Internet Controlled Christmas Lights. Ken’s an old friend, from a long way back. Let’s see if we can take down his server.
Quote Of The Week
“Nobody has a right to have a show on A&E. Just like nobody had a right to be a Hollywood screenwriter in 1948.” – David Burge
Y2Kyoto: Iceland VS Canada
Things Iceland believes in;
Things Canada believes in;
Any questions?
Forward!
The ‘C’ Word
The Sound Of Settled Science
Celebrated Physicist Calls IPCC Summary ‘Deeply Unscientific’
“The way the [Summary for Policymakers released by the IPCC] deals with uncertainties (e.g. claiming something is 95% certain) is shocking and deeply unscientific. For a scientist, this simple fact is sufficient to throw discredit on the whole summary. The SPM gives the wrong idea that one can quantify precisely our confidence in the [climate] model predictions, which is far from being the case.”
Read the whole thing.
Reader Tips
Tonight’s Christmas music selection looks like it was recorded on a cellphone by a proud grandparent, but this visual fits the real-life performance, which is neither poppy nor sloggishly literal like so many other versions of this traditional carol. Don’t be put off by the unison singing at the start, btw, the harmony blossoms in the second verse: Here’s Denmark’s amateur ensemble Aarhus Pigekor (“Aarhus Girls Choir”) singing The First Noel.
The comments are open, as always, for your Reader Tips.
A National Squawk
Cracker Barrel apologizes, puts all Duck Dynasty products back on shelves.
Those Moderate Muslims!
Other Peoples’ Money
The Dutch have just announced a massive reform of their welfare system, designed to reduce dependency and put a new emphasis on work. For example, welfare applicants will now be required to prove that they spent at least 4 weeks actively searching for a job before they become eligible for any assistance. And once they begin to receive benefits they will either have to work or perform volunteer community service. Dutch welfare recipients would be required to take available jobs even if they had to move or commute up to three hours per day.
I Amuse Myself
.@sunlorrie It's not an emergency. It's "practice". #IceStormToronto
— Katewerk (@katewerk) December 22, 2013
Israeli Film Festival
When: Sunday, December 29th, 2013.
Where: Schwartz/Reisman Centre
9600 Bathurst Street, Vaughan, ON
Website here.
We Don’t Need No Stinking Giant Fans
The Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has concluded that the French tariff system for wind power falls within the concept of state aid.
The ruling means the government should have notified the European Commission (EC) when it issued the decree defining the tariff in 2008. There is now a risk that the decree will be annulled, leaving the industry in regulatory limbo.
Y2Kyoto: The Coming Ice Age
Hollywood – lending fake gravitas to junk science since 1978.
With guest appearances by Greenland and expert Inuit analysts.
Via
Update: More from Ed Driscoll.
The Sound Of Settled Science
“Imagine. if you can, New York City under 150 feet of water…” (h/t)
Just One?
Top climate official likely to be jailed.
Reader Tips
One of the most familiar and beloved traditional Christmas carols was composed, or perhaps assembled is a better word, by three different people — English Methodist leader Charles Wesley, German composer Felix Mendelssohn, and English musician and organist William Hayman Cummings — over the course of 126 years. It did come eventually come together nicely, though: Tonight, the Choir of London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral is joined by the organist, a small orchestra, and the congregation in a performance of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.
Since there’s no moratorium on news during the Christmas season, even on weekends, the comments are open, as always, for your Reader Tips.
Down To The Wire
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Hollywood Park’s last race is scheduled for Dec. 22. Among the relative few likely to witness the track’s final moments are those who still remember the serendipitous synchronization of the golden eras of horse racing and Hollywood. At left: Seabiscuit winning the 1938 Gold Cup. Check out the slideshow. |
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The Tolerant Left
“I’ve just flown in from California, where they’ve made homosexuality legal. I thought I’d get out before they make it compulsory.”
Y2Kyoto: State Of Anorexia Envirosa
That which I predicted has come to pass:
Hundreds of businesses could be paid to switch off their power between 4pm and 8pm on winter weekdays as soon as next winter to prevent blackouts, under plans approved by regulator Ofgem.
Mothballed old gas-fired power stations will also be paid to come back to stand-by so they can be fired up to prevent the lights going out when demand is high.
The plans – which together could cost household energy bill-payers about £1 each – were drawn up in the summer after warnings that the risk of blackouts had dramatically increased because old power plants are being shut down and replacements not built.