Thoughts...

Just some questions and thoughts that have been sitting in my head for some time...Some have obvious answers, others do not. Some have accompanying thoughts, others do not.

1) Would we have fellowship without Christ's crucifixion and resurrection?



2) Why would a Bible-believing Christian vote for a liberal? No matter if you're serious about the elections or not, who you vote for reflects who you think is an adequate leader for this country. If that candidate who you are voting for does not exhibit Christ-like character and supports things that go directly against God's Word, is Christ your role model for leadership?


3) E-85 Ethanol is a Spurious Solution to our oil problems...

The United States currently spends over twenty billion dollars a year importing oil from the Persian Gulf. With gas prices increasing, many are looking for a solution to this expensive problem. Investors and politicians are pushing for accelerated research into alternative fuels because they see a new fuel as the solution rather than a new form of production or distribution of gasoline. The current alternative fuel being praised is E85 Ethanol. This fuel, made up of eighty-five percent ethanol and fifteen percent gasoline, is growing in popularity and use throughout the United States. However, when the facts are examined and an objective conclusion is inferred, it can be seen that gasoline still offers the most appealing solution to the problem of foreign oil dependence.
The production of E85 Ethanol is a complicated process. Corn and sugarcane, the most widespread sources for the fuel, must be grown, harvested, processed, and distributed. The distillation and distribution of E85 are more tedious processes than their equivalents with gasoline. Distilling the fuel requires new technology and the fuel must be distributed in a special environment because of its corrosive and water soluble nature. Gasoline, however, is refined across the United States and can be shipped in pipelines that already exist. Drilling for gasoline and refining it are processes that have been perfected throughout the past century. The costs of refining and distributing gasoline make it economically superior to E85 Ethanol.
Once the fuel is supplied to the consumer, the topic of efficiency arises. Ethanol burns at a higher temperature than gasoline, but gasoline contains more potential energy than Ethanol. For every gallon of gasoline burned, more than one gallon of Ethanol must be burned in order to have the same energy output of the burned gasoline. In fact, reports indicate that a full tank of E85 Ethanol averages fifteen to twenty percent less in efficiency than the same tank filled with gasoline. If the United States wants to pursue a reasonable replacement for gasoline, it follows that the replacement must be greater than or equal to gasoline in efficiency.
Since foreign factors affect prices at the pumps in the United States, many see Ethanol as the solution to high gas prices. E85 Ethanol prices have always lingered within gasoline prices, so the defining factor is fuel economy. As previously shown, E85 Ethanol suffers in the area of fuel economy. Since consumers who use E85 will receive less miles per gallon than gasoline consumers, they will have to fill up more often. Over time, this results in a large amount of money that could have been saved if the consumer had used gasoline. If the United States seeks to replace gasoline with E85 Ethanol, Americans will be paying even more at the pump than they already are and gasoline prices will decrease with a lack of demand. Also, as long as the efficiency of Ethanol does not meet the standard established by gasoline, the environmental impacts of E85, including emissions and waste, will always be greater than those of gasoline.
The United States is the world’s second largest consumer of oil and every day we consume millions of barrels. A predicament arises when the source either becomes
limited or is cut off, and foreign suppliers are in good positions to do just that. When the facts are examined, it is obvious that E85 Ethanol is not the solution to our foreign oil dependence. Until a new fuel can surpass the standards set by gasoline in production, efficiency, and overall environmental impact, the solution will continue to lie within gasoline itself.

Those are my thoughts.

Gimme Three Steps...

I am stumped.

Let me clarify that. Whenever I think of someone as being stumped, a figure with a grimaced face and head cocked to one side always dwells among my thoughts. However, that is not the case this time.

Now it's like I'm someone who's had his arms and legs completely sliced off, like a tree stump (so I feel "stumped"). I can't pick up anything, I can't run anywhere, I just fall the ground with a carnal thud and lie there. Wonderful.

What am I saying? I don't know what is in store for me. Is it necessary for me to know? Of course not, but not knowing what God has in store for me in the future is like being mutilated at all four corners and left to sit and wait. Arrgh.

As frustrating as it may seem, I think it's probably a necessary step. I mean, how can my limbs do what God wants them to do if they aren't submissive to His will? It's like a transplant of sorts. Right now, I'm without limbs. Is it better than having limbs? The absence of my old appendages that only listened to me is a good thing no matter if they have been replaced or not. I'm just waiting for a transplant here, because I have no idea what lies beyond the horizon when I take those first few steps with my new and improved legs.

The boys are thirsty in Atlanta and there's beer in Texarkana...

The above quote has nothing to do with my life except for the fact that I have read it, heard it, and I like black T/As with CB antennas.


1) I was at a big band and gospel Christmas concert a couple weeks ago. I was ready to hear some rocking big band and soul. I got my money's worth. There was one thing, though, that made the whole thing almost unbearable.

I was surrounded by Yanks who were just a few years into retirement.

"I was at the garden club last night...."
"We had a wonderful women's meeting..."
"Applebee's has those wonderful low carb options and we tried those the other day and..."

Like fingernails on a chalkboard.


2) Right before Christmas, we visited an old AME church downtown. One of my dad's coworkers invited us because they were having a sort of veteran's appreciation service as well as some Christmas music.

Never in my life have I seen or heard such a service. It was completely awesome.

"I told y'all that we might have a little change in the program with the Spirit movin and amen here we go again. We gonna have some music by the wonderful _______ and amen you better be prepared to be blown away."

This white boy is considering another visit.

3) Yet another reason for you all to deny having any relations with me.

If I were to travel anywhere outside the US (which has never happened), I would go to some place that tourists tend to avoid. The Middle East is big on my list of places to visit, and I don't mean some tourist trap like Dubai.

4) I would like to own a bike some day. You know, a Harley or something along those lines. What frustrates me to no end are people who put their Harley on a trailer and then tow it great distances. It makes no sense. Why buy a ten thousand dollar bike that was purpose built for highway cruising and turn it into a trailer queen?

And don't even get me started about the scam known as E-85 Ethanol and government subsidies.

MPGs...

Why, oh why, did the President sign that energy bill?

Why, oh why, does the government have to push stupid regulations on auto manufacturers? It's not the manufacturer's fault that the customer wants to by a gas-guzzling SUV!

So Ford Motor Company, bless its little soul, is touting that it's new Edge SUV gets twenty-something miles-per-gallon on the highway. Gee, the same company just so happened to make my car thirteen years ago. My car is a luxury steel uni-body with a V8 that just so happens to get the same or better gas mileage as that ugly Edge. You'd think that with thirteen years gone by, Ford Motor Company would have the sense to make the fuel economy somewhat decent. Especially with the explosion of eletronically controlled valve timing and such. The fact that they think 26 MPG on the highway is something to tout is sad. I'll keep my Thunderbird, thank you, and the government will not be able to touch it.

I hate these...

"40 Secrets About Yourself. Be honest no matter what."

1- Have you ever been asked out? Not that I know of.
2- Where was your default picture taken? I don't have one.
3- What is your middle name? P.
4- Your current relationship status? Brother, Son
5- Does your crush like you back? That’s the dumbest term ever.
6- What is your current mood? Electric
7- What color pants are you wearing? LCS Red and White
8- What color shirt are you wearing? White
9- What is your favorite thing to do? Honestly, I have always felt at home when running from people who are trying to shoot me.
10- If you could go back in time and change something, would you? Sure.
11- If you must be an animal for one day, what would you be? Either a whale, so I could go deep down into the ocean, or a falcon.
12- Ever had a near death experience? Not that I know of…
13-Something you do a lot? Listen to music.
14- What do you want to be when you get older? A lot of things.
15- Who did you copy and paste this from? Steph
16- Name someone with the same birthday as you? Bill Goldberg.
17- When was the last time you cried? I’m not going to tell you.
19- If you could have one super power what would it be? To be able to breath underwater.
20- What's the first thing you notice about the opposite/same sex? Their eyes.
21- What do you usually order from starbucks? I hate starbucks.
22- What's your biggest secret? I don’t remember…
23- Favorite color? The color of any sea.
25- Do you still watch kiddy movies or tv shows? Noooooo…..
26- What are you eating or drinking at the moment? Oxygen
28- What's your favorite smell? Gunpowder or a Chevy small block.
29- Describe your life in one word what it be? Life….which is cool.
31- Have you ever kissed in the rain? How….schmaltzy.
32- What are you thinking about right now? Finishing this quiz.
33- What should you be doing right now? Practicing piano.
34- Who was the last person that made you upset/angry? Hmm….
35-Why are you doing this? I really don’t know.
36- Do you like working in the yard? Maybe.
37- If you could have any last name in the world, what would it be? My current one or Korbelak.
38- Do you act differently around the person you like? Define “like”.
39- What is your natural hair color? Muddy blond.
40-What did you think about this survey? It’s dumb, just like the rest of them.

Just when you thought chivalry was dead...

Road and Track reminds you that it still exists.

It's a Beautiful Day

This story just made my day...

Whoever made this decision is my kind of person.



LEAD: U.S. warship passed Taiwan Strait after stopover refusal in Hong Kong+

Nov 29 01:44 PM US/Eastern
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Kong+ (AP) - TOKYO, Nov. 30 (Kyodo)—(EDS: ADDING DETAILS)
A U.S. warship passed the Taiwan Strait on its way back to its home port of Yokosuka last week after China initially denied it permission to dock in Hong Kong, U.S. military sources told Kyodo News on Thursday.
The U.S. act is seen as warning to China as the United States has refrained from sailing through the strait since 1996, when Taiwan's first presidential election generated a crisis which led the United States to deploy two aircraft carriers to the area.
The sources said that after China's refusal on Nov. 21, the Kitty Hawk and five other vessels moved northward in the South China Sea, passing the Taiwan Strait from Friday to Saturday.
As the fleet passed the strait, warplanes were deployed from the flattop to guard the surrounding area, they said.
In the past two to three years, the Kitty Hawk making port calls in Hong Kong during the Thanksgiving holiday passed waters near Bashi Channel south of Taiwan to reach the Pacific on its way back to Yokosuka.
This year, the Kitty Hawk planned a four-day port call at Hong Kong from Nov. 21 for its crew of about 8,000. As it approached Hong Kong, it was refused entry for unspecified reasons. China later reversed the decision on "humanitarian grounds."
The flattop canceled the plan and returned to Yokosuka on Tuesday, four day earlier than it had originally planned.
China's refusal can be interpreted as retaliation against the recent U.S. decision to sell missiles to Taiwan as well as the warm U.S. hospitality extended to the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, observers say.
Timothy Keating, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, criticized the Chinese act, saying it was unlike a responsible nation. Responding to the Pentagon's criticism, the Chinese government has said the measure was based on a misunderstanding.
U.S. warships have for decades docked in Hong Kong during tours of duty, but since the territory's return to China in 1997 they need Chinese permission.