Gasoline prices on the rise again.

Just a couple of months ago gasoline prices were falling and it looked as though we were headed for an oversupply until Saudi Arabia cut production and demand from China rose unexpectedly.   Gas prices typically rise about this time of the year,  because of refinery maintenance schedules and the switch to a more expensive blend of summer gas. Florida's Gulf Coast refineries are currently operating at less than 85% of capacity.  In December they were over 95%.  Actually, market trends and price fluctuations at the pump have been similar to 2011 and 2012 leading analysts prices will peak in April and then retreat.  In the meantime prices have been rising rapidly for 32 days straight.  The average price is $3.73 a gallon and that is a record for February.  In California gas has peaked at over $5.00 a gallon.

Well, I thought about that, and here's what I think.   The fluctuations  in gas prices are all a big game.  The price of gas goes  up, then it goes down then it goes back up again.  The general trend though is up.   Supplies are up and they're down.  The refineries are having maintenance done.   As far as I'm concerned these are all excuses.  The suppliers are making plenty of money at everyone else's expense.   No one is interested in solving the problem.  They're making too much money.

I believe there is a silver lining in this cloud.   We will gradually and eventually reduce our dependence  on fossil fuels.   A lot has already been done.  Cars are much more efficient.  We are improving our use of alternate fuel supplies.  We have more and more hybirds and electric vehicles.  This needs to continue.  If the price of gas went down it would not.   During the 1970's we experienced shortages of gas and the price started to rise.   We began to want smaller and more efficient vehicles.  Then as time went by there were no more lines at the gas pumps and we went back to wanting big vehicles.   I think we hit the top with the Hummer.   Now  we are forced to go back to smaller vehicles.  I think this is a good thing. 

In the meantime I think we should look for ways to conserve gas and work towards getting the most efficient vehicle we can.  Europeans have been driving smaller cars for years.

Pope Benedict XVI resigns.

I was as suprised as anyone to hear that Pope Benedict XVI is resigning.  The pope resigning  has not happened in about 600 years.  So, what's next for the Catholic Church?

Well, I thought about that .......... and here's what I'm thinking.  

The average age for a pope at election for the years 1700 to 2005 is 65 years.  That makes Benedict a little on the older side when elected.  He was 78.  He is probably a fill in pope.  Some one to reign for a short period until someone younger comes along.   So, I'm looking for a younger new pope who will have more time to direct the Church into the 21st century.

Benedict dedicated  his pontificate to stemming the the spread of secularism, especially in Europe, where church attendance has dwindled.  He wanted to restore Catholic traditions mostly abandoned during the modernizing changes of the Second Vatican Council.   The pope relaxed restrictions on celebrating the old Latin Mass.  Benedict was the first pope to meet with victims of clergy sex abuse.  He stopped short of disciplining cardinals and bishops who kept guilty priests in ministry or hid claims from parents and police.  Benedict's first official act as pope was a letter to Rome's Jewish community.  In his 2011 book "Jesus of Nazareth" he made a sweeping exoneration of the Jewish people for the death of Christ.

Technically to be elected pope you need to be a baptized Roman Catholic male.  That's it!   Don't get too excited though.  Only cardinals have been selected since 1378.  Among the cardinals who are considered contenders for next pope are Cardinal  Scola, archbishop of Milan; Cardinal Schoenborn,  archbishop of Vienna; Cardinal Ouellet, the Canadian head of the Vatican's office for bishops;  Cardinal Dolan, archbishop of New York; Cardinal Tagle, archbishop of Manilla; Cardinal Turkson of Ghana who heads the Vatican's office for justice and peace.    Perhaps the Cardinals will choose someone from Latin America  given the large number of Catholics in that part of the world.   The College of Cardinals  will meet within 15-20 days after Benedicts's Feb. 28th resignation.  A new  pope is expected by Easter. 

Whoever is elected pope do not look for any sweeping changes.   The truths of faith which the Church has held through the centuries will not change.  We hope for changes in traditions which the Church has established and therefore  can change.  Perhaps we will see married priests.  Maybe a broader stance on the dissolution of marriage or birth control.  Only time will tell.