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DrumBeat: August 11, 2006

Posted by threadbot on August 11, 2006 - 9:10am
Topic: Miscellaneous

[Update by Leanan on 08/11/06 at 9:15 AM EDT]

A computer scientist explains why computers won't be sustainable in the Post-Carbon Age, and offers some suggestions on peak oil and the preservation of knowledge:

The fragility of microprocessors

A project to preserve knowledge may be unable to continue in an unstable society beset with power outages, hunger, and crime. Once rationing and shortages begin, agriculture and other essential services will receive the most energy. Scientists will be unemployed. It is very likely that resource wars will erupt all over the globe, so the military will be taking a large portion of the dwindling energy resources as well.

The time to begin is now, before we begin the inexorable retreat to wood as civilizations’ main energy source.

[Update by Prof. Goose on 08/11/06 at 12:13 PM EDT] Here's a story just out on MIT's Energy Manhattan Project.

BP will try to keep half of oil field open


The IEA says World can cope now with Alaska, Nigeria oil loss


Ford heralds the demise of the SUV

Large sports utility vehicles (SUVs) will go out of fashion because of environmental worries and demographic trends, a top Ford executive has said.

Mark Fields, who runs Ford's US business, said consumers would move away from SUVs to smaller cars in what he characterised as a "tectonic shift".


The Economist takes on Really Big Oil: Sluggish behemoths control virtually all the world's oil; they should be privatised.


U.S. Lists Places Where It Could Force New Power Lines

The Energy Department took the first step on Tuesday toward designating parts of the nation’s electric grid as “critical congestion” areas, which could force New York, New Jersey and other states to allow construction of new power lines that they do not want.


Now I know we're in trouble: In warmer world, even Inuit buy air conditioners.

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