I am wearing my optimistic hat for today's entry, but before I get to that: on NPR last night, Fresh Air replayed a George Carlin interview from a few years ago. Carlin closed with his bit, "The Secret News."

Imagine a short "news chime" musical introduction and a man doing a news anchor voice, sotto:

***

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the secret news.
Ssshhh.
Here's the secret news:
All people are afraid.
No one knows what they're doing.
Everything is getting worse.
Some people deserve to die.
Your money is worthless.
No one is properly dressed.
At least one of your children will disappoint you.
The system is rigged.
Your house will never be completely clean.
All teachers are incompetent.
There are people who really dislike you.
Nothing is as good as it seems.
Things don't last.
No one is paying attention.
The country is dying.
God doesn't care.
Ssshhh.

***

Thanks Mr. Carlin, for that fun-loving, optimistic outlook. And may you rest in peace.

***

And now, for the actual optimism:

First, Oil:

While politicians on both sides of the aisle dither and whine and make utterly absurd noises about temporary gas tax relief and oil speculators and drilling in the ANWR, none of which remotely address the underlying energy issues of a nation crippled by its addiction to oil, some people who have a chance at actually solving our energy problems (scientists and engineers and inventors) are endeavoring to do so. My brother just posted a link to an article about a firm in the SF Bay Area that genetically engineered microscopic bugs to excrete crude petroleum. This is NOT science fiction. The technology exists; now it's just the "small" matter of making it cost effective and scalable.

Second, Water:

Separately, I just read a fascinating article in the Economist about advances in desalinization technology. The article mentions a de-sal plant in Australia that is using wind power. The article realistically points out that de-sal is not a panacea, but nonetheless holds a lot of promise.

Huzzahs to scientists, engineers, inventors, and capitalism. Something to think about the next time you flush a toilet, turn on a light, use a computer, or drive across a bridge.