Totally Random

What's going on in this head right now? Ugh. Totally random thoughts. Lots of them.

There's so much sh*t going on in the world, it's hard to pin-point one specific thing to write on, which sometimes leads to a bit of writer's block going on over here. So, I'll update you on some random stuff...

CARTA just got eleven great, new buses, and they're green too! The new low-emissions buses come to Charleston, "powered by low-sulfur, clean diesel that will mean a carbon emissions reduction of about 90% compared to older models, officials said. The additions mark the first time CARTA has updated its fleet since purchasing buses from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics," so says the Charleston Regional Business Journal. Sadly, though, most of the work I do now is within walking distance of the home headquarters, sooooooo...unfortunately, not using CARTA as often as I once did. Yet, I cannot wait for the first opportunity to hop aboard one of the newbie buses. Also, somebody told me they have wi-fi....do they really have wi-fi!?!?

Totally Random Thought: So, when people say, "things happen for a reason," I have to laugh and say, "no, things happen because we didn't know any better...and if you can fix it, then fix it."

On another note, thank Gawd damned BP has finally plugged the hole. Now, I'd like to see a bunch of BP employees (not volunteer fishermen) slapping on wetsuits. It's about time they go diving to find hidden under-water plumes and figure out how to extract them. This business of using satellites and fly-overs to "find" oil is ridiculous considering the P.T.B. used tons of disbursements to break up the oil as it spewed from its source. Am I the only person completely unsurprised by reports stating that the oil wranglers are unable to find oil on the ocean surface? Earth to......

Another Totally Random Thought: OMG, the PGA tournament is coming to Kiawah! That's kind of exciting, and actually got me thinking for a moment that I should head over to the range and pretend I didn't throw my clubs out years ago. Rumor is they're already running low on tickets.

Last, it's totally hot here. I'm so sick of the heat and sitting inside I cannot wait for fall. How about you? Never thought I would wish away the remainder of a random summer.

Out of Site, Out of Mind

Regarding the U.S.'s insatiable energy needs, I wonder...

Will we forget about this (6:45)...


Like we collectively forgot about this...

Fireworks As OPEC Summit Ends

Well OPEC seems to be onto us and our highly levered currency. Several OPEC ministers (namely team Chavez and Ahmadinejad) entertained discussions this weekend of dumping the dollar as the currency tied to the oil trade. We suspect by tomorrow this'll be all over the media airwaves spun in any number of variations depending upon to whom one listens. Personally, we're not that worried for the short term. Having already ditched the car, we feel ready for the gas hikes. Chavez and Ahmadinejad are simply using their resources for the purpose of self preservation and protectionism. Those defenses could be appreciated and dealt with reasonably as they are fueled by fear based thinking built upon agressive Bush dipolomacy. Wouldn't our Utopian dreams be realized if George Dubbleya would just call in a troop of therapists rather than his troop of Generals? Don't forget Cheney.

From the BBC: Mr. Ahmadinejad said that all Opec countries had showed interest in converting their cash reserves into other currencies. "They [the US] get our oil and give us a worthless piece of paper," he told reporters.

Perhaps the Saudis took a cue from JayZ this weekend. Certainly they realized the U.S. needs no further pressure on our dollar in the middle of a credit crunch. But they also have an insider who knows our pain. Saudi Prince Walid has suffered the hammering of our subprime woes compromising his close relationship with another Prince by the name of Charles, formerly of Citgroup. Charles Prince made personal phone calls to The Prince during pinnacle moments of Citi's spectacular unwinding. The Saudi Prince now endures continued write downs in addition to enjoying the double whammy of dollar devaluation. Click for official JayZ video.

The question remains - how long can, or rather will, the Saudis, these friends of the Bush family, hold back a dollar sell-off? Fiat currencies cannot stand question.

The Candyman Can

Going a bit in reverse, we remember to bring up Friday night's ride home from work on the bus. It must have been a big payday. Or maybe they were extra jubilant because the holiday is coming up. Regardless, riding home Friday night was like sitting at the back of the party car. A group at the front, including the Fab Lady Driver, were involved in a Kaluah-spiked coffee klotch. Having one hell of a time, who steps aboard but a Candyman? Seriously, a middle-aged guy with a pillowy midsection unhidden by his Oxford shirt and windbreaker combination. Looked like an accountant stuck with two boxes of his kid's World's Finest school chocolates for sale. The eyes of the klotch immediately lit up as they all began drooling over the prospect of savoring the tasty treats displayed on the box wall. The biggest, loudest guy took the lead with, "Candy Maaaann...you needa sit here by me....we lik'a da Candy Maaan!" The ladies hooped and hollared; laughing; happy to be off work. Big guy continued taunting and the look on the accountant's face declared he was nearing a tipping point, drawing very close to true nervousness. Just then the big guy let up and whipped out his wallet. He said "Really, come on dude, sell us the candy". Pleading, "we seriously want the candy." Others simultaneously dug their wallets out from under coats and sweaters (we've had a cold front come through the South). It was amazing how quickly the guy collected dollars. Gaining confidence, he shouted toward the back, "I've only got one chocolate and caramel left." We turned to the rap star next to us and commented, "guess if you got candy to sell, just sell it on the bus," to which he replied, "yeah." Then with eyes widening, gaze focusing as if the link had been made, "yeeeaaaah..." Stay tuned. Maybe the rap star will be peddling his own chocolate bars by next week.

Jaguar vs. CARTA - Week One

Two days into using public transportation and all is well. Riding CARTA is an absolute pleasure. After years of isolation in our car, the morning rush hour now starts with a nice walk, just three minutes (timed) to the closest stop, then a leisurely read until being dropped off one minute from the office! Who knew?

On the ride home The Cosmopolitan Charlestonian was thinking, "why the hell didn't we do this sooner and invest all the money we have been dumping into a car all these years? What were we thinking?" Duhhhhh. Depreciating asset. How can something that depreciates be called an asset, anyway? This is one of those Econ 101 questions that continues to this day to stump us.

Do we miss the Jag? No. Not so much. Especially considering the following -
payment per month $350, insurance $90 per month, gasoline $125 per month, yearly taxes $23.33 per month, maintenance $30 per month. This all equates to a grand total of $618.33 per month. Were we seriously paying for this??? We will most certainly put this monthly total to a MUCH better use!

On a side note, a friend asked if we felt safe taking Charleston's public transportation system. We choose to answer this question with a question. How many people died in car accidents last year? And how many people got stabbed or shot on the bus going to work? Cursing the expansion of the Universe and consequential speeding up of time, we just don't have the spare moments to look these figures up. If anyone knows, please give a comment.

Curing the Oil Addiction - Converting to CARTA (Charleston Area Regional Transit Authority)

September 8, 2007 - The Cosmopolitan Charlestonian has long appreciated the adrenal experience of hugging a bend at 60mph, the aesthetically pleasing curves of an aerodynamic body and the control of all-wheel drive. Driving is a passion, and the feeling of it is continuously reinforced by the commercialized message surrounding each and every automobile ad. This is, in fact, a controversial issue because we have made the experience of driving, as well as what we drive, a part of our identity as Americans. The driving experience was sought by The Cosmopolitan Charlestonian, thus a new Jaguar X-type entered our lives as we chose a lease option for a five year period. Our term is now up. Today we turned in the car. We then ran for our lives as we crossed Savannah Highway to the number 30 CARTA bus line back home to Downtown Charleston.

The decision to convert to CARTA's public transportation system is huge for us being a one-car household in the first place. Yes, we have always been concerned with things like global warming and peak oil theory. After a lot of discussion, research, financial analysis and philosophical consideration we have come to the conclusion that our convenience and social status is not worth the progressive global catastrophic failure unfolding as a result of our oil consumption.

The Cosmopolitan Charlestonian began to examine at whose expense our personal convenience is made possible. We began asking ourselves the tough questions several months ago as our decision date neared. Is a convenient commute worth contributing to the starvation of an African whose land and clean water have been polluted by rusting pipelines sorely maintained by Shell Oil? Is the convenience worth overlooking the deteriorating conditions in BP's Alaskan pipelines, left to rust and corrode for miles before being shut down to make normal maintenance repairs? We pondered our right to simplify our lives by complicating an other's, be it man or animal, and gravely considered the Mother who has sacrificed her son to fight in the first energy wars of our time while the incompetent leaders of this country spin democracy and freedom into webs of deceit. We wondered how to have a voice during this critical moment in history when our American voices are being largely ignored. And last, we wonder what value can be placed on our convenience in a world faced with frightening global warming scenarios. Ultimately, for us, there is no resolve in continuing to maintain a lifestyle that contributes to so much suffering.

We've watched the boycotts against "big oil" run their course on the Internet every time gas prices spiked. These attempts to make a statement, or otherwise, put oil companies in their rightful place have been a bad joke and grossly misguided. One day of lost revenue can be pretty easily worked out on their balance sheets. Besides, the futures market sets the price, not the oil company. You might as well be angry at capitalism itself.

The Cosmopolitan Charlestonian believes it's time for personal action. Why must we wait for a dysfunctional government to tell us what to do? We are of reasonable intelligence and our Mommas taught us the difference between right and wrong. We've installed flourescent lighting in every fixture, and for the last two Spring/Summer seasons we challenged ourselves to make it past June 1st without running our A/C. Sure, we were slightly cranky near the end due to the Southern heat, but both seasons proved a success as we exceeded our goal by two weeks; still it just hasn't seemed to be enough.

Choosing to cure our personal oil addiction may be a tremendous challenge, but we're going to try anyway. Mr. Cheney, we don't mind compromising our lifestyle and will no longer allow you and your regime to manufacture our consent to the mass consumption of finite resources. We've traded in a Jaguar for a bus pass as we evaluate our personal moral dilemma and the true, and sometimes hidden cost of maintaining the American Dream.

Stick with us as we share our experiences utilizing our public transportation system in an attempt to make a positive change for ourselves and hopefully a few others.