Hurricane Relief

I'm finding it hard to fathom the sheer scale of what's happening in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and Alabama. The toll exacted by Hurricane Katrina, in general human misery and loss of life & property, is staggering. For those interested in making a donation to the relief efforts, Glenn Reynolds at Instapundit has put together a list of some agencies that are and will be providing aid.

Simpsons Quote Friday

Offered without context or explanation.

Oh, hi. I'm Troy McClure. You might remember me from such self-help videos as 'Smoke Yourself Thin' and 'Get Confident, Stupid!'"
-- Troy McClure

On Oil, Tulips, and Shark Attacks

$2.54.

That's how much regular unleaded gasoline costs (per gallon) at the Conoco on the corner. I don't enjoy paying that much. But I've always believed, generally speaking, that gas prices are rational. When others speak of vast oil-wing conspiracies that explain the rise in price around Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc., I counter with a supply and demand argument. I don't do so out of any great love for the oil industry (though it did indirectly pay for my graduate degree. Thanks Exxon!), but rather because it's a simpler explanation that better fits the data.

In this instance, however, I don't think there's a rational explanation for the rise in oil prices. Yes, demand is rising in India and China. Yes, there have been minor production disruptions at several American refineries (which wouldn't be an issue if a single formulation of gasoline could be used for the entire country). But these are not sufficient to explain the sharp rise in prices seen over the last several months.

Ultimately, I think a lot of the price increase is due to good, old fashioned hysteria. Hysteria that war & terrorism will stall production. Hysteria that China will buy U.S. oil companies and horde the output. Hysteria that the world is running out of oil.

But, slowly, economic opinion seems to be addressing some of these wilder perceptions. First, economist Steven Levitt likens the notion that we're running out of oil to the media-driven fear of shark attacks.

"Peak Oil:" Welcome to the media's new version of shark attacks

The idea behind 'peak oil' is that the world has been on a path of increasing oil production for many years, and now we are about to peak and go into a situation where there are dwindling reserves, leading to triple-digit prices for a barrel of oil, an unparalleled worldwide depression, and as one web page puts it, 'Civilization as we know it is coming to an end soon.'

One might think that doomsday proponents would be chastened by the long history of people of their ilk being wrong: Nostradamus, Malthus, Paul Ehrlich, etc. Clearly they are not.

[...]

High prices lead people to develop substitutes. Which is exactly why we don't need to panic over peak oil in the first place.So why do I compare peak oil to shark attacks? It is because shark attacks mostly stay about constant, but fear of them goes up sharply when the media decides to report on them. The same thing, I bet, will now happen with peak oil. I expect tons of copycat journalism stoking the fears of consumers about oil induced catastrophe, even though nothing fundamental has changed in the oil outlook in the last decade."

Meanwhile, Scott Cramer at Optionetics says the present situation is more like Holland's tulip mania.

The Black Bubble

Everyone from nobility to gardeners began to rationalize investing in the bulbs as a smart investment, and the continuously rising prices seemed to justify these as smart investments. Eventually things got so out of control with demand that a single bulb could command as much as $80,000 converted into today's U.S. Dollars. At the peak in January 1637 there was a twenty-fold increase in the price of bulbs.

Much like how people could rationalize taking equity out of their homes at 7% to invest in NASDAQ stocks in the late 1990s, many 17th century people in Holland sold their homes, thinking that a few bulbs would net them two homes in a few months’ time. Eventually the laws of gravity took affect and what was once a market with only buyers became a market with only sellers.

Realizing the potential catastrophic affect a crash would have on an economy focused on one product, the Dutch government stepped in made a public statement declaring that there was no reason why the price of tulips should fall. Not surprisingly, government reassurances didn't work as hoped, so the government stepped in and guaranteed the price of tulip bulbs at 10% of the high price. Not long after that tulips fell through the government's floor price, which nearly bankrupted Holland's government.

[...]

One reason why bubbles form is that many good arguments can be made for 'why this time things are different.' Generally speaking, as a whole, the public is not crazy. The media sells people on the best or worst case scenarios. For the last 70+ years people have heard reports from so-called specialists about how there is only so much oil in the world, and eventually it has to run out. Yet if you look at the predictions the specialists have made about when the last drop of oil will be pumped out of the ground, you notice that every couple of years the date gets extended out a few more years."

Regardless, my next car will still be a hybrid!

The Streak Is Over (Pt. 2)!

And this time, I am talking about the Royals' losing streak. Nineteen games. They lost nineteen games in a row! But, for some reason, that doesn't sound anywhere near as bad as losing 20+ in a row. It's just nice to know I'm rooting for a team that is merely one of the worst in history, and not the worst.

Regardless, the streak is over, the bubbly was flowing in the Royals' clubhouse, and I no longer have to avoid Sportscenter. More importantly, my girlfriend no longer has to listen to me whine about how the Royals have lost every game since she moved out-of-state!

No, It's Not A Disco Ball.

Finally! A year after it was approved by voters, Kansas City's Sprint Center has a design.

Downtown Arena Design Team Unveils Sprint Center

'The taut glass skin wrapping the seating bowl and concourses will be an ever-changing tapestry as light plays across the surface,' said designer Brad Clark. 'The image will vary hour by hour as the color, intensity and quality of light change. At night the building will become a beacon, marking its place in our new downtown.'"

I like it. Now to settle the real question: Who begins play in 2008 -- the NBA's Kansas City Magic or the NHL's Kansas City Hurricanes?

Simpsons Quote Friday

Offered without context or explanation.

Me fail English? That's unpossible!"
-- Ralph Wiggum

Keep Tribal Names; Ban "Golden Gophers" Instead

The story so far: On August 5, the NCAA decreed that the use of certain American Indian team names and mascots would be banned during post-season tournaments. At least 18 schools had names and/or mascots that were deemed "hostile" and "abusive", including, most famously, the Seminoles of Florida State and the University of Illinois Illini.

Not content to be dictated to by the NCAA, the universities in question have begun to push back. Among the more notable responses is the open letter from Charles E. Kupchella, president of the University of North Dakota (home of the Fighting Sioux):

An Open Letter to the NCAA

Is it the use of the names of tribes that you find hostile and abusive?

Not long ago I took a trip to make a proposal to establish an epidemiological program to support American Indian health throughout the Upper Great Plains. On this trip I left a state called North Dakota. (Dakota is one of the names the indigenous people of this region actually call themselves.) I flew over South Dakota, crossing the Sioux River several times, and finally landed in Sioux City, Iowa, just south of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The airplane in which I traveled that day was called a Cheyenne."

Read the whole thing.

For Sale: One Thrill Ride, Slightly Used

Hey Mustang, I hope you've been saving up your combat pay!

Cedar Point Puts Thrill Ride Up For Sale

Cedar Point amusement park is putting a 22-year-old free-fall ride up for sale.

[...]

A park spokesman said selling the ride will make room for new projects. If no buyers come forward, the park will keep the ride.

Cedar Point did not reveal the asking price."

The Streak Is Over!

The streak of rainouts, that is. The Royals' losing streak, however, is still going strong. I feel privileged to have witnessed numbers 14 and 15, which established a new record of futility for the franchise. I've been a fan of this team for my entire life. As a small child, I said I wanted to be George Brett when I grew up -- not third baseman for the Royals (that would come later), but George Brett. I was at Royals Stadium when the team clinched the A.L. West Division crown in 1985, and didn't realize how spoiled I was by their success. I spent my childhood and adolescence rooting for a model franchise that was always competitive, and have spent my adult years pulling for an increasingly dismal also-ran. During that time, I have always remained positive about the team and its future, even through last place finishes and 100 loss seasons.

But now, for the first time, I've lost faith. With the exception of David DeJesus and a couple of arms in the bullpen, the vaunted "youth movement" appears to be a bust. Outside of Billy Butler, Justin Huber, and the as-yet unsigned Alex Gordon, the minor league system is bereft of talent. The general manager says all the right things, but his actions don't back up the talk. The owner is clearly more interested in finances than performance.

None of that looks like it's going to change anytime soon.

I spent the last three days at Kauffman Stadium, where I celebrated (or at least attempted to celebrate, when the weather permitted) the 20th anniversary of the most successful Royals team ever -- the 1985 World Champions. It's a shame that those three days also had to be spent mourning the loss of hope in this franchise.

And Internet Bloggers Possess Wit, Charm, and Good Looks.

I always knew this blog had an ineffable something going for it; now I know what it is!

Internet Blogs Attract Young, Wealthy Readers

Good news for Web log publishers with aspirations of making money off their sites--compared to the average Internet user, visitors to Web logs, or blogs, tend to be younger and to belong to a wealthier household, a study has found."

So, the truth comes out. No more cries of poverty from you people out there! When can Mustang and I expect you to start sharing your good fortune?

Simpsons Quote Friday

Offered without context or explanation.

Hey, yutz! Guns aren't toys. They're for family protection, hunting dangerous or delicious animals, and keeping the King of England out of your face."
-- Krusty the Klown

Bachelor Recipe Day

(Wherein I provide a recipe for a meal that I, as a bachelor, do not consider overly difficult to prepare or consume. It could be a multi-course Italian feast, it could be half a jar of peanut butter -- the only rule is that it must be something I've actually eaten as a meal.)

On the menu today ...

Mustang Mama's Hummus

What you'll need:

• a couple cans of garbanzo beans (or, if you prefer, chick peas)
• bulk cloves of garlic from Costco
• a resealable plastic container, such as Tupperware or Gladware
• a car

Preparation:

1. Combine GARLIC, TUPPERWARE, and GARBANZO BEANS in CAR.
2. Drive CAR at 45 mph (speed and drive times may vary) to the home of Mustang Sarge and Mustang Mama.
3. Give GARLIC to Mustang Sarge and Mustang Mama as "gift."
4. Casually mention a real craving for hummus. Describe difficulty encountered while trying to prepare it. Look dolefully at cans of GARBANZO BEANS.
5. Act surprised when Mustang Mama offers to make hummus. Protest that it is unnecessary for approximately two seconds.
6. Place finished hummus in TUPPERWARE. Thank Mustang Mama and MustangSarge profusely. Eat hummus for the next week.

Possible side dishes: Falafel dinner (if invited to stay).

While we're at it, can we get the Gateway Arch off the Missouri quarter?

A confession: I'm a coin geek. And I don't mean that I simply set aside one of each state quarter; I'm the type that pumps quarters into a vending machine and keeps pushing "Coin Return" until it gives me the ones I want. I pay attention to mint marks, and try to find "P" and "D" examples of each coin (meaning coins produced at the Philadelphia and Denver mints, respectively). I purchase proof coins produced at the San Francisco mint, and bullion coins from the West Point mint. I know that there IS a West Point mint. I make people let me look at their change. I'll probably have a series of posts that are nothing more than pictures of my favorite coins, and explanations of why I like them.

It's a sickness, really.

Anyway, you get the idea. I offer the above only as explanation for why I find the following so amusing:

Ford City man wants quarter tossed

Tom Brubaker would like a little change -- a Pennsylvania quarter to be exact.

The Ford City man is on a personal mission to convince the state Legislature to change the engraving on the state's contribution to the U.S. Mint's '50 State Quarters' program.

Brubaker believes the Pennsylvania quarter is not in keeping with other state quarters.

...

'A mistake was made,' Brubaker said. 'The one on our quarter was poorly chosen. Correct the mistake.'"

There's only one problem with Mr. Brubaker's crusade to change the Pennsylvania quarter:

'They're not making any more,' (state representative Jeff) Pyle said."

Okay, I thought it was funny.

I wonder if it was one of those vanity plates ...

This may be my favorite headline in recent memory:

Cheerleaders Use Chant to Help Police

"I knew I was going to not remember it because there was too much going on," coach Patricia Clark said Monday on NBC's "Today." "So, when I ran down the street and got the plate number, I yelled to the girls: 'Remember this!'"

The cheerleaders put their skills to work, chanting the license number.

Does anyone else think this could be turned into a really bad syndicated television series?

And Now For Something We Hope You'll Really Like!

Here's the thing: I’m not a soldier. I have never served in the Army, be it the U.S. Army, the Salvation Army, or the KISS Army. I have not served in the Air Force, the Marines, or the Navy (though I did turn down a Navy ROTC scholarship). My only connections to the armed forces are that I was born in an army hospital (because my mother was in the Navy), conducted scams… er, "research" for the Army while in graduate school, and have auto and homeowners insurance through USAA (thanks Mom!). Otherwise, I simply bask in the safety and security provided by our brave servicemen and women.

The point is, I can't provide valuable insights into what life is like for our soldiers. I can't describe what it’s like "on the ground" in Iraq, or offer first-hand accounts of the progress of our mission in that country. If you visit this blog for Mustang’s commentary on such matters, then I'm afraid I may be a disappointment.

You see, I'm far more familiar with the Midwest than I am with the Middle East. With the exception of four years in San Antonio and five in Minneapolis, I've spent my entire life in the Kansas City area. I'm a computer programmer who has dabbled in high explosives and poisonous gases, and until he began his unplanned desert vacation, I worked and shared a house with Mustang. I consider him a friend, and, as a friend, he asked me to guest blog for him while he does … well, whatever it is he does. It's supposed to get him home sooner, so I said "yes."

I know Mustang by another name, of course. Several, actually, but most of them shouldn't be repeated. I'm well-acquainted with several of the comment section regulars: I've attended family functions with Mustang Sarge, Mustang Mama, Mustang Aunt, and Mustang Sis … um, make that KCNK. I've socialized with A Souldier's Prayer and Walking Eagle. I can decode the meaning of the name FCC@V. I know where RCBEEP lives. I've sampled the sugar cookies for which Mustang Mama is famous, and I'm familiar with who first suggested sending Strawberry Shortcake sheets to our favorite company commander. I'm privy to information. I know things. And if you're under the impression that I'm going to tell you those things, then you're absolutely right. But it'll cost you.

So place your bids in the comments section. (The winner will also receive a copy of my best-selling dissertation, "Ammonia Oxidation Catalysis: Hydrogen, Hydrogen Cyanide, and Nitric Oxide".) In the meantime, I'll keep posting. There will still be commentary on the news of the day, and caption contests will always have a place here. But there will also be discussions of history, and art, and science, and Simpsons! They'll be the best blog posts ever written. Well, they'll be okay. Probably not the worst. I'm thinking middle. High middle. So buckle up and stay tuned for more of that patented Dave "high-middle" excitement. It's on its way.