Comments on: Afternoon Links http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/ It rankles me when somebody tries to tell somebody what to do. Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:49:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Brian http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83990 Brian Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:36:05 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83990 The Lakota will be very happy to hear about their new oil field. http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/12/lakota-withdraw.html The Lakota will be very happy to hear about their new oil field.
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/12/lakota-withdraw.html

]]> By: Danno49 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83883 Danno49 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:58:30 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83883 "With the myriad of regs, could you or any group of investors start a new company? That is no accident." Indeed. Long gone are the days of the Daniel Plainview types who restricted competition by being a douche bag in 'plain view' - the current douche bagism is just hidden among laws and regs - the monopolists do loves them their monopolies! There just isn't enough money out there for new blood! “With the myriad of regs, could you or any group of investors start a new company? That is no accident.”

Indeed. Long gone are the days of the Daniel Plainview types who restricted competition by being a douche bag in ‘plain view’ - the current douche bagism is just hidden among laws and regs - the monopolists do loves them their monopolies! There just isn’t enough money out there for new blood!

]]> By: Joe http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83877 Joe Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:08:17 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83877 James: We haven’t even been allowed to make just REFINERIES in this country for like 30 years … you think the liberal hippies in this country are going to let us actually drill for oil again? Two Points 1. I agree that the libs have stopped some refineries. 2. the Oil companies also benefit from a "refinery shortage" How? Beacuse they even closed some refineries last year during peak demand - and then the price goes up. Their product price increases and their expenses go down - the end result is greater profits. Which is not necessarily bad unless you are a consumer or an entrepeneur that wants to start an oil company. The only (unlikely) concern then is that gov't will confiscate those profits. So long as they have enough product to meet demand, it does not matter how many refineries exist. If there wasn't enough, public outcry of gas shortages would mandate more and the companies would build more. To a great extent, Oil companies love the regulation - why? b/c it keeps the existing companies on top. R Balko profiles countless businesses that lobby for licensing and other regs for the sole purpose of restricting competition. Oil Execs are no different. With the myriad of regs, could you or any group of investors start a new company? That is no accident. James:
We haven’t even been allowed to make just REFINERIES in this country for like 30 years … you think the liberal hippies in this country are going to let us actually drill for oil again?

Two Points

1. I agree that the libs have stopped some refineries.
2. the Oil companies also benefit from a “refinery shortage”

How? Beacuse they even closed some refineries last year during peak demand - and then the price goes up. Their product price increases and their expenses go down - the end result is greater profits. Which is not necessarily bad unless you are a consumer or an entrepeneur that wants to start an oil company. The only (unlikely) concern then is that gov’t will confiscate those profits.

So long as they have enough product to meet demand, it does not matter how many refineries exist. If there wasn’t enough, public outcry of gas shortages would mandate more and the companies would build more.

To a great extent, Oil companies love the regulation - why? b/c it keeps the existing companies on top. R Balko profiles countless businesses that lobby for licensing and other regs for the sole purpose of restricting competition. Oil Execs are no different.
With the myriad of regs, could you or any group of investors start a new company? That is no accident.

]]> By: Dave Krueger http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83873 Dave Krueger Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:55:42 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83873 I think the story about the huge oil deposits is just a gubmint scheme to scare the Arabs into reducing oil prices. I think the story about the huge oil deposits is just a gubmint scheme to scare the Arabs into reducing oil prices.

]]> By: Dave Krueger http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83871 Dave Krueger Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:50:23 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83871 The pictures in the "Life Before Death" item hit close to home for me. I shed any wishful thinking about an afterlife many years ago and as I get older, I have come to realize that our 70 or 80 years is not really a lifetime, but merely a tease. It's only as I get closer to death that I finally have learned how to live. And now that I know how to do it, I want to start over. The pictures in the “Life Before Death” item hit close to home for me. I shed any wishful thinking about an afterlife many years ago and as I get older, I have come to realize that our 70 or 80 years is not really a lifetime, but merely a tease. It’s only as I get closer to death that I finally have learned how to live. And now that I know how to do it, I want to start over.

]]> By: scottp http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83862 scottp Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:35:08 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83862 <i>Dr. Pepper says it will give a free can of soda to everyone in the country if Guns ‘n’ Roses releases Chinese Democracy sometime in 2008.</i> I suppose somebody cares, though I can't imagine who. Dr. Pepper says it will give a free can of soda to everyone in the country if Guns ‘n’ Roses releases Chinese Democracy sometime in 2008.

I suppose somebody cares, though I can’t imagine who.

]]> By: Andrew Williams http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83822 Andrew Williams Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:02:53 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83822 OK, so let's say the amount of oil in the Bakken is as the USGS predicts. Let's say it reduces our dependence on overseas oil. We'd still have to import some--at least to maintain reserves--and we'd still be no closer to a replacement for the internal-combustion engine, which is, let's face it, a 19th century invention that needs to be replaced or at least revamped. Coal and oil are the biggest producers of carbons monoxide and dioxide, and we need to reduce those emissions--if not for global warming, then at least for cleaner air. OK, so let’s say the amount of oil in the Bakken is as the USGS predicts. Let’s say it reduces our dependence on overseas oil. We’d still have to import some–at least to maintain reserves–and we’d still be no closer to a replacement for the internal-combustion engine, which is, let’s face it, a 19th century invention that needs to be replaced or at least revamped. Coal and oil are the biggest producers of carbons monoxide and dioxide, and we need to reduce those emissions–if not for global warming, then at least for cleaner air.

]]> By: James D http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83815 James D Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:44:26 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83815 We haven't even been allowed to make just REFINERIES in this country for like 30 years ... you think the liberal hippies in this country are going to let us actually drill for oil again? They'll probably declare ND a 'wild life preserve' and then still have the audacity to turn around and complain about the price of gas ..... From what I've read, there's a giant pocket of oil like this in Alaska that we haven't tapped either. We haven’t even been allowed to make just REFINERIES in this country for like 30 years … you think the liberal hippies in this country are going to let us actually drill for oil again? They’ll probably declare ND a ‘wild life preserve’ and then still have the audacity to turn around and complain about the price of gas …..

From what I’ve read, there’s a giant pocket of oil like this in Alaska that we haven’t tapped either.

]]> By: Thomas Paine's Goiter http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83814 Thomas Paine's Goiter Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:38:27 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83814 FORBES: http://tinyurl.com/22x27z WIKI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakken_Formation GRAND FORKS HERALD: http://tinyurl.com/2f4dgd FORBES: http://tinyurl.com/22×27z

WIKI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakken_Formation

GRAND FORKS HERALD: http://tinyurl.com/2f4dgd

]]> By: Thomas Paine's Goiter http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83810 Thomas Paine's Goiter Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:23:53 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83810 For those looking for more "legitimate" news sources: Grand Forks Herald: http://tinyurl.com/2xtjkp AP, via Forbes: http://tinyurl.com/22x27z Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakken_Formation For those looking for more “legitimate” news sources:

Grand Forks Herald: http://tinyurl.com/2xtjkp

AP, via Forbes: http://tinyurl.com/22×27z

Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakken_Formation

]]> By: Thomas Paine's Goiter http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83809 Thomas Paine's Goiter Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:16:18 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83809 What would a North Dakota oil sheik look like? What would a North Dakota oil sheik look like?

]]> By: Christopher Monnier http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83768 Christopher Monnier Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:11:05 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83768 As much as I yearn for the days when everything will be powered by magical super efficient solar cells, a lot of new oil is on the whole good news. As much as I yearn for the days when everything will be powered by magical super efficient solar cells, a lot of new oil is on the whole good news.

]]> By: Danno49 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83767 Danno49 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:09:49 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83767 If that TA was so easy-going, they should have made a joke of their own instead of chastising the student. Silly? Absolutely. Disrespectful? Not likely. How about something like this in response: And you would know this exactly how, Mr. Baggins? If that TA was so easy-going, they should have made a joke of their own instead of chastising the student. Silly? Absolutely. Disrespectful? Not likely. How about something like this in response:

And you would know this exactly how, Mr. Baggins?

]]> By: Zero http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83763 Zero Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:37:15 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83763 Christopher, I think this might be legit. I searched on "Bakken Oil Formation" and the number one link was: https://www.dmr.nd.gov/ndgs/Bakken/newpostings/07272006_BakkenReserveEstimates.pdf which is a North Dakota government doc. Also I think the Dr. Pepper thing might be legitimate. I recall seeing it posted on Digg or Slashdot last week sometime. However given how long GnR has been working on Chinese Democracy I doubt Dr. Pepper will have to make good on it's promise. Christopher,

I think this might be legit. I searched on “Bakken Oil Formation” and the number one link was: https://www.dmr.nd.gov/ndgs/Bakken/newpostings/07272006_BakkenReserveEstimates.pdf which is a North Dakota government doc.

Also I think the Dr. Pepper thing might be legitimate. I recall seeing it posted on Digg or Slashdot last week sometime. However given how long GnR has been working on Chinese Democracy I doubt Dr. Pepper will have to make good on it’s promise.

]]> By: Bronwyn http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83757 Bronwyn Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:16:01 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83757 I'm not used to crying at work. I need to take a breather, now. When my son was born, I suddenly became uncomfortably aware of my own mortality and, for the first time, began to fear it. I’m not used to crying at work.
I need to take a breather, now.

When my son was born, I suddenly became uncomfortably aware of my own mortality and, for the first time, began to fear it.

]]> By: Christopher Monnier http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83755 Christopher Monnier Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:00:34 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/01/afternoon-links-6/#comment-83755 Is the oil story an April Fool's joke? A quick Google search showed a bunch of blogs pointing to that same website. So is it the original source of the story? If so, how credible is an article that includes language like this:<blockquote>The US imported about 14 million barrels of Oil per day in 2007 , which means US consumers sent about $340 Billion Dollars over seas building palaces in Dubai and propping up unfriendly regimes around the World, if 200 billion barrels of oil at $90 a barrel are recovered in the high plains the added wealth to the US economy would be $18 Trillion Dollars which would go a long way in stabilizing the US trade deficit and could cut the cost of oil in half in the long run.</blockquote> One big run-on sentence with jingoist leanings? Shouldn't this be major news and therefore covered by CNN, MSNBC, etc.? Now I'm wondering if the Dr. Pepper story is an April Fool's joke, as well... Is the oil story an April Fool’s joke? A quick Google search showed a bunch of blogs pointing to that same website. So is it the original source of the story? If so, how credible is an article that includes language like this:
The US imported about 14 million barrels of Oil per day in 2007 , which means US consumers sent about $340 Billion Dollars over seas building palaces in Dubai and propping up unfriendly regimes around the World, if 200 billion barrels of oil at $90 a barrel are recovered in the high plains the added wealth to the US economy would be $18 Trillion Dollars which would go a long way in stabilizing the US trade deficit and could cut the cost of oil in half in the long run.

One big run-on sentence with jingoist leanings? Shouldn’t this be major news and therefore covered by CNN, MSNBC, etc.?

Now I’m wondering if the Dr. Pepper story is an April Fool’s joke, as well…

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