Penn State professors lack sense of humor?

This just in from Minnesotans for Global Warming:

M4GW Removes "Hide The Decline" YouTube Video

By Elmer on April 20, 2010 9:03 AM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

Climategate Figure Threatens Lawsuit over Satirical YouTube Video 'Hide the decline' - No Cap-and-Trade Coalition Says "Bring it on."

Washington, DC -- Penn State University's Michael Mann, one of the central figures in the Climategate scandal, has threatened legal action against Minnesotans for Global Warming (M4GW) over the group's popular satirical YouTube video "Hide the Decline." The No Cap-and-Trade Coalition, a group that includes M4GW, responded today at an event at the National Press Club, releasing Mann's threatening letter and an updated version of the "Hide the Decline" video.

"We understand why Michael Mann is eager to silence public discussion of the hockey stick scandal," said Jeff Davis of No Cap-and-Trade, "but truth is an absolute defense."

The original "Hide the Decline" video, which had more than 500,000 viewers, was removed today from YouTube by M4GW's Elmer Beauregard. It received national attention when Rush Limbaugh played it on his radio show and was later featured on CBS Evening News in the wake of the Climategate email scandal. "Hide the Decline" parodied Mann, the Penn State professor who is largely responsible for the creation of the now debunked "hockey stick" graph, which purported to show a dramatic spike in average global temperature during the 20th century after 900 years of relatively constant temperature.

The video spotlighted a phrase from one of the central "Climategate" e-mails in which the University of East Anglia's Phil Jones explains how he used Mann's "Nature trick" to "hide the decline" of key temperature data. The hockey stick graph relied on "hiding this decline."

When asked why he removed the video, Beauregard said "Right now, the last thing I need is a lawsuit. I can barely afford my electric bill." Beauregard recently converted M4GW's world headquarters (a recreational vehicle parked in Northern Minnesota) from propane to wood heat. "Mann should be glad to know that we don't burn fossil fuels anymore -- just trees," said Beauregard.

"M4GW was started to poke fun at Global Warming because I knew it was a joke, it's hard to believe in Global Warming when you live in a place like Minnesota. During last winter we all wished we had some global warming, hence the name of our group," said Beauregard. As global warming developed into a political issue, M4GW has tried to educate the public that CO2 is not harmful but part of the natural carbon cycle.

Minnesotans for Global Warming did comply with Mann's cease and desist demand, taking the "Hide the Decline" video down from their YouTube account and webpage. The No Cap and Trade Coalition unveiled a new video they're calling "Hide the Decline 2," however. It was screened at a press conference on April 20th and is available on YouTube and NoCapAndTrade.com.

"I hope Dr. Mann does sue us," Said Davis, "The legal discovery process would give us an opportunity to expose Dr. Mann's research - or lack thereof to public and legal scrutiny."

Speaking at the No Cap-and-Trade Coalition press conference was M4GW spokesman "Chicken Little," a man in a chicken suit who goes to rallies crying "The globe is warming, the globe is warming!"

When asked about the situation, Chicken Little said, "I used to believe in global warming -- of course, I used to believe the sky was falling too, but Elmer set me straight." Chicken Little went on to say, "I think it's horrible that Elmer had to take down the video. Can't a person have a little fun on YouTube anymore? Those Global warming guys sure don't have any sense of humor."

At the press conference, the No Cap-and-Trade Coalition handed out a historical review of the hide-the-decline controversy entitled, "Michael Mann: Defamed or Defined by Hide-the-Decline?" as well as mini-hockey sticks that read "Mann-Made Global Warming: Why We Should Be Worried About the Intellectual Climate."

Fortunately you can still see the video, which has been re-uploaded numerous times:



For Keith: climate change will affect hunting. And the blood sports. And pickerel fishing. So there.

Hitler Learns There's No Grouse Camp This Year

For Keith . . . vaguely related to hunting.



blogging is the real blood sport

When hunting is outlawed, only outlaws will hunt

Two minutes in heaven is better than one minute...

Just spent the weekend with a few of the Cayuga crowd. Had a great time with the Vicar, Frank Zappai and their families. I was sorry to have to head back to Happy Valley, but, it's business time!

Dog humor

For more, go to the DOG JUDO website and watch more!

Get on the woodchuck bandwagon

Here is a hunting-related piece of woodchuck ephemera that is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser. Enjoy.

Unrealistic ESPN hunting programs

Here's an example of one of those unrealistic ESPN hunting shows that simply shows kill after kill after kill, after kill after kill . . . as if that's what hunting's all about. Enjoy.

Barbecue Season

Somehow this just felt appropriate for the blog. Enjoy.

More goodies from the archives

This one also appeared in December of 2005. Enjoy.

Let's Have Some Fun: You Provide the Caption

Hey lads,
Let's experiment with what I'd like to call, an "interactive feature." :-) I provide the photo, and you all provide a caption and/or description of what's going on.

I'll start:

(1) "This is a picture of Keith trying to stay tuned up in between the first and second duck seasons."

Greedy T & "Mine" revisited

Here's Cagey Without Spinelli Backup

You Count the Number of Non-Lethal Shots

What can I say? if Cagey had Spinelli for backup, that black duck would be dead by now.

"Greedy T" and his friends

see "Greedy T" Tantillo and his friends in action...see this:

Or hear him here

One from the archives

I got tired of looking at Linda Lovelace. Josh, you certainly do post some, uh, interesting posts.


This was originally posted to grousers on December 21, 2005. Enjoy.

Another long lost photo from Pete's Black Lake hunt

Hey lads,
Last night I spent a considerable amount of time padding about the dusty archives in my robe and slippers, piecing together a photographic record of our group's various exploits. You can look forward to seeing more of my discoveries in the weeks to come.

This photo is of Pete, Keith, Mike O, and Little Billy returning from their duck opener up at Black Lake. Keith's boat has broken down, so our heroes have had to borrow the S.S. Ankle Deep. As you can see from the photo, everyone got his limit except Pete. heh heh

The owner of the skiff and his young son seem to be taking it all in, while Pete and Keith are both striking in their white fedoras--Keith especially.

later boys.

Is It a Grebe or Not a Grebe? that is the question

Here is one of the more interesting birds taken over the weekend at Black Lake. This is a hen ruddy duck that took nearly twenty dollars' worth of heavy shot to reduce to possession. On Day Two of the hunt I hit it on the wing, and then Captain Eric, Co-Captain Cabin Boy, and I chased it all over Black Lake as it skillfully attempted to elude capture.

The moment of panic in the boat occurred when we had the bird twenty yards off the bow, at which point Keith says to me, "Hmmm. That could be a grebe." At which point I, stationed in the bow, quickly returned my firearm to the port arms position to await further, more positive, identification.

A South Dakota bird identification web site tells us:

A unique small duck, readily identifiable by the male's bluish bill, white face, and long, stiff, upright black tail (See photo at the right). A female is depicted on the photo at the bottom of the page. Ruddy Ducks are often reluctant to fly, and when disturbed, seems to prefer sinking below the surface and swimming away underwater like a grebe. They are nearly incapable of walking on land, with legs and feet set very far back on the body. Ruddy Ducks are generally very tame, making it susceptible to hunting pressures.

Little did Captain Cagey know how intuitively astute he was to the diminutive little duck's gestalt ( . . . I believe Ernie will like that sentence, don't you think?). As per South Dakota's description, the wounded and as yet unidentified little duck proceeded to play underwater hide and seek with us, while Captain Eric patiently following Cagey's "hurry up, slow down, cut the engine" instructions the whole time.

It was during this heroic naval battle that I emptied a box of Heavy Shot at the little sucker, until its susceptibility to hunting pressure caused it finally to succumb to the effects of "one pellet too many syndrome," whereupon it expired dead on the water.

We surfed over to the now lifeless form at which time I scooped it up out of the water and, handing it back to Mssrs. Cagey and Eric, I said somewhat hopefully, yet tentatively, "teal." Yeah right. It was back to shore and a consultation with the duck identification guides (we had two on board), and after a short interim period of deliberative reflection we arrived at the consensus judgement of "hen ruddy duck."

Pretty much a highlight of the weekend for me, and I think a relatively good time was had by all. My thanks to Captains Eric and Cagey for keeping us safe, legal, and within shooting distance of the bird that "when disturbed, seems to prefer sinking below the surface and swimming away underwater like a grebe."

We have a winner!

The winner of the game is none other than the infamous Vassili, aka Frank Zappai, JT, etc, etc and confirmed by Little Billy on this weekends attempted goose hunt. Deep in the bowels of the post by Mr. JT, and in responce to Cabin Boys use of the Websters dictionary, Little Billy confessed to being the one in JT's antiquicated photo thus fessing up to being the infamous Kite Killer, aka Bullhead Bill, aka Little Billy. In Bills defence he has graciously replaced said kites with brand new ones that performed flawlesley later in the day of the afformentioned goose hunt. That's right Bill you and Keith left a little bit too early as the geese did arrive and land right in with the new kites you left behind. One bird was bagged for each kite so the landowner is greatfull for the contribution. Vassili now gets a total of 30 points for bringing the identity our mystery guest to light.

Now for a new game! Joshua likes to ask a lot of questions of all of the bloggers, but does not particulary like to respond. "Need Imput- Family Planning" went on with several readers participating with many good comments, 23 in total, despite having to look at the cross dressing racoon with each responce. To that we received only a picture showing puppies with a decoy and the comment as to which puppy would be his. Despite inquiring and enquiring minds requests for information there has been no feedback from Joshua as to breed, name, date of ownership etc. that his fellow bloggers requested. I ask "Wat's up wit dat?" For 20 points can anyone positivly identify the breed in question. There has been speculation, but no confirmation made by Josh to date. For an additional 20 Points can anyone answer Superior Shooters question as to the name of said puppy. To receive ponts you must explain how you received such intimate information from Josh. Finaly 50 points will be awarded to the individual that can identify whatever that creature was in the picture that Joshua posted when he announced "Breed Selected".

For the love of God, spay and neuter your pets

As per Winchkins's instructions, I googled the excessively large testicled "Tanuki" and got culturally edified. Good for me.

What I don't understand is how a big-balled raccoon dog is such a cultural icon. And why the heck don't they simply snip snip the ferret's jewels rather than make him drag his rocks around on the ground? That seems like animal cruelty to me. And take it from me, hunters are against animal cruelty. Think one shot kill.

So . . . in the spirit of "this is this," I think we should declare July 25 National Trim Your Raccoon Dogge's Testicles Off Day. Your raccoon dog will thank you for it later.

Need Input - Family Planning

Well, it finally happened. The kids are asking about getting a dog. I have mixed feelings about it for reasons I won't go into, but I'm not dead-set against it or anything. So, I'd like to open this topic up for discussion ...

...based on the following requirements, which breed would you all recommend:

1. the pooch would be a 95% house dog, 4% waterfowl dog, 1% duties as assigned
2. we have a tiny backyard
3. we live in the developed burbs

A Labba-dabba is an obvious choice, but wondered if other sporting breeds might offer a calmer house presence. Or is calmness in a Lab something I can look for in its lineage?

If I could clone Fiona, I would.

expertise

The Pentagon announced TODAY the formation of a new 500-man elite fighting unit called the United States Redneck Special Forces (USRSF) .



These Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, West Virginia, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas boys will be dropped off into Iraq and have been given only the following facts about terrorists:

1. The season opened today.
2. There is no limit.
3. They taste just like chicken.
4. They don't like beer, pickups, country music or Jesus.
5. They are directly responsible for the death of Dale Earnhardt.

The Pentagon expects the problem in Iraq to be over by Friday.

Be careful out there...

The world was stunned this past week as evidence surfaced of an alien-possessed mallard duck that was x-rayed (where else?) in California. The complete and breaking news story is here. What with avian flu, misidentified grebes, and now this, aliens in duck gizzards, waterfowling has never been so hazardous. So as you begin your planning for the upcoming 2006 duck hunting campaign, bear in mind that the next duck you kill may just have an army of alien Anatidae behind it.



Been nice knowing you all.

The Grebe Mea Culpa

Eric,

Great comment post and story. I thought I'd dig deep into my archives and provide you some good company on the coot/grebe tip. Now, you feel so much better getting that a-GREBE-ous infraction off of your chest, that I thought perhaps these kids could help you get through the last bit of your GREBE-ing process---














This young fellow has killed some Coot in the Canoga Marsh...

...but he didn't kill any Grebe.

Little Hannah, Grade 5, has the Grebe thing down though...