Richard Franz

When we buy something new like a cell phone, lawn mower or car there is always an owner’s manual that comes with the purchase. Not everyone makes the effort to actually read this manual. After all, it takes precious time away from us that could be spent experimenting and playing with our newly purchased gadget.

“School days, school days, dear old golden rule days, readin’ and ‘ritin’ and ‘rithmetic taught to the tune of the hickory stick” (1907, by Will Cobb).

Have you found it a lot less painful—perhaps even enjoyable—to fill up your automobiles as the price of petroleum continues to fall? The same gasoline that is now reported so abundant was once touted as very limited and likely to run out in a few short years.