Bow down before Google

While perhaps well-meaning, Google is overstepping its bounds in trying to shape the nation's energy future.

Google has been quietly pushing an energy agenda with the Obama Administration, and on February 11 the Internet giant unveiled Google PowerMeter, a program that helps people monitor their home power consumption. See the article here. See Google's own blog on the topic here.

Again, all good and well, but I think Google already has enough of a handle on what Americans do with their time, money and conversations (public Web, e-mail, phone).

This is coming from someone who loves Google products like youtube, and blogger, which supports this particular blog.

I remember when I first saw Google in action. It must have been the late 90s. I was an editor at a newspaper, and a hotshot intern was showing me the search engine he really like. And it beat the heck out of the multiple search engines I was using at the time. It was just a simple little search box on a white Web page.

At its core essence, Google hasn't changed so much. In what else it does, it has taken a life of its own that is probably too much power for one entity.

Stimulus bill not stimulating enough for alternative energy

If you've read this blog before, you know that I firmly believe the best thing we can do for this nation is reduce our energy usage. Doing so will allow us to scale back our military footprint and make us a less-hated presence in the world. We have spent well over a trillion dollars on our Mideast wars so far.

So I'm more than a little displeased with the compromise stimulus bill, which tags a mere $50 billion toward energy programs, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

Specifically for energy programs, the bill includes:
$13.9 billion to subsidize loans for renewable energy projects;
$11 billion toward a smart electricity grid to reduce waste;
$6.4 billion to clean up nuclear-weapon production sites;
$6.3 billion in state energy efficiency and clean energy grants;
$5 billion to weatherize modest-income homes; and
$4.5 billion to make federal buildings more energy efficient.

Among other line items, the bill also contains:

$8.4 billion for mass transit;
$8 billion for construction of high-speed railways;
$6.4 billion for clean and drinking water projects; and
$7 billion to bring broadband Internet service to underserved areas.

Meanwhile, the Obama team is saying the bank bailout may top $2.5 trillion. By the way, that's $8,333 per man, woman and child in the United States. The $50 billion for energy amounts to just over $166 per capita.

Come on! Let's put our money where, as a nation, we're bleeding. End wars over oil, put the money into renewable energy. Build an export-oriented economy around wind turbines, solar cells and whatever else we can dream up.

It's seems so simple that I'm starting to wonder if I'm a simpleton.

Citigroup to give up lavish jet

Finally, someone is talking some sense into Citigroup.

I blogged the other day about Citigroup's plans to go ahead with buying a $50 million corporate jet.

The banking giant has taken so much heat that now it appears to be backing off, according to this ABCNews.com story.

Apparently, the Obama Administration told Citigroup to "fix it."

That's change I can agree with.