As IF Times

link Judge Clears United Airlines in a 9/11 Collapse – NYTimes.com.

Really?  We needed the measured wisdom of a judge to determine that United Airlines was not responsible for the twin towers’ destruction? Didn’t anyone have a newspaper?  It’s this kind of clear legal thinking that separates us from chaotic third world countries.  The fact that only 11 years have passed since the event is irrelevant, at least now we have the final, official word on culpability.  For the 11 years leading up to this verdict, I’m sure the world was on pins and needles awaiting the conclusions.  It’s quite possible that this learned judgement was the result of thousands of hours of sifting through documents, affidavits and reports.  It’s also quite possible that this task was given to the junior judge as a test, as in “let’s see if he can get this one right”.

As a society, the west has fallen irretrievably into the rathole of the legal blame trap.  Everything that happens whether natural or orchestrated is seen to have some kind of root cause, which most importantly have  legal and therefore financial consequences attached.  The most pedestrian events are now subjects of legal rulings, edicts and compensatory consequences.  The most obvious events are the subject of interminable scrutiny and post mortem analysis.  Let’s not forget; someone pays for all of this high level thinking.

As people cede more and more of their activities to various government proxies , they open the door for more and more idiots to get into the business of managing them.  In fact they encourage them.  We used to assume that anyone elected to positions of public responsibility would, at the very least, have some measure of common sense whatever their partisan biases may be.  That assumption is tossed out a 20 storey window when one observes the headlines that pass through on the newswires.  Exhibit A:

“Montreal By-law requires dogs understand commands in both official languages”  a proposal put forth by councilor Benoit LaDouce of that city.  http://www.cbc.ca/thisisthat/blog/2012/12/12/montreal-bylaw-requires-dogs-to-understand-commands-in-both-official-languages/

Or, getting back to the 911 events, the ongoing tragedy which are the ‘security’ measures surrounding airport security and the TSA:

“TSA detains ‘explosive’ laced girl in wheelchair”  http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2012/12/14/tsa-detains-explosive-laced-girl-in-wheelchair/

A theory was offered as to why the very basic human trait of common sense is now a resident of milk cartons and missing posters.  A Stanford study posits that:  “…we are losing our intellectual and emotional capabilities because the intricate  web of genes which endows us with our brain power is particularly vulnerable to  mutations – and these mutations are not being selected against our modern  society because we no longer need intelligence to survive…”  see article here:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2231924/Are-getting-stupid-Researchers-claim-longer-need-intelligence-survive.html

Whatever the reason, the declining use of common sense while being replaced by what passes as intelligent analysis in people’s lives will only lead to a society in which everything is governed by some official edict.  May as well be fans at a Madonna concert.  When mass exodus of common sense occurs, we wind up with a population that would allow someone like a Benoit LaDouce to be elected to office….or much worse.   Getting back to our learned judge at the top of the article, he’s looking forward to his next big case.  The OJ Simpson mystery.

link BBC News – Doha UN climate talks to conclude with few conclusions.

Another year, another top level, red carpet grouping of morons, likely paid for by their respective nations, to attend a global hand wringing session.  As readers of this site know, the meetings are coincidentally held at a different venue every year in order to make it interesting for the spouses in terms of shopping.  We’ve had Kyoto, Copenhagen, Sao Paulo, Durban and now Qatar.  Let it be noted that this is the 18th such conference…18! From a purely marketing perspective, Qatar does make sense since delegates can point to the hot dry air there as irrefutable proof of warming and certain impending calamity for the earth.  Sort of like the Mayans’ prediction, but more drawn out and expensive.  (Interestingly, the Mayans are all gone, but somehow their predictions of the end of the world live on. ) We are still waiting for Inuvik to be drawn into the conference rotation.

From the first time that someone decided it was a good idea to fly ‘experts’ together to huddle and moan in an annual formal setting, we’ve been told that the end was near, that time was running out, that man’s irresponsible actions were irreversible and that penguins were missing, this official UN sponsored event has become a regular tradition like the Charlie Brown Christmas special.  Soon, Hallmark will be creating cards marking the occasion and they may sell souvenier moaning towels at the gatherings.   We know there’s only one aim at these somber events; to somehow con the west to give tax money to some self important cadre of sage bureaucrats so they can find penguins and turn off all forms of industry.  Apparently, cars and industry bad; bicycles and loincloths good.

To save the planet, not to mention millions of dollars of taxpayer money, they could just as easily hold a group skype call and figure out what progress the concerned delegates have made since the last conference.

“Delegate A, did you manage to get any tax money?”

“No, exalted leader, we did not”

“Anyone else?”

Silence

“Ok, that’s it, talk to you all next year”.

But no, it’s more important to use demonized fossil fuel resources to fly, drive and otherwise transport the lucky few to dine on canapes and sip ’97 cabs in exotic venues and then craft dire pronouncements on how bad things are.  As I’ve said before, it would be more convincing if the delegates came by bicycle and dogsled rather than by Lear and limo.  Naturally, as the story line above states, there are no conclusions.  Duh! If there were, that would be the end of the conference gig!  Young people out there today looking for careers can do worse than trying to get on as a global warming delegate.  It looks like a place for a long career….despite what they tell you.