Given the fungibility of monetary largesse from taxpaying citizens via the Congress of the U.S., the Smithsonian, per se, is being "publicly funded", as are, for example, PBS and NPR. After reading the interesting apologia for the rather self-serving,t indecent behavior of Smithsonian officials, this reader recalled a letter to the editor of a local newspaper in the state of New Jersey in response to an editorial expressing sentiments-- about "public funding in another context-- that seem equally apt regarding the Smithsonian "incident" under consideration here. Copy .... To "Letters": "But among the hundreds of channels blazing around the clock and boasting such dreadful and mind-numbing fare as "Househusbands of Hollywood" or...

Where Guantanmo's inmates might go:

The state's most dangerous inmates live with sparse human contact, no jobs and little chance for education at TAMMS
By Gary Marx
February 28, 2009
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-illino is-prison28-2009feb28,0,4430105.story
As Obama considers closing Guantanamo
Just where the terrorist inmates will go
Is a pertinent question
(Cause for stress indigestion)
The answer to which none now seems to know.
This reporter now believes they should enter
Cells reserved for them at Tamms Correctional Center
Behind an iron...

Means (F) of January to December annual means by decade:
Secondary analysis of data reported at http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/tabledata/GLB.Ts+dSST.tx ty

Summaries of MEANF (January to December)

By levels of DECADE
Variable Value Label
Mean F Std Dev Cases

For Entire Population
57.1594 .4385 129
Midpoint
DECADE 1885 56.7482 .1020 10
DECAD 1895 56.7356 .1467 10
DECADE 1905 56.7158 .1711 10
DECADE 1915 56.6996 .1759 10
DECADE 1925 56.9066 .1290 ...

A Nasa.com site provides data on mean annual temperature (convertible to either Fahrenheit or Centigrade absolute values)dating back to 1880. Massaging the Nasa data yielded the mean values (F) by decade that are shown in the table, below. Assuming the Nasa data over the period are both valid and comparable, and the computations accurate, what are we to make of the slight elevation (slightly more than 1 degree F warmer, before rounding, in the 2000-2009 decade than in the 1880-1889 decade)suggested by the data?

And why haven't we seen information such as that in the table, in media reports on global warming, not only for the globe, but also for major climate regions for which the results may or may not be similar to those for...

Never evoke a higher level (remedy) when a lower-level (remedy) is available.

Just identifying, detaining and deporting ASAP
Would go a long way
Toward eliminating the presence of illegal immigrants (and potential offspring)
Now roiling the demographic waters of the U. S. of A.

"Regardless of the hardship suffered, being in the U.S. without authorization is a crime . . "

And, if that's true then it makes no difference why illegals came or what they've done or not done since coming.

Toleration of "criminals" like toleration of vice leads only to capitulation:

"Vice is a monster of so frightful mien
as to be feared need only to be seen
But seen too oft', familiar with its face
We first endure, then pity, then finally embrace" (Alexander Pope's words, written more than two centuries ago).

That we have not regularly required procedures for the systematic identification, registration and (gradual) repatriation of illegals, as a matter of national policy--
and the fact that...

Our president is not noted
For extending a hand to his extended family
Including his half-brother, George H. Obama,
In Nairobi, living (at last word) in pov.er.ty.

x

"Mann-made"!
For this reader a "first"
As a symbol of the scientific perversion
With which, alas, we've been cursed.

Keep this one alive and kicking
Until Penn State in due course can decide
That harboring professorial charlatans
Is something it simply cannot abide.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION BY THE NUMBERS

Since the 2006 immigration marches around the nation, detentions and criminal charges against illegal immigrants have increased.

Immigrants in the U.S. illegally can be removed through administrative procedures or through criminal proceedings, which are increasing in federal courts.

Federal detentions by fiscal year

2006: 207,776
2007: 291,060
2008: 369,221
2009: 387,790
2010: 102,929* (through Feb. 1; 400,000 projected)

Detention statistics for fiscal 2009
Average daily population: 32,098
Daily bed rate: $99.65
Average length of stay: 30 days
SOURCE: U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement