Friday, March 28, 2014

The Future

I was driving home yesterday when a song came on the radio going "Oh, Lord, heaven knows We belong way down below."

It got me to thinking about another song that ran: "The futures so bright I gotta wear shades!"

The difference I suppose is that the first one came out in the Obama administration and the second one under Reagan. What a difference 30 years makes. Still there is a bit of a note of hope:
I've seen better ways, man
I know better ways
I've seen better days, man
I've had better days
I certainly have.

Meantime, remember that the cost of groceries and fuel is not included in the calculations of inflation. So far this year the price of groceries has gone up 14%. That's in ONE quarter.
Found that one over at Zero Hedge. RTWT, it's short if not sweet. If it's any consolation remember that while California, where a big chunk of the nations produce used to be produced, is undergoing a drought, the state government is letting rivers flow unimpeded to the sea in an effort to save the Delta Smelt. Meantime back in the midwest where the rest of our food comes from, corn, which is normally fed to meat animals, is being distilled and pumped into your gas tanks.

Speaking of gas, remember it's made from oil which is produced in copious quantities from fracked wells. The current plan is that since prairie dogs are considered varmints, they might be controlled by releasing black-footed ferrets, which are a listed endangered species, into the oil patch habitat of the prairie dogs. That and declaring the lesser prairie chicken to be threatened, should put a stop to oil development in fairly short order without even banning fracking.

While you're at it, don't think that graduating from college will help unless, of course, you choose your major carefully. Here's a listing of majors at various colleges that would bring you a net loss over 20 years of amounts ranging from $100K to nearly $200K compared to not getting the degree at all.  I notice that education is #1 on the list with arts coming in a close second. Anyone with an arts degree who's making money is in advertising.

8 comments:

Chaplain Tim said...

The corn that is used to make alcohol is not lost. The Distillers Dry Grain Solids or whatever name they want to use is fed to livestock. The only part of the corn used to make alcohol is the starch, leaving behind the fiber, germ, gluten, etc. to be used as feed.
18 years working at a plant that made a lot of things from corn taught me that some agenda-driven people have put out a lot of disinformation.

Billll said...

It's good to learn a bit more about the process, a topic that doesn't seem to sell newspapers I guess.

From a purely energy point of view, it still doesn't make sense to use alcohol for fuel though.

jed said...

They're still taking it away from the tortilla farmers. :-P

Watching that video, I thought, hey, that looks like Taylor Momsen. I really don't have any reason to know who Taylor Momsen is, nonetheless there it is. What radio station are you listening too? I actually liked that song, but I wonder what else I'd have to put up with to be exposed to more stuff like it. I hope nothing involving Faygo and hatchets.

Reminds me, I saw a blurb recently about a new station, 93.7 I think. Have to remember to try it out some time.

Speaking of music, did I ever mention Hogjaw?

jed said...

They're still taking it away from the tortilla farmers. :-P

Watching that video, I thought, hey, that looks like Taylor Momsen. I really don't have any reason to know who Taylor Momsen is, nonetheless there it is. What radio station are you listening too? I actually liked that song, but I wonder what else I'd have to put up with to be exposed to more stuff like it. I hope nothing involving Faygo and hatchets.

Reminds me, I saw a blurb recently about a new station, 93.7 I think. Have to remember to try it out some time.

Speaking of music, did I ever mention Hogjaw?

Billll said...

Pretty Reckless would be on KBPI 106.7 where I go for headbanging.

Haven't heard Timbuk 3 in a while, but if I did, it would be on KQMT, 99.5.

jed said...

I'd be surprised to hear Timbuk 3 on KQMT. KBCO, yes. Not sayin' it wouldn't happen -- after all, they've been expanding their playlist, even to the point of Violent Femmes.

jed said...

In related news:UN Warns on Biofuels.

This is my shocked face. >:-O}

Billll said...

Good to hear there is a legitimate use for the leftovers from fermenting corn. Likewise the leftovers from the beer industry as well.
Would it surprise anyone, really, to hear that the EPA is considering a rulemaking requiring the leftovers to be dumped into landfills?
http://www.bcbr.com/article/20140331/NEWS/140339989