Detroit News editorial board member Henry Payne suggests this week that cool temperatures to start the London Olympics ("Global freezing" he calls it) will be a real downer for "media disciples of the Green Church" who "have been frightening Michigan and the U.S. with tales of global warming-induced drought."

I'm a scientist by training. I know the difference between climate and weather. So the fact that it's supposed to hit 87 degrees today, March 21, in Lansing, Michigan, and that my neighbors are mowing their grass, that the trees in my yard are sprouting fresh new buds, and friends have been slapping mosquitoes? That's weather.

Gotta make the boss happy so let's start with this replay of MEC President Chris Kolb on last week's Focus on the Environment show on Eastern Michigan University's WEMU radio. Kolb, with co-host Lisa Wozniak of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, talked about Gov. Rick Snyder's budget, the Kalamazoo River oil spill cleanup and other issues.

Renewable energy sure takes a beating from free marketers like Heritage Foundation policy analyst Ben Lieberman, who said in November saying wind power is "a bubble which bursts as soon as the government subsidies end."

Since the ideal height of Michigan trees has been adequately covered by Mitt Romney, we tree huggers are moving on to a different topic.