But Where's The Little Heart Symbol?

For a couple of moments there, my friend, who has a heart condition, thought he had finally found the ideal meal for himself!

I said, maybe you should read the ingredients.

He had a salad.

Nice To See....

....that this beautiful little 1880's house has been left intact.

Or has it....?

Looking around, however, shows that they've added a massive amount of space above ad behind.

Red line shows the original size of the house.

At least you don't really notice the addition that much.

Unlike some in the neighbourhood that obviously said "Aw Hell, we'll keep the old building if we have to, but we're gonna slap a stinkin' glass box to it."

What's With Those Climate Deniers?

At the risk of alienating half of my faithful readers, with the upcoming Climate Change conference in New York, here is my take on why climate change skeptics might be...uhhhh.....skeptical.

In the following graphs, I have compared changes in global temperature to changes in CO₂ (the alleged ring leader of the heat trapping gasses) concentrations. 

[Temperature data is from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies and CO₂ data is from the U.S. Department of Commerce / National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration / NOAA Research.]

The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - the UN's body that publishes the various climate change reports) has stated the concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere is the key - and essentially only - driver of temperature changes.  They have been saying this - quite forcefully - for decades.

And the first graph certainly supports that correlation.

The red line depicts changes in global temperature from the long term average, using a five year rolling average to smooth out short term fluctuations.  Or weather as we like to call it. 

The blue line depicts CO₂ concentrations in parts per million, PPM.  The CO₂ line looks to be straight, but the year over year increases are just very consistent.

And for the last 35 years the two do seem to move in lock step.  I don't need a big, fancy climate model to see that.


Okay, so let's zoom in, eh, on the last 15 years or so.

Same pattern.  Same correlation.

But one of the major pitfalls of looking at data like this is mistaking correlation for causation.  Just because two sets of data are correlated does not necessarily mean one is causing or driving the other.

Which is what I think the IPCC has done.

They state emphatically that CO₂ and only CO₂ is responsible for global temperature increase.

"Could it possibly be due to solar activity?"
"No!"
"What about the El Niño effect?
"No!"
"Changing Jet Stream?"
"No!"

Okay.....

The next graph shows the predictable increase in CO₂ concentration over the last seven or eight years.

 

And this is where the IPCC models predict imminent disaster if this trend continues.  Because we can easily see what their models will predict for temperature increases for those eight years - and beyond.   OMG!

But.......wait for it......big finish.......

Here's what actually happened.

Temperatures have remained essentially constant during that time.  What?

This is what the climate heretics have been saying for the last decade - are you sure it is CO₂ driving temperature change?  Could there be something else?

Recently, the IPCC did have to admit that of their 117 climate models, 114 got it wrong.  Ouch.

But, supporters say, this is the hottest it's been in 200 years.

Absolutely agree.

But the key question is; is CO₂ driving it?  Or could it be something else?


In the statistics business, confusing correlation with causation has a name.  It's called "Ice Cream Sales Cause Shark Attacks!"

Because if you only look at the data, as ice cream sales increase, so do shark attacks.  As sales drop off, so do shark attacks.  Every year. Year after year.  Oh my God, for the love of humanity, we must stop selling ice cream! 

The obvious point here being, there is something else driving both of these.  And coincidentally, it's called temperature.  Oh my God, for the love of humanity, we must stop the temperature from increasing!  

D'oh!

"Are You Coming Out Soon?""

This dog sat and stared in the door, and at me - but not necessarily at me - the entire time I was at this restaurant.

Well not the entire time.  He got tired after a while.

And then assumed this pose for the last half of my visit.

His master wasn't going to get out that door without him.......

Somebody's Going To Get A Surprize....

 

 

....if they bought one of these condo's, on the right, from the plans - when they find their floor to ceiling windows are, in fact....





Concrete

"Martha!"

Good News?

Hmmmm......I thought this old girl was looking pretty beat up just a while ago.  I don't remember her looking this good.

Click I'm Afraid I Will Be..... for a look not so long ago.

Or here, if you are too lazy to click....

Did somebody add a coat of paint?

Yeah.  But only on one side.

Just like I only polish the front of my shoes.

So maybe this old girl is not as doomed as I thought.

Finally!

The Aga Khan Museum is finally getting ready to open.

Back when I had a place to go each morning, I watched as this impressive site was being built.  By looking out my office window.

Because at the time I had nothing better to do was extremely efficient in my job, I had some spare time for a few posts about this facility.

For a walk down memory lane, here are a few of them;

The Aga Is Coming!
Told Ya
Timber!
Pitter Patter, Let's Git At 'er
This Is Not your Government's Project


Wow, a lot of posts.  Good thing I'm retired and don't waste my time posting drivel anymore.

Maybe There Is Something To It



It happens all the time to me.  Somebody will come up to me and say, "Did anyone tell you that you look like...."

"I know.....Tom Cruise."

"Uhhhhh. no.  One of the guys from Men In Black."

"....Oh....."

So three guesses who it is and the first two don't count.

Uhhhhhhh......no.

Hmmm.....maybe they got something there?

But the freakin' guy on the left has more hair that that other, sad dude.

But the more important question is; how can I parlay this into chicks, booze and good times....?

True Class!

When it comes to Mayor Rob Ford, leave it to The Toronto Star to always take the high road.

Ford has just been admitted to hospital, diagnosed with a tumor in his abdomen. Biopsy results won't be known for a week, but his father died of colon cancer in 2006.

So there is concern everywhere.

Well, not everywhere.

Some columnists think this is potentially good news for their once Golden Girl, Olivia Chow.

First of all, these guys make me sick, to be this insensitive, with Ford's life in potential jeopardy.

And second of all, and most importantly, if this guy really thinks - if Rob Ford must pull out of the mayor's race - that any of his supporters would now vote for a tax and spend socialist, he's the one who is sick.

Which is making me sick.

I guess the Toronto Star is contagious.....

Canada's Pride And Joy

As June Cleaver might - or might not - have said "You're being a bit hard on the Bieber tonight."

Come on, cut the guy some slack.

So you walk into a room and people start boo you.

I think anyone's reaction would be to strip down to your underwear and strut around.

I've done it countless times.

I don't think replacing "room" with "televised Fashion show" should change anything.

Jesus Is In The House

Well, in the city anyway.

In the Jesus In The City Parade.  Right outside my balcony.

Boy, if you come up with a even a thought, they'll turn it into a parade in this city.

And I don't know if it was a joyful sound, but they were certainly making a loud sound unto the Lord.

Don't they ever give this guy a break?

But the floats just kept on coming.

And in what must certainly be seen as a miracle, here are some people that actually like Rob Ford.

Hallelujah! Bells the bells ring out!

On second thought, why not just march by in silence.

Some of us are trying to sleep on a Sunday morning.

Here's a thought;  How about next year doing a Jesus In Another-Part-Of The City Parade?

Wow! I'm A Fan Again!

Hey! Mr. LEGO Guy!

Wow, petty impressive.

How do these university kids do it?!


Errrr....On A Budget, Of Course

OMG! He Might Do It!

Now, this is the National Post this time, but it says many people think politicians have their heads in the clouds - or somewhere else where the sun doesn't get to - and want someone who sounds and thinks like they do. 

Minus the booze and crack.

He's a millionaire, of course, but he talks more like a thousandaire.   Which is what a lot of the people supporting him are.

And I don't think many of his supporters drink lattes or wear fine Italian leather shoes.  If they do, they pronounce it Eye-talian.

Okay, I've drifted from the theme of the article, but the idea is the same.

Can't wait to see what the Globe comes up with....

Do Not Try This At Home

Or anywhere, for that matter.

This is not a trained professional.

This is....well that's a good question.


Actually, be careful, this could happen to you.

This man was walking along, minding his own business when he suddenly flew into the air.  Luckily the wind blew him over a pool.  Or it could have ended much worse.

Actually, later in the evening, it did end much worse.