Turn off the Heat and Put on a Sweater!

TORONTO, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is calling Ontario’s long-term energy plan an insult to all Ontarians.

Warmists now claim that “the missing heat is hiding in the deep oceans”.

Apart from bubbles of heat surrounding big cities, the thermometers and satellites of the world have not shown a warming trend for 17 years. This is in spite of some inspired fiddling with the records by those whose jobs, research grants and reputations depend on their ability to generate alarming forecasts of destructive global warming.

Unveiling The Hobbit Filming Locations

In Los Angeles over the weekend, Tourism New Zealand unveiled the world’s largest pop-up book – the Book of New Zealand – depicting four New Zealand filming locations, along with four actual film sets from the highly anticipated forthcoming motion picture The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

Naïve deal will make Iranian atomic warheads more likely — not less

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The six-month deal between U.S.-led negotiators and Iran will make an Iranian atomic bomb more likely, not less, because it significantly strengthens the very regime in Tehran that so desperately wants nuclear weaponry.

U.N. climate change talks: it’s really all about the money

“Rich countries are still not pledging enough money to begin financing a shift to a cleaner global economy,” reports the Financial Times (FT) in its coverage of the United Nations climate talks in Warsaw that ended with little more than a “vague road map on how to prepare for a global climate pact they’re supposed to adopt in two years.”

Obama’s One-War Posture Invites Two

The latest manifestation of Barack Obama’s serial national security fraud is on display at the moment in East Asia. For much of his presidency, Mr. Obama has contended that the defense budget could be dramatically reduced because, henceforth, the United States would only need sufficient military capability to fight one war at a time.

Harper breaks into song after announcing first official trip to Israel

TORONTO - Prime Minister Stephen Harper basked in the glow of support from members of Canada's Jewish community on Sunday, announcing a first-ever trip to Israel next year and then breaking into song at a gala fundraising dinner.

VIDEO: Latest thrill-seeker fad . . . shark hugging?

I guess running in front of bulls who are willing and quite able to gore you in the butt isn't enough for some people:

100K sign up on federal exchange in November, administration far short of its goals

This morning Bloomberg published a new report suggesting that, during the last month, roughly 100,000 people signed up for insurance at Healthcare.gov. The good news for the administration is that this represents almost a four-fold increase from the month before, when only a little over 26,000 people registered. So, the folks in the White House should be pretty happy, right?

Britain's £85 Billion Bill For Climate Policies

Climate-change policies are expected to cost Britain more than £80 billion by the end of the decade, as critics warn that the global-warming industry is spiralling out of control. The full cost is contained in a study to be published [this week] by the Global Warming Policy Foundation, a think tank founded by Lord Lawson, the former chancellor. Its analysis puts the cost to the British public of climate- change policies at £85 billion in the 10 years to 2021. Benny Peiser, the foundation’s director, who compiled the report, said: “The public has absolutely no idea how staggeringly costly and excessive the Government’s climate initiatives are. Even we were shocked when we discovered the astronomical funding streams and added them up.” --Robert Mendick, The Sunday Telegraph, 1 December 2013

ATM Mayhem

After what happened to me one Saturday, I have a much better understanding of mild cognitive impairment.

A Nuclear Crisis in Search of a Model: Lessons from Iraq

The interim deal signed in Geneva by the P5+1 and Iran is meant only to put “more time on the clock” in order to negotiate a final deal – a comprehensive agreement that will ensure that Iran backs away from its military nuclear ambitions. As the international community embarks on its most difficult proliferation challenge yet, what lessons can be drawn from confrontations with other determined proliferators? What model best applies? In addressing this question, the article looks at encounters by the international community with other proliferators, and concludes that until Iran makes the strategic decision to reverse course in the nuclear realm, there is little chance that a true and lasting deal will be achieved. Continued pressure is the key, and therefore keeping an eye firmly on the leverage at its disposal is the only hope the P5+1 have to compel Iran to finally make that choice.

PM Netanyahu's Statement on Agreement with Iran

Gifts for Gardeners

The problem of gifting gardeners – both the gifted and the black thumb varieties – remains a seasonal predicament. Herewith then a few ideas that have caught the eye over the past few months . . .

The Hobbit Comes to Life in Giant Pop-Up Book in L.A.

New Zealand is being spotlighted in Los Angeles with an innovative walk-through, multi-media display that brings 100% Middle-earth, 100% Pure New Zealand to life. The giant pop-up Book of New Zealand depicts four New Zealand filming locations, along with four actual film sets from the highly anticipated forthcoming motion picture The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, set for release in Canada on December 13, 2013.

President Obama for life?

The trial balloons are floating. They were launched over the weekend. First by the President when he suggested that he might remain in Washington, DC after 2016 so his girls wouldn't have to change schools. Second by one Jonathan Zimmerman, a history Professor writing in the NY Post who opined that Obama needs a third term.

SYRIA: Innocent Children Tragically Killed

Source: The Voice of the Martyrs On November 11th, five young children were killed and many others injured when militants launched two rockets at their Christian school. The children were boarding the school bus to travel home for lunch at the time of the attack. According to VOMC sources, militants often deploy rockets at Christian sites, including schools. Through their attacks, the militants are attempting to displace Christian communities.

Beware of Happy Talk on Immigration

Is immigration reform coming back from the dead?

Camelot and the development of the bureaucratic state

While all of America was shocked, saddened, and dismayed by the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, it was not the death of hope, as some may present it. For me and for many others, the assassination of JFK was an assault on America, and tragic as it was, recovery from that assault began the moment Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as the next Commander in Chief.

Black Friday bargains

Canadians are so lucky. We have a choice of two Black Fridays for a shopping spree.