Well Richard, I'm sure you've seen that Times article based on the 4 polar bears reference. But what about the: '...USGS and the Canadian Wildlife Service to be published next year will show the population fell 22% from 1,194 in 1987 to 935 last year.' Oh, wow-that's almost 20 years; so about 1%/yr out of a population of ~1000. Hmmm, well maybe not quite so significant. I thought it was a more sudden onset; still... guess it's just another pointer to poles retreating. I heard today that the polar caps on Mars have been retreating for at least 6 years now too.
~Sam

Pyrolysis creates reduced carbon! ...Time for the next step in our evolutionary symbiosis with fire.