Speculating about Gasoline Prices

I ran across this sign while pumping gas at the Kangaroo at the 52 Bypass.


The featured Web site suggests oil speculation is one of the biggest reasons for the spike in gasoline prices. Even the SC Trucking Association is joining forces with the coalition.

When you Google "Oil deregulation," the first entry took me to this legislation. But, I couldn't find the Act mentioned on the U.S. government's own Web site! So what gives? If you can find the law, please post it in the comments.

Is it speculation or is it greed? Oil company profits also hit all-time highs as regular folks are truly hurting. If the rise in prices was a supply issue, wouldn't the companies be making the same profits? If I increased the price of ice in Florida after a hurricane above the amount of increased costs I endured, I would be prosecuted for price gouging. Even House Republicans are warning the industry of price gouging. With nine bills dealing with oil prices floating around Capitol Hill, maybe one of them will help alleviate the problem.

The Energy Information Administration recorded the following prices for regular unleaded gasoline on the East Coast here

$0.992 – July 27, 1999
$1.464 – July 31, 2000
$1.279 – July 30, 2001
$1.338 – July 29, 2002
$1.485 – July 28, 2003
$1.881 – July 26, 2004
$2.259 – July 25, 2005
$2.965 – July 31, 2006
$2.857 – July 30, 2007
$3.942 – July 28, 2008

These prices suggest a distinct change in 2004-05. What law kicked in at that point? Or was it something else?

The gas station signs raises the question, "Is oil speculation the cause of the "skyrocketing" prices?" The Global Research of Canada says here that speculation could be as much as 60% of the price! A radio program said the figure was probably closer to 15 percent of the price. Either way, more transparency and education on how these markets function is needed. I'm not sure if I want the oil companies explaining it to me however. For some reason, I think they might gloss over some details.

That is what puzzled me as I pumped $38 into a 4-door sedan. Is the SOS campaign run by oil companies? What do they know that we don't? The cashier told me the signs were sent by the main company as the other featured specials are. Nothing unusual to her. But isn't it unusual for a company/corporation to be promoting particular political actions without disclosing who is behind it or funding it? The "Contact Us" directs you to the Coalition to Stop Oil Speculation Now, but that doesn't say who's really paying for this potential propaganda.

I will be contacting the Coalition and hope to report something more than questions in the coming weeks.

Organic, local, what's best?

The debate has been going on since the marketing of organic and local foods got ramped up. Remember the big push for Certified South Carolina?

Which is more environmentally-friendly? That's debatable. Of course, if you only drive 1 mile to a local shop compared to 15 or 20 to get to Florence. You have saved something there. Food that's grown locally also doesn't have to travel as far to get to you, so it's fresher (and tastier).

Which is more community-friendly?
Shopping local. Money spent locally stays in our community. It doesn't travel to some corporate office in Arkansas or New York. It stays here. Your dollars have 3 times the impact on your community when spent at locally owned and operated stores than those dollars spent at national chains. That goes for fresh food to the latest fashions. Plus, local businesses contribute to local causes like little league teams and church groups.

Below is a portion of the Ovis Hill Farms eNewsletter that got me thinking about the issue. Alice Caldwell, Charlie's wife, makes some good points that you should consider on your next shopping trip.

ALICE’S COMMENTS:
SALMONELLA, E-COLI, LOCAL AND ORGANIC FOODS and COMMON SENSE. Once again this summer, there has been illness from food contamination and it took months to pin down the location of the source of the problem. This brings a couple of things to mind. One is that by eating foods locally grown, you know exactly where your food comes from. Ovis Hill Farm vegetables and herbs and the fruits and vegetables grown by Gus, Jannie, and Amanda are all organically grown which means they are grown without pesticides or herbicides or chemical fertilizers, so you don’t have to worry about that kind of residue contamination. However, as with all fruits and vegetables, they are grown on or near the ground and are handled by people and therefore should be washed or peeled before eating. In other words, just because our food (or anyone else’s) is organic, does not mean it is germ-free.

There is a good article in this month’s “Cooking Light” about the nutrient values of organic vs conventionally grown foods and fresh, local foods vs long-distance transported foods. The results are from a ten year study and include a list of which foods are most likely to have pesticide residue and which are most important to eat from a local, organic source. So, buy those local, organic tomatoes and know that not only do they taste better and support your local farmers, but also have more vitamin C and antioxidants. One last comment in the article was that, in general, Americans are still not eating enough fruits and vegetables, so enjoy the bounty of the summer while you can.

Post your ideas and comments about local and organic foods.

Fitness World Update

Come try the Kickboxing class out! See it here. Bring your gloves and get ready to work.

Also check out the New Lose A Ton Club! Starts Aug. 8. Join today. View Web site here. For a one-time $10 fee, get motivated to lose that extra weight and get entered in a raffle to win a $500 gas card! The 16-week program begins with a photograph and weigh-in, so you can document your success. Log your daily progress and train at least 3 times at the gym.

-- Train Hard, Put God First, Smile and Change Someone's day, Sensei Curtis Boyd


Sounds like a great opportunity! N&P will post updates on our the club once it begins.
Post your comments about the club or the kickboxing class.

Home Sweet Home

Hey Everyone,
I am finally home from Europe! We got back to Charleston at midnight...so I didn't get home until about 2:30 this morning. I am so glad to back on American soil, but I had an amazing time. My favorite activities were the Eiffel Tower and white water rafting in the Swiss Alps! I have to say that I was a little disappointed in the homestay because I just went along to a few activities that they had planned and didn't get to do or see anything that I would have liked to. Also, the teenager in the home, Nicole, took me to a party. Well, over there you can drink when you are a whole lot younger. So I was kinda out of place and didn't really enjoy it.
The experience over all was wonderful and the people that you meet are one of a kind. I would do this trip again in a heartbeat even if it meant working like I did before to raise the money. I know that I will keep in touch with some of the people and hopefully see some of them again.

Fitness World expands

Fitness World has just finished the New aerobics room! Stop in and try out the new Zumba, Belly dancing, step and toning and boxing classes.

Strap on the boxing gloves and try something total different. There are 10 hanging heavy bags. This class will definitely work off some calories and frustrations at the same time!


Fitness World Gym
1032 Pearl St. Darlington
393-0970 or 206-4389

Underage use of Alcohol and Tobacco

CANCER, CANCER, CANCER just that word repeated three times is enough to scare the life out of me personally. When we are young however, we have a feeling of invincibility. It takes a lot of growing up and often some very hard lessons before we understand the dangers of our actions.

ALCOHOL RELATED ACCIDENTS, ALCOHOLISM, LIVER DISEASE just those words linked together once again scare the life out of me. Underage drinking is another thing that just too many people do when they are young and think well bad things happen to other people but not to me.

What do these two topics have in common? Well to be blunt, they are against the law and could cost you your hard earned money or your freedom. That to me is not the most important point I am trying to make. I am more concerned about what happens to you in the future. Will you live to get past the mistakes of your youth? Statistics say that most teenagers will survive to adulthood even if they use tobacco or alcohol. However, what will the future hold for you if you don't take care of yourself? What kind of damages do you do to your one and only body? Most teenagers who drink and smoke at an early age end up with a lifetime habit that they are just unable to stop once they start.

Consider this, coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States (2004 Surgeon General Report) if you smoke you are 2-4 times more likely to develop this disease versus if you do not choose to smoke. Are you willing to risk those odds or make that kind of bet? I know I am not willing to risk it.

What about drinking? Why is it a big deal for a kid to take a drink? What is the harm in just one or two beers? Well for starters it is against the law. However, once again that is not the most important thing. Did you know that young adults who start drinking at 15 years or younger are five times more likely to become alcoholics?(The NSDUH Report Oct 2004) There are just too many health problems associated with alcohol abuse to mention in this short article but I am sure that you can imagine many.

Our message is simple, to tell you the truth about the dangers of using alcohol and tobacco. If you must do it, do so when you are able to do it legally. If you can't wait carefully consider what you risk, your money, your freedom and maybe your life.

The Heat and the Elderly

As you have already discovered, I'm sure, it is very hot outside and for the foreseeable future at least it is going to stay that way. When the work is done and we are on our way home thoughts of our cool air conditioned homes run through our heads. Well tonight when you are enjoying that air conditioning take a few minutes to think about this. Elderly people throughout the south are living their lives without air conditioners. They sit at home every day and don't do the basic things they need to do to stay safe in that hot environment. What can we do about it? Think of one person that you know that does not have air conditioning and check on them. Make sure that every day or so you go by or maybe just give them a call to make sure that they are drinking water and eating properly. The heat is deadly for the elderly because the older you are the more susceptible you are to dehydration and you have less of a tolerance for extreme tempertures. This is further complicated if you are not eating properly because it is so hot that you just don't feel like eating anything. There are a host of agencies that are out there which are advocates for the elderly and would greatly appreciate a call. If you know someone who may be at risk because of the heat and a lack of air conditioning you could call Adult Protective Services (843)398-4061 or The Darlington County Council on the Aging (843)393-8521 just to name a couple. Armed with this information and with just a small bit of effort you could be a positive influence in an elderly person's life. Thanks for your attention and we welcome comments you may have on this topic.

Society Hill Special Election Results

A special election was held yesterday, July 8th, to fill two seats on Society Hill's Town Council. Tommy Bradshaw was elected by 148 votes as was Cameron Michael with 87 votes.

Opponents included Robert Hancock (53) and Robbie Burns (33).

The special election was prompted as two seats on council became available when Valencia Brewington was named Mayor of Society Hill and Les Baker stepped down as Mayor Pro-Tem.

Society Hill Town Council members are as follows: Tommy Bradshaw, Charlotte Chapman Edwards, Richard Gainey, Denise Douglas, Cameron Michael and Deborah Harrell.

Livestock and Global Warming

This 2006 United Nations report discusses the impact of livestock on the global climate. Apparently it accounts for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions - nearly as much as the entire transit system.

Here's an interesting article about the topic.

Farmers could increase organic farming practices for better soil health and capture the methane from animal waste to turn it into useable fuel.

For everyone else, our part is simple: Eat less meat.

Presidential Election Politics

You may have noticed that a presidential election is coming up this year.
However, what you may not know is all the candidates. Sure, there's Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama, but who else will be on the ballot in November?

Every year, countless voters are surprised to see a lengthy list of candidates when they go to cast their ballots. So-called third party candidates are almost completely ignored by the main-stream-media (MSM) unless the point is to get a comment about the GOP or Democrat running.

America is about freedom and choice. The people decide who to elect, and we should not stand for subpar coverage of our election.

In South Carolina, the deadline to get names on the ballot is July 15, so until then here are the "other" candidates running for president that you may see in the voting booth.

Chuck Baldwin, Constitution Party Web site
Bob Barr, Libertarian Party Web site
Cynthia McKinney Green Party Web site
Ralph Nader, Independent Web site

Exercise all your rights this election.
Learn about and consider all the candidates running for office.

Miss Darlington Teen wins Wednesday preliminary talent award at Miss South Carolina Teen

Miss Darlington Teen Anna Mills Polatty captured Wednesday's preliminary talent award by singing an Italian Aria. Polatty, 16, was overcome with joy as her name was called out at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium. Winning the talent award strengthens Polatty's chances of being named as a top-10 finalist on Saturday July 5. The winner of the Miss South Carolina Teen competition will advance to the Miss America's Outstanding Teen pageant which will be held in Orlando, Fl. in August. No Darlington title holder has ever won Miss South Carolina Teen. Polatty is the first ever Miss Darlington Teen. Miss Darlington Brittany Robinson and Miss Society Hill Merideth Watford both had strong showings in their talent preliminaries on Wednesday night. Miss Lexington Anna Truluck Perry, a graduate of Trinity Collegiate School, won Wednesday's talent competition with a classical piano piece. Perry also captured Tuesday's nights swimsuit award. 51 Miss South Carolina contestants will also be narrowed down to the top-10 on Saturday night.

In Europe

Hey everyone,
I am in Europe finally and waiting at the dock to leave from London on a ferry for France! I am so excited and can't wait to shop while I am there! Hope to blog soon!

Lesa Hudson in Concert on the 4th

Lesa Hudson Headlines Festival
Concert on July 4!
Hartsville Family Fireworks Festival

Lesa Hudson & The Band will headline the entertainment at the Hartsville Family Fireworks Festival on Friday July 4, from 6 p.m.-9:30 p.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church. The festival, sponsored by Emmanuel Baptist Church, the city of Hartsville and the Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce, has been the area's premiere Independence Day celebration for over four years.

Lesa will deliver a variety of musical styles to the festival including Country, a little Classic Rock, some Oldies and of course her trademark original Christian Country hits. Members of the band include: Debbie Anderson (acoustic guitar/vocals), Matt Moseley (lead guitar/vocals), Lee Richardson (drums), Jamie Grimsley (bass guitar/vocals), Tricia Quarles (vocals), and Sid Tyner (saxophone).

Fun and festivities will be available for families and visitors of all ages including a pie-eating contest, a hot dog eating contest, pony rides, inflatable games and a car show.

Thousands of people from all over the region enjoy this festival! We hope you'll be among the crowd this year!

Hartsville Family Fireworks Festival
Friday - July 4, 2008
6pm-9:30pm

On the campus of Emmanuel Baptist Church
Located at US 15 and US 15 Bypass

ATM Breach

Start off the day with something scary here. The four-digit Personal Identification Number or PIN you type into an ATM isn't as safe as you think. Hackers "broke into the ATM network through a server at a third-party processor, which means they probably didn't have to touch the ATMs at all to pull off the heist."

They didn't even touch the ATM! So much for the head-bob, the I-can't-believe-you're-watching-me stare, the body-block or the hand-guard people use when punching in those precious PINs at ATMs and grocery stores everywhere.

In previous PIN thefts, thieves generally took steps that might draw notice — sending "phishing" e-mails, for example, or installing false-front keypads or even tiny cameras on ATMs.

So we still have to watch for all those things, but now we can worry that a hacker is stealing our closely-guarded PINs while we sleep.

Of course one of the third-party processor company spokespersons is "confident in the integrity and security of our system."

Industry standards that call for protecting PINs with strong encryption — which means encoding them to cloak them to outsiders

And surprise, surprise, industry alone isn't doing its job.

Will states or Congress act? Should they? Is there something we can do in the meantime besides bite our nails?

If you have any ideas, please post them by hitting Comments below and to the right.