(Published: August 23, 2005)

Sens. Hillary Clinton, John McCain and two others toured part of Alaska last week to see evidence that global warming is real and an approaching crisis.

Did they find any? They saw glaciers receding, villages threatened by bank erosion and thawing permafrost. The only problem for their claims of proof is that those things have been going on for years, in some cases for centuries.

You don't have to take our word for it — just read the guest column on this half-page by Dr. Syun-Ichi Akasofu, director of the International Arctic Research Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He is one of the world's most respected Arctic scientists.

Take special note of his statement that Alaska's glaciers have been receding at least since 1800, well before the start of global warming. See also his note that the permafrost is a relic of the Ice Age and has been thawing for centuries.

Dr. Akasofu mentions that coastal erosion in Alaska and elsewhere results from storms generated over open water. The open water has numerous causes, including cyclical changes in ocean currents. "It cannot be concluded that this is a result of the greenhouse effect," he states.

The scientist did not discuss another point well known to other researchers, that erosion problems have plagued villages for more than a century. They began when missionaries came to Alaska and built schools. At that point the villagers ended their nomadic travel from winter hunting camps to fishing camps in summer.

The Native peoples settled close to the schools so their children could attend. Many built homes along the shore to be near their food sources and commuted to hunting grounds. The soils available along ocean and river banks tended to be poor and highly susceptible to erosion. But when a caving bank came close to a building, most structures could be moved beyond erosion's reach. Others could be rebuilt without great cost.

In modern times, homes and community buildings became far more substantial and some were tied into utilities. Moving them is a problem far greater than in years past. And increasing erosion multiplies the number of villages threatened.

So Hillary Clinton and John McCain found what they were looking for. About global warming, Clinton told reporters, "I don't think there is any doubt left for anyone who actually looks at the science."

Like other true believers, the two claimed that most scientists are convinced that global warming is caused in large measure by human activities. That boast rings a lot like the old advertising slogan, "More doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarette."

Certainly some scientists have stampeded into the global warming camp. But — you should pardon the expression — cooler heads are skeptical.

    The preceeding editorial appeared in the opinion column of the Anchorage Daily News. Whether you agree or disagree with global warming, I thought it was worth repeating. Mainly because I wanted to say to John McCain and Hillary Clinton "would you just worry about your own states?"

"McCain, your state is allowing illegals into the country, and Clinton, your state has some of the highest taxes in the country. I wish you two would worry about your own states and stay the hell out of Alaska."

 "Don't come back!"

 "Don't pretend to have all the answers for other states when your own states are in such disarray."

By the way, here's a link to the rest of the story http://www.adn.com/opinion/voice/story/6 848637p-6744348c.html" title="http://www.adn.com/opinion/voice/story/6 848637p-6744348c.html" target="_blank"http://www.adn.com/opinion/vo...

Until next time, see ya.

I read the following story and couldn’t resist posting it right here. I personally think the NCAA is taking unnecessary action. What is wrong with letting each college determine its own policy on mascots and logos? Next, the NCAA will be setting up some kind of compliance panel to review all team logos and mascots to ensure that nobody gets their feeling hurt.

 What’s next? Is Notre Dame going to change their mascot and logos? Think about it, some people of Irish decent may be offended. Besides, as highlighted below, the “Fighting Irish” logo may be deemed “hostile”.

How about the Arizona Wildcats? Not all cats are wild, in fact, the majority of them are domesticated, calm, and reserve. Are cat owners going to rally together to force a name change at Arizona?

How about the Huskies at UofW? Are confused and overweight people tired of the University of Washington calling their teams the “Huskies”? Or the “Lady Huskies”?

 Is the Stanford Cardinal a bird, or someone who answers to the Pope? Oh no, don’t get religion involved  or the ACLU will step in. We have enough confusion already, we don’t want them as well.

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The Oregon Duck logo could be deemed “hostile”. The Beaver for OSU might be too aggressive. Come on, who doesn’t like a beaver? Tree huggers I guess. The Wyoming Cowboys might be politically incorrect. After all, didn’t the cowboys shoot Indians? What about the Temple Owls? Who? Just kidding.

I could go on and on, but you see how ridiculous it all sounds. I personally feel that if the local residents of any particular college feel the need to correct their mascot, so be it. But some minority group in Boston should not have any say in what a college in California calls its teams. And the NCAA shouldn’t cave to this political BS.

 In Aniak, Alaska the local high school’s sports teams are called the “Half breeds”. I am not making that up. They wear their name and colors proudly. I respect them and their right to be called whatever they want, without some fools in New York City interfering. I probably shouldn’t even post this, for fear of some “liberal asshole” reading it and getting involved. Fortunately, Kennedy, Feinstein, Kerry, and the rest of the powerful left wing idiots don’t frequent my blog page.

At any rate, I really wish the NCAA would put as much effort into some kind of playoff system for football as they have over this ridiculous issue. I’d really like the game to determine #1 rather than the computers or the press polls.

 Read the following AP article to see what I’ve been yapping about.

Until next time, see ya.

 

NCAA American Indian mascot ban will begin Feb. 1

Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS -- The NCAA banned the use of American Indian mascots by sports teams during its postseason tournaments, but will not prohibit them otherwise. The NCAA's Executive Committee decided this week the organization did not have the authority to bar Indian mascots by individual schools, committee chairman Walter Harrison said Friday. Nicknames or mascots deemed "hostile or abusive" would not be allowed by teams on their uniforms or other clothing beginning with any NCAA tournament after Feb. 1, said Harrison, the University of Hartford's president. "What each institution decides to do is really its own business" outside NCAA championship events, he said. At the University of North Dakota, where the Fighting Sioux nickname has come under fire, officials said they wanted to study the decision before commenting. "We just don't have enough information to know exactly what it means," said Phil Harmeson, a senior associate to school president Charles Kupchella. Guidelines were not immediately available on which logos and nicknames would be considered "hostile or abusive." The NCAA two years ago recommended that schools determine for themselves whether the Indian depictions were offensive. Among the schools to change nicknames in recent years over such concerns were St. John's (from Redmen to Red Storm) and Marquette (from Warriors to Golden Eagles). The NCAA plans to ban schools using Indian nicknames from hosting postseason events. Harrison said schools with such mascots that have already been selected as tournament sites would be asked to cover any offensive logos. Such logos also would be prohibited at postseason games on cheerleader and band uniforms starting in 2008. (end) Way to go NCAA! You guys are really earning your pay!

 South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-suk announced that this team has successfully cloned an Afghan hound (according to AP). It was the lone success of more than 100 dogs implanted with cloned embryos. Researches have now cloned several species like cats, pigs, mice, goats, etc... but have yet to clone a monkey, or any primate. Attempts to clone primates continue to fail.

 Here's a picture of the implanted dog and the clone.

Whoops!, my bad. That is a picture of two DOGS, but not the one I was looking for. I'll have to get back to ya.

 By the way Osama, that robe looks like one my grandma used to wear. Hahahahahaha.

Later.

 No morning trek today. I actually over slept. Then, once I realised I over slept, I leaped out of bed and started the coffee pot. I happened to glance outside and noticed it was pouring rain. Not pouring like it does in Oregon, but pretty darned close. For Anchorage, it was pouring.

 To heck with it. I'm already 30 minutes behind schedule, and it is pouring out there. I guess I can miss one day. Checking the calender I see that I haven't missed in 12 days, so maybe it's time to give the barking dogs (my knees) a day off. OK, it's decided.

 Yeah! I can be a Portland Trailblazer fan again! I see the team has released Nick Van Excel. That is great news. I hate Van Excel. He is a loser! Last season I never watched one Blazer game in protest. I hope he signs with the Lakers again. They need a cry baby. I guess I still pull some weight in Portland. Management must have noticed my absence from the Rose Garden, as well as my website rantings. Just goes to show that fans can have an effect on teams. You just got to stick to your guns. I hope this kid Dixon can sprout into a big time point guard. He is from Maryland and is (or was) their all time point leader. I never saw him play for the Wizards, but I'd take a female point guard over Van Ex-hell. Maybe the NBA will be fun again. Let's hope.

 Looks like the rain is letting up. Boy am I feeling guilty. I better get ready for work. Maybe I'll walk at lunch. Later.