In Honor of Heroes

As a Vietnam veteran, I recall my return home to the US after my service overseas.  For those of you old enough to remember, this was a very unpopular war.  Soldiers coming home, all with the same problems that our fighting men have now with PTSD (not a term then) and other issues, were treated unceremoniously at the very best and with scorn at the worst.  I say this not as a “poor me” moment since this was 40 years ago and is now a very distant memory, but rather as a thank you to all the troops who have been fighting for this country over the past decades.  Memorial Day (or as I called it when I was young, Decoration Day) has just passed and I see the patriotism in this country so much more noticeable in 2012.   

For those of you interested, John Huston (with his father, Walter narrating), directed a film, “Let There be Light”, after WWII that documented the travails of returning soldiers.  The army did not want it shown so it sat gathering dust until a couple of years ago when it was brought out again.  An hour long, it is well worth viewing.  Here is a link to the site: Let There be Light 

I have told my loyal reader(s) (thanks Mom) that I have been traveling a great deal for the past several months.  June offers no respite, alas.  Because of this, I beg your indulgence in granting me an extra couple of weeks before my next posting (late June). 

There is much going on in the world of energy.  Natural gas prices continue to be low (with little change in sight), followed by a decline in oil prices (gas prices in Tulsa as of today are some of the lowest in the country at $3.14/gallon while just a few months ago hovered above $3.69/gallon.  In California earlier this month, I paid $4.39/gallon).  Coal continues to be the bad boy of energy with rather dim outlooks. 

There’s a recent article of interest that I read in the USA Today regarding what was once considered an old shibboleth, “energy independence”.  So what is the real story today?  Is it a dream or a distinct possibility? Energy Independence? 

Once upon a time, E-Tech had considered working with companies involved in carbon capture as there were energy savings opportunities possible.  Fortunately, as reported in a New York Times article, I didn’t put this into my sales forecast! Carbon Capture Disappointment

Finally, and somewhat analogous to the previous article, coal is finding major difficulties, even in the middle of coal country.  Read this detailed report from the NY Times. Coal in trouble?

And, finishing where I left off, here’s a wonderful saying regarding our marvelous fighting men and women.  

“And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave.  Joseph Rodman Drake” (1795-1820)