Call me "Martin, Jr.". I'm writing 3 posts in 3 days! I just have a lot to comment on suddenly. And when (if) the weather ever improves, I won't have as much time sitting in front of the computer.

Today's topic is to relate a couple of today's newspaper articles to each other.

U.N. population "experts" (however defined) predict the earth will contain over 10 billion people by 2100. That's 3 billion more than today. They say "most of the increase is expected from the world's 'high-fertility countries', especially in sub-Saharan Africa." I say, something has to be done about this, no matter where it happens.

I have my ideas on what to do, perhaps not exactly humane. Carrot row metaphor: It hurts, but when I plant a row of carrots, I have to pluck out about every other one, especially the weakest, to allow the "fittest" to grow. I guess I'm helping "natural selection" do its thing. It's not easy to do but is necessary. Bite into that.

More "authorities" are saying that by 2100 (again), the oceans will rise anywhere from 3 to 5 feet, dramatically higher than earlier projections. Global warming, of course, is the cause. We all know the regions likely to be affected (swamped). Sorry Dottie, Teal, Martin. Of course, that's 90 years away, but time flies. And don't move to Bangladesh!

So the connection is: more people+ less land= problems, right here in River City. Starts with P, rhymes with T, and that stands for trouble. (Kristi is too young to remember that "Music Man" song.)

Okay, bin Laden is dead. Let's move on to more pressing problems. Like saving the earth!