Perhaps because the sun is getting less frisky:

Researchers in the US may have discovered further evidence that the Sun is heading towards an extended period of quiet activity, the like of which has not been seen since the 17th century. The impact this may have on climate is poorly understood but it would be good news for satellite communications, which would continue to avoid the harsher impacts of space weather.

Mostly ignored in the whole global warming debate is that large, hot, yellow thing which hangs in the sky from dawn until dusk. Global warming enthusiasts have launched a host of reasons for rising global temperatures, and even more excuses for why temperatures have been flat or declining for about ten years now – and all these discussions have ignored the sun. Well, the sun is checking in – and after a period of high activity, we’ve been heading in to a period of low activity. Amazing the way that works, huh?

I’ve noted over at NRO’s The Corner that a new phrase has entered the global warming lexicon – “climate stability”, this being coupled with talk of how global warming will have different effects on different parts of the world. In other words, “the weather will be different, but we global warming people will pick and choose out of the daily weather whatever we believe buttresses our case…and anyone who picks out contrary bits of weather will be told that they don’t know the difference between ‘weather’ and ‘climate'”.

UPDATE: Beware of the Branch Carbonians!

UPDATE II: Are the global warming advocates hiding the climate data?

After getting a little insulting with Sarah Palin, shows some class – a rare thing for any sort of MSM outfit, and thus doubly appreciated.

In regard to those school kids being taught to praise Dear Leader Obama in song, the liberal fascist in charge responds:

But officials at the B. Bernice Young Elementary School in Burlington Township, New Jersey, deny the timing had anything to do with politics and said the song was performed back in February.

They said the recording of the class song was ‘not authorised’ and it should never have been put online. (emphasis added)

Get it? They’re not upset that the kids were being propagandised as if this is North Korea – no; they’re upset that the double-plus-ungood happened…that it got out on the internet!

Firing the teachers and administrators involved is only a first step – people need to go to jail over this. Anyone who would even think about doing something like this has, in my view, renounced their American citizenship…no true American is capable of such a servile act.

Can you feel the love?

James T. Jacks, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, and Robert E. Casey, Jr., Special Agent in Charge for the Dallas Office of the FBI, announced today that Hosam Maher Husein Smadi, 19, has been arrested and charged in a federal criminal complaint with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. Smadi, who was under continuous surveillance by the FBI, was arrested today near Fountain Place, a 60-story glass office tower located at 1445 Ross Avenue in downtown Dallas, after he placed an inert/inactive car bomb at the location. Smadi, a Jordanian citizen in the U.S. illegally, lived and worked in Italy, Texas…

…He has repeatedly espoused his desire to commit violent Jihad and has been the focus of an undercover FBI investigation.

Didn’t this guy get the memo? Obama apologised – the Jihadists are supposed to understand that they don’t need to fight us…they can go back to the peaceful ways they had before that Evil, Wicked, Mean President Bush came along and deliberately provoked them…

I need help here, liberals – why isn’t the magic fairy dust of an Obama apology working?

Which isn’t actually news, but its a nice to contrast this with what happened on September 12th in DC:

Police fired canisters of pepper spray and smoke at marchers protesting the Group of 20 summit Thursday after anarchists responded to calls to disperse by rolling trash bins and throwing rocks.

The march turned chaotic at just about the time that President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrived for a meeting with leaders of the world’s major economies.

The clashes began after hundreds of protesters, many advocating against capitalism, tried to march from an outlying neighborhood toward the convention center where the summit is being held.

The protesters banged on drums and chanted “Ain’t no power like the power of the people, ’cause the power of the people don’t stop.”

The marchers included small groups of self-described anarchists, some wearing dark clothes and bandanas and carrying black flags. Others wore helmets and safety goggles.

One banner read, “No borders, no thanks,” another, “No hope in capitalism.” A few minutes into the march, protesters unfurled a large banner reading “NO BAILOUT NO CAPITALISM” with an encircled “A,” a recognized sign of anarchists.

The marchers did not have a permit…

Do note the rather hostile MSM coverage here – now that Obama is President, dissent is no longer the highest form of patriotism. These kooks apparently didn’t get the memo that now all is well in America – with The One in charge, there’s no need to be out there having a riot.

Wonder if any lefties will decry the clear evidence of hatred at these demonstrations? Or is that only a conservative thing?

That’s the way to do it, Barry:

Gordon Brown lurched from being hailed as a global statesman to intense embarrassment tonight, after it emerged US President Barack Obama had turned down no fewer than five requests from Downing Street to hold a bilateral meeting at the United Nations in New York or at the G20 summit starting in Pittsburgh today.

The prime minister, eager to portray himself as a leading player on the international stage in America this week, was also forced to play down suggestions from inside his own party that he might step down early, either due to ill health or deteriorating eyesight.

Let’s see – Brits, mad. Israelis, mad. Poles, mad. Czechs, mad. Hondurans, mad. Chinese, mad. Germans, contemptuous. French, contemptuous. Saudis, contemptuous. Russians, contemptuous. Iranians, contemptuous. Venezuela, contemptuous. Nicaragua, contemptuous. Cuba, contemptuous. Afghans, doubtful. Iraqis, doubtful. Taliban, confident.

Great job, Mr. President. What will you do for an encore?

Obama, foreign policy team – a quick note:

…we have a better chance of assuring our future if we remember who our friends are. – Henry Kissenger

The story:

Young Americans showed their collective power when they helped vote President Obama into office. Inspired by his message of “change,” they knocked on doors, spread flyers, voted for him by a 2-1 margin, and partied like rock-the-vote stars when he won.

Since the election, though, that fervor has died down — noticeably. And while young people remain the president’s most loyal supporters in opinion polls, a lot of people are wondering why that age group isn’t doing more to build upon their newfound reputation as political influencers.

“It’s one thing to get excited about a presidential candidate. It’s another thing to become a responsible citizen,” says Jennifer Donahue, political director for the New Hampshire Institute Of Politics. She and other political analysts thinks they have yet to prove themselves.

Professors and students themselves also are noticing the quiet on college campuses, which were hotbeds for “Obamamania” during the campaign.

“They’re supportive, but in a bystander kind of way,” says Laura Katz Olson, a political science professor at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.

Ever since a bunch of middle aged professors tried to curry favor with 1960’s hippies by calling them the “best and brightest”, there has been this concept that young people, on the whole, are something special. Well they’re not – never have been. There’s a reason the voting age used to be 21. Young people – and especially modern, western young people – are, in their masses, shallow, ignorant, slaves to fashion and un-educated (its why we have them in school, ya know?). “Obamania” was cool, don’t you see? And that is all it was – now its just sooo 2008.

This is not to say that there aren’t exceptions – to every rule, there are. But most kids are just kids – not to be trusted much until they’ve either lived a bunch more years, or someone like a Marine drill instructor knocks some sense into their heads. Obama will still command a lot of youth support – and he’ll even be able to generate enthusiastic crowds of young supporters…but the rock star part of his youth appeal is gone and won’t ever come back. You can only do that once.

As time goes on, however, I figure that the “Obamania” of 2008 will turn to shock and anger among many young voters by 2012 – now that they see that “hope and change” has a price tag, and they’ll be stuck with the tab.

Gulp!

President Obama is exploring alternatives to a major troop increase in Afghanistan, including a plan advocated by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to scale back American forces and focus more on rooting out Al Qaeda there and in Pakistan, officials said Tuesday.

Uh, Mr. President; if I may? Your Vice President? Well, he’s an idiot. I know, its hard to believe that you could have chosen a moron as your Veep, but you did…next time, a little more monitoring of the selection committee, kay?

Anyways, back to this whole, “Biden is an idiot” thing – given that he is (and, remember, during the campaign he once talked up how France and the US had expelled Hezbollah from Lebanon), it might not be in America’s best interest to make him the point man on strategy. Any strategy – but most especially strategy where life is at stake. What I’m saying here is that its ok to keep Biden around for a laugh or two, but when real, adult decisions have to be made, you might want to look elsewhere for advice…

Geesh:

Senate Finance Committee Democrats have rejected a GOP amendment that would have required a health overhaul bill to be available online for 72 hours before the committee votes.

Republicans argued that transparency is an Obama administration goal. They also noted that their constituents are demanding that they read bills before voting.

Democrats said it was a delay tactic that could have postponed a vote for weeks.

Uh, Donks, “delay the vote” isn’t a bug, its a feature…