Climate change data dumped  —  SCIENTISTS at the University of East Anglia (UEA) have admitted throwing away much of the raw temperature data on which their predictions of global warming are based.  —  It means that other academics are not able to check basic calculations said to show …

Ho hum.  Just another would-be domestic terrorist found with a bomb-making lab.  Nothing to see here, just move along  —  Gee, for some reason, this story hasn't managed to make it out of the local news and into the national headlines: … Of course, if this had been a Muslim extremist caught …

Why Dick Cheney Should Run in 2012  —  From the magazine issue dated Dec 7, 2009  —  Gallup is not asking about him in its prospective polling, and his daughter Liz's recent Fox News Sunday allusion to a presidential run provoked good-natured laughter, as though the suggestion were just a one-liner.

Veteran Times sportswriter Mike Penner dead  —  Mike Penner, the veteran Los Angeles Times sportswriter who made international headlines in 2007 when he announced he was transsexual and began working under the byline “Christine Daniels,” has died.  —  Colleagues said today that Penner …

U.S. Will Push Mortgage Firms to Reduce More Loan Payments  —  The Obama administration on Monday plans to announce a campaign to pressure mortgage companies to reduce payments for many more troubled homeowners, as evidence mounts that a $75 billion taxpayer-financed effort aimed at stemming foreclosures is foundering.

By January, he will have accomplished more than any first-year president since Franklin Roosevelt.  —  About one thing, left and right seem to agree these days: Obama hasn't done anything yet.  Maureen Dowd and Dick Cheney have found common ground in scoffing at the president's “dithering.”

4,000 Patriots Rally With James O'Keefe at St. Louis Tea Party Protest  —  4,000 patriots rallied in St. Louis today.  —  James O'Keefe of ACORN-busting fame, headlined the Holiday Tea Party Protest.  —  Robert Brenner took this photo from the top level of a parking garage next to the park.

Protecting the Forests, and Hoping for Payback  —  SISTERS, Ore. — A patch of ponderosa pines here in the Deschutes National Forest has been carefully pruned over the last few years to demonstrate the United States Forest Service's priorities in the changing West: improving forest health …

Mann to be investigated by Penn State University review  —  This statement was released by Penn State here.  Oddly, while mentioning the NAS report, there is no mention of the Congressional commissioned Wegman report, which you can see here full report (PDF).  Or for a quick read the fact-sheet (PDF).

Diplomacy 101  —  We were thrilled when President Obama decided to plunge fully into the Middle East peace effort.  He appointed a skilled special envoy, George Mitchell, and demanded that Israel freeze settlements, Palestinians crack down on anti-Israel violence and Arab leaders demonstrate their readiness to reach out to Israel.

Sarah Palin Quits 5K Charity Run, Too  —  Yikes, did we imply Sarah Palin was acting like a “normal 'Merikun” in eastern Washington State for Thanksgiving?  Sorry about that!  Palin was just being a Prima Donna nutcase, like always.  —  First, enjoy this local-news video report about Sarah's visit to the …