I hope senate democrats stay awake long enough to deal with the new energy bill that republicans (only, no dems allowed at this water fountain) have come up with. Among other things, the bill heaps generous tax breaks on energy companies (no surprise there; that trough just keeps getting bigger), shields makers of MTBE (a gasoline additive that is contaminating water supplies) from product liability lawsuits, and fails to mandate improvements in auto fuel economy.
The bill does not, however, advance "one of Bush's top energy goals": opening Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil development. Republicans didn't want to risk having the whole bill scuttled over that issue... this time. No doubt it will come up again, but at least the people's message got through this time.
In other news, we had a cold, rainy week here, but surprisingly, once the clouds lifted, the mountains were still clear of snow. I guess the storm kind of got wrung out on its way through L.A.:
Sheesh. First firestorms, now torrential hailstorms, and on Monday Ah-nold takes over as governor. You know what's next... it IS California, after all. I can almost feel those tectonic plates shuddering from here.
Okay, I haven't taken any new pictures of Lazarus lately, but I'll get some when we venture out into the sunshine this afternoon and post them, just for Mom. Promise.
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