Category Archives: Media Criticism

Climate Change

A terrifying new book:

The fact that the media and popular culture and academia have veered from one panic-inducing disaster scenario to another one which completely contradicts the first one is funny enough in its own right. But reading The Weather Conspiracy: The Coming of the New Ice Age opened my eyes to an even more significant aspect of this serial crisis-mongering:

The “solutions” prescribed to solve both Global Warming and the looming Ice Age are exactly the same.

In both cases, proponents of the theory-du-jour say that in order to stave off disaster, we must reverse the march of civilization, stop our profligate use of carbon-based fuels, cede power and money from the First World to the Third World, and wherever possible revert to a Luddite pre-industrial lifestyle.

Gee, it’s almost like there’s a political agenda behind this stuff.

Schadenfreude For Eric Holder

He really is a contemptible little man. And I’m referring to his moral, not his physical stature. I’m glad to see that CNN gave Hayden an outlet.

[Update a few minutes later]

Fisking the liar’s prepared remarks for this morning’s hearing.

[Update a few minutes later]

A failed “Fast and Furious” whitewash:

By turns whiny, petulant and deceitful, Holder would rather accuse his critics of racism than substantively address the scandal. But with each “withdrawn” letter, Friday-night document dump and sudden resignation, it becomes ever more clear that the man who facilitated the outrageous Marc Rich pardon for President Bill Clinton is incapable of shame.

The people who should really be ashamed are the senators, on both sides of the aisle, who voted to confirm this corrupt, sniveling, lying, gun-grabbing racist hack to the nation’s highest position in law enforcement.

I should note that my Twitter timeline is pretty busy with the hearings.

[Update mid-morning]

“Eric Holder should become a campaign issue today.”

Newt’s Mars Prize

Thoughts and some history from Bob Zubrin. The plan, at least as stated by Bob, has a (as Newt would say) “fundamental” flaw in it:

There would be at least two prizes: a $5 billion prize to develop and demonstrate a heavy-lift booster capable of lifting at least 100 tons to low Earth orbit, and a $10 billion prize for the first human mission to Mars. In addition, the winners of these prizes would be given contracts for the purchase by NASA of an additional five copies of their flight systems at a recurring cost of 20 percent of the respective prize per copy.

Prizes should specify the goal, not the means to achieve it. It presumes without evidence the need for an arbitrarily-sized heavy lifter. Bob, if you want to get to Mars, then put out a prize for Mars, but don’t tell people how to do it.