Thoughts On A Sunday

The weekend has been a washout, weather wise. Rain and/or high winds have kept us off the lake or from continuing our efforts to finish painting the decks on The Manse.

Today wasn't as rainy, but it was pleasantly warm. It was also quite windy. So all of our activities have been limited to indoors.

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The Happy Carpenter offers an interesting analogy to explain why illegal immigration must be stopped.

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In the “Do as I say, not as I do” department, I still find it unbelievable that many of the politicians that publicly support alternative energy technologies are some of the first to protest when such a project is proposed anywhere near where they live. This cuts across party lines as both Democrats and Republicans have become members of the NIMBY support group.

Such has been the case of the Cape Wind project, a wind farm planned off the coast of Nantucket. One of the most vocal opponents has been Senator Ted Kennedy (D- MA), because the wind farm might disturb his view from he family compound in Hyannisport.

Both present Republican Governor Mitt Romney and Republican gubernatorial candidate Kerrie Healey have come out against the Cape Wind project.

For all of these supposed supporters of alternative energy sources, no one wants to bite the bullet and actually allow them to be built.

I wonder what the hullaballou will be like when a utility actually proposes a new nuclear plant?

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Charles Krauthammer comments upon the hypocrisy of Muslims protesting about the Pope's quoting a 14^thcentury Byzantine emperor about Islam's violence.

It all comes down to “Take back what you said about Islamic violence or we'll kill you!”

Their violent response proves the point.

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As the winter heating season approaches we've received on bit of good news: heating oil prices are falling.

Unlike most parts of the US, the Northeast is depends primarily on oil for heat. While natural gas and propane are also used to heat homes, neither is used nearly as much as #2 heating oil.

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As a kid I remember elm trees being as plentiful as any other kind of deciduous tree. But then Dutch Elm Disease ended up killing of most of the beautiful elms. Many a town and city with an Elm Street no longer had elms on them.

But the elm is making a comeback.

Due to careful breeding a disease resistant elm, the American Liberty elm, has been created and has been used in an attempt to repopulate the species.

The effort has been spearheaded by the Keene, New Hampshire-based Elm Research Institute. It seems fitting somehow, considering that Keene is known as the Elm City.

Let us hope that they succeed in bringing this wonderful tree back into our towns and cities.

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The New England Patriots folded like a cheap suitcase in the rain in their game against the Denver Broncos, losing 17-7. They made lots of mistakes and the large number of penalties didn't help them either.

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And that's the news from Lake Winnipesaukee, where the wet weather has finally left, TV premier season is in full swing, and where fall foliage will soon be upon us.