www.wave3.com

(LOUISVILLE, March 20th, 2003, 10:30 a.m.) -- Kentuckians are paying more for a gallon of gasoline and one of the reasons is the uncertainty in the Middle East. Other factors include the oil industry strike in Venezuela and the high use of heating oil during the recent winter months.

Kentucky does not have a specific "price gouging" law. However, Kentucky's Consumer Protection law does prohibit unreasonably high prices that are not caused by an increase in the business' cost, if consumers are unable to buy the product at a lower price in the same area.

By definition, price gouging can occur when "only one supplier of a product is available to consumers and the supplier unreasonably raises the price of the product".

Here are two examples of "Price Gouging":

Following a disaster, the "only" supplier of electrical generators, increases the price of generators, simply to increase his profits.

The "only" supplier of batteries increases the price of batteries during an electrical power outage, simply to increase his profits. If a business increases prices because the business is being charged more by his supplier or if another business has the same product at a lower price, the higher priced item is not illegal.

It is not "Price Gouging" when: Gas prices rise because a station owner is being charged more by his supplier. Gas prices rise to any level, at one station, when lower prices are available at other stations.

The Attorney General's Office and Federal Trade Commission continue to monitor the price of all fuels in Kentucky.

www.vheadline.com Posted: Sunday, November 10, 2002 By: Oscar Heck

Date: Thu, 07 Nov 2002 15:06:08 -0500 To: editor@vheadline.com From: Oscar Heck oscarheck111@hotmail.com Subject: Congratulations

Dear Editor: Have been following your site for a few months now. Wonderful site and well thought out and interesting commentaries, particularly your own recent "Reality is out there for all to see!"

I hope, as you, that readers will have enough discernment to weed out facts from fantasy and/or subtle subliminal use of language to argue points such as in Gustavo Coronel's comment "by passing dozens of laws, many of which are clearly confiscatory in nature," used in the context of anti-Chavez rhetoric.

Gustavo Coronel gives the impression that such laws do not exist in countries that he may consider more "democratic." If he believes this, he is very wrong, since it is not true.

I am in Canada at the moment and "confiscatory laws" have long existed here and still do ... there are reasons for such laws to exist, unfortunately to the dismay of some few.

Gustavo Coronel purports to being factual. However, I would suggest that VHeadline.com readers verify and double-check some of the "facts" he writes about. Example: "This happens only in Zimbabwe and here" found in his commentary "Carson's Reality."

I do not think that such a statement can be construed as an opinion.

Oscar Heck oscarheck111@hotmail.com

P.S. Really enjoyed Charles Hardy's realistic analysis of the 2,000,000 signatures.

washingtontimes.com By Gonzalo Baeza UPI Business Correspondent

 SANTIAGO, Chile, March 20 (UPI) -- Markets were mixed across the region this week as growing concerns of a Middle East conflict weighed on trading activity. 
 In Argentina, the authorities' announcement Wednesday that the economy had shrunk by 10.9 percent in 2002 -- the country's largest GDP fall in half a century -- further sank prospects of an economic recovery. 
 The International Monetary Fund, IMF, nonetheless approved that same day a $307 million loan installment. The money is part of a stand-by credit arrangement of $6.78 billion that the IMF pledged to Argentina in January. 
 The IMF said in a statement Wednesday that the "arrangement is designed to cover all payment obligations to the IMF through Aug. 2003." 
 Argentina's government is presently forecasting a 4.2 percent growth for 2003 as well as a 2 percent expansion during the year's first quarter. 
 In Brazil, the Central Bank broke Wednesday with a six-month trend of ever-tightening monetary policies as it left the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 26.5 percent. The bank based its decision on improving inflationary rates, although it did not rule out further interest rate increases in the near future. 
 The benchmark interest rate has already risen 8.5 percent since September. 
 According to the Central Bank, inflation in 2003 should reach 12.38 percent, a slight increase from the bank's initial forecast of an 11 percent annual inflation rate. 
 In Mexico, an optimistic outlook for the economy based on solid GDP growth seems to be progressively overshadowed by the negative prospects posed by the Iraqi crisis. Stock traders claimed Wednesday that even if the conflict in Iraq was resolved in the short term, its effects on the domestic economy could not be neglected. 
 Although Finance Minister Francisco Gil announced Tuesday that the Mexican economy grew 3 percent during the year's first quarter, he nonetheless stated that the country's performance was inextricably tied to the United States' recovery. 
 Given how more than 80 percent of Mexico's exports are shipped to the United States, the country's stated aim of a 3 percent GDP growth in 2003 is contingent on its northern neighbor's own economic prospects. 
 Mexico's peso nonetheless strengthened on Wednesday by 4.70 centavos against the dollar to 10.8370 following the U.S. currency's own improved performance against the euro. 
 As for the markets, Brazil's Bovespa stock index gained 1.9 percent to end up at 10,783 points last Thursday as the markets received news of a slowdown in domestic inflation. Telesp Cellular rose 7.2 percent and bellwether Telemar did so by 3.1 percent. 
 On Friday the index went up 0.3 percent to 10,817 as Brazil's IPCA consumer price indicator fell 1.75 percent in February. The paper and pulp industry spearheaded gains as Aracruz Cellulose's stocks rose 6.3 percent and those of the Votorantim Group did so by 5.6 percent. 
 Monday brought a 0.6 percent rise to 10,877 amid heavy trading. Aircraft company Embraer gained 4.8 percent while power giant Electrobras rose 3.8 percent. 
 The Bovespa gained 2.5 percent Tuesday to 11,150 as the country's sovereign bond continued on the trend of other emerging market bonds from Latin America and kept strengthening abroad. Embraer gained 2.7 percent as it was announced that the World Trade Organization ruled in favor of Brazil imposing a $248 million sanction against Canadian rival Bombardier Inc. Oil giant Petrobras gained 3.7 percent and bellwether Telmar rose 3.8 percent. 
 Wednesday registered a 1.3 percent drop in the Bovespa to 11,006 due to fears over the Iraqi crisis and the Central Bank's statement that it could still raise interest rates in the future given the uncertain inflationary outlook. Telephone company Telenorte Leste Participacoes fell 1.1 percent and state-owned energy company Cesp experienced a 3.2 percent drop. 
 Argentina's Merval index enjoyed a brief respite last Thursday after three consecutive days of losses, gaining 1.6 percent to close at 563.9. Bank stocks were spurred by news that the Central Bank would ease controls for Argentine firms to engage in dollar transactions. The Spanish banks Banco Frances gained 6.7 percent and Banco Galicia's stocks rose 3 percent. 
 The Merval nonetheless returned to its downward trend on Friday, falling 0.7 percent to 560.1 following a sharp drop in energy company Perez Companc's stock, which lost 3.1 percent. 
 Argentine stocks closed higher on Monday even as the Merval's 0.6 percent gain took place amid very light trade. Steel company Acindar rose 3.9 percent whereas Perez Companc remained in its downward trend as its stocks fell 1.4 percent 
 On Tuesday, the Merval closed a modest 0.5 percent higher at 566.5 amid anxiety over both the domestic scenario where no clear winner appears before the April presidential elections and foreign upheavals due to the Iraqi situation. Acindar climbed 6.5 percent whereas Banco Frances registered a 2.7 percent fall. 
 Wednesday saw a new 0.3 percent fall for the Merval to 564.5 points. Construction company Polledo gained 5.4 percent and Acindar rose 3.5 percent. 
 In Mexico, the IPC index ended up 2.1 percent to 5,931 points last Thursday, following gains in the U.S. market. Construction company ICA's shares rose 8.3 percent, closing up 36 percent from a week ago. Bellwether and wireless communications firm America Movil rose 0.8 percent in trade representing nearly a third of activity during the day. 
 On Friday, the index rose 1 percent to 5,993 points in spite of the volatile movements of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. ICA continued its positive streak as its shares went up 8.3 percent, while America Movil did so by 1.5 percent. 
 The IPC closed up 0.3 percent to 6,009 on Monday as Mexican stocks followed a U.S. equities rally. Gains were nonetheless slowed down as the peso rebounded by 1.4 percent against the dollar. The shares of media networks Televisa and its rival TV Azteca rose 1.6 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively. 
 Tuesday saw the IPC close up 0.6 percent to 6,042 spurred by gains from beverage companies. Brewer Grupo Modelo's stocks rose 2 percent, whereas beverage company Femsa's did so by 3.7 percent. 
 Wednesday brought a 0.4 percent slip to 6,017 for the IPC, as investors considered stocks to be expensive given the impact that an imminent conflict in Iraq will likely have on the economy. ICA experienced a 4 percent fall whereas America Movil stocks dropped by 1 percent. 
 Chile's IPSA index ended flat last Thursday at 1,019 amid unrest due to a financial scandal over the illegal endorsement of $100 million in deposit certificates from the government agency Corfo to the highly-questioned Inverlink brokerage firm, all of whose top executives are presently in jail. Power company Endesa fell 0.8 percent whereas Banco Santander rose 0.7 percent. 
 The IPSA experienced a slight 0.2 percent fall to 1,017 on Friday as doubts over the health of the financial system persisted thanks to the Corfo-Inverlink scandal. Electricity holding Enersis fell 2.6 percent while telecommunications company Entel gained 1.9 percent. 
 On Monday, the IPSA fell 0.3 percent to 1,014. Endesa ended down 0.3 percent and Entel stocks fell 1.6 percent. Tuesday saw a slight 0.1 percent recovery to 1,015 as gains in brewer CCU could not assuage investors' concerns over the deposit certificates scandal. CCU gained 2.6 percent and Enersis rose 0.9 percent. Wednesday brought a modest 0.2 percent rise for the IPSA to 1,017 as gains were lead by the Minera Valparaiso holding with 3.85 percent and the steel tube and pipe producer Cintac with 1.75 percent. 
 Venezuela's IBC index gained 0.6 percent to 8,229 last Thursday thanks to a 2 percent rise in the stocks of telephone giant CA Nacional Telefonos de Venezuela (CANTV), which accounts for 40 percent of the index. A similar trend was seen Friday as the IBC rose 3.3 percent to 8,505 thanks to CANTV's 6.4 percent gain. 
 The index climbed 0.7 percent to 8,571 on Monday but fell 1.3 percent the next day, closing at 8,463. Markets were closed on Wednesday for a holiday. 

Read complete article by Jacque Lynn Schiller

.......... "The Flute Player" introduces Arn Chorn Pond, a survivor of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge regime, who while struggling with his own guilt for still being alive, manages to initiate something positive -- in this case resurrecting the music of his country's few remaining masters. He also became an advocate for Amnesty International. Pond's story is excruciating at times and it made me sick to understand the military's murderous campaign was occurring at the same time that I was enjoying a carefree childhood on a Texas riverbank. Likewise, "Revolution" unveils the media corruption and public gullibility behind last year's (thankfully short-lived) coup of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Irish filmmakers Donnacha O'Briain and Kim Bartley originally set out to interview the enigmatic Chavez and were given unprecedented access to his daily routine, palace life, and trips to the countryside (where he listened to his poverty stricken citizens' problems and encouraged them to read and learn the constitution). After 9/11, he called on the U.S. not to "fight terror with terror" and suddenly Colin Powell was on CNN claiming that Chavez was mentally ill. Chavez was already in trouble with oil interests for calling on controls that would benefit the financially burdened people of Venezuela. Obviously his opinions were not appreciated. The media (Chavez only has access to one television station) immediately began a disparaging campaign against Chavez and the filmmakers found themselves witnessing an overthrow attempt. Thankfully, the people overtook the palace declaring their constitutional rights to speak out and be represented by the leader they voted for. And for once, a happy ending. Chavez was reinstated and Colin Powell returned to state that America had no involvement in the uprising. Judging by the "Fuck You's" hurled at his image, I don't think anyone in the audience believed him.

This is what film fests are all about. The petty inconveniences and parking woes seem irrelevant when you see something that knocks you so hard. With films there can be entertainment and there can be education, and in the end, SXSW satisfied both.

www.times-standard.com Article Last Updated: Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 6:14:05 AM PST By James Faulk The Times-Standard

EUREKA -- With the startling and dramatic spike recently in the price paid at the pump, you might expect that people would change their driving habits to save cash.

Evidence thus far has not borne that out -- people continue to drive as they always have, and buy the same big-ticket gas-guzzling sports utility vehicles.

According to Sean Comey, media spokesman for AAA of Northern California in San Francisco, dramatic spikes in prices often translate into less people driving, but the verdict on the current situation is still out, he said.

"It's too early to say for sure," he said. "But in the past when we've seen gas prices go up this quickly, there has been a changing of habits."

The recent rise in prices started in earnest in December, and the sticker shock set in about six weeks ago, Comey said. It won't be long until the trends, whatever they are, become clear.

Make no mistake -- this is a serious increase.

"It's a record high almost everywhere," he said. "It's virtually impossible to get gas for less than $2 a gallon anywhere in California."

San Francisco, which has consistently had the highest gas prices in the state recently, was selling its gas Wednesday for $2.28 per gallon of regular, while Humboldt Bay retailers hovered around $2.20.

Even with record-high gas prices, which could theoretically impact tourism, the number of travelers locally do not seem to have taken a hit.

J Warren Hockaday of the Eureka Chamber of Commerce said the number of walk-in visitors at the chamber offices appears to be on track with what it was last year, if not a little better.

He said that for once, motorists in Eureka are not paying the highest prices in the state, which may be refreshing for travelers.

Besides, tourism has benefited generally from concerns about travel safety, as people are staying closer to home; tourists may be drawn to this area because of security concerns, Hockaday said.

While the spike in gas prices may have had an impact on people driving, it has not counteracted other benefits the area has seen, he said.

Another expectation of the gas price increase could be that people would turn to more efficient vehicles.

Not so, say two local car dealers.

Jeremy Duncan, sales associate with Opie's Fine Cars, said buying habits seem to much the same as they ever were.

"Our numbers don't show it," he said.

Bill Davis of Harper Ford Country agreed.

While people have complained to retailers on the lot, they still buy whatever they want.

"We get complaints on the price of gas but it doesn't seem to change anyone's buying habits," he said. "They buy what they want and worry about it later."

Two local motorists filling up at a local gas station said the price of gas has not changed their driving habits.

Tony Scharn of Eureka said he has no choice but to drive as much as he does, because he has to drive to and from work.

He did say that with his next car, fuel economy may be among the determining factors.

Another man, who gave his name only as Hal, said he owns a sports utility vehicle now and will likely buy another one when the time comes.

Ridership on area buses has not seen any jump, either.

Nelleen Fregoso of the Humboldt Transit Authority said the number of people riding the bus has not noticeable increased. The authority, however, is affected by having to pay the high prices, she said.

There's nine buses that travel between 300 and 350 miles a day. Each bus gets five miles to the gallon. Fuel is therefore the second-highest cost to the authority, under labor.

Fregoso did encourage people frustrated by fuel costs to hop on a bus, which could keep them from having to pay for gas and perhaps even help drive the costs down, she said.

The factors in the fuel price explosion are a strike in Venezuela, which was recently brought to an end, and the looming and seemingly inevitable war with Iraq.

"The fear has been that (the war) would disrupt the distribution network for petroleum in the Middle East," Comey said.

California receives 30 percent of its crude oil that gets turned into gas from overseas sources. Most of the state's oil comes from California and Alaska, while roughly 8 percent comes from Iraq.

That's a big deal with the industry being so tightly balanced between supply and demand. Since the sale of petroleum is a world market and western Europe gets a much higher percentage of its oil from Iraq, some worry that the flow could be interrupted.

On the other hand, the price of crude oil has dropped recently, and the feeling in the industry is that the war will likely be resolved quickly and the supply stabilized.

"However, it will take a while before motorists see a benefit," Comey said. "Typically prices rise like a rocket and come down like a feather."

AAA will soon start to track consumer travel trends on a weekly basis, and an analysis will be available each week on how the war and prices are affecting a variety of trends, such as driving and air travel.