Weather, Water, Energy 11-03-06

Two stories battling it out over which should go first today--this one showing that climate change gases reached their highest levels ever recorded in 2005 (damn that Kyoto Treaty!!!) or this one from Mother Jones on the 12 "tipping points" that will trigger the dramatic global changes we're fearing while really not focusing on them (hence creating "The 13th Tipping Point, the title of the article). The latter also contains a nice typolocy of cultural types and their beliefs about global warming. Unfortunately the 7% of naysayers rule right now. (For all 12 points in concise presentation, check out Grist's hat tip to the article.) . . . Nice to know European car companies have gotten on board by hitting EU voluntary emissions standards on deadline . . . oh, wait. They haven't, and here come the regulations. I'm sure Milton Friedman has more words of wisdom. . . . Is Alabama getting a clue? A good article on predicted impact of global warming on the state. . . . Finally, you're sailing along, shipping goods across the Southern Hemisphere, and suddenly, "We're surprised by the number of them and by how far north they are." Icebergs off New Zealand, that is. Our response? Get used to it, buddy.