Burner Trouble- global warming and climate change from a personal perspective

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.

“Skybus Airlines announced it was shutting down Saturday, with the low-cost airline blaming the “insurmountable” pressures of rising jet fuel costs and a slowing economic environment.
Columbus, Ohio-based Skybus became the fourth airline this week to close or announce plans to do so.”

From MarketWatch (emphasis mine)

The others are Aloha, ATA and Champion Air. Fuel surcharges for flights are skyrocketing and the airlines have separated them from their advertised prices. For example I recently saw a one way price of $220 for a NY to London flight. Sounds pretty good right? Except that it did not include a $160 fuel surcharge each way.

The impact of rising energy costs is everywhere. Food, commodities, travel, transportation- you name it. Yet we are, as a nation, doing virtually nothing about it (except for begging OPEC to give us a deal). History is going to look back and wonder how we could ignore the breadth of change that is upon us.

“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…