This January, whether golfing in the snow country of Niigata, butterfly-watching in the Alps or skating over the ice in Texas, the weather is obviously stranger than ever before. The observation of the senses, or at least the quick read of a few news articles, should be enough evidence of global warming for most people. Yet in this day and age, scientific fact, editorial opinion and plain old common sense seem utterly confused.

Of course, people are busy. They don't have time to be weighing all the complex mountains of evidence on certain topics. It's easier to stick one's head out the window to decide on an umbrella or an extra sweater. Even though global warming is one of the most common essay topics for students around the world, as any teacher or parent can tell you, there still seems to be plenty of skepticism on the issue.

It does seem hard to believe humans have left their mark on something so all encompassing as the climate. Mark Twain's quip, nearly 150 years ago, that "Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it," sounds quaint these days. At last, we have done something about the weather, and it is not good. Long-term energy use and lack of pollution controls have unbalanced nature itself.