Who Killed the Electric Car - We Did

The 60 Cent Per Gallon Auto GM Rounded Up & Destroyed!
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In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, Brave, Hated, and Scorned. When his cause succeeds however, the timid join him. For then it costs nothing to be a Patriot - Mark Twain- .
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Who Killed The Electric Car - We All Did

I watched Who Killed the Electric Car this week. It was an excellent documentary which everyone should watch.

See here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. for just some of the post which I have written related to the subjects of global warming, alternative energy, and the US addiction to imported oil. I promise to continue to address this issue as long as I have the means to do so.


J.R. Ewing-Bush Doin Some Haulin In His Pickup Truck
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Oil Politics of Greed Controls US Energy Policy

The United States is led by a corrupt political process, which corrupts anyone who enters it. Big Oil has a stranglehold on the Federal Government's energy policy, which means that the US is more dependent upon imported oil than ever before. It also means that even though the world's supply of cheap light crude oil is rapidly being depleted that no real plan for moving the nation toward energy independence is being contemplated.

The transportation sector represents the largest consumer of oil products. What the nation does now will determine how the US will be able to respond to the coming decline of cheap oil.

Automobiles which are being sold today have a road life of nearly thirty years. This means that any transition from inefficient gasoline guzzling SUVs, Trucks, Minivans, and Suburban race cars would need to begin decades before a transition could be completed. The cost of such a transition would be over a trillion dollars, which means in realistic terms such a transition would not be possible as a result of crisis, or political whim.

The mixture of political corruption in Washington, the United States dependence upon imported oil, and the time which would be demanded to transition away from inefficient automobiles leaves the US extremely vulnerable to a major economic crisis.
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D.O.E. - The Party's Over - The End of the Era of Cheap Light Crude Oil Approaches

At a time when cheap light crude oil is reaching peak production, and therefore demand will begin to outstrip any attempts to increase supply, we see the beginning of a huge increase in demand from nations such as China, and India, which will only put greater pressures on pricing.

Peak production means that in the future supplies will be tighter than ever before, and periods of shortage should be expected. When any material is in shortage prices spike. Oil speculation, and tight production of gasoline, drove gasoline prices to nearly four dollars per gallon in some places in the US recently. In a period of Peak Oil such spikes in gasoline prices will become common, and the general price of gasoline will rise significantly.

In the meantime the US consumer still has a love affair with trucks, SUVs, and Minivans. The US response seems to be, if the world is running out of cheap oil, then let's use it up as fast as possible! It seems to be a national act of insanity, based upon greed, and self interest. Future generations can only be looking back at the people of this time with contempt for what we have done, and what we failed to do.

Not only is it unwise for the US to waste the remaining cheap light crude oil as it is doing through the use of inefficient automobiles, there is also the issue of global warming. The release of greenhouse gases through the burning of fossil fuels has already begun to change global temperatures, and may very well result in major ecological catastrophe such as the melting of the poles, and flooding of coastal cities around the world.

The US response to concerns relating to its oil addiction has been attempts to secure its supply as represented by the Gulf War, and the Iraq War. Like a drug addict the US response has been to crawl back to its supplier, and make certain it can get its fix. The US has shown no concern for the longer term issues related to its problem.

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Is there any solution?

Due to the corrupt political system within the US little will be done at the federal level until it has already become too late. Individual states may attempt to take the initiative, but Big Oil, and the domestic auto industry will fight any agenda which could force a move toward more efficient, and clean automobiles.

We should therefore expect to see the following:

• Gasoline prices should rise slowly to seven dollars per gallon, and higher.
• Gasoline shortages, and price spiking will become common.
• Inflation, tied to economic stagnation (stagflation as seen during OPECs oil embargo of the US in the 1970s) will be seen again.
• Several more wars by the US to secure oil imports.
• A continued decline of the standard of living for most citizens in the US.
• Continued political corruption leading US energy policy

Will this happen tomorrow?

This won't happen overnight. We won't wake up to find gasoline at seven or ten dollars per gallon, but it is inevitable. Nothing will be done by any political party to prevent the disasterous economic crisis which will transpire due to political corruption. Big Oil, and the domestic auto industry controls the US energy policy in the US, and this will not change.

Only when the cheap light crude runs out, will anything change, but before then we can expect significant economic problems to result from the US having waited too long to make a transition from fossil fuels toward renewable clean domestically produced sources of energy.

In the meantime I encourage my readers to watch how Big Oil, our corrupt political process, and the domestic auto industry killed the electric car in the state of California. It's an interesting illustration of just why we won't be leaving Iraq anytime soon, and why citizens of this nation can expect a declining standard of living, and economic uncertainty in coming decades.
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About the Department of Energy Graph Above

Some argue that we have already hit peak oil, but whether peak oil has been hit, or will be in the near future one thing is certain - as the demand for cheap oil continues to skyrocket, the supply of cheap light crude oil will not increase. Prices will skyrocket, and economic disaster awaits any nation not prepared for this eventuality. It will take a nation the size of the United States approximately thirty years to transition from total dependence upon fossil fuels for its transportation industry, yet no preparation at all is being made. The United States is being held hostage by oil interest.
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We also need to blame ourselves

Here's a link about how we can help reduce our nation's oil addiction.

Does Love Make Us Damaged Goods?

Gang of Four - Damaged Goods (1979)

These hurt

• Desire
• Longing
• Grieving
  
• Wanting
• Loving
• Hunger
  
• Missing
• Craving
  

But without pain can there be meaning?
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Damaged Goods
- Gang of Four -

The change will do you good
I always knew it would
Sometimes I'm thinking that I love you
But I know it's only lust
Your kiss so sweet
Your sweat so sour

Your kiss so sweet
Your sweat so sour
Sometimes I'm thinking that I love you
But I know it's only lust
The sins of the flesh
Are simply sins of lust
Sweat's running down your back
Sweat's running down your neck
Heated couplings in the sun
(Or is that untrue?)
Colder couplings in the night
(Never saw your body)
Your kiss so sweet
Your sweat so sour
Sometimes I'm thinking that I love you
But I know it's only lust
The change will do you good
I always knew it would
You know the change will do you good
You know the change will do you good

Damaged goods
Send them back
I can't work
I can't achieve
Send me back
Open the till
Give me the change
You said would do me good
Refund the cost
You said you're cheap but you're too much
Your kiss so sweet
Your sweat so sour
Sometimes I'm thinking that I love you
But I know it's only lust
The change will do you good
I always knew it would
You know the change will do you good
You know the change will do you good

I'm kissing you goodbye
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
I'm kissing you goodbye
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
I'm kissing you goodbye
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
I'm kissing you goodbye
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
I'm kissing you goodbye
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
I'm kissing you goodbye
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
Bye...
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
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Gang of Four - Damaged Goods (2006)

Here's a link to their USA website.
Here's a link to their UK website.

They have been on tour - which I find amazing considering just how many years this band has been in existence. It they were playing folk music it might make sense, but Gang of Four's style demands ear plugs, and it's a wonder the band isn't completely deaf by now.

I caught Gang of Four's performance with a good buddy of mine (a college roommate) many years ago down at Southern Illinois University's Shryock Auditorium. Gang of Four put on an amazing performance.

The fog machine, the pulsating lights, the incredibly (incredibly) loud music, the simple almost automated rhythmic beat, and the simple nearly nonsensical lyrics were very impressive to me at the time.

I look for more out of band today, I guess I've grown bored with style oriented bands which were all the rage back in the nineteen eighties, and demand a greater level of emotive, and lyrical substance from a band. Having said that, if Gang of Four were ever to come to Springfield, Illinois, which they never would, I'd sell whatever I would have to sell of what few belongs I have worth buying, and I would go - it would be worth every dollar.

As far as the relationship between love, lust, and addiction I believe it is pretty obvious that there's a difference between real love, and being in love. Being in love is very much an experience based upon a cocktail of neurochemicals, and hormones which feel great at the time, and then leave you wondering what you saw in that person a few years after the wedding. If you have any doubt about this just consider the divorce rate, which is truly a shame considering how much harm divorce causes.

Photographs Taken of O'Hare UFO!

Chicago O'Hare Airport Gate C17 From Height of UFO

It appears that several photographs were taken of the disk shaped UFO which hovered over Chicago's O'Hare airport on November 7th, 2006!

As the attempted cover up by the FAA, and United Airlines continues to unravel several of the more than one dozen witnesses (some of them pilots) are beginning to talk with the media despite being told not to do so by United Airlines.
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According to Billy Booth of About.com:
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"For one thing, it is now confirmed that at least one photograph was taken of the object. There may be more. Researchers, including yours truly, are trying to get the individual who took the photo to come forward. There are job considerations and privacy issues at stake, but there is still a chance we may yet see a photo of the UFO".

Odd Light Flashes Over Chicago Five Days Prior to O'Hare UFO!*
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Unnatural Red, Green, and Blue Lightning flashes were observed over Chicago on October 2nd, just five nights before the disk shaped UFO was observed hovering over O'Hare airport!
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Strange Lights Over Illinois Didn't Stop On November 7th!
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The eerie Red, Green, and Blue Lightning flashes seen over Chicago were once again observed three weeks later, this time to the south over Springfield, Illinois the night of November 30th!

Several downstate Illinois bloggers exchanged opinions, and stories on their eye witness accounts of how green, red, and blue lightning flickered within clouds, creating strange rumblings, and thunder over Jerome, Illinois during an intense ice storm which virtually immobilized the area!
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O'Hare UFO Updates, and Links!

Click here for a recording of an interview of one of the witnesses to the O'Hare UFO!

Interesting commentary on the role of the Media in UFO reporting.

A link to a post which I wrote on January 25th, 2006 (after I wrote this one). It includes a photograph of the "O'Hare UFO". It might be real, or it might be fake. It's authenticity is under question at this time.

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About the O'Hare UFO Artwork

I digitized a Google Earth Image, creating art from it. It displays O'Hare Airport in Chicago, Illinois. The scene looks down upon Gate C17 from the same height that the UFO was reported to have hovered.
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*Red Green, and Blue Lightning Stories Are An Exclusive To This Blog!.

Chocolate - Still Legal In All Fifty States!

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Photo Above: A Plate of Mouthwatering Chocolate Brownies
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Post Holiday Workplace Chocolate Festival

This week has been one long choco-fest! This morning I found a tupperware container filled with homemade fudge just sitting there - no email announcement, but there it was one row over. I delved in.

Hey, did you see the fudge one row over? No, is there fudge over there? Yes!

Later a coworker came by, and started handing out pieces of her large Hersey's chocolate bar. She claimed that her work area was becoming too hot, and claimed that the Hersey's chocolate bar would melt before she had a chance to finish it, but as the crowd gathered to accept her kind offer we knew she just wanted to share the calories. It took me exactly one second to take the piece of chocolate she had in her hand.

Later another coworker came by with her hand outstretched saying, "Did you see these?", they're over on the department's Vice President's Secretary's desk! She held in her hand a home made wafer of caramelized sugar coated with chocolate. It took me five seconds to walk over, open the tin, and grab several pieces of this most heavenly chocolate treat.

I secretly wrapped several pieces of fudge, and chocolate wafers that I had gathered into some wax paper which had been left over from December's food day, and while driving home I announced to my spouse on the cell phone, "Guess what I'm bringing home! Fudge, and homemade chocolate wafers!"

She replied, "Honey, I made you some brownies!"

What is this world coming to?

As of today chocolate remains legal in all fifty states!
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About the Photograph of Brownies

My plan had been to take a photograph of some brownies which my wife made tonight, and then include it with this post. As I sat back to consider how I'd write this post I began to eat the brownies one at a time.

Eventually I realized I would have to stop eating in order to leave enough brownies for the photo shoot.

I convinced myself that I could somehow pull it off. I'd leave a few brownies at the end for the photograph.

Eventually I came down to the last brownie, and I told myself that I'd only take a bite. That's it! I'll take a photo of a single brownie on a plate with a bite taken from it! That's what I'll do!

As I finished the brownie I told myself I'd gather up the remaining brownie crumbs, and place them on the plate, and I'd tell a delightful story about wanting to take a photograph of a brownie, but that I ate the brownie leaving only brownie crumbs.

I looked at the single remaining brownie crumb, and decided it wouldn't make a good photograph, and so I ate it.

UFOs - Red & Green Lightning Over Chicago?

Chicago & Springfield, Illinois - UFO Central?

I have now read of at least one report of green, and red "lightning" flashes over the Chicago area. The alleged observation was dated to October 2nd, 2006, one month before the O'Hare UFO was spotted. Similar red, and green burst of light flashed from clouds over Springfield, Illinois later in the month of November 2006. The Springfield, Illinois observation was made by yours truly - the author of this blog on the night of the ice storm which hit the Springfield, Illinois area on November 30th.

A reader sent me a "post" from a WGN weathercaster's "blog" which attempts to explain the source of the red, and green lightning flashes seen over Chicago. The WGN weather caster stated that despite appearances red, and green flashes from clouds overhead were just reflections of power lines slapping against each other. That electrical sparks below were causing the clouds to flash red, and green. It was an entirely predictable, and unbelievable response by Tom Skilling to a legitimate question from someone who actually saw the red, green, and blue lightning over Chicago.
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WGN's Tom Skilling's Ask Tom Why
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The following is a transcript of the Ask Tom Why exchange in which WGN's Tom Skilling provides an entirely implausible response to a genuine question about red, green, and blue colored lightning burst coming from withing clouds over the Chicago, Illinois area just five days before a UFO was seen hovering over O'Hare Airport.
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Dear Tom,

During the storms that blew through the Chicago area in October (2006),
we saw what appeared to be colored lightning flashes while winds were raging. What was it?
- Gary Markis of Chicago, Illinois -
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Dear Gary,

You are referring to the evening of October 2nd, when intense Thunderstorms raked the Chicago area with 60-90 m.p.h. wind gust.

Burst of hues in blue, green, and red were not from lightning, but from arcs of electricity from downed power lines, and from lines making contact with fallen tree limbs. Low clouds reflected light from those arcs, which, given the night's incredible winds, were taking place all across Chicago land.

Aluminum, and copper conductors are used in power lines. High winds can cause the lines to slap together, overheating and producing a colorized burning current similar to the sparks created during arc welding. - Tom Skilling the WGN Weather Expert -
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My Take On WGN's Tom Skilling's Laughable Response

What WGN's Tom Skilling's response fails to explain is how the colored burst of lightning originated from within the overhead clouds, and not merely reflected from the bottoms of clouds. He answers as if he had witnessed the colored lightning himself, and possessed some special understanding of the phenomena. It's easy to see the difference between intense flashes of colored light flashing down upon you from a cloud, versus light simply reflected off the bottom of a cloud. Tom Skilling's reply is a stock answer, which fails to address the reality of the situation.

Most importantly, Tom Skilling's explanation fails to address thunder. If power lines are responsible for Chicago's colored lightning, this explanation fails to explain the red, green, and blue lightning flashes over Springfield, Illinois later that month. That lightning was accompanied by the sound of thunder coming from the very same clouds produced in synchrony with the lightning flashes.

Perhaps WGN's Tom Skilling will soon be waxing poetic about how electric power lines slapping together during high winds creates thunder?

The multicolored lightning over Chicago was seen just five days before a UFO was seen over O'Hare Airport. It was also seen over Springfield, Illinois during an ice storm which hit the Midwest three weeks later.

Red, Green, and Blue flickering lightning, is this something people should begin to expect to see more often? Probably so, and here's why.
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Misinformation & Disinformation Sources Related to Green & Red Lightning
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As an example of the disinformation, and misinformation which is presented to the general public, regarding red, and green lightning flashes, I provide the following quote from WVlightning.com regarding red, and green lightning flashes:

"Power flashes are most visible and dramatic at night. They appear as an intense, sometimes pulsing glow emanating from a source on the ground. The color is usually a combination of blue, green, turquoise and orange - and the colors can change rapidly as the arcing continues. Power flashes can illuminate an entire cloud deck from underneath, which often results in it being mistaken for lightning".

This religion & weather related website dedicates an entire page instructing people on the difference between lightning flashes, and power line arching (although it never sites any sources for its claims - essentially playing the role of expert). The site states that green, and red flashes from clouds are actually not lightning at all, but are instead only reflections from power transformer arching due to high winds, rain, or ice. I find it amusing that despite their explanations that not one photograph on the page displays green, or red flashing. Why not?
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WVLightning.Com Fails To Provide Visual Proof For Their Absurd Claims!..
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Back to the Reality of Springfield, Illinois' Red, and Green Lightning Event
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It is most telling indeed that after witnessing hundreds of thunderstorms during my lifetime, that I have never witnessed clouds flashing Red, and Green before the night of November 30th, 2006 (although I have the feeling that we're all going to be seeing this much more often in the future).

While I have seen electrical arching from power lines, and transformers several times before it has always been a blue, or purplish blue light illumination which was cast upon the clouds above. Never in all of my decades of watching thunderstorms have I seen red, or green burst of light coming from within clouds, or even if we are to believe the fairy tales provided by the likes of Tom Skilling, even reflected from below the clouds. It is as if we are now expected to "believe" in a new type of lightning - colored lightning, and at the very same time, doubt our own perceptions about the origin of such colored flashes. We are being asked to place ourselves into the category of the idiot child. Thanks to the U.S. government, and misinformation coming from honorable people like WGN's Tom Skilling, and the folks at WVlightning.com, we must doubt our very perceptions, and our own intellect, and believe in the new American religion of the colored cloud gods.
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A NEW CREED FOR A NEW AMERICAN RELIGION

I doubt my own perception of the origin of such heavenly illuminations, for such flashes were mere reflections off the bottom of the clouds, and did not originate from within the clouds themselves - even if I was right under the clouds, and could see clearly that the illumination was from within the clouds.

Amen!

I no longer remember the clear sounds of rumbling, and thunder coming from within those very clouds - in synchrony with the green, and red flashes. Nor do any of my family members remember such a synchronization of rumbling thunder, and flashing green, and red lights within the clouds.

Amen!

I accept that electrical wires agitated by high winds, and ice, slapped against each other thus causing the bright red flashes and greens flashes - even though I've never seen this before, and no one else ever has either.

Amen!
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NOW A WORD FROM BIG BROTHER

Bright flashes of red, and green in the sky have always been normal during periods of high winds, and ice storms.

THAT IS ALL
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But what about the Thunder?
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ANOTHER EDICT FROM BIG BROTHER

Electrical lines slapping together during ice storms, and high winds have always produced thunder.

THAT IS ALL
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Tangerine, and Pink Colored Lightning - An Appeal!

Now that we have the poop on those silly red, and green light flashes that have been introduced to our clouds - and long overdue I might say, I'd like to recommend some other colors for lightning. Don't get me wrong, red, and green make an excellent addition, but let's not hold ourselves back here!

Dear CIA (black-ops division),

Could you include the color pink in your next artificial lightning display over Springfield, Illinois? I have always loved the color pink - they say it has a relaxing effect - and I agree.

Perhaps tangerine colored lightning would be nice too - I simply love tangerine!

I had a sweater once, not very nice, but I believe it was a gift from my aunt Hilda.

It was tangerine colored.

At first I didn't know if I liked it. I never had a tangerine colored sweater before, but everyone I'd meet would come up to me, and say, "Hey, I like your sweater, what is that color? "

I just don't think tangerine is a color that's appreciated as much as it could be. I'm a complete convert on tangerine! I have a complete collection of tangerine colored clothing which I wear around the house - you should just see me!

So if your super secret scientist out in Utah would be willing to alter the mix of gases that are injected into those superstrobe whatchamacallits then maybe we could all enjoy some tangerine lightning!

Oh yes, don't forget pink!
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UFOs Used As Disinformation

The U.S. government has been spinning the UFO myth since the beginning of the Cold War. UFOs have been used as a means of covering up covert operations involving classified military projects, and spycraft for over five decades.

What is motivating such activity today? Possibly the blogosphere. As citizens of the new democracy called the blogosphere begin to speak openly, and honestly to each other the U.S. government may feel a need to inject a sense of paranoia, alienation, and fear within the citizenry - what else works better than a visit from little green men?

Oh yes, Osama Bin Laden.


This from NPR

UFO Is Reported at O'Hare; Feds Are Silent

Listen to All Things Considered Report Here, January 1, 2007 · In November, a gray, metallic, saucer-like object was spotted hovering above Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. As many as 12 United Airlines employees spotted the object and filed reports with United.

Officials at the airline say they have no knowledge of the incident, and the Federal Aviation Administration is not investigating.

Melissa Block speaks with Chicago Tribune transportation reporter Jon Hilkevtich, who reported on the incident.

Xmas Morning 2006

Jerome Prophet's Xmas Trees

We have a color forest in our living room every year for Christmas.

Have you ever done this with your eyes?

Mark Twain Still Hits The Mark

Mark Twain

"Statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing falsities, and will diligently study them, and refuse to examine any refutations of them; and thus he will by and by convince himself that the war is just, and will thank God for the better sleep he enjoys after this process of grotesque self-deception". - Mark Twain -

I won't attempt to write an actual essay on Mark Twain. I'll only say this, the man knew the truth from the hogwash, and he was brave enough to speak it. Not bad for anyone living or dead.

I have read several books written by Mark Twain. I have laughed myself to the point of exhaustion while reading Twain's cynical observations of the world in which he lived.

The United States was as corrupt then as it is now, and people were just as hypocritical, and greedy then as they are now. None of what we're all going through is new folks. People have been congregating in various plots to rob their fellow man for as long as people have been people.

Mark Twain wrote of a young nation, a land full of natural resources, of unspoiled lands from one coast to the other. While people haven't changed the land has. In the last century and a half we have exploited only one thing more than each other - the land.

If Mark Twain were alive today would he be filled with a sense of optimism, or of dread? Perhaps he'd be just as confused as most people find themselves about the times in which we live, but I doubt it.

Here is a link to a Mark Twain resource.