[ Editor’s Note: As I am pretty sure you are already aware, the idea of de- privatizing the oil industry is

This should make Americans ask the fundamental question: what is the difference between what a public non-profit utility company provides and what a private for-profit oil company provides?

After all they both sell energy to all United States citizens. The difference is that natural gas and electricity are sold in the form of a public good whereas oil is sold in the form of a private good. Accordingly, on the grounds of promoting national security, the United States Congress should convert all oil companies to utility companies. This would eliminate the windfall profits and force the oil industry to earn just enough income to cover operating expenses just as natural gas and electric utility companies are required to do. The resulting drop in gasoline prices would further stimulate the economy and lighten the energy stranglehold upon the United States by the Middle East. It would also eliminate the influence of the oil lobby. In this case, desperate times call for deliberate measures. But as pathetic as the energy policy is in the United States the effort to develop alternative sources of energy won’t really be accelerated until the oil dries up and the Saudi’s place solar cells all across their desert and then sell us the electricity.

an idea that has bee floated around since before the turn of the century… the 20th century. It might be too late to put that particular genie back in the bottle. Much like the idea of universal health care, there are just too many moving parts and too much money in play to probably keep it from ever happening]

*** I am both sad and glad to hear Ash Barty, Women’s Tennis Number one player, is retiring. It is one of those news items that you think should happen next decade but here it is. I am sad because the world is losing one of the great players with several grand slam titles and many brilliant games both victorious and not. She always played positively and in good humor. The gladness is that she was able to choose to retire when she wanted to, as the number one in the world. There will be no slow decline as age and injury catch up with her, she will always be remembered as a champion.

Maybe she could return to cricket, I’m sure she would still remember the skills from those days. She has a great future in so many areas and will surely continue to be a role model for so many people. Good luck with whatever the future brings. I wonder if she’s anticipating a trans woman entering the pro circuit? I am only joking… mostly.

[ Editor’s Note: I guess I am just way out of touch with the modern tennis scene, as I had never heard of Ms. Barty until she announced her retirement ( at the age of 25) last week.

It is interesting to see someone walk away nt only on top but also so young. It is equally interesting to see that many media outlets are running the story with headlines like “ Why Millennials like Ash Barty are rethinking work” as though a professional athlete with career earnings of more than $ 23 million is anywhere close to your average 20- 30 year- old deciding that the real world cost of having a low- paying job simply isn’t worth it.

Having said that, happy retirement Ms. Barty. As far as cricket, I do not understand that sport at all. It’s like “ baseball croquet”]