Antarctic volcanoes identified as a possible culprit in glacier melting - International Herald Tribune

Antarctic volcanoes identified as a possible culprit in glacier melting - International Herald Tribune: "Another factor might be contributing to the thinning of some of the Antarctica's glaciers: volcanoes.
In an article published Sunday on the Web site of the journal Nature Geoscience, Hugh Corr and David Vaughan of the British Antarctic Survey report the identification of a layer of volcanic ash and glass shards frozen within an ice sheet in western Antarctica"


*** This debate is far from over

WorldNetDaily: Subprime Nation

WorldNetDaily: Subprime Nation: "Since it began to give credit ratings to nations in 1917, Moody's has rated the United States triple-A. U.S. Treasury bonds have been seen as the most secure investment on earth. When crises erupt, nervous money seeks out the world's great safe harbor, the United States. That reputation is now in peril."

* This is the column that Ernie read on the air on Thursday that generated so much attention.

My response to the smoking email below

Sorry I just don’t agree and I can easily tell you why;

I do believe that the government has a right to do what they’re doing I just don’t think what they’re doing is right. This is an important distinction.
Your point about health inspectors is not the same as smoking. The reason that health inspectors go into restaurants is because customers have no way to know whether or not the food is being prepared properly or if the facilities are safe. This is why the government steps in because the consumer is helpless to know the quality of what is being served and therefore has no ability to make an educated choice. But in the case of smoking the there is no unknown factor that the government needs to step in to protect the consumer from. If you know there is smoking on site you move onto the next restaurant. You know what the dangers are and you are able to make a clear choice to embrace them or avoid them. This does not exist with food safety or building safety. See the difference?
Overall air quality affects us all so there is no ability to make a choice so the government steps in. See the difference?
Every citizen travels in a vehicle just about every day. Again, every citizen, so choice does not apply here either?
We allow topless bars and tell the customers to go elsewhere if they don’t like it. We don’t say I want to go there because I like the food so they have to get rid of those dancers. See the difference?
We let that caller make his point for roughly two minutes. I only talked over him when he would not let me speak. But you think I was being rude because you agree with him and disagree with me.
You said, “Smoking harms everyone exposed to. Period. Junk food harms only the consumer of it.” You can choose not to be exposed to the smoke by choosing a non smoking restaurant and therefore your point in this statement supports my argument, not yours. If you have a choice, just like the junk food, then the government should stay out.
In order for all of your statements to be anything but a “straw man” you have to prove to me that allowing a business owner to open a smoking restaurant effects all citizens without choice. Can you do that? If not, you’re statement about junk food, must be true, and therefore our argument must be true; which would then mean that a slippery slope is a perfect analogy.

Thanks,

Jay Mcfarland

AM 1080 KRLD
CBS Radio

An email from a listener regarding Smoking

Hi Jay and Ernie. Man, you guys are way off base with your "slippery slope" logic on smoking bans (eg if smoking is ban, then why not ban junk food or alcohol, etc).

If I follow your slippery logic that government has no right telling owners how to run their restaurants, then we don't need to have health inspectors and rules on how to prepare and serve food. If a business owner wants to cut corners on employee hygiene, cleanliness, cooking, and refrigeration, that should be their right according to your logic. And, if customers get sick, by your logic, they can just go to another restaurant next time ...if they survive.

If a government has no right telling owners how to run their restaurants, then we don't need rules saying they can't hire topless female waitresses. If someone has a problem with topless female waitresses, they don't have to go in and can just go to another restaurant.

If a government has no right telling owners how to run their restaurants, then we don't need building codes to protect the safety of customers from fire and other risks. If they get hurt, they can go to another restaurant, if they survive.

And, who knows where your logic would end? If we take it to another level, auto manufacturers shouldn't be required to install seat belts and air bags. If someone has a problem with it, they don't have to buy the car.

Air quality is a recognized concern of government. Whether it be car exhaust, industrial exhaust, or smoker's exhaust, government can and should regulate pollution for the health of everyone. Your straw man arguments of if we ban smoking then where will it end ...junk food? alcohol? is a false argument. Smoking harms everyone exposed to. Period. Junk food harms only the consumer of it. Excessive alcohol harms only the consumer (assuming they don't drive drunk). So, you guys are just way off base.

Your logic is flawed. And you were rude to the caller (don't recall his name, but he was a real estate agent) and would hardly let him talk. And when he didn't agree with something you said, you kept shouting over him to the point of hyper-ventilating. Your credibility and manner on this issue is about as good as World Wrestling Entertainment. Both are entertaining but hardly believable.

In the future, try listening to your callers and keep an open mind ...you'd be surprised what you can learn.

History of Global Warming: very interesting

Meridian Magazine : : Print: "All in a Good Cause
By Orson Scott Card
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in The Rhinoceros Times of Greensboro, North Carolina, and is used here by permission."