Olbermann Turns Critic, Positive Developments

Keith Olbermann is generally viewed (rightly so) as a big Obama supporter/cheerleader, so it's a bit surprising - but very gratifying - to see him smacking the administration around on its continuation of the Bush Secrecy Doctrine.

At the same time - and since I've been so negative towards the Prez on his economic policy and the above constitutional issue - he's kicking ass on plenty of issues:

• Gates' Defense budget - it actually makes a lot of sense! Never mind that it has no chance of getting through the House; too many districts are home to weapons-making factories. But it's refreshing to see. Next, any chance of getting cuts across the board, and shrinking the war industry in general?
• Obama is reaching out to Iran, both in his recent video to the Iranians, and his decision to become involved in current nuclear talks. And there are no signs that he asked Israel's permission! Quite to the contrary, actually.
• The government's long-standing (an largely ineffectual) policy of isolating Cuba might be coming to an end.
  

Can The Small Stuff Add Up?

When it comes to climate change and reducing carbon footprints, most attention is paid to the big-ticket items: wind farms, solar, hybrid vehicles, battery technology. But could capturing portions of lost energy be as worthwhile, collectively, as pursuing the big targets? From the heat energy lost in the normal operation of the typical combustion engine, to the energy absorbed by the ground as it's walked on, to the flushing of a toilet - will these sources of "free energy" ever be harnessed at a large enough scale to make a difference? Or will attempts to collect, store, and re-use this energy remain on the fringes of the green movement?

Here's the latest device - similar to the toilet retrofit above - coming soon to a sink near you (?)

Dirty Larry

Sure, there was plenty of corruption and likely war profiteering in the Bush administration. But we figured Obama's presidency would be different, right? Well, I certainly did.

Wrong.