Thanks, y’all

…for the very warm welcome back. Special thanks to Nice Deb and Sinistar for their posts on my return. I really appreciate your support.

Giving me the Chinese Chills

Chinese President Hu Jintao commenting on the success of China’s lunar probe:

“…This major achievement is an important embodiment of our country’s ever increasing national power in the 29 years of reform and opening-up. …

Hu said China’s space program had “greatly stimulated the patriotic fervor of the entire Chinese nation” “

For some reason, that doesn’t strike me as particularly benign, which is probably why he felt compelled to follow up with this statement:

“China’s exploration of outer space is purely for peaceful purposes,” he said.

For most countries that statement would be a non sequitur, since after all, he’s just talking about a scientific experiment. But coming from Hu Jintao, it fits into the subtext of the conference very well indeed.

The MSM Hardest Hit by Global Warming

Two years ago: Global Warming Could Spell Disaster for Blacks “…some environmentalists say global warming impacts minorities and the disadvantaged harder than other groups.”

Eighteen months ago: Minority communities will be the first casualties of global warming, according to a new study. “Minorities represent 85 percent of the agriculture work force, and of that, 77 percent are Latino.”

One year ago: Australia hardest hit by climate change?

Nine months ago: Arctic region hit hardest by human-caused global warming

Seven months ago: Poor Nations to Bear Brunt as World Warms

Six months ago: Healthiest coral reefs hardest hit by climate change

Six months ago: Report: Africa hardest hit by climate change

Six weeks ago: Climate Change Will Hit Kids Hardest

Five weeks ago: Global warming to hit India hard; may even reverse human development “India and China will be hit especially hard by climate change…”

4 days ago: Women bear the brunt of climate change

Today: “Poor Hit Hardest by Climate Change“

The poor, minorities, women, children, continents, countries, and wildlife – all vying for the title of Hardest Hit by Global Warming. Aside from the overuse of the theme by the press, and aside from the pathos of the standard victim groups’ clamoring to make sure they’re not overlooked, one wonders:

Which demographic/geographic group is apparently not the hardest hit by climate change?

Oh yeah. That one.