Thoughts On A Sunday

The fall foliage has reached its peak in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the 'leaf peepers' have arrived in droves. This year's colors are spectacular, even for those of us living here. Both Deb and Bryson have commented on the brilliant colors we're seeing here in the Lakes Region even though they haven't reached peak yet.

It's going to be an awesome fall!

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Our first cord of firewood arrived Friday, augmenting the three and a half cords we had left over from last year. We plan to use the Official Weekend Pundit Woodstove for all our heating this winter, unlike last winter where we split heating between the woodstove and the furnace. We used a little over 400 gallons of propane and 3+ cords of wood last winter. With this winter forecast to be colder than normal I have no desire to use anywhere near the propane we did last winter. I have no doubt we'll have a colder winter seeing we've already had to use the woodstove to heat The Manse far earlier than we usually do.

BeezleBub and I will stack the first cord some time over the next few days in preparation for the additional two cords to be delivered later.

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Somehow this revelation does not surprise me in the least:

Psychologists in Canada have revealed new research suggesting that people who become eco-conscious “green consumers” are “more likely to steal and lie” than others.

No kidding.

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At least someone within the US government has a handle on the situation in Honduras and understands the removal of former President Manual Zelaya was legal and constitutional under Honduran law.

Unfortunately it isn't the American ambassador to Honduras.

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You can add yet another name to the list of actual scientists expressing the opinion man-made carbon dioxide is not the cause of global warming.

[Geologist] Leighton Steward is on Capitol Hill this week armed with studies and his book Fire, Ice and Paradise in a bid to show senators working on the energy bill that the carbon dioxide cap-and-trade scheme could actually hurt the environment by reducing CO₂ levels.

Much of the global warming debate has focused on reducing CO₂ emissions because it is thought that the greenhouse gas produced mostly from fossil fuels is warming the planet. But Steward, who once believed CO₂ caused global warming, is trying to fight that with a mountain of studies and scientific evidence that suggest CO₂ is not the cause for warming. What's more, he says CO₂ levels are so low that more, not less, is needed to sustain and expand plant growth.

Trying to debunk theories that higher CO2 levels cause warming, he cites studies that show CO2 levels following temperature spikes, prompting him to back other scientists who say that global warming is caused by solar activity.

When the 'scientists' on the IPCC panel aren't in fields like climatology, geology, physics, or other related science fields, and anthropogenic global warming skeptics are specialists in those fields, one has to wonder who has the facts and the science to back their findings and who is indulging in wishful thinking.

(H/T Libertarian Leanings)

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Even the BBC is questioning the premise that Global-Warming-Is-All-The-Fault-Of-The-Evil-Humans. Considering the BBC was one of the major media outlets trumpeting AGW, the turnabout is that much more telling.

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More than a few voters are expressing their regrets about voting for The One.

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Do you need yet another example of how Obamacare will penalize American families? Then take a look at this.

Do you think it won't happen, then you need to start taking your meds again.

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End User Blog asks “Will there be a place for Linux on the desktop?”

While I'd like to see Linux take a bigger share of desktop OS's, I understand the limitations when compared to Windows 7 and OS-X, On the other hand, being the frugal Yankee that I am (and a techno-geek), I have no problem using and tweaking Linux to make it do what I want it to do. Besides, the price is right.

(H/T Instapundit)

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Is it education or indoctrination?

Seeing the curriculum being offered in BeezleBub's high school, it's more of the latter and ever less of the former.

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Eric the Viking tells us the truth about U-Haul truck rental rates.

If you're heading to a economically distressed state you can get a truck for very little. However if you're leaving such a state and relocating to a place with jobs you're going to pay through the nose for that same truck.

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Illiteracy. Yeah, that's the real reason newspaper readership is dropping like a stone.

NOT.

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Is it any surprise California is on the financial brink? Tax revenues are $1.1 billion short of projections (no surprise because every time they raise/add taxes revenues fall), and state spending wasn't cut enough.

The only question we need to answer is how long before California declares bankruptcy?

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Wizbang has a nominee for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize, perfectly combining “raw idealism and cluelessness, and such a strong sense of left-wing political priorities.”

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National League Playoff Game #3 between the Denver Rockies and the Philadelphia Phillies was canceled due to below freezing temperatures and snow.

It was a record-breaking 17°F (-8°C) the morning of the game.

Does anyone want to tell me about global warming...again?

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The last thing you want to be in the UK is elderly and sick, considering the National Health Service has found a round about method of euthanasia.

And if they found a way, what makes anyone think the same thing won't happen here under ObamaCare?

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It's amazing how the removal of a single sentence can change the entire meaning of a Letter to the Editor.

The question: Was the removal accidental or intentional?

(H/T Pirate's Cove)

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There's an interesting debate going on over at Dean's World about why the cost of medical and dental care have been increasing at well above the rate of inflation since the 1980's.

I have my own theories including, but not limited to, a wider number of people covered by insurance, more mandates, and the increasing percentage of the population above the age of 65.

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Bob parks points us to a true hypocrite in regards to the Second Amendment, specifically North Carolina State Senator R.C. Soles. Soles, a long time anti-gun activist shot and wounded an intruder in his home.

Bob adds “Oh, and guess the party affiliation....”

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From the Jawa Report: Islamic hackers forum hacked.

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The New England Patriots played the Denver Broncos in Denver this afternoon. The Patriots lost in overtime, 20-17.

During the first half the Pats dominated, but during the second half they fell apart, with neither offense or defense being able to stop the Broncos.

One thing I've noticed about their losing games this season: they've been wearing the old 'Pat the Patriot' uniforms. Maybe it's a coincidence. Maybe it's not.

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And that's the news from Lake Winnipesaukee, where the fall colors are brilliant, the leaf peepers are here in droves, and the sound of cash registers being filled resound throughout the land.