Happy Monday and am I the only one pissed at Saudi Arabia? 

First, we've put up with their anti-Semitic and misogynistic bullshit - forever.  Then, there was their involvement in that little ol' thing we call 9/11.  A bit later came MBS and his penchant for killing those that protest him . . . killing those that protest him.  All the while arming them to the teeth with the our best and most effective weapons.   

I just can't possibly guess why all of this goes on.  Let me think real hard.  Is it because we as a nation share a deep common history and heritage with the Arabs?  No, that's not it. 

I think I've got it:  IT'S THE OIL!

We've propped up these horrific people because of their black gold and what it means to the global economy and our own.  And now?  We're having a bout of inflation and we ask them to keep the oil taps open.  Their response?  Thanks, but we're going to do the opposite.  Here's more on the US - Saudi relationship from The Economist if you're interested.

Wow, do I wish we could deal with Jed Clampett instead.

But we can't, and it's not just the House of Saud.  Look at this list.  It is a fucking rogue's gallery of nations and it's also the current membership roster of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). 

There are some real doozies on here, including current women's rights champ Iran.  I guess Kuwait is an ally, but holy smokes.

Oh, and don't leave out the other major players, including Putin's Russia.

While mostly energy-independent, the US remains at least partially beholden to these scum regimes.  The answer is to fully electrify our economy, with the raw energy coming from nuclear, solar or wind power, instead of oil.  It really is that simple.

But lately, I've seen/heard a lot of hand-wringing regarding batteries, the mining required for their manufacture, and the waste they produce when they're spent.  Valid considerations all. 

But don't tell me the negative externalities involved with our consumption of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas and, especially, coal) don't outweigh everything else.  Especially with an Earth that's literally on fire and drowning at the same time.

And by the same logic, we should never have exploited oil as an energy source in the first place.

I, for one, will take my chances with electricity, batteries and all that comes with it.  

A big shout-out to Steven Simon for giving Guided By Voices a go.  I will say he didn't fool around - the screenshot he shared with me over the weekend showed that he was listening to "I Am a Scientist" from their lo-fi classic Bee Thousand album.  Hardcore!  Check out Earthquake Glue or Half Smiles of the Decomposed next!

And I hear The Azores are nice this time of year:  congrats to Elizabeth "Polly" Michaels and Primo Harvey PhD, currently luxuriating there and elsewhere in Portugal and apparently enjoying every minute.  They were kind enough to share some pretty photos - here is one of them.

It's so good to see they've put their humiliation in last year's National Park contest behind them.

Thank you to any one that is reading this newsletter.

Of course, it's Electric Light Orchestra, and my selection of their best tracks, as a playlist on Spotify.  I can only come up with nine songs, but what a Killer nine songs they are.