the end is near!

[™]

http://www.exitmundi.nl/oilcrash.htm

interesting you say?

[BoondockSaint]

interesting yes - actually happening no - my dad was told in high school the oil would be gone by the time he was like 40 or something along with every other kid in school - well he is now almost 50 and it is still around. WE ARE AMERICANS - *in the borris voice from golden eye* - "We are Invincible" - they always find ways to keep us running - whether thats finding more oil - or running everything on corn or dirt or water - well there is always a way

[cartilago77]

interesting yes - actually happening no - my dad was told in high school the oil would be gone by the time he was like 40 or something along with every other kid in school - well he is now almost 50 and it is still around. WE ARE AMERICANS - *in the borris voice from golden eye* - "We are Invincible" - they always find ways to keep us running - whether thats finding more oil - or running everything on corn or dirt or water - well there is always a way

I think we have all heard that since we can remember.

That is why I am working on developing a synthetic oil made out of used condoms, cigarette butts, gnome yard statues, and fig newtons.

[bigred]

I'm going to create a long web page with graphs and powerpoints portraying the end of dwarfman. He's gotta be like what, at least 11 now? He's definately knocking at the Grim Reepers door.

[LeFou]

from TFA:
"Wind is obviously stuff that doesn’t contain a lot of energy -- just compare slamming your head into a bit of wind with slamming it into a concrete wall"

Nice logic. Hell, slam you head into a neutron. Or for that matter, a bunch of oil. I don't think that's the best way to determine energey content...

[a500lbgorilla]

from TFA:
"Wind is obviously stuff that doesn’t contain a lot of energy -- just compare slamming your head into a bit of wind with slamming it into a concrete wall"

Nice logic. Hell, slam you head into a neutron. Or for that matter, a bunch of oil. I don't think that's the best way to determine energey content...

This is why your arn't a scientist, dummy.

-'rilla

[LeFou]

hehe... i like this one too:

"The leading Association for the Study of Peak Oil (ASPO) calculates 2008 will be the year."

Well, gosh, I guess you can't argue with the calculations of the "leading" ASPO.

...wait a sec... who's that, and what are they leading?
http://www.peakoil.net/

[booradly07]

Seriously though, for us in the USA, besides energy shortages we have allot of other crap facing us. I fear we are at the end of an era.

Things may go up or down for us but its definately near the end of the American Era. If the 20th century was the American Century then the 21st will definately go to the Chinese I think.

EDIT: More correctly, it will go to China, not the Chinese in general. Those of you who are Chinese Americans will see fit to go down with the rest of us Yanks I hope. I'ver certainly concidered learning Mandarin. Almost everyone I work with is from China or Tiawan and they are fun to hang out with and play cards with so it couldn't hurt.

Any thoughts?

[ake]

Things may go up or down for us but its definately near the end of the American Era. If the 20th century was the American Century then the 21st will definately go to the Chinese I think.
Any thoughts?

This is what I believe will happen aswell

[zenbitz]

BEST PARAGRAPH EVER

Say we all stop using oil tomorrow. That would mean that suddenly, we will stop putting huge amounts of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. Now, this is probably not a good idea. Over the years, we’ve got huge amounts of green plants, plankton and algae on our planet, courtesy to the greenhouse effect. If we suddenly stop producing greenhouse gases, these plants and algae will suck all of the carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

What's most stunning about this whole creed, is that despite it being riddled with factual errors and out right sillyness, the overall position (no more oil => global economic collapse) is probably correct.

[booradly07]

One thing I know for sure...its all about the Benjamins.

I'm not too worried about it from the perspective of a global collapse based purely on a shortfall in energy. I do believe the saying that neccessity is the mother of invention applies here and we will figure out and implement something. There's allot of room for consipiracy minded people to come up with all kinds of different things here though. But, we will move on to the next energy source and hopefully, regardless of the reasons, one day sustainable, clean energy sources will be the norm.

That puts allot of people in uncomfortable places though.

[LeFou]

Over the years, we’ve got huge amounts of green plants, plankton and algae on our planet, courtesy to the greenhouse effect.

didn't notice that on first read; that's hilarious.
'member back in the 18th century when we weren't burning much oil and there were no plants, plankton, or algae on earth? those were some good times.

Also: yeah, America's just-about off its little pedestal.

[booradly07]

Also: yeah, America's just-about off its little pedestal.

OK, some of this is bound to piss someone off so please don't take it as a personal response Le Fou, it is just something I thought about when I read your post.

Sometimes its frustrating, as an American, when people attack America and by default, intentionally or not, blanket all the citizens of the country in the same ball. For the most part were all the same, the whole world wide, some just have more means that others but the people are the same. We all like Poker right? We all like women and a good brew right! And, think about the fact that everyone has always wanted to come to the USA. Think about all the great things we have accomplished in the past and whatever nation you are from I bet you will come up with something positive that we have contributed to your country.

Sometimes its nice to get clarification from people when they are talking about our foreign policys for example vs. the people of America in general. Most of the American people are good hard working people who don't care for politics and don't want to start problems with other people etc...we just want to provide for our familys and get along. Of course, I know most thinking people know this. I just wanted to say it.

Although there are a certain number of Americans who have definately bought into the "I want it all and I want it now" or the "I'm an American God Damnit, you can't do this to me" mentality. (Think our current leadership)

Now, for example, There are a ton of things I could say bad about China and I would want to personally clarify that it is in no way meant to disrespect the common men and women of China but her own foreign and domestic policys could use some help based on the kind of country I would want to live in. The same goes for N. Korea, most of the Pan Arabic nations and many Central/S. American nations to name a few. Everybody has problems we just happen to be the big boy on the block right now being scrutinized as we poke into others affairs, and rightfully so I suppose.

Having said that, I do think we will, by peaceful means, be knocked off our pedastal so to speak but thats not neccassarily a bad thing. Every other country in the world is second to the US in most tangably measured aspects (except gradeschool education surprisingly) because of the position of power we currently hold and they seem to get along just fine. I actually hope that China and the USA will form a mutually beneficial relationship, get other nations involved and help peacefully stabalise the world somewhat from where it is at today.

I just wonder if China will take the same abuse over everything they do worldwide when they assume the mantle of First Power on Earth? Remember its very PC to talk shit about the USA these days the world over and very non-PC to talk shit about any other country. I suppose the same will hold true in reverse whomever assumes this position next.

Personally, the nicest place I've even been in the world was Vancouver B.C. I think the Canadians, in many respects are doing it right and us Yanks could learn a thing or three from them.

[SmackinYaUp]

my grade school is now one-third viet - they're coming up i tell ya and i don't mind as long as they bring their sisters

[eeeee]

Provedence

The world was supposed to go dark when we ran out of whales.

We were all supposed to starve when the world's population reached 2 billion.

When I was a kid, we were going to run out of oil in the mid '90's, then they invented fuel injection and chips made of silicon (sand).

And the computers helped us find more oil resources, and reach oil in unreachable places.

And now I can earn money from my home and shop around the nation without leaving the house, using less energy than I would driving all over town in my car.

Maybe we don't find the next energy source under ground.
But I bet we find something.
And maybe an American finds it.
Maybe not. Who cares?

[hydroseeds]

Stop all your optimism.


OMFG WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!!

[eeeee]

Stop all your optimism.


OMFG WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!!

[vqc]

i don't mind as long as they bring their sisters

here here.

[yeardley]

I think the Canadians, in many respects are doing it right and us Yanks could learn a thing or three from them.

America's LAG and Canada's a rock sitting to the left. All it is.

[ProZachNation]

I need to lose my virginty before the end!!!!! Please send help!

[booradly07]

I think the Canadians, in many respects are doing it right and us Yanks could learn a thing or three from them.

America's LAG and Canada's a rock sitting to the left. All it is.

[Molinero]

Every other country in the world is second to the US in most tangably measured aspects (except gradeschool education surprisingly) because of the position of power we currently hold and they seem to get along just fine.

Not a response to your comment, booradly, but you made me think of something.

I am an educator, and I recently attended a conference at which the keynote speaker said that, within the next ten years, American public schooling will cease to exist as we know it, and will only be an option for the poorest of the poor.

She also said that China and India are quickly catching up to us in the amount of engineers, researchers, and such-like they produce. In fact, she said that the top tier of university students in India no longer comes to the US for school -- the second tier does.

If we do face a cataclysmic energy and economic crisis in the next 10 to 20 years, we may not have the wherewithal to "figure out a solution", as we seem to assume we will. Other nations may very well remove us from our "pedestal", as it were, for this very reason.

The real danger here is that so many Americans still espouse the belief that, somehow, Americans are inherently more clever and inventive and full of scientific aptitude and intellectual curiosity than the rest of the world. If we bank on that mentality, we're in big trouble.

Don't get me wrong: I'm right up there with the rest of 'em pumping my fist and chanting "U-S-A! U-S-A!" anytime we do something first, or faster, or better, or sexier. Patriotism can be a wonderful thing, but as a basis for our technological superiority, that dog don't hunt.

You want to fix the energy problem? You want to fix the socio-economic problems? You want to fix the fact that the average American is politically apathetic and intellectually impotent? You want to lower crime? You want to reduce the divorce rate? You want to eliminate world hunger?

Then fix the fuckin' school system, for crying out loud.

Rant ended.

[hydroseeds]

But public schools are such great babysitters!