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According to AAA, the average nationwide gasoline price hit another all-time high a couple of weeks ago at $3.22/gallon, besting its previous record of $3.06/gallon on August 11, 2006. Some are calling for energy prices to continue to move up calling for $4/gallon gas. Well, allow me to add some fuel to the speculation fire (pun intended).

Over the last eight months, we have seen an uncharacteristic draw in energy inventories which makes a solid case for higher energy prices this summer. Before I continue, let me provide a quick primer on the nature of energy inventories and shoulder seasons.

We just completed the spring shoulder season for energy commodities. There are two shoulder seasons each year, one in the fall and one in the spring. During these periods, the demand for energy commodities tends to dip as people drive less and less energy is required to heat or cool their homes, businesses, ect. With depressed demand typically comes increased inventory but not this year. Lets take a look at how energy inventories have behaved this year compared to the previous six years (1).

Average build in inventories from the end of September till the end of May for the previous 6 years: 4.9% or 31M BBLs. The decline in inventories from the end of last September till the end of this May: -4.1% or 28M BBLs.

Therefore in a typical or average year, inventories should be approximately 9% or 59M BBLs higher than they are today.

Back in December I noticed that inventories were being depleted at a more substantial rate than in previous years. Initially, I originally thought that this was a hangover from the massive builds we saw last summer and early fall, but I decided to start studying it more closely and discovered a disturbing trend. For my research, I calculated the difference in draws/builds of inventories from the start of the fall shoulder season, through the winter until the end of the spring shoulder season. As you can see above, the average build from 2000 2006 was around 5% through this time period. This year however, we saw a draw of just over 4% - a 59M bbl difference.

So this begs the question, what is the underlying cause for the unusual decrease in supplies? Was there any short-term impetus or does this signal a breakdown in the fundamental supply and demand for energy inventories leading to higher prices? Unfortunately, the answer is No, there was not a short-term reason for inventories to be depleted!

Lets quickly examine the usual suspects that result in a short-term draw of inventories.

Weather:

Energy inventories declined during most of the winter despite an unusually warm climate. With the exception of a bitterly cold February, the winter was exceptionally mild. Especially in December through January, there should have been a continuing build but instead there was a draw.

Furthermore, the weather last summer was not responsible for any sort of supply disruption (i.e. Hurricanes). Unfortunately, this year might be different situation. Accuweathers Joe Bastardi is warning of the potential for significant storm activity in the Gulf coast. He is quoted as saying on the Accuweather website:

Well see storms on the prowl in the Gulf again. The entire region including New Orleans and other areas that are still rebuilding after Katrina is susceptible to landfalling storms. Of concern to consumers everywhere is that there is so much oil and natural gas drilling and refining occurring in the Gulf. This years stronger storms are likely to cause the kind of disruption that will be felt in wallets and pocketbooks.

Global Geo-politics:

On the geo-political front, no news is good news for energy prices (good news meaning declining prices for the consumer). Even though the War in Iraq is turning into a complete debacle; there hasnt been any significant disruption in supplies stemming from turmoil in Africa or South America. I believe its a bit too idealistic to think that the relative lack of violent activity from these regions will continue. Any sort of flare up in Africa, Latin America or the Middle East could cause major supply disruptions. Ironically, higher prices may lead to increased volatility in the region as greed will provide the necessary incentive for militias and unscrupulous political leaders to mix it up.

Doug Casey, a well-known commodity analyst, wrote an interesting article on our growing dependence on African Oil and how the instability in the area could impact energy prices. Conclusion:

When you combine the effects of a mild winter with a lack of supply disruptions overseas, we should have seen a solid build in energy inventories over the last eight months. But we didnt and that should be alarming!

There is a litany of reasons that could explain why energy inventories were depleting when they should have been building. But without any short-term impetus (2) causing inventories to decline, the most plausible explanation is that the long-term fundamental case for rising energy prices is strengthening. Supply is simply not keeping up with demand if supply is growing at all. According to T. Boone Pickens, perhaps the markets most renowned energy analyst, the world is producing 85M bbls/day and the world is consuming 85M bbls/day. There is no room for demand growth or supply disruptions!

Furthermore, he along with well-known investors such as Jim Rogers and Matt Simmons believe that the elephant fields in the Middle East and Latin America are declining in production a theory known as Peak Oil. (Matt Simmons has written a book called Twilight in the Desert that defends the Peak Oil theory). These regions have used various means of increasing short-term production to mask the longer-term fundamental issues with their capacity. Pickens is calling for $85/bbl oil by the end of this summer and given the sizable draw over the last eight months, it wouldnt surprise me if he is right.

Fortunately, for the average investor, there are several means of profiting from the rise in energy prices without venturing into the tricky world of commodity derivatives. Oppenheimer Funds offers significant energy exposure though its Commodity Strategy Total Return Fund, ticker symbol QRAAX (A-share) or QRAYX (No-load, investor class share). Approximately 2/3s of the fund is comprised of energy futures. If you want pure exposure to energy, there are few ETFs that you can use. IPaths OIL and United States Oils USO are two offerings that are pure crude oil plays. If you would like a fund that has diversified exposure to energy futures, Proshares offers an ETF, ticker symbol DBE, that invests in Crude, Distillate, RBOB Unleaded Gas and Natural Gas futures. Each commodity comprises approximately 25% of the fund.

1) Calculation Data: I track inventory levels by adding the total inventories of Crude, Distillate and Total Motor Gasoline provided by the Energy Information Administration. Percentage changes in inventories was calculated by taking the difference in Weekly Supply Estimates from the June 1st reading and the September 29st and then dividing it by the September figure.

2) The financial media has consistently blamed short-term declines in refinery utilization for higher gasoline prices. The fact is that refineries operated well beyond their normal capacity last year in order to bring gas prices down for the election so that energy prices would be a non-issue. Refinerys are now paying the price and having to shut down for unscheduled maintenance since they didnt perform scheduled maintenance last year. Furthermore, the build in crude inventories has been minor compared to the depletion of gasoline stocks.

Matt McCracken is a principal and founder of McKinney Avenue Capital a Registered Investment Advisor based in Dallas, TX. He serves as a fee-only investment adviser for individuals 401k plans and trusts

golf lessons are important to have to be able to improve your game performance. However, you do not need to have formal golf lessons to start to become the best. You can make each game on the greens, a golf lesson for you to learn from and take note of.

The best way to learn anything, especially golf is by practical, hands on experience. For the purpose of practical golf lessons, you can decide to visit a challenging course and play it to learn from it. There are many golf course resorts where you can lock yourself up in and keep at the game until you show pretty good improvements.

You can also decide to acquire the services of a professional for your golf lessons. Many golf courses and golf course resorts will have a personal trainer on hand to be able to give you valuable golf lessons. This type of trainer for your golf secret tips will be able to tell you right away what is hampering your performance as you play the field.

If someone watching over your shoulder is not something you fancy in terms of golf lessons then you may want to purchase one those self help audio books on golf lessons from a professional that you admire. You can pop the audio book into your favorite MP3 player and be gently guided by your golf idol's voice as you cruise along the golf course. This particular type of golf secret tips can help you if having someone constantly looking from behind your shoulder is something that does not put you at ease and greatly affects your golf performance further.

Of course, again, if you are to choose a personal trainer to give you golf lessons, you should agree to one who is flexible and works with your abilities rather than forces his own ideas on to you. Each golf player is unique in the sense that each will have different handicaps and strengths and all these should come into play during golf lessons by dependable and remarkable trainers.

If after all your golf lessons you still feel no improvement in our game performance, you may want to look at some other factors to help you progress. For starters, remember that golf is a physical game and just like any other sport, you will need to warm up before the game so that you can have the flexibility needed in making the proper swings of your golf club.

Next, you will have to modify your attitude. The success of your golf lessons is dependent upon the type of attitude you are fostering toward your game. Negative thoughts create negative biorhythms that can affect the outcome of your game. If for example you are easily dismayed and disappointed, then one false move ruins the whole game for you. You should be able to bounce back from mistakes and turn them into opportunities for you to win the game.

Next important aspect in golf lessons is the ability and mindset to have fun. Golf is not a matter of life and death. It may seem so but it really is not. Therefore you need to foster a fun filled frame of mind so that your mind is more relaxed and can analyze situations better. This fun attitude in your golf lessons will also benefit your body because you will be more relaxed and flexible.

Ronald Firquain is a writer, marketer, entrepreneur, webmaster and has 16 years of computer knowledge. You can download e-books for making money online, building a website, improve your golf game, playing guitar and much more. For more information go to: http://www.ebooks-mall.org

Why is Southern California so popular for destination weddings? The answer is simple: wedding beach locations. Couples pay good money to vacation and recreate near the coastal zones. Whether it's the amazing and beautiful scenery of Laguna Beach, San Diego, or Orange County, beach weddings are here to stay. With the delicate, gentle breeze running through your hair, a wedding on the beach is hard to forget.

The first order of business when planning your beach wedding is where and when. Without question, the peak of the wedding season occurs in the summer. Fortunately, the weather is great anytime of the year. Even with the predictably warm weather, it is best to pack some warm clothing in case a cool ocean breeze sneaks up on you.

With your wedding date bookmarked, the next important decision is where. Let's begin with L.A. - a great place for weddings. Head south of downtown LA and you will arrive at Orange County - a total beach paradise for those who love the water. The O.C. is known for it's premiere restaurants, luxury hotels, and fine dining. While your there, make sure to check out Laguna Beach - a seaside resort and artistic community located in southern Orange County. Laguna Beach has some of the most amazing panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean you will ever encounter.

Heading north back to L.A., you have the choice of wedding in Venice, Marina Del Ray, or Santa Monica. Equally beautiful in their own regard, they all have some romantic to offer for the modern bride. Located just north of Playa Del Ray, Marina Del Ray has over 7,000 pleasure boats and yachts, and is surrounded by high-rise luxury Condos, hotels, apartments, shops, and restaurants.

If you prefer a more colorful, hip environment, look no further than Venice Beach. Known for its diverse culture, funky little stores, beachside events, and activity community, Venice is always alive with energy. Fortunately, the beaches are public and guest parking is usually not an issue.

If you are planning an upscale wedding with privacy and luxury then Malibu should be on the top of your list. Located in western Los Angeles, the city of Malibu is a 27-mile strip of Pacific coastline; a beachfront community famous for its warm, sandy beaches, and for being home to countless movie stars and others associated with the So Cal entertainment industries.

Mark Pommett is an accomplished videographer in Orange County and founder of Vegas Wedding Videography. Click here for more information on Los Angeles beach weddings

Are you trying to please Mom? Dad? Spouse? Friend? Grandma?

You may think this is a strange question. It can be a subconscious and hidden revelation that's not even recognized, but for many folks in search of a career it plays a big part in the decision making process.

Truth is.... YOU are the only one who needs to be 'pleased' when it comes to deciding on your career choice. No one else matters! If that sounds harsh, reality tells us no one has a right to 'control' another persons future.

many Dads' get caught up in their own shortcomings. It can be your Mom or Spouse, maybe just a close friend.... even the "grands" want to put in their 2 cents worth. Some parents played sports in school and want to see their children follow the same route. You see it on the ball fields - football - baseball - soccer - basketball - and more.

Don't get persuaded to seek a career path because.... someone you love and respect wants to influence your chosen life's work based on something they missed in their own career choice. YOU are the KEY player in this picture and it's important that you "snap" the right picture.

It's not your responsibility or obligation to meet peer pressures, society pressures, or any other pressures from the outside. let your own personality rise to meet the demands from within yourself.

Never let Dad's or Mom's career choice dictate your own. Too many Preachers, Doctors, Lawyers, Business Executives and others are the result of following in the footsteps of their parents or grandparents. A bad idea UNLESS it is YOUR chosen field of influence and persuasion.

Deep conflicts come from accepting the path of least resistance. Yes, it may be a real challenge to choose your own path, but nothing in your future is more important when it comes to happiness in your work and family life. Lotsof good feelings will arise when it's your choice, not those of anyone else.

One final thought - it may seem selfish to you, ruling out the desires of your family members who want you to follow in their foot-steps. Failure to make your own choice will have you working in a position you do not like or enjoy and in the end it will be a disappointment for those you wanted to please inthe first place.

When you start playing golf in beginning then you have to take all equipments related to it. The best thing is that you can take only the most required articles in beginning. Possession of right fittings assures you easy success in game and also makes playing game simple. For the achievement of goals it is important to have the right set.

You should always keep your golf sets separate from others because this is a game where you can not share your equipments with anyone. As a beginner you need the following sets which are required for playing.

golf Clubs

First of all you need to collect and include clubs in your kit. There are four types of clubs i.e. woods, irons, putters and hybrids.

Woods golf clubs are very long with shafts measuring about 40 to 47 inches. These clubs have large heads and spherical shape. Wood clubs are most suitable for working on situations which necessitate hitting off the tee. When you are supposed to take a definite carries or drive then you should always keep wood club in your golf set.

Wedges golf clubs comes with loft of more than 44 and this special feature makes it different from other clubs.

Another category of clubs is putters which are basically used on green grounds. Putters club has low loft and short shaft which combines well the features of accuracy and skillful touch.

Next is irons golf clubs which are most resourceful as well as easy to handle. Some golfers prefer to make do in this game by using only an iron. These are rather short than woods clubs and comes in shafts measurement of 36 to 40 inches. For using the irons clubs you need to possess relative expertise and sufficient amount of accuracy.

Players can take with them maximum fourteen assorted clubs in their golf sets. This kit consist of all different clubs as 2 wedges, one putter and three woods.

golf Balls

This is second most important equipment in your golf set. Standard diameter of balls are 42.67 mm. Balls are made generally from synthetic materials. Most important feature of these balls is its dimple which creates smoothness. The sleek finish of balls affects the spin and curve of ball. Material of them affects the ultimate results of this game, such as ball with harder material results in longer distance and softer material ball require more spin.

Although there are some more things like bags, cleats and tees but these above mentioned tools are most required in your set when you are going to begin playing golf.

My name is Rob Gutenheim and I am playing golf since 20 years with a handicap of 5. I wrote several articles about golf, you will find more about my work at : http://www.jrgolfequipment.com/

Employee incentives are an important tool not only for the Human Resources department but also as a strategy for companies to maintain the support and loyalty of their employees. Depending on how they are implemented, employee incentives can be quite effective in motivating and driving employee productivity. Here are some examples of employee incentives you might want to consider:

Money
Money is the most common employee incentive used by companies for the simple reason that it is simpler to reward and its effect is felt immediately. This is often the case with sales-related performances where companies opt to reward employees for going beyond their sales target or for bringing in profitable businesses.

Company gifts
These are some of the simplest rewards that can be a part of your employee incentives list. These can include company-issued plaques, jackets, shirts, pins and hats, to be issued only to employees that have reached a certain level of performance. These rewards may either be used to reward employees that reach the first tier of your scaled incentive program or they may be given to supplement other rewards.

Gift certificates
As a non-monetary employee incentive, gift certificates make wonderful rewards for excellent work performance. They also dont have to have a very high value as long as they offer access to special items such as a fancy restaurant dinner, a shopping spree at a favorite store, a big discount at a specialty shop or a tutorial lesson.

Travel incentives
Travel incentives work well especially since they offer time away from work, allowing the employee to relax and have a good time as reward for a job well done. This employee incentive can range from a short weekend trip to an all-expense paid tropical vacation.

As an employee incentive, travel can be very effective if it is also scaled in value. Depending on the desired result, travel may progress from local destinations to more exotic locales, commensurate with the employee's performance.

Time off from work
This is a simple non-monetary incentive for employees who have perfect attendance or have no tardiness record for a year. Day off certificates may be issued and the duration can vary, depending on the company. Employees may choose which day they prefer to use the day off, provided they inform the office ahead of time.

Family-oriented incentives
A great way to say, 'Job well done!' to someone is to let his family know how much his performance is appreciated. Include the employee's family in the reward, regardless of the monetary value. It can be as simple as inviting the employee's family members to the awards ceremony, treating them to dinner or sending them off to a family trip.

A points-based employee incentive program
One of the challenges of designing an employee incentive program is creating one that will not only measure performance effectively and fairly but also give employees something that they find meaningful. A points-based system that rewards employee incentives is an effective way of monitoring progress and allowing employees to choose which rewards they prefer, simply by earning rewards points and redeeming them at a later time, when they choose.

Employee incentives dont really have to be very expensive. Although a simple praise often will suffice for an employee, nothing beats the feeling of being appreciated and rewarded for an excellence performance. Plan your employee incentives to reward exceptional accomplishments to motivate your employees and raise productivity in your company.

Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written many articles on various subjects. For more information on sales incentives or employee incentives checkout his websites.