I very rarely go WOW, BUT. . .

I was glancing at a friend's myspace site, and saw a Video by a young lady named K.T. Tunstall. . .I was MORE than impressed by the groove, vibe, and sheer talent of this solo performance:



Kttunstall

Kudos to the fact that there are sitll musicians out there who are doing there own thing and can make this jaded old Rocker, who is not easily impresed, go WOW!!!

Site Updates

For those that are interested. . .I have recently updated the website with new pictures for all of the kids! NCJC pics should be coming soon. . .And i got some stuff fixed for Wolfgang!

You can hit the site here: www.thomasjwilson.com

An Axiom

A quote from the Teachings of Islam (Jacki, can you help me with the reference?)

"A man walking along a path felt very thirsty. Reaching a well he descended into it, drank his fill and came up. Then he saw a dog with its tongue hanging out, trying to lick up mud to quench its thirst. The man saw that the dog was feeling the same thirst as he had felt so he went down into the well again and filled his shoe with water and gave the dog a drink. God forgave his sins for this action.' The Prophet was asked: 'Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals?' He said, 'There is a reward for kindness to every living thing.'"

This is a saying that I hope to keep in my heart (Inshallah):

"There is a reward for kindness to every Living thing"

Black Gold

I happened to receive a copy of Business Week in the mail this week. . Not a regular subscription, but apparently the address change snagged someone else's mail (I wonder if the Smiths and the Joneses have as much trouble with this as we Wilsons?) . I intend to contact the USPS forthwith, but I did take the opportunity to read the cover story "Why YOU should worry about big Oil".

The article, geared towards the capitalist, basically explained that the difficulty that the Oil companies face, in spite of recent windfall profits, is that the worldwide oil reserves, which were once available on the free market of the world economy, have, in the past 10 or so years, become more and more exclusively relegated to National Oil Company Reserves. That is to say, that Oil Companies that are exclusively connected with the government of a country rather than a private corporation. This relegation of Oil reserves has prevented the large American and European Oil Companies from buying as much as they want.

This is GOOD for the countries maintaining reserves. . .In countries such as Saudi Arabia where Gas is under $1 a gallon, or Venezuela, where president Hugo Chavez uses the profits that the country receives to fight poverty, improve medical care, and fund education. It is BAD for the major oil companies, as it limits the amount of product they can distribute, insuring that the only way to increase profits (which IS, after all the function of a corporation) is to increase PRICES. You and I feel this every time we go to the gas pump.

The juxtaposition is not lost on me. Saudi Arabia remains one of the wealthiest countries in the world, and while one may criticize the nation for limiting rights and privileges to those who are Islamic, those who DO reap the rewards of citizenship do very well. Likewise, in Venezuela, Chavez has significantly decreased poverty since he has been in power. The entire nation is benefiting from his policies.

In America, things are not quite so peachy. The return on the multi-BILLION dollar oil industry only benefits a very few, select people. These people live lives of extravagant wealth, while the rest of America just has to muddle on by. Our inner cities remain the equivalent of third world countries, the middle class continues to shrink, and the economy, which remains entirely dependent upon petroleum for it's production and logistics needs, shudders every time there is a hiccup amongst the oil producers. The individual consumer does not benefit from this dependence upon petroleum, and with gasoline estimated to hit $3 to $4 a gallon this year, all we do is suffer.

It really makes you wonder who the good guys and the bad guys really are, doesn't it? Couple this capitalistic selfishness with a governmental economic policy that supports these select few and overlooks the needs of the common man, and it makes you really wonder what IS actually going on doesn't it?

About a year ago, I penned the following lyrics, related to the support of the Totalitarian Regime of Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea by the US Government and the major American Oil Companies:

Black Gold

From Texas to Africa
We come for your treasures
Disregard your hunger
Fueling our pleasures

Black Gold sets the world in motion
Black Gold is flowing thru our veins
Fount of every first world blessing
The bane of those we are oppressing
How can we ever clean the stain?

Politicians and CEO’s
Funding tribal warlords
Countless people live on dirt
Then give their lives to the sword

Black Gold sets the world in motion
Black Gold is flowing thru our veins
Fount of every first world blessing
The bane of those we are oppressing
How can we ever clean the stain?

Far away I hear the scream
Goodbye, American Dream
Freedom’s nothing what it seems
Black Gold reigns supreme

Black Gold sets the world in motion
Black Gold is flowing thru our veins
Fount of every first world blessing
The bane of those we are oppressing
How can we ever clean the stain?

Will we ever clean the stain?
Black Gold, bloodshed all the same

For the oil industry in America, the bottom line is, well. . .THE BOTTOM LINE.

What can we do to change it?