Is It Hot in Here?

Speaking of unappealing, don't miss this week's Time magazine cover package on global warming. Under a title of "Be Worried, Be Very Worried, " the story goes into a fair amount of depth, and the most distressing fact it offers is that now that the reality of global warming is more obvious, scientists are surprised at how quickly it is advancing. There's also a Web exclusive interview with James Hansen, director of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies at NASA, who recently had a much-publicized run in with some Bush administration officials who wanted to censor his statements on the subject. He talks about potential tipping points and how close we may be coming to some of them. But in the interest of giving both sides of the story--a trend that's very hot among journalists these days--Time does have another Web exclusive report illuminating the bright side of the subject. Finally, the long sought and hoped-for Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific through the Arctic may thaw. Or, as Time puts it, "Global warming may be bad for polar bears, but for a little port town in Manitoba, it could be a boon." Never mind our disintegrating climate and environment--that is good news!