LONDON (Reuters) - A British adventurer is planning to highlight the effects of global warming by becoming the first person to swim at the North Pole and break his own record for the coldest swim. Sporting just a cap, trunks and goggles, Lewis Gordon Pugh will swim 1 km (0.6 miles) in water at a temperature of minus 1.8 degrees Celsius (29 degress Fahrenheit) on July 15, a dip he expects to last 21 minutes.I'm not sure if it highlights the effects of global warming or the boundaries of stupid human behavior - or both. Go ahead, Lewis - let me know how you make out. He said, "I can't think of a better way to show that climate change is a reality than by swimming in a place that should be totally frozen over." Geez, Lewis; you're not thinking hard enough. I can't think of a better way to shrink my balls and make people think I'm a little goofy - but that's my cross to bear. Here's an idea: Let's use science, photography and measuring devices to show the effects of global warming, and you can keep your pants on.
And, speaking of goofy, here's the oil company's leading spokesman explaining his radical behavior:
CALABASAS, Calif. - Like many holiday travelers, Ron Evenhaim isn't going to let rising gasoline prices curtail his plans for a weekend getaway. Evenhaim rented a 40-foot diesel RV to take his family of five the 300 miles from his home in suburban Los Angeles to Lake Isabella in the Tehachapi Mountains. "That's 30 gallons," he said, using the vehicle's average mileage of eight to 10 mpg. "Even if gas prices go up $1, that's an extra $30. You buy the kids a sandwich halfway and you've spent more," he said.
Whew! That's some high-powered math there, buddy. Actually, Ron - it's probably closer to 37.5 gallons (at 8mpg) so you might have to skip dinner, too. Jackass. Here's an idea: Starve your kids on the trip and make up the thirty bucks, then you can increase your mileage because your huge vehicle will be hauling less weight. Do you really need a 40-foot diesel RV to take five people on a 5-hour trip? More money than brains, I'm thinking.
The gang in the marketing departments of Exxon-Mobil and Chevron are taking notes. "No pain, yet, boss - keep raising the prices. Ron says his kids aren't hungry yet." Hey, how about a free sandwich with each fill-up?
As I said the other day, people aren't going to figure this out until it gets to $5 a gallon, and probably not even then. We see driving and waste as a birthright, and it will likely take more than another buck a gallon to make them see otherwise.
3 comments:
He's just demonstrating his dedication to our men and women in uniform. They're fighting and dying to keep the oil flowing and he's not going to discount their sacrifice by not continuing to burn as much of it as possible.
on a total seperate note, is the banner, OCNJ?
It's beautiful Wildwood, NJ.
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