Originally published in The Old Town Gazette, August, 2008

As a member of Seniors Against Totally Ignorant Rhetoric in Elections, I say let em’ drill wherever they want!  Until all the oil in and around this country is gone, congress will never take alternate fuels seriously.  The problem is, they don’t really want to drill, they just want to tie up the taboo areas.  If they do drill in 10 years or so, they’ll sell a big percentage over seas.

I say make them drill right now.  Even my friend, Wainright Winger agrees with me.  “If they can drill in 10 years, they can drill now. Don’t just let em’—make em’!”

OK, so the Energy Information Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy claims that if environmentally sensitive off shore areas were opened, it would take about 10 years to produce any oil.  What the heck do they know?  Do it now and get every last drop!

President Bush say’s we’re addicted to oil.  We’re addicted to a lot of things, and we’re too dependant on foreign countries for most of them.  I think we should see if poppy fields can grow in Alaska.

The Orpheum has been bringing in some great acts.  I went to see Frank Caliendo.  He was fantastic.  At times he would be impersonating 5 people at a time, in conversation.  He was explaining how ridiculously in love, John Madden is with Bret Farve.  In an absolute Madden voice he said, “They should retire his Number 4.  Not just from jerseys, but from the entire numerical system.  (he started counting in lightning speed) 1 2 3 farve 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 farveteen 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 21 23 20farve---“ Bush comes in, “I can go further than that.”

I think evicting the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame may have been a knee jerk.  They should at least give them time to come up with the rent money.  We kind of lured the museum here in the first place.  It’s not like the museum was asking for money.  Come to think of it, that was it’s biggest mistake.  It should have asked the city for money like everybody else.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Dockums Drug Store Sit-ins, I walked with a large gathering from the African American Museum to Chester I Lewis park.  As it has been learned in recent  years, the Dockum’s Sit-in which lasted 12 days was the first of what would become a national movement. 

I wore my East High class of ‘57’ T-shirt.  It listed the names of everyone who graduated in that class.  At least 7 of the 1st lunch counter Sit-in participants were on that shirt.  Nobody picked up on it until I explained.  I would open up the program; show their pictures, and then point them out on the shirt. I guess they thought I just dug up an old T-shirt from the back of my closet.

Walking back to the museum, I met Scott Moore, the interim City Manager.  This guy has a lot of good ideas(that don’t cost money).  He’s experienced enough.  I think we should hire him.  Hey, if he doesn’t show up like Salerno, or if he quits like Kolb, since he’s already here we won’t have to give him a huge severance package.

September 8th is Labor Day.  More people camp out on that weekend than any other.  Since so many people have replaced their campers, RV’s and SUV’s with more fuel efficient vehicles, Santa Fe Lake is really going to look different.  The trunk of a Toyota should make a nice sleeper. Want to cook? Stand a Mini Cooper on it’s tail end, and it’s grill should make a fine---grill.  Who needs gas guzzling boats? Don’t forget; Beetles  float.