The Ugly American

23%

The survey found public approval of the president's job performance at a new low for a Times/Bloomberg poll: 23%, compared with 73% disapproval.

Wow. 23%.

There is other news there too, like that Obama has a 12 point lead, at this moment.

Filibuster

They couldn't get the hold so it looks like Finegold and Dodd are filibustering the FISA law. At the moment you can see a live streaming video of Dodd filibustering.

My political compass

Economic Left/Right: -5.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -7.49

I like the fact that these results from this test puts me closest to the Dalai Lama.

Just cookie

and something else

The GOP Ralph Nader

Here's hoping he's named Bob Barr.

Ted: bottom billion

And some more interesting stuff:

Bad guys really do get the most girls

taking the shotgun approach to procreation

Swing!

Great white north issues

Oh the lovely internets

Beware, contains bad word.

A genetic modification I like

A bug that eats waste and sh*ts petrol

Seriously.

To be more precise: the genetic alteration of bugs – very, very small ones – so that when they feed on agricultural waste such as woodchips or wheat straw, they do something extraordinary. They excrete crude oil.

Unbelievably, this is not science fiction. Mr Pal holds up a small beaker of bug excretion that could, theoretically, be poured into the tank of the giant Lexus SUV next to us. Not that Mr Pal is willing to risk it just yet. He gives it a month before the first vehicle is filled up on what he calls “renewable petroleum”. After that, he grins, “it’s a brave new world”.

...

Using genetically modified bugs for fermentation is essentially the same as using natural bacteria to produce ethanol, although the energy-intensive final process of distillation is virtually eliminated because the bugs excrete a substance that is almost pump-ready.

The closest that LS9 has come to mass production is a 1,000-litre fermenting machine, which looks like a large stainless-steel jar, next to a wardrobe-sized computer connected by a tangle of cables and tubes. It has not yet been plugged in. The machine produces the equivalent of one barrel a week and takes up 40 sq ft of floor space.

However, to substitute America’s weekly oil consumption of 143 million barrels, you would need a facility that covered about 205 square miles, an area roughly the size of Chicago.

That is the main problem: although LS9 can produce its bug fuel in laboratory beakers, it has no idea whether it will be able produce the same results on a nationwide or even global scale.

“Our plan is to have a demonstration-scale plant operational by 2010 and, in parallel, we’ll be working on the design and construction of a commercial-scale facility to open in 2011,” says Mr Pal, adding that if LS9 used Brazilian sugar cane as its feedstock, its fuel would probably cost about $50 a barrel.

Last lecture

Kucinich presents Bush impeachment articles

"Resolved," Kucinich then began, "that President George W. Bush be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, and that the following articles of impeachment be exhibited to the United States Senate. ...

The Varying Impact of Gas Prices

Gas prices are high throughout the country, but how hard they hit individual families depends on income levels, which vary widely. Some people pay up to 16% of their income on gas... 16%!

Hillary Clinton's Concession Speech

Schadenfraude

No more Hummers?

Never thought I'd be happy to say that.