America's boom in oil and natural gas is being compared to the tech boom of the 1990's, with the unexpected capacity to create new jobs and accelerate economic recovery. But it's already bad news for the environment and lifestyles in many places, and it could drastically set back efforts to cope with global warming. Also, the air war between Israel and Hamas continues, and BP has admitted to felony crimes resulting from the Gulf oil spill of 2010.
Banner image: Piceance Basin Natural Gas Operations in northwestern Colorado. Photo by EnergyTomorrow/flickr