Robert Mueller, head of the FBI, spent his Friday apologizing over how his agency managed to improperly use the Patriot Act's provisions to improperly collect information about people and businesses.

I saw a film tonight called A Crude Awakening, an effort about the looming phenomenon of cheap oil (here's the Globe and Mail review).

And after 90 minutes of apocalyptic visions about what might happen to civilization, there was no room for the words "global warming." Oops, sorry, there was -- an expert mentions that oil was formed as a result of severe global warming 90 to 150 million years ago.

But in terms of the global warming crisis the world is currently trying to deal with, nothing.

As a complement to the peak oil post above, here's a link to an NYT story about Mexico's oil production problems -- however, the problem is painted as the dead hand of government being locked around the industry's throat.

From the NYT:

European Union leaders have agreed to adopt a binding target on the use of renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, officials say.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Europe was now able to lead the way on climate change.

The 27 EU states will each decide how they contribute to meeting a 20% boost overall in renewable fuel use by 2020.

The measures could include a ban on filament light bulbs by 2010, forcing people to switch to fluorescent bulbs. The bulbs last longer but more are more expensive to buy.

In another key measure, agreed on Thursday, EU leaders said they would cut carbon dioxide emissions by 20% from 1990 levels by 2020.

From the NYT:

The perks of working at Google are the envy of Silicon Valley. Unlimited amounts of free chef-prepared food at all times of day. A climbing wall, a volleyball court and two lap pools. On-site car washes, oil changes and haircuts, not to mention free doctor checkups.

But the biggest perk may come with the morning commute.

In Silicon Valley, a region known for some of the worst traffic in the nation, Google, the Internet search engine giant and online advertising behemoth, has turned itself into Google, the mass transit operator. Its aim is to make commuting painless for its pampered workers -- and keep attracting new recruits in a notoriously competitive market for top engineering talent.

And Google can get a couple of extra hours of work out of employees who would otherwise be behind the wheel of a car.

The company now ferries about 1,200 employees to and from Google daily -- nearly one-fourth of its local work force -- aboard 32 shuttle buses equipped with comfortable leather seats and wireless Internet access. Bicycles are allowed on exterior racks, and dogs on forward seats, or on their owners’ laps if the buses run full.