Mark_Thompson's Blog

Hmmmm the dropping of the 18.4 cent gas tax for summer will make almost NO impact on our pocketbooks (and I have a lovely pocketbook that matches my heels by the way!). The average driver will save 30 dollars--FOR THE WHOLE SUMMER.

If it didn't do anything, that would be one thing but the truth is that by dropping the tax on gas at the pump we face the likely prospect that demand rises with the apparent or perceived "lower" cost of fuel and the corresponding price rises will be permanent.

Plus, (or perhaps it should be first of all) there is no guarantee that the oil companies will pass along the corresponding savings to us. They don't have to by law. In fact, they will likely hang on to a bunch of that money. Why not?? That's Econ 101.

It's a miserable idea and President Bush supports it. I don't blame the President. After all he's a lame duck president who is managing an economy that has been run into the side of a mountain and there's no prospect for good news. So this LOOKS like it provides relief for consumers but as I just mentioned, IT DOES NOT.

Hilary is on board because she's fighting for her political life and wants to throw the crowd something to chomp on.

Well, at least we don't need the money as a country. I mean it's not like we are in debt or are trying to finance a war that we cannot pay for..oh wait...Yah I hate it too, but we need those tax dollars.

What do you think??

My good friend has been smoking for 30 years and just this week he told me that he has given it up completely..okay no biggie..I mean, people say that 5 times a year and then start up 5 more times, but his story is notable for the following reason: He told me he has NO cravings. Now it's only been a couple of weeks but no cravings?? Right after you quit wouldn't the cravings be the strongest?

Anyway, he goes on to tell me that it's hypnosis. That hypnotherapy is the thing that has worked for him.

I’m curious if anyone out there has tried hypnotherapy for weight, for smoking, for anger, for public speaking, for confidence building, for dating,…you get the idea, essentially for any reason at all.

One last thing, before everyone goes running for the first hypnosis thereapy shingle. It’s a bizarre fact that the precise mechanisms that work in the brain during hypnosis remain a mystery. For that reason hypnosis is one of those mysterious, though apparently in many cases effective, therapies that may carry with it a risk. But perhaps the risk is worth it.

Tell me about your experience if you’ve had one.