NC Media Watch

Please read revised Statement of Policy

Russ Steele

I have revised my policy statement, see the link in the left hand side bar. Personal attacks and threats of physical violence are just a waste of bandwidth and will be removed.  Please focus on the subject of the post and contribute to the discussion!  Thanks!

NOAA creating heat with no temperature data

Russ Steele

By now I am sure you have read in the newspaper or on the Drudge Report, or perhaps saw a report in the lame stream media that according to NOAA from Jan to Jun 2010 our planet was the warmest ever. This report being accompanied by this misleading graphic showing the temperature anomaly of January – June 2010, when compared to the 1971-2000 base period for each of the 5×5 degree grid square around the globe.(Click for a larger image,)

Were you concerned, or did you dismiss this graphic as just more government propaganda. If you did, congratulation you were correct.

Many of the those big red circles on the NOAA graphic do not have any weather stations inside the 5x5 degree grid square. No data in the grid, but NOAA decided to put some heat in there anyway.  Who would know? 

NOAA is making false claims of temperatures increases, in some case up to 4 degrees where none exist. They are creating heat. If this disinformation came from a pharmaceutical or cosmetics company the government would sue them for faults advertising.

Anthony Watt at Watts Up With That has a detailed analysis of the missing data in the grid squares in this report:  NOAA’s Jan-Jun 2010 Warmest Ever: Missing Data, False Impressions.

Now that you know the facts, remember California passed AB32 to reduce these made up NOAA temperatures by forcing you to reduce your carbon footprint.  By canceling another trip to grandmothers house, thus reducing your carbon foot print, you could help lower those made up NOAA temperatures according to CARB.

It is time to put CARB and AB32 to sleep.  VOTE YES on PROP 23!

One of California’s very scary numbers

Russ Steele

To recover from the current recession and restore California’s economy we have to close the jobs gap. Brookings Institute defines the job gap problem here.

. . . the number of jobs it would take to return to employment levels from before the Great Recession....



Here is the number of jobs necessary for the top ten states to reach its pre-recession employment to population ratio, with larger states dominating the list, with California at the top.

If California were to start closing the gap by adding 30,000 jobs a month, it would take a little over four years to close the gap. However, if CARB continues to implement AB32, it may be impossible to ever reach the 30,000 jobs a month goal, if Spain is a valid example. For every green job created in Spain two non-green jobs were lost.  Now Spain’s leaders have recognized they can no longer subsidize green jobs and green industries and have withdrawn their subsidies. Yet, CARB and the Governor keep pushing ahead to implement AB32 to create green jobs. Why?

We cannot afford AB32 - VOTE YES on PROP 23.

Unemployment Update: Nevada County

Russ Steele

On  Friday the California Unemployment numbers were published by EDD.  According to a report in the Sac Bee “California massive job losses have ended, but June labor statistics show few signs of people getting back to work.”

California’s June unemployment rate was 12.3%  Nevada County’s June rate was 11.5% according to EDD.  The 1st Quarter(Jan-Feb-Mar) average for Nevada County was 12.1%  Here is a historical look backward to 2009.

From the Bee Article:

The private sector in June added just 1,300 jobs to a California work force of nearly 13.9 million, EDD reported.

"It needs to be 30,000 a month to bite into this problem in any substantial way," said economist  Jeff Michael of  Stockton’s University of the Pacific "That has to change real soon. If it doesn't, it's hard to say we're in a recovery."

While Nevada County has seen some improvement, 12.% to 11.5%, one has to wonder if this was a reflection of Census worker hiring, or if we are seeing some improvement in local business hiring.

It will be interesting to see the results of the next Nevada County Business New Top Fifty Jobs Survey. Results of last survey is here.  It would be great to see an uptick in hiring. 

Pesky Tea Party just keeps growing and growing

Russ Steele

The Amador County Ledger Dispatch has the story: Motherlode Tea Party sees biggest turnout yet.

In the span of a few months, the Motherlode Tea Party has outgrown every Amador County venue it has tried to move its flags into.

Wednesday night was no exception, with a hall at the local fairgrounds filled to capacity by residents cheering, laughing, singing traditional American songs and trying to establish themselves as a serious but "fun" party.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Angelo M. Codevilla is a professor of international relations and the author of numerous books on national defense, politics and the Constitution and society. The title of Codevilla's address for the evening was "America's Ruling Class."
 
The money quote in his presentation was:

"When you look at the number of Republicans who are unhappy with their party, and the number of Independents who are unhappy with both parties, what you have are two-thirds of Americans who are not satisfied," Codevilla said. "That means the majority isn't happy with the ruling class."

Codevilla left the podium to strong applause.

The Nevada County Tea Party Patriots is having similar growing pains. The monthly luncheon crowd continues to grow, forcing planners to seek larger facilities. They out grew the Contractors Association and Realtor Association meeting rooms and the next luncheon will be at the Horseman's Facility.

Nevada County Awarded Second Place in National Digital County Survey

Russ Steele

From the CEO Friday Memo:

Nevada County took second place in our population category this year in the national digital county survey performed by the Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties (NACo). The survey measures how well county governments use digital technologies to become more efficient and to better serve their citizens. Supervisor Owens and I will be receiving the award for the County at the upcoming NACo conference this weekend.

Less than 150,000 population:

•  1st: Charles County, Md.
•  2nd: Nevada County, Calif.
•  3rd: Franklin County, Va.
• 4th: Skagit County, Wash.
•  5th: Albemarle County, Va.
•  6th: Martin County, Fla.
•  7th: Columbia County, Ga.
•  8th: Olmsted County, Minn.
•  9th: Napa County, Calif.
• 10th: Bay County, Mich.

Congratulation to Steve Monaghan and his staff. Steve has always been a leader in promoting the most effective digital technology for reducing the cost of government,  while increasing citizen access to government information. Well Done!

The California Medieval Warming Remains Unprecedented: 3.0°C Hotter Than Modern Global Warming

Russ Steele

A peer-reviewed study documents the extremely warm temperatures of the Medieval Period that occurred in the California Sierra Nevada range. Scientists, working with dead tree trunks located above the current tree line, affirm California's Medieval extreme warm temperature history, which still remains unprecedented.  Read about the full study here.

"Working with dead tree trunks located above the current treeline on tephra-covered slopes of Whitewing Mountain and San Joaquin Ridge.....the five researchers say "the Medieval forest on Whitewing was growing under mild, favorable conditions (warm with adequate moisture)," as indicated by "extremely low mean sensitivities [to stress] and large average ring widths." More specifically, they conclude, as reported in their abstract, that annual minimum temperatures during the Medieval Climatic Anomaly in the region they studied were "significantly warmer" (+3.2°C) "than present,".....Once again, we have another example of a paleoclimate study in which the Medieval Warm Period is determined to have been significantly warmer than it is currently....."

OK, if it was warmer during the MWP will out all those SUVs and Power Plants spewing CO2, can we conclude ti was not caused buy CO2?  Perhaps it is part of natural cycle, like other exceptional warming periods over the last 5,000 years, including the Minoan Warm Period and Roman Warm Period. See how all three compare to the Modern Warm Period. [Click for a larger image]

Since we are dealing with a natural cycle, it is time to suspend AB32 - YES in Prop 23.

H/T to C3 Headlnes for the tip.

Special Thread: Ten Things to Improve Nevada County

Russ Steele

Steven Frisch posted a long comment here this morning and suggested we start a thread to discuss Ten Economic Initiatives for examination, evaluation and expansion. Hopefully we can find a list of projects we can all agree on to enhance Nevada County’s economy.

I am going to moderate this thread closely and ask all participants to focus on the issue and leave the personal attacks in your bit bucket so I do not have to send them to Typepads bucket. Keep it civil!

I have asked Steven to post his top ten things we can agree to work on to improve our community"

Steve Replies the in comments and I have bumped his comment here:

I think that the best way to do this would be to put the topics out there and let each one get commented on and slowly tightened up. Do people agree?

1. Widespread access to broadband data and tele-communications networks.
2. A county-wide fire management plan.
3. Widespread utilization of biomass, primarily from  fuel treatment projects and urban waste, to generate electricity and use thermal energy for heating.
4. A commitment to rebuilding crumbling infrastructure, including local water and sewer systems, bridges, roads, water delivery systems.
5. A local commitment to mentoring and voluntarily proving support to entrepreneurs and start up businesses.
6. An investment in improved educational infrastructure and workforce development to serve emerging business needs.
7. Creation of a local venture capital fund that could be directed at providing capital for start up and expanding businesses.
8. Improvement in government transparency and accountability by ensuring that all appropriate public documents and materials are available on line within 14 days of receipt or creation.
9. A regional commitment to the development of an economic development strategy that can focus resources of public and private sector entities on the most likely to succeed economic strategies consistent with local planning objectives.
10. A commitment to local leadership development to increase knowledge about local issues and provide citizens with the tools to reach agreement

How's that for a start? 

California Senate Race: Rove moves to tossup

Russ Steele

After reading Karl Roves book Courage and Consequences, I joined his Facebook Page.  Karl is following the 2010 Senate Races on his Facebook page. This morning he writes:

Only one state has changed classifications since last week. Two new polls showing the California Senate race within the margin of error -- and one even showing Republican Carly Fiorina ahead of Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) -- move the Golden State from leaning Democratic to a toss-up. (To download PDF map, visit http://bit.ly/9dtNc6

Click for a larger image!

Exit Question: With the strong anti-incumbent fever sweeping the electorate,  will more Nevada County voter support conservative Carly Fiorina,  or will they support more the liberal Barbara Boxer? 

Tea Party Patriots condemns racism in all movements

Russ Steele

Mark Meckler and Jenny Beth Martin, co-founders of Tea Party Patriots.

“At Tea Party Patriots we will continue to condemn the fringe elements of the movement and any expression of racism or bigotry. We sincerely hope that the Obama While House, the NAACP, and the liberal left will follow our lead and do the same in their own ranks.”

This statement concludes an Op-Ed by Meckler and Martin at the Poliitico : On being labeled as 'racist'

I agree with Mark and Jenny there is no room for racism in ANY political movement or organization that seeks the full support of ALL Americans. It is unfortunate that the definition of what constitutes racism is held by the accuser, rather than the speaker. While we must protect the rights of free speech, we should also preserve the dignity of our enemy with the truth.