The answer for Dave’s “Animal Kingdom Jihad”

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My friend KingDavid at The Far Wright has been keeping track of animal attacks on humans — the Animal Kingdom Jihad (AKJ) — since Steve Irwin was killed. It’s already grown to an impressive list. Now we can all sleep easier knowing that at least some of the animals are on our side.

Navy May Deploy Anti-Terrorism Dolphins
Feb 12, 9:27 PM (ET)

By THOMAS WATKINS
SAN DIEGO (AP) – Dozens of dolphins and sea lions trained to detect and apprehend waterborne attackers could be sent to patrol a military base in Washington state, the Navy said Monday. In a notice published in this week’s Federal Register, the Navy said it needs to bolster security at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, on the Puget Sound close to Seattle.

The base is home to submarines, ships and laboratories and is potentially vulnerable to attack by terrorist swimmers and scuba divers, the notice states.

Several options are under consideration, but the preferred plan would be to send as many as 30 California sea lions and Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins from the Navy’s Marine Mammal Program, based in San Diego.

“These animals have the capabilities for what needs to be done for this particular mission,” said Tom LaPuzza, a spokesman for the Marine Mammal Program.

LaPuzza said that because of their astonishing sonar abilities, dolphins are excellent at patrolling for swimmers and divers. When a Navy dolphin detects a person in the water, it drops a beacon. This tells a human interception team where to find the suspicious swimmer.

Dolphins also are trained to detect underwater mines; they were sent to do this in the Iraqi harbor of Umm Qasr in 2003. The last time the animals were used operationally in San Diego was in 1996, when they patrolled the bay during the Republican National Convention.

Sea lions can carry in their mouths special cuffs attached to long ropes. If the animal finds a rogue swimmer, it can clamp the cuff around the person’s leg. The individual can then be reeled in for questioning.

The Navy is seeking public comment for an environmental impact statement on the proposal.

HT: The Llama Butchers — “Well, it’s not exactly sharks with fricken’ laser beams attached to their fricken’ heads, but still very cool.”

More “light” reading for the global swarmers

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I’m not looking to turn this blog into a non-stop expose of the science (or lack thereof) on the global warming consensus, but I’m always on the lookout for news or studies that indicate the “consensus” on this topic is far from settled scientifically. The thing is, you just don’t have to look that hard to find contrary sources.

For example, this article from the (London) Sunday Times (HT: The Llama Butchers), that describes an experiment that confirms the impact of solar variations on the climate. (An experiment, one could assume, that is repeatable by others — what a concept!) Anyway, you can check out the article for yourself.

We can be heroes

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“We can be Heroes, just for one day.”
— David Bowie

Last month I had a short post on this blog about a man in New York who jumped onto the subway tracks to save a stranger’s life. In that post I described the Carnegie Hero Medal; this story led to a series of posts by me on another blog (here, here and here) on the nature of heroism and its roots in our day-to-day lives. One of the things that has stood out for me is that the Carnegie folks have found a common response in many of the people who survived their act of heroism and received an award: a belief that God or Jesus would have wanted them to do what they did.

I was reminded of this in today’s St. Paul Pioneer Press:

“God was the one who helped me make my decision,” said Carrera, 46, of South St. Paul. “I took it upon myself to help stop the guy in the van.”

David Carrera is the man who used his own vehicle and driving skills on January 28 to force another driver — who had struck a young girl with his van and was dragging her down the street — to stop his car, saving (so far) the little girl’s life.

He said he did what everyone should do: Pay attention and help each other. “I would have done it for anybody else,” he said.

His wife, who was a passenger during the chase, said the couple really had no other option.

“I don’t think it’s a really big deal,” Antonia Carrera said. “We had the opportunity to make a difference in somebody’s life. I think it’s everybody’s responsibility to watch out for each other. Not to preach, but just try to do the right thing.”

Carrera didn’t go to that intersection looking to be a hero. Something happened, however, and he reacted. His sense of responsibility didn’t end after the initial event, either. He and his family have gone regularly to Regions Hospital in St. Paul to visit the 10-year-old girl, Gladys Reyes, and her family. Gladys remains in critical condition in the burn unit and has already had several surgeries, including one to amputate her right arm.

I strongly believe that your outlook on life, and the way you live your life, are things that you choose and this becomes ingrained in you and makes it easier for you to act on a moment’s notice in an extreme need without having to ponder or debate the “right” thing to do. For David Carrera and his family the response was both immediate and ongoing. As for the rest of us, we weren’t at the scene (though I could have been, as it happened at an intersection near my home that I drive through several times a week), but we might still play a part.

Gladys Reyes’ family has no medical insurance, and her parents are struggling financially. Contributions can be made at any US Bank branch office, or mail a check or money-order (sorry, no on-line capability) to:

US Bank – West St. Paul
1493 South Robert St.
West St. Paul, MN 55118
Attn: Heritage Middle School’s Gladys Reyes Benefit Account

Update:

A benefit luncheon and silent auction for the Reyes family will be held this Sunday, Feb. 18 beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the Hilton Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport-Mall of America, which employs Gladys’ mother as a housekeeper. More details at the link.

E.U. gassing the planet

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According to a copyrighted ABC News story , White House Press Secretary Tony Snow is citing a study from the International Energy Agency that shows that European Union’s carbon dioxide emmissions from fossil fuel increased at more than two times the rate of these emissions from the U.S. between 2000 and 2004. In the U.S. (which didn’t sign the Kyoto Protocol) carbon emissions increased by 1.7 percent in that time period, while the EU saw a 5 percent increase.

I think Snow may have been referring to this report, CO2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion 1971-2004. I don’t have the €120 on me that the IEA wants in exchange for getting a copy of the entire report, but I suspect the White House was able to take it out of petty cash. While focusing on the years 2000-2004 is a bit self-serving, and it’s questionable how much of a direct impact the Bush administration has had on these numbers (other than less heavy-breathing in the White House compared to the previous president), it is an interesting comparison to see the results of a somewhat-free economy versus the carbon-cap system in place in Europe, and could bear further research into the mechanisms related to this growth.

Hey Thirteen

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Breaking news…

There’s about to be another teenager in the world as Tiger Lilly turns 13 on Saturday.

Who knows what she’ll do next, but age has never been much of a hindrance to her. She’s a blue belt in Tae Kwan Do and on the demonstration team for her dojo, has tested at college levels on her SATs, has a couple of works of fiction she’s writing (and keeping under wraps so far) and is the star pupil at the Stewart Academy for Girls. She’s also already been to China on one missions trip and is scheduled to go to Romania this summer on another, this time without a parent. Oh, and she’s a blogger (visit the Tiger Lilly link in the right sidebar)!

There appears to be little left for her to accomplish, but I’m sure she’ll think of something. Happy birthday, Sweetie!

Another reason to shiver

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There’s an interesting article this week entitled Global Warming: The Cold, Hard Facts? in the Canada Free Press by Dr. Timothy Bell, one of the first Canadians with a Ph.D. in Climatology (University of London), a former climatology professor at the Univesity of Winnipeg, and someone who claims an extensive background in reconstruction of past climates and the impact of climate change on human history and the human condition. Dr. Bell provides an illuminating “behind-the-scenes” look at the methods (sadly, not the Scientific one) being used to promote global warming pronouncements and suppress dissent. An excerpt (emphasis mine):



Since I obtained my doctorate in climatology from the University of London, Queen Mary College, England my career has spanned two climate cycles. Temperatures declined from 1940 to 1980 and in the early 1970’s global cooling became the consensus. This proves that consensus is not a scientific fact. By the 1990’s temperatures appeared to have reversed and Global Warming became the consensus. It appears I’ll witness another cycle before retiring, as the major mechanisms and the global temperature trends now indicate a cooling.



No doubt passive acceptance yields less stress, fewer personal attacks and makes career progress easier. What I have experienced in my personal life during the last years makes me understand why most people choose not to speak out; job security and fear of reprisals. Even in University, where free speech and challenge to prevailing wisdoms are supposedly encouraged, academics remain silent.



I once received a three page letter that my lawyer defined as libellous, from an academic colleague, saying I had no right to say what I was saying, especially in public lectures. Sadly, my experience is that universities are the most dogmatic and oppressive places in our society. This becomes progressively worse as they receive more and more funding from governments that demand a particular viewpoint.



…(snip)…



Another cry in the wildenerness is Richard Lindzen’s. He is an atmospheric physicist and a professor of meteorology at MIT, renowned for his research in dynamic meteorology – especially atmospheric waves. He is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences and has held positions at the University of Chicago, Harvard University and MIT. Linzen frequently speaks out against the notion that significant Global Warming is caused by humans. Yet nobody seems to listen.



I think it may be because most people don’t understand the scientific method which Thomas Kuhn so skilfully and briefly set out in his book “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.” A scientist makes certain assumptions and then produces a theory which is only as valid as the assumptions. The theory of Global Warming assumes that CO2 is an atmospheric greenhouse gas and as it increases temperatures rise. It was then theorized that since humans were producing more CO2 than before, the temperature would inevitably rise. The theory was accepted before testing had started, and effectively became a law.



As Lindzen said many years ago: “the consensus was reached before the research had even begun.” Now, any scientist who dares to question the prevailing wisdom is marginalized and called a sceptic, when in fact they are simply being good scientists. This has reached frightening levels with these scientists now being called climate change denier with all the holocaust connotations of that word. The normal scientific method is effectively being thwarted.



Read the whole thing. (HT: Dodgeblogium and Watcher of Weasels).

Fundamentals in Film: Black History Month

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I’ve been leading the bi-weekly “Fundamentals in Film” class for the current group of teenage boys for about a year now, and my focus has been to feature movies with strong, positive male role models demonstrating character, honor, courage and grace under fire (physical, mental, spiritual fire) and especially an ability to put others ahead of themselves. Many of the movies we’ve watched also opened a door for our group to discuss the larger social and historical context of the events depicted in the movie.

The movie that probably had the most profound affect on our young men was Glory, the story of the first all-black regiment in the Civil War. The discussion following the film drew the strongest reactions and the most spontaneous questions from the guys of any that we’ve had. Some months later we watched The Tuskegee Airmen, a similar story but brought “four-score” years into the future with the first U.S. squadron of black fighter pilots. Back at the beginning of the football season we also watched the original TV-movie version of Brian’s Song (gotta love Netflix!), the Gale Sayers/Brian Piccolo story, set in the late 1960s against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement.

All three films were based on true events (with some dramatic license) and as we bumped through the century or so that the movies spanned it was useful and interesting to see what things had changed, and what things remained the same, in our society and in the lives of the men profiled. I believe this has been especially beneficial for my group of young men who have grown up with little knowledge or exposure to the events that have led up to today and helped them to get a sense that, while it seems like certain events happened a long time ago, they really represent a relatively short and intense period in history (and it isn’t over yet). While the movies have been useful in describing and discussing this time, the history of the struggle wasn’t my main reason for introducing these films into the series.

For me, the essence of these movies still comes down to bedrock issues of honor, duty, respect and being willing to do the hard thing even at great personal cost for the greater good. The lessons of being a man that can be counted on, of being a man that can be a true friend, are universal and go beyond race.

The thing I’ve stressed with our group is that fear and hate are also universal and that no matter who you are or what “group” you belong to, there are always going to be those who have a degree of power and authority over your life that are going to look down upon and even hate you because of the way you look, the way you talk, the things that you believe or, especially for these young men, their age. Lynching and flogging may not be part of their lives but they are still going to be judged and dismissed because of what they appear to be. Their challenge, like those faced by the men in these movies, will still be to live their lives with courage and integrity and not give in to (and live down to) the lower expectations that others might have of them.

If they can do that I am confident that they will have little trouble in extending the consideration to others they meet, even if they appear to be different from them.

Give them that old time religion

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Just what are the Democrats invoking?



From Debbie Schlussel in the New York Post (via Michelle Malkin, go there for more links):



THE Democratic National Committee made a strange choice to deliver the invocation last Friday at its winter meeting: Husham al-Husainy – an extremist who has a long record of support for prominent Islamists at war with America and Israel.

Al-Husainy’s words before the Democrats – asking God to “help us stop . . . occupation and oppression” – were jarring enough, since he was likely referring to either American soldiers in Iraq or Jews in Israel.



But his past statements and activity make those words even more ominous.



Al-Husainy heads the Karbalaa Islamic Education Center mosque in Dearborn, Mich., one of the largest Shiite mosques in North America. He is an open admirer of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini – under whose rule Americans were held hostage for 444 days.



During last summer’s Israel-Hezbollah war, al-Husainy led rallies in Dearborn in support of the Lebanese terrorist group. Protesters displayed swastikas as well as anti-American and anti-Semitic posters.



I attended one rally, at Dearborn’s Bint Jebail Cultural Center – named for the stronghold in south Lebanon from which Hezbollah rockets rained on Israel. Al-Husainy was among several who delivered hate-filled, anti-American rhetoric. He cheered as others called for the hastened destruction of the Jews.




There was light, and it was good

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The Mall Diva is interested in just about any movie that features Elijah Wood so awhile back I placed Everything is Illuminated in our Netflix queue. I hadn’t heard of the movie when it came out in 2005, the on-line synopsis didn’t tell me much and the cover art was kind of weird, but I put it on the list and it eventually worked it’s way up and arrived at our house a couple of weeks ago. Last Saturday night my family got around to watching it. Perhaps because the film had come in “under the radar” so to speak, it’s affect was more powerful (at least for me).

The story is simple to summarize: Elijah Wood plays a young, introverted Jewish man obsessed with collecting artifacts of his life and his family’s history. He travels to the Ukraine to try and find the woman who helped his grandfather escape from the Nazis in World War II. He hires an interpreter, Alex, a young man who fancies himself a Ukrainian John Travolta ala Saturday Night Fever, and gets Alex’s grandfather in the package. The grandfather is a bitter, bigoted old man who imagines he is blind (even though he is the driver for the group) and has a demented seeing eye dog named Sammy Davis, Jr., Jr. (yes, two “Jrs.”). The story is essentially a road movie as they search for the lost village of Trachimbord, only this road runs through the nearly deserted Ukrainian country-side and their vehicle is a rattletrap Trabaunt. To say the film is a little quirky is like saying Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow is little swishy — but in both cases this works in a delightfully surprising way.

The film moves at a slow but not heavy-handed pace, “illuminated” by brief, almost surrealistic dialog, comfortable silences, perfect facial expressions, fabulous cinematography and Alex’s distinctive narration. It begins as an off-beat comedy and gradually morphs into an affecting drama. In the same way, you start out thinking the movie is one character’s story and it actually turns out to be another’s. Even the smallest roles are very well acted, leading to memorable scenes that still come back to me unexpectedly several days later.

The story doesn’t have the slam-bang plotting of so many movies today, but it still grips you and draws you in — if only to see what’s going to happen. Because it deals with the events of World War II we know there are going to be elements of tragedy in the story and in what is uncovered, but these are handled deftly without graphic and extended violence. Almost all of this is left to your imagination, and is all the more powerful for it. The story isn’t exactly heart-warming, but it is heart-stirring. I highly recommend it if you’re in the mood for a reflective, well-crafted movie with an extremely satisfying story. The language and some references are a little coarse in a couple of instances but the movie is generally appropriate for the family though it is not likely to resonate very much with younger viewers.