Snooze Button Dreams
Snooze Button Dreams
Snooze Button Dreams
March 24, 2008
Hell's Bells
(Category: The Cage )

Jenelle had an interesting morning, thanks to guy who decided that today was the day that he needed to kill his family and himself. She says, "I want to believe there is a Hell at times like these."

I have to say that Hell must exist in instances like these, if only in the mind of the shooter. I simply can't imagine the kind of torment one must be in to think that only way to bring it to an end is to murder your family and yourself.

I mean, I have regular panic attacks about the dumbest shit. I don't know why, but they always seem to revolve around things I personally have no control over (global stability, apocalypse, disaster). I become afraid, frantic to do something to avoid certain doom, to prevent the imminent destruction of everything I take for granted. Quite literally, I become attacked by panic; my mind set upon itself, fear scaling the walls of rationality; horror at the realization of my own powerlessness. But even in the grip of such an irrational tailspin, I've never concluded that the death of myself or anyone I hold dear would bring peace.

So does Hell exist? Well, something tortured him to the point that he had to commit a horrible, senseless crime. I suppose the answer has to be yes, but whether Hell is a result or a punishment remains a mystery.

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March 10, 2008
Go Ahead, Make My Day
(Category: Miscellaneous )

The Spinster mentioned something here about purchasing firearms, which reminded me that The Wife and I were discussing the very idea this weekend.

We're not big hunters, so the guns would be primarily for security purposes. We decided that if we were going to buy guns for personal safety, it doesn't make much sense unless you apply for a permit to conceal and carry your weapon. I mean, if your gun is at home in your safe, how can you possibly use it to protect you?

Neither one of us grew up in homes that owned guns, but several in my extended family own guns and hunt on a regular basis. I've been hunting on a couple occasions, and been to the range with them; so I have a familiarity in some respects. Maybe we're just a little paranoid, but you read some of the crazy shit that goes on and you think to yourself "If that shit happened to me, it would be really nice to have some protection."

Anyone have any advice on selecting a gun, a proper storage method (e.g., something secure, but easy to get to in the event that we need access in the middle of the night), and how to go about the process? I mean, what happens if you get pulled over for a routine traffic stop and you've got your gun in the glovebox? Are you supposed to inform the officer immediately or what?

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March 05, 2008
Star Spangled Banner
(Category: True Stories )

Is it just me, or does this song not make you damn near cry every time you hear it. I know nothing about this Cactus Cuties thing (it sounds really suspiciously dirty, if you ask my old perverted ass); but they sing it so nice.

I'd embed, but the embedable version just isn't as good as this one.

It doesn't matter if I'm standing on the field waiting to play, standing in the stands (or at home) waiting to watch a game, or just plain old hearing it at a ceremony - this song brings tears to my eyes. I think of my parents and grand parents and great grand parents; and the sacrifices and lives they lead and friends they lost so that I could (at the very least) have this song grace my ears. On a regular beautiful basis, mind you.

Pleasepleaseplease feel free to post links in the comments to other great renditions.

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March 04, 2008
Peak Oil: Updated
(Category: shankonomics )

I'm sure you've all heard of the concept of peak oil. I'm sure not all of you understand why it's a total crock of shit. For that, you've got this WSJ article to thank.

Personally, I'm beginning to feel just a tad contrarian on oil. Not that I'd start shorting it or anything, but enough that I find myself stifling condescing chortles when I think of a certain weird possibility for oil prices. Here we are in America, beginning to curb fuel consumption; which I think is a flashing red light that consumers are fed up. It took us a while, but we've decided that hybrids and efficiency technology have finally become comfy enough for our fat, lazy asses to begin buying into. The reason I think it's such a turning point is that Americans rarely change consumption habits, but when we do we tend to take an equal amount of time changing back. Muscle cars all but disappeared after the fuel crunch in the 70's, a fuel crunch that ushered in the era of Honda, Toyota and other such economy car makers into the American markets. Gas guzzling vehicles didn't make it back into the mainstream until the mid and late 90's with the advent of SUV's. A time that also coincided with lower oil prices.

At any rate, I think it's all coming around the mountain. The more the OPEC cartel tries to drive prices upward, the more they open themselves up to their own unravelling. In all markets, when rising prices stifle demand, a low cost provider comes in and snatches up the marketshare (and profits) of it's competitors. This instantly deflates pricing as the other providers scramble to stay afloat. I say, why can't this happen in the oil market?

Think about the OPEC countries - Iran, Venezuela, Iraq, etc. They're all in the shitter; infrastructurally speaking. This is where it gets hypothetical. What if an American company goes to a friendly oil producing nation (Iraq?) and says - We'll bring in billions of dollars of 21st century oil production and refinement technology for a discount on the final product. Iraq, who could definitely use the technology, the jobs, and the income; thinks maybe it's time to start making some capitalist decisions. OPEC's span of control loosens up a bit, and other oil producing nations begin saying 'Hey, we can do the same joint venture and offer a slightly steeper discount.' And the invisble hand is in motion.

It's a rough out, but I don't see what keeps a sovreign nation in a modern free-market society from telling OPEC to stick it where the sun don't shine, especially if it means the nation can produce as much oil as it wants at whatever price it wants.

UPDATE: Check it out, Weintraub agrees. Sort of. And for totally different reasons: Time to Dump Big Oil.

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