Apparently we've avoided ecological disaster

According to NASA and their super-awesome computer simulations, had we not cut CFC gasses in air conditionals and spray cans 22 years ago, we'd be screwed as a human race.

NASA atmospheric scientist Paul Newman said the answer is a "bizarre world."

By 2065, two-thirds of the protective ozone layer would have vanished and "the ozone hole covers the Earth." And the CFCs, which are long-lived potent greenhouse gases, would have pushed the world's temperature up an extra 4 degrees.

In mid-latitudes like Washington, DNA-damaging ultraviolet radiation would have increased more than sixfold. Just 5 minutes in the summer sunshine would have caused a sunburn, instead of 15. Typical midsummer UV levels, now around 10 or 11, would have soared to 30. Summer thunderstorms in the Northern Hemisphere would have been much stronger.

"It is a real horrible place," Newman told The Associated Press.

No word yet on if getting rid of big hair bands helped any too, but I'm pretty sure that if they hadn't run Vanilla Ice out of the music scene we'd be all in hell right now.