There is one spot between Bartley and Indianola that has seen more than it's share of dispatched raccoons lately. That roadkill on our 6&34 drive to McCook the other day reminded me of a boyhood want that was never fulfilled. Fess Parker was the actors name that played the part of Daniel Boone in the TV series. In that show old Daniel wore a coonskin cap, and though I have no idea why I wanted one back then, the thought of one today just doesn't do it for me anymore. But it did get me to thinking about hats.
There are hat museums... http://www.thehatmuseum.com/, and then there are hats on display... http://www.montanahats.com/montanahats_005.htm. There are women's hats... http://www.hatsinthebelfry.com/category/womens-hats.html and men's hats... http://www.menshats.com/
Men's hats come with names like Fedora, Tweed, Kangol, Borsalino, and of course the famous Pork Pie. Maybe I should say famous to some when referring to the Pork Pie hat but that's another story...
Women's hats come with names like Cocktail, Pillbox, Cloche, and we must not forget the famous Topper. Again I should say famous to some.
Then there are cowboy hats and ball caps worn by both men and women as well as beanies, stocking caps, straw hats of all kinds and more I'm sure I've not thought of.
How you wear your hat is important too. Depending on where you are, wearing a ball cap backwards is in style, while other places people wonder what's wrong with the wearer under the cap. Of course, there is a way around that with one of those Sherlock Holmes style hats that can be worn just about any way, but I don't see many of them around.
As for me, I've worn a hat most of my life of one kind or another. My style choices have been pretty limited, though I was forced to wear a Fedora to church when I was a kid. I've worn cowboy hats, ball caps, and had a brief phase with New York Cabbie hats. Other than in church, you seldom if ever will find me without a hat on.
A quote from the movie The Mask "We all wear masks, metaphorically speaking" could easily be extended to hats. For just about everything you do, there is someone that does it as a profession. Change your own vehicle oil? You are a lubrication technician. Take your kids for a hike? You are an environmental instructor. Look up information on the Internet? You are a research analyst. Hang pictures on the wall? You're a home decorator. The list could go on and on of the different hats we wear on a daily basis. Mike Rowe from the show Dirty Jobs knows a thing or two about wearing unfamiliar hats.
So next time you put your hat on, take a moment to reflect on those wearing hats that you won't or can't wear. I'm thankful there are those willing to wear the hats of law enforcement, military, medicine, science, theology...
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Viewpoint
Viewpoint - Point of view: a mental position from which things are viewed.
A recent story of a North Carolina church that plans on burning Bibles on Halloween caught my eye the other day and it's not limiting the fuel source to the Bible either. Books by such authors as Billy Graham, Robert Schuller, Mother Teresa, and The Pope are to be included. Let's not forget all music including Christian. Since Gospel music was excluded from the burn list, I assume that's OK with these folks. This church feels that Bibles of translations other than the King James are Bibles of Satan, and the pastor and his church are having a bonfire. You can read it right from their web site at...
http://amazinggracebaptistchurchkjv.com/Download99.html
The same event announcement with editorial comment added: http://blog.seattlepi.com/bookpatrol/archives/182095.asp?from=blog_last3
This NC church has different beliefs than most churches I'm aware of, but I've heard of some very different church service goings on that I'm sure to the worshipers seems just right too. On the other hand, if you read the second link above, you get the idea that not everybody agrees with this church about burning Bibles.
It all comes down to viewpoint. How else would you explain the 38,000 factions of the Christian's, and the Jewish, Buddhist, Islam, and Hindu religions... just to name a few? I didn't mention atheists, but they have their own viewpoint too. Not only religion, but national and international politics are based on point of view.
So as you think of your viewpoint today, here is someone who has a different point of view than most of us. Turn on your sound and get a tissue...
A recent story of a North Carolina church that plans on burning Bibles on Halloween caught my eye the other day and it's not limiting the fuel source to the Bible either. Books by such authors as Billy Graham, Robert Schuller, Mother Teresa, and The Pope are to be included. Let's not forget all music including Christian. Since Gospel music was excluded from the burn list, I assume that's OK with these folks. This church feels that Bibles of translations other than the King James are Bibles of Satan, and the pastor and his church are having a bonfire. You can read it right from their web site at...
http://amazinggracebaptistchurchkjv.com/Download99.html
The same event announcement with editorial comment added: http://blog.seattlepi.com/bookpatrol/archives/182095.asp?from=blog_last3
This NC church has different beliefs than most churches I'm aware of, but I've heard of some very different church service goings on that I'm sure to the worshipers seems just right too. On the other hand, if you read the second link above, you get the idea that not everybody agrees with this church about burning Bibles.
It all comes down to viewpoint. How else would you explain the 38,000 factions of the Christian's, and the Jewish, Buddhist, Islam, and Hindu religions... just to name a few? I didn't mention atheists, but they have their own viewpoint too. Not only religion, but national and international politics are based on point of view.
So as you think of your viewpoint today, here is someone who has a different point of view than most of us. Turn on your sound and get a tissue...
Monday, October 12, 2009
Peak Oil
Ever heard the term "peak oil"? If so, you likely have some feelings about what it means, and if you have not heard of it, I plan on presenting some things you might find interesting about it.
First off, the term peak oil refers to the point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum extraction is reached, after which the rate of production enters terminal decline. There is a lot of debate about what will happen after the peak is achieved (everybody seems to agree oil is a finite resource), and how close we are to that point and the challenges it may present now is hotly debated.
Here are a couple what I consider credible sources about when peak oil occurs Both seem to have spent a lot of time coming to their conclusion, and I think both want to get it right...
http://www.peakoil.net/
http://www.cera.com/aspx/cda/client/report/reportpreview.aspx?CID=8437&KID=
One side of the debate says that there are plenty of oil reserves for a variety of reasons, and of course the opposite side says we're past or very near peak oil today, and change will quickly be thrust upon us. So here are a few things to consider...
Peak oil theory has a history at least since 1956 when a geologist named M. King Hubbert with Shell Oil predicted overall petroleum production would peak in the United States between the late 1960s and the early 1970s. Turns out he was right. This same guy says, worldwide peak oil will be achieved about now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predicting_the_timing_of_peak_oil
Since everybody says there is a peak oil date, one has to wonder when that really will occur if it hasn't already, and how will it effect us? From all the reading I've done so far, we have hit the break over, or we're as much as 30 or 40 years away. Please don't confuse the term peak oil with oil depletion There will be oil in the future, but the amount available will start to decline and prices will go up without new energy sources.
We've already hit cheap peak oil. In the not so distant past, oil drillers talked of "gushers", and little was needed beyond a hole in the ground to extract oil. Today, pressure injection techniques and other high tech methods are being used for deep sea drilling and enhanced existing field production. In other words, the easy stuff is already gone.
Nobody knows for sure how much oil is going to be extracted. Worldwide oil reserve estimates have been increased time after time, largely because of new technology that allows enhanced existing field production and extraction from very remote or difficult areas. One oil company employee comment I read was that he thought the peak must be near, just because of the extremely difficult places exploration and extraction is taking place.
So is peak oil really a big problem?
Though there are limited resources and they are more expensive to extract and deliver, oil will be extracted for years to come. Alternatives to oil fueled engines such as ethanol and bio-petro fuel blends have been developed, and advances in advanced fuels like hydrogen are occurring. Like a friend said today, no matter what comes up, there always is a way to make things work.
On the other hand, transportation including agriculture consumption is the largest user of oil by far in the US. Scarcity and higher prices can be offset some by conservation, but the squeeze will be put on consumers addicted to oil if current trends continue. International need for oil could lead to economic and shooting wars (some say they already have). The worldwide social and economic problems created could become very unpleasant indeed.
Depending on what you end up deciding, the near future could be anywhere from real ugly to just a bump on the economic highway. Peak oil and global climate change have been linked so understanding the background might be useful for understanding the debates about cap and trade and climate legislation.
Here are two differing opinions that I recommend you spend some time with if you are interested in peak oil and how it may effect us.
http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/
http://www.gnn.tv/articles/2295/No_Peaking_The_Hubbert_Humbug
And finally, a US Army Corps of Engineers 2005 executive report gives the military viewpoint about energy reserves, sustainability, affordability, and security. It's a big report, but on page 5 and 6 is a pretty good general summary.
http://www.cecer.army.mil/techreports/Westervelt_EnergyTrends/Westervelt_EnergyTrendsTR.pdf
If you've checked out the listed sources, you know what I do about peak oil. It's a complicated issue especially when you factor in emerging economies such as China and India with their burgeoning populations looking for oil reserves. I wonder if technology can adapt fast enough if the doomsayers are right.
First off, the term peak oil refers to the point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum extraction is reached, after which the rate of production enters terminal decline. There is a lot of debate about what will happen after the peak is achieved (everybody seems to agree oil is a finite resource), and how close we are to that point and the challenges it may present now is hotly debated.
Here are a couple what I consider credible sources about when peak oil occurs Both seem to have spent a lot of time coming to their conclusion, and I think both want to get it right...
http://www.peakoil.net/
http://www.cera.com/aspx/cda/client/report/reportpreview.aspx?CID=8437&KID=
One side of the debate says that there are plenty of oil reserves for a variety of reasons, and of course the opposite side says we're past or very near peak oil today, and change will quickly be thrust upon us. So here are a few things to consider...
Peak oil theory has a history at least since 1956 when a geologist named M. King Hubbert with Shell Oil predicted overall petroleum production would peak in the United States between the late 1960s and the early 1970s. Turns out he was right. This same guy says, worldwide peak oil will be achieved about now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predicting_the_timing_of_peak_oil
Since everybody says there is a peak oil date, one has to wonder when that really will occur if it hasn't already, and how will it effect us? From all the reading I've done so far, we have hit the break over, or we're as much as 30 or 40 years away. Please don't confuse the term peak oil with oil depletion There will be oil in the future, but the amount available will start to decline and prices will go up without new energy sources.
We've already hit cheap peak oil. In the not so distant past, oil drillers talked of "gushers", and little was needed beyond a hole in the ground to extract oil. Today, pressure injection techniques and other high tech methods are being used for deep sea drilling and enhanced existing field production. In other words, the easy stuff is already gone.
Nobody knows for sure how much oil is going to be extracted. Worldwide oil reserve estimates have been increased time after time, largely because of new technology that allows enhanced existing field production and extraction from very remote or difficult areas. One oil company employee comment I read was that he thought the peak must be near, just because of the extremely difficult places exploration and extraction is taking place.
So is peak oil really a big problem?
Though there are limited resources and they are more expensive to extract and deliver, oil will be extracted for years to come. Alternatives to oil fueled engines such as ethanol and bio-petro fuel blends have been developed, and advances in advanced fuels like hydrogen are occurring. Like a friend said today, no matter what comes up, there always is a way to make things work.
On the other hand, transportation including agriculture consumption is the largest user of oil by far in the US. Scarcity and higher prices can be offset some by conservation, but the squeeze will be put on consumers addicted to oil if current trends continue. International need for oil could lead to economic and shooting wars (some say they already have). The worldwide social and economic problems created could become very unpleasant indeed.
Depending on what you end up deciding, the near future could be anywhere from real ugly to just a bump on the economic highway. Peak oil and global climate change have been linked so understanding the background might be useful for understanding the debates about cap and trade and climate legislation.
Here are two differing opinions that I recommend you spend some time with if you are interested in peak oil and how it may effect us.
http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/
http://www.gnn.tv/articles/2295/No_Peaking_The_Hubbert_Humbug
And finally, a US Army Corps of Engineers 2005 executive report gives the military viewpoint about energy reserves, sustainability, affordability, and security. It's a big report, but on page 5 and 6 is a pretty good general summary.
http://www.cecer.army.mil/techreports/Westervelt_EnergyTrends/Westervelt_EnergyTrendsTR.pdf
If you've checked out the listed sources, you know what I do about peak oil. It's a complicated issue especially when you factor in emerging economies such as China and India with their burgeoning populations looking for oil reserves. I wonder if technology can adapt fast enough if the doomsayers are right.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
