Happy Valensteyn's Day! Now that the dirty stinkin' rotten corrupt US "justice" system has (for the moment) had its sport with Mark, our Clubland Q&A is returning to its regular midweek slot. So the guilty party (as we like to think of him) will be back behind the microphone taking questions from Mark Steyn Club members live around the planet starting at 3pm Deep State Standard Time/8pm Greenwich Mean Look Time.
As always, Mark is happy to talk about whatever tickles your fancy. So give it your best shot.
~Our friends at The Conservative Woman have two of the better commentaries on last Thursday's verdict in Mann vs Steyn (Part One). First, Kathy Gyngell and Dr Shane Fudge on "Mark Steyn and the Death of Justice":
It was a case that had enormous ramifications. As Chris Morrison explained on the Daily Sceptic, the 'hockey stick' graph created by Mann in the 1990s (questioned by Steyn and at the heart of this case) removed the concept of natural climate variability for an entire generation. This, claimed Steyn, was fraudulent 'both in its construction and in the uses to which it has been put by Al Gore, the IPCC, every school, and most governments throughout the Western world'.
Second, Howard Dewhirst on "Mark Steyn and the Anatomy of a Stitch-Up":
Mann's claim of loss of reputation was so laughably untrue that the jury in Washington DC awarded him just $1 compensation, and that should have been the end of it all. However, Mann's counsel advised the jury that Steyn and Simberg were guilty of questioning the science behind the hockey stick graph and, to dissuade future claims being brought against the consensus position represented by Dr Mann's research, Steyn should be 'punished'. The prosecutor clearly wanted to prevent any future questioning of climate science by stifling what used to be called 'freedom of speech'. The jury obliged by imposing a $1million penalty on Steyn, but just $1,000 on Simberg.
As you may know, Steyn will be appealing - if necessary all the way to the Supreme Court.
~If your inclinations lie elsewhere on this jour d'amour, don't miss Mark's audio edition of his Song of the Week on the great Valentine love song. It's proving very popular with listeners.
~Meanwhile, on to our next legal battle: Steyn vs Ofcom, in the King's Bench Division of the High Court in London in June. Many listeners have asked how they can support this important free-speech case on the right to tell the truth about Covid and the vaccines. Well, you're very welcome to...
a) sign up a friend for a Steyn Club Gift Membership;
b) buy a near-and-dear one a SteynOnline gift certificate;
c) order a copy of Mark's latest book, The Prisoner of Windsor (you won't regret it, says Kathy Gyngell); or
d) treat your loved one to a once-in-a-lifetime Mark Steyn Caribbean Cruise.
~Whether or not you're a member of The Mark Steyn Club, you can listen to our Clubland Q&A live as it happens wherever you chance to be on this turbulent earth: Club membership is required only to ask a question. We love to hear from brand new members, and among the additions to our ranks this last grim week are newbies from around the globe, from Horley to Hershey, from Victoria to Vaud, from White Plains to Blaxland. Whether you've joined for a full year or a see-how-it-goes experimental quarter, do shoot Mark a head-scratcher for today's show.
But, if you're not interested in signing up, no worries, as they say in Oz: We seek no unwilling members - and as always the show is free to listen to, so we hope you'll want to tune in.