Petroleum doesn’t just fuel cars! For those of you that are so opposed to drilling in the Arctic Refuge because we need to find alternative sources of energy, you might want to encourage alternatives to this partial list of common items which use petroleum ingredients during production or within the item itself: ink, toys, dolls, tires, tents, shoes, glues, skis, dyes, cameras, combs, dice, mops, purses, dresses, pajamas, pillows, candles, boats, crayons, caulking, balloons, curtains, milk jugs, dishwashing liquids, unbreakable dishes, car sound insulation, motorcycle helmets, refrigerator linings, electrician’s tape, roller-skate wheels, permanent press clothes, some food preservatives, transparent tape, disposable diapers, sports car bodies, electric blankets, car battery cases, synthetic rubber, vitamin capsules, rubbing alcohol, ice cube trays, insect repellent, roofing shingles, shower curtains, plywood adhesive, beach umbrellas, paint brushes, insecticides, fishing lures, linoleum, paint rollers, plastic wood, trash bags, hand lotion, shampoo, fishing rods, anesthetics, tv cabinets, salad bowls, awnings, safety glass, VCR tapes, movie film, loudspeakers, credit cards, water pipes, fishing boots, garden hose, umbrellas, rubber cement, telephones, antiseptics, deodorant, sweaters, floor wax, model cars, soap dishes, clotheslines, panty hose, oil filters, upholstery, cassettes, house paint, ammonia, hair curlers, eyeglasses, ice chests, ice buckets, fertilizers, toilet seats, life jackets, gold balls, detergents, sun glasses, putty, tool racks, slacks, yarn, roofing, luggage, fan belts, carpeting, lipstick, aspirin, faucet washers, antihistamines, drinking cups, petroleum jelly, tennis rackets, wire insulation, ballpoint pens, artificial turf, artificial limbs, shaving cream, cold cream, hair coloring, guitar strings, toothpaste, toothbrushes, folding doors, shower doors, heart valves, hearing aids, wading pools, bandages, nail polish, false teeth, tennis shoes, golf bags, perfumes, shoe polish, cortisone, LP records, vaporizers, and parachutes. There are lots of plastics I’ve not mentioned.

Of course, how do you heat your homes? Was it with natural gas, oil, or electricity? Was that electricity made from hydroelectric power or maybe natural gas or oil generated? We use oil. It is the primary fuel right now at this time. Yes, alternatives would be wonderful, but as the oil companies have already “bought” many alternative solutions, they aren’t available right now or in the foreseeable future. So, until such time as alternatives are available, we must use what is available. As you see from the list, it isn’t just automobiles that use gas and oil. It makes no sense to pay other countries for fuel, encourage them to put more oil fields on line, and reject what we have in our own country. We are held hostage to those foreigners whether they like us or not, because they do like our money.

As a post script, I did mention that ANWR proposed drilling area to be approximately 2000 acres in an area the size of New Jersey. That is the size of the refuge.

Well, we did get a 3 second increase in daylight today. Within a couple weeks it should be up to a couple minutes and within a month we will actually be able to notice the difference. We got about 6 inches of snow yesterday, so everything looks so nice and clean. The roads are really slick. Mt. Augustine gave off a smelly burst today, but the odor traveled the other direction. So far, there has not been any large volcanic explosions. They may yet occur.

I’m going to make my fantastic Carrot, Pineapple, Walnut, and Raisin cake. Tomorrow we will be going to a Christmas party and I’ll be bringing in some deviled eggs using fresh eggs from our hens. Then on Saturday, we’ll go over to my oldest son’s home where the entire peninsula family will meet to exchange gifts. That way, we are all free to worship on Sunday and focus on Jesus, which is the reason for the season, anyway.

Merry Christmas!