Well our journalists have given their doomsday interpretation of the just released Summary For Policymakers (SPM) from the IPCC.
No real surprises here, but note that the Mann's infamous hockey stick has been expunged, and many other earlier projections have also been downrated.
The truly amazing thing is that they have now reduced the Confidence Limits for significance to 90%! Guess it saves them rejecting many projections.
This discussion might put a more balanced view in place for you - note posts number 18 and 56 in particular. I also really like post 23 :)
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Monday, January 15, 2007
The Problem With Multi-Culturalism
Yes this is a deliberately provocative title.
In many ways this is dangerous ground where political correctness reigns supreme, but Steve Sailer's take on a Harvard professor's belatedly released research provides some challenging perspectives.
There are some disturbing elements there, particularly the apparently beneficial effects of Christian fundamentalism, and the potential for those with a racist bent to use some aspects of the research negatively.
But none of this should stifle debate.
One thing that I found disturbing was the delay in publishing the research and the spin the professor put on it to try and soften the impact. This shows how stifling political correctness can be on getting to the reality of an issue.
In many ways this is dangerous ground where political correctness reigns supreme, but Steve Sailer's take on a Harvard professor's belatedly released research provides some challenging perspectives.
There are some disturbing elements there, particularly the apparently beneficial effects of Christian fundamentalism, and the potential for those with a racist bent to use some aspects of the research negatively.
But none of this should stifle debate.
One thing that I found disturbing was the delay in publishing the research and the spin the professor put on it to try and soften the impact. This shows how stifling political correctness can be on getting to the reality of an issue.
Chastity: The New Sexual Revolution?
Dawn Eden's journey from free loving 70s rock groupie to chaste 30-something may give those who live out "Sex In The City" pause for thought.
A fascinating read.
Maybe some of those old-fashioned ideals we have so easily jettisoned might have some value after all?
But then new-order protagonists are always so "right" until maybe they discover for themselves that their preciously held new-think is really stink-think.
A fascinating read.
Maybe some of those old-fashioned ideals we have so easily jettisoned might have some value after all?
But then new-order protagonists are always so "right" until maybe they discover for themselves that their preciously held new-think is really stink-think.
Procrastinate later
This rang a huge bell for me.
As one of the world's worst I found myself saying "yes" repeatedly as I read it.
I find I procrastinate mainly for 2 reasons.
If it's a task I loathe.
If it's a task I fear.
The latter has caused me anguish in some important issues as it sometimes renders dealing with the issue impossible as a deadline flies by.
There seems to be no cure.
At least I seem to be able to do the things I enthuse about with ease!
As one of the world's worst I found myself saying "yes" repeatedly as I read it.
I find I procrastinate mainly for 2 reasons.
If it's a task I loathe.
If it's a task I fear.
The latter has caused me anguish in some important issues as it sometimes renders dealing with the issue impossible as a deadline flies by.
There seems to be no cure.
At least I seem to be able to do the things I enthuse about with ease!
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Our Leader's Arrogance Knows No Bounds
HC has tramped into Manilla and told the President off for their human rights record and is going to get our government to investigate what support it can give human rights organisations in the Phillipines.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10419151
She may done it politely and worded it carefully, but that is the bare message.
Just imagine if a foreign leader came here and read such a riot act to us!
Fair enough for political commentators or activists to behave in such a way but for the leader of our country to bowl into another country and do this is outrageous and arrogant in the extreme.
And she's only just redrawn breath after giving JA a telling-off for daring to criticise the good ol' US of A - is this a double standard? Or is she picking on the weak and steering clear of the strong? Isn't that how a bully behaves?
But are we surprised?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10419151
She may done it politely and worded it carefully, but that is the bare message.
Just imagine if a foreign leader came here and read such a riot act to us!
Fair enough for political commentators or activists to behave in such a way but for the leader of our country to bowl into another country and do this is outrageous and arrogant in the extreme.
And she's only just redrawn breath after giving JA a telling-off for daring to criticise the good ol' US of A - is this a double standard? Or is she picking on the weak and steering clear of the strong? Isn't that how a bully behaves?
But are we surprised?
Saturday, January 13, 2007
The Burton Case
We have all been shocked by the horrific Burton case and feel for the families of his victims, especially the Kuchenbecker family.
And we have all reflexly regaled against those idiots on the parole board who freed him.
But is what they did really that unforgivable?
They have a hugely difficult job. And hugely difficult jobs inherently come with the risk of occasional errors. Or is a lack of ability to predict the future an error at all?
Read the parole board hearing report here and reconsider. I have.
http://www.paroleboard.govt.nz/nzpb/media/decisions/burton-graeme.html
And we have all reflexly regaled against those idiots on the parole board who freed him.
But is what they did really that unforgivable?
They have a hugely difficult job. And hugely difficult jobs inherently come with the risk of occasional errors. Or is a lack of ability to predict the future an error at all?
Read the parole board hearing report here and reconsider. I have.
http://www.paroleboard.govt.nz/nzpb/media/decisions/burton-graeme.html
iPhone
Apple's name-plagiarised killer device has finally been announced.
Is it as big as they want us to believe?
If you blindly genuflect towards anything from the Jobs podium it will rule the world, but more realistic minds are questioning just how original and innovative it is.
Ok it does no more than what many devices currently do and it doesn't do some things that many do.
But to succeed it doesn't need to be all things to all people - it just has to do it extremely well, stylishly and simply. Something that Apple excels at.
It'll certainly be interesting to see how it goes and don't believe for a moment that the roll-out dates are anything like accurate - Apple have a history of releasing product far ahead of annouced times - it's all part of Jobs's wonderful marketing strategy and who can say he's not good at it!!
Is it as big as they want us to believe?
If you blindly genuflect towards anything from the Jobs podium it will rule the world, but more realistic minds are questioning just how original and innovative it is.
Ok it does no more than what many devices currently do and it doesn't do some things that many do.
But to succeed it doesn't need to be all things to all people - it just has to do it extremely well, stylishly and simply. Something that Apple excels at.
It'll certainly be interesting to see how it goes and don't believe for a moment that the roll-out dates are anything like accurate - Apple have a history of releasing product far ahead of annouced times - it's all part of Jobs's wonderful marketing strategy and who can say he's not good at it!!
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