2005
Week 13
March 25, 2005

Hi

New word: prefetch. Some forms of Google will quietly prefetch for you.

When you start down a Google trail on the web, the program anticipates which selection you will make next and begins to load it. You are supposed to be impressed with how quickly it appears. I do hope I am not so predictable that Big Brother knows what I will think. Idea: start down a predictable trail and then turn a sharp corner, to confuse Big B.

The Schaivo case generated much passion, some of it nearly out of control. We had a member shouting into the mike that it may be time to put in a law that no one can remove a feeding tube. Plus a caller, also shouting at me, that if we even think of trying that she will come after us with an army, ruining political futures. I had responded to the first person in a news article that our present law had a clear line and works very well, and that if we make it more difficult to remove a feeding tube physicians will be much more hesitant to put one in. They are already hesitant. However, she could not understand my comments because of her passion.

We can and will have differing opinions. I honor that, in fact welcome it. We need more diversity, not less. But the passion is intriguing. Usually that is a sign that the person is not comfortable with the subject and with his/her own feelings about it. If we can talk and listen we will both learn something.

I found it difficult in last week's letter to put my thoughts into words that could not be mis-interpreted. A writer to the Public Pulse this week did it much better, in a few words. She said we turn to artificial life to avoid thinking about natural death. Well done.

So much for thoughtful reflection. We also have Senator De Lay, complaining on Public Radio that the courts (in Schaivo case) were arrogant and out of control. Some members of his party told me this week he has lost their respect, is a corrupt slime ball. So the natural smart aleck response to his comment is that De Lay must have been describing himself. Especially since not too long ago he participated in a similar decision related to his father's death. However, the serious response is plain shock that someone high in legislative circles would publicly state a desire to control the courts.

Harold Andersen, former publisher of the World-Herald, announced this week that because of the actions of his party in this cause he is leaving the Republican Party. He has complained about the penchant for deficit spending and the administration's abuse of state's rights, so I assume it was not a single issue move.

In a poem, Brother Chambers took on persons who know they are right and do not want further input, with religion as the metaphor. Since I become extremely frustrated with those who make strong statements on behalf of God, I found his words a bit of therapy.

In the realm of "SAITH THE LORD,"
Room should not exist,
For the well- or evil-meaning
God's intent to twist.

One may argue, "God meant that;"
Another, "God meant this."
If God meant not either one,
God's true thought both did miss.

Thus, when one spouts what "God meant,"
It's pretty clear, confusion'll
Demonstrate he's all mixed-up,
Fanatical and delusional.

Time to search for more uplifting thoughts.

Quite a bit of discussion behind the scenes this week on tax incentives for businesses. Senators representing small-population communities point out how the state could benefit if their community could create a few jobs. I support their modest proposals for grants which could start a business, but our current challenge is we have so little money and the returns will not come in for this budget.

A biggie is the expansion of ethanol production. This is a long term gold mine, folks, and Nebraska is in the best position to cash in. We are the furthest west state with a lot of corn so we are closest to west coast drivers.

But far more interesting, we are the only state that has a large supply of cattle near the corn fields. How does that help? The major byproduct of ethanol production is a wet mash which is very nutritious for cattle -- in fact, farmers feel it is better than the original corn. It must be fed soon. It is two-thirds water, so if you haul it much more than fifty miles the transportation costs add up. However, if you dry it so that you can haul it several hundred miles, which Illinois does, the cost of drying REALLY counts up. And uses energy.

By not drying and by finding a close market for the mash as it is produced, Nebraska can compete with gas prices and consume much less energy in production. There is not much point in using a gallon's worth of energy to produce a gallon of ethanol. In fact, we are now ready to construct a plant which will use no outside energy! The cattle will be on site, will be fed the mash by belts, and their manure will taken by belt to produce the methane to fuel the generators to run the operation. Imagine.

Did you hear about the modern voting booth in one Nebraska precinct? It's someone's garage. They just roll up the doors for handicapped persons, who can drive right in and vote from the car. When will the rest of the world catch up to Nebraska?

Rolling along,

Lowen