Fiscal Hurricane

Check this article out. Sobering!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20051115/ts_usatoday/afiscalhurricaneonthehorizon

What would you do with 6 BIllion?

Yes that's Billion with a B.

Forget about a new house or car. Were talking 6 Billion. Feed all of America's poor? Solve the education crisis that every school district seems to be in? How about disaster relief? We all know from recent events that's lacking. Here's one. How about Scholarships to make higher education affordable. (that one hits close to home!)

6 Billion. That's what the war in Iraq is costing us.

Oh, Yea. Each MONTH!

Rebuild New Orleans?

Let me state that I empathize with the victims of Hurricane's Katrina and Rita. I've sent a check to the red cross (not much but what I could) and hope if you're reading this you have as well.

What I don't understand is why do people feel the rush to rebuild down there? It's a city that is 20 feet beneath sea level. It's a city that has been overdeveloped so as to erode the protective marshlands. It's a city that relies on a levee system only designed to protect against category three hurrircanes. (and with global warming, many experts believe stronger hurricanes will become more frequent.

I say help the people out as much as possible, but don't simply let everyone rebuild in exactly the same spot where another devistating hurricane is likely to hit. Otherwise, we may just revisit this terrible scene in another decade or two.

Who cares about the weather?

Just a minor rant, not necessarily about the weather but rather the reporting of the weather on local news. Do we really need about ten minutes worth of weather news in a thirty minute newcast? Do I care that they show fifteen nearby towns with temperatures within one degree? Just once I'd like to see a weatherman (or woman) say, "Nothing on the radar, temperatures in the mid eighties for the next couple days and no chance of rain. Back to you Mike."

Whew! That's been bugging me for some time. Glad I got that off my chest!

Peace.

Jack

$3 a gallon gas

Does the price of gas bother you? Of course it does. The real question what are you doing about it? The fact is that our nation is addicted to imported oil. We import 54% of our oil consumption and thats expected to climb to 64% by 2010. Worldwide, China and India's thirst for oil is growing by leaps and bounds. We'll never be independent of imported of oil, but everyone of us must begin to look at alternatives that curb our own appetite. Hybrids, ethanol, biodiesel and yes conservation will all play an important role.

$3 gas? In few years that will seem cheap.