Al Gore projected to increase by one degree

...he really needs to stop exhaling so much carbon dioxide.

Now that I've jumped to the defense of an atheist (possibly shocking any readers who think I'm an intolerant Bible-thumping Neanderthal), let me weigh in on the "Pelosi Jet Scandal."

OK, I haven't read every quote on this, and it's possible that Ms. Pelosi's staff (or herself) has made this brouhaha worse by making ill-considered responses (which would only make them akin to any other person who has been verbally attacked), but what the heck is everybody thinking here?

The lady is third in line of succession to the President! What, you want her to fly commercial and be a target for any goon with a box cutter and a messiah complex? You want turn her into a target by sticking her in line at Dulles for two hours waiting to get wanded by the TSA? You want to make all the passengers with her (or on a flight some terrorist imagines her to be on) a target?

The office of the Speaker deserves respect and security. Some say she asked for too extravagant a plane. From what I've been able to read, it sounds more like she just asked for something that could non-stop to the west coast, and somebody lower down inserted a particular model into the discussion, because it was the only thing that they knew that could do it. From all accounts Ms. Pelosi's responses have been very reasonable.

No, I don't like Ms. Pelosi's politics, and I don't agree with her on a wide range of things, but she is the Speaker of the House. She got to that position by the properly working mechanics of our Republic. She deserves the protection that my tax dollars pay for!

For those of you who think I've suddenly converted to the left side of the aisle, that ain't happening. I still have no time for the typical stupidity from the Democratic Party. I have no time for the typical stupidity from the Republican side of the aisle either.

I plain don't have time for stupidity.

Well, this stinks!

"YouTube: ... the Google property has recently banned the popular atheist commentator Nick Gisburne. Gisburne had been posting videos with logical arguments against Christian beliefs; but when he turned his attention to Islam ..., YouTube pulled the plug, saying: 'After being flagged by members of the YouTube community, and reviewed by YouTube staff, the video below has been removed due to its inappropriate nature. Due to your repeated attempts to upload inappropriate videos, your account now been permanently disabled, and your videos have been taken down.' "

Glenn Reynolds notes that Mr. Gisburne is up and running again.

Like another blogger that Mr. Reynolds mentions I find this appalling. To those of you who read here, I obviously don't agree with Mr. Gisburne's views on religion. However, atheism is not an incitement to violence, nor is it pornography. What was done to Mr. Gisburne is censorship, pure and simple.

It would be bad enough if YouTube had pulled his account because he was making atheistic statements. The fact that they caved because of pressure from one partictular imperialistic religion (he was quoting from the Koran, and not adding any commentary) is totally craven.

Mr. Gisburne replys to Google If they can remove MY account (I don't think you can call me the most controversial atheist here!), which atheists are next?

Frankly, the question is not just about atheists, but is who else of us is next?

Reality vs. Rhetoric, i.e. the "Low Hanging Fruit" syndrome

LGF notes that Salon.com says that right-wing bloggers have gotten a scalp over John Edwards firing of two "controversial bloggers".

It's not a matter of "taking a scalp" to point out the painfully embarrassing, it's more a matter of picking the low hanging fruit.

Unfortunately, politicians on both sides of the aisle have provided a veritable Garden of Eden when it comes to fruitful targets for any online commenter.


I mean, look at this, even I can come up with a post over this affair.


The idiocy of the hacks and flacks of Washington would be too painful to pay attention to, if it were not so important.