The global war on science - Canada is a leader

You wouldn't think that the great country of free democratic Canada is a place that would restrict the free speech rights of its citizens, and particularly the free speech rights of the employees of the government.  But this is Canada governed by a government headed by Steven Harper, and they DO control the speech of their employees -- even more so than attempted by the administration of George W. Bush.

The government now says that government meteorologists can't talk about climate change.  I wonder how much oil money got put in the Ottawa bank accounts to make that happen.

Canada bans its government meteorologists from talking about climate change

"According to a leaked Environment Canada document, the agency has noticed that 'Media coverage of climate change science, our most high profile issue, has been reduced by over 80 per cent.'

Critics say the government is seeking to 'muzzle' scientists from speaking about climate change.

According to a study by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, many federal scientists feel they are unable to speak openly in their areas of expertise.

'90 per cent [of federal scientists] feel they are not allowed to speak freely to the media about the work they do and that, faced with a departmental decision that could harm public health, safety or the environment, nearly as many (86 per cent) would face censure or retaliation for doing so,' reads the report.

'Federal scientists are facing a climate of fear,' says PIPSC president Gary Corbett, 'a chill brought on by government policies that serve no one’s interests, least of all those of the Canadian public."

Let's just put it this way - Stephen Harper is as close to the embodiment of what Tea Party conservatives in the U.S.A. would want in a leader of the country.

Which means he's bad news for just about everybody else.

Rory, you might want to rethink this

As reported widely, top young golfer Rory McIlroy broke up with top young tennis player Caroline Wozniacki a few days after they sent out wedding invitations.  Not his finest moment.  Even so, after that, he went out and won the BMW PGA Championship, one of the biggest prizes on the European tour.  Wozniacki, meanwhile, went out in the first round of the French Open, and there was some commentary about her struggling emotionally with the breakup, but that misses the reports that she was hurt enough (wrist and knee) to consider not playing in the French Open at all. 

Well, anyway, to take a break and soothe her broken heart, Caroline hit the beach in Miami.  The resulting paparazzi fest is worth the time to peruse.

Wozniacki wows on the beach

Now, reportedly, there were problems in the relationship before the ill-timed and ill-performed breakup.  And these are still young kids prone to missteps in the romance department.  It has happened before (remember that Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert were once together?) and it will happen again.  But still, Rory, if and when you look at these pictures -- you might just consider rethinking your decision.  Because the world-class package that Wozniacki possessess - beauty and athletic talent -- is a rare thing.  There are a few others (a former player with the initials AK immediately comes to mind), but they aren't numerous. 

Even so, if the relationship is well and truly over, I hope you made the most of your opportunities, lad.

The long game

Sometimes I really adore the Washington Post's strongly liberal columnist Greg Sargent.  This is one of those times.

Never mind 2014, climate change will be a big issue in 2016

And here's why I adored him from this column, when he counts it out:

"But the long game may matter a whole lot more. To understand how some Dems see this, look back at this Pew poll from last fall. It shows that the very voter groups who could continue giving Dems a demographic edge in national elections — the same groups that Republicans must broaden their appeal among — overwhelmingly believe there is solid evidence of global warming:

* 73% of those aged 18-29 believe it’s happening.
* 76 percent of nonwhites believe it’s happening.
* 67 percent of college educated whites believe its happening.

Meanwhile, far more Republicans remain skeptical of global warming, but this is largely driven by Tea Party Republicans. While 61 percent of non-Tea Party Republicans believe there is solid evidence of global warming, only 25 percent of Tea Party Republicans believe this."

 So no matter what bilge Morano spills, it's not changing the minds of those who will count;  the ones who are numbered above.  The wind is changing and the tide is turning, no matter what the dissenters and the deniers try to say.

Lighthouse of the Week, June 1-7, 2014: Kråkenes (Norway)

This particular Norwegian coastal lighthouse does not have a high tower, but it is on a high rock.  And there's a reason that it doesn't have a high tower, I think.

First of all, here's where it is located:

And here's what it looks like close-up.  You can barely see where the light is.
















Here's the lighthouse under calm conditions.  It also appears to have some pretty good-looking rocks behind it.


















The reason I think it has such a low building and tower is that it is exposed to the power of the North Sea.  Which means it gets serious WAVES.   Two examples below.

Truly world-class

At the link below, there are several arty semi-nude pictures of a Lithuanian model with a name I can't pronounce -- her name is Gintare Sudziute.  YOU try to pronounce it.  Maybe if there's a Lithuanian handy they could help out.  The pictures appeared in Treats! (not Teats!) magazine.  View at your own level of risk.

Gintare Sudziute par David Benoliel pour le Treats! magazine.

But more to the point -- in these pictures, it is apparent that the lovely Gintare has fabulous breasts.  We can't evaluate color since the pictures are B&W, but in terms of size and shape, and particularly as part of an equally fabulous torso, they are just about on the level of perfect.

(I did a quick search just now and found one that is purportedly her, topless, in color. Color is quite good, too.)

Thank heaven for little girls -- with fabulous breasts.  And thank heaven for the photographers who give us the opportunity to see just how good fabulous is.

Cosmos vs. Game of Thrones

It's June 1st.

Tonight on Game of Thrones, I'm sure someone will get skewered on a sword or pike for something. 

Tonight on Cosmos, host Neil de Grasse Tyson skewers climate change deniers.

Preview:  Weather vs. Climate Change (YouTube)

[currently running at 792 comments -- most of them from p-o'ed climate change denier types, thus devoid of even minimal scientific accuracy, and a few rejoinders from exasperated know-somethings]

Mother Jones Commentary by Chris Mooney

Sharapova through to quarters in French

Watched the Sharapova - Stosur match live today.  Samantha looked great and Maria looked very tentative early, and Stosur took the first set 6-3.   It was fairly even after a couple of breaks in the 2nd, and then all of a sudden Stosur's level dropped and Sharapova recognized it.  She turned on the pressure and took the 2nd set 6-4, and then dominated a fading Stosur to take the match with a 6-0 final set.

So, with the household names Muguruza, Suarez Navarro, and Bouchard (Canadian!) the other three in the quarters on her side of the draw, she and we will have to wait until tomorrow if the seeds on the other side get through.  Since I picked Halep as a dark horse, will she be able to take out Sloane Stephens?  And will Jankovic or the Energizer bunny on clay, Errani, emerge from that high-seeds match?

(Muguruza is from Spain, and Spaniards know how to play on clay. Sharapova should be wary.)

On the men's side, Djokovic and Murray advanced, and Federer didn't.  Too soon to say he's done, but I don't expect him to do well on clay any longer.