Dann Todd's 'Dain Bramage'^**

Sometimes An Extended Quote Is Required

"Between the year A.D. 1 and the year 1850, volcanos and fluctuations in the heat from the sun were responsible for temperature changes, but these changes were much less pronounced than the warming caused by man-made pollution in the years since the mid-19th century. This gets to the point of the hysteria. Scientific Man in all his manufactured glory can't bear the thought that he might not, after all, be as powerful as a volcano or a solar flare. How many learned degrees does a volcano have, after all? The idea that forces of the universe greater even than Scientific Man may be responsible for the cyclical changes is unbearable.

Hence 'global warming' has become the religion---the opiate, you might say---of Scientific Man, a doctrine supported by quackery, supposition and speculation, and as closely held and as ferociously defended as the Virgin Birth and the Resurrection at a gathering of devout Christians. You could ask the Rt. Rev. Al Gore, the presiding archbishop of the First Church of the Boiling Globe. The bishops and monsignors of the church treat dissent harshly, though not yet at the stake." ---Wesley Pruden

by Dann 

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Milton Friedman.....One Of My Heros

Via the Volokh Conspiracy comes word of this Wall Street Journal interview with Nobel laureate Milton Friedman.....and his wife.

Not only is he gracious, he is modest, and he appears to have a great relationship with a wonderful woman. Every man should be so lucky. Thank goodness I'm that lucky.

Mrs. Friedman settled herself in a chair, her eyes twinkling, and my questioning resumed. If they were to throw a small dinner party--indoors!--for Mr. Friedman's favorite economists (dead or alive), who'd be invited? Gone was his tonguetied-ness of a moment ago, as he reeled off this answer: "Dead or alive, it's clear that Adam Smith would be No. 1. Alfred Marshall would be No. 2. John Maynard Keynes would be No. 3. And George Stigler would be No. 4. George was one of our closest friends." (Here, Mrs. Friedman, also an economist of distinction, noted sorrowfully that "it's hard to believe that George is dead.")

Had it helped their marriage--now in its 68th year--that they are both economists? Rose (nodding affirmatively): "Uh-unh. But I don't argue with him . . . very much." Milton (guffawing): Don't believe her! She does her share of arguing . . ." Rose (interrupting): ". . . and I'm not competitive, so I haven't tried to compete with you." Milton (uxoriously): "She's been very helpful in all of my work. There's nothing I've written that she hasn't gone over first."

He also thought going into Iraq was a mistake. "But, having said that, once we went in to Iraq, it seems to me very important that we make a success of it." Quite a man, no matter what standards you care to measure him against.

by Dann 

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You Know You Are An Experienced Parent....

....when this little gem makes you reminiscent.....rather than making you feel like reaching for the trash can so you can hurl. Ah, the peculiar, vivid, and varied forms of stench that can come out of something that looks so sweet and innocent. And then they play with it.

H/T to Robb Allen.....er....his wife, actually.

by Dann 

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