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231 comments on DrumBeat: June 21, 2008

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westexas on June 21, 2008 - 9:49am Permalink | Subthread | Comments top

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/21/business/21oil.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1
Why Is Oil So High? Pick a View
By JAD MOUAWAD and DIANA B. HENRIQUES
Published: June 21, 2008

People who have spent their careers tracking the ups and downs of the global oil markets say their compasses are spinning. Oil prices rise for reasons they cannot quite fathom, and where prices will be a year from now has become, literally, anybody’s guess.

I have an answer. Pick me! Pick me!

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mcgowanmc on June 21, 2008 - 10:00am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

"I have an answer. Pick me! Pick me!"

I did. To whom it may concern, I like the Green # rating system.

Easy. Fun. Cheap.

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cycling in hollywood on June 21, 2008 - 10:30am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

That sounds just like the other 'expert' they had on with Robert Hirsch...'who knows, anything could happen'...hilarious...

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westexas on June 21, 2008 - 12:06pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

A local TV station had a story last night about a growing problem at local animal shelters--pet owners dropping off pets that they can no longer afford (because of rising food & energy prices). Many of them have seen the number of pets dropped off increase by more than 35% at the same time that the number of adoptions is dropping off, and some have been forced to stop accepting new animals. There was a story a couple of weeks ago about a similar problem in the UK.

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ozonehole on June 21, 2008 - 1:34pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

In some countries, dogs and cats have traditionally been fair game for the dinner table. Ditto for rats. It hasn't reached that point yet in America, but just wait.

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pondlife on June 21, 2008 - 5:43pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Apart from the pros/cons of eating pets, if we are going to grow food in our gardens then cats have got to go. And I speak as someone who grew up in a house full of strays.

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jokuhl on June 21, 2008 - 9:43pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Aside from the opening you gave me to suggest that it's possibly time for 'See Soylent-Spot Sizzle', I have to ask as a more serious aside, Isn't one of the advantages of a 'working cat' that of rodent and pest control, which might revive the necessity of growers having them around?

Bob

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urbangardener on June 22, 2008 - 5:37am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Unless of course the cat prefers to stalk & eat wild birds and poultry.

Then they're just another livestock predator and decimater of the local wild bird ecosystem - and a human-introduced, nonnative, invasive species at that.

Plus, semi-feral cats roaming the wild introduce disease to human children with their fleas, parasites, rabies, cat scratch fever, and the cat-feces specific illness that endangers pregnant women who work the garden soil.

Eeewww.

Oh but they look so cute.

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pondlife on June 22, 2008 - 5:53am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Maybe. I was considering my suburban/high density amateur garden.

I think the traditional farm cat is specifically for crop stores in the countryside. It might deter foxes from chickens too.

Our street probably has a cat density of 1 per house. None of them are hard enough to take on a rat/stoat/weasel/mink etc. Their only adrenalin rush is crapping in our veg when no-one is watching..

My mum lives in a more rural setting. Losing chickens to mysterious deaths is expected. I think you would need to give a cat a hard life if you want it to work for you - they are willful sods.

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greenish on June 21, 2008 - 6:47pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Actually, here in Hawaii for at least 20 years the Humane Society has made you sign a legal agreement promising not to eat the animal you're adopting.

At $25 it's not a bad price per pound for a St. Bernard or Irish Wolfhound, but they even require it for kittens.

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Rethin on June 21, 2008 - 10:37pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

For their livers of course.

Kitten Livers with Onion Marmalade
http://petsorfood.com/blog/2008/03/28/kitten-livers-with-onion-marmalade/

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ztexas on June 22, 2008 - 12:52am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

A surplus of unwanted puppies and kittens, you say? Well, animal fat does make excellent biodiesel. Problem solved.

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Wharf Rat on June 22, 2008 - 5:52am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

"Ditto for rats."

No, no, no. When it comes down to "eat or be eaten", Rats are gonna be fat and happy.

Rat

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westexas on June 21, 2008 - 11:27am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

My answer (surprise!): Importers bidding for declining net oil exports.

The amazing thing is that the NYT didn't even bother to cite the example of our third largest supplier imported oil, Mexico.

I estimate that total net oil exports from Mexico fell from about 1.4 mbpd in 9/07 to 1.1 mbpd in 5/08. Extrapolate this out, and Mexico ceases to be a net exporter in 2010. If they fall at just half this rate, they would be at zero net oil exports in five years.

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Jaymax on June 21, 2008 - 11:31am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Teachers response: Yes, that's very good, but you didn't actually answer the question young WT, did you? "guess where prices will be a year from now?" Now, who else had their hand up? :-)

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westexas on June 21, 2008 - 11:58am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Well, strictly speaking, there were two parts, and part one was: "Oil prices rise for reasons they cannot quite fathom,"

Regarding the second part, I can say where oil prices will be in May, 2009 at their current rate of increase--about $250.

Don't know if that merits a gold star, or detention.

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ZW on June 21, 2008 - 12:02pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Between $189.98/bbl and $214.72/bbl

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docscience on June 22, 2008 - 1:39am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

My guess is $185. at some point in May 2009

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Geckolizard on June 21, 2008 - 5:06pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
People who have spent their careers tracking the ups and downs of the global oil markets say their compasses are spinning. Oil prices rise for reasons they cannot quite fathom, and where prices will be a year from now has become, literally, anybody’s guess.

I have an answer. Pick me! Pick me!

Here's a guess from the Aussies...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZlT4w2tZmg

From video: "We can see the future. And the future is very f*cking expensive."

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231 comments on DrumBeat: June 21, 2008

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