Archive for May, 2007
Petroleum “an inexhaustible supply”? “Peak” Oil a scam?
Currently there are many geological analysts arguing that in the long-term, the oil supply will run out. Some argue that we have already reached the ‘peak’ of supply and that from now on, oil reserves are on a steady decline. This together with the totally distinct theory of ‘global warming’, has resulted in a cry from scientists, enviromentalists, corporate leaders, politicians and celebrities to free us from the oil “habit”. The debate on the effects of oil use and other man-made activity on global warming is another issue already addressed by other entries on this blog.
A phenomena noticed in the nineteen-ninties, was the replenishment of oil in supposesedly exhausted reserves. The deeper the wells the greater the replenishment. This phenomena was occurring at depths too deep for the oil to be due to the traditional theories on the origins of Oil being the fossilized bio-mass. A number of researchers have since delved into this puzzling phenomena and a number of hypotheses have arisen.
A paper published in 2002 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, argues that deep in the earth the materials, temperature and preassure exist to produce petroleum. “The evolution of multicomponent systems at high pressures IV: The thermodynamic stabilty of the hydrogen-carbon system: The genesis of hydrocarbons and the origin of petroleum”, by J.F. Kenney (U.S.A.), Vladimir A. Kutcherov, Nikolai A. Bendeliani and Vladimir A. Alekseev (Russia), if correct in their research, then the supply of oil is continually being replenished, and that at deeper levels a vast supply of oil may be available.
Economics, knowledge and inappropriate methods of analysis.
In an earlier post I argued that the most important book of the twentith century was “The Road to Serfdom” by Friedrich August von Hayek.
The basic assumption of the book is the inability of social engineers to predict and control outcomes in complex economies. This failure of social planners, leads to the increasing use of authoritarian methods in an attempt to ‘match’ plans to actual outcomes.
The heart of his analysis relies on the understanding that social scientists have appropriated the methods of the natural sciences, and misapplied them.
Hayek’s first public delving into understanding this problem, was outlined in his Presidential address entitled “Economics and Knowledge”, delivered before the London Economic Club on 10 November 1936.
The full text is available Here ….
What sort of U.S. Presidential Candidate would be ideal for Republicans?
Self described Conservative Libertarian author J.J. Jackson argues that the ideal candidate for the the Republican party would be an amalgam Rudy Giuliani’s foreign policy, with Ron Paul’s Domestic policies. Do you agree? Are the two positions be compatible?
View the Planet Mars, High Resolution Images now available.
Thanks to NASA and AMES Research Lab, now there is due to the “High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment”, an online zoomable Martian Map.
See if you can see where I live.
Children achieve close to adult cognitive ability before adolescence, NIH Study Says
A recently published paper by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, argues that in the development of a healthy human brain, most of the cognative ability is developed by the age of 11 or 12.
Free to Dissent in Academe? A new documentary criticizes the current state of academic freedom.
Inspired after a meeting with Michael Moore, Evan Coyne Maloney decided his voice should also be heard. In a plea on his website for funding support, internet enterpreneur Stuart Browning and “Hollywood” lawyer Blaine Greenberg answered the call, and the project commenced. This his first film, “Indoctrinate U” looks at the acceptance of academic dissent on the American Campus today. Young filmmakers who tackle serious issues like free speech should be supported, so please go to the film’s website and Learn More…
2007 Index of Economic Freedom
The Heritage Foundation and the The Wall Street Journal have just published their annual “Index on Economic Freedom”.
The index measures 10 specific freedoms across 161 countries. A very informative publication, see how your country rates, or even the countries of your friends or business partners.
The Philosophy of Liberty
An insightful and simple explanation of the philosophy of liberty, presented as a flash animation by Lux Lucre, based on a speech by Ken Schoolland.
Ken Schoolland is the author of the prize winning children’s novel “The Adventures of Jonathon Gullible”.
Climate Momentum Shifting: Prominent Scientists Reverse Belief in Man-made Global Warming – Now Skeptics
Marc Morano on behalf of the U.S. Senate Commitee on Enviroment & Public Works, posted this article stating that many prominent scientists are changing their minds on man-made global warming. A number of prominent scientists are mentioned, with links to their statements. So much for a “Gore-inspired” consensus. Science is always about struggling to establish the truth, “Incovenient” or not.
Read More…