----- Original Message ----
From: Keith Addison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: biofuel@sustainablelists.org
Sent: Friday, 11 May, 2007 8:14:32 AM
Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Gas prices - & government hot air - making
drivers fume
>I'm sure the article is a get-up.
>
>But you can find similar sentiment on the Internet just about everywhere.
Sure you can find it on the Internet just about everywhere. So why
couldn't this guy? What we're left with is some poor-quality
apocryphal nonsense plus I suppose Ben Radstein's opinion, FWIW. Why
not do it for real? Radstein says he's a staff reporter. A reporter
would have done some interviews. "It's the real news!" claims The
UNCOVEROR, where Radstein works. The UNCOVEROR's "About" page says
it's a "journal of political satire, news parody, and comic farce...
Names are invented, except when public figures are lampooned." Real
news, right. Real what, actually? Infotainment?
What is your Conceptual Continuity?
It should be easy to see
The crux of the biscuit is the Apostrophe
(Fido the dog)
http://eatthestate.org/
Eat the State! (May 10, 2007)
Volume 11, #18 May 10, 2007
Our Relationship with Reality
by John A. Johnson
People love a good story. Something that will take them out of their
own head for awhile, make them laugh, get inspired, or even make them
feel heroic and courageous. All from the comfort of the chair they're
sitting on.
People also don't like bad news, negative situations, or anything
that's going to harsh their buzz or challenge their core values.
People like their everyday reality to be pleasant, if possible, at at
least affirming and validating of what they already believe.
It's understandable that people turn to diversions when they've had
enough reality. And, there are legions of people out there ready to
provide those diversions. We call them "entertainers."
The computer age is an interesting time for people who want
diversion. It's possible to plug in to whatever you want any time day
or night. In fact, we have a population which has grown accustomed to
ready access to all of these things, and is quite comfortable with
the world of electronic media of all types. The emphasis many people
put on their diversions makes you wonder if they've sort of swapped
out reality for something they like more. Something that doesn't jar
their belief system. Something that isn't too threatening. A picture
of things they're comfortable with. Brought to you by Our Sponsor.
The news and information industries in our culture have always been
closely allied with the entertainment people, and the news people
have taken more than a few pages from the entertainment peoples'
playbook, as evidenced by the many models with great hair and pouty
lips who deliver the "news." Needing to cultivate a following of both
consumers and advertisers, "the news" seems to have formulated a
product that keeps everyone happy and coming back for more.
American politics thrives on the presence of bogeymen. For the most
part, we're happy to let most things--even the really important
ones--roll right off us until something spooks us. Then we sit up
straight and pay attention. Since ours is a diverse culture, there's
a different bogeyman for every group, ready to appear on cue. Our
culture seems to be content consuming media yarns of bogeymen doing
bad things. As a result of this mass-scale "swallowing it," there is
no shortage of heads planted straight up bums. Let's take a look at
some of it.
Plenty of spit and ink have been spent describing and making fun of
how dumb the "RightTards" are. Mostly, these are playground-style
arguments, little better than one side saying that the other has
kooties. The right seems to be all about guns, God and gays, and
barely-concealed racism. They also appear to be conducting a war
against the environment, and don't care for those who read books or
wear nice pants.
One of the Left's bogeymen is the smelly, pus-filled center of
neocon-style Republicanism. Ann Coulter is a favorite targets.
Nothing too outrageous for her to say or write, and nothing that
won't get the Left's undies in a bunch. Works every time! Many Dems
and Liberals believe that bad guys have taken over the government and
are the sole cause of all problems. Swap those rascals out for some
proper Green Tea-drinking Liberals, and all ills will be washed away.
The Left also likes to talk a lot about the other side's obsession
with silly religious beliefs and various sexual hangups as having a
direct causal relationship with what's going on here politically.
And perhaps the crown jewel of silliness on the part of Left
"pundits" is that the real reason we're fighting never-ending
resource wars is that the 'president' hates his daddy and wants his
mommy, and has a need to play dress-up. Oh, and by the way, he talks
to his Special Little Friend, can't pronounce the word "nuclear," and
he's really, really dumb, which makes the whole thing that much worse.
Here are a couple of stings.
We are fighting never-ending resource wars as a direct result of the
way we live. A gang of corporatistas is running our country because
of the way we insist on living. We are strapped to an untenable
economic model which demands never-ending growth, limitless profits.
We demand great jobs, cheap prices, non-stop comfort and an endless
supply of consumer goodies which we buy, discard, and buy again as
though it is our birthright to squander the very planet we live on.
Even those who should know better spread the fiction that the key to
solving our environmental problems is simply to switch the type of
fuel that powers the amusement park. That it isn't our profligate
self-indulgence which has brought on imminent environmental failure;
it's the FUEL that's wrong, man!
Basically, in This Land, baby wants its bottle, and things are set up
to make sure we get it anytime we want, and to prevent us from
feeling any real consequences that might make us take a hard look at
what the real causes of our problems are.
Consumerism and self-indulgence drive the Machine, enabling big
business to run things the way that works best for it. Consumerism
causes us to wage war to keep the toys and comfort in steady supply,
and has been elevated to the level of Patriotic Duty.
Even as the elements of what some have called a Perfect Storm of
environmental, economic and military catastrophe loom, we are still
head-up-our-bums with externalizing our self-made problems, laying
the blame on "the bad guys" who've hijacked our fair democracy.
What it cooks down to is this. If your house is on fire, do you make
snotty remarks about how the impudent fire has inconvenienced you?
Or, do you grab your loved ones, get your asses outside, and engage
in some intelligent, productive activity, like calling the fire
department or grabbing a bucket of water? (C) 2007 John A. Johnson
>Keith Addison wrote:
>
> >> Tanks for nothing, D.C. bigs!
> >>
> >>
> >
> >Ag siestog! Poor little things!
> >
> >LOL!
> >
> > From your previous:
> >
> >
> >
> >>I am sick and tired of people wasting apostrophes. There is a finite
> >>supply, and the Oxford English Dictionary estimates that we've already
> >>used more than half.
> >>Moreover, with more and more people studying English, this alarming
> >>trend will only get worse.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >I tend to agree with your concerns about Peak Apostrophe Mike, it's a
> >widely unrecognised threat to CAWKI. Sod the sound science, what it
> >needs is an Oscar-winning movie to turn the tide, or even a
> >Nobel-winning movie, if not a hit song, a t-shirt and a coffee mug.
> >
> >However, I do believe you've picked on the wrong apostrophe. Filling
> >in the spaces vacated by missing letters is just a sideline for
> >apostrophes, their true role, the crux of the biscuit, is
> >possessives. Eg, "Mike's Harley", sadly missing though it be, or,
> >more apt, "Mrs Wellington's SUV". Mine not yours, in other words.
> >It's the unprecedented overuse of such apostrophes as these and the
> >single-minded acquisition of them, with its accompanying waste of
> >virtually all finite resources, that's propelling us towards the edge
> >of the precipice, IMHO. Meanwhile property-neutral bio-apostrophes
> >remain uninvented, algae won't help, and neither will jatropha.
> >Looming just over the horizon is the crunch question of just how much
> >longer insurance companies are going to go on insuring shops.
> >
> >These bootless Wellingtons, by the way, pardon the dumb question, but
> >are they supposed to be for real? Looks like a throw-together
> >composite to me, the seams are showing.
> >
> >Best
> >
> >Keith
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >> Gas prices - & government hot air - making drivers fume
> >>
> >>BY ADAM NICHOLS
> >>DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
> >>
> >>Thursday, May 3rd 2007, 3:26 PM
> >>
>
>>------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>
> >> * Print
> >>
> >><http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/05/03/2007-05-03_tanks_for_nothi
> >>ng_dc_bigs_print.html>
> >> * Email <javascript:void(0);>
> >> * Suggest a Story <http://www.nydailynews.com/nydn/submitStory.do>
> >>
> >>Sky-high gas prices have become a Memorial Day tradition, but this
year
> >>they're being pumped to the highest levels yet - and motorists
have had
> >>enough.
> >>
> >>AAA is warning that New York's record high average of $3.35 a gallon -
> >>charged following Hurricane Katrina - could be topped in time for
> >>America's busiest traveling weekend.
> >>
> >>And drivers don't see the spike ending on Memorial Day, according to a
> >>survey.
> >>
> >>It found 72% of motorists expect to be paying more than $3.50 a gallon
> >>in the next few months, 83% suspect illegal price gouging - and
the huge
> >>majority want it stopped.
> >>
> >>"Americans are fed up with skyrocketing gasoline prices and they want
> >>action," said Pam Solo, president of the Civil Society Institute,
which
> >>questioned more than 1,000 motorists.
> >>
> >>"These survey findings should send a real jolt through the
corridors of
> >>the White House and the halls of Congress," Solo said.
> >>
> >>Researchers found drivers sick of dependence on Middle Eastern oil,
> >>government reluctance to increase fuel efficiency requirements and oil
> >>companies' empty promises about green energy.
> >>
> >>And the more it hits them in the pocket, the madder drivers are
getting.
> >>
> >>"We are told refineries have had problems with explosions, fires and
> >>maintenance, and it's pushing up prices," said AAA's New York
spokesman
> >>Robert Sinclair.
> >>
> >>"But we haven't had any manmade or natural disasters. I certainly
don't
> >>think it can be as bad as the devastation Hurricane Katrina caused to
> >>refineries, yet the prices are going higher," he said.
> >>
> >>Motorists complained they were already planning to shorten
Memorial Day
> >>trips and are cutting back on spending to budget for higher costs
at the
> >>pump.
> >>
> >>But Sinclair said drivers have to take some of the blame.
> >>
> >>"Of course oil companies have their hand in this," he said. "But a
large
> >>part of this problem is that half the vehicles on the road are SUVs or
> >>big minivans.
> >>
> >>"Americans, unfortunately, have a love affair with these big vehicles.
> >>They push demand up, and that pushes up the price."
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Mike Weaver wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>>I'm surprised at you, Keith. You're not very sympathetic.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> SUV OWNERS PUZZLED BY HIGH GAS PRICES
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> by Ben Radstein, staff reporter
> >>>
> >>>Before the war in Iraq began, SUV owners were polled
> >>><http://www.uncoveror.com/suv.htm> about their attitudes toward the
> >>>upcoming conflict, and by a very wide margin, they supported the
idea.
> >>>They all seemed to believe that the war would lower oil prices,
and make
> >>>fueling their gas guzzling behemoths cheap. Now many are expressing
> >>>dismay that this has not occurred. I spoke again to William and Susan
> >>>Wellington, who expressed confusion about the current situation.
> >>>
> >>>"I used to see bumper stickers and tee shirts that said kick
their ass,
> >>>take their gas." said Mr. Wellington, "We have done the first part of
> >>>that, why not the rest? Iraq has the world's second largest oil
reserve,
> >>>and now we control it, but gas costs more now than it did before the
> >>>war. It is already over two dollars a gallon, and I need premium!"
> >>>
> >>>"We were going to buy a new SUV once the Escalade is eighteen months
> >>>old, and loses that new feeling," added Mrs. Wellington "but now
I don't
> >>>know. I hate having to be seen in anything old. If I didn't know
better,
> >>>I might think that young chap I saw on the University campus talking
> >>>about peak oil wasn't crazy."
> >>>
> >>>For those who don't know, peak oil
> >>><http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/Index.html> is the theory
that the
> >>>world's oil supply can be represented as a bell curve. The first
half of
> >>>it will be easy to extract, and therefore cheap. The second half
would
> >>>be increasingly difficult to remove from the ground, and increasingly
> >>>expensive. Depending upon whom you believe, the result of this
could be
> >>>mere inconvenience, prolonged recession, or war, famine,
pestilence and
> >>>death.
> >>>
> >>>I asked the Wellingtons to consider whether peak oil was a valid
theory,
> >>>and if we had hit it. Susan nodded no, and William bellowed.
"That's a
> >>>bunch of vegan tree-hugger doom-saying nonsense! Where did you
get that
> >>>idea, Al Gore? Are you trying to cause panic? Why do you liberals
hate
> >>>America? We will have oil for centuries to come if we just look
for it.
> >>>We have heard this nonsense since the 1970s. It was not true
then, and
> >>>it's not true now. I don't know exactly why gas prices are so
high, but
> >>>I would wager my last dollar that it is Bill Clinton's fault. After
> >>>all, it was he who drove Rush Limbaugh to drugs, and he should accept
> >>>responsibility for that"
> >>>
> >>>The Wellingtons would not talk to me any further after that. I wonder
> >>>how long big SUVs will keep selling with gas at these prices.
Will they
> >>>still say that fuel-efficient cars are only for tree-huggers in a
year?
> >>>One thing is for certain. People who depend on cheap oil don't
want to
> >>>talk about peak oil.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Keith Addison wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Different point I know, but US gasoline prices are currently
$2.87 to
> >>>>$3.37 a (US) gallon, very cheap!
> >>>>
> >>>>Weekly Retail Premium Gasoline Prices (Including Taxes)
> >>>>
> >>>>Date 4/30/07 (U.S. Dollars per Gallon)
> >>>>Belgium 6.80
> >>>>France 6.71
> >>>>Germany 7.09
> >>>>Italy 6.68
> >>>>Netherlands 7.77
> >>>>UK 7.07
> >>>>US 3.18
> >>>>
> >>>>Another source:
> >>>>
> >>>>pence/litre
> >>>>Austria 75
> >>>>Belguim 95
> >>>>Czech Rep 71.5
> >>>>Denmark 92.2
> >>>>Eire 74.5
> >>>>Finland 89.4
> >>>>France 85.2
> >>>>Germany 90
> >>>>Greece 65.7
> >>>>Netherlands 100.3
> >>>>Hungary 83.5
> >>>>Italy 87.2
> >>>>Luxembourg 76.5
> >>>>Norway 94.8
> >>>>Poland 79.5
> >>>>Portugal 85.8
> >>>>Spain 66.4
> >>>>Sweden 82.1
> >>>>Switzerland 72.1
> >>>>United Kingdom(Av) 96.5
> >>>>USA 37.5
> >>>>
> >>>>Gasoline in the US costs half or less what it costs in other
> >>>>industrialised countries.
> >>>>
> >>>>Much too cheap, $10 would be better, make it soon.
> >>>>
> >>>>Best
> >>>>
> >>>>Keith
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>Like evey freakin law, special cases are not accounted for.
> >>>>>Consequently, laws are made to be broken. Bhandari needs to show
> >>>>>the copy of his letter from the Wisconsin Dept of Ag to customers,
> >>>>>make a big stink out of this. Get folks to beat their state reps
> >>>>>over the head. Could be a great marketing tool for Bhandari, help
> >>>>>him get free publicity, maybe even spread the idea to other
> >>>>>stations. This guy has been presented a gift horse. Wonder if
he's
> >>>>>smart enough to cash in. Mike DuPree
> >>>>>
> >>>>>----- Original Message -----
> >>>>>From: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Kirk McLoren
> >>>>>To: <mailto:Biofuel@sustainablelists.org>biofuel
> >>>>>Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 11:45 AM
> >>>>>Subject: [Biofuel] Fwd: Gas Station Owner Told to Raise Prices
> >>>>>
> >>>>>free market?
> >>>>>Kirk
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Gas Station Owner Told to Raise Prices
> >>>>><http://www.breitbart.com/partner.php?source=ap> May 8 11:26 PM
> >>>>>US/Eastern
>
>>>>><http://www.breitbart.com/email.php?link=%2Farticle.php%3Fid%3D2007-0
> >>>>>5-08_D8P0JVI00%26show_article%3D1%26cat%3Dbreaking&id=D8P0JVI00>
>
>>>>><http://www.breitbart.com/print.php?id=2007-05-08_D8P0JVI00&show_artic
<http://www.breitbart.com/print.php?id=2007-05-08_D8P0JVI00&show_artic>
> >>>>>le=1&cat=breaking> try { insert_digg_btn('world_news'); }
> >>>>>catch(e){}
>
>>>>><http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http%3A//www.breitbart.com/article
<http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http%3A//www.breitbart.com/article>
>
>>>>>.php%3Fid%3D2007-05-08_D8P0JVI00%26show_article%3D1%26cat%3Dbreaking&t
>
>>>>>itle=Gas%20Station%20Owner%20Told%20to%20Raise%20Prices&topic=world_ne
> >>>>>ws> <http://del.icio.us/post>
> >>>>>
>
>>>>><http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=2007-05-08_D8P0JVI00&show_ar
<http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=2007-05-08_D8P0JVI00&show_ar>
> >>>>>ticle=1&cat=breaking&image=large>View larger image
> >>>>>
> >>>>>MERRILL, Wis. (AP) - A service station that offered discounted gas
> >>>>>to
>
>>>>><http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=%22senior+citizens%22&sid=breitbart.c
<http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=%22senior+citizens%22&sid=breitbart.c>
> >>>>>om>senior citizens and people supporting youth sports has been
> >>>>>ordered by the state to raise its prices. Center City BP owner Raj
> >>>>>Bhandari has been offering senior citizens a 2 cent per gallon
price
> >>>>>break and discount cards that let sports boosters pay 3 cents less
> >>>>>per gallon.
> >>>>>But the
>
>>>>><http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=%22state+Department+of+Agriculture%22
> >>>>>&sid=breitbart.com>state Department of Agriculture, Trade and
>
>>>>><http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=%22Consumer+Protection%22&sid=breitba
<http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=%22Consumer+Protection%22&sid=breitba>
> >>>>>rt.com>Consumer Protection says those deals are too good: They
> >>>>>violate Wisconsin's Unfair Sales Act, which requires stations to
> >>>>>sell gas for about 9.2 percent more than the wholesale price.
> >>>>>Bhandari said he received a letter from the state auditor in
>
>>>>><http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=%22late+April%22&sid=breitbart.com>la
<http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=%22late+April%22&sid=breitbart.com%3Ela>
> >>>>>te April saying the state would sue him if he did not raise his
> >>>>>prices. The state could penalize him for each discounted gallon he
> >>>>>sold, with the fine determined by a judge.
> >>>>>Bhandari, who bought the station in May 2006, said he worries
> >>>>>customers will think he stopped the discounts because he wants to
> >>>>>make more money. About 10 percent of his customers had used the
> >>>>>discount cards.
> >>>>>Dale Van Camp of Merrill said he bought a $50 card to support the
> >>>>>local youth hockey program. It would have saved him about $100 per
> >>>>>year on gas, he said.
> >>>>>___
> >>>>>Information from: Wausau Daily Herald,
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com <http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/>
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