You may have heard of my encounter with THUGS and with the FBI (here and also here).  It just keeps coming.  Saturday night (Sunday morning) at 1:00 AM I was awakened to the sound of breaking glass.  My house and the house next door had been paintballed.  While I was able to clean up the mess the next morning, the neighbors weren't so fortunate.  They lost two windows, including the large plate glass window in their living room.  Police arrived within minutes.  The neighbors saw the responsible persons speeding away in the back of a pickup.  As far as I know, they haven't been caught.

Fraser, MI is a pretty quiet little town of about 15K.  About the only real crime we experience is the occasional teen busted for pot possession.  It concerns me that since local law enforcement has been busy dealing with gas-related thefts and such, that other lawlessness is rising and is mostly unchecked.

It was with general unease that I headed up to my parents' place to a family gathering, but the day was pretty and the thoughts of spending time with family helped ease my concerns.  All in all we had a very nice time, and I came home yesterday evening.

That's when I opened the newspaper and read about a missing Petoskey family who had been found.  Apparently they pulled their Hummer from Lake Michigan and the single mother and her two young sons were inside.  My God!  Still, no one in the papers is saying anything, but I just know it was 'THUGS'.  Someone needs to warn people!

I then opened  my email and found another communication from them, which I'll quote:

>'It was paintballs this time.  Next time well be using other ammo.  Your not doing your job.  We want publicity.  Those responsible for our gas crisis need to adjust their thinking or they'll end up at the bottom of the lake as well.  Go to the papers with our actions.  We want front page.  We need everyone to be scared to drive these gas monsters, and until they stop, we will continue to make examples of them.  THUGS'

I fished out FBI Agent Rogers' card and called him immediately.  An Agent Schwartz answered and indicated he was heading over o meet with me.  So anyway, here it is, almost midnight when the guy shows up at my door.  I printed off copies of the latest email, and again managed to keep him from impounding my computer.  I guess they're going to my ISP for e-mail records.  Homeland Security is now  involved too. 

This all started because I wanted to do something positive for WWO.  As it turns out, the FBI and Homeland Security are now looking to talk to the WWO folks (sorry guys!) about who may have been accessing the WWO site.  You may get a call or a visit.

This is SOOO not what I wanted!  My goal was to help concoct a plan for a peaceful transition from pre-oil to post-oil days.  As a librarian and public servant, I got into this to help communicate with my community and provide information and support.  I still really want to play that role, and will continue as long as I can.  It just seems I'm in over my head.

Tags: fbi, homeland security, thugs, world without oil, wwo
Current Location: Detroit
Current Mood: determined
Current Music: Living on the Edge

So, I'm trying to figure out how to deal with this whole THUGS thing http://lirath1.livejournal.com/3477.html and read in this morning's paper that last night  up in Flint another Hummer was firebombed, killing three.
 
Then, in Grand Rapids I see that a Hummer lost control and crashed into the back of a school bus.
 
Several children were hurt, and the owner of the Hummer was killed.  These were on separate pages of the newspaper, and no one seemed to connect the stories, but I just knew what was happening.  It gave me the shakes.  It was for this reason that the knock on the door startled me.  I looked out the window to see a black car parked in my driveway, and a man in a suit standing on my front porch.  Turns out it was the FBI.  The agent's name was Will Rogers - I felt uncomfortable calling him 'Will Rogers' and even 'Mr. Rogers', so mostly I called him 'sir'.    It seems that they assumed THUGS would have contacted me about these new attacks.  The FBI is certain they're behind these as well as a number of attacks that haven't made the news. 

I've heard nothing since my first e-mail, and honestly hope I won't.  I've already sent my wife and kids to stay with friends, as I fear for their safety as long as these guys are still around.  I can take care of myself.  I let Agent Rogers know that I'd contact him with any information I receive.  I've managed to keep them from impounding my computer, so there is that.

I joined this effort (WWO) to do my part to help us move toward greater oil independence.  I never expected to be in the middle of something like this.  Still, I hope to do whatever I can.  There are some misguided folks out there.  I hope we can finish this without violence!

Tags: fbi, thugs, world without oil, wwo
Current Location: Detroit
Current Mood: determined
Current Music: Crash

Hi all.  If you remember, a few weeks back I traded in my car for a motorcycle.  I was appropriately warned to ride as if everyone's trying to kill me.  I think someone has tried.

As I headed to work, minding my own business, a late-model silver car changed lanes, swerving into me.  I saw it coming , and while I *did* wipe out, I had enough control to avoid being killed outright.  I've spent some time in the hospital, recovering. 

While cars hitting motorcycles is not an unknown occurrence, this particular instance seemed like no accident.  The car fled the scene, and a man inside it screamed out what sounded like 'Thanks' and shook his fist at me.  I told the officer who arrived at the site about this, but he seemed not to pay much attention to it.  All in all, I let it go, as I recovered.

Just yesterday, however, I got an anonymous e-mail from a group calling itself THUGS.  I've copied it here:

>Hey, idiot!  I hope your recovering from your 'acident' hehe.   Stop trying to change the world with your goody goody attitudes.  We've been watching WWO and think you all are missing the point.  The worlds changed forever and people are too stupid to see it.  Walking parties and cute little contests.  Come on!  That's not gonna do anything.

>Vioilence is the only way people are going to learn.  We showed you how its done.  We're also showing anyone else who won't pay attention.  We are THUGS.  That stands for Teaching Hummer Users about Gas Supply.  You may have heard about the firebombing of three Hummers in Gross Point?  Us.  You hear about the Hummer which was run off the highway in Canton.  Yep.  How about the tragic accident down on the Indiana toll rd where that family was gunned down in their Hummer?  Us again.  Anyone who ignores the gas prices - who is a contributer to our gas problem better be looking over there shoulder.  We have you in our sights!

>I know youll go to the police with this.  Do it.  It's what we want you to do.  The more publicity we get, the more these idiots will fear wasting gas.  We got your attention.  We want to get theres.

------------------------------

I have gone to the police with this, but I haven't seen anything in the papers yet which ties this stuff together.  I suspect they'll read this.  I'm not sure what to do!

Tags: thugs, violece, world without oil, wwo
Current Location: Detroit
Current Mood: anxious
Current Music: Life in the Fast Lane

Local news report.  The bold emphasis is mine.  If the manufacturers and the union don't play nice, this could be a real tough place to be.

--------------------------------------------------

GM seeking UAW concessions after record N. American loss

BY KATIE MURPHY

FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

General Motors Corp. reported a record $262-million loss Thursday, down $602 million from a year ago, due to losses at GMAC and in its North American automotive operations.  Analysts say the first-quarter loss in North America -- despite a new lineup of highly regarded, high-profit trucks -- points to the need to extract significant further concessions from the UAW during upcoming contract negotiations.

Analysts were disappointed, saying GM should have made a profit in North America when its most profitable and best-selling vehicles are new. In light of soaring gasoline prices, weak housing sales and fierce competition, at least one analyst warned that GM may have to start cutting prices later this year, making it hard to sell its way out of trouble. Analysts said the weak results show that even more cost-cutting -- particularly in UAW negotiations -- will be needed.

In response, they lowered their expectations for GM's full-year performance, and the stock price dropped more than 12% for the day to close at $25.69.

Analysts have doubts that GM can win the concessions it needs or achieve other changes necessary to achieve sufficient profits.

"GM needs greater auto cash generation from the plain-vanillas of the business," such as mix, volume and cost-reduction, Morgan Stacey auto analyst Jonathan Steinheitz said in a note to investors.  He added that GM needs to slow the growth in health care spending beyond the negotiated cuts to retiree union health benefits. The UAW also agreed to wage concessions and 34,400 buyouts or early retirements of its members.

Steinheitz questioned how much the company could push the union.

"Generally one achieves evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, gains from the union negotiations. GM needs more than an incremental deal, but the likelihood of such a deal looks low."

The UAW declined to comment on GM's results or analysts' comments.

The automaker faces more challenges going forward, with GM expecting to pay $6 billion to $7.5 billion to settle the bankruptcy of auto-parts maker Delphi Corp. and contentious UAW negotiations scheduled to begin this summer.

GM's cost to subsidize Delphi's labor expense will be $500 million in 2007, from earlier estimates of $400 million. In future years, he expects expenses to range from $100 million to $200 million annually, plus wind-down costs of $100 million in 2008.

Even if GMAC had met its expectation, GM would have come up short, a spokesman said.

Standard & Poor's lowered GM shares from hold to sell on the day's news.

Tags: gm, labor, management, uaw, unions, world without oil, wwo
Current Mood: anxious

We're talking denial here folks.  Despite the fact that I've told friends, family and co-workers that April 30 was going to be a scary day for oil consumers, and despite the fact that everything occurred just as I had described, folks still aren't in the mood to believe.  In general, people say they've seen prices rise before and they've always fallen.  The general consensus is that 'as soon as the political issues are resolved, the Arabs will turn on the pipes again and we'll return to where we've always been.  Apparently I'm the lunatic conspiracy theorist.  I might as well make myself a tinfoil hat.

How can they not see it?

I hear of lines at the gas stations.  'There have been lines before, so it's no big deal.'
I hear of delays at the Ambassador Bridge.  'There were delays right after 9/11, and that got better.'

I see Hummers and Lincoln Navigators rolling down the highway, and if I dared question their owners, I'm sure they'd claim that they can afford the vehicles, and the fuel to power them, so it's none of my business.  Well, they're right in one way.  I can't make someone care.  I guess some of us are ants and some of us are grasshoppers.  It's just...I have trouble watching even grasshoppers suffer.

Tags: ambassador bridge, denial, detroit, oil, oil shock, world without oil, wwo
Current Mood: determined

Gas in the cheap 24-pump station that was just built here was $3.96 this morning as I drove in to work.  When I arrived home it was $4.17.  You know, I'm not really liking this.  Mostly I'm *really* scared for my state.

Michigan has been battling one of the worst economies in the nation.  There's an over one BILLION dollar shortfall in the 2006-2007 budget (ending Sept 30).  2007-2008 looks worse.  Just for this year alone, it looks like they'll be cutting back about $125.00 (or more) per student across the board.  That's huge.  Libraries, whose state aid money was at .40 per capita instead of the fully funded 1.00 per capita now may be cut to .20 this year and possibly eliminated next year.  While it's too soon to tell, this may lead to the collapse of cooperatives throughout the state.  Cooperatives are what allow smaller or poorer libraries to offer programs and services similar to those who are bigger or better off.  We're in crisis.  Now this oil shock.

Detroit depends heavily on the auto.  Throughout the state, many suppliers, manufacturers and service businesses rely on the Detroit auto business.  As the industry downsizes, due to slowed car sales, it affects the entire state.  Unemployment, foreclosures, crime (related to the need to survive) will all be up, and probably considerably so.  As people fear being able to stay warm in the coming winter, many will move away to warmer locales, and this means even less income for the state.  It's a vicious circle.  As bad as things are now, I can barely imagine where it's going to go.

I'm here at least for the short term.  I'll do what I can to keep people updated on what's happening here, but I'm not looking forward to it.  This isn't going to be pretty, folks!

Tags: auto industry, detroit michigan, oil shock, world without oil, wwo
Current Mood: restless

As I've mentioned here and there, I'm the Director of public library here in Michigan.  I get paid decently well, but certainly won't ever be rich.  I need my job.  I travel almost 40 miles each way, 5 days a week - the gas consumption adds up.  What with the cost of commuting today, I have only few options to reduce my fuel expense.

Option 1 - I can move closer to my job.  That's  not going to work.  The houses and taxes are more expensive out that way.  My wife has a good job near home.  My kids are deeply entrenched in their schools, and they would very much like to stay there.

Option 2 - Get a comparable job closer to home.  Nope.  There are very few openings right now.  Also, since the state of Michigan's economy is currently dreadful, and state support for both libraries and schools are plunging toward being the lowest in the nation, there's not much room there.

Option 3 - Get a motorcycle.  Guess what.  That's my plan.  It's not a great one, but for now it's about as good as it's going to get.  By selling the car I can make a little extra cash and that's going to be useful.  Plus, by more than doubling my fuel efficiency, I'll be able to stretch out my gas dollars.  Of course it's easier now than it will be later in the year.  Michigan roads are icy and dangerous in the winter.

I know this only buys me a bit of time, but I'll take what I can get for now.  As options become available, I'll explore those.  For now, it's me and two wheels.


 

Tags: library, michigan, motorcycle, world without oil, wwo
Current Mood: determined

I heard a couple NPR stories on the ride home today.  One was about the political benefits of showing support for alternative fuels.  The other was an interview with NYC Mayor Bloomberg, talking about discouraging personal vehicle use lower in Manhattan, in favor of better public transportation.

Nothing really new, but interesting anyway!

Tags: bloomberg, climate change, npr, nyc, world without oil, wwo

In early September, 2001 I was cast in a comedy being staged by a community theater group.  While I had acted in, directed or was otherwise involved in a whole host of plays and musicals before this, it was my first time with this group.  Our first rehearsal was the evening of September 11, 2001.  Despite the events of the day, we met anyway.  There was little rehearsal accomplished.  We talked about whether what we were doing (performing some screwball comedy) still had a place in that forever-changed world.  After  a lot of emotional wrangling, we decided as a group that given the nature of the events of the day, performing a comedy was perhaps in fact the *best* thing we could be doing.  Even in Shakespeare's darkest plays there was 'comic relief'.

David Letterman went off the air for a few days after 9/11.  He too questioned whether what he did had a point any longer.  In fact he had decided not to come back, but NY's Mayor asked people to return and continue what they had been doing prior to the attacks.  Humor may seem frivolous and out of place in dark times, but perhaps it's during those times that it is, in fact, at its most essential.

I fear the things which are likely to be approaching us very soon.  I wish for a world which is safe and secure for my children.  Mostly, beyond the subsistence level, I want for my children a world in which happiness is still possible - a world with laughs - a world with humor.  I'll do my part.  I'm sure others will as well.

*BTW, I used to live just down the street from David Letterman when he was a teenager in Indy! :)*

Tags: humor, wwo
Current Mood: thoughtful

A few years ago a rather sizable blackout hit from NY to Michigan and parts of Ontario.  It lasted for several hot summer days.  While certainly in some ways it was rather inconvenient, I saw our community rally together.  Neighbors hung out on their front porches like in the old days.  People took walks.  Neighbors spoke to each other rather than hide away in air-conditioned fortresses.  Other things.  A big group of us headed up to the local ice cream store which was going to lose its inventory.  We bought as much as we could, to minimize their loss.  Folks even went to the police directing traffic (no lights) and gave gifts of bottled water and ice cream just to help them through the long hot days.  The local grocery (with an awesome meat counter!) was going to lose their inventory too.  Instead, they hauled out several grills and cooked meals for anyone who came by at a very minimal price.  I remember eating a huge steak that was perfectly grilled for $5.00.  The whole city showed up and hung out, and we minimized the grocery's loss in the process. This all, in a blue-collar no-nonsense town of about 16,000.  I've never had so much fun in a situation which could have been very stressful.

Today, as gas prices locally have risen from $2.52 to 2.99 in less than a week, I managed to find a local station at $2.75. (not that this will last very long)  Needless to say it was a zoo, with many many cars trying to get a deal.  In the short time I was there I saw three different shouting matches over who cut in line in front of whom, and who was staying at the pump too long.  When the 30th rolls around, and filling up will be at a premium, how kind do you suppose these same folks will be?

I'd like to think that the community will respond as they did in the blackout - that we'd treat each other well and mutually face the future.  Then again, based on what I saw today, maybe it's going to be 'Lord of the Flies'.

Current Mood: aggravated