Here's the video prank pulled on Sun Microsystems' chief Jonathan Schwartz. His own prank--requesting the immediate return of all free software distributed by Sun Microsystems--underwhelmed by comparison.

Sticking with April Fool's, Massachusetts Rep. Edward Markey said "the biggest joke of all is being played on American families by Big Oil.” Before Congress once more, following appearances in November 2005 and March 2006, Big Oil again denied price-gouging, while arguing hard about fair profit margins, rainy day savings for cyclical downturns, and those damn environmental laws.

One persuasive point though, from Shell Oil Company president John Hofmeister:

"Americans use 10,000 gallons of oil--enough to fill a backyard swimming pool--every second of every day," adding that "Americans should drive less."

Thankfully, green entrepreneurship is alive and well. Check out the good work being done by geothermalists Vulcan Power Company in Bend, OR (attractive enough to draw $35 million from the private energy investment arm of Merrill Lynch), as well as Seattle-based Imperium Renewables, whose biofuel recently tested successfully in a Virgin Atlantic 747.

Also before Congress: Merck and Schering-Plough, fielding more pointed inquiries from Iowa senator Chuck Grassley on their handling of Vytorin test results. And from a proxy group for Verizon Communications retirees, a proposal that Verizon's chairman and CEO jobs be separated.

And even as UBS reports a whopper of a write-down, I am pleased to announce that the credit crisis has passed. Forest fire clearing debris and generating new growth or just more oily black smoke?

Jeff Heilman

4/2/08