Armchair Weathermen

While shoveling the 4 inches of newly fallen snow out of my sidewalk and driveway this morning, I relished in a beautiful thought: I love the winter.

Most people say I'm crazy, especially when I'm shoveling snow, but I really do love it. I love it when the sun breaks out onto the freshly fallen snow. I love the chill in the air. Heck, I even like the exercise I get removing the stuff.

And since living in northern Virginia, I have learned to appreciate another aspect: the impact of a good snowfall on the anti-global warming crowd.

Nothing brings out the best in the anti-global warming crowd like a good snowfall. I love the comments you here from the grumbling, shoveling masses: "I sure wish global warming would get here."; "Where the hell is Al Gore to help me with this?", etc. etc.

Living in Virginia, snow really isn't all the common. But it's not unheard of either. You can usually count on a significant amount 1 to 3 times a year. It will delay schools and aggrevate your commute. If you are really lucky, you might have enough to alow you to play hooky from work. I like it for a number of reasons. However, as undoubtable proof that global warming is a big hoax, it most certainly is not.

Sure, I laugh when people make the aforementioed comments. But I wonder, is it pure sarcasm, or do I sense a hint of indoctrination in those remarks? If it's the latter, then I would like you to play close attention to the following words: The snow in your driveway is no more 'proof' that global warming doesn't exist as Hurricane Katrina was 'proof' that it does.

Let me put it this way: if Al Gore was an advocate against global warming, he would use the snow in your driveway as evidence of it's ludicrousness.

BTW, for all you people who are either upset or joyous that I am picking on the anti-global warming crowd, word of warning: the other side is going to get their's too. It just happens that it's January and the El Ninophobes are hibernating. Just wait. I'm even grumpier in July.

What bothers me about the whole debate is not what people think about global warming. It's the fact that there is so much punditry about it that nobody really knows what the truth is. For every 'fact' posted, a 'rebuttal' pops up somewhere else. There is really only one fact about global warming that I am 100 percent sure of, and I will share that with you right now:

There is alot of money vested in both sides of the global warming debate. The media folk who show up on television to interpret the facts for you have no interest in telling you the voter the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. They have an agenda, and they will use this and whatever political footballs they can find to enact that agenda, or distract you from it.

What's the truth about global warming? Heck if I know. I'm no scientist, I'm just some dummy with an opinion, no different from Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity (or if you sit on the other side of the political couch, John Stewart and Bill Mahre). I've never done a lick of research on it. Go find out for yourself and make up your own mind. Who knows, you may author the next global warming sensation, make millions of dollars and get subsequently ripped apart by your critics.

Have fun!

A Virgin No More

I have been exposed to various sides of blogging for years. Mostly as a second-party consumer, sometimes as a third-party observer. Never as an active participant.

To be honest, just the word "blog" makes me want to throw a shoe at someone.

However, I have realized something over the years that compells me to start speaking up. That fact is this: I have a system of thought that is largely unrepresented. I am a morally conservative agnostic socialist-libertarian. My views regarding family, politics, work, leisure, etc., are not in synch with the average anybody. While some groups speak my views on some issues quite eloquently, I find that those same groups often like to relieve themselves on other views that I hold quite dear. Examples:

• I believe in morals, marriage, and the importance of the family unit. I also beleive that religion does not have a monopoly on these beliefs and that people from all walks of life are free to decide for themselves what these things mean to them, and how they choose to participate.
• I believe strongly in the right to bear arms. I also believe strongly in my right to not exercise that right, and find some gun control laws perfectly reasonable.
• I believe in fiscal conservatism in governments. I also think that taxes are far too low in this country for the amount of things that we the people expect our government to do. In reference to this point, if public education is considered service whose benefits far outweigh the costs (which I most certainly do), then I think it's pretty silly to believe that medical care is not.
• I believe in the decriminalization of all consensual crimes, ie. drug-use, prostitution, gambling, pornography, etc. I also think that if you take drugs you're an idiot, if you lose your house in a poker game, you deserve to be homeless, and if your spouse catches you engaging in prostitution, he/she has a right to take you for everything you're worth in the divorce.
• I believe in respecting others and approaching everything in a sound, rational manner. I also believe that real change only occurs through chaos. My greatest respect and admiration goes to those who, in a non-violent way, integrate a little chaos into the system to get people to show you their true colors.

So, as I duck the onslaught of incoming Nikes, Reeboks, and Dr. Martens currently in crash-course trajectory to my head, I embark into the unknown: active participation in the worldy debate on, whatever. May we all learn something, especially me.