Isn't it a tad to coincidental that as we approach Memorial Day all of a sudden we're beginning to see gas shortages popping up around the country? Seriously, I've been to at least four stations in the greater Houston area this week which were completely out of gas!

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Big Oil were creating the appearance of a fuel shortage to justify jacking up prices just as the weekend holiday approaches. I can honestly see it creeping up little by little until we're shelling out $3.50-$4.50 per gallon by month's end.

Remember California's rolling blackouts a few years back? Enron manipulated -- no engineered -- the entire fiasco to line their greedy, fat pockets. So in reality, Big Oil pulling a similar stunt would not be an unprecedented scenario.