Al Gore's new slideshow is even more awesome

I liked An Inconvenient Truth. I liked it because I thought it did a good job of conveying the magnitude of the climate crisis to a lot of people who hadn't thought much about it in the past.

But Al's recent talk at the TED conference is on another level of awesome. It's not about the problem -- it's pretty much all about the solution. The reason why we can't face the climate crisis, he says, is because we in America have to first face the democracy crisis. And I completely agree with him.

"As important as it is to change the lightbulbs ... it's more important to change the laws," he says. And we simply can't do that if Wal-Mart is a more effective leader on climate change than our own government. This problem will never be solved by individuals taking action in their own lives ... we have to make global changes.

So, yes, change the lightbulbs ... but also consider the environment when you're choosing careers, education, investments, and, possibly most important of all: voting. And tell your senators that you think it's disgusting that the U.S. is the only developed country that doesn't have the balls to sign onto the Kyoto protocol.

And, most pressing right now, find your senators' phone numbers, call them, and tell them to vote for the Solar Investment Tax Credit. It's what Al would tell you to do.

Oh, and also, if you watch the whole video, you'll see him liken our exploration of low-quality oil shale to junkies finding veins in their toes because the veins in their arms and legs have collapsed. There has never been a more apt and frightening metaphor. The whole thing really is worth watching.