Wind turbine power companies are leasing land from area landowners to put up wind farms. Naturally, this has cause a massive flare up of NIMBY. "Birds will fly into the blades," shriek the environmentalists. "They fly into my sliding glass door," I counter. "Do I have to take it out?" "The EMF fields are unhealthy," exclaim the tin foil hatters. "The tourists won't like," cry the business owners.

Last week, a woman from Abilene wrote a letter to the editor telling us to fight to keep the windmills out. She lives in Abilene, she wrote, and these hideous things are everywhere.

Then fucking move. Don't stick your nose into our business because you don't like something about your home town. Fight to get them taken down, or move!

If half of what they say about Global Warming is true, and I have my doubts, we need to find other ways to generate electricity to power our computers, TVs and cell phones.

But, then again, I forget this is where the Hummer driving Houstonians retire to.

I don't often do this: comment on local politics and events. But some things have been gnawing at me. Today I will address one issue, and tomorrow another. If you live in Fredericksburg, Texas, I can guarantee you won't like my opinion!

The City Council is considering a ban of "Formula Businesses" (read: "Chain Stores") on Main Street in the historic district. Opponents are concerned that Fredericksburg's charm will be irreparably harmed if a freakin' Starbuck's comes town.

I know people who oppose a Starbucks in Fredericksburg but will willingly drive to San Antonio or Austin to go to Starbucks, bypassing the local coffee shops.

I know people who don't want an Office Max or Staples to come to town but who wouldn't support the local office supply store because they were "too expensive," and will willingly drive to Kerrville, San Antonio or Austin to buy office supplies at "formula stores".

Our local office supply store? It closed last year because not enough Fredericksburg offices would buy their supplies there.

Hey! Fredericksburg business owner! If you don't want a "formula store" in Fredericksburg, quit shopping at them in other towns to save a few bucks and support local businesses!

Oops! Too late! They're already gone. There are tourist shops on Main Street. But there's nothing there to interest me. Someone told me "We don't want a Hooters on Main Street." I said, "Speak for yourself! I'd love a Hooters!"

Hey! While you're in Austin or San Antonio buying stuff for your store, could you get me a mocha latte at Starbucks and a sweet iced tea at Bill Miller? The local stuff is too expensive.

Lauren Cosgrove, 28, a 7th Grade Language Arts teacher in Denton, Texas, boosted the self-esteem of a 13 year-old boy on July 2 and 3. (I guess the kid got his fireworks early.) She was arrested on July 10th.

Come on! Look at her face. It's obvious she was concerned that this 13 year-old would never know the touch of a woman and was helping the guy out.

If anyone out there knows Laura, have her submit her tale of hot, steamy teen love to the Pete Townsend Teen Romance story contest.