Amen, Patriotsarise. Inhofe deserves praise for not letting up on the pursuit of real truth on AGW. It's hard to believe we'd be as close to the truth — and as relatively far away from cap-and-trade disaster — if not for Inhofe's doggedness.

Right on, MessengerBoy. I've seen critics over at the YouTube home for this video take shots at me ... and miss the whole point. Sprigg is trying to save his discipline. Hysterical shouting and bullying tactics are not very convincing.

"when there are no truly independent voices being heard in any community, watch out."

Words to live (and protect your freedom) by.

Thanks, Mike. But Sprigg deserves credit for what he said. It might be a case where it's too late to steer the Titanic away from the ice berg ... but he's trying.

Couldn't agree more, Sunlight. The environmentalists never acknowledge how far we've come. It's never enough — always on to the next scheme. In California, one cannot build a new house with a wood-burning fireplace in it. Why? Because such things emit small particulate matter. Doesn't matter that fireplaces contribute an infinitesimal amount of such particulate (especially compared to diesel trucks). They contribute, so they are banned ... and another freedom is sacrificed to the green weenies.

Well, at least that's something. It's a start.

Sunlight: I don't think Sprigg has the power to call off the EPA. He's just a professor at UofA. It'd be nice if he took his logic to the next level, however, and argued that now is not the time to re-order the globe around a theory that has more than a few holes in it.

But he does appear to be trying to save his scientific discipline from the politicians, bureaucrats and power-grabbers.

I think you sell Sprigg a little bit short, snoooooozn. But time will tell. This is the only video of his remarks at the conference, and if he comes out criticizing the fair representation of his remarks ... then I'll re-evaluate his intentions.

But from what I know of Sprigg, he's a man of great scientific integrity — even if I disagree with his conclusions.

That Coakley is even remotely in trouble is remarkable. Ironically, it was probably Romney's failed attempt at "socialized medicine light" that is helping Scott Brown the most. If not for that debacle, Massachusetts voters would be much more supportive of ObamaCare and Coakley could run on that issue along and easily win. But experience has even voters in this deep blue state balking.

I keep wanting to ask these Democrats who are jumping ship, calling Coakley a "terrible candidate": If she's such a terrible candidate, what makes you think she can be a good senator? Still waiting for answer ...

One big reason for the long hiatus is that they want to run all the episodes consecutively. That is very usual for any show in the modern ratings era — where the traditional TV season runs from Fall until Spring.

With sweeps in November and May, most shows run new episodes from the start of the season until November is up — or about half their scheduled allotment. Then it's repeats (with perhaps a couple of new shows around Christmas) until mid-January, or even until after the Super Bowl. Then it's new episodes (with some repeats slipped in) building up to a finale at the end of May.

The structure of "24" does not lend itself to that format. I think it did try to adhere to that format in the first couple of seasons, but Surnow decided it was too much of a sacrifice. Breaks like that didn't work for a show unfolding in 24 hours in "real time." So he told Fox: Let me start my show in January and run all 24 episodes consecutively. No repeats. Fox acceded to this demand, and was happy they did. As Surnow expected, ratings started to soar. Not only is "24" the only show to premiere in January, it also makes the show vital viewing to fans every single week.

As for the writers' strike ... that did have as major an effect on a show as possible. Though half of that season's shows were plotted and filming had begun, Surnow pulled the plug because he knew by the time the strike was over, he wouldn't have the time to get 24 full episodes in. It is amazing that a show can take an entire year off and still survive — let alone thrive, as "24" has done.