Mark’s Musings – Dec. 3, 2014

Mark Fortune

Flip, flip, flip, flip – ahhh, the Hallmark Channel. Finally, some television worth watching. Come on; tell me you don’t watch one or two of these sappily made and easily predictable shows about romance, Christmas lights and turkey. Conveniently located in the upper numbers on your television – depending on, of course, whether you have cable, digital satellite or you have converted to watching TV on your tablet or laptop. Actually, they are a pleasant and positive respite from the typical fare on television these days – which has enough reality shows to be . . . real annoying.

Gas prices are down due to the OPEC big four not being able to decide to lower output. On purpose. This will put pressure on Russia in a big way – and could make Putin even more unpredictable than he is now. Oil is a huge export for Russia – probably right next to caviar and vodka. Okay, I’m stereotyping of course. Crude petroleum and refined petroleum are in fact, over 50 percent of Russia’s exports. Depending on which website you bring up – Russia is the world’s sixth largest economy.

Now, lest you think that $80 or below barrels of oil – and the lower gas prices that accompany this trend are good for our overall economy you could be wrong. Wrong because many pundits tell us that oil below $80 per barrel is bad for smaller U.S. oil producers. Brent crude is at $70.15 on Monday morning, Dec. 1 as this column is written. The sheiks are not dumb and this can also have a long-term negative impact on our goal of becoming energy independent.

Locally – compliments must go out to the folks of Our Town Coshocton and all that helped with the wonderful Miracle on Main parade – the amount of work involved to organize and contact all of the folks that participate – all three local high school bands participated and were a joy to see and hear.

Santa has now visited the village of Warsaw and heads to West Lafayette this coming Saturday, Dec. 6.

Pay a nighttime visit to the memoriam tree located in the gazebo on the court square. Beautiful.

Ferguson – tough one to weigh in on. The jury has decided, with hours and hours invested by these 12 people. It will no doubt be something that they will never forget. Regardless of how you feel on a personal level – it is time for the protests to end. They are not solving anything. Until we figure out how to “reclaim” the family and our poorer neighborhoods these incidents will no doubt continue. I do have a question on all of this – I have not heard as much about the 12 year old that was shot and killed in Cleveland. He was not robbing a store, nor did he threaten anyone (that I know of) nor did he run at a police officer. Not quite sure why this incident is not generating more news than Ferguson. Apparently the protestors in Cleveland have been peaceful. Maybe that’s why.

Category: Mark's Musings