With the death of Kim Jung-Il, it's fascinating to watch the scripted scenes emanating from North Korea.  The mass mourning that is occurring is interesting to note.  Where else will you see people standing in nice neat rows, unable to control their sorrow? 

Every time I've seen large groups standing in sorrow (Lady Diana & John Lennon's passing come to mind) people are standing en-masse.  Many are touching or hugging each other in shared emotion. 

Not so in Korea.  People are overly wrought with sorrow, but can maintain precision like discipline. 

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Kim Jung Il will be buried during Christmas week.  Make sure to note the similarities between North Korea and what the Obama administration seeks for America:
    1. Centralized planning of production and employment (don't forget Obama's NLRB push against Boeing)
    2. Majority of citizens receiving benefits from the state
    3. Political considerations given precedence to economic ones.
    4. Detainment of US citizens without trial or due process.

As you watch the funeral, keep asking yourself:  Are we becoming more like North Korea, or less?

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Fracking!  
    Had a chance to catch up with my natural gas expert yesterday.  Of late, the news has been filled with EPA concerns about Fracking and the massive amounts of water that are used in the process.  In fact, the EPA did some well testing and found evidence of hydrocarbon and chemicals believed to be caused by fracking. 
    Some quick facts:
        1. Fracking is a three day process that's completed immediately after a well is drilled.
        2. Large amounts of water are used - and 85% are recovered.
        3. Fracking is done at the 2,000 foot level and deeper.  Most water tables are in the 300-500 foot depth.
        4. Once fracking is completed (first 3 days), the natural gas is then harvested for a 30 year period, without the introduction of any more water or chemicals.

An inflammatory documentary shows a person burning off natural gas coming out of his faucet.  Compelling viewing indeed.  However, the footage was shot in an area where natural gas is so abundant, it's at the 300 foot depth.  The occurrence has nothing to do with exploration and everything to do with the naturally occurring gas locations. 

This type of misinformation (promulgated to increase dependency on foreign oil) is akin to a finding a coal vein in a farm field and using that as justification for shutting off coal production in this country.

Kim Jung Il could get away with that type of lunacy.  Remember, it's that type of thinking that currently occupies the EPA (and several pay grades higher).