Now that I have a blog, I've decided to I might as well use. So here goes...

Can someone tell me why with all the destruction to the oil refineries, we haven't seen any pictures? Some friends and I were discussing the idea that the oil companies seem to be raising prices every time some little thing happens. With the threat of hurricane Rita, gas prices rose before she even entered the gulf. The only pictures any of us could remember was one wrecked derrick and a field of tanks partially under water. And those tanks are made to withstand quite a bit.

One friend commented about a fictitious TV spot with Pres. Bush. Appearing in NO he starts by talking about the terribleness of the destructive forces of the hurricane and how it will take a long time to rebuild. "But I have good news..." he continues, "I just made a killing on oil futures." Maybe you had to be there.

I am not necessarily one who wants to put all the blame on the feds. I have long believed in states rights--I think it comes from growing up in the first state to secede from the union. I am definitely concerned that Rhenquist and O'Connor are both being replaced. Both were supporters of states rights. I find it interesting that all these people start blaming the feds when they need something, yet are the first to get upset when the feds don't give the control back to the local governments after the initial clean up is done. I have to admit that Homeland Security scared me a bit, because it could put a lot of power into the hands of the federal government. Since I wasn't in any of the states hit by the hurricane, it is hard for me to say who should be blamed for the mishaps, but I can say that it makes me proud to see what the American population can do when we are sufficiently motivated. It is disappointing to think that it takes a tragedy of this nature to make some people come together.

Most disappointing of all are the people who have been taking advantage of the situation. You hear about the looting, the destruction of private property, and the improper use of funds and you wonder how they can be from the same population. Again, I have no first hand knowledge of the activities, but it sure seems that for every good and honest person, there is one who is the opposite. In this country we have always valued diversity, but I am not sure this is what is meant.

Dum Spiro, Spero
"While I breathe, I hope" --South Carolina state motto.

P.S. It looks like I will be seeing the blogger screening of Serenity (Big Damn Movie) on Sept 27. I am very excited. There are 7 days until the official release of Serenity.