Video: The Shaolin Kung Fu Finger... wow, all I can say is that I am impressed... naturally I questioned if this was fake... and after some research it is not clear to me whether this is fake or not... so what are your thoughts? I know some Chinese Buddhist monks can meditate so that they can sweat even while naked in the snow with below zero temperature. The physical aspects of this stunt, I just don't know how this is possible for a 70 year old...unless his finger was broken 50 times, and the bone got big enough that it could support all of his body weight. The question I have... why couldn't we see the video of getting him into this position and from multiple angles to get a clearer picture of his feet? So I am leaning towards fake... but still holding out that it could be possible, either way it’s cool to think about.
Article: Profits and Oil
Oil companies are just easy to pick on because they make a lot of money. They provide a great service for a product in high demand in a risky business... while we hear of all the profitable ones, many have failed as the costs of exploring for oil is expensive, and often leads to no oil being found and eventually bankruptcy (as George Bush found out in Texas).
The price of gas is not that bad with all the complaining we hear these days... even if it goes to $5 a gallon.... if you account for inflation the price of gas has actually gone down since the 1980s… but heading up quickly now... and when you compare oil to other products, there is no reason to complain. Where is the outrage on the price of bottled water? A 20 ounce bottle of water was priced at $1.69 when I went to Walgreens yesterday, although I was hot, I didn't buy it...after busting out a calculator I found that is more than 3 times expensive than regular unleaded gasoline (bottled water in 20 ounce bottles would be $10.82 per gallon or 128 ounces if you want to do the math). How can a non-renewable resource that must be refined and often travel thousands of miles on oil tankers be cheaper than a renewable resource available for free in your faucet? I don't have a problem with any prices, even bottled water, as long as there is not a monopoly the price will meet the demand. One thing that I never hope to have to pay for, but you never know... air... I like that it is free, I hope it stays that way.
As the years go on we will hear more about the price of oil and gas because the price will continue to go up as once third world countries such as China continue industrializing. It is my belief that oil companies have done more for the good of humanity than any non-for profit company. Oil companies deliver a product which allows people to trade, and in turn pulls millions of people out of poverty every year. Without oil, the world would be completely crippled, unable to trade and billions unable to survive.
Song: Don't Stop Me Know, Queen
This song is great before going out... from just knowing one of Queen's songs in 3rd grade... (We Are the Champions)... I have learned to love a lot of Queen songs.
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4 comments:
Yes, I do have no problem with the price of gas right now....But I do believe and know there are many other ways to fuel cars. We are told that other ways are not possible or feasible yet. I beg to differ. bbx
technology is very impressive in many areas... except alternative fuels, I can't figure it out either... after about 90 years or cars... we still only have one dependable way to power cars... something may be preventing alternative methods from coming out...
i think that despite the talk, there is a lack of demand for these alternative fuels that do exist. gas prices are high, but as you noted kyle - they are not insanely high. Investment into research for alternative fuels would see a huge surge if a gallon of unleaded gas cost $10.82 like Dasani.
Like SS or global warming, there is an impending oil crisis, but not an immeadiate crisis. The longer we hold off, the worse it will likely get - but folks don't often think beyond their lifetime (for sure policy-makers don't often think beyond their next election). I wouldn't go so far as to pin this on politicians. There are massive gov't initiatives put toward renewable energy. i'd venture to guess we need something more (not necessarily more gov't investment, but more societal transformation..) A massive reshaping of how industrial economies are fueled ain't easy. It happens, but not from a gov't initiative. The Silicon Valley, not Washington, D.C., was home to our economy's most recent transformation. DC can stimulate the right incentives, but profits are the ultimate incentives for innovations.
i liked the article. it irks me when almost every problem today requires some abstract scapegoat (big oil). those that profit from an industry that is the source of so much hardship makes 'em easy targets. it becames less abstract of a scapegoat when names, faces, and dollar figures are publicized. but as the article correctly notes, 'profit' is not a dirty word.
i like PR's policy- to alleviate short term price problem, allow for greater supply. also, seek to creat incentives for the development of alternative energy.
i will note that seeking ways to keep the price down doesn't help increase the demand for a change, it increases demand for gas. if we are addicted to oil, feeding the addiction and making it less painful works against seeking ways to wean ourselves from it.
i don't like the current feeling of being trapped by gas prices. on my tight budget, i have already paid a serious price with frequent fill-ups after driving to track meets, to kenosha, and elsewhere. i am beginning to 'feel your pain' as slick willy would say. i'm torn on whether i should change my driving behavior or whether more should be done to accomodate my driving behavior. i want to say the former, but this new selfish part of me is shading toward the latter.
good article kyle
-joe sweeney
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