Slouch
by Jim Earle
“Now don’t laugh, just think about it! If two people can
stand like this, why cant two people stand at Kyle Field like
this too so more people can get in?”
Opinion
Mexico gas deal —
bargain now, later
It took the United States and Mexico nearly two years of
hard and often bitter bargaining to reach an agreement on
the purchase of Mexican natural gas by this country.
Looking back, though, it was an agreement that had to
come about, and it confers long-range benefits on both
parties.
It’s true that Americans will be paying the highest price
in the world for pipeline gas — $3,625 per 1,000 cubic feet
initially. It’s also true that Canada, which already supplies
10 times as much gas to the United States as Mexico will,
can be expected to bring its price up to that level.
Yet while there is no denying that the Mexican gas deal
will have an impact on America s gas bill, it will pay off in
other ways.
Mexican natural gas is found in high concentrations in its
oil fields. Giving Mexico an incentive to produce more gas
will have the effect of encouraging more oil production.
We could reasonably get along without Mexican natural
gas, since our own reserves are still fairly abundant. But it
is a certainty that we will want more Mexican oil in coming
years. Thus consummation of the gas agreement, even at
what looks today like a steep price, is an investment in the
future.
Not least, the agreement removes a stumbling block to
improved relations in other areas, such as the problem of
illegal Mexican aliens, or Mexico’s complaint about U.S.
restrictions on imports of its vegetables.
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by Brickman
society
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The Battalion
U S P S 045 360
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Opinions expressed in The Battalion are
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MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Congress
Editor Liz Newlin
Managing Editor Andy Williams
Asst. Managing Editor Dillard
Stone
News Editors . .Karen Cornelison and
Michelle Burrowes
Sports Editor Sean Petty
City Editor Roy Bragg
Campus Editor Keith Taylor
Focus Editors Beth Calhoun and
Doug Graham
StafiF Writers Meril Edwards,
Nancy Andersen, Louie Arthur,
Richard Oliver, Mark Patterson,
Carolyn Blosser, Kurt Allen
Photo Editor . . .Lee Roy Leschper Jr.
Photographers Lynn Blanco,
Sam Stroder,
Ken Herrerra
Cartoonist Doug Graham
Regents. The Battalion is a non-profit, self-
supporting enterprise operated by students
as a university and community newspaper.
Editorial policy is determined by the editor.
Viewpoint
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Friday
October , 1979
Forum
Fear of Clearasil could kill
Carter s hope for second term
By W. SCOTT SHERMAN
Various political writers, sages and
commentators have voiced reasons that
Jimmy Carter should not run for a second
term in 1980.
The sad shape of the economy, foreign
policy, lack of public confidence and the
energy crisis have all been penned as
grounds for the non-making of the presi
dent in 1980.
There exists, however, a group of
Americans who have a special dread of
another term of peanuts, Billy Beer and
Miss Lillian.
This group has realized if the man from
Plains runs again, and wins, the entire na
tion will have to watch Amy Carter go
through puberty.
Amypubosophobia, as this is known, is
the uncontrollable fear of watching the the
First Tot become the First Teen. On the
Satire
surface it may not appear as a major threat
to our society, but after some thought, the
full social magnitude comes to light.
Imagine coast-to-coast television broad
casting Little Amy’s first zit.
Or, Barbara Walters joining Rosalynn
and Amy as the first pair goes to buy Amy’s
first training bra.
Or, the entire country glued to its sets
to watch Amy come home from her first
date. (The only thing that could add to the
nausea at this point is if her first social
encounter was with Hamilton Jordan.
Then it becomes without redeeming social
value, and therefore, obscene.)
Amypubosophobiacs believe this to be
only the beginning of the crisis.
International consequences could befall
all of us if Amy asks Begin if she can bor
row his “little hat” to complete her disco
outfit.
Or, if she calls Jesse Jackson “boy.”
Or, if she asks Queen Noor of Jordan for
a Midol.
And you thought Andy Young was a lia
bility!
The more nuerotic amypubosophobiacs
believe the real problem will come at the
end of Mr. Carter’s second term. Simple
math shows Amy will be approaching 17
years old, well above the average marriag-
able age for Georgia girls.
We may be faced with the first presi
dential pig push in the nation’s history.
International diplomacy may depend on
whether Jimmy and Roz can pawn off the
first teeny-bopper.
A possible upper level meeting of the
security council could be delayed while
Jimmy and Rosalynn contemplate which
world leader to intimidate to get the first
teen her beau.
“Jimmy, I don’t care about the gas deal.
President Lopez Portillo down in Mexico
has a nice son . . . he’s such a nice boy,
considering . . . and little Amy is just pin
ing away.”
“Ah now deah, but when I call the Por
tillo house and tell them this is the Presi
dent of the United States calling, the^ say
‘There is no one here.’ and hang up.
“Well, what about that lovely Mrs.
Thatcher over in London.”
“Deah, the Thatchers don’t have any
sons. Princes Charles and Andrew keep
pointing out we ah not nobility and the
common market countries say they have a
trade restriction against such things.”
“Why can’t we find a nice boy here in
the United States for our Amy?”
“I don’t know, theh just don’t seem to
be any. It’s. . .It’s a moral crisis. I better
call Zbigniew and have him re-initiate the
draft so we can get a list of eligible young
men. ”
And this is where amypubosophobiacs
wake from their nightmares sweating and
screaming.
You’ve begun LUSTING' IN Y0’
W. Scott Sherman is a graduate student
in management and a former Battalion
staffer.
m
WEST
Those who use wood-burning stoves:
Watch out for OFEC, a new threat
By DICK WEST
United Press International
WASHINGTON — All over the coun
try, in areas where winter temperatures
drop below the 65-degree thermostat set
ting recommended by President Carter,
people are trying to beat the high cost of
heating fuel by installing wood-burning
stoves.
minister who is regarded as a moderate,
sought to hold the hike to $7.51.
He argued that the larger increase, de
manded by such heavily wooded countries
as Finland and Nigeria, would cause eco
nomic hardships in many areas, particu
larly those above timber line.
I can see it all now:
HELSINKI, Finland — Member of
OFEC, the Organization of Firewood Ex
porting Countries, voted today to raise
prices by $12.78 a cord, far more than ex
pected.
After being voted down, Swenlogg
promised that Sweden would continue
splitting firewood at present rates until
next spring, thus helping stabilize the
supply situation.
It was the third OFEC price boost this
year and brought the overall increase for
the past 12 months to $39.06.
Ollie Swenlogg, Sweden’s firewood
CROSSCUT, Va. —American firewood
dealers say the latest OFEC price increase
will mean a jump in U.S. prices of about
$15.29 a pickup load, delivered and
stacked.
A spokesman for the Pickup Truck
Wood Haulers Association, the industry’s
chief lobbying group, predicted prices
would rise to more than $100 a load, de
pending on whether it was “old” wood or
“new” wood.
As defined by Congress, “old” wood
comes from trees planted before 1970. The
definition of “new” wood is too compli
cated to explain.
The United States currently imports
about 46 percent of the cordwood burned
in fireplaces, stoves and other heating de
vices. Various programs to make American
less dependent on foreign firewood have
encountered strong inertia and some act
ive opposition.
Owners of major league ballparks, for
example, objected to plans for planting
trees in the outfield. They complained the
arboreal growth attracted picnickers into
fair ball territory and made it difficult for
umpires to call ground rule doubles
CHICAGO — The National Fiifll
Consumers Union today offeredl!
helpful hints on how to conserve«
piles.
1. Tests show that wet wood bums
slowly than dry wood. For less than
consumers can install automatic sprin
systems that keep logs damp duringc
bustion.
By prolonging the burning life oftL
erage log up to 10 percent, the sflI
should pay for itself in 25 years.
2. Woodsmoke going up a chinffl!
stovepipe contains a surprising amote
heat. Much of that heat can beconsei
by closing dampers so that thesmofc
dilates around the room until it cooli'
3. Switch back to oil, coal, electri
and gas.
Letters
UT challenges Texas A&M to prove
the Aggie Blood Drive isn’t anemic
Editor:
We, the students of The University of
Texas think the Aggie Blood Drive is
anemic....
We think the Aggie Blood Drive is an
insult to a real Blood Drive (such as ours)
and we challenge the students of Texas
A&M to donate as much blood as we will
in our Blood Drive.
The winner will be determined by the
highest percentage of the students donat
ing blood. We are confident there is no
way the Aggies can win. Good luck! You’ll
need it!!
— Ed Triece
Blood Drive Chairman
Alpha Rho Chapter
Alpha Phi Omega
University of Texas
Anyone interested in working with this
program can call Tommy Smith, chairman
for community services, at 845-5848 or
845-1626, or can attend a meeting Thurs
day, 6:30 p.m., in Room 138 MSC.
Thank you for exposing a program the
“Y” feels is really worthwhile.
— Venita McCellon
The truth about ...
Editor:
In reference to the article about Ken
nedy that appeared in the Batt on Wed-
nesdy, Oct. 3: AMEN!
After reading the article about Kennedy
in this month’s Today’s Student, I was
wondering if any students really knew
what Kennedy represents. Now I’m posi
tive that at least some of us do.
If there are any anti-Kennedy or pro-
Connally groups on campus, why don’t
you stand out and be heard? I’m sure there
are many concerned people who would
join and contribute to these organizations
in any way possible.
Thanks Richard, for bringing the truth
about Kennedy to light.
— Jeff Schmidt
Editor’s note: This letter was accom
panied by 12 other signatures.
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gieland ’79.
For two days, reference has been:
to Schuhmacher. The name Schuhitf
was never mentioned. We real
Schumacher was probably a typograpl
error. However, since our dorms
has been spelled Schumacher in
October 3 Battalion and the Aggii
we must assume the nameplate on j
dorm is in error. Therefore, could
please inform us who to contact to 1<|
the sign replaced. Thank you.
Alan Mosley.
Schu hmacher!
Editor:
We address this letter to both the editor
Editor’s note: This letter was ac«f
panied by five other signatures,
apologize.
Editor’s note: The Aggie Blood Drive will
be next Tuesday through Thursday, from
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each night in the Memo
rial Student Center Ballrooms.
THOXZ
by Doug Graham
Student ‘Y’; Thanks
Editor:
In reading the article of October 2 con
cerning the renewal of federal funds for the
Bridge House, I noticed your reference to
the Student “Y” Association program.
Some of the kids of the Bridge House do
not attend school and have little to occupy
their time other than TV. The “ Y” program,
run by volunteers, strives to make the resi
dents of Bridge House feel more at ease
there through activities with college stu
dents. Some sports equipment has been
given the kids by the “Y.”