<Oil Fuel pipeline explosion outside LagosThe Oil DrumAn Open Thread theme for a Saturday>

112 comments on Friday Open Thread

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Prof. Goose on May 12, 2006 - 10:43pm Permalink | Subthread | Comments top
I just saw this at the gym.  If it is any consolation, my head exploded as well.
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Glenn on May 12, 2006 - 10:44pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Luckily you keep that spare in the jar nearby.
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Prof. Goose on May 12, 2006 - 10:48pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Actually, I have people who follow me around collecting the pieces...

(These explosions seem to be occurring a little more frequently than I'd like to admit of late...snicker)

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The Interloafer on May 12, 2006 - 11:03pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
The part that blew my mind the most was how it was so exactly what Kunstler has been predicting for years. There's like a one-year time lag between what Kunstler predicts will happen and what the Times reports is actually happening. From CFN of April 4, 2005:
the whole nation -- including many enviro-progressives, by the way -- have bought into the notion that, whatever else reality offers, we are entitled to a life of easy motoring and Ditech Miracle Mortgages, and an awful lot of people are going to lose their personal revenue streams when that illusion falls away.
From The NYT, today:
The increase in gas prices comes at a time when many Americans of modest means are already finding themselves squeezed by increased insurance costs, wages that have not kept pace with inflation, and the rising pressure of adjustable rate mortgages.
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odograph on May 13, 2006 - 11:02am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
well, ms-nbc did keep plugging their "most forwarded" video yesterday morning ... holding it out before each commercial to keep viewers in their seats.

it was a video on bicycle commuting, companies offering bicycle commuting rewards ($100/month, that buys a nice bike), and cities getting on board.

it think it's a win that this was on cable news, and even more that they thought it was a high-value teaser.

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westexas on May 13, 2006 - 5:33am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
IMO, this is more evidence of the "Iron Triangle" at work.  

The housing/auto/finance industries want to keep selling and financing large homes and autos.

The MSM wants to keep selling advertising for large homes/autos/loans.

(Some) major oil companies, major exporters and energy analysts provide the intellectual ammunition--in support of the concept of infinite growth against a finite resource base.  

BTW, did you notice that whenever the cornucopians talk about the tar sands, they talk about reserves, and not production rates.  It's a good bet that there will be a lot of MSM references to the Stossel segment.

So, who do Americans prefer to listen to--Peter Huber, who says go ahead and buy the SUV and large home and continue with your commute, or people that tell Americans  to cut back, live below their means, and live very simply?

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westexas on May 13, 2006 - 5:59am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Boone Pickens, who has been deadly accurate regarding oil prices, gave a speech in Dallas this week.  He said that he was a "Peaker," but he was not giving a Peak Oil speech.  As I expected, the MSM ignored the speech, which was a sellout.

Instead of covering the speech, the Dallas Morning News the next morning had excerpts of an interview the former chief economist for ExxonMobil, who professed "amazement" that oil prices were still so high.  She opined that it was just a matter of time until oil prices fell sharply.

On some level, one actually has to have some sympathy for Americans' outrage over gasoline prices.  If we have infinite oil reserves, then high gasoline prices must be the result of a conspiracy.  

I don't see much of a difference between most of the MSM (regarding Peak Oil) and Enron executives (regarding their business plan).  In both cases, their business model is and was dependent on deceiving the American people regarding the truth.

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oilmanbob on May 13, 2006 - 6:53am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Is there a place to see a transcript of Boone Picken's speech? He's generally very realistic and has a good read on the situation, although fro a consevative prospective.
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Charles Mackay on May 13, 2006 - 12:49pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
In addition to saying oil will hit $80 before $60 this past week, a recent new story quoted him as follows:

May 3, 2006
Energy tycoon Pickens says to expect $4 a gallon soon
Don Mecoy
The Daily Oklahoman

May 3--Boone Pickens, who has made millions predicting energy prices, said American consumers shouldn't expect to see cheaper gasoline anytime soon, and shortly could be paying quite a bit more.

"We're going to see $4 gasoline this summer," Pickens said. And motorists likely never will pay less than $2 for a gallon of gasoline, the Texas energy investor said.

Pickens, an Oklahoma native who founded Mesa Petroleum in 1956 and now runs energy investment funds, appeared at a luncheon Tuesday before business leaders to discuss the energy industry's support of fine arts.

Strife in several oil-producing nations could constrict supplies and send prices soaring, Pickens said. Meanwhile, there is little that could boost supplies and cut prices, he said.

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