Thus The New York Times today. “In the future,” the newspaper points out in its editorial section, “there is a good chance New York City will sink beneath the sea.” This is illustrated by a luminous image of the Statue of Liberty deep under water. Only its arm bearing the torch is sticking above the surface. According to the article, the New York City Panel on Climate Change issued a “prophetic” report in 2009 to the effect that the city would face rapidly rising sea levels in the coming decades. Hurricane Sandy last month was an early warning only. “But what good are warnings?” the newspaper asks philosophically. Indeed, no-one ever listens to warnings, no matter how dire. Thus the article waxes poetic all the way to the last couple of lines: “That is our fate. All the more reason to appreciate what we have while we have it.” Alleluia. But there is no mention anywhere in the article that this is precisely what warnings are good for. Everyone turns to appreciating whatever is on offer while it is still on offer, that is. Human nature distilled.