So I discovered the latest move by flagrant CO2 sinner Spain to curb their purported excesses: following Japan’s example, industry ministry officials are doing away with the practice of wearing neckties, to enable the higher-ups to set the thermostat a little higher.

The point of pride that Spain trails only Italy in Europe’s lucrative necktie-production industry wasn’t lost on all, and this commandment met with some grumbling about how an Industry Minister might stretch his imagination to other symbolic acts that are less an affront to Spanish industry.

Setting the pace, the Minister himself stormed into a conference room for his summer university lecture on Tuesday at the old summer palace el Escorial outside of Madrid, and demanded that the air conditioning be turned off, as a wretched indulgence of the weak.

Even this posturing, while a small gesture and more that imposes upon others as much as on oneself, is still a sharp contrast with our own Al Gore. (Did he demand the same for his DAR talk today?) Still, neither are exactly Profiles in Courage.

Regardless, it’s going to be a long, hot one in Spain for some of our amigos.