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The Basics

Gas prices are driven by the supply and demand of oil. I’ll buy that. Right now, China and India have caused an increase in demand. I’ll also buy that one. This new demand coupled with the limited supply gives us the high prices we are seeing today. This is where I put away my wallet; I’m not buying. The demand is up; however, the supply is not limited.

Where In The World Did I Get This Idea?

Twenty-something years ago energy was cheap, so Congress folded to the pressure of tree huggers and cut back on energy exploration. These wildlife warriors spun epic tales of worldwide destruction due to industrial advancements; much like the global warming myth of today. Congress thought they could quiet the squeaky wheel with a drop of all natural, fully organic, virgin olive oil. Little did they know that this gnat-like annoyance would transform itself into a full grown, man sized, carbon neutral Green Machine capable of devouring any political leader who dared speak against mother nature.

What Does This Mean For Us?

The impact of this Congressional error, you ask? Well, the Department of Interior has reported that billions of barrels of oil (approximately 30 years worth at the current Saudi supply to U.S.) and trillions of cubic feet of natural gas are tucked away under the nice, warm, fuzzy wing of the Green Machine. These numbers are only for readily available oil. They don’t include oil sands, tar sands, shale, or coal to oil possibilities.

The Dreaded Environmental Impact Of Exploring Our Own Resources

So, there must be some environmental impact, right? Sure, but to the dismay of the lords of the lawn it has been a positive impact. Let’s look at the Alaska pipeline. The gurus of grass argued that the pipeline would be detrimental to the caribou population. It turns out that the caribou have flourished BECAUSE of the pipeline. Apparently they prefer to mate by the warmth of the pipeline. When you’re hot, you’re hot! What kind of credibility do the nourishers of nature have now? None in my book.

**Up next**

America’s available energy sources: coal-to-oil, shale, oil sands, tar sands

Tags: America, Business, Politics by Eric Sanders
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We all know that most every news story aired leans so far to the left that it takes a village to keep it from tumping over. What most people don’t know is that these liberal rules are spelled out for journalists by the Society of Professional Journalists. They are supposed to be “dedicated to  encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior.” Just look at some of their guidelines for accomplishing this ethical behavior.

Striving For Fair, Biased Journalism

Most of these guidelines are crap, but one of the most outrageous is to “Cover the victims of harassment, murder and other hate crimes as thoroughly as you cover the victims of overt terrorist attacks. ” Are you kidding me? First, you must read my views on hate crimes. Either all crimes are hate crimes, or none are. Crime is crime. A crime committed against a straight white man should be punished just the same as that crime being committed against a one-legged African-Hispanic lesbian.  (Don’t get all hopping mad, I have nothing against one-legged African-Hispanic lesbians.) What these journalists are trying to say is that having a plane flown through your office building and thousands of people being burned or crushed to death is equivilant to someone spray painting graffiti on your house. I don’t think so.

Just imagine how bad it will be when we get a Muslim president in office…

Tags: America, Business, Crime, Politics, Religion by Eric Sanders
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I have spent the last hour or so researching Bob Barr, and I like most of what I have read. I don’t completely agree with all of his views, but I don’t completely agree with all of anyone’s views except my own. Barr was once a strong conservative who basically got fed up with the usual political games and joined the libertarian party.

Say What You Mean

In a time of politicians side stepping real questions and blowing smoke about issues, Bob Barr leaves very little gray area in his comments. With every question there is a very definitive answer. With most politicians taking a “stand for nothing fall for anything” approach to draw in the “undecided crowd”, Bob Barr speaks his mind and heart.

I can’t say that I am endorsing Barr, yet, but I can say that from what I have read he is the most impressive candidate still on the ballot.

Check Out Bob Barr’s Record

Bob Barr on Glenn Beck

Tags: America, Business, Diet, Inspiration, Politics by Eric Sanders
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I realize that my readers have come to expect posts on politics, crime and punishment, patriotism, and such. While I am very passionate about these topics, I never intended this blog to be solely dedicated to them. I started this so that I could publish my thoughts on any and all topics. To my fellow Americans who enjoy the patriotic articles, do not fear. I still bleed red, white, and blue. I am going to diversify my topics, however. If you look at some of my earliest articles you will find education, kids, and nostalgia among other topics.

For a while I also included some affiliate programs on Brainwavers. I have removed those as well. I also got caught up in rankings, popularity, SEO, blah, blah, blah. While I know these are important for business, I was putting more effort into PR than into writing. While I may be venturing into some internet business someday, Brainwavers is not it. This is not a job, and I am going to stop treating it like one.

Tags: Business, Deep Thinking, Inspiration, Life Lessons, Personal Notes by Eric Sanders
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Do you remember the feeling you had just weeks before your high school graduation?

What about getting ready to head out on you own? Away from your parents. Do you remember?

Maybe you have recently changed jobs and there was that strange “I won’t be walking down this hall”, or “I won’t use this coffee pot again” kind of feeling.

Buying your first home, or moving out of your first home into your second.

I’m not talking about any bad feelings. The feelings I’m talking about are ones of excitement; feelings that something that you have known is about to be replaced with something better. A new world is about to open up. A sense that there is something waiting that has barely been tapped.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about by now I don’t know any other way to describe it.

I had those feelings twice today. They weren’t accompanied by any visions or thoughts; just feelings. I know that all of you who have experienced this are sitting there nodding in agreement. All of you who think I’m losing it; I just ask that if you are ever fortunate enough to experience it you will recall reading an article by that crazy guy at Brainwavers and admit that he wasn’t so crazy after all.

Tags: Business, Deep Thinking, Inspiration, Life Lessons, Motivational, Personal Notes, Religion by Eric Sanders
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I recently checked my blog on websitegrader and found that I didn’t have any type of redirect. I searched for how to set up a redirect, but most of the articles assumed that the reader already knew a lot about coding, which I don’t. I finally ran across an article and plugin from Justin Shattuck. I downloaded, installed, and activated the plugin in about 2 minutes. After activating the plugin I went back to websitegrader and rechecked my site. The redirect worked fine and my score had already improved. Thanks for the plugin Justin.

Tags: Business, Personal Notes, Plugins by Eric Sanders
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Cinram, a DVD packaging company in Huntsville, Alabama, has started recruiting foreign workers who are willing to work 12 hour shifts for $8 per hour. They employ approximately 2500 workers with 1350 of them coming from Jamaica, Bolivia, Nepal, Ukraine, and the Dominican Republic.

Each year the U.S. Department of Labor issues 66,000 H-2B work visas. These are for unskilled, non-farm workers. Cinram is following the law, and the workers are here legally, but this doesn’t make me feel all warm and fuzzy by any means. There are obviously ways, as Cinram has shown us, to follow the law and still operate unethically. Madison County Commissioner Mo Brooks said that if this is the way Cinram wants to do business he would prefer they do it somewhere else.

I don’t blame any of the workers. They were presented with an opportunity to legally come to the greatest country on Earth; they were offered a good (relatively speaking) wage and an opportunity to better themselves and their families. They would be insane to reject an offer like that. My problem is with the company. When I say “company” I don’t want you to have a picture of some collective corporate structure. I want you to think about the individual, living, breathing people who have the opportunity to help local families, yet choose to go overseas to hire workers. I’ll bet these people would pimp out their own grandmothers to make a dime.

Tags: America, Business, Life Lessons, Politics by Eric Sanders
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Let me think…do I want my kids ingesting lead paint or the date rape drug? Those seem to be the choices today with the junk we import from China. After months of hearing about the recalls on Chinese products I have a pretty obvious question, why do we still have so much Chinese junk coming into this country?

Greedy American Companies

The main reason is because the businesses who sell this junk are making truck loads of money. These people worship money to the point of endangering our children with poisonous products. It’s all about the buck. I guess you could argue that these companies are ensuring employment for the Chinese children who are making the products that are being imported into America. Oh wait, employment infers money for work; I think that these kids are on the work-or-else program.

American Consumers Are Guilty Also

That’s right, if we don’t buy it these retailers won’t carry it. As long as we continue to sacrifice quality and safety for price this junk is here to stay. I have been as guilty as anyone in the past, but in recent years  I have been trying to pay attention to the products that we buy and only buy American made products. It’s even rubbed off on my kids. I have a six and a seven year old, and they check the “made in” information when we are shopping.

Some Trade Is Good

I realize that some international trade is good, but I also know that the United States has a huge trade deficit with China. In 2006 the total U.S. trade deficit with China was 232 billion U.S. dollars. Through September 2007 the deficit was $187 billion, which puts us on track for a $250 billion deficit for 2007. Let’s see if we can start spending some of those billions here at home.

Humorous note: I overheard my kids talking about where to put different toys. I moved in to listen ( as long as they are living in my house their business is my business, but that’s another artilce) and discovered that they were sorting toys by their “made in” information. My son said that he wants to have a collection of toys that are made in America. The funny part was when my son brought in a toy and exclaimed, “Hey, I found a toy that was made in Philippians!”

My daughter also gathered some items that she had made by hand and wrote “Made in USA” on them with a Sharpie.

Tags: America, Business, Education, Motivational, Politics by Eric Sanders
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I’m not normally much of a betting man, but I’m putting my money on America’s next challenge coming from the Russia-Iran friendship. President Putin (I’m sorry, but I just have to laugh when I say that name) is playing the part of the mother who is comforting her son (Iran) after being picked on by the big bully (America). Russia rubs Iran’s back and tells them that everything will be alright, and at the same time scolds America for wanting to impose a third round of sanctions against Iran. He is also telling the U.S. not to worry about Iran’s nuclear ability because they are decades from developing any missiles that could threaten North America. Wow, that makes me feel much better. Apparently Putin knows nothing about bud-nippin’. Let’s wait until they draw a bead on us before we try to stop them.

Russia has a huge interest in a relationship with Iran because of the oil money involved. Russia already had an oil contract with Saddam Hussein and is now working with Iran on a contract to export oil from northern Iran.

Let’s put it all together: Iran hates America. Putin is power hungry and wants to rule the world but needs money. Iran can provide movey via oil exports. Sounds like a match made in Hell if you ask me. I’m just waiting for Russiranians to launch an attack against Israel to begin their quest for the world.

Tags: America, Business, Crime, Politics, Religion by Eric Sanders
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I recently make a one-hour drive to Norton’s Flooring in Wedowee, AL and I’m glad I did.

A Variety Of Flooring Products

An associate walked us through the warehouse showing us a variety of solid hardwood, engineered plank, and laminate flooring. They also had carpet, tile, and linoleum flooring with a variety of colors and patterns for each.

Employees Who Understand Customer Service

The person who assisted us was Danny Parsons. He took time to discuss the different types of solid wood and laminate flooring, and he answered any questions we had. He even opened some boxes and pulled pieces out so we could compare colors and textures. We were never rushed or pressured at any time. The guys who loaded the truck were courteous and helpful as well.

Great Service After The Sale

After the money had exchanged hands and the truck was loaded I was ready to head out. One of the guys noticed that I had a low tire on my truck, and they immediately rolled a portable air compressor out and filled the tire.

Norton’s Also Installs Flooring

I am installing my floor, but I talked to a friend, Chris Melton, who had Norton’s handle his installation. I told him about my experience, and he said that he was equally as impressed with their installation services.

Price Is Part Of Their Value As Well

We bought solid 3/4″ x 2-1/4″ prefinished oak. I have priced similar products at large building supply stores and Norton’s was easily 30% to 40% cheaper. Even though their prices were already low, they still gave me a discount for quantity purchased.

Norton’s Flooring Is The Place To Go

If this whole article sounds like a sales pitch, well that’s because it is. I strongly believe in promoting a company who practices a high standard of customer service. It was extremely nice to find a company who actually practices real customer service and doesn’t just make loud claims that sound good in their commercials. I highly recommend checking out Norton’s Flooring in Wedowee, AL for any flooring needs.

Tags: Business, Carpentry by Eric Sanders
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