SUNNYVALE TWEET

Here in Sunnyvale Birdland we've skimped through the worst drought in California's history, managed to meet a 25% cutback, during summer anyway when the lawns went thirsty. Now climate change has brought a Godzilla El Nino, and lo, January! – storms arrive, one after another, with fortunate pauses in between. The south bay, I've been told, is god's country.

Experiments at the National Ignition Facility are on the verge of starting a fusion reaction with hydrogen as the fuel. The forecast is for limitless energy, with water the most dangerous byproduct, which is not a greenhouse gas.

Water coming down around our ears can't be heard when they're plugged by buds which override with music, ads, manufactured cheer. The effects aren't disastrous here, yet, like practically everywhere else. Fires, floods, even a tornado in Sacramento; temperature extremes to create more pages for the record books. But the power hasn't gone out. Internet and TV still working. Some sweat maybe, perhaps an extra coat, an umbrella -- but not burnt out, flooded out.

An ill wind, indeed, it is that blows no good. The winds of climate change and fusion energy will outdo any tornado, earthquake, or social revolution. Last month 195 countries adopted the first-ever universal, legally binding climate deal. This is unprecedented. And more importantly, it is reactionary. Not all of the suffering wrought by wars, or all the misapplication of force by so-called leaders, has ever brought them all together. The world Ponzi scheme, built on feudal foundations, is now clearly coming to an end. Every person on earth is affected by something over which no one person, or persons, or organization can claim ownership or control. The Change will abide by its own, natural rules. It doesn't care what anyone calls it or who bows. So we'd best all get with the program, even as we're learning what it is. It's calling the scheme to a showdown.

Likewise, limitless energy, a universal force more fundamental than fossil fuel, less susceptible to feudal geography, is the message. It says lack of scarcity, abundance that supersedes rationing. And -- hydrogen is ubiquitous.

If this seems a far cry from Birdland, just look around. The Change is here. The energy of hydrogen is bound up in the rains now making puddles. And here we are, our distractions being superseded.