Ken Salazar and the Environmental Middle | The New Ledger

For those on the left, it’s worth considering the state of things in the Czech Republic when it comes to the dangers of extremism on this point. Vaclav Havel’s rival and eventual replacement, Vaclav Klaus, is today a fierce global warming skeptic whose words on the subject have overwhelmingly convinced the people of the Czech Republic that man-made global warming is nothing more than a dangerous myth, the old scourge of socialism returning disguised as science. In a Gallup Poll released last month, 41% of Americans believe that the seriousness of global warming is exaggerated — a record high after 11 years of polling; at a recent New York conference gathering deniers of global warming, Klaus reported poll data showing that a mere 11% of Czech citizens believe in it. Staking everything as a movement on climate change policy has consequences that are far-reaching, and if the American people come to believe that they must pit difficult, uncertain, and expensive steps to lessen global warming against cheap, efficient sources of energy, no amount of rebranding cap and trade will alter their choice.

Florida sugar harvest hurt by cold weather, drought - Breaking News - Business - MiamiHerald.com

BELLE GLADE -- Florida's annual sugar cane harvest ended Tuesday as two major producers completed their season. Crop yields were hurt by four below-freezing events, as well as drought and a bout of unseasonal heavy rains.

COLUMN - Economic downturn having noticeable impact on Great Lakes shipping

It was a long, cold winter in the region, making the spring break-out operations tough. It isn’t that the ice is so thick; there is just a lot of it.