Milestone or Inflection Point?

I suspect that today is the last day I will ever pay less than $4 for a gallon of gasoline. I saved the receipt from the first time I paid more than $3 a gallon - it was just after Hurricane Katrina hit when there was wide concern that gasoline deliveries would be interrupted. Here is my prediction: the internal combustion engine is doomed. It's tombstone has already been carved and is just waiting for the DoD to be added by an alternative. My bet is electric or hybrid electric originating from nuclear plants. Corn ethanol is a complete folly. Actually, any agriculturally-based fuel input, be it switch grass or sugar or otherwise, is a bad idea as it will invariably compete for farm land with food products. The world wants to eat more than it wants to drive and the backlash will only continue if we don't wise up to basic realities.

However, for the time being, the oil companies are providing a safe harbor for investors weary of the fall-out from the housing/financial market crunch. Oh, yes, some decry the profits of ExxonMobil, et al. But their arguments mostly neglect the facts that Big Oil is losing money on refining operations, their overall margins are a mere 8%, and the largest shareholders of the energy companies are mutual funds and pension plans. So, retirees, teachers, policemen, and all sorts of individuals with retirement accounts are personally gaining from the profits. Probably no comfort to you, but remember that when politicians and other "activists" yap about "windfall profits" and new taxes, it will really mean less money in the pockets of senior citizens and public-sector employees.

Back to alternative fuels... the company that can provide a fuel with the energy equivalent of a gallon of gas at $1 per unit is going to make a lot of money. A lot. I call that opportunity.

Constructive Criticism

The astute are aware that I link to the blog of my buddy, Ballista. Now I want to proffer some advice to my friend. Lay off the third-person references. I know you are a secretive sort, but use some pronouns every now and then. You are going past the silly Norm MacDonald/Bob Dole thing and entering into freaky territory. I'm just saying.

And when did you turn into the all-Russia, all-Red alert, all-the-time blog? We get the point (hehehe). I miss the cutting sarcasm of old.

That's life

"Nowhere or in a circle."

Me, out walking with a friend, explaining where the two forks in the path lead. Could this be a metaphor for something?



Photo by Daniel Séguin.

My New Favorite Brit

Jeremy Clarkson is my new favorite Brit. He just breaks me up with his snarky wit. He's funny in that English condescending way yet slightly goofy. Almost like John Cleese but less spastic and more intellectual. For those of you unfamiliar, Clarkson is longtime co-host of the popular BBC show, Top Gear, a more entertaining version of Car & Driver featuring more exotic cars, celebrities on a test track, and cool car-centered challenges. I could go on and on about Top Gear, but I'll suffice to say go find out more yourself - this post is dedicated to Mr. Clarkson.

In addition to discussing "motors", Clarkson is a thinker. He writes frequently on culture, politics, and "nitwits" in his Top Gear blog and in the Times of London. His bio from the Times describes him thus:

Jeremy Clarkson's career as car reviewer and BBC Top Gear presenter has made motoring into show business, but he has earned himself the description of an "equal opportunities loudmouth" for his opinionated commentary on all aspects of life.

You might guess that my affinity for Mr. Clarkson is based on more than his reviews of Aston Martins, and you are correct. I also like his voice. No, no, there's more. On many topics, I agree with his point of view. He's unapologetically British, as I'm unapologetically American, and that pretty much boils down to both of us wanting everyone else to bugger off and leave us alone to enjoy life as we see fit. He also has no compunctions about calling Communists, well, Communists, e.g., the Chinese, union laborers, and quite a few politicians. Perhaps not too surprisingly, some in Britain (and maybe some in America) would like to see Mr. Clarkson elected Prime Minister. I say, "BULLY!" To preview a potential PM Clarkson's policies, you can read about how he would rule the world, here.

I'll leave you with a teaser for Jeremy and Top Gear. Here he is, all 6 foot 5 inches of him, in the world's smallest car.





My former favorite Brit, you ask? This guy: