Control. It's about control. Breed specific legislation, government owned waterways, Real ID, EPA pollution legislation, gun control, terminator seeds & patented plants, shall I go on? Taxes, higher taxes will be needed to pay for these programs, how much more can our children's children bear? What of those on fixed income? What of those religeous groups? So many other arguments. If big ag want's it for export, let them bear the cost & responsibility. In the meantime, we keep importing inferior produce & meats for our tables, that don't have these guidelines. Go figure. Our food source is the safest in the world, can't say the same for imports. Sigh, will you not speak out before it's too late? Have we no backbone left? Have we become such a society of sheeples that we actually believe there will come some good from this? Goodness government is supposed to be working for us, not the corporations with the biggest donations & favors! I'm weary of this already. Godspeed to those who've seen the light, done their homework, & know what's coming. Thank you to each & every one of you. I'll stand with you, proudly. Brendasue

Here is an interesting column on hyprids from the Detroit News: Hybrid hype only for a few Forget what you think about hybrids for a minute and consider a few facts. They cost more than most people can -- or will -- pay; they provide fuel efficiency benefits only for specific and limited driving conditions; and the technology isn't going to solve America's oil issues. Sure, they're still somewhat trendy, and select members of Congress as well as Hollywood hypocrites regularly remind people that they drive the so-called green machines. Good for them and for the few others in America who are all hopped up on hybrids, but they are the few and the proud. And the declining. Hybrid car sales dropped 51.2 percent in December from a year ago and were down 12.7 percent for all of 2008, according to Autodata Corp. Sales of the Dodge Ram pickup alone (245,840) nearly matched demand for all hybrid cars combined (247,488) last year. Even the iconic Toyota Prius saw sales slide 12.3 percent to 158,884 vehicles last year. The fuel-efficient Chevy Cobalt (188,045) and Ford Focus (195,823) outsold the Prius. Overall, hybrids make up less than 2.5 percent of the market, a number not likely to increase significantly anytime soon. Gone, hopefully, are the days when the hybrid hype machine said the dual-powertrain vehicles would dominate the market and be standard offerings for most vehicles in every fleet. Blame consumers That's not to suggest that hybrids don't have a place in the market. They do, but it's a niche, where it belongs. Don't blame me for that. Blame consumers. There's a difference in what people say they want and what they buy. And when people put their money on the table, most high-tail it away from the $3,000 or more premium for a hybrid. A number of factors are to blame. Gas prices have dropped and consumer credit has tightened. Hybrids made sense for some at four bucks a gallon, but it will take a decade to pay off the premium when gas costs $2 a gallon. Sure prices for petrol will rise again -- and fall -- as they always do, mostly in response to actual demand, but it's doubtful hybrids will have the market-moving or the Earth-saving impact they were once proffered to have. Build what people buy Don't buy into those facts? Try this one. It makes no financial sense to put two drivetrains in one vehicle -- one for the hybrid system and one for the gas engine. Automakers can't afford to do that anymore, especially if the market continues its decline. Those resources are better placed elsewhere. Unfortunately, in the end, legislators and activists have been better at grandstanding and casting aspersions at those who don't play their game, but if the car companies are smart and follow the market's lead, they'll keep building what people buy, not what others tell them to build. Auto Editor Manny Lopez's column runs Wednesday.

If Noah had lived in the United States today the story may have gone something like this: And the Lord spoke to Noah and said, "In one year, I am going to make it rain and cover the whole earth with water until all flesh is destroyed. But I want you to save the righteous people and two of every kind of living thing on earth. Therefore, I am commanding you to build an Ark." In a flash of lightning, God delivered the specifications for an Ark. In fear and trembling, Noah took the plans and agreed to build the ark. "Remember," said the Lord, "you must complete the Ark and bring everything aboard in one year." Exactly one year later, fierce storm clouds covered the earth and all the seas of the earth went into a tumult. The Lord saw that Noah was sitting in his front yard weeping. "Noah!" He shouted. "Where is the Ark?" "Lord, please forgive me," cried Noah. "I did my best, but there were big problems. First, I had to get a permit for construction, and your plans did not meet the building codes. I had to hire an engineering firm and redraw the plans. Then I got into a fight with OSHA over whether or not the Ark needed a sprinkler system and approved floatation devices. Then, my neighbor objected, claiming I was violating zoning ordinances by building the Ark in my front yard, so I had to get a variance from the city planning commission. Then, I had problems getting enough wood for the Ark, because there was a ban on cutting trees to protect the Spotted Owl. I finally convinced the U.S. Forest Service that I really needed the wood to save the owls. However, the Fish and Wildlife Service won't let me take the 2 owls. The carpenters formed a union and went on strike. I had to negotiate a settlement with the National Labor Relations Board before anyone would pick up a saw or hammer. Now, I have 16 carpenters on the Ark, but still no owls. When I started rounding up the other animals, an animal rights group sued me. They objected to me taking only two of each kind aboard. This suit is pending. Meanwhile, the EPA notified me that I could not complete the Ark without filing an environmental impact statement on your proposed flood. They didn't take very kindly to the idea that they had no jurisdiction over the conduct of the Creator of the Universe. Then, the Army Corps of Engineers demanded a map of the proposed flood plain. I sent them a globe. Right now, I am trying to resolve a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that I am practicing discrimination by not taking atheists aboard. The IRS has seized my assets, claiming that I'm building the Ark in preparation to flee the country to avoid paying taxes. I just got a notice from the state that I owe them some kind of user tax and failed to register the Ark as a 'recreational water craft'. And finally, the ACLU got the courts to issue an injunction against further construction of the Ark, saying that since God is flooding the earth, it's a religious event, and, therefore unconstitutional. I really don't think I can finish the Ark for another five or six years." Noah waited. The sky began to clear, the sun began to shine, and the seas began to calm. A rainbow arched across the sky. Noah looked up hopefully. "You mean you're not going to destroy the earth, Lord?" "No," He said sadly. "I don't have to. The government already has."

As many of you know, I was involved in a chargeable accident something over a year ago, and, as I was over 70, our Ministry of Transportation sent me an "invitation" to take a vision, written and driving test to verify my current capability to drive safely, so as not to present danger to myself and others when I took a vehicle out on the road. The (small) "Driver's Handbook" is available for $14.95 (plus tax) ... but ole (frugal) joyful was able to borrow a copy from the library, at no cost (or did he return it late, a time or two, subjecting himself to a minor fine?). The vision test was O.K. for general driving - but not for the permit to drive a larger straight truck: I can have it reinstated within a year, if I can pass the vision test and I have had cataract surgery on both eyes, since). I passed the written test. On the first driving test, I drove too slowly and cut a turn (which was too newly opened for the lanes to have been marked) too tightly where two lanes were turning together ... the instructor jerked the steering wheel. I didn't bother telling him that I was watching the other turning car and was not near it... as I knew that my goose was cooked. Next time, I ran a yellow light ... and hit a snowbank while turning. Third time, last spring ... I passed. The driving instructor, a member of our church, said that I'd be good for five years now, would I ... not quite - just till Jan. 30, next week: big birthday, which requires seniors to jump through hoops. I have to take a defensive driving training session for seniors and a written test, plus a driving test for a few, as selected by the instructor, I hear. I've been granted an extension of my permit (arrived today) ... as my assigned test date isn't to be until early April. While I used to be somewhat watchful for my own errors on the road, I've become much more sensitive to that issue with regard to my own driving ... ... and with regard to the practices of others, as well. Many of us haven't made a habit of brushing up on our awareness of the rules of the road from time to time (regularly??) ... and chastised ourselves sufficiently when we transgress. In less memorable circumstances than that faced by Mr. Sullenberger the other day ... we face potentially lif-threatening situations every day ... on a smaller scale. How well have we taken the challenge to seek for excellence in the way that we fulfill that part of our responsibilities to ourselves, our families, the community and the world? And, if we honour Him/Her - to God? Would we be happy to ride on an aircraft if we knew that the flight crew (if there were no regulations) were as lackadaisical about keeping their skills updated and sharp as we are with regard to our care in the operation of some of the routines of our lives? How concerned are we to pursue excellence ... in the various seemingly-routine aspects of our daily living? ole joyful