The triple crises of civilization: Times Argus Online

The triple crises of civilization: Times Argus Online

Posted using ShareThis

A collection of peak oil, end of world, end of civilzation,
doomday readings, malthian predictions, ad nauseum.

Oil Spill Insights from a Retired Manager of an Offshore Underwater Service Company

Oil Spill Insights from a Retired Manager of an Offshore Underwater Service Company

Posted using ShareThis

A good reasoned tome on the gulf oil leak/spill from an expert. I cannot take the stupid summaries of this disaster from the inept biased MSM, which only harp on the calamities and ecological damage without providing actual detailed accounts of the heroic efforts being made by BP and coastal rescue cleanup agencies to deal with this mess.

10 largest oil spills in history

http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fenvirowonk.com%2Fcontent%2Fview%2F68%2F1%2F&sa=D&usg=AFQjCNFKlly7yJ35_zoaveVPrP3M9RFmSA

latest news and setbacks of gulf oil spill:

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6446

cofferdam_q4000_deploys.jpg (JPEG Image, 3500x2333 pixels) - Scaled (22%)

Just to put things in perspective, the largest oil spill in history is the 1991 Kuwait spill when Saddam Hussein sabotaged Kuwait oil tanks/rigs, spilling 500 million gallons of oil into the Persian gulf. If our Gulf oil spill is leaking 5000 barrels per day(EST), it needs 2 months to exceed the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill of 240,000 barrels/11 million gallons. We get oil tanker/oil rig discharges in far off countries almost on a regular basis, but these major spills only damage the ecologies/environments of faraway unknown third world countries, not our own precious shores, so never get CNN coverage and are kept out of sight. US public could care less for eco-damage from oil spills in Persian gulf, China, africa, or some other far-off country as long as it is there and not here.


US decision to halt further offshore drilling just means that we will require more imported oil transported on Oceanic tankers, increasing the chances of another Exxon Valdez-type oil tanker accident. Not to mention chances of a terrorist attack on a vulnerable tanker in the Persian Gulf or other regional/global hot spot. Protecting this US foreign oil lifeline will require continued US military commitments/presence in Middle East/Iraq, and continued US global military buildup/dominance, which means
continued big US military budgets. The wacko environmentalists, who are also 99% anti-military, must be scratching their heads on this conundrum.

Video of Temporary Dome Solution; BP Safety Violations; Well Still Leaking 5,000 BPD, Could Hit 60,000 BPD; Maps

Map of oil spill trajectory

Video of Temporary Dome Solution; BP Safety Violations; Well Still Leaking 5,000 BPD, Could Hit 60,000 BPD; Maps

Some reports and info on gulf coast oil spill

Did a little research on the Gulf oil leak tragedy and, though the problems with plugging leak(s)and oil spill containment are indeed challenging and appear almost hopeless, i have faith that BP and Fed agencies will eventually resolve the oil leak.
Yes, it won't be a quick fix and yes, there will be severe eco-damage, but over time the resilient vast oceans, with assistance from man's technical ingenuity, will swallow and absorb this oil spill.
What will happen is that after a year or two of halts to new offshore drilling, the public and politicians will get back on board with more domestic drilling and oil resource extraction, especally when gas prices surge to $4.00-$5,00. If US halts all new offshore drilling or other domestic oil extraction projects we will only increase the % of oil that we import. That oil travels on oil tankers, which are also are at risk of oil spills. No one called for banning oil tankers despite the 1989 Exxon Valdex tragedy. US will require it's oil fix, and it will get it despite the shril calls from extremist wacko environmentalists to halt any and all domestic offshore oil production.
The politicians simply roll with the winds of public opinion, and shift policies and positions based on public outcry at the moment. Right now the politicans are responding to the gulf oil spill by halting new offshore drilling, but rest of world will drill off their coasts and simply export their oil to US, via oil tankers, which terrorists could easily sabotage.

Greeks rioting in response to EU- imposed austerity measures

Up close action shots of violent Greek riots: these folks are pretty pissed off!

On Phoenix Suns wearing 'Las Suns' jerseys

This is a problem for me. As a supporter of Arizona's tough anti-illegal immigration law SB 1070 i have called for a boycott of los angeles due to LA mayor/city council calling for arizona boycott. I despise all opponents of Arizona's law and am angered that major league professional sports franchises are getting pressured into opposing SB 1070. Even the NBA has become embroiled, with Phoenic Suns actually showing support for diversity and symbolic opposition to SB 1070 by donning jerseys with las Suns imprinted on them.
I am a big NBA fan/fanatic and actually like the Suns and am rooting for them to beat the Spurs. I dislike the NBA/Suns involvement in a hot political issue and believe that this is a big mistake for major league teams to get involved in politics. The majority of NBA/major league fans/followers/TV watchers if polled would likely mirror the general population and support stronger borders and stricter enforcement of laws against illegal immigration. However, fans are not political fanatics and are normally disinterested in politics. This major league involvement in the Arizona boycott could backfire, leading to reduced revenues for professional sports franchises.

That said i will still watch the NBA playoffs and root for the Suns till they reach the lakers in western conference championship. The Suns & all professional sports franchises will see the light and tone down their politics-the owners will realize that it is bad business to mix business and politics.

Greeks rioting in response to EU- imposed austerity measures

'Greeks protest over forced austerity measures after the European Union announced a €110 billion ($145 billion) aid package for Greece on Sunday. Soon after, Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou announced the tough cost-cutting measures to meet European Union and International Monetary Fund conditions for the deal.
The package includes a promise by Greece to cut its budget deficit to 3 percent of the country's gross domestic product, as required by European Union rules, by 2014, according to Papaconstantinou.'

US and especially CA is a greater fiscal train wreak than Greece, yet we happily print and borrow to keep the welfare entitlement gravy train going here. US and at least 10 states are putting off the hard fiscal austerity choices Greece is now confronted with, as no US/state/local politician will make the politically suicidal decisions to drastically curtail or cut entitlement spending , esp the Democrats who depend directly on Government-dependent voters.