www.markholder.org

 In May, I read an article that said gas prices would reach $3/gallon in the US, partly due to increased demand as the country reopens from the COVID restrictions and partly to possible shortages. This was before the ransomware attack that shut down the Southeast’s main pipeline, an event that had my fellow Southerners filling plastic bags with gas.  It is June as I write. Gas is just under $3/gallon. I learned long ago that when an announcement is made regarding prices, don’t take it as a prediction, take it as a statement of intent. There have been no shortages as of yet, except for during the week in which the previously mentioned fuel bags were being filled. The article mentioned the most likely cause of shortage wouldn’t be a lack of fuel, but a lack of certified truck drivers to deliver the fuel. While a commercial truck driver can drive most any truck, he or she must be certified to haul hazardous chemicals such as gasoline. When COVID shutdown much of the economy in 2020, many

Technology has made our world a smaller place, a place less mysterious and perilous. Where once one had to travel to see a destination, now we simply look it up and look at pictures. This is both an advantage and a loss, and I'll try to explain in the paragraphs that follow.  Gone are the days of grand adventure, of heading off into the unknown. While it is true one can set off on a small, personal adventure, you're never too far away from information that can remove obstacles and inconveniences from your path, but remember those things are part of the path , and to remove them removes at least some of the adventure.  So, what to do? I suggest doing what technology regularly does: miniaturize.  Get to know your local area. You may think you already know it, but a few minutes of online research will have you raising your eyebrows. For example, I recently learned an old bridge just a short distance from home holds the distinction of being the oldest bridge still in use in the cou

 The attacks on Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021 had their roots in a novel titled "The Turner Diaries" by the late William Luther Pierce. The novel, long a favorite of the extreme Right, has inspired violence before. In the 1980s, a group calling themselves The Order robbed an armored car and assassinated a radio talk show host, among other crimes before disbanding after their leader was killed in a standoff with the FBI.  The events of Jan. 6 were disturbingly similar to the plot of the book, which, unlike many who mention it, this writer has actually read. The racism, the hatred of government, even the gallows erected on the hill recall the book. Clearly it was used as a script for the attack, which thankfully failed.  The question on my mind is one many are asking: What's next?

 Like a great many others, I recently watched “The Vow”, a documentary series about the NXIVM personal growth cult, with a mix of curiosity and incredulity. As a child in the 70s, I watched the tragedy in Jonestown play out on the nightly news and have been intrigued by cults ever since. Strangely enough, there were two cults operating in my hometown a few years back, so there was always some easy research at hand. NXIVM appeared to be an executive-level self improvement group on the surface but things got weird. Submission, late night calls from the leader, eventually women branding themselves with a symbol that no one bothered to look closely at and see the founder’s and an associate’s initials incorporated into the design. Like I said, weird. The members weren’t the downtrodden that Jim Jones preyed upon; NXIVM recruited the wealthy and educated, all the better to give the group image a boost.  This is where my call of BS radar beeped. One of the members was a filmmaker named Mark V

 I haven't posted much about the COVID world because, frankly, it is overwhelming. Hundreds of thousands dead, millions infected, lockdowns ongoing, economies teetering or skyrocketing on the words of government agencies or private investors. As I write, my podunk rural county leads the state of Georgia in resurgence of transmission of the virus and PEOPLE ARE STILL GOING AROUND MASKLESS. I know, it's all about "muh rights" or whatever, but what about your responsibilities to others and society as a whole? Common courtesy? Human decency? Enough of the rant. Let's talk about investing in a "this is not investment or financial advice and is not meant to be taken as such" kind of way. Today's topic: real estate investment trusts.  A Real Estate Investment Trust, or REIT for short, is a trust that owns and operates commercial real estate, such as housing, apartment complexes, malls and shopping centers, industrial parks, storage, even cell towers. A Mort

 I started carrying a lighter a couple of years ago. Reflecting on the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, it struck me that most of the soldiers carried matches. Imagine being in a trench, under a cold rain, the only source of heat now rendered useless in your pocket as the rain continues to fall. What would a doughboy have given for a small, reliable source of flame with which to build a fire to warm himself and his fellows? All the roses in Ireland, I suppose.  My carry began with a Zippo that belonged to my late father-in-law, but I decided it had too much sentimental value for everyday use. Also, Zippo lighters have a habit of leaking or evaporating fuel. This isn't something you want when your lighter is needed, so I put the Zippo away for safekeeping and picked up a mini Bic.  Tiny, almost unnoticeable in the pocket, the mini carries well. It has also came in handy on many occasions, such as at a child's birthday party when the time comes to light candles and t

The Loot Need a little adventure in your life? Try  Geocaching . It's an old-fashioned treasure hunt made modern by GPS and a global network of players. Just download an app, sign up and go hunting. With millions of caches across the globe, chances are you'll find something.  A typical cache is a small container, within which is a log of players who have found it. Also likely to be included is any number of small keepsakes, the treasure of the hunt. The photo above is of some of the loot found on a recent outing with my wife and son.  Speaking of which, if you want a lot of adventure, go geocaching with a kid. Even a grizzled old veteran of the game like myself is made youthful when a kid plays, because the expression of wonder and joy on the face of a child who finds a small box hidden away by persons unknown is truly a sight to behold. There's something magical about the act, and the taking of a keepsake (and leaving a replacement of your own) only makes it better.  Some