Written in 2006. Still brings a tear to my eye.

http://www.fraserinstitute.org/Commerce.Web/product_files/CanucksinCanuckville.pdf

Remember Biosphere 2? (Text bolding mine)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosphere_2

Constructed between 1987 and 1991, it was used to explore the complex web of interactions within life systems in a structure that included five areas based on natural biomes and an agricultural area and human living/working space to study the interactions between humans, farming and technology with the rest of nature.

[…]

Criticism

One view of Biosphere 2 was that it was "the most exciting scientific project to be undertaken in the U.S. since President John F. Kennedy launched us toward the moon". Others called it "New Age drivel masquerading as science". The Institute for Ecotechnics, which awarded Margret Augustine and other Biospherians their "science credentials", was shown by a CBC documentary to be nothing more than an art gallery and café in London. John Allen did have mainstream credentials: a degree in Metallurgical-Mining Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

Further damaging the credentials of the participants, Marc Cooper wrote that "the group that built, conceived, and directs the Biosphere project is not a group of high-tech researchers on the cutting edge of science but a clique of recycled theater performers that evolved out of an authoritarian – and decidedly non-scientific – personality cult". He was referring to the Synergia Ranch in New Mexico, an outpost of the Institute of Ecotechnics where indeed many of the Biospherians did practice improv theater under John Allen's leadership, and began to develop the ideas behind Biosphere 2.

One of their own scientific consultants came to be critical of the enterprise, too. Dr. Ghillean Prance, director of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, designed the rainforest biome inside the Biosphere. In a 1983 interview, Prance said, "I was attracted to the Institute of Ecotechnics because funds for research were being cut and the institute seemed to have a lot of money which it was willing to spend freely. Along with others, I was ill-used. Their interest in science is not genuine. They seem to have some sort of secret agenda, they seem to be guided by some sort of religious or philosophical system."

I am reminded of those who "demonstrate" the "greenhouse effect".

How did BoC governor save Christmas?

Ubstrange/biassed craptales from MSM/BoC governor.
...-

Headline:

> "BoC governor saves Christmas this year"

Next sentence:

> "Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney says the stimulus from government spending and his cuts to interest rates can be credited with saving Christmas this year."

"By Peter Zimonjic - Parliamentary Bureau"
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2009/12/23/12256946-qmi.html

http://www.cbc.ca/

CBCpravda laments the interest in Harper by digging the archives for the most flattering picture ever.

hold your nose

Thanks Vit.

Syncro

Global Warming protesters:

http://www.canadacomments.com/images/angry_protestors.jpg

Sorry, I stole this from an email attachment, so no photo credit. I like the random ones with the angry eyebrows - something difficult for us to achieve as we all only have one. At least in this picture no knuckledragging is evident.

Merry Christmas All,

PiperPaul

PiperPaul @ 10:01 Whew, you had me worried for a minute and had to go look in the mirror at my eyebrows.

Thanks for the music Vitruvius.

Merry Christmas to all.

Anyone else find reading the "comments" section of any article found on the CBC website to be a thoroughly depressing experience? It's like you're hanging around a Rabble.ca forum. Yikes!!!

Merry Christmas to one and all...

And Little peek at the Obama White House tree decorations...

http://biggovernment.com/2009/12/22/transvestites-mao-and-obama-decorate-white-house-christmas-tree/

LOL Piper Paul, 'ya know, sometimes people just have way too much time on their hands.

But what's with the much smaller 2 balled snow men with these little 'hair buns'? It's because of Glow-Ball warming isn't it? We're running out of snow! See? Can't fool me! Global warming is causing head shrinking in snow men in Canada!!! I know this is fact I can see it with my own eyes! When I was a kid, snowmen were as tall as I was. Why Yes, yes Virginia, there is glo-ball warming; glo-ball warming for everyone!./

And a very Merry Christmas to you to Ken(Kulak) and everyone else as well!

Wonderful music Vit. The Dutch Stille Nacht brought back memories of the Christmas Eve we spent in a little town in Saskatchewan. We happened into a little Mennonite Brethren Church to share the specialness of the season. At one point the Church fell silent as the choir rose and sang Stille, Stille, Stille. The haunting vocals made the hair on the back of my neck stand up as the harmony intertwined with itself somehow floating effortlessly yet filling every nook and cranny in that little Church. I didn't need to speak German to understand what they were so beautifully singing.

Must have made a donation! Just received my 2010 Conservative Party of Canada calender. Got the Harper family doin' the Abbey Road crossing thing; Ben is barefoot and Mrs. Harper in the lead and dad bringing up the rear.

Today in history.

Dec. 23, 1947: Transistor Opens Door to Digital Future

Actually it opened the door to the Analog Future first. The digital future was still a few years away in the future.

But let us stop and remember that day so long ago for all that it made possible in today's world.

This is one of the most chilling articles I've ever read... We're heading into a new world order and there's nobody to stand up for us:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/dec/22/copenhagen-climate-change-mark-lynas

No we're not.

Haha...great picture PiperPaul. Another month before I'll see snow, so good to see a picture reminding me that it still exists.

Some leftards' comments on cbc.ca "Harper named newsmaker of the year — again":

"It's similar to when Hitler was declared Time Magazine's 'Man of the Year' in 1939."

"Gee, its like reelecting Satan to be the leader in Hell."

"Diabolical characters always leave more wake than kind and decent ones."

Springer @ 10:29 Yes, it reminds me of the propaganda my relatives had to endure for 70 years.

But, you know, it is Christmas, so let us ignore, for a few days at least, the drivel out of CBC.

Joe @ 10:57 I grew up with that Christmas song being sung in German. It is still my favourite.

Vitruvius @ 11:36 You said "No we're not." I wish I had your confidence.

Coke, WWF and Polar Bears

WUWT -Climate Craziness of the Week – Why I’m a Pepsi drinker now

http://tinyurl.com/y9ukpxl

Coke customer feed back page

http://tinyurl.com/y8jqfjz

Thanks Fred, just left a little feed back on the Coke page with a pointed explanation regarding my views of Green Peace and Copenhagen.

Vit thanks for the selections tonight.

I was treated to the Vienna Boys Choir on my honeymoon during the Chernobyl radioactive love tour of Europe way back in 1986.

And to complete the horsing around my wife and I were treated to the 250th anniversary of the the Spanish riding school.

All in all a great time notwithstanding the fallout, where water and milk, were substituted by wine, woman and song!

Here is a fresco shattering Gloria, that will have all the iconoclasts running...

Vivaldi - Gloria: 1. Gloria in excelsis Deo - Trevor Pinnock - The English Concert

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQx2TWgxX14

This rendition is likely to take the starch out of any agnostics collar. Christopher Hitchens may just have to rend his garments... :)

Cheers

Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht, Commander in Chief

1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group “True North"

Jeez, yet another reason to abandon Coke.

I had already struck them off the list for their support of that massive tax waste known as Vancouver 2010.

Prove your assumption, Vit.You continue to deny NWO. Why?

The writing is on the wall. Cop15 was supposed to end with a policy that would govern the world to fight the imaginary Devil...AGW. It was close, The lefties are angry and I think they will be hitting with a vengence next time.

BTW...Merry Christmas and thanks for the wonderful Christmas music.
That reminds me...NWO is described in the Bible.

I think it's the same OWD.

It's pretty clear why CBC News is angry that Stephen Harper is the Man of the Year. Because it's becoming more & more obvious to a majority of Canadians that the male staffers at the CBC are once again winning the "Limp Wristed Girly Men" of the Year award; Rex Murphy notable excepted!

Mistletoe and Wine by Cliff Richard. Was the #1 Christmas Carol in the UK in 1988.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asq7TW4bRBU&feature=fvw

The Middle East’s Embattled Christians
Christians struggling to survive in hostile lands deserve all the help we can give them.

By Nina Shea

The ongoing Christian flight from the Middle East was high on the agenda of the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, when I met with him recently in Rome.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZWFiNDRhOWZiNjJhYzY0OTE2NzdjNDFiYjJjMTY4ZWM=

Thanks I needed that .
I haven't seen linus for many years.
Merry Christmas.

Someone took a lot of time and made a PDF Timeline Poster that can be downloaded. This thing takes you back to the beginning of the AGW movement and how everything fits together

http://joannenova.com.au/globalwarming/climategate/history/2009.12.23_climategate_30_years_in_the_making_banner.pdf

The Telegraph's James Delingpole picks up on Lawrence Solomon's superb report in the National Post about climate activist William Connolley's one-man propaganda victory at Wikipedia, and finds a few interesting "boasts" by Connolley at his old blog.

(Solomon's must-read report is linked-to in Delingpole's article.)

Merry Christmas Vit!
Thank you for the excellent Christmas repertoire.
I have enjoyed it immensely.
May I humbly offer another in the spirit of the season.

Celtic Woman-O' Come All Ye Faithful
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eLDvM7eSq0&feature=related

And Merry Christmas to Kate and all who make this blog the success it is.
Cheers! and Take care

Merry Christmas to everyone in the SDA family! My deepest thanks and best wishes go out to Kate for providing such a sanity-retaining forum.

Special thanks go out to Kate's intrepid band of guest posters. I particularly appreciate Vitruvius' dedicated efforts and EBD's delightful and inspired wordsmithing.

Merry Christmas to one and all!

Is Mao Stlong a Ponzi scheme?

"But wait: if the world really gets unlucky we may get to discover the truth about China. Is it a robust economy, or is yet another Ponzi scheme?"

"The ending year"
...-

"The thrill of victory or the agony of defeat?

Reuters reports that President Obama has virtually admitted that the Copenhagen conference was a failure."
...-

http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/

Seems the entreprenurial spirit is still alive in Canada.
Today's London Free Press reports that....
Olympic torch bearers (some 12,000) have the opportunity of purchasing the torch they carried along with the track suit for $400.
A great number of them are accepting the offer and promptly offering them for sale on EBay. The going price is $2,000.US.

Bluetech,scott,ken,Vit et al: Bella premunt hostilia!

Merry Christmas everyone.

Going off to the In-Laws for a few days so off the grid.

See ya next week.

Cheers . . . Fred.

Merry Christmas to everyone. To the great selections offered may I also add my favorite? Jussi Bjorling doing "O Helga Natt" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufnjnwzz82k

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Government-Spilled-My-Tea/221319371077

My cousin has started a grass roots Facebook page, with no party affiliation, to gather comments and strength in numbers to let the congress and president of the USA know exactly how we feel about the runaway Federal gov't.

Please join us, it was up only 4 hours before being reported as abusive, there has been no abusive content.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hogmanay. Go easy on the Athole Brose, but not too easy.

"December 2009 cold death toll

While society is trying to solve the Global Warming fraud, people keep on dying of cold! Even in Portugal, we have already had two deaths clearly related to the cold winter we all are experiencing. But elsewhere in Europe, and around the world, many more are dying of cold!

Numbers keep on going up in the Media. In this page we will maintain some statistics about the death toll in December 2009. Please click on the number of each country to reach the news supporting the number. If you have more recent data regarding a specific country, with a credible media web page, please send it to my email.

May they all rest in peace!

Austria: 3
Bosnia: 5
Czech Republic: 12
Denmark: 2
Finland: 4
France: 12
Germany: 7
Poland: 79
Portugal: 2
Romania: 11
Spain: 3
Ukraine: 27
United Kingdom: 2 17
United States: 17+5+2+6

Total: 214"

"EcoTretas

EcoTretas é um espaço dedicado a evidenciar os disparates que se dizem e fazem à volta da Ecologia. Especialmente dedicado aos ecologistas da treta, essa espécie que se preocupa mais com uma pata partida de um qualquer animal, do que com um fogo florestal! Aqueles que são anti-americanos, mas que gostam do Al Gore."

http://ecotretas.blogspot.com/2009/12/december-2009-cold-death-toll.html

Merry Christmas everyone.

TEABAGGERS vs. FISTERS: The Debate Is Over - Humour

http://thepeoplescube.com/red/viewtopic.php?t=4536

I learned to sing "Silent Night" by rote in grade one at school. This led to a big fight with my older sister because I insisted that "holy infantso" was baby food. It was tender and mild baby food and holy because it was for baby Jesus.

It's still one of my favorite Christmas carols.
Merry Christmas everyone!

I read over at the NP that the US Senate has just passed the Health care reform bill.

To the USA I say "enjoy your waiting times!"

O Holy Night, this is always best with a treble and and a tenor, in this case , the same person

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aP2FMuvwkk

only a treble can hit the high note right in the finale.

"We deserve to know"

http://www.nationalpost.com/todays-paper/story.html?id=2376648&p=2

Jack Layton has put a lump of coal in our soldiers' stocking. Read the article above, if you can stomach it. Better still, here's a summary:

1. We (ie 15% of Canadians who actually vote NDP) "deserve to know" about torture claims (for which NOT ONE CREDIBLE CASE HAS BEEN RAISED).

2. "We" shouldn't be in Afghanistan anyway (the actual thrust of the article).

3. We should have a full public inquiry to look into non-allegations of Canadians KNOWINGLY HANDING OVER "DETAINEES" (ALSO KNOWN AS FOREIGN FIGHTERS) FOR MISTREATMENT. Apparently it's news to Layton that, gasp, torture happens in Afghanistan (oh, the angst of it all)

4. Jack Layton et al have no problem sullying the reputation of Canada and our soldiers (yes, they're responsible, not our troops or government).

5. Jack Layton hasn't a f****g clue what he's talking about. Five minutes with a recent returnee from Afghanistan is my evidence. Where's yours Jacko?

6. The NDP are cemented as a fringe party on the Canadian political scene under Layton's "leadership." Maybe we should start allegations that he beats his wife, because, well, we know it happens in Canada, and, no evidence is proof of a coverup.

Take that, you p***k.

To everybody else, and especially our excellent troops in Afghanistan who, thank God, know nothing about this BS, Merry Christmas.

Two more victims of using 'good morning' as a greeting:

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2378730

"I said good morning, and they nodded," Stern said, speaking from his hospital bed at Hermanus Medi-Clinic.

"Then the men ran up behind the couple and began an unprovoked attack, he said."

"So I pulled over, knocked on the door and asked, 'Is there room in the inn?'" she said, chuckling.
...-

"Woman Stranded at West Virginia Fire Station Finds 'Room at the Inn'

Bridgeport resident Ann Booth, looking forward to a weekend away from her busy schedule as a stay-at-home mom, was more than eager to spend it at The Greenbrier. But her trip to the state's luxury hotel and resort turned into quite the adventure after a severe winter storm dumped a blizzard of snow on most parts of West Virginia...

Booth set out for The Greenbrier Hotel for a weekend with girlfriends from her home in Bridgeport in Harrison County at 4:30pm Friday. "I called The Greenbrier ahead, and they said it wasn't spitting a thing," she said. "I figured I could make it. I looked at the radar and it didn't really look that bad. "And I have a front-wheel-drive car. I can drive in the snow, no big deal."

Soon after she had made it across the New River Gorge, the road conditions worsened, she said...When she reached Oak Hill, "it was like the snow monster just threw up." Traffic gradually slowed to a stop, Booth said. After stopping, she overheard some truckers talking.

"They said (the main road) was shut down, the (West Virginia) Turnpike's a mess," Booth said. "Basically, they told me, 'You're not going anywhere.'" Booth decided to find the closest Holiday Inn. She figured she would stay overnight, wake up, eat some breakfast and travel the rest of the way to the resort.

"Then all of a sudden, within 30 minutes, there was 8 inches of snow," she said. "I've never seen anything like it. I've never seen snow come down that fast. It was just unbelievable." Next thing she knew, she had missed the turn for the Holiday Inn. Instead, she started traveling down a back road, confused and scared...That's when she spotted the Oak Hill Volunteer Fire Department."

http://www.newmediajournal.us/usa/12242009.htm

Is this what they mean by Green Jobs? http://tinyurl.com/yas8hdt

Merry Christmas to all at SDA! Many thanks to Kate for keeping so many things in the spotlight despite the MSM's desperate attempts to divert attention.

I'm now off to help mom cook the 12 meatless dishes--perogies are already made and the wheat is simmering on the stove. It smells a lot like Christmas here in Summerland despite the lack of snow.

Ahmed & Salim: How The Terrorist Stole Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone

Slainte

http://www.awa.dk/glosary/slainte.htm

Air Canada taken to a Human Rights Tribunal for refusing boarding to an Islamic guy, Horrible Bad Racist Air Canada right?

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/12/24/air-canada-tribunal463.html#socialcomments

However it looking at turns out the guy really just forgot his ID.

http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2004/200412/20041207.html

Intriguing answers to general questions about the Biblical accounts.

Broadcasts:

The Christmas Story - The true story behind Christmas.
''When Was Jesus born?,'' ''The Genealogy of Jesus,'' ''His Destiny''

The Christmas Story - The true story behind Christmas.
''When Was Jesus born?,'' ''The Genealogy of Jesus,'' ''His Destiny''

http://www.khouse.org/6640_cat/holidays/