Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Climategate Fallout: VA Court Orders University to Unbury "Research"

The University of Virginia sure doesn't want to reveal what Michael Mann was up to while he was at their institution collecting beaucoup Federal dollars to show policymakers everywhere that Planet Earth is experiencing unprecedented catastrophic warming caused by human activities, such as using Edison light bulbs, driving motor vehicles, heating water for coffee and bathing, etc., etc., etc. Mann, the author of the notorious hockey-stick temperature graph that conveniently ignored previous global warming episodes caused entirely by Nature, used science fiction instead of hard science to fuel global warming hysteria.


The University has used standard ploys to subvert attempts by law enforcement and private citizens to access the taxpayer-supported research materials that constitute the history of Mann's development of the hockey stick graph, including court appeals to stop Virginia's Attorney General, Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II, from seeing Mann's research; failing to respond to Freedom of Information requests by investigative researchers; supplying unrelated materials or materials in indecipherable formats; erecting bogus financial barriers; etc., etc. The university claims that it doesn't want to "chill" academic research by permitting taxpayers and law enforcers to get a glimpse of the stuff we paid these academics to do. The university doesn't want to get chilly, but if the rest of us carbon-based life forms freeze our buns off next winter because we can't afford fuel because of policies based on fraudulent research findings, well, that's our problem.

On May 16, the Environmental Law Center of a new think tank, the American Tradition Institute:
asked a Prince William County judge, under the Commonwealth’s Freedom of Information Act, to expedite the release of documents withheld by the University of Virginia that pertain to the work of its former environmental sciences assistant professor Dr. Michael Mann.
The judge gave the university until September 21st to show the American Tradition Institute Michael Mann's global warming correspondence and other information. Meanwhile, Virginia's Attorney General awaits a decision by Virginia's Supreme Court on whether he will be permitted to subpoena Mann's research materials to determine whether Mann "violated Virginia’s fraud laws in seeking state funding for research."

__________

Monday, May 30, 2011

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

~Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
__________

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Psalm 66 - Kashif Chohan

A psalm of praise, beautifully sung by Christian singer, Kashif Chohan, in (I believe) the Punjabi language, which is spoken in Northern India and Pakistan.

Enjoy.

.

Punjabi lyrics

Sareyo loko saday rab nu dhan dhan akh key gao (2)
Ohdi ost dey vich sabho khush awaaaz sunao(2)
Saadi jindari nu hayati (2)
App atah farmaway (2)
Saday pairaan nu khudawand tilkan toon bachaway (2)
Ay khudawand tu tey sahnu (2)
Api hai azmaya (2)
Taya tu ehjeya sahnu jeyoon roopay nu taya
Sareyo loko saday rab nu dhan dhan akh key gao
Paani aag vich paaye asi sab (2)
Par khudaya tu ee(2)
Sahnu kad key changey thaan vich app poohnchaya tu ee
Sareyo loko saday rab nu dhan dhan akh key gao
Ohdi ost dey vich sabho khush awaaaz sunao


Psalm 66:

2 Shout joyfully to God, all you on earth; sing of His Glorious Name; give Him glorious praise.
3 Say to God: "How awesome Your deeds! Before Your great strength Your enemies cringe.
4 All on earth fall in worship before You; they sing of You, sing of Your Name!" Selah
5 Come and see the works of God, awesome in the deeds done for us.
6 He changed the sea to dry land; through the river they passed on foot. Therefore let us rejoice in Him,
7 Who rules by might forever, Whose eyes are fixed upon the nations. Let no rebel rise to challenge! Selah
__________

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Farther Along - Brad Paisley

One of my all time favorite gospel songs, sung by West Virginia native, Brad Paisley:

__________

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Psalm 113 - Cappella Clausura

Cappella Clausura is an ensemble of sopranos, altos, and early music instrumentalists who research and bring to light works written by women, especially concentrating on repertoire by women in the cloister, or in clausura, during the Italian baroque period. This astonishingly beautiful piece, performed by Cappella Clausura, was composed by a Benedictine nun of the 16th century, Chiara Cozzolani. The performance begins about 15 seconds into the video.

Latin
1 Laudate pueri Dominum laudate nomen Domini
2 Sit nomen Domini benedictum ex hoc nunc et usque in saeculum
3 A solis ortu usque ad occasum laudabile nomen Domini
4 Excelsus super omnes gentes Dominus super caelos gloria eius
5 Quis sicut Dominus Deus noster qui in altis habitat
6 Et humilia respicit in caelo et in terra
7 Suscitans a terra inopem et de stercore erigens pauperem
8 Ut conlocet eum cum principibus cum principibus populi sui
9 Qui habitare facit sterilem in domo matrem filiorum laetantem


English
1 Praise, children of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.
2 Blessed be the name of the LORD both now and forever.
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting let the name of the LORD be praised.
4 High above all nations is the LORD; above the heavens God's glory.
5 Who is like the LORD, our God enthroned on high,
6 looking down on heaven and earth?
7 The LORD raises the needy from the dust, lifts the poor from the ash heap,
8 Seats them with princes, the princes of the people.
9 The LORD makes a barren woman to dwell in a house, the joyful mother of children.
__________

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Be Not Afraid - John McDermott

One of the most significant features of John Paul II's papacy was his battle against communism, which he conducted not only as a church leader in communist Poland, where he exhorted his fellow Poles to "Be not afraid" in their resistance to communist oppression, but also later as pope.

In a tribute to John Paul II's message promoting freedom and liberty, this hymn was sung at his beatification today. Here the hymn is sung by Celtic tenor John McDermott.



Lyrics

You shall cross the barren desert,
but you shall not die of thirst.
You shall wander far in safety,
though you do not know the way.

You shall speak your words to foreign men,
and and they will understand,
You shall see the face of God and live.

Refrain:
Be not afraid,
I go before you always,
Come follow Me,
and I shall give you rest.

If you pass through raging waters
in the sea, you shall not drown.
If you walk amidst the burning flames,
you shall not be harmed.

If you stand before the pow'r of hell
and death is at your side,
know that I am with you, through it all.

Refrain

Blessed are your poor,
for the Kingdom shall be theirs.
Blest are you that weep and mourn,
for one day you shall laugh.

And if wicked men insult and hate you, all because of Me,
blessed, blessed are you!

Refrain
__________