Two freaking years. 4.3-plus million unique visits. March has been our best month ever--and it's not even close to over yet (did I mention to keep hitting those reddit and digg buttons? *laugh* But seriously, everything you can do in that regard helps our writers get exposure for their ideas and gets more people involved in these important conversations...).

More importantly, there are now more websites (most of them in our blogroll, but there are others) and more smart people talking and thinking about energy and our future than there were when we started this thing two years ago, and that's a good thing. The petroleum supply has plateaued--to this point--and there is even more uncertainty about the future and how this is all going to play out. We need to have as many informed discussions as we can.

It is rewarding to be a part of helping the world realize that we need to be having these discussions now more than ever. This (sometimes dauntingly and overwhelmingly) complex topic continues to fascinate and grow in salience and importance--we will do everything we can to ensure that The Oil Drum continues to be a medium where these high quality discussions take place.

I am surrounded by an amazing set of people with mind-blowing talents, all part of a diverse community respectfully presenting evidence and argument. I learn from all of you, and I am thankful every day for each one of you and what you bring. Thank you dear people for doing what you do.

So, we thank you all for making this work. Please remember that you create and reinforce the norms that shape the environs here. You make this space; without you, it's just blown bandwidth. Thank you for improving on the silence.

Who knows what the future holds other than that change will occur and time will pass. We have informed guesses, and some of them will be right, some will be wrong. Either way, we will be here while we have the means to keep the lights on and the will to persevere.

Happy Birthday, TODers. Happy Birthday indeed! May the next year bring all of you community, happiness, insight, and understanding.