So, the U.S. military has finally started talking again about reducing their dependency on petrochemicals. That's nice. Here's an article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/science/earth/05fossil.html?src=me&ref=science

I should probably care more but I'm just too tired. Tired of the lies, of the bullshit, of third rate paper pushers and charisma jockeys getting lauded as "geniuses" while ignoring basics and claiming deep wisdom for minor advances.

I have one simple point. This has bothered me for quite a few years now, as have hundreds of others like it.

When we built all those complexes in Iraq, we put one building next to another next to another. Most of them no more than three feet from each other as far as I can tell. Of all things, Bremer's book has plenty of really good shots of this. So, I ask, why the hell didn't they just earth berm between them all and put as little as two inches of netted down sand or soil in top of each of them?

Fuel usage would have dropped like crazy. Areas would get easier to defend with so many fewer easy places for bad people to hide. Not to mention bomb resistant. And it's not like these structures needed to protected from long term damage from excess moisture.

Whatever. I just can't respect these people. Don't ask me to try.