We Import 70% of our oil!

Read my lips – 70 % of our oil is imported and it is growing.  Wake up America: The biggest single threat to our security is the foreign oil we import.  Not only is it bankrupting us but the oil suppliers the Venezuela and Arab Middle East are not really our friends.  Watch this video at the link given and if you still feel comfortable then forget this article.  If not join the Pickens Plan and do something for the good old USA – remember it is a war we are waging and we will win with your help. Go to video concerning imported oil.

Remember the url http://www.pickensplan.com .

The snow is gone

I got out this morning to take one last tour around the lake but the snow was sticking to the bottom of the skis.  As such I only made it down the lake and back rather than go around.  By theis afternoon most of the snow is gone, a victim to the 47 degree temperatures.  Tonight is to be above freezing and tomorrow in the mid 40’s.  The lake still has patches of snow but it is mostly puddles of water.  The ice fisherman said that the ice was 5″ thick & he had caught 6 Bluegills so far – some were very small.   I waxed up the skis and put them away.  I need to sew up some bags to hold the skis so they do not get dirty.

The weather may break so we can get some early season kayaking in.  The Pigeon looks like it is a good level – no too high and not too low.  I wonder what Long Lake looks like so maybe I’ll go down to look.  It may open up pretty soon so we can do the run down to Golden Lake.

XC skiing & Stimulus

Went out twice to xc ski around the lake as the weather is going to turn warm and rain is on the way – two days of 40’s with night mid 30’s – so there goes the snow.  SAM went the second time and it was a beautiful day of clear blue and 35 degrees.  When we got back an email was waiting describing the Stimulus and it is below.

Chicago Style Stimulus!

Three contractors are bidding to repair a broken fence at the White House. One is from Chicago, another is from Tennessee, and the third is from Minnesota.All three go with a White House official to examine the fence. The Minnesota contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring,then works some figures with a pencil.  “Well,” he says, “I figure the job will run about $900: $400 for  materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me.” The Tennessee contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then says, “I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100 profit for me.”  The Chicago contractor doesn’t measure or figure, but leans over to  the White House official and whispers, “$2,700.”  The official, incredulous, says, “You didn’t even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such an inflated figure?” The Chicago contractor whispers back, “$1000 for me, $1000 for you,  and we hire the guy from Tennessee to fix the fence. “Done!” replies the government official.  And that is how the new stimulus plan will work.

Conservative vs Liberal: a definition

 The 6 definitions below sum up the argument pretty well for middle of the road liberals and conservatives.  Then there are those far right and far left personalities who try to define a profile that is the only profile to follow for fellow man.  I believe personality definitions are spherical in nature and can be defined by spherical equations (and a sinusoid).  The far fringes meet and touch on the other side of reality.  Once you get past + (conservative) & – (liberal) 90 degrees (reality) you slowly progress into non-reality until at 180 degrees the right and left non-realities meet and in essence are the same in actions and deeds.  I suppose psychologists have a term for this type of behavior.  Boy, I sure would like to rate some of those right wing radio personalities who so eloquently seduce their masses.  The same with left wingers too but then we never really hear from them except today in D.C.  Now what is the Sine of 45?

Conservative

1. Belief in natural law
2. Belief in established institutions
3. Preference for liberty over equality
4. Suspicion of power—and of human nature
5. Belief in exceptionalism
6. Belief in the individual

Liberal

1. Belief in positive law
2. Faith in progress
3. Preference for equality over liberty
4. Belief in the benevolence of government and individuals
5. Belief in the perfectibility of human beings
6. Belief in the community

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have

by Thomas Jefferson

New Energy Summit

I watched the entire 2 hrs 30 minute New Energy Summit this morning.  It was a who’s who of Green’s.  I came away enthused and rejuvenated.  President Clinton & Vice President Gore spoke along with Democratic Party leadership.  In addition was T. Boone Pickens of the Pickens Plan fame, several major business players (Walmart and Corning) and many cabinet leaders.  All were in agreement that we need a “smart grid” so as to allow individual homeowners and businesses a way to put their power generating capability onto the grid.  The state and national legislative branches will be the first enablers by enacting legislation that decouples the grid and provides for fair compensation for power generated.

I have been involved with the Pickens Plan since last summer and find it enjoyable.  It is apolitical which suits me fine.  Our district has only 20 members.  The Fort Wayne territory has much more than that but we have no population from which to draw.  Still we should have more members.

XC skiing

I went out on the lake and tried to ski around it.  The snow was ok and sufficiently deep to travel but my ski’s went through puddles of water and the snow instantly froze to the ski’s.  I came back in after a trek of only 1/4 mile.  Very disappointing for the possible last chance for decent snows this winter.

Ask and Ye Shall Receive

OK, I was bellyaching yesterday about the lack of promised snow.  Well we awoke to 4+ inches this morning and winds that caused drifting.  After church this morning we cleaned the driveway and finished about 1400 hrs.  I laid down and took a nap and when I awoke about 1530 hrs the driveway was all white again and drifted shut.  This did not make me real happy.  Oh well, it is winter and I did ask for snow.  Tonight is going to about 10 degrees so tomorrow morning promises to be a good xc ski day  if the snow temperature below the surface is cold enough not to stick on the skis.

Jess got back from Mardi Gras and we talked on Facebook Chat for a few lines.  It comforts us to know of the return.  Time to start preparing for sleep time.

The Pickens Plan.  I have been working on the PP for some weeks now and it is turning out to be some fun.  I may get involved deeper now that we have transitioned from the Stimulus Phase into the New Energy Phase.  Embedded are some cool pictures.

Find more photos like this on PickensPlan

Anatomy of a crash

This is a reconstruction of a crash involving a stationary Ford Falcon XT sedan being struck in the driver’s door by another vehicle travelling at 50 km/h.

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=56781&vf=26