This is more like a thematic quick post roundup than a real post, but the main section of the blog was feeling stale. Here's some potentially important new that came out today:

• Senate Finance Committee Approves $28 Billion in Tax Breaks for Renewable Fuels: If approved by the Senate (there was a vote, but they didn't get the 60 votes needed to end debate), it will go to any energy company that is working with renewable sources with lots of it going towards clean-burning coal. Sadly, a provision to promote diesel fuels made from coal was shot down. I actually don't know if that's bad, but I've been all amped about diesel fuel since Honda announced the 2009 Accord Diesel that gets 52 miles per gallon and burns clean. Yay Honda!
• Senate Approves Stricter Fuel Standards: All cars and SUVs will be required to get 35 mpg by 2020. That's a really long ways away, but it's a start.
• Researchers Find a Way to Turn Fruit Into a Biofuel 40% More Efficient than Ethanol: While it's a much better option than ethanol, they haven't been able to test the long term effects of this fructose and sucrose based fuel on the environment. Even if it doesn't work out, at least the scientists who did the work are from my alma-mater, UW-Madison. If this solves our energy crisis, I'll buy you each a case of Sprecher Root Beer.

Before you begin, here is your serious spoiler warning (duh). I will be talking about the ending, mostly.

Are all the time-shifters gone? Good.

Everyone seems to be pissed off about how the series ended. After some thought, I'm totally at ease (and I kinda called it, too). While he didn't get whacked, didn't end up in jail and he didn't, well, he didn't end up doing anything, the man was at peace. With the potential threat of jail time, someone trying to kill him, A.J.'s mental health, Meadow's uncertain future and an inept family (blood and otherwise), he ordered some delicious onion rings.

Halfway through the episode Tony self-diagnoses himself in front of A.J.'s shrink and seems pretty easy going about it (he wasn't tense and confrontational, like in his normal sessions). Before the final, nerve-wracking scene, we see Tony visit Junior and he appears to have accepted that Junior is sick and it's time to move on. When we get to the final scene Tony puts on the karaoke classic, "Don't Stop Believin'", and I assume the chorus is meant to be taken somewhat seriously. So, despite not knowing Tony's actual fate, we know that Tony is finally a man in a comfortable place, even if he is a sociopath.

The show has always been about the way people deal with the world ("feelins") and just happens to be set in the world of crime. Gangsters will always shoot, bone and plunder and that should be understood. While it's corny, Tony's inner peace is what gives the show closure. If not the show, then at least me.