Russian to the Gas Pumps

               Did you like what I did there? Every since Russian forces have marched on into Ukraine, we have seen an uptick in gasoline and diesel prices. Just recently, I paid $97 and some change to fill up my old truck. It’s not fun, but what can you do?

               Well, if you were in a higher position of power in the United States, you could help influence and enact policy changes that would stop the price increases. I am once again reiterating that our natural resources should not be ignored or restricted, especially when alternative sources are no longer feasible for what ever reason. De

               The whole situation makes me think of a farmer who buys milk from a travelling salesman, even though he has a dairy cow in the back (fun fact: the infamous Huey P. Long was a traveling salesman, and a successful one at that. It is fair to say he may have done deals like the one above). We shouldn’t be leaning on importing oil and gas when we can produce it here in the country. We can refine it, as well! I’ve already spoke to this point in the past, so I’ll try not repeat exactly what I said in the past.

               One thing not always mentioned is that our society tends to be reactive instead of proactive. We can (and probably will) complain about $4/gallon gasoline until the cows come home. Why aren’t we spending just as much time and energy planning ahead? Steps should have been taken back during the Colonial Pipeline snafu. The powers that be should have been exploring the ideas and possibilities regarding oil and gas transfer, opening more land to be available to drill, updating or building new refineries, and more to prevent shortages and wild price fluctuations from being outside of our control.

               These processes take time and capital, and we need to be making changes now to bring stability in the future. If we keep putting the necessary changes on the back burner, we will always be caught with our pants down when something unexpected happens. Having stability and security is not a dream, it’s a very plausible reality. To keep a reality from staying just a dream, it takes action. It takes folks willing and capable of action in positions of power. And a good helping of common sense.

Oh-My-Cron

               Every day it seems that the government’s faith in us to diminish a little bit more. It’s so insulting that we keep moving further from common sense by a condescending government. I usually take this attitude with straight white folks who think they know what’s best for the black and gay and other marginalized communities (specifically what candidates they choose for office). Now it’s becoming the mindset of state and federal governments. Naturally, this should be a scary thought for all of us normal citizens.

               This new omicron strain of COVID is spreading fast with the mildest symptoms so far related to the novel coronavirus. When everyone panicked the first time, it made sense because the pandemic was new and more dangerous. Now, however, we have 2 years and a much less dangerous virus than we had before. So much so that the world is recognizing the flu again, which took a much-needed vacation last year. We are looking at something easier to handle and which still gives victims the antibodies. We have vaccines and boosters. So why is this still such a big problem?

               New Orleans recently announced they are bringing back the indoor mask mandate, in addition to the proof of vaccination requirement to enter restaurants and bars. These ridiculous restrictions should make anyone annoyed at the very least. It makes you wonder how in the world we survived before COVID, and all we had to worry about was the flu. The Big Easy (ha!) has been in a state of restriction to some degree in the past two years, and these restrictions are not stopping the spikes that come with the flurona season.

               Another demographic that is making confusing decisions is the healthcare industry. Primarily, hospital systems that are simultaneously feeling strained by worker shortages and implementing vaccine requirements for workers. I remember right at the beginning, healthcare workers became the most trusted source of information about the pandemic. In less than a year, they went from trusted to being put into two boxes: the vaccinated, still all-knowing box and the moronic, unworthy box. But now hospital systems seem to want to reward the Chosen Ones by thinning out their workforce still and letting go unvaccinated workers. And don’t get me wrong, I support their decision to make a decision like this free from government regulation, but that doesn’t prevent us from seeing it as a bad decision.

               Us regular citizens are being treated as if we can’t think or take care of ourselves. Again, it’s like the flu never existed. This should drive everyone up the wall. We’ve had two years of practice with COVID. We have had two years of the dumbest safety measures and restrictions. We are at the point as a state and country to give up on all of this petty “safety” measures which are more of a hindrance than a help at this point.

Sources:

https://ldh.la.gov/Coronavirus/

https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/indoor-mask-mandate-returning-to-new-orleans-starting-wednesday/289-899bd211-06c3-4379-9ead-2acee0df218b

Cajun Canons

               There is no secret that Catholicism in southern Louisiana is very well represented. In fact, a study published in 2018 named Lafayette as the “most Catholic city” in America, with 50% of the population claiming Catholicism as their religion. The surrounding areas also have strong Catholic ties, such as the Academy of Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau. The Academy, founded in 1821, has been continuously providing an education to young women, and has connections to a couple Saints including St. John Berchmans, who was canonized based off of a miracle performed at the Academy.

               For the most Catholic city in America, we have yet to produce a Saint. In fact, Louisiana as a whole has not produced a Saint. While we have connections to many, we have not yet had one home-grown.

               Hopefully that will be changing soon. Many people already know by now, but two local people have been moving forward in the process to Sainthood. Charlene Richard, who was born in Richard, LA and Auguste “Nonco” Pelafigue who was born in France in 1888 and moved with his parents to Arnaudville, LA in 1889, have both been advanced in their steps toward canonization.

               Charlene Richard is a more well-known name in these parts of course. She died from leukemia when she was just 12 years old in 1959. She spent her last days offering up her suffering for others’ benefit. Nonco spent his life in the service of others, teaching and evangelizing to people in his community. He died in 1977 at the age of 89. More information can be found below at the websites dedicated to advancing their causes.

               This is such an exciting time for the local Catholic congregations. I myself often think of Saints as older, foreign people who made their name one way or another, and it’s sometimes hard to remember that Saints are among us all the time. It’s another thing to know that they are geographically close to us. People like Charlene and Nonco are reminders that Sainthood is a possibility for all of us. You don’t have to be 300 years old and Italian to make the cut.

               Our world has been so crazy in the past couple of years, and Lafayette continues to have its own problems. A break is nice, and thinking about these two folks is certainly a great way to stay positive and grounded.

Sources:

www.charlenerichardfoundation.com

www.nonco.org

Our Saints
Denominational Distribution: The Most Catholic and Protestant Cities in the U.S.
https://aleteia.org/2018/04/17/surprising-results-reveal-most-catholic-cities-in-america/#

https://apnews.com/article/religion-louisiana-lafayette-sainthood-6c19bc19f909f2b7125df8ec4c703e55

Biden’s Band-Aid

                I wrote a piece back in May regarding the Colonial Pipeline hack, and why Louisiana and other areas made it through the Great Gas Shortage of 2021 better than most. Now it’s November, and we’ve been watching gas prices steadily creep up, and now President Biden has a temporary measure to control the gas prices. Releasing 50 million barrels from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve may sound great and generous, but this is just a temporary band-aid on a problem that has a more permanent solution readily available.

                In the article “Shortage of Sense” I attempted to make the point that due to Louisiana’s refinery-heavy position in our country, we weathered the gasoline shortage better than other places, like Georgia, who saw more problems. If we take a step back and look at the US oil and gas industry as a whole, the same logic should apply. Our country is a massive oil producer in the world, and we have the means to continue to produce and refine our own oil without having to import so much. The benefit here is that we don’t pay a premium at the pump for something local.

                It’s like paying for shipping on beef from out of state, when your neighbor has a cow and a butcher connection. It doesn’t make sense to outsource something we could be making at home. But sometimes you cannot avoid going to someone else for what you need, and that illuminates other actions by the Biden administration.

Gasoline is only one by product of oil. We still have other uses that require different types of oils. To get those in, pipelines prove to be an important infrastructure. Canada has been the largest exporter to the US in this area. This is beneficial as they are so close. But we stop the pipelines and continue restricting other methods of transportation, we will have to be giving the Middle Eastern oil countries our business. It’s surely more difficult and more expensive to import oil from the Middle East than Canada. Keystone XL made headlines in the last couple of years, and especially earlier this year when it was shut down. There are other pipelines that are under pressure from either state or national figures to cease operations. Unless these are replaced with competent alternatives, we could be looking at price increases for a bunch of products besides gasoline.

                We could play the “What if” game until the cows come home when it comes to imagining the different financial and economic repercussions of messing with pipelines, restricting leasing to operators, and imagining the ways OPEC will try to counter the influx of 50 million barrels into our supply. The only “What if” game I think is worth playing is this: What if we continue to rely on American oil for American needs? What if we make moves to stand on our own legs and remain as energy independent as possible? I don’t believe that there is any situation in which it is better to be dependent on someone else than it is to be independent and self-sustaining. A cycle of dependency can be hard to break.

Sources:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/11/23/president-biden-announces-release-from-the-strategic-petroleum-reserve-as-part-of-ongoing-efforts-to-lower-prices-and-address-lack-of-supply-around-the-world/

https://www.npr.org/2021/06/09/1004908006/developer-abandons-keystone-xl-pipeline-project-ending-decade-long-battle

https://www.tcenergy.com/operations/oil-and-liquids/keystone-pipeline-system/

Biden administration clarifies it’s not weighing Line 5 shutdown

Stop the Job!

                In every single industrial/construction jobsite I’ve ever been to and/or been a part of, I have been reminded of “Stop Work Authority.” For the white-collar workers who may be unfamiliar with this, SWA is the right and responsibility of anyone on a job site to stop work if and when they observe something that is unsafe, or has the potential to become unsafe. Such a power is very effective in the field. If only there is a way to extend it to the government?

                President Biden months back has attempted to put in a place a mandate for businesses of 100 employees or larger to force their employees to be vaccinated or test on a weekly basis for COVID.

Stop the job. Blow the whistle. Red flag. Whatever you want to call it.

This is another move that should be making everyone scratch their head. We need to remember that the government’s job isn’t to police the decisions made by each employee. It’s a gross overextension of authority and should have everyone worried. Private businesses should be given as much free reign over themselves as reasonably possible. Even many current OSHA could probably be scrapped at the discretion of employers.

Luckily, there is still folks in high places with a bit of sense. Several politicians have been leading the charge for a lawsuit to stop the new mandates. Rightfully so. We need to be wary when dangerous precedents try to slide by. We should be focused on removing government from private business, not letting it get farther in. Business is, of course, just one facet of our modern lives that is in danger of overreach. With everything that has happened since our country started, people should be aware and on guard for oversteps from Big Brother.

                I have a feeling that mandates currently in place by decision of business owners, will not be sticking around for long. I recently heard about staffing shortages at a hospital, which was already short-staffed but the deficit increased due to vaccine mandates. I feel like raising a standard for potential employees during a shortage may be a bad call. The law of demand states that as the price of good becomes higher, demand decreases. If you replace “price of a good” with “employment requirements” in an already low-demand job market, then I would imagine the demand continues to decrease. If you are trying and failing to sell oranges, the solution is not to raise the price of oranges. You would have to try something else—maybe there is a higher demand for apples?

                Let’s hope that the OSHA mandate is shut down completely. The last thing we need is for an incompetent, imperfect government to have more control over us. They absolutely cannot make rules that are correct and best for all 331.4 million American residents, and they should not be encouraged to.

                Side note: I’m really sick of hearing about COVID and dealing with COVID restrictions. Talk about getting old. I’m sure some of you feel the same way.

Sources:

OSHA suspends vaccine enforcement; what’s the next move for HR?

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/law-of-supply-demand.asp

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/08/united-states-adult-population-grew-faster-than-nations-total-population-from-2010-to-2020.html

Winners and Whiners

                Over a year ago, I wrote an article about people who complain about 40 hour work weeks. These folks are generally folks who oppose capitalism, free market ideals, and personal responsibility. They generally have the mindset that our societies would benefit from taking time away from working and instead devoting that time towards hobbies which, in the main, can still be enjoyed around 40 hour work weeks. I wanted to revisit that idea, coming from a new experience I was blessed to have enjoyed the last month.

                This year, I have been ducking and dodging an expensive truck repair bill which I knew I needed to pay but was hesitant. Who really enjoys spending $1,500+ in one place at one time? Alas, it had to be done, and I really needed to figure out a way to pay that bill without touching money earmarked for other uses. What to do?

                A temporary job opportunity came into my line of vision, and I was very happy to accept it. Over the last month, I have been working two jobs, and not taken a day off from working this whole time. This habit reminds me of my offshore days, where I would be 21 days (or more) straight working 12+ hours a day. Such a hustle! Such a payoff!

                In both my offshore experience and my current two-job situation, I have still been able to find time for things I enjoy. I have time to spend with my wife. I have time to help take care of the house. And I know I do not possess special time management skills. I have the same ability as most others.

                If you cannot properly enjoy hobbies, take care of your own physical health, take care of your house, and show attention to friends and family while working a 40 hour week, you must be seriously bad at managing your time. That must be unacceptable to yourself.

                These days, especially with the debate of masks vs. no masks, vaccinations vs. no vaccinations, there has been a lot of people playing the victim, blaming other people and refusing the idea of personal responsibility. And that’s very saddening and disheartening. Our own health, our use of leisure time, our comfort outside our homes, and our reactions to adverse situations are all our own responsibility. And I refuse to feel sorry for anyone who does not take their lives into their own hands, but instead complains incessantly that it is society’s faults that led to their problems. That is childish nonsense and it should be recognized as such.

                You think you don’t have time to pursue hobbies around a work schedule? Then find an alternative. New job, change your home routines, whatever. There is literally no one stopping you. And this mindset is completely free! It is incredible where and how this is beneficial.

                Think about what inspiring and happy stories you see on the news. I know in the last year, two young women of different ages and races made the news for becoming young business owners. Doesn’t that story make you feel better than “Such and such group is offended/complaining/suing over this other action”? No one likes those whiners. Everyone likes the winners, the dream followers, those who take personal responsibility seriously and work to make their life better.

Cuba Libre

News of Cuban anti-government protests have been entering our view these past couple of weeks. Beginning on July 11, Cubans have been taking to the calles to express their anger at the government for causing food and medicine shortages. The government has responded as logically as any Communist government could.

                Communist governments are not good for anyone except those in authority. That’s the way it always has been, and considering the human imperfections that lead to massive error, probably always will be. In Cuba, the government recently has been pouring money into tourist attractions and accommodations. And they don’t have that much money. Resources could have and should have been redirected to better uses, such as COVID vaccines and food for the citizens. Of course, with scarcity comes high prices, making what little food they have available being exorbitantly priced. For the government to be able to generate the money to build grandiose hotels and what not, they are taxing small-business owners at high rates which they can ill afford, especially compared to foreign investors who are seeing preferential treatment for bringing outside money in. Not that the communist Cuban government has ever been kind to business owners.

                Once the anger is there, the next step obviously is the protests. Once started, the protests spread to 40 cities including the capital. These protests, amongst the biggest in 60+ years in the country, must have been quite a spectacle. And how could any benevolent government say no to basic human rights being asked for by the people?

                By cutting off internet and phone lines, that’s how.

                State owned utilities were restricted as the protests grew. Cutting off wide communication for organization and spreading messages were certainly effective, but not enough. The government then began sending out state forces, including Communist militia members “armed with heavy sticks”. This force was not strictly for keeping the peace, as activists claim over 100 of their number were arrested in Havana. To reiterate the lack of basic rights, the authorities will be pressing charges on some folks based on trials going on behind closed doors.

                To keep the people under their thumb, the government’s next step is to plan pro-government rallies. These have been held for years, with attendance mandatory for some citizens and rallies scripted so the pro-government meaning is not lost. An audience who packs the house at gunpoint may look good in pictures, but those in attendance don’t forget about the gun. The propaganda machine keeps churning.

                The government has capitulated a little, allowing visitors to Cuba to bring in food and medicine and other essentials, duty-free. That’s the first step of many needed to right the wrongs in that country. It’ll be a tough ride, though. The Biden administration is looking into ways to help Cuba, but their government is set to refuse anything they see as “interventionist aid” from the U.S.

                And who’s to blame for all the problems that Cuba has been seeing? Well, the United States, according to them. Which is complete nonsense. The Cuban government has been doing this kind of thing to its people for the last 62 years. This is nothing new, and it shouldn’t be surprising that these sorts of protests continue to grow in frequency and strength. With the growing use of social media, Cubans who couldn’t afford to travel outside of their country now can see what life is like in countries like ours.

                If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times: governments cannot be trusted. Period. Especially one that controls so much of life for the normal citizens. From the outside looking in, it should be plain as day to see that this government is not good for the people. Communism is not good for the people. Would any of us, living the way we do now, be okay with DC shutting down internet and phone lines, holding secretive trials behind closed doors, and making pro-America rallies mandatory for state workers and students? Absolutely not! It’s abhorrent what has happened in the last 62 years and what continues today.

                Visiting Cuba is a bucket-list item for me. I’d love to go. But not yet. Cuba needs to get right, maybe overthrow the Communists and shift towards a full free market stance. Freedom—it’s the way to go.

Sources:

https://www.npr.org/2021/07/18/1017657461/theres-more-to-the-unprecedented-cuba-protests-than-just-food-shortages

https://www.wsj.com/articles/cuba-protests-whats-happening-11626112390

Mind Your Own Business

                Sweet, sweet summer time. Nothing beats our wonderful permanent sauna outdoors. Mother Nature is alternately trying to wash us off the map and dry us of. The kids are out of school and wreaking havoc at Red’s. The entire population will be relocating briefly to Destin or Orange Beach. Not much is changing, but change is happening nonetheless.

                Lafayette recently recognized June as Pride Month. No doubt many people were waiting for public recognition, and surely many more do not care at all. While Lafayette is becoming a little gayer, it’s not gay enough according to some folks. A local outlet has been sharing the stories of several members of the gay community throughout the month, and a central theme is that these people believe Lafayette could improve in ways of vague enlightenment and kind-heartedness. Are they right? Maybe so. Maybe not.

                This morning while listening to the radio, I heard a snippet from a Ricky Gervais stand up routine. In this snippet, he calls out people who get offended and mad about things he posts on Twitter. Gervais says:

 “People take everything personally, they think the world revolves around them…I’m not tweeting [at] anyone, I’m just tweeting. I don’t know who’s following me. They could be following me without me knowing, choose to read my tweet, and then take that personally’. That’s like going into a town square, seeing a big notice board and there’s a notice with guitar lessons, and you go, ‘But I don’t f***ing want guitar lessons!’”

When I first heard this, I immediately thought of some of the things I’ve seen on social media. People becoming outraged over nothing. The next second, however, I realized that I also felt the tiniest version of that outrage myself when seeing the Pride Month posts, specifically as it regards to changing Lafayette.

                The world revolves around me in my own head, sure. But not to the folks who contributed their stories. Or the outlet that published it. Or the dissenting voice in town. Or to my friends. Or my wife (but that’d be nice, wouldn’t it?). I had to remind myself that the stories being posted weren’t being posted AT me, they were just being posted. I had to remind myself that I’m not the only person in Lafayette who loves the city and wants it to be the best city in the country. With other people who think, feel, and have past experiences that differ from my own, it would be insane to think that we can all agree on the path that brings Lafayette to perfection.

                We can all recognize something immediately: it is not proper for any of us to be offended by any opinion that does not directly slander ourselves, our families, or our friends. Daily life dramatically improves with the simple exercise of minding your own business. I have to remind myself to do so, just like we all should. When I hit that stride of minding my own business, I’m improving Lafayette the way that I see fit and I believe in. This step is one that brings me immense joy, even when things aren’t working out. As always, another fool-proof way to dramatically improve your life is to stay off of social media—another step that I need reminders for.

                Is it the best idea to take behavioral tips from comedians? Probably not. But sometimes they have a good point. A broken clock is wrong twice a day, you know? By the way, if you’re reading this and are offended at the idea of minding your own business, please remember that I’m not writing at you, I’m just writing.

Sources:

https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/2021/06/15/lafayette-city-council-signs-first-june-pride-month-proclamation/7708943002/

https://www.indy100.com/celebrities/ricky-gervais-twitter-humanity-standup-b1869904

Shortage of Sense

                We have once again come across a shortage of common sense here in this country. Much like the toilet paper scare back in March 2020, another commodity becoming scarce is causing people to act more irrationally than usual. We can thank whoever hacked into the Colonial Pipeline for that. This situation should also be used as a reminder of what we have and why it’s a good thing.

                Since the pipeline went offline until the company restarted operations, people freaked out. The internet was full of photos of people filling anything from plastic bags to 55 gallon drums to make sure they did not get caught up in whatever share of the shortage would hit their area. This caused quite the concern, as the pipeline services areas in 14 different states in our country. Yet some areas were not nearly as affected as others. Why is that?

                The Advocate published an article (link below) in which they describe the shortages as reported by an app called GasBuddy. The numbers ranged from 1% of gas stations reporting shortages in Louisiana, 7% in Mississippi and Alabama, and 20% in the Atlanta area. The reason why Louisiana fared so well? That would be because of the 17 oil refineries in Louisiana. These refineries do not just service Louisiana, they account for roughly 20% of the nation’s refinery capacity (according to the same Advocate article). Are you seeing the connection?

                The oil and gas industry is very important to our area. The situation above is just one reason. There are, of course, many other benefits to these natural resources and the infrastructures we have to use them. Not to mention that we are just one state. Other states can and do refine crude and turn it into some of these products that we take for granted. The Colonial Pipeline incident clearly shows how a state which can largely support itself will handle a potential shortage.

                If we take a step back from the areas serviced by the pipeline and take the nation as a whole, it should be very clear why energy independence is important for us. Imagine if the United States were forced to become net importers, and another worldwide event took place which restricted trade. Hopefully you haven’t forgot about 2020 yet because we saw something close as a result of the coronavirus. Such an event could be disastrous at the wrong time, or if the event lasted for a while. Not to mention the price of filling up your car if fuel is available.

                The world is surely moving towards “green” energy, which is fine. Adaptability is key to survival. Until a total change is made, however, we should be keen to keep what works well in place. Energy policy can be discussed ‘til the cows come home, but common sense still needs to prevail. It’s plain to me that having resources and infrastructure to transform the resources close to home is better for everyone. We can make the change when the time comes. Until then, let’s make sure what we have in place will continue to work for us as smoothly as possible.

                By the way, anyone want to place a bet on the next shortage? I’m going with willing workers for the restaurant and fast-food industry, but I’m always open to other ideas.

Sources:

https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/business/article_c1f4327c-b372-11eb-81ab-47f48ca6dd32.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/colonial-pipeline-returns-normal-operations-following-shutdown-n1267494

https://www.businessinsider.com/us-oil-exports-higher-imports-country-energy-independence-2020-9

Hairy Situation

                When you think of a hairy situation, you probably think of a tough or stressful time. When we go through hairy situations, we tend to learn about ourselves in someway or another. Maybe we get a change of perspective that helps us understand more about a specific activity or the world in general. And sometimes, if you live in Louisiana, a hairy situation can be a positive one.

                The hairy situation in this case is as of Monday, May 3rd, the Louisiana Senate passed a law which would expand the definition of race in anti-discrimination laws, essentially protecting natural hairstyles as a historically racial trait. This law is now heading to the House for further review.

                Not bad, on the surface. Shouldn’t be a reason to cause any kind of stressful or tough situation. The only point of contention is the case of a business owner trying to keep a certain appearance by way of uniform, personal appearance, and safety measures. Industrial workers, for example, adhere to at least two of those. Folks generally have to wear a uniform of some kind and keep hair short or tied up in a way to keep out of machines. In some situations, employees must stay clean-shaven so that respirators can form a protective seal from dangerous gases and particles. Personal appearance can be important to a business as well. Many businesses rely on their employees, the faces of their company to the outside world (such as salesmen and -women, service providers, etc), to look presentable and professional. A uniform and standard of personal grooming or presentation is not out of the realm of possibility.

                The point being that if we combing the law on what is an appropriate hairstyle, especially considering the facts that 1) hair, when cut, grows back and 2) there are more than one single business in most places, so the chances of finding a line of work that accepts all hairstyles is probable, then we must take a step back and realize that we don’t have it too bad. There are worse things happening in different parts of the country, and we are still seeing the effects of recent event in our own state. Luckily, this bill will certainly be more beneficial than harmful. As far as new news goes, I’d dread when we are faced with something more serious again.

                Changes in perspective braided with a positive attitude can do multitudes for us. Other forms of media may be trying to twist situations to fit with their own particular narratives. Splitting hairs like that isn’t good for anyone. The idea that there is always something worth shouting about is a bald-face lie. On the contrary, with the steps mentioned above, we could be taking steps that permanently change our lives for the better. It’s a lot easier to gel with each other when we take a step back, take a deep breath, and relax. Here’s to the fade of malevolence and rise of peace in our world!

Sources:

http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1216176