I have a real problem with the record profits being posted by fuel companies: natural gas or oil...they are all guilty, in my mind, of using the media's coverage of recent natural disasters to boost their profits. With respect to oil companies in particular, I don't see how decreased oil extraction capacity and decreased oil refining capacity can lead to record quarterly profits. Logic dictates that the lost capacity must result in less product for the company to sell. Less product would mean that the company has to increase its unit prices to to maintain its current profit margins. Ok, I can live with that, its the cost of living in a free market society, but why is it deemed acceptable to raise prices to the point that profits actually exceed the previous levels when the country, or at least part of it, is in a state of emergency. I mean how does that meeting go? A group of exectives are sitting around a long table, taking cues from and nodding heads toward some slick haired decision maker, when he says, "Let's jack up prices and see how much the market can handle," his voice trailing off as he thinks about his 3 retirement homes. It makes me sick. I view access to energy as an essential in today's industrialized society, and I think it should be treated as such. I'd be interested to hear what someone from the oil industry would say is the reason for the increased profits...Anyway, my brother is getting married this weekend, and I am giving the best man speach. I'm hoping that goes alright, because I have a tendency to fumble my words a bit when speaking in frony of large crowds. I'll have a couple of drinks first, and all should be fine. I hope that the two people reding this have a great weekend. I leave you with this stupid quote I saw posted on a sign out in front of a hotel.

"The future is happening one day at a time."

Seriously, this doesn't say anything. Essentially it says that tomorrow is tomorrow...wow that's a relief. Here I was thinking that the future only happens in one week chunks. Its kind of like...nevermind, I think you get my point.

-S