Bizarro GM SalesTraining Video From 1989

In 1989 GM was making some truly hideous cars. The Chevrolet Celebrity was just one of many. This contemporary Celebrity sales training (propaganda?) video at Autoblog shows just how far out of touch GM was back then. And how bad corporate videos could be. Did anyone ever talk like that? Only on Bizarro World.

Propaganda Films

Apropos of nothing, I happened to run across this new, likely unofficial, Sarah Palin themed anthem -



Whoa... a little heavy on the crucifixes and the Christ Jesus's there... but then in turn, thinking of propaganda remember, I was reminded of this semi-official Obama film.



What's creepier? Exploiting kids or exploiting Christ Jesus? The kids I think. At least Jesus was an adult. And, unlike the obvious brainwashing in the Obama Saves video, apparently no children were even dreamed of being harmed in the Palin video. Nor were they in the Obama video of course. And that's what's really scary. Lord save us from true believers of all stripes.

A Bob Dylan Christmas

As unbelievable as it may sound (and probably will sound, come to think of it) , Bob Dylan is recording a Christmas album. Must Be Santa, Here Comes Santa Claus. Yep, you got it. An early commentary came perhaps from the young officer who arrested him last month because she didn't believe he was Bob Dylan.

More On Global Wobbling

The great story in environmental science that nobody is talking about - yet - is the confirmation that global warming is caused by the a combination of a regular wobble in the earth's rotation and it's elliptical orbit.

This proof of cyclical global warming and cooling driven by orbital physics identifies no role for carbon dioxide.

The news is published under the daunting title "Evidence for Obliquity Forcing of Glacial Termination II" (subscribers only) in the current edition of the journal Nature.

Please. If you care about rational science, make your way through this analysis from The Resilient Earth. This is really good news.

And see this from earlier. Although bear in mind that the scientist quoted, Peter Clark, is not one of the authors of the Science paper and falls into the trap of assuming the orbital effect will be magnified since, well, everybody knows CO2 is driving climate change. Oops.

Update: That didn't take long. The warmists just don't give up. And why would they? Their livelihoods are at stake.

Warming oceans could cause Earth's axis to tilt in the coming century, a new study suggests. The effect was previously thought to be negligible, but researchers now say the shift will be large enough that it should be taken into account when interpreting how the Earth wobbles.

US Cash For Clunkers Ends Monday

And as far as Daniel Strohl of Hemmings Autoblogs is concerned, that's way too late.

In case you didn't know, the US government has put up almost three billion (with a B) dollars to pay people up to $4500 to trade in their old "clunkers" for new cars to support the auto industry. The catch was the engines had to be destroyed and then the cars had to be crushed. Never mind if the so-called "clunker" was running just fine.

So lots of maybe crappy, but still running cars went to the crusher to be made into who-knows-what in China. But the program also helped to gut a generation of the old car hobby: Corvettes, Porsches, Maseratis and lots of lesser but still desireable iron was also destroyed.

As a lover of old cars I am highly miffed. Go to YouTube and watch a few engines being destroyed. Perhaps you'll think, like me, that this is a ridiculous waste. Also, beware of the written comments and the vocal comments on the videos. The language is atrocious but the sentiments are much the same. Cash for Clunkers is a scandalous waste of taxpayer's money and good vehicles. Only in America. I hope.

Update: Henry Payne of NRO writes:

Initially hailed as an economic shot in the arm for the auto industry, the program has become a poster child for government incompetence. It is now in violation of federal law.

Neda Soltan's Alleged Killer Named

The name and photo ID card of the alleged killer of Neda Soltan have been been posted on the Web. Music student Neda Soltan was shot and killed during demonstrations against the Iranian government in June.

What Were The Scots Thinking?

By allowing the convicted Lockerbie bomber to go free to a hero's welcome in Libya, the political amateurs in Scotland have managed to infuriate just about everyone. Except Islamist extremists. From The Daily Mail:

The only possible explanation for Mr MacAskill's decision is that he had severe doubts about the conviction - even though he insisted he was standing by it - and that he really did believe that Megrahi deserved mercy and compassion.

The politically experienced way in which the United Kingdom Government has approached this issue has provided a refreshing contrast to the fuddled and inept behaviour of the Scottish Executive.

Mexico Decriminalizes Possession

To protect citizens from... the cops!

Mexico decriminalized small amounts of marijuana, cocaine and heroin on Friday — a move that prosecutors say makes sense even in the midst of the government's grueling battle against drug traffickers.

Prosecutors said the new law sets clear limits that keep Mexico's corruption-prone police from extorting casual users and offers addicts free treatment to keep growing domestic drug use in check.

Why Sleep?

Could it be that sleeping is an evolutionary survival strategy that simply keeps us out of trouble?

The Earliest Map Showing Newfoundland

I missed this story about the 15th century Vinland Map altogether when it came out a month ago. I had never heard of this earliest representation of Newfoundland. But I am pleased to learn it is likely not a fake.

Controversy has swirled around the map since it came to light in the 1950s, many scholars suspecting it was a hoax meant to prove that Vikings were the first Europeans to land in North America -- a claim confirmed by a 1960 archaeological find.

"All the tests that we have done over the past five years -- on the materials and other aspects -- do not show any signs of forgery".

More discussion and photos here.

Pot For The Prostate

Plain old pot. Is there anything it can't do?

Chemicals in cannabis have been found to stop prostate cancer cells from growing in the laboratory, suggesting that cannabis-based medicines could one day help fight the disease, scientists said Wednesday.

Is Canadian-Style NHL Hockey Fading?

Time marches on and the world changes: A new survey by University of Lethbridge sociologist Dr. Reginald Bibby suggests there aren't nearly as many die-hard NHL fans in Canada as there used to be — especially young fans. Listen to this National Post podcast with Dr. Bibby and National Post columnist Colby Cosh with host Chris Selley. And read the comments too.

The Threesome Ends...

Archie married Veronica today. Bye bye Betty.

Can't Carry A Tune In A Bucket?

You are not alone. Turns out about 10% of the population is tone-deaf - unable to sing in tune. And now researchers have discovered why:

The superior branch of the arcuate fasciculus in the right hemisphere - a key neural pathway known for linking music and language perception with vocal production - is missing from their brains.

In other words, some people just don't have the bucket.

A Limitless New Energy Source?

Scientists are meeting this week to discuss one of the largest and most important scientific experiments in history -- next year's initial attempts at the aptly named National Ignition Facility (NIF) to produce the world's first controlled nuclear fusion reaction.

Researchers will focus the energy of 192 giant laser beams onto a BB-sized target filled with hydrogen fuel. These lasers represent the world's highest-energy laser system. The scientists hope that their effort will ignite, or fuse, the hydrogen atoms' nuclei to trigger the high energy reaction.

If successful, the experiment could lead to a limitless new source of energy.

Oceanic Plastic Pollution Worsens

I blogged a while ago about the great gyres of plastic garbage that are slowly wheeling in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. New research is showing the plastic is breaking down much faster than expected. And creating new toxins.

Researchers termed the discovery "surprising." Scientists always believed that plastics in the oceans were unsightly, but a hazard mainly to marine animals that eat or become ensnared in plastic objects.

"Plastics in daily use are generally assumed to be quite stable," said study lead researcher Katsuhiko Saido, Ph.D. "We found that plastic in the ocean actually decomposes as it is exposed to the rain and sun and other environmental conditions, giving rise to yet another source of global contamination that will continue into the future."

Want To OD On Cute?

Go waste some time with the Random Kitten Generator. Hmm, need to keep them little furballs away from Nepenthes attenboroughii, eh?

Hurricane Bill

Brendan Loy is keeping track of Hurricane Bill, now a category 4 with sustained winds of up to 135 mph. The forecast track has Bill weakening as it approaches Atlantic Canada and Newfoundland five days out.

When Plants Crave Flesh

I have always had a fascination for creepy, meat eating plants, especially since the provincial flower of Newfoundland is the pitcher plant Sarracenis Purpurea. It eats bugs. So imagine the hair raising on my neck as I read about the pitcher plant Nepenthes attenboroughii. It eats rats.

How Smart Babies Are

Spending a few hours with the 11 month old granddaughter of old friends made me much more likely to click on this story from the New York Times: "Your Baby Is Smarter Than You Think".

Rules For Radical Republicans

I've written before about how US leftists used Chicago radical Saul Alinsky's political tactics to smear Sarah Palin. Now it seems like the right has discovered the leftist playbook. With Palin gone, the right lacks a central leadership figure that the Democrats can demonize. So the right is turning Alinsky's rules on the Democrats.

A Cuban Airlift

This idea is just so nutty it just might work: How America Can Save Cuba's Ass.

Apple Planning Gigantic Data Center

Apple Computers is building a gigantic data processing center in North Carolina.

“Apple is planning about 500,000 square feet of data center space in a single building,” says Rich Miller, editor of Data Center Knowledge. “That would place it among the largest data centers in the world…”

500,000 square feet is over 11 acres under one roof. Leander Kahney writes about what Apple is doing at Cult of Mac.

Ghost Ship Reappears

That cargo ship that mysteriously disappeared from the English Channel last month has been found by the Russian navy. The Arctic Sea was intercepted last night off the Cape Verde Islands.

Update: The Russian navy was questioning the captain and crew of the Maltese-flagged freighter Arctic Sea after the ship, missing for three weeks, was found off the west coast of Africa.

She Fed The Bears

No, she really did. The coroner said the official cause of death of Donna Munson was multiple trauma due to a bear attack. The manner of death was ruled to be accidental. Somehow, it was accidental that the bear managed to, er, eat her.

MX-5 AKA Miata

The two seat convertible sports car MX-5 used to be known as the Mazda Miata. I care because one brother is on his second. Then, in response to this post, another brother recently asked out of the blue "What car would you car geeks recommend to help me understand car mechanics and driving dynamics?"

Aha, the chance to pass on automotive enlightenment! I've owned a Triumph TR-6 and a flotilla of VWs. My other brother (a Jeep guy and oddly enough, Mazda guy too) and I both said, "Mazda Miata". "Aww", whined other brother, "I want a hairy chested man's car like James May drove top-down in the rain on Top Gear". Er, that would be a TR-6. Enter the Prince of Darkness. Jeep bro and I looked at each other. This was so wrong on so many levels.

The TR-6 is a wonderful idea of a sportscar. Especially the wooden dashboard and the mellifluous sound of the inline 6. But a TR-6, like any of it's British contemporaries, was Quixotically designed and incompetently assembled. And vice-versa. For someone who has never really turned a wrench, let alone a Whitworth wrench, a TR-6 can be an expensive and frustrating experience. Even a well-restored example requires constant attention by somebody knowledgeable.

Enter the Mazda Miata. Prince of Darkness begone! The Miata is the classic British roadster writ in Japanese. Which means English two-seat convertible goodness built with bulletproof Japanese reliability. No wonder they sold so many.

Here's Jeremy Clarkson on the MX-5 in today's Times. Put up with him through page 1, page 2 is where he starts on the Miata.