Unless you’ve been asleep for a few years or ride a bicycle, burn wood in the winter and think air conditioning is the use of a funeral fan, you know that this country and much of the globe faces an energy crunch of major proportions.

People are lazy and selfish….I’m sure that’s not a never before considered revelation. As a result, people only move from point A to point B when the pain of remaining at point A is greater than the pain of moving to point B. Well, we as Americans are rapidly approaching the requisite level of pain to cause this movement. I say approaching because we are not there yet. The problem is that the lead time required to effect most of the viable energy solutions is so great that we can’t wait until we are there to do something or the pain will be insufferable.

We aren’t there because gas is ONLY $4.00 a gallon. Yes I said ONLY. All over Europe gas is approaching $10.00 a gallon. Years ago Western Europeans began driving more fuel efficient cars to combat high fuel costs at the pump. People in the US talked more about gasoline costs when the price approached $2.00 than they did when it was $3.00 – $3.50. I think we have just become numb to the escalation. It now has our attention though. If the cost of gas moves to parity with Europe we will surely realize that the moving to point B has now become less painful than remaining complacent at point A. But waiting until then may be economically catastrophic.

Realizing the risk of so doing, but stupid enough to place myself out on a prognosticating limb I believe that oil and gasoline will, in the short term, decline in price. This would be a technical drop, not precipitated by fundamental factors but caused by some of the global trading market forces. Fundamentally, the globe still faces a long term shortage of the fossil fuels which, after the cracking and refining process, find their way to our car’s gas tank. We have only to look to Asia where the geometric growth of China’s and India’s economies to see that we are competing with populations and energy demands that potentially dwarf ours. Do the math…it’s scary. It’s hard to make a case for oil prices to not increase significantly in the years ahead. As a matter of fact, some forecasters see world demand increasing 40% by 2030 with 28% of that increase coming from the US.

Before looking at the efficacy of the numerous alternative solutions we have, let’s consider the circuitous route that got us to this point. First, don’t waste your time and breath piling on the oil companies for their big profits. Are they making a lot of money? Yes! Should they? Yes! It’s similar to the ethical drug companies and their drug research that have brought us Prozac, Advair, polio vaccine and other drugs that have significantly changed our lives. They must be allowed to profit from their substantial investment and risk. Oil company profit margins are only slightly more than grocery retailer’s and significantly less than Apple, Microsoft and other technology companies. Investment in refineries is the issue in the oil business. The US hasn’t built one since 1976 and there is none on the horizon. For over thirty years we have sat idly by while the Mid East and, OPEC, their version of the Mafia, has increasingly held us hostage. Those who say President Bush or any other politician can saunter into the alcohol free parlor of the Saudi Royal Family and strong arm them into increasing production, are smokin’ their socks. They have us by the knickers. Ethanol was touted as the perfect antidote for our energy sickness. The only problem is that by diverting corn to ethanol for fuel causes a shortage of foodstuff which, in turn, causes an increase in commodity prices. Darn those unintended consequences!

Investor’s Business daily recently reported on the irresponsible Democrats in Congress calling it the worst Congress ever and the prime cause for our oil problems today. Following are a few of the problems they are saddled with either causing or refusing to fix.

Off Shore Drilling…The environmentalist lobby and their partner, the Democratic Party, has prohibited our drilling in locations immediately off our shores that are currently being drilled in by China, Cuba, Canada and others. Thanks Nancy Pelosi and your restrictionist Congress. These areas must be opened up to our drilling. The Ewell Gibbons nuts and twigs crowd has to be thwarted.

Drilling in ANWR …..It is reported that there is an estimated capacity of one million barrels of oil a day from this Alaskan source alone. This translates to 27 million gallons of fuel. The environmentalists and the Democrats will not allow this drilling. An additional 115 billion barrels of oil and 635 trillion feet of natural gas is estimated to be located in the outer continental shelf. Tapping this would move us from 11th to 4th in the world in terms of known reserves.

Oil Shale Development…Development of oil shale fields in Colorado would aid the crisis. Are you listening libs?

Nuclear Power…We have only 100 or so nuclear power plants….no increase in over a decade. Nuclear energy production and disposal of waste has, in recent years, experienced a manifold increase in safety. Less than 20 % of our energy is produced in this manner compared to 40% in many European countries. These plants are expensive but they produce energy at about $1.72 per kilowatt hour versus $2.37 for coal and $6.35 for natural gas.

New Refineries…..The last refinery built in the US was in 1976. The EPA requires at least 15 unique fuel blends that are sold in different regions of the US. This stretches the refinery process so that the slightest glitch severely restricts production. Our already stressed refineries would be severely effected by a hurricane that caused massive damage like Katrina almost did. Congress has turned a blind eye to this problem.

Tax Increases….Windfall profit taxes and some of the other “great ideas’” of Congress would put a further damper on oil production not serve to increase it.

Solar Energy….There are a number of companies with emerging technologies touted to make a big impact on energy resources. We need to provide tax breaks to permit this to be developed.

Hydrogen Powered Machinery…Likewise, tax breaks need to be permitted for those companies with promising hydrogen technology.

We must be alert to our energy dilemma and be politically active forcing our elected officials to lead, follow or get the heck out of the way.

Come on! That’s how this is solved? Look, rules are written to SOLVE unforeseen problems. Just follow the dang rules, boys! If you didn’t like the rules going in, either change the rules before it starts, or don’t go in! How is this so difficult? The rules say you held the primary early, so it doesn’t count. Go home.

Slyly, I find it quite entertaining that they have called it a ‘draw’ on agreeing about the disagreement to agree on the fairness disagreement decree agreement. . . it means we get to sit back and watch the show a little longer. . . each gets a half vote . . . puh-lease. Next, if one of those delegates changes his/her mind, it’ll drop to a quarter vote .

Amidst all this chaos . . . God loves me . . .

“. . . I Really Think So!” . . .Remember that stupid song by “The Vapors”, whose careers were like a vapor? . . . Oh well. I wish we really could turn Japanese, because they seem so successful at EVERYTHING!!  Not that we’re going ‘green’, more that we’re going ‘broke’ paying for gas has inspired my husband to actually go and ‘look’ at, test drive a Toyota Prius.

Guess what? 500.00 down payment will get you one in six months . . . maybe. How about a test drive? “Nope, solly. Sold that one too! Going to be long long wait, Mistah. You like some sushi while you waiting for seex mon?

Amidst all this chaos . . . God loves me . . .

I just went to a friends  website and took a civics test. It made me remember why I hated school. But it also reminded me of a fun site I had found & thought you might like it too . . .

Amidst all this chaos . . . God loves me . . .

What….another orator/preacher/rabble rouser (pick your own moniker) rants and raves and then does a quick mea culpa when exposed! Well yesterday The Right (or is it Wright) Reverend Catholic Priest, Michael Pfleger, filled the Trinity Church pulpit, both literally and figuratively, with some extremely harsh and vitriolic oratory. He out did Jeremiah Wright, who left his church in the months after throwing his parishioner, B. Hussein Obama, under the bus. Wright retired to a 10,000 square foot house in a predominately white gated community outside Chicago. Preaching, at least the kind he espoused and practiced, is obviously quite lucrative, as in “lucre”

Pfleger, like Wright, played to the crowd and seemingly to the cameras, which he would have had to be an idiot not to have known were present. These cameras were obviously positioned with a good video angle and perfect audio reception….so no word, inflection or gesture was missed. Surprise, surprise this morning his message was on TV (called The Tube long before YouTube existed). Pfleger quickly recanted and Obama followed with his normal veiled “he didn’t mean it, I didn’t mean it, his words didn’t reflect my view of the world…blah, blah..blah.” Spare me the sanctimony!

Let’s look at this situation from two opposite angles. One is a slightly obtuse but possibly accurate perspective. The other is a purely linear and more pragmatic one.

First, this whole thing might have been orchestrated. It puts BHO in a position of being able to ride in on a white horse wearing a white hat (please forgive my inclusion of the much used literary phrase to paint a satirical picture in this situation), trying to position himself as above above the fray without really saying anything. This style has held his coalition of “change” focused followers in line for months, and seems to keep on working.

The other possibility is that there remains in the wings a plethora of nut cases just waiting for their proverbial fifteen minutes of fame in the sun. The little known Pfleger is now an overnight household name by virtue of one profane, politically focused ranting and raving acting job from a pulpit. Call me crazy but I thought pulpits were for proclaiming a religious message. I wonder if the IRS will begin the process of removing Trinity Church’s 501(c)3 tax exempt status. A dollar to a donut says they won’t. Our church and every para church organization I know is very careful to not make political statements from the pulpit for fear of government reprisal. Looks like the law is selective in its application.

Well my choice is the latter. I believe there are many other characters out there , tangent to the curve at every point, who will come forward or be exposed between now and November. If they are there, I sure hope they are exposed. Upon careful analysis, Obama’s protestations do seem to be too mild and begnin to be believed.

I would be most interested in your view of this issue, both those who agree and those who don’t. By the way, notwithstanding the firestorm he created, Pfleger’s view of Hillary’s thoughts on Obama’s presidential run is probably correct.

Our family is preparing for a mission trip to Montana coming up this summer, so I have Big Sky on the brain. I love Montana & hope one day to live there or Wyoming. I am just wondering if it’s a matter of time before something goes before congress to officially change the name to Monturner. See, Ted Turner is the largest private land owner in the United States, over two million acres, with his primary residence in Bozeman. Maybe he’ll change that to Tedman. . . . Tedman, Monturner. . . he’ll like it I’m certain. He likes everything about or having to do with himself.

I’m still mad at Ted for naming the baseball park in Georgia after himself. The little weasel. Let’s see, how many home-runs did he hit in his professional career? Oh yeah, none. Then, how many no-hitters did he pitch?. . .Oh . . . none. OK, how many outs did he make? Goose egg.

If he wants to put his name on something, put it on a bank. That seems to be where all his contributions have been. I understand he’s given away lots of money, and that’s wonderfully generous, but don’t just plaster your name where it doesn’t belong because of it! That baseball field should have been “Hank Aaron Field”. That‘s a name associated with baseball. Ted should have put his name on the ticket office window. Much more appropriate.

Amidst all this chaos . . . God loves me . . .

When we were much younger, my wife and I would, not unlike most doting parents, revel in the funny mispronunciations of common words that our kids would utter, the comical phrases that they would use or the startling remarks they would make to us on occasion. We would often say, “we have to write these down or we will forget them”. Then diapers needed changing, the garbage needed taking out, the dryer belt would break or……..fill in the numerous blanks, and we wouldn’t follow through. Now our grandchildren are following in their parents footsteps and unknowingly waxing comical in their own right. We, having a little less daily parenting stress, focus more on these little rays of sunlight in our life. Following are some of the words and phrases from our kids and their kids that you may enjoy.

MEREDITH (our daughter)….when young said at night, “don’t go outside, you’ll get DARKED-ON” and “don’t go in the street, you might get CAR-ED ON.”

GRIFFIN…..Calls bananas “GA-BANAS” and says “HAVILY” for have to.

MICHAEL…Michael was used to riding around with his mother who always was running errands, driving carpool and organizing things at church, so when asked where he lived he replied, “most of the time I live in my car.”

PERRIN…used to ask when I kissed her why I didn’t “SKAVE” my whiskers.

DAVID SR. (our son)… My father had reprimanded our two sons for being disrespectful to their Mother. He told them how blessed they were to have such a loving and kind Mother, to which David replied, “But Granddaddy, you don’t GOTS her.”

AVERY….Instead of saying you crack me up, she says, “you crack my egg.”

LAUREN….Once when we refused to let her have her way she told us, “you no say no to me.”

DAVID JR…..David, when asked by his mother if he had named the birds he often sat and stared out outside his bedroom window, responded, “one is Sitting Still and the other is Rocket.”

DAN (our son)…Our family used to have family meetings on Sunday night to discuss how we could make our family interaction better and we could air our “grievances” with each other. This proved to be a great family time together. Once when asked what they would like to change in our family, Dan replied, “not have so many SPANKUMS.”

WALKER….Instead of yesterday and last night, he says, “LASTERDAY and LASTERNIGHT”

JACK….Jack had acted up at a friend’s house one day at about age 4 and it got back to his mother who confronted him with this fact. He questioned her about how she heard about his mischievousness to which she replied, “God has a special way of telling parents about their children’s actions even though they are not there to witness them.” He accepted the explanation and trotted off to his room, shutting the door behind him. About 20 minutes later he emerged from hiding and asked his mother, “what did God tell you I did while I was in my room?”

I know you also have many words, phrases and acts to share. Please comment and give us your best. This will be fun and funny.

Is it just me? About November/December of 2001, and early in 2002, I remember numerous times we heard President Bush and others in his cabinet saying “this will be a long drawn out process” when talking about the war on terrorism in terms of troop deployment. I remember being told that this is a different, elusive animal because it’s an ideology, not a well formed enemy. I remember many occasions being reminded that this is a different technological era as far as weapon design, but that a bomb strapped on a young person in a crowded market is tough to defend against.

I don’t like the war either, but because it has been what we were warned it would be, and we still have a long way yet, why would we change our resolve now? This is not comparable to a failed marriage, but in it’s simplest form it is just that. If we bail out now because it doesn’t feel good anymore, we’ll miss the richest part of real freedom. A rocky marriage where the couple never give up almost always emerges stronger & better than ever. I want our troops home, I long for peace, I miss the good old comfortable days of my youth. But this is one more point that I can . . . concede . . . to supporting (this is hard) . . . McCain. I want to stay the course until this is finished.

Amidst all this chaos . . . God loves me . . .

This_news_story_got_me_thinking , something I’m prone to do now and again, contrary to popular opinion. Now, I’m really trying to understand why ‘civil union’ is not enough of a title for gay couples. Why do so many want to refer to a ‘partnership’ as a ‘marriage‘. I do understand that in the event of an accident to be considered ‘next of kin’, insurance benefits after death, etc, which I happen to think are perfectly legitimate arguments. But why do gay rights activists want to change the definition of the word marriage?

To me, it’s not unlike a girl wanting to be a member of the Boy Scouts or vice versa. Or a man suing because he can’t play golf at his country club on a day that is designated ‘ladies only day’. Why would someone want to ‘sue’ to be somewhere that they are unwanted? It’s not that they are ‘unwanted’ so much, but that there seem to be perfectly good alternatives. So, what is the appeal of the word marriage ?

If the word marriage is appealing, it is because of it’s rich history, origin and reputation. If you change the definition to include anything other than one man/one woman, it loses it’s beautifully high standard, becoming too easily attainable for the wrong reasons. Yes, there are right and wrong reasons to marry, just like there are right and wrong people to marry. Don’t get me started . . .Marriage is a sacred institution that takes God’s grace and unfailing, unconditional love to a new level in an individuals life.

I am not speaking from a moral or Christian standpoint exclusively, but rather as a citizen of this great nation. If I fought for and won, to officially change the definition of the word rose and the sweet aroma it alludes to, to include apple and it’s sweet aroma, then the beautifully high standard of what we know as a rose changes, as does apple. Why can’t our society have roses and also have apples ? And why isn’t that enough?

Amidst all this chaos . . . God loves me . . .

I just became aware of a ‘Town Meeting’ today where John McCain extended an unusual invitation to Barak Obama. Since Obama says he supports an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq, Mr. McCain says that Obama is ignoring facts. Facts from military commanders (in essence from what McCain said) say that our presence in Iraq is effective and successful, and that Obama must be ignoring factual reality, so has offered to take Obama by the hand and show him personally. How nice.

McCain, whom I reluctantly . . . support . . . I guess . . . seems to be ignoring a boatload of facts himself. At the risk of sounding like Barry Scheck at the O.J. Simpson trial (“What about THAT, Mr. Fung?”) . . . Global warming and the factual data. . . . What about THAT, Mr McCain? Who is there to take McCain to the woodshed over that one? I have some personal friends in high places who would love to take HIM by the hand and show him the factual reality HE seems to be ignoring . . .

Amidst all this chaos . . . God loves me . . .