Good for the New York Times for writing an article about the increasingly vocal group of scientists who are saying “Enough! with the global warming alarmism”. One thing missing from the article is any mention of the intimidation that scientists who have spoken out have received from politicians. To see what I mean, click here.

From a Rapt Audience, a Call to Cool the Hype

While reviewers tended to praise the book and movie, vocal skeptics of global warming protested almost immediately. Richard S. Lindzen, a climatologist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, who has long expressed skepticism about dire climate predictions, accused Mr. Gore in The Wall Street Journal of “shrill alarmism.”

Some of Mr. Gore’s centrist detractors point to a report last month by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations body that studies global warming. The panel went further than ever before in saying that humans were the main cause of the globe’s warming since 1950, part of Mr. Gore’s message that few scientists dispute. But it also portrayed climate change as a slow-motion process.

It estimated that the world’s seas in this century would rise a maximum of 23 inches — down from earlier estimates. Mr. Gore, citing no particular time frame, envisions rises of up to 20 feet and depicts parts of New York, Florida and other heavily populated areas as sinking beneath the waves, implying, at least visually, that inundation is imminent.

No word yet from Ellen Goodman on why the parent company of the Boston Globe would give such precious ink to a bunch of Holocaust deniers. I’m sure she is outraged, from wherever her patch of land on the moral high ground is located.

Ernie is Dead is the title of Michael’s latest Dispatch from Iraq, don’t miss it!

Also, check out this post by guest blogger at Michelle Malkin, none other than Matt Burden, aka Blackfive. It is titled Air Force War Funding Talking Points and it features a Someone You Should Know Matt did on Pundit Review Radio featuring the heroics of Jason Cunningham.

Check out this video from Pamela Hess, UPI reporter who covers the Pentagon. Rarely do you see such raw emotion, honesty and perspective from a journalist. This is tremendously moving video. We need more journalists like Pamela Hess.

Jules Crittenden and Blackfive have more.

We will be on WRKO this evening at approximately 8:45-9pm EST following the Boston Celtics basketball game.

We will have another special edition of Someone You Should Know, our weekly collaboration with the #1 milblog Blackfive to bring the inspirational true stories of the men and women fighting for us around the world to the radio.

At 9:20pm, Michael Yon will join us live from Iraq. Michael has traveled around the country in recent weeks and we will get his perspective of the situation on the ground. Michael is a truly unique journalist, providing first hand reports unlike any other coming out of Iraq today. He is a talented writer and storyteller, and also an accomplished photographer. Below are some of the photos that are available for sale at Michael’s great web site.

If you have the means to support Michael’s work, either through the purchase of some of these great photos, or a direct contribution, you can do so here. Michael is a truly independent journalist, and he is solely funded by his readers.

Strength and Compassion

Lawrence in Arabia

Ghost Walk

Cathedral

What is Pundit Review Radio?

Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week Kevin and Gregg give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. Hailed as “Groundbreaking” by Talkers Magazine, this unique show brings the best of the blogs to your radio every Sunday evening from 7-10 pm EST on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.

Oh the audacity. Barack Obama’s campaign message is coming together nicely,

“Do as I say, not as I do”.

Even fits on a bumper sticker! He talks a good game about a different kind of politics, about ethics and transparency but what little we do know about Barack Obama shows that he has made a series of bad decisions when it comes to ethics.

Chicago Tribune: Questions stalk Obama’s portfolio

Controversy over Obama’s financial dealings could be particularly troubling to the senator because of his advocacy of high ethical standards, both in the state legislature and Congress. He also has benefited from a reformist image.

So, what’s the problem with Barack’s investments?

The investments that stirred concern involve two speculative stocks with business interests influenced by the government: AVI BioPharma, a biotech company, and SkyTerra Communications, a satellite communications company….AVI was developing a drug to fight avian flu, and two weeks after Obama purchased the stock he introduced legislation to increase funding to combat the virus, which was spreading in Asia at the time. SkyTerra received government permission to build a national wireless network on the day Obama purchased his shares.

Can you imagine the outcry if a Republican did this? Headlines would be talking about a “culture of corruption”, cozy relationships with K Street and industry lobbyists, they would be howling about Two Americas, one for the insiders and one for the rest of us chumps.

Barack’s explanations also leave something to be desired, so you think the media would be digging even harder,

Obama has said he was not involved in selecting the stocks and said they were held through a “quasi-blind trust.”

A “quasi-blind trust”?? It guess it depends on the definition of “quasi”? So far, the national media is largely silent, especially the network evening news. I suspect that will change, at least at CBS, who just hired a longtime Clinton ally as executive producer in yet another attempt to breathe life into little Katie Couric.

Will this story get the attention it deserves or will it be quickly forgotten like Barack’s shady land deal? You remember that, it was all over the papers. Wait…what, you hadn’t heard about Barack saving $300,000 thanks to a connected political campaign contributor who has since been indicted? No, really, how did you miss it? You must have blinked.

To catch up on Ethical Audacity #1, click here.

The reason I ask this question is because of some shocking news I heard today. Having been out of town all week, I had missed that Alan Greenberg, sports writer for the Hartford Courant, had passed away at the age of 55. Alan was a fixture in the Boston sports scene. He was a regular guest on FSN New England and sports radio powerhouse WEEI. FSN has a video tribute here.

Boston Sports Media (BSM) was the first place I went to catch up on the news. BSM is a great web site, we have linked to it for years in our Sports links to the right. BSM is part blog, part aggregation site for all sports articles and columns from Boston (New England really). What I found did not disappoint, an amazing tribute to Alan Greenberg from his friends in the media. This in and of itself was interesting because the sports media, more so than the political media, tend to look down their noses at blogs. As much as they would be loathe to admit it, they all read BSM.

Anyway, Bruce Allen, the proprietor of the site, has received dozens of emails from sports media people from around the country each offering their personal tributes to Alan. I urge you to read them. It brought me to tears. Here are just a couple of example of what you will find,

About a year and a half ago , I found myself returning from a Patriots game and Alan was seated next to me on the flight. I was facing some important career decisions and also beginning to think about a family and the challenges of balancing both. Alan was so honest and articulate about my strenghths and weaknesses and the joys of what really mattered most, especially to him. It was the most respectful and insightful conversation I had with anyone during that time and I have often thought back to his wise words.
-Wendy Nix, ESPN, former local sportscaster in Boston

Let me echo what I’m sure you’ve heard many times: he relished being a dad. The idea that he leaves behind three kids is appalling. It’s a loss to our business. He was a talent. Even more, he was an intellect. We can’t replace him.
-Bob Ryan, Boston Globe

I first met Alan when I took over as Ted’s full-time producer, and he told me something that I will never forget and still abide by to this day: “Make sure sports is a job and don’t let it be the only thing you are passionate about. There’s more to life than just watching sports, and it’s easy to forget that in such a sports-crazed town like Boston.”
Marc Merriman, Producer, WEEI

I was wrong, Alan Greenberg was not a sports writer. He was a husband and father who worked as a sports writer. He leaves behind three young children, one of whom was to have his Bar Mitzvah this Saturday. Alan had prepared some remarks for that special occasion,

“I’ve made my living writing about the accomplishments of great athletes, but my greatest accomplishment, my and your mother’s greatest joy, is to introduce you and your sisters, Allison and Abby, as our children.”

Again, I urge you to visit Boston Sports Media and scroll down through the tributes. The tribute has become so moving that even Alan’s grieving wife sent Bruce a note about it.

If you don’t rethink your own life and your priorities after reading this, you are beyond help.

Donations can be made in the name of Greenberg Childrens Trust, at Citizens Bank; 450 Boston Post Road; Sudbury, Mass., 01776.

I have had the pleasure of being a guest on Jamie Johnson’s radio show in Iowa numerous times on the Faith and Freedom network. He was at CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) at the keynote speech given by Newt Gingrich and had this to say:

OUT OF THE WILDERNESS
By Jamie Johnson
www.IowaNewsTalk.com

At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) March 1-3 in Washington D.C., many Republican presidential candidates received applause somewhere on the scale of “polite” to “exuberant.” But the largest, loudest, and longest ovation by far was for the former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich.

When he was introduced on Saturday afternoon as the final speaker of the conference, the 6,000+ attendees in the ballroom gave him an ovation for the ages. Rising to their feat, standing on their chairs, screaming themselves hoarse, they raised the decibel level in the Omni Shoreham to that of a 747 jumbo jet. And the ovation wouldn’t end! Both the length of it and the number of people pressing toward him just to touch him made Rudy Giuliani’s welcome seem rather mild. I have been to political events for nearly 30 years, but I have never seen anything like what I witnessed at CPAC when Newt stepped into view.

entire article here

I too had the honor and pleasure of introducing the GOP presidential candidates at CPAC (Tancredo, Hunter, Brownback, Giuliani, and Romney). But it was clear to me that they are all on the junior varsity squad. Newt is definately the captain of the varsity and candidate who most resembles Reagan ideologically and philisophically.For whatever it is worth, I predict that he will announce his candidacy on the anniversary of the “Contract with America” around Labor Day and will defeat Hillary in the general.

Check out Michael Yon’s most recent Dispatch from Iraq.

Michael has traveled around the entire country in recent weeks. What he is doing is truly unique and incredibly valuable for all of us here at home who want to know what is happening on the ground. If you, like me, are sick of reporting from Iraq consisting of reports of car bombs and casualties only, we need to step up and support independent journalists like Michael Yon. What he is doing is not just incredibly dangerous, it is incredibly expensive. If you are able to do so, please support his work.

I just returned last night from a wonderful week in Florida with my family. A few observations before regular blogging resumes…

1. There is nothing better than sitting by the pool and reading about record cold and fifty year low temps.

2. I forgot how AWFUL drivers in Florida are. I lived in Miami for three years after college, but my recollection of the driving wasn’t anything close to what I witnessed this week. The vacation included a trip from Ft. Lauderdale area to Orlando, a three hour drive. NASCAR must have something to do with it, why else would so many drivers try get thisclose, virtually drafting behind you? The use of a turn signal, I think I saw one after six days. Red lights? Those mean hurry up before the light at the other side of the intersection turns green. If you actually hit the gas at the first sighting of a green light without looking both ways, you are taking your life in your own hands.

3. Disney’s Magic Kingdom is a wonderful place. Spotless, efficient, family friendly. The park is crowded everyday but the lines for the rides, even when they appear long, move quite quickly. They have a series of repeatable processes there that make that park go.

4. Even with all the recent headaches, Jet Blue is a wonderful airline. Comfortable seats, two flights that departed and arrived on time, friendly staff. Traveling with two young children is a challenge and I can’t imagine doing it on any other airline.

5. I saved the most important for last. Be thankful everyday for the health of your family. My daughter was born seven weeks early but has been completely healthy. We were very lucky, and we know it. Don’t take that for granted. I saw the amazing people from the Make-A-Wish Foundation at Disney and it stopped me right in my tracks. No kid should have to deal with such serious illness.

A terrific article in The Weston (CT ) Forum on an 83-year old blogger named Robert Stein. Written by Patricia Gay, the article does a great job capturing not just the life and times of Mr. Stein, which were interesting on their own, but his motivations for blogging and observations on politics. This was a pleasure to read.

At 83, Mr. Stein is happily retired and could spend his days on the golf links or sunning himself by the babbling brook in his front yard. But no, there is blogging on the computer to be done…

…Mr. Stein explains that when he retired he still felt the need to express himself, so he started writing op-ed pieces and letters to the New York Times. ??Friends kidded me about becoming a prolific letter to the editor writer,? he said.

Then one day he wrote an op-ed piece about how John F. Kennedy would have been appalled by today??s politicians. The Times decided not to publish it. That??s when he discovered that the need to express himself was ??backing up? on him, as he put it. So Mr. Stein??s son, Keith, encouraged him to write a blog.

And here he is, Connecting The Dots at 83 years young, The Blogtogenarian.