The Year Of The Missing Sunspot

The number of days that have not had a sunspot this year now exceeds 200. To find a year with more blank suns, you have to go back to 1954, when the sun was blank 241 times.

So, Astronomers who count sunspots have announced that 2008 is now the "blankest year" of the Space Age.

In fact, if the current trend continues, 2008 could total 290 spotless days by the end of December, making it nearly a century since we have seen such a lack of activity fom our sun.

In addition, the quiet sun coincides with the dimmest sun scientists have ever recorded, and a low in solar wind pressure. Sunspots are the result of the Sun’s magnetic field tearing ‘holes’ into its surface. Meteorologists use the arrival and disappearance of sunspots to gauge how active solar cycles will be.

What does the current lack of activity on the sun mean? It could mean that scientists can test their various theories concerning the relationship between the sun and global climate change. It also may mean that much colder times for the planet are just ahead.

The fact is that during the last 1000 years, a weak or non existent sunspot cycle can be linked directly to three global temperature events called the Dalton, Maunder, and Spörer Minimums. Each of these events led to a rapid cooling of the planet. One was large enough to be called a “mini ice age”.

Meanwhile, Al Gore continues to achieve publicity in his role as man-made global warming alarmist. Gore was widely quoted last week, in a speech at the Clinton Global Initiative as follows:

"If you're a young person looking at the future of this planet and looking at what is being done right now, and not done, I believe we have reached the stage where it is time for civil disobedience to prevent the construction of new coal plants that do not have carbon capture and sequestration."

Since there is no real evidence that global warming is man-made, (See: A Nobel Peace Prize And A Weather Balloon on eworldvu.com) it may be possible to prove that global climate change is really a function of the activity surrounding the cycles of the sun in the years directly ahead.

Certainly, such a discovery would save billions of dollars worldwide, and may put an end to a future of man-made global warming civil unrest.

Election 2008 Democratic Convention Preview

Here is the daily schedule for the Democratic Convention to be held from August 25, 2008 through August 28, 2008. The Convention forum is the Pepsi Center while Barack Obama's acceptance speech will be given at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado.

Sunday August 25

A Democratic National Convention Interfaith Gathering will be held at "2:00 pm MT, at the Wells Fargo Theater, inside the Colorado Convention Center." It will be the first time the DNCC has hosted such an event and will be "the first official event for the 2008 Convention.

Monday August 26

The theme for the day is "One Nation". The prime time speaker is Michelle Obama. Other speakers will include, Nancy Pelosi, Jimmy Carter, Jesse Jackson Jr. , Democratic Senators Amy Klobuchar and Claire Mccaskill and various Democratic Mayors. A tribute to Ted Kennedy is also planned.

Tuesday August 26

The theme for the day is "Renewing America's Promise". Headline Prime Time speaker will be Hillary Clinton. Former Virginina Governor, Mark Warner will give the Keynote Address. Other speakers include Senators, Patrick Leahy and Bob Casey and numerous Democratic Governors.

Wednesday August 27

The theme for the day is "Securing America's Future" . The evening will feature the Vice Presidential candidates speech. Other speakers will include Bill Clinton, Bill Richardson, John Kerry, and other Democratic Senators. There will also be a roll call on this day and Hillary Clinton's name will be placed in nomination. There is also a tribute to War Veterans on the schedule.

Thursday August 28

The theme for the day is "Change You Can Believe In". Barack Obama will accept the nomination in a speech at Mile High Stadium. He will be joined by former Vice President Al Gore.

Democrats: Top Three For VP

Barack Obama will soon choose his Vice Presidential running mate. There are certainly no shortage of qualified Democratic candidates. However, his choice needs to provide the ticket with the following: 1. Add experience to the ticket. 2. Add electoral votes by appealing to a specific demographic of voters. 3. Come from a swing state in election 2008 or a state voting for the Republican party in 2004. The choice for V.P. cannot upstage Barack Obama and cannot be involved with controversy or bring negative publicity that can detract from the 2008 campaign. Based on this criteria, the following Democrats are likely not under consideration; Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, John Edwards ( He currently is involved in a messy National Enquirer story)and Joe Biden (past plagerism) . Sam Nunn would provide extensive foreign policy experience with twenty years as Chairman of the Armed Services Committee but his selection would bring a washington insider that would not fit into the campaign theme of change. So, who is on the short list of likely candidates to share the 2008 Democratic ticket with Barack Obama? Here is the eWorldvu.com top three for Democratic V.P. :

Kathleen Sebelius-Governor of Kansas would place that state in play. Sebelius on ticket would bring the female vote. Ticket of a black man and a female would certainly signal change for the Democrats in election 2008.

Tom Kaine-Governor of Virginia for the last two years. He would put that Republican state in play. He appeals to Catholics and middle class white voters.

Evan Bayh-Senator from Indiana and former Governor of the State. Appeals to Catholics and white Middle Class voters. He comes from a swing state in election 2008. Brings a moderate to the ticket and has recently stated his interest in the number 2 slot.

Tomorrow we will look at the Republican top three for V.P..