U.K., and Israel? Or Iran's funding of terrorism throughout the world? Well, these and other questions are apparently beyond the comprehension of useful dupes like Amanpour. Not exactly powerful intellects, to be sure. And where their true loyalties lie is anyone's guess.

Oven-baked good readin', just like Mama used to make:
Anchoress, At Largely, Bill's Bites, Blue Crab Boulevard, Captain's Quarters, Dean Esmay, Dinocrat, Don Surber, Dr. Sanity, Gateway Pundit, Hang Right Politics, Hugh Hewitt, Jules Crittenden (and again), Michelle Malkin, OTB, Rick Moran, Sister Toldjah, STACLU, Wizbang, Wuzzadem

I went to a hockey game and a Dem Primary broke out

Democrats Gone Wild! Hillary Hunted! It's an Obamination!

Powerline observes that the Obama vs. Clinton grudge match has begun to boil over. David Geffen -- who once raised $18 million for Bill Clinton -- pillaged Hillary's campaign in a manner reminiscent of Genghis Kahn:

* Marc Rich getting pardoned? An oil-profiteer expatriate who left the country rather than pay taxes or face justice? Yet another time when the Clintons were unwilling to stand for the things that they genuinely believe in. Everybody in politics lies, but they do it with such ease, it’s troubling. * God knows, is there anybody more ambitious than Hillary Clinton? * She is overproduced and overscripted. "It’s not a very big thing to say, ‘I made a mistake’ on the war, and typical of Hillary Clinton that she can’t..."

The CarpetBagger Report notes that Geffen went on to say that the Clintons “lie” with “such ease, it’s troubling.”


Hillary's SWAT team wasted no time returning fire against Obama's vast, left-wing conspiracy.

...If Senator Obama is indeed sincere about his repeated claims to change the tone of our politics, he should immediately denounce these remarks, remove Mr. Geffen from his campaign and return his money...

Obama's hit-squad launched an immediate counterattack:

...It is ironic that the Clintons had no problem with David Geffen when was raising them $18 million and sleeping at their invitation in the Lincoln bedroom. It is also ironic that Senator Clinton lavished praise on Monday and is fully willing to accept today the support of South Carolina State Sen. Robert Ford, who said if Barack Obama were to win the nomination, he would drag down the rest of the Democratic Party because he’s black...

Hitting 'em with the race card this early in the campaign? It's beginning to remind me of a Don "The Rock" Muraco-Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka grudge-match, though technically Hillary's calves are a bit stronger than Muraco's. Sorry, couldn't resist.


With surprising alacrity, Hillary responded with a flying drop-kick off the top rope:

How can Senator Obama denounce the politics of slash & burn yesterday while his own campaign is espousing the politics of trash today?

For all of the ruckus over Obama's ear-size complex, it's Hillary that seems to be overly-sensitized to criticism.


Criticism of Hillary isn't limited to David Geffen.

A -er- progressive commenter on this fine, subscription-only site (note: I call it DougSelect, with your subscription generously provided through a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation) provided an exhaustive list of 50 reasons to not vote for Hillary. My favorites?

# 2. Incredible ability to turn $1,000 into $100,000 overnight. # 3. She's no Slick Willie, that's for damn sure. # 4. Coining of the phrase "vast right-wing conspiracy." # 5. HillaryCare. # 6. "Let's chat. Let's have a dialogue." # 7. Carpetbagging from Illinois to Arkansas, then to New York. # 8. "We are the president." # 9. "We must stop thinking of the individual and start thinking about what is best for society." # 10. "We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good." # 21. A Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton presidential succession would look SO lame, not to mention monarchical, in history books. # 22. "I have gone from a Barry Goldwater Republican to a New Democrat, but I think my underlying values have remained pretty constant." # 23. Her annoying and pointless crusade against video games. # 24. Introduction of a "compromise" bill as an alternative to the Flag Desecration Amendment that would nevertheless have criminalized flag burning. # 25. If we ever have another Clinton running the country it had sure as hell better be George. # 26. Wearing Yankees hats at Yankee games and Mets hats at Met games. # 28. Kissing Suha Arafat following a speech in which the late PLO leader's wife falsely accused Israel of using "poison gas" on Palestinians. # 30. Quick: Name an important piece of legislation Hillary has introduced, sponsored or otherwise ushered toward passage. # 31. When not reading from a prepared script, she says "Uh" at least every third word. # 32. Even the use of her maiden name has been the subject of elaborate political calculation on her and Bill's part. # 33. Fawning support from the Democratic Leadership Committee and her nitwit coterie of neoliberal gasbags like Lanny Davis and Tom Friedman. # 34. The melange "Billary" paved the way for later couples' media monikers like "Bennifer" and "Vaughniston" (also, to be fair, "Filliam H. Muffman," but more credit is due to Stephen Colbert for that). # 35. Chris Matthews: "[Bush] made it pretty clear from day one we were going to war. How come she still pretends that she didn't know he was going to war? It's like she didn't know anything about Bill and his behavior. How many times is she going to be confused by men?" It bears repeating. # 36. Who actually bought It Takes a Village and gave it a serious, thoughtful read? # 37. Inability to answer a question with "Yes" or "No" even when the questioner takes pains to make absolutely clear that "Yes" or "No" are the only two acceptable answers. # 40. "I do not think it is a smart policy ... to set a date certain [for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq]." - June 15, 2006 # 41. "If we in Congress don't end this war before January 2009, as president, I will." - February 5, 2007 # 42. "I wonder if it's possible to be a Republican and a Christian at the same time." # 43. Her campaign logo reads simply, "Hillary." Like she was friggin' Elvis or something. # 44. She has served as a lawyer, First Lady and U.S. Senator, but where is the evidence that she would be a competent executive? Has she ever been endowed with authority and not subsequently bungled it? # 48. "Look what the Iraq Study Group came up with. You know, that was a totally nonpartisan group of, you know, 10 wise Americans, you know, some of them Republican, some of them Democrats from different, you know, experiences." You know?

I guess it really does take a village. Some things just make you go... Heh.


Oven-baked good readin', just like Mama used to make:
Anchoress, Atlas Shrugs, Captain's Quarters, Carpetbagger Report, Hang Right Politics, Hugh Hewitt, OTB, Rick Moran, Sondra K., STACLU, Wizbang