Big Oil: Pure Evil or Just Business?

How many times have you heard someone go off about BIG OIL cheating the masses when it comes to gasoline prices? I hear this almost daily, and when I ask them to explain I always get the same answer. bigoilbushgreedycontroltheoilpricecheneyhalliburtonoldwhitmenexxoncorruptioncheneychevronrichevilwhitemenbushbigoiltheycouldsellitcheaperiftheywantedtogreedybastardscheneyhalliburtonexxonbritishpetroleumcigarsmokingbackroomevilgreedyworlddominationcontrolthepriceofoil. I realize that I could have written that where it would be easier to read but on the off chance that you have never spoken to one of these people, I wanted you to experience, in part, some small measure of the head poundage that occurs when they start in. These ranters have no factual basis for what they are spewing they just have a "feeling". The people who say these things aren't crazy or even stupid, they are frustrated. And as we know frustrated people will often operate on feelings alone when there is a lack of evidence. The following is my feeble attempt to explain why oil companies, big or small, are not evil.

Who is Big Oil? Well lets see, Exxon, Chevron, Royal Dutch Shell, British Petroleum, Chesapeake Energy, Etc. Ok we all know their names but WHO ARE THEY really? First and foremost they consist of thousands of employees worlwide. Secretaries, accountants, janitors, lawyers, welders, equipment operators, truck drivers, marketers, managers,cooks, CEO's, pilots, security gaurds, ad infinitum. Secondly since they are all publicly traded companies, they consist of hundreds of thousands if not millions of people who have a stock portfolio or a 401k. The upshot is this, BIG OIL may be you and if not you then almost certainly someone you know and like. Keep in mind, these are companies in business to make a profit just like every other company on the planet.

What about BIG OIL controlling prices in order to make huge profits at our expense? Of all the outrageous claims this one takes the cake. Between 1982 and 2002 oil almost never got above $30 per bbl and spent a lot of that period down around $12. If oil companies can control the price of their commodity why on earth hasn't it always been $100 or even $200 per bbl? Sorry folks but just like anything else, the market sets the price for oil. Any commodity, from pork bellies to prostitutes is worth whatever somebody will pay for it. The current record oil prices are due in small part to major war in the middle east and lack of exploration in Alaska, California, Florida and their coastal waters. But in large part to the fact that China and India have charged boldy into the 20th century. The recent discovery, in these progressive economies, of the light bulb and the horseless carriage has driven the demand for energy off the chart.

It's just business. When oil is $15 per bbl the oil companies tighten up and keep operating, thank God, and spend their meager R&D budgets trying to find ways to more efficiently extract the energy they have already discovered. When oil is $100 per bbl, they spend their huge R&D budgets finding new fields and creating new technology to go deeper. The expenses are staggering and the risks are huge so it stands to reason that the rewards are equally impressive. In the future, instead of demonizing legitimate businesses, save your pennies and invest in them, the dividend money should more that offset the higher energy price.

Know Thy Enemy

If I understand this guy's point, as long as there's at least one Muslim roaming the earth, only a coward will make fun of Christians. Also, even though he's a Jew, he seems to be saying that Jesus is awesome.

More Afro-American Tedium

Nothing else is going on so we might as well continue the theme. Pat Buchanan says that instead of blaming whites for all their problems, blacks should show them a little love. I'm waiting. Hello?

Oh BAM, ah didn't know?

I love the way that the supporter's of Obama give him the benefit of the "doubt" when it comes to his crazy old Uncle, you know old pastor (I hate whitey.) By the way the Obama's defense of (I hate whitey) is very similar to the excuse used by the Clinton's when Sandy Berger stole the documents from the national archives. But anyway, I have lots of thoughts about this. First we need to remember that Louis Farrakhan ( I hate whitey Sr.) gave his support to Obama. Can you imagine what the press would do if The grand wizard of the KKK threw his support behind any republican candidate? That would be a slaughtering. I like the way Obama said he didn't support ( I hate whitey Sr.'s) view on Jews. That's like saying I don't support Hitler's view on Jews. Think about what isn't disavowed by either statement and this is tacit approval to me. Speaking of tacit approval, does anyone with a brain really think that Obama doesn't support (I hate whitey)'s view on race, AIDS, 911 and Our deserving to be damned country? Of course he does. I mean really, if I went to a church and my preacher was saying those silly things I would walk out the door before his second "God damn America." It bothers me a little bit that black America doesn't stand up and demand the same apologies it demands from any white person who says anything remotely semi almost nearly racist, but they don't. These are world class excuses for the lack of black success in this country, a country who has bent over backward for the last 40 or more years to fix the sins of our father's. But the more that has been given, the more is expected. Anytime a black person is successful and preaches hard work and to not make excuses then those same people who tacitly approve those silly racist beliefs of (I hate whitey) and his cohorts, are the first to shout down this "Uncle tom" behavior, interesting hmmmm. Of course I am not sure the black "leaders" really want Obama to be president. When Farrakhan and the Wrights of the world throw their support behind Obama it may be to undermine him. Think about it, if he wins then it undermines the whole "we can't overcome" mentality and allows those leaders to perpetuate indefinitely and definitely makes them richer. That is an interesting thought and am interested in other's take on it. Poor Obama! He has to walk such a tightrope. Doesn't want to alienate all his Afrocentric black followers and can't win without his liberal white followers. He is actually doing a decent job of that. One more thing about the (I hate whitey) family. I don't blame them as much as I blame the followers. Those mass of sycophants are the reason that silly anti white sentiment is preached. It is a tad scary to think that any indiviual would believe this tripe but a whole race? Sad.

But hey I could be wrong

the Vic

That's what I'm talkin' about

Tomorrow, if I can find the time, I'm going to learn to write just like Ann Coulter.

The Ethanol Hoax

Sometimes, even if we can't stop the pain, it's comforting to know why we're hurting.

Broadway Joe

This cool old action photo was taken in 1966 just as the Jets were beginning their ascent, two years before they beat the Colts in Super Bowl III and obviously before Joe Willie's knees were shot. Some may only know him as a slightly overrated, pantyhose wearing, sideline reporter-chick chasing drunken has been, but there was a time when he could play a little football. Check out the elevation.

Test Yourself

My Conservative Identity:

You are an Anti-government Gunslinger, also known as a libertarian conservative. You believe in smaller government, states’ rights, gun rights, and that, as Reagan once said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”

Take the quiz at www.FightLiberals.com

Bobaraba

Bobaraba is the latest dance craze from the Ivory Coast. The word means "big ass" in some African language. Since it originated on the Dark Continent I naturally assumed that most of the asses involved would be black and since I live and breathe African dancing I searched the net for "big black ass". For some strange reason this is what showed up.

How to Raise a Son

There are certain things that only a father can teach a son: how to stand up to bullies, respect for the ladies, football, and the art of beheading.

The Honorable Thing

Fourteen year old Iranian girl dates boy. That's a stoning.

Do they really believe?

I have always felt that the class warfare mantra of the left which is preached from the purple mountains majesty, across the fruited plains , from see to shining sea, was just the devious way that the elite of the left tricked the less intellectually fortunate lemmings to follow their dogma of misinformation. Listening to the radio this morning, I heard a well know comic say he didn't like republicans because it is a party of rich white men who are only trying to further their own selfish cause at the expense of the poor and middle class especially people of color. This ideology is so obviously false that my naivety' always told me that this was a tongue in cheek statement to collect a following while the people in the know would give a little wink and nod of knowing approval at the obvious but effective ruse. I think I might have been wrong. The religion of the left is so strong that I think even the elite may believe? Maybe I have given credit where it isn't due, say anything for power and don't believe it, which of course is common for both sides but I am thinking that the liberal (rich) leaders believe this tripe? To steal an idea from Rick James. Self delusion is a helluva drug!

Code Pink

Code Pink's main Moonbat, Medea Benjamin, is proof that while you don't HAVE to be uglier than a sack of mashed assholes to be top dog (pun intended) at that organization, it won't stop you.

A Case for John McCain

This isn't fair. Why should I be the one burdened with the task of persuading those republicans who have vowed to sit out the upcoming election rather than vote for John McCain, to instead go to the polls and punch the button for him? After all, I was hating McCain when hating McCain wasn't cool. But here I am, throwing up a little in my mouth, ready to make the case for the ass from Arizona. Life is a mean business.

(If you haven't noticed by now, my heart is not in this. So, as is already evident, I may ramble a little more than usual. Be a man and deal with it.)

The primary reason conservative republicans give for being against a McCain presidency is that they fear he will destroy the party, or at least set it back for years to come. I may not have this exactly right, but the thinking is that his liberalism will infest, divide, and ultimately steer the party so far from its basic ideals that it may never recover. Ann Coulter (who needs to put on about 30lbs) sums this line of thinking up pretty well -- "If McCain is elected president, we'll have a four-year disaster, with the Republicans in Congress co-opted by "our" president, followed by 30 years of Democratic rule."

Now, I know I don't have the mental candlepower of Ms. Coulter, but one thing I do know is that everyone sucks when it comes to predictions. A few months ago McCain was running 3rd or 4th, out of money, and confidently given up for dead by many of the same right-wing pundits who now claim to know what would be the long term ramifications of his presidency. Maybe they're right. A McCain presidency may cause the republican party to implode. Or maybe it will cause it to regroup, refocus, and become a greater force for American good than it's ever been. (Stop laughing, it's possible.)

Move on folks, there's nothing to see here.

Based on history and experience, we know what to expect from a democratic presidency -- more and higher taxes, more entitlement programs, a weaker military, liberal judges, and less individual liberty. Will a McCain presidency give us any of this? Sure, along with even a more porous southern border. But the democrats will do the same and then some. At least McCain is not hostile toward the military, and he doesn't want to take your guns. Those are not small things. And remember, a presidency is more than one person. It takes a lot of people to run the executive branch. When it comes to the vice president, cabinet, and staff, I would rather take my chances with McCain than Obama or Hillary. I guess what I'm trying to say is, when deciding if or for whom to vote, don't let the best become the enemy of the better. We can worry about repairing the party later.

I've written a lot of words and I haven't touched on much of what I intended. Oh well, your loss.

If you are a true conservative and you choose not to vote against Hillary or Obama, you will, as Humphrey Bogart said to Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca..."regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life."

I'd just about bet that these dudes are blood kin to someone they shouldn't be.

London Muslims Protest Something

For some, modern society takes a little getting used to.

SECOND AMENDMENT, FIRST ISSUE

I'm taking this opportunity to go on record with my belief that if a liberal wins the White House, and that includes John McCain, we can expect new and even more vigorous attacks on our right to keep and bear arms. Some say that since the Second Amendment haters were so undeniably proven stupid on the assault rifle ban and the right to carry laws, that this issue is dead. As an old campaigner in this war I can tell you, the liberal well of deeeep feeeelings and ignorance never runs dry. Being proven ridiculous with the attendant public humiliation does not deter these people. Some would also say what with all the other problems, murderous muslims,illegal invasion, the economy and so forth, that gun grabbing is, at least on the back burner. Maybe. For now.

With any of the socialists as President we will all come to accept the unending flow of dirty brown squalids crowding in around us. So that won't be a problem anymore. Two of the three liberals in the running would undoubtedly call off the dogs of war and insist that we hug, not kill, moHAMmed's murderous minions. So that won't be a problem anymore. Since I don't even pretend to understand the economy, I'll just mention government spending. The liberals won't slow the bleeding they will just redirect the spray. Instead of spending trillions protecting American interest and defending the rights of unfortunate bug eaters worldwide, the new socialist-in-chief will spend it addicting millions of voters and future voters to government handouts.
So that won't be a problem anymore.

There you have it, with all of those pressing problems solved the top comrade can then re-ignite the fires of unilateral personal disarmament. Thirty years of watching these morons closely has convinced me that few things are more important to them than rendering American citizens defenseless.

Ahora entiendo

Finalmente algo explicar ese olor.

Obama lama ding dong

Anybody notice (besides myself) that the man that may be our next president hasn't really defined his political positions? He is a good speaker in fact he is basically a preacher. When Billy Boy Clinton compared him to Jesse Jackson well he was exactly right. I have heard black pundits say they would vote for Obama based on the color of his skin. That bothers me. They aren't going to vote for Oblama because he is black, they are going to vote for him because he is a black socialist. He is a preacher of pity and payback. He plays the politics of black oppression and wants to increase the government support of those people who are unfortunate enough to not have that which the man won't give them. If the people just wanted a black leader they could get Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, Clarence Thomas, or even Alan Keyes who actually wants to be president. They won't support the aforementioned people since they don't tell their followers that they are owed something. Do not talk about hard work as a way to be successful that's just oreo talk. Sadly the empty shell which is Ohblama will raise taxes you know for global warming and such, but he won't tell us this up front. But I will say this again, we get what we deserve.


VOV

More Cholesterol News

I should probably read Business Week more often because I found this article on the efficacy of cholesterol lowering drugs quite enlightening. I highly recommend the piece, but it's 6 pages long so I'll be sweet and hit you with a few bullet points in case your health is not worth ten minutes of your time.

(By the way, this is likely the last you'll see of Dr. King Selfish for a while. I need to get back to being good old King Selfish, Possessor of All Wisdom.)

Cholesterol lowering drugs are the best selling medicines in history--25 million people worldwide take them to the tune of almost 28 billion dollars, yet no more than 1% of current patients benefit--assuming I understand the math.

The link between cholesterol and heart disease (if any) is still poorly understood--there is virtually no difference in the cholesterol levels of those who have heart disease and those who don't. Have a cheeseburger.

And more!

Almost forgot - Happy MLK Day

Please pass the lard

I'm not really in the mood to blog but my spouse keeps whining about that hot photo of Jerry Jones I posted. Sometimes I think I pay too high a price for not being a wife beater. Anyway, here's a thought provoking piece entitled The Great Cholesterol Myth. For those who are not interested in reading the article, I offer this summary -- cholesterol good.

John McCain Sucks (part two)

My dictionary defines the word hero as "a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities". Because this is a broad and somewhat subjective definition I find it necessary, sometimes, to use comparisons in order to determine who is and isn't a hero. In my opinion service in the military suggests that one is a brave and patriotic American but does not automatically qualify one as a hero. If, after one's service, they are described as a good soldier/sailor/airman/marine by others of that ilk, that is high praise indeed, but still not enough to elevate them to hero status. Men like I have just descibed, while not heroes, come much closer than someone who simply survives an ordeal. Suviving makes one, well, a suvivor. And often surviving involves some pretty unheroic behavior. Enter John McCain.

Senator McCain wrote, in "U.S. News and World Report" and in his autobiography "Faith of My Fathers" that he traded military information for medical treatment AND signed a war crimes confession. He confessed to this IN PRINT and has admitted that he is ashamed. For his cooperation he was given special treatment including some of the best medical attention North Vietnam had to offer, something which was definitely NOT available to less conversable prisoners. In my mind Senator McCain's failure to adhere to the Military Code of Conduct by no means makes him a coward or a traitor but it does preclude him being considered a hero by any sensible person.

If John McCain was anything other that a self promoting, power hungry, politician he would not trade on his checkered military service and he would never let anyone refer to him as a hero. Whenever one of his political backers or rivals panders by calling him a hero the Senator from Arizona should correct them and provide them with the names of REAL heroes, some of whom, like Lance Sijan, Don Brooks and Rocky Versace died in captivity because they refused to submit.

As I write this the Senator is on TV whining about being smeared by people who dare to question his hero status. It is a wonder he can sleep at night much less look in the mirror long enough to shave.

In closing I would strongly urge everyone to Google the names mentioned above, read about their WITNESSED deeds, then compare them to McCain's and draw your own conclusions.

New Orleans Homicide 2007 - Epilogue

Who says you need an education to be a success?

Be Afraid - Be Very, Very Afraid

Tom Cruise salutes his Scientology mentor, David Miscavige.

Warning: This 9 minute video in which Tom Cruise gets all freaky deaky about Scientology will cause your soul to seek refuge in hell. Even now, after boring a hole in my skull and rinsing my brain with battery acid, I am haunted by his wild-eyed maniacal laughter.

Giants 21 Cowboys 17

Eli Manning may be a drunken, slack-jawed rube, but he beat the Dallas Cowboys.

John McCain Sucks

There are many reasons why any clear thinking patriot should not support John McCain for President. I'm just going to pick two; his leftist stance on man made global warming, and the fact that I hate his guts. I fear that if I attempt to explain my hatred for Senator Weasel I will be forced to admit that my feelings are irrational and at least partially indefensible. So that ain't gonna happen. But so you can see for yourself the vapidity of the distinguished senator's views on climate change, I offer the following handpicked McQuotes.

“I have had enough experience and enough knowledge to believe that unless we reverse what is happening on this planet, my dear friends, we are going to hand our children a planet that is badly damaged." Addressing the Global Warming and Energy Solutions Conference in Manchester, N.H. 2007

"...the largest environmental peril our species has yet faced." OnEarth Magazine, 2004

"Campaign finance reform took us seven years. This may take longer, but we'll stay at it." On his commitment to pass his oppressive climate bill, 2004

"I will clean up the planet, I will make global warming a priority." Concord, N.H. 2007

"The debate has ended over whether global warming is a problem caused by human activity. Indeed, if we fail to start substantially reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the next couple of years, we risk bequeathing a diminished world to our grandchildren. Insect-borne diseases such as malaria will spike as tropical ecosystems expand; hotter air will exacerbate the pollution that sends children to the hospital with asthma attacks; food insecurity from shifting agricultural zones will spark border wars; and storms and coastal flooding from sea-level rise will cause mortality and dislocation." Boston Globe, Feb, 2007

Simple Firearm Facts

I am constantly amazed at the amount of erroneous "information" being disseminated by hordes of self-proclaimed gun experts. Because I care deeply about my fellow man, I decided to jot down a few core facts that, once learned, will save them from floundering and possibly drowning in firearm fallacy and ballistic bullshit.

FACT ONE: Bullets do not knock people down. No metallic cartridge smallarm (rifle, shotgun, or handgun) of any caliber or gauge, fires a projectile (bullet) that possesses the energy to knock a man off his feet. This is not my opinion this is a fact. There is 20 year old video evidence to prove it. In the video a man wearing soft body armor stands on ONE FOOT while being shot in the chest (on the vest) from a distance of about 5 feet, with a full power ( 240 gr. bullet at 1250-1400fps.) .44 magnum load. Not only is the man NOT knocked 15-20 feet backwards, he doesn't even have to put his other foot down to get his balance. On the same video, the same man dons heavier armor, again stands on one foot, and is shot with an H&K 91 assault rifle chambered in 7.62 NATO (.308 Win.), and once again EASILY retains his balance on one foot. Keep in mind that bullet fired from a .45ACP hits its target about as hard as a box of .45ACP ammo dropped from 6 feet hits the ground. Knowing this one simple fact will keep people from believing either movie scenes where bodies fly around after being shot, or self-defense experts who talk about "knockdown power". Remember, a bullets lethality rests solely in its ability to penetrate NOT in its velocity or kinetic energy.

FACT TWO: Modern handguns DO NOT "go off" when subjected to external abuses such as dropping, throwing, or striking with a hammer. All modern revolvers and autoloading pistols that have either internal or external hammers are equipped with transfer bars that physically block the hammer from contacting the firing pin, UNLESS, steady deliberate pressure is applied to the TRIGGER. Knowing this simple fact will keep you from falling for the "idroppedthegunithitthefloorandwentoffandkilledmyhusband" defense. While any mechanical device can fail, I have never heard of a transfer bar doing so, either in real life or during testing. But in cases involving the above mentioned defense, the handgun in question would be available for inspection thereby settling the issue one way or the other. The striker fired pistols like Glock and others, are equally immune to external abuse but not being as familiar with them, I am unqualified to explain the process. Perhaps the King will enlighten us.

FACT THREE: If you assume a vacuum, perfectly level ground, and a rifle barrel that is exactly perpendicular to the ground, and you fired a bullet and dropped an identical bullet simulaneously from exactly the same height, one would hit the ground at your feet and the other a few thousand yards away but at exactly the same instant. Knowing this simple fact will do you no good at all but I thought it was interesting.

This long and ponderous post doesn't even scratch the surface of all the firearm fallacy and ballistic bullshit out there, but having long ago bored you, gentle reader, I have now begun to bore myself. Consider this particular subject dropped, for now.





THERE ARE FEW SOCIAL PROBLEMS THAT CAN'T BE FIXED WITH A LONG HANDLED SHOVEL AND A THIRTY OUGHT SIX.

This is so wrong

My middle daughter, who shall remain nameless for obvious reasons, is apparently quite the redneck innovatress. In order to keep her female Pitbull, Pearl, from bleeding on the furniture when in heat she has outfitted the humiliated canine in an old pair of drawers and a feminine hygiene product. Don't be alarmed if, when viewing the picture, you are suddenly overcome with the desire to yell GIT 'ER DONE! By the way in case you can't read doggy facial expressions, this one is saying "For God's sake please kill me now".

Headache

So last night I felt a little odd toward the end of work, felt like my tie was too tight and I told my wife that it felt like my blood pressure was up. Wake up this morning to a killer headache in the back of my head so of course my hypochondriac self thinks he is having a stroke. So take some tylenol and go to work, felt relatively ok. Around 12:45 I decide to eat my sandwich and read Fark. For some reason the screen is blurry, I am having some odd tunnel vision effect. Well I knew then I was definitely not normal so I drove to the nearby hospital. Sit in the ER for around 5 hours. Get a CT scan, a chest xray, an EKG and a blood pressure check. Turns out I have mega high blood pressure. So really it turned out ok and I found out I wasn't about to keel over. Got some medicine and will start monitoring it glad I am still alive. Of course now I am listening to the Caucus news. I just heard the Obama and Hillary speech after Hillary's big win. And now my head is hurting again. The silly appeal to the poor and middle class always makes me shake my weary head. Liberal policies hurt the poor and middle class yet some of these people believe it. The religious fervor of the people does tell me all I need to know though. That being said, after that brutalness I almost wish I would've keeled over than listen to that silliness. Bring me some Aspirin!

In Tune With Nature

I don't mean to brag, but it's often noted that when it comes to the natural world I possess a combination of gifts heretofore unseen in man. Like Daniel Boone I impose my will on the woods and the fields. Like Dr. Dolittle I speak fluently the language of every creature that inhabits earth. And like the noble savage I live in harmony with the Spirit of all that is. An illuminating example of my way of being is this Grackle.

This afternoon, while parked on the grounds of a local Chevrolet dealership, I noticed a number of my feathered friends darting about in search of food. When this he-bird flew into the midst he immediately sensed my presence and came to rest upon my mirror. Though we had never met, we had known one another forever. Words were unnecessary, insignificant, impossible. We simply shared a brief moment, exchanged a knowing nod, and parted ways.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Being stupid I can deal with, feeling stupid is something else altogether. When I first heard the story of sisters Amina and Sarah Said (sigh-heed) I didn't get it. After all, they appear to be normal teenage girls, undeserving of being shot to death by their muslim father. Then I looked closer, deep into those menacing eyes. If I wasn't such an idiot I would have noticed it right away. These she-devils were into hot boys, popular music, and the latest fashion. Allah be praised.

Oh by the way, if you see Mr. Said please contact the authorities, they would like a word with him. In case you don't know what he looks like here's his official description as published in the Dallas Morning News -- Mr. Said is about 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs about 180 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a black turtleneck shirt, a brown coat and tan pants.

Hmmm, something seems to be missing. Are they looking for this guy or this guy?