www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25023335-1243,00.html We always had occasional heatwaves, but the last five or six years we've had one every summer, & a little worse each time. This year's is the worst yet & has so far burned 300 000 hectares and several towns. 84 people are dead & there's a bushfire front 100 kilometers long which is burning out of control. Many of us are under threat or know people who are. Australia is also facing the longest drought in our history, which is obviously not helpful. Our place is not under direct threat yet... but our poor kitten has spent weeks lying in the shower cubicle because he just can't get cool (he purrs when you put wet towels on him). Our climate is going all to hell, seriously. Has this been making the news outside of Australia?

Bush supporters are worried about Obama trampling the constitution. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/05/opinion/05bolton.html?_r=1&ref=opinionthe (John Yoo was the Bush lawyer/crony best known for claiming that the president can do whatever he wants and questioning him is a national security risk).

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iFPw_TZ-CtiM3UQ8jX8Rfqpcq_EQ What's this - actual leadership?! Is America... back? Here's a nifty site that shows how BHO is tracking in terms of keeping his 500 or so promises: www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/

Heh. Obama had to swear the oath again, apparently the oath-reading guy had a Bush moment. Nice name by the way Joe. Probably the only US politican of the last century who's even less lamented than Bush himself. Let's hope he's keeping hell free of commies....

Pretty stirring stuff. Who was watching it just then? Couldn't help but notice how workmanlike the speech was- much less ebullient rhetoric than one might have expected. This seems to cap off a months long campaign to bring things back to earth & tamp down expectations. The strong emphasis on rebuilding the status of science & working towards energy independence for the US was encouraging. Overall good stuff despite the stumble during the oath. I have high hopes for Biden too. Anyone else feeling optimistic?