Should I Drive or Fly?

We've got gasoline prices near an all time high. We also have airlines hiking their fares. I understand that airplane fuel can get more expensive, too. But, I wonder if there is a game played between those who run the oil companies and those who run the airlines.

I know that I am often of being a conspiracy theorist. And maybe this is one of those times. But, I'm thinking.... if people have to travel somewhere, they have the option of flying or driving (even if that is taking a bus or a train). So, when gas prices are low, the airlines have to keep their prices down to get people to fly rather than drive. And now that gas prices are high, the airlines only have to be low enough to make it worthwhile. It's kind of how the Cubs ownership only needs to put an average team on the field to still make money.

Remember the last time gas creeped over $4 per gallon? What happened? People stopped driving as much. And magically, gas prices SOON came down... substantially. At that time, I did not pay attention to airfare. If in fact there IS a tie-in between these two factions, could that mean that WE, the consumers, can get some control of the situation?

It's uncanny how things in this world are tied together. Right? What if we start driving less? We still make the necessary trips but cut out the unnecessary ones. That means that we do not go shopping as much, we don't go out for entertainment and so on. The loss in revenue by our retailers combined with the lack of demand vs supply can help the gas prices come down. Likewise, the cost of airfare can decrease once this happens so that people making those shorter trips will have to at least consider flying instead of driving.

Does that make sense? Or am I stretching here?

Now What?

I am starting to type as President Obama is still telling us about the death of Osama bin Laden. Okay, so what happens now?

First of all, I would like to say it's about effing time. We have heard of many opportunities where we barely missed him. I'm glad our military finally got him - doesn't matter who helped and doesn't matter how it went down. It is a good thing that he is gone. But what ramifications await?

Did you hear about the WikiLeaks thing last week about guys from Guantanamo saying that al Qaeda has a nuke that they would detonate if bin Laden were to be killed. I sure hope that isn't the case and that it is just terrorists acting like terrorists. Or are they insurgents? I can't keep those words straight. A humorous thought comes to mind as one of their suicide bombers straps on an entire warhead and tries to walk with it on his back (picturing a guy in a robe with a 20 foot missile strapped on his back). Yeah, the 70 virgins will just LOVE your glowing body!

In all seriousness, though, I will be watching and listening carefully for the next several weeks to see what they do next. A group of people can speak one thing when a feared leader is in front of them. But, when that leader is gone, some may pack up their stuff and head home. There's gotta be a lot more comfortable places to sleep than in a fricking cave... or maybe a mansion as it turned out. Then again, someone may decide to continue and lead their mission.

Now to give us a slap in the face...I really wish that we as Americans would listen to some of the reasons all these people who hate us give. Sometimes, they have a good point. By no means do I think killing people with whom you disagree will accomplish anything; but, I wish we could take these comments made by all different groups around the world and even in our own country and just think about them. We have an opportunity to listen, learn and make ourselves as individuals and as a nation "better". Please just think about it.

Finally, to the news channels, PLEASE turn off the cameras by the White House. I am as pleased and relieved by this news as anyone. But, do we really want the world to see the American celebration as this drunken college party? That's what it looks like to me. Did you see the girl show the devil horns? Nice. And chants of "we're #1". I appreciate the excitement and "patriotism". But, please grow the fuck up and show some decorum. The whole world will see pictures of you as you are suddenly in the spotlight as a picture of America.

Something about the images of the DC celebrations bothers me. It reminds me of the pictures we see from around the world where there are throngs of fanatics burning our flag, burning our leaders in effigy and more. Know what I would like to see more? I would like to see stern faces and middle fingers for bin Laden. Fuck him and fuck everything that douchebag represented. Rot in hell, Osama, with your 70 virgins... all with the clap!

That is all...... for now.