Should I make a bunch of excuses for my lacking of posting?  I didn’t think so either.  It doesn’t make for good reading, and it’s nothing you haven’t heard before.

I am very hooked on wiki.  If you’ve never heard of it, learn more here.  Mango has set up a wiki in conjunction with Mango Radio.  I’ve had a lot of fun writing articles for it.  I hope people start editing it; I think that would be wild.  And speaking of Mango Radio, it’s true; I do have a show on there.  Yes, the geek is recording a radio show.  It ‘airs’ Thursday Mornings.  Should you check it out?  Well, ask yourself this question: Do you want to listen to thoughtful commentary and quality music?  If the answer is yes, I recommend NPR.  If the answer is no, you might enjoy my show.  Especially, if four letter words and nonsensical diatribes sound like a good time to you.  If you want to learn more go here and here.  If not, that’s ok too.

Everyone and her brother are whining about gas prices.  Which makes me want to scream—”Shut Up!”  Yes, they have gone up a lot.  No, it’s not a crisis.  Are you old enough to remember gas lines?  Signs saying “No Gas Today.”  If you are, then you should see that this isn’t a crisis at all.  How can be so sure?  Three things spring to mind.

First, until the last month or so, gas prices have not increased at anywhere near the rate of inflation.  This is what I would call a correction.  Gas prices weren’t going to stay artificially low forever.  Just be happy, that it lasted as long as it did.

Secondly, I know this isn’t an emergency, because if it were, you wouldn’t still be driving an SUV.  And if you’re not, I bet you know 10 people who are.  Here are the rules.  If you drive an SUV, stop whining about gas prices.  You knew it wasn’t fuel-efficient when you bought it.  Suck it up.  I think you can afford it.  You might not want to, but life’s not fair.  If you own a Hummer, shut up.  You were begging for this to happen, you know you were.  It’s been over a quarter century since the “Energy Crisis” of the 70’s.  We have known with out any doubt, that oil is a resource that is limited.  That alternatives and efficiency were necessary.  We’ve know that, but said ‘I like driving an SUV, so I’ll ignore what should be common sense.’  As I was driving yesterday, i saw plenty of motorcycles out riding for fun.  If gas prices were really too high; I think they would have chose to stay in.

Lastly, let’s ask ourselves, what is really going on here?  Why did the price start rise now?  I’m sure that economists and political scientist can (and probably are on the cable new channels) offer many and conflicting opinions on this.  The other day, the answer hit me like a ton of bricks.  Bush, W to his friends, has been trying to get Congress to allow the oil companies to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, since he took office.  So far he has been unsuccessful.  I bet that if a bill proposing that, with the promise of lower gas prices, is introduced now…  To a Republican Congress…  With pressure from the Airlines and the Manufacturing industries (who are getting hit by this much harder than you and your SUV are…) I bet it passes.

Or maybe I’ve got it all wrong.  What do you think?