The Chinese had to cancel the Olympic torch run in Paris today because of thousands of pro-Tibet protesters. I don’t see how they can continue this thing through to August given the protests that have dogged it so far. China’s leaders are displaying a profound misunderstanding of the depth of feeling about this issue and others like their support of Darfur. When people start talking about a global boycott of Chinese goods (which is now in the wind) they may finally understand that they can no longer control the flow of information regarding their internal policies.

This is only the beginning of their troubles. Their horrendous pollution problems are going to be spotlighted as athletes start to wonder whether it is safe to compete in a place where people routinely wear masks when they go outside. Despite plans to virtually halt traffic weeks before the game and stop all polluting industries temporarily I doubt the skies will clear and the water miraculously become clean.

Again, this is a control issue. China can’t control their environment any better than they control information. The world is watching and China invited us.

Hillary Clinton’s chief strategist, a PR flack and pollster, has been asked to quit. Given that the Clinton campaign has been running with no strategy whatsoever for the past three months this is not surprising. As a former Hillary and Bill fan I was extremely disturbed by their reaction to being the frontrunners after Obama’s brilliant jump into the spotlight. Instead of developing a true run from behind strategy they took an undisciplined tactical approach, throwing out innuendos, threats, attempts at backroom deals on Florida, Michaigan and the super delegates, and a host of other crap.

Strategy is an overall plan for moving forward. Tactics are all the small actions utilized to implement that strategy. It is obvious to me that this difference is not understood by the Clinton campaign which does not bode well for a future President- strategic focus is critical to the Presidential role.

Hillary, please quit, get into a senior role in the Senate and help us reverse the damage the current administration has done to this country.

“Mr. McCain, 71, told Mr. Imus “I’m aware of enhanced importance of this issue given my age.’’”

McCain is considering age a major factor in choosing a Vice-Presidential running mate. Does anyone else have a problem with this? When you decide who you want to vote for consider the fact that even John McCain thinks his running mate might end up President…

Americans are some of the lowest consumers of rice but for most of the rest of the world it is the staple crop that keeps poorer consumers alive. The doubling of rice prices, coupled with rising prices for virtually all grains, is a major concern. While the US is an exporter of rice, many countries are now restricting exports to try to control prices. In a global economy this won’t work because you cannot have a commodity priced differently in two or more places- sellers in the cheaper country will find a way to sell in the more expensive one (one exception to this is the price of sugar in the US, held artificially high and protected from cheaper exports to the benefit of a few wealthy US sugar producers- a rant for another place!).

Rice, as a crop, is exceptionally sensitive to climate changes. Even a slight warming trend will kill off a crop and this is happening in traditional rice-growing areas worldwide. Because of the unique growing conditions needed for rice (water paddies) you cannot simply replant at a more suitable location. Combined with exploding energy and fuel costs, this forces prices up. It is not a small matter- people will starve.

The climate is a closed system. Changes have wide-reaching and sometimes unpredictable affects. Starvation will be one of them and it could change geo-politics very rapidly as hungry people are angry people.