Steyn on Mann...

Mark Steyn takes Michael Mann to the woodshed, both for Mann's ludicrous lawsuit and for his absolutely absurd claim to have “won” the Nobel Peace Prize (as though that was desirable!)...

You're Even Worse!

Nigel Farage lays into the EU council again. We need some politicos like this. At the very worst, he's extremely entertaining and utterly refreshing. At best, he's a shining beacon of common sense...

Lies from Our President...

I haven't written much about the Benghazi affair, as I've had very little to add to the story, and because most of the issue was just hearsay and speculation.  The latest revelations, however, persuade me of the almost-unthinkable: that our President and his administration have been lying to us about Benghazi right from the very first statements they've made. 

John Bolton, in the video below, has the only explanation so far that rings true to me: that the idealogy of the administration prevented them from seeing the reality before their eyes: that al Qaeda is alive and well, and still bent on killing Americans.

This is a firing offense, folks.  Please, please remember this appalling behavior when you vote in two weeks...

Romney/Ryan Campaign Event...

The photo below was taken last night at a Romney/Ryan campaign event in Golden, Colorado.  Impressive crowd.  The full 360° panorama.


Obama and Churchill...

Who knew?  This photograph captures the only known photo of Barack Obama and Winston Churchill's only meeting (via my lovely bride)...

Cold Fission?

Way back in 1989, Pons and Fleischmann made a big splash with their claims of “cold fusion” – the production of energy through fusion at room temperature, in an apparatus that would easily fit on top of a desk.  Their claim was thoroughly debunked.

But...some of their observations were (a) repeated, and (b) never explained.  The notoriety of the original claims kept most serious investigators from attempting it, but now, more than 20 years later, some serious researchers are honing a theory that just might explain those anamalous observations, in a way that comports with our understanding of physics.  And...it just might prove to be usable as a source of energy – which was really what Pons and Fleischmann were seeking all along.  This would be a redemption, of sorts, of their work...

Strip Kindle DRM?

DRM (Digital Rights Management) is the technical means that prevents you from copying (and sharing) DRM-protected content that you buy from places like Amazon (Kindle books and music), Apple iTunes, etc. 

DRM can be very annoying when you want to do something perfectly legal (with respect to copyright), but which the DRM prevents.  For example, I might buy an Kindle book that I'd like to turn into a PDF file so that I can read or print it on any device I own (not just those devices that happen to be able to host a Kindle reader).  DRM prevents me from doing that.

This article points the way to a method for removing the DRM from Kindle books.  I haven't tried it yet, but I'm definitely going to do so...

Chuck Norris in a New Role?

Who's that at right?  Chuck Norris in make-up, ready for a new role?

Nope.  This is a reconstruction of a Neanderthal man made by British scientists, using standard techniques of layering hypothetical muscle and fat onto a real skeleton.

I remember fanciful sketches of Neanderthal man appearing in magazines from my childhood.  They looked much more ape-like than this fellow, who could pass for one of my colleagues :-)

A Practical Guide...

...to rude Italian hand gestures.  Some of these look...useful.

IEM: Hope and Change - 1.36:1

The Iowa Electronic Markets show the presidential race is tightening up. Obama is still on top, but his lead is down to 1.36:1, the worst showing for him since July...