Ah, the joys of global warming. This is a photo of Panorama Ridge - a terrific destination for a hike. If you were up there, looking toward the camera, you'd have a grand view of Black Tusk, a giant tooth of lava sticking into the sky. If you looked down over the other side of the ridge, you'd be looking down on Garibaldi Lake, created by a dam of lava sometime in the deep, dark past.

Now, global warming comes into the picture in the fact that that grey slope to the right, with the broad patch of snow, was covered by a glacier 15 years or so ago. All gone bye-bye now. Kind of like the pine forests of B.C. will be thanks to the mountain pine beetle. As average temperatures rise, winters, of course, get shorter and warmer. Temperatures at high elevations rise. Which means that the usual die-off of the beetles, caused by low winter temperatures, doesn't happen. Ring that dinner bell!

But, sensibly, most governments are taking measured steps to protect their economies. No drastic alterations in any activities that might contribute to global warming. No big push for alternative fuels. No, no, no. Could hurt the economy! Gotta protect that. I'm not sure who for, but...