Discussion Topic

OK, class.

What do we think of this?

Your comments please.

http://reuters.myway.com/article/20060428/2006-04-28T002206Z_01_N26224260_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-USA-IMMIGRATION-DC.html

Every picture tells a story....

... but some captions really crack you up.

Funny caption:
http://weblog.waynelutz.net/#com000295

Funnier caption (scroll down):
http://weblog.waynelutz.net/#com000294

Pains in the Gas

For those who would comment on Mike's incisive post (this means you Breeden!!) and try to argue beyond his skillful simile, you need to review these pieces first.

Then comment away.

http://lkmp.blogspot.com/2006/04/opportunism-over-prices-at-pump.html

http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=14248

http://www.exposetheleft.com/2006/04/24/mac-johnson
(including the O'Reilly video, you might be surprised)

The Politics of Gas

I just love high gas prices. You know why? Because it exposes our politicians for what they really are - big bags of gas themselves. Let's see how our elected representatives (both Democrats and Republicans) have 1. caused our problems and 2. are about to make things worse for us.

First of all, gas isn't like Wonder Bread. There is only one kind of Wonder Bread - white. If there is a shortage of Wonder Bread in Tampa, FL and a surplus in San Diego, CA, the surplus bread can be moved from the market place with excess capacity to the high demand area and thus head off a massive price escalation (basic supply/demand). Unfortunately there are 17 different blends of gas. So when the great state of MA has a shortage of their mix, they cannot use the mix that their friends in PA can. The supplies are limited to specific geographic locales.

Secondly, gas, now, isn't like Peanut Butter. It used to be when the vast majority of the oxygenating additive was MTBE. The refininers could add MTBE to the mix before it went to distribution. Now the refiners need to move the gas without the new additive (ethanol) and mix it at the end point. That's like Skippy and Jiff only making creamy peanut butter at their factories and mandating that the chunky peanuts be added at the supermarket. Do you think that will have an affect on price? YES. Do you think they want to maintain stockpiles of peanuts all over the country? NO.

These first two points are the fault of our short-sighted elected officials. When I have more time I will address what these same officials are doing to make matters worse under the guise of making things better -- for them.

But can they make up for....

... all the hot air produced in this story. If this is not a case of life resembling South Park where people drive around in hybrid Pious cars, then I don't know what is.

I do, however, sense a business opportunity along the lines of Sam Kinison the dog psychologist.

To people who take the threat of global warming personally, driving a car that spews heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere can be a guilt trip.

But to help atone for that environmental sin, some drivers are turning to groups on the
Internet that offer pain-free ways to assuage their guilt while promoting clean energy.

It involves buying something known as a carbon offset: a relatively inexpensive way to stimulate the production of clean electricity. Just go to one of several carbon-offset Web sites, calculate the amount of carbon dioxide produced when you drive, fly or otherwise burn fossil fuels, and then buy an offset that pays for an equivalent amount of clean energy.

Thomas Dolby and Freakonomics

Thomas Dolby talks to Freakonomics author Steven Levitt. Hilarity ensues.

Update!

Sorry to my faithful readership of 2 people that nothing has been posted to this site in quite a while. I will, in the near future, post stories and pictures from the following events:

1. George & Molly's new baby boy Luke. (I like to think they named him after me as my Confirmation name is, in fact, luke.)
2. The hell of putting an addition onto my house. It's only 9.5x13.5 but it's a real mess now.
3. My pending trip to a place far, far away.
4. Any crazy article I find on the Internet that is either a) funny, b) sad, or c) such a complete train wreck I would have to comment on it.

Stay tuned...