Number 4. The Daily Mail. Brazilian rainforest loses big in the race to save the climate.
COP30 is here to save the planet, no matter how much of the planet must be destroyed along the way.
Apparently COP30 takes its name from the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. At least they are saving ink with the abbreviation. This must be the 30th such convention, ergo COP30.
This year the meeting place is at Belem, Brazil, at the edge of the Amazon rainforest. Because Important Persons Engaged in Protecting the Climate are not expected to drive rough trails in Land Rovers or Jeeps, or ride on burros, a new highway is required to ferry some 50,000 conferees from the nearest airport to the event venue.
The rainforest is in the way — but then, the rainforest is in the way of almost everything in that area of Brazil.
Conferees gotta get conferred; so trees gotta get treed.
Some 100,000 trees, by some counts, will give their all to save the world. They cover 8 miles of jungle territory, which has been turned into an attractive asphalt scar across an otherwise pristine oxygen-producing field of green. But the highway has been built with a great deal of attention to environmental protection: There are reportedly 30 wildlife crossing zones included (that would come to a crossing every quarter mile), along with marked bicycle lanes and LED lighting.
There is also word that the highway is fenced along the perimeter. I’m not really sure how this goes with the wildlife crossings, but I’m no civil engineer. Maybe there are clearly marked signs for the critters to follow. I wonder if they like asphalt?
Some naysayers have suggested that the new highway cuts that portion of the rainforest in two, disrupting natural habitat.
Other small-minded knuckle-draggers have pointed out that the COP30 digital website alone has emitted nearly 700 pounds of CO2 in the run-up to the conference. I suppose that is an outrageous number, but I have no idea how it relates to anything.
How many pounds of CO2 does the ANR generate? I have no idea, and I could research it… but I have a deadline to meet.
And also, how many private jets does it take to save the world, anyway?
Number 3. New York Post. Retiring Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is now worth $280 million.
This story only proves the value of sticktoitiveness. Long hours and hard work, combined with determination, persistence, and a willingness to boldly disregard the opinions of others can pay off big time.
Especially if you serve in Congress as an elected Representative of These United States.
Nancy Pelosi has been in the U.S. House for the better part of 4 decades. The current salary for a run-of-the-mill Representative is $174,000, while the Speaker receives $223,500. There has not been an automatic cost of living adjustment since 2009.
Mrs. Pelosi served as Speaker for 8 years, 2007-2011 and 2019-2023.
She has done well for herself, no doubt due in large part to her husband’s contribution to the family treasure. When she joined Congress in 1987, the couple’s combined stock portfolio was roughly $700,000. Today it is over $130 million.
That is a return of nearly 17,000%, compared with a comparable Dow Jones return of 2,300% during the same time frame.
Indulge me while I play out the numbers:
Using the best possible U.S. government pay level, assume that Nancy was elected Speaker in her first term (she was not). If the salary at that time had been the current Speaker’s salary (it was not) and if she had bankrolled the entire sum each year, drawing nothing out, the account would have grown substantially. Of course, Nancy would have had to depend on her husband for an allowance, but lots of couples do exactly that.
If her fund had seen a modest return of 5% annually for 37 years, and if she had paid no taxes, the fund would now be worth a touch over $24 million.
The reality is slightly different. With a stock portfolio valued at $130 million, the couple’s total net worth is now reportedly $280 million.
Shrewd investments pay off. Young people, take note: Choose your career path wisely.
A fresh face, optimistic rhetoric and the promise of lots of free stuff pushed Zohran Mamdani to over 50% of the votes cast in the New York City Mayor’s race. In a three-way race, Mr. Mamdani beat former Governor Andrew Cuomo (41%) and newcomer Curtis Sliwa (7%).
Despite some misgivings that the Mayor-elect is a self-proclaimed Muslim Socialist — some would say Islamic Communist — who wants to turn the financial center of the universe into a full-fledged Marxist stronghold, Mamdani sailed to victory and hosted a celebration at the recently renovated Brooklyn Paramount music venue.
Somewhat at odds with Mr. Mamdani’s proclamations that many things will now be available at no charge in the Big Apple — because the uber rich will be taxed more heavily — the drinks served at the election party did not make that list.
A glass of Riesling white wine went for $15; an espresso martini cooler (whatever that is) for $22. For the blue-collar crowd, a humble Pabst Blue Ribbon beer was sold for what some might consider a rapacious $13.
But at least the city bus rides will now be free, and because no fare will have to be collected, they will also run faster in a Mamdani administration. And besides that, universal childcare will also be free for children up to 5 years old.
I can hardly wait to see how this works out. As long as those nameless uber rich people are paying, sign me up. What could possibly go wrong?
Number 1. Breitbart. Outdoor gas barbecues are banned in Australia to save the planet.
Say it ain’t so!
The backyard barbeque is as Australian as one can get. But it now appears that, at least in some circles, it is understood to have become a major culprit in killing Mother Earth.
Residents of Sydney will no longer be able to cook outdoors on barbecue grills fueled by gas connections from the house. If you are using portable bottled gas, you’re still good. Apparently, the gas in the bottles is not as deadly to the environment as that which flows through the underground pipes to your home. That, or it’s harder to regulate their sales.
That, or the retail lobby has made their voice heard.
Whatever, Councillor Clover Moore, who leads the Sydney City Council, has spoken. You can of course convert your gas-fed outdoor barbecue grill to electricity (because electricity comes from some big plant somewhere that, as far as we know, never relies on fossil fuels) and then you’ll be free to cook dead animal parts on the grill to your heart’s content.
But city utility gas is a no-no in that part of the Land Down Under. Where would we be without a conscientious 80-year-old local official looking out for us?
And thanks for joining The Alligator News Roundup for Friday, November 14, 2025.
Get out this fall and enjoy nature… while it lasts.
Have a good weekend!
