“The many refineries along the coast of Texas were also bracing for a harsh lashing by strong winds, rain and flooding.”

So, we’ve spent billions of dollars wrecking havoc on Iraq in the name of cheap oil only to have mother nature turn around and wipe out our oil rigs. Nice.

While I don’t wish for more suffering at the hands of another hurricane, it’s nice to see indirect consequences for bad behavior. I’m hoping that the storm takes out some oil rigs, punishing the oil companies and forcing reduced consumption without costing lives. It comforts me to know that greed cannot go unchecked.

The United States is the heaviest contributor to Global Warming. Our appetite for cheap oil is both epic and epidemic. Increased hurricane activity may be a direct result of over-consumption of oil. Therefore, to see the giant storms turn towards our oil wells, shows me that the greedy will be punished.

Contrary to what you must be thinking at this point, I do not hate Americans. What I hate is unchecked corporate greed. I hate seeing the systematic eradication of forests, rivers, unspoiled air and other cultures in pursuit of wealth for the few stockholders of a few huge corporations.

And I really do believe that a return to a simpler life, that is, sans cheap oil, would make the majority of common folks a lot happier. Without cheap oil, we would do more walking and buy more locally produced food for starters. Can you imagine a family that didn’t all jump in their cars each day and drive off in different directions? I can.

I head off down Makawao Avenue, holding onto the bill of my ballcap to keep it from blowing off. For the first half mile, I step into the weeds when the cars come barreling up the street towards me.

Then I reach the sidewalk and start to really relax. I see a local woman with several children coming towards me. I give them the sidewalk. The little girl on the bike says hello and I return the favor. The woman comes next. She is pushing a stroller. I say hello and she looks my way without changing expression and walks past me.

I turn right at the intersection and start walking up the hill towards the rodeo arena. There are a lot fewer houses and cars on this street. I stop to gaze at a tiny pinto foal lying in the tall grass of a large pasture. A handsome bay mare grazes nearby. The foal twitches a few times but does not rise. I look at my feet and see a large avocado. I pick it up and it is unblemished.

Carrying my prize, I continue up the hill. A little further along, I stop to watch a shiny ring-necked pheasant picking its way across another pasture towards a fat pheasant hen.

A small car is coming down the hill towards me and I step into the weeds. It begins to slow down and keeps slowing down until I think it is going to stop. I am puzzled until, at the last moment I see the smile of the woman behind the wheel and realize she has slowed to pass me out of respect. She is also a local woman but what we call Haole here because she is white.