On this subject of carbon trading and suggestions that the government is not doing enough. Well, I’m not convinced. Thing is there is a bunch of legislation already passed that deals with the obligations of organisations to publish data about the energy levels they are consuming, the energy they are producing, and the emissions they are generating as a by-product. That legislation has a significant impact on these bigger companies out there (and ok, it’s a smaller number of companies but it is the industries that matter when we do the numbers). So right now those big industries (including those constitutional companies that we don’t talk about much) are doing the stuff necessary to meet the legislative reporting requirements (and this is both a cost for those organisations and a economic stimulus for those other organisations providing the info-technology to support this).
So if we project out into the future a couple of years from now – we will be seeing the emergence of data coming from out from major industry players. For any one of these players chances are we are talking about hundreds of millions of dollars in potential liabilities (with or without an ETS). Factor into this equation the emergence of an ETS irrespective of targets (because the target is partially academic if we look at the end-game). What is more important is the putting in place of the mechanisms – because once you have the reporting mechanisms in place then, and only then can you start playing policy with the economic configuration (a.k.a. tweaking taxation dials and whatnot). With those mechanisms in place (and I can’t emphasise enough that the establishment of those reporting mechanisms is what is really important here) you turn a page of the management equation – only then can you actually start to manage the problem – and only then can we start to be responsible – companies (even the big polluters) will start to understand and factor into day to day decisions the economic consequences of operational decisions.
The reduction target does not matter (at least today) – because today – today we are just grappling with the problem of capturing the information about what we are doing. Two years from now and the federal government will start to see numbers that are meaningful (as in the Australian Federal Government will have the initial numbers of the flows of energy and the emissions from individual companies and those constitutional corporations at a level of granularity that will make your head spin). But that time-point is important but it’s not what we need – what we actually need is trend lines. We need a few years to get to the point of understanding the picture of what is happening in Australia. It is from this perspective that I think that less is more – because what Australia does in emissions production is not the issue, what is much more important is what Australia does in establishing the regulatory framework from which we can demonstrate a national comprehension and from that – grounded and concrete actions – based on national facts that are linked to national corporate entities – that implicate national employees – that change union policies – that generate informed local opinion.
Australia is not a global leader on this issue – but the Australian Federal Government is working on fundamentals that are critical for a responsible solution. Targets and levies are just numbers and dials – what is more important is establishing the machinery capable of responding to adjustments, and the machinery capable of returning accurate and reliable feedback on changes.
We are heading in the right direction.
And take a deep breath – because we still have a way to go.
774 replies on “Take a Deep Breath”
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5AF3N320091116
This suggests that it might ease by .2 of a per cent. Of course, these are economists making the prediction, so they may as well have said, ‘Whoops, I’m a raspberry, General Bogglehead.’
More disgraceful filth from that appalling Firstdogonthemoon.
This is the sort of disgusting stuff that needs a good internet filter to protect our kiddies.
http://media.crikey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/SpaceshipPee.jpg
Hope this groundbreaking research actually goes somewhere real quick.
It is good to read a bit of good news amongst all the crap.
http://www.opednews.com/populum/linkframe.php?linkid=103255
Mark Newton weighs into the Internet filter debate with some good questions for Conroy and Rudd.
http://newmatilda.com/2009/12/16/conroys-clean-feed-wont-block
Dear Mr Conroy, these bastards are going to be extremely cruel and make fun of your stupid filter.
What’s worse, they’ve got much more time on their hands than you and are way more inventive when it comes to creative chaos.
Happy xmas and a “pie in the face new year” minister.
http://stephen-conroy.com/news.php
I am sure the AFP report on utegate was due to be released today.
I can not find any info on it.
Anyone seen or heard anything?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJa7VzfWJQg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty68LPKRQQQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4nknAzQPHE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Rlqjxst6xU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_cdbByTeNE
Facebook Group. I bet I can find 100,000 people to fight Internet Censorship. I sent the Bernard Keanes guide to him. Suggesting that Maxine McKew and Peter Garrett be targeted in particular. As their silence has been deafening!!!!!! Both should know better!!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=37744441605&ref=mf&v=info
We might not effect the outcome of the election but we WILL make it hard for the Government to work.
Poll: Voters Reject Health Care Mandate Without Public Option, Medicare Buy-In.
==============================================
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/18/poll-health-care-reform-w_n_396990.html
President Obama Loses His Base: He Just Ran Out of Slack.
============================================
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-sullivan/president-obama-loses-his_b_395835.html
At this stage the 2010 elections David will be right and I will be wrong. I doubt very much that things will stay like this. Time will tell.
U.N. Women’s Treaty Can Not Wait for U.S. Senate.
========================================
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-tarrwhelan/un-womens-treaty-can-not_b_396449.html
512
Chris
The Rude Pundit nails it today. Maybe he is reading Ticsters 101.
Obama brokers climate deal. Gets China, India and South Africa to sign on to the Climate Change bill in Copenhagen. Next thing to do is go home and do the same thing for the Health Bill.
Well you must give credit where credit is due. What a fantastic way to garner lots of votes at the next election.
Absolutely brilliant idea.
How to create more paedofile priests.
You definitely have the finesse Tone. š
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26506144-952,00.html
And the first two comments on his story say it all.
Despite disappointment re the climate change targets , Copenhagen proves that even our watered down versions were never going to be accepted globally.
I’m optimistic that despite political grandstanding, all participants will be more aware and proactive. Suspect that there were those who are angry with Obama for his Afghanistan decision and they used this forum to show their displeasure.
Back in our own backyard. I’m going to be shot down for writing this but I think we need to seriously look at the enormous concentration of flammable eucalypts with its enormous cost and consider replacing some of these with swathes of native fire-resistant trees so that we can at least slow down these extreme fires.
Sacriligeous ,I know, but intervention may be needed, just as we do when human organisms cause problems.
Facebook has already added another 1,000 to the group against Internet censorship. The ALP has no idea what it has started. That’s what happens when you pit a MR Dick Head against the Einsteins of the Internet.
Operation Dilbert. Anti Censorship protest.
Date: Sunday, January 31, 2010
Time: 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Location: Your nearest capital city
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=200213317223&ref=mf
megan, after hearing Jerry Coleby-Williams speak at Cooroy Hall on Wednesday evening I think you’re right on the pace re eucalypts. He said some of the trees have a 150 year cycle and their seed just won’t have the wherewithal to be able to survive in a vastly different ecolgy to the last time they germinated. Jerry didn’t mention the propagation of fire resistant natives as an alternative. He was concerned about the lack of overall shade accelerating water loss due to increased evaporation in our CO2-enhanced hothouse nouvelle.
Jerry and his partner have converted their Brissy home into a self sustaining jewel for less than the cost of a brand spanking wanker-mobile or SUV.
(maybe shout yourself “After The Flood” for the season of the commercial megarort š )
http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Home.html
————————————————-
http://www.cs.uni.edu/~wallingf/blog-images/misc/waiting-for-godot.jpg
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/tom-toles
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/79602
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/tony-auth
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/79734
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/79717
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/ted-rall
519
Megan
I hear what you are saying.
Gee up here there are a lot of gum trees. Yes they weep the oil under heat and explode when the fire gets to them.
Dont ya just love it.
Malcolm has just left a nice little dog turd under a London Gum Tree for Tony to try and polish over Xmas. He is spreading the deniers resumes around the world just in case they may wish to apply for a trustworthy job somewhere.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6962198.ece
Thanks, Ecky,nice link.
Love bushwalks,trees and find bushfires distressing . There is also an increasing need of tree canopies for shade, to keep sun off hard surfaces as these retain the heat , especially at night.
Will pay to park under trees!!
Have been an advocate of sustainability for a long time and impressed by Michael Mobbs’ house in inner Sydney.
Have subscription of the “Renew”magazine, and it is interesting to read the back issues over the years to see how far technology has progressed.
Must say I’ve been really disappointed at the lack of a legal target in Copenhagen, but it sure wasn’t for lack of trying by Rudd & co. They worked their butts off.!
Have to say that I rather admire Malcolm’s “stick-it-up-him”ness, Gaffy š
523
Goodness me Gaffy! That’s not a *little* dog turd.
That’s an enormous steaming pile of *very* smelly elephant shit.
Cheers to Malcontent for keeping their feet to the fire. šæ
Don’t get all cynical on me …
Copenhagen Accord 4.30 pm (PDF Draft)
527
Cynical Cat?
Moi? …..Never!
But I did stumble on this (slightly) OT gem via twitter while watching the Copenhagen disaster unfold.
Well worth an hour of anyone’s time.
http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2009/12/17/noam_chomsky_the_unipolar_moment_and_the_culture_of_imperialism
“Onward Christian Athletes”: Tom Krattenmaker’s Book Explores Evangelical Monopoly In Sports World.
more here…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/19/onward-christian-athletes_n_398059.html
David. In the South Republicans always paint the Democrats as pinko’s etc. Most of the Repugs wouldn’t have a clue as to what shade of blue a Democrat is. At this next election I expect they will scream commo or socialist at any candidate they come up against. We aren’t talking about mental giants in the South. So I would be very pleased if a liberal succeeded in Arkansas against Blanche Lincoln.
paddy at 528
Oh golly … it’s going to be better than Christmas!
š
http://www.truthdig.com/cartoon/item/wish_list_20091217/
http://www.truthdig.com/cartoon/item/honor_redefined_20091216/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0rp-r8yShs
In this decade of so many big things, we should perhaps take a moment and reflect on the smaller things in our lives …
Cat, that’s why Arundhati Roy wrote “The God of Small Things” š
And as we’re moving into a decadian theme going forward while looking backward, stuffed if I can figure this toony out. Clues anyone?
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/79773
Carried on the voicesā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya2dSRcqLBE&feature=related
Enemy Combatant at 534
It’s obvious EC!
Your just not looking at it in the right way. It’s ‘S’ for sex and the image speaks for herself, while just twisting your head a little to the left and it’s ‘S’ for science and the expression tells you everything – on the other-hand that could have been an ‘S’ for socialism (whatever – same expression).
534
Never mind the “small things”. Ecky.
(Despite the fact it’s a beautifully written book by a Goddess.) š
I’ve just watched a truly awesome movie about “Wild Things”.
“Where the wild things are.” is a true gem.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386117/
(Though perhaps a bit scary for very small children.)
It sings to the heart like Linda Ronstadt on mescaline.
Well worth a trip.
paddy at 536
Oh those heady days – the summer of 2004.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/21/opinion/21wed4.html?ex=1248148800&en=309ab430bf797d55&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland
534
It might be the ‘too obvious’ answer but isn’t the ‘S’ just turning the picture of fear into it’s plural form, fears?
I must be having an imaging problem, Cat………
At first I saw a startled face. Next try was a stylised well-glutealed lady bending forward. Next try was boobs with funny nipples. I can’t connect the “s” to the main Rorschach and tie it all in to the last decade. Thanks for trying to wise me up but it’s still about as obvious to me as the Mandelbrot equation.
All available cerebral circuitry was brought to bear trying to get a handle on this Rosetta Stone of Toondom but my corpus callosum couldn’t handle the inter-hehmispheric tarffic and mercifully shut down moments before my head exploded. My brain seems to have weathered the “contre-coup” but it hurts real bad and my medulla oblongata has whiplash so I’m gonna soothe it with some of Sammy Coleridge’s special favourite. Afghani, I believe.
Ecky of Ticster out-crypticked! Curse thee, Sheffius, though simply adore most of his other work. He such a mensch. š
My attorney says he wants to sue Sheffius for damages, but I told him not to worry because I’m not a Sep and we “goddamn Aussies” take all this in our stride.
EC at 539 and GWV at 538
To bring you guys up to date: (and I’m only focussing on 2009)
http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/Republican_Sex_Scandals#2009
Righto, paddy, Wild Things it is to scare the bejesus outta the littlies on boxing night.
Yes indeed, the eyes seem to have it, Ghostie. Well done, Espiritu Suffragia!
Pending imprimatur from our Editrix-In-Chief, naturellement. š
OK – on the subject of images the beggar a question – what do you all make of this one?
http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/shared-blogs/austin/seeingthings/upload/2009/10/perhaps_what_makes_art21_art/art21-shonibare-003.jpg
537
Wow Cat!! Just imagine if your health Insurance covered your mescaline bill as well as the boring stuff. (Like hospitals.)
Speaking of which. I just noticed this link over the fence.
http://tinyurl.com/ybxvwep
542
Good grief Cat!!
It looks like the Bishop twins have finally had it out at dawn.
Extra points for guessing which is which without the hair and eyes. šæ
‘Spic Magritte.
My shout for the shots!!!!!!!!
Maybe two Tiger ladies met in the foyer?
540
Catrina
But that all happened in the last couple of years. Your writings would have to be ten pages long if it were to cover the decade.
Cat, in the ten percent temporal framework of 2009 you are 100% correct in pumping the sex angle. But Sheffie has framed the toon over the decade. And yes, those representative degenerates couldn’t keep their frisky paws off anyone attractive who wasn’t connected up the wazoo or had a major in martial art in the fulsomeness of the last ten years going forward as we review that selfsame decade.
Gonna see if Mr S. has an email and get clarification.
Another worrying sign from the US Supreme court?
(I’d like a second opinion before we send Ecky over there for a dose of waterboarding.)
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2009/12/supreme-court-guts-due-process-protection.html
549
Just read that Paddy and have had my vomit.
How disgusting is that.
Mind you The Rodents legislation here is about on a par with that and Labor has made no attempts to give it back to us.
Anyone arrested in Oz under those conditions gets the three wise monkey trick.
543
Paddy
There are some that are not very happy Jane with the current bill as it is.
Insurance Exec Reid Comes Out of the Closet with Fellow Senate Criminals;
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Insurance-Exec-Reid-Comes-by-Rob-Kall-091219-90.html
551
Gaffy.
I constantly have to remind myself, that whatever bill the senate finally passes, it won’t look much like the eventual result.
I’m assuming they’ll be doing it via a joint sitting of both houses.
I gather the senate is expected to pass this version sometime tomorrow. (our time)
552
Paddy
Yeah, i suppose you can’t change the tyres on the car if you haven’t got one.
Al Franken is giving it the thumbs up over on Huffpo.
Bazza may have been caught with his pants down after what he said Super Tuesday about mandates. He may have to veto the bill.
HMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!! Maybe there will have to be changes.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/20/obama-health-care-mandates_n_398380.html
There was at least one honest Republican.
He has now left the Retards party and become a independant in the Maine House.
Jim Campbell, Maine Republican, Leaves Party Over ‘Failure To Address’ Health Care.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/18/jim-campbell-maine-republ_n_397403.html
Slipping back into “local” political mode for a moment.
Ad astra has a bloody good last post for 2009 over on Political Sword.
Well worth a read. (Even if I’m not quite as enthusiastic about Kev as he is.) š
http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/post/2009/12/20/The-Rudd-years.aspx
S is for Sad, Ecky –
and Stupid.
and Slowly Sinking.
And Soooo fucking Self Serving.
(or else boobS. š )
Must say though, while the pollies play footsies over everything from climate change to internet filters, it is heartening to see that the intertubes are playing havoc with the Old Order. They simply can’t get away with the power games for too long anymore- Obama’s election is testament to that ( I still think he is doing ok – as Paddy’s link about Rudd points out… the complexities of dealing these issues are enormous, and incredibly frustrating for those of us who want action NOW … me, for one).
So despite the seemingly bleak outcome in Copenhagen I also have a sense that change is afoot.
Dean No Longer Urging Dems To āKillā The Bill: āLetās See What They Add To This Bill And Make It Workā
===============================================
continued on Think Progress…
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/12/20/howard-dean-senate-bill/
Looming retirements could smooth rough votes for House Democrats.
==============================================
There’s a silver lining for House Democratic leaders in the growing list of retirements in their caucus — it could make it easier to round up votes for contentious bills like healthcare.
Four centrist Democratic House members are retiring this year without seeking higher office. More are expected, and analysts see the number of departures as omens of the Democrats’ fortunes in the November election. One of the four, Rep. Brian Baird (D-Wash.), took one for the team last week. He switched his vote after time ran out to pass a short-term increase in the debt limit. Baird had announced his retirement earlier this month.
The other three — Reps. Bart Gordon (Tenn.), Dennis Moore (Kan.) and John Tanner (Tenn.) — also voted to increase the debt limit. That was surprising as they’re all Blue Dog Democrats, dedicated to fighting deficit spending.
Tanner was particularly surprising. He’s a Blue Dog founder who’d bucked his party leadership in the 1990s to oppose increases in the debt limit. Tanner called a 2002 increase in the debt limit a “generational mugging.”
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/73117-looming-retirements-could-smooth-rough-votes-for-house-dems
I watched a great HBO doco on the weekend called “By the People”. It was basically cameras following the Obama campaign – from before the primaries up until election day. They weren’t just focused on Obama, but also on a few state campaign managers, his chief speechwriter, Axelrod, Plouffe and general campaign workers. Highly recommended.
And a big “woot” for the announcement of 60 senate votes for health care reform, though I want to see it pass before I’ll believe it. It’s a great start, and more than anyone’s beeen able to achieve since US Medicare was introduced in the 60’s.
Dear Santa
Can you please deliver us all a break from religious political interference in 2010 and……..
Can you please deliver us a break from pious pandering politicians dumping their religion on us all and……..
Can you please deliver us a break from hearing the Australian Christian Lobby and the Australian Family Association and Bill Muelembourg and Angela Conway and Fred Nile and George Pell and Steven Fielding and Tony Abbott and Kevin Rudd and Kevin Andrews and Stephen Conroy and………
It’s all just getting very tiresome and annoying.
Can you please ask religious people to be privately and collectively religious but not pubicly and domineeringly religious.
It’s all getting very tiresome and annoying.
And Dear Santa
Can somebody in major Party political life please stand up for the irreligious when the above mentioned inevitably don’t listen to you.
Thanks for listening Santa. Enjoy your biscuits and milk.
This bloke is a freak of the fretboard. He plays with unbelievable feeling; loud, soft, even the gaps have resonance. His band arenāt slouchers either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2rD2eWsY7k
When Harry Met Santa:
http://www.justlaura.com/blogger/daily/santa57.jpg
Dec 20:
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/non-sequitur
Dec 20:
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/tony-auth
562
Harry
Me Too!
562 Me as well Harry. Fortunately the Internet will help us win. The questions is how long? 5-10 years, maybe? Those troglodytes don’t like or use technology at all or properly.
561
Katielou
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/21/senate-health-care-bill-c_n_398910.html
It will be interesting to see what appears from here. I doubt whether a watered down health care bill will get support from the public. Mind you if they could pull off some sort of reasonable half measure and a landslide in 2010 gives them bigger leverage to soup it up further. But this is a lot of ifs later.
Preaching to the converted on this one..
================================
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/health/31pray.html
Woah! Didn’t see this one coming. I wonder if the state will over rule it somehow.
more here…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/21/mexico-city-approves-gay_n_399797.html
This is a very interesting table summarising some of the savings to families and individuals the US Health Care Bill will deliver. The figures are staggering:
http://www.bobcesca.com/blog-archives/2009/12/the_money_saved.html
Washington Times To Cease Sunday Publication.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/21/washington-times-to-cease_n_399736.html
Yeah!
Robert Byrd’s Death Seemingly Wished For By Tom Coburn.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/21/robert-byrds-death-seemin_n_399038.html
Chris B,
My suspicion is that it will take a lot longer than 5-10 years before religion no longer dominates politics, given that 80 per cent of the Australian population believe in a deity of some sort.
David
I’d like to see the vague, lazy census and poll questions about religion defined a little more. For instance i’d like to see all people who profess to some vague connection to Christianity when asked by a pollster , asked the question:
Q: Do you actually believe a baby was born to a virgin mother?
or
Q: Do you actually believe a man was dead for 3 days and then came back to life?
I’d like to see the % of Australian citizens who actually answer yes to those questions.
If anything, I’d say religion will play a greater part in Australian politics in the next 5-10 years, not a lesser one.
I’m not old enough to speak about the Whitlam or Fraser governments but in my life time I’d say that the Hawke government was the peak of Australian enlightenment. Under Keating then Howard then Rudd, we have seen a steady recession back into superstition and piety.
HSW,
Do you think current Labor will allow irreligious Julia Gillard to be its next leader?
I don’t.
The fight for the next Leadership of the Labor Party will be very instructive. Labor are stacking itself with as many God botherers as the Coalition. For example i have always felt Peter Garrett’s decision to join Labor over The Greens had zero to do with environment and everything to do with religion.
Not sure about Gillard, Harry. Even if she does become PM, she will have to appease the forces you are talking about, so I don’t see her Prime Ministership changing the trajectory of the country in any case.
573 David Gould Yeah, maybe 20 at the most. But it depends on the way the Internet is utilised by us at the other end.
I’ll let you guys know when I have a program that will help change all that religion thing. After all it was the Internet that gave us Obama. It will be the Internet that helps put more liberals in US politics.
If the internet can ressurect Rage Against The Machine to fight pop music, then it can do anything. š
Couldnāt have happened to a nicer piece of filth.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/22/2778046.htm
Obama Naming Hispanics To Top Posts At Record Pace.
==========================================
continued on the Huffington Post.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/21/obama-naming-hispanics-to_n_399799.html
That won’t harm the 2010 vote at all.
There’s nothing quite like a bit of existential dog.
http://media.crikey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/ThePoint.jpg
Dec 21:
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/pat-oliphant
Dec 21:
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/tom-toles
Merry Christmas to all you Yemeni Raghead women and kiddies and civvies . May our mangered Prince of Peace bless you most fulsomely this Yuletide. Baby Jesus Akbar too!!
So cop this from Alfred Nobelās current Main Man Peacemaker.
āWhatever else is true, and even if one believes it’s justified to lob cruise missiles into more countries where we claim “suspected Al Qaeda sites” are located, one thing seems clear: all of the causes widely recognized as having led to 9/11 — excessive American interference in the Muslim world, our alliance with their most oppressive leaders, our responsibility for Israel’s military conflicts with its Muslim neighbors, and our own military attacks on Muslims — seem stronger than ever. As we take more actions of this sort, we will create more Terrorists, which will in turn cause us to take more actions of this sort in a never-ending, self-perpetuating cycle. The U.S. military, and the intelligence community, and its partners in the private contractor world will certainly remain busy, empowered, and well-funded in the extremeā
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/index.html?story=/opinion/greenwald/2009/12/21/terrorism
Borrowed from elsewhere.
Two Woodpeckers…
A Mexican woodpecker and a Canadian woodpecker were in Mexico arguing about which country had the toughest trees.
The Mexican woodpecker claimed Mexico had a tree that no woodpecker could peck.
The Canadian woodpecker accepted his challenge and promptly pecked a hole in the tree with no problem. The Mexican woodpecker was amazed.
The Canadian woodpecker then challenged the Mexican woodpecker to peck a tree in Canada that was absolutely ‘impeckable’ (a term frequently used by woodpeckers ).
The Mexican woodpecker expressed confidence that he could do it and accepted the challenge.
The two of them flew to Canada where the Mexican woodpecker successfully pecked the so-called ‘impeckable’ tree almost without breaking a sweat.
Both woodpeckers were now terribly confused. How is it that the Canadian woodpecker was able to peck the Mexican tree, and the Mexican woodpecker was able to peck the Canadian tree, yet neither was able to peck the tree in their own country?
After much woodpecker pondering, they both came to the same conclusion:
Apparently,Tiger Woods was right when he said – your pecker gets harder when you’re away from home.
Yuletide greetings to all my fellow non-devout christians here, who nevertheless have to spend a week or more paying homage and spending stupid amounts of money on a whole lot of shit that no one needsin the name of Peace on Earth. (which according to Ecky’s post is as far from reality as is a global agreement on emission cuts)
š
Bring on secularism
but have fun anyway.
I guess it does make one think about the need to contact people – not that one necessarily acts on it…
586
Jen
I resemble your statement
Well Jen, since we sensible sceptics are condemned to endure all this Christian nonsense every chistmas, we may as well enjoy a proper atheist xmas carol and stuff the happy clappers.
(Plus Vienna Teng is way better looking than George Pell, Ratzinger or that dreadful Abbott creature.) šæ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4wVRcE5gIs&feature=related
I also wish ticsters happy times over the Christmas season. Be safe all.
Another Facebook Group. Open to everyone to see.
We Won’t Accept It – No To Mandatory Internet Censorship In Australia
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=40261545086&v=info
Yeah! One less Blue Dog!
=====================
Rep. Parker Griffith Switches Parties, Becomes Republican.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/22/rep-parker-griffith-switc_n_400575.html
Two articles from the Guardian on the washup to Copenhagen.
The first by George Monbiot which comes across as a little disingenuous and even a tad naive when apportioning blame for the clash of the superpowers.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/21/copenhagen-failure-us-senate-vested-interests
The second by Mark Lynas seems (to me at least) a bit more insightful as to what actually went down at the bunfight in Copenhagen.
But both are worth a read.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/dec/22/copenhagen-climate-change-mark-lynas
And as the sun sinks slowly in the west of 2009……We bid farewell to Firstdog and hope to Christ he remembers to wear plenty of sunblock on his holidays.
http://media.crikey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/CatChristmas.jpg
The Lynas article is excellent. I noted the following:
Hmmmm. He’s entitled to be annoyed, of course, but sometimes Rudd is such a tool.
I think it would be difficult to sort out the issues at Copehagen. For example Lynas saying that China blocked stronger stuff on 1.5 degrees knowing that Obama would get the blame sounds a bit silly when its done in public.
Most countries could be forgiven scepticism about US in this debate. Still the only one of the Kyoto group not to formally commit, with a pretty weak proposal to date of only about 5% reduction on 1990 and a Senate with a track record of heading in the other direction.
At the same time some pressure needs to be put on China and India and if 100 UN members want 1.5 then thats a start.
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/79788
Dec 23:
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/tony-auth
Memo to our valued Health Customers:
Heal thyselves, suckers!
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/79865
Dec23:
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/doonesbury
http://www.salon.com/entertainment/comics/this_modern_world/2009/12/21/this_modern_world
Leading Climate Scientist James Hansen on Why Heās Pleased the Copenhagen Summit Failed, āCap and Fade,ā Climategate and More
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/12/22/leading_climate_scientist_james_hansen_on
A nice bookend to the Lateline interview
597
Damn you Hussy…Now I suppose I’ll have to watch this, instead of ABC1’s gripping account of
Bless you HW.
Christmas and summer.
Who’s idea was that?
Cat, probably some double-thinking, doubleplusgood duckspeaking Orwellian.
“WAR IS PEACEā¦..
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.”
http://www.truthdig.com/cartoon/print/hoping_for_more_20091221/