Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Black Gold

Remember in grade school when you learned about how the dinosaurs roamed the earth for millions of years, then for one reason or another they all died, and as their bodies decomposed petroleum was formed? Hence, petroleum is considered a fossil fuel. What if I told you that the premise that petroleum being formed from organic matter near the earth's crust was a falsehood and that a newer, more scientific theory exists that proves oil is not a fossil fuel at all but a natural bi-product of a natural process much deeper in the earth?

You would probably say, "Who cares?", but here is the relevance. This new theory, called the Abiotic Theory of Oil Formation, not only disproves the original "fossil fuel" theory, but it proves that petroleum is not a limited resource after all. This is pretty controversial considering the current assumption that we are "dangerously close" to running out of oil.

This theory was developed by Russian-Ukrainian scientists and has even been used to discover oil reserves in the former U.S.S.R. A few facts about the theory:

  • Organic material cannot survive depths of over 18,000 feet while oil has been discovered using the Abiotic Theory at over 36,000 feet.

  • It is NOT new, but was brought to light by Professor Nikolai Kudryavtsev in 1951 and has undergone extensive development and refinement since then.

  • It is not untested or based solely on speculation but in fact was severely challenged by geologists at the time that held to the more traditional fossil fuel theory. The Abiotic Theory has stood the test of intense debate and scrutiny, unlike the rococo (fossil fuel) theory.

  • The original theory that oil can be formed near the earth's crust by extreme pressure and heat violates the 2nd law of thermodynamics.


  • Those are just a few facts, the full article where I got this data can be found here and a shorter synopsis of the basics of the theory is here.

    What I am interested in regarding this new theory is why is it not generally known that the fossil fuel theory has been debunked? Isn't this the "good news" we have all been waiting for? In who's best interest (and the answer to this is painfully obvious) is it to continue to pass on the lie that we are running out of oil? Maybe the oil companies? What if I told you that not only have oil reserves not been steadily depleting, but they have increased? There is proof that oil reserves that were once dry have been revisited because the oil has been replenished. The basics of supply and demand tell us that if the demand for a resource is greater than the available supply, then it comes at a premium. If we suddenly discover that oil is in fact a renewable resource, then we are suddenly no longer at the mercy of the oil companies and they will be forced to lower the price per barrel. As long as this fear exists they can charge us whatever they want.

    Interesting that, although everyone agrees that the U.S. needs to lessen our dependence on foreign oil, we don't seem to be doing much to accomplish that. Why are we not drilling in Alaska? Environmentalists say that we will ruin a national treasure but my understanding is that the area in ANWAR that is drillable compared to the whole is like putting a postage stamp on a football field so it would certainly not taint the landscape as much as some would have us believe.

    The reality is that the oil companies have undergone a multi-million dollar campaign to make sure we all believe we are running out. Ironically, they have found an unexpected ally in their campaign of misinformation: environmentalist groups. Although they seem to be on opposite ends of the spectrum, it turns out they are fighting the same fight.


    To get the discussion going, here are a few questions:

    While we should be pursuing alternative fuels, like hydrogen, our dependence on oil isn't going away any time soon. Shouldn't we be using the Abiotic Theory to find oil here in the U.S. to lessen our dependence on Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia for oil?

    Are the oil companies so powerful that even the government is helping to perpetrate the falsehood that we are running out of oil?

    There is some debate about whether ANWAR will provide enough oil to help solve this problem of foreign oil dependency. Shouldn't we at least take a look and find out if the amount of oil there is worth the trouble?

    Monday, February 20, 2006

    Tisk, tisk

    I haven't posted in a bit due to the fact I have been doing a little research for my next post, which will hopefully be published in a day or two.

    I do feel compelled to take a moment to pimp slap a certain Mr. Ricki Williams for putting his career in peril behind smoking marijuana. Can you say bad career choice? I know he is some kinda Rasta and what not, but this is plain foolishness.

    Emotionally he has always struck me as a little troubled, but I hope he can get it together, he has talent.

    Monday, February 06, 2006

    Relative Truth?

    I was having a discussion with Cynthia about the Muslim reaction to the cartoon depicting Mohammed in a negative light (see previous post) and she brought up a point that I think would be interesting to tackle.

    There are some, and I am not prepared to give any specific percentage of the population but suffice it to say I have heard this philosophy a lot, that EVERYTHING is relative. I will agree that in alot of instances, this is true; relative to Bill Gates, I'm broke, but relative to someone living in poverty, I'm suddenly doing pretty well. This logic can be applied to alot of things; beauty (it IS in the eye of the beholder, right?), intelligence, physical fitness, etc. Notice these things are all comparative, this person is more intelligent than that, or that person is more beautiful than this one. All are very subjective and are determined largely by the experience and beliefs of the person observing. I think Donald Trump is loaded, while Bill Gates could buy and sell him.

    When this no longer holds true for me is when you apply this same rule to things that are completely objective and not subject to interpretation. Let me give a basic analogy that I hope will make my point:

    My friend and I are standing at the curb when a shiny red Ferrari pulls up. We are both equally impressed, but it just so happens that my friend is color blind, so to him the car is blue. Now, the actual color of the car is red and the truth of this fact is not subject to interpretation. It is objectively true that the Ferrari is red, although, subjectively (to my color blind friend) it is some other color.

    I think it is dangerous to apply the philosophy of relativity to everything because suddenly we live in a world where nothing is right, wrong, true, or false, because our own thinking determines which way is correct. I believe that truth is one thing which cannot be left to interpretation.


    Do you believe truth is relative?

    Can you provide a real life example where this is true?

    If it is determined that truth is indeed not relative, what does this say about morality?

    Friday, February 03, 2006

    Choose Your Battles

    This blog by Boortz was brought to my attention by Grouchy Old Cripple and I think it summarizes nicely my thoughts on the Muslim communities over the top response to this issue. Does the phrase, "Choose your battles wisely" mean anything to them?

    Wednesday, February 01, 2006

    CD Mix Challenge

    1) A favorite political track.
    The song that jumps into my head whenever I think of politically charged music is Fight the Power - Public Enemy

    2) One of those tracks that make you dance on the dancefloor no matter what.
    Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Do I need to tell you?

    3) The song you’d use to tell someone you love them.
    Shining Star - The Manhattans; my wife and I consider this to be "our song".

    4) A song that has made you sit down and analyze it’s lyrics.
    This Woman's Work - Maxwell

    5) A song that you like, that a two year old would like as well.
    Shackles - Mary Mary

    6) A song that gives you an energy boost.
    Step Into A World (Rapture's Delight) - KRS One

    7) A song that you and your grandparents (would probably) like.
    Blue Train - John Coltrane

    8) A song that you really liked when you were 14-16, and still really like now.
    Telephone Man - New Edition, anything by them brings back fond memories of my teen years.

    9) A sad song that would be in the soundtrack of the movie about your life.
    Little Wing - Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble

    10) A peppy song that would start the opening credits of the movie about your life.
    The Glow of Love - Luther Vandross

    11) A good song from a genre of music that no one would guess that you liked.
    Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd

    12) A song that you think should have been playing when you were born.
    Fantasy - Earth Wind & Fire, one I could play over and over and never grow weary!

    13) A favorite artist duo collaboration.
    You're All I Need To Get By - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrel; I thought Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell were fantastic together.

    14) A favorite song that you completely disagree with (politically, morally,
    commonsenically, religiously etc.)

    Grand Verbalizer - X-Clan, Vanglorious! This is protected by the red, the black, and the green with a KEY! SISSYYY!

    15) The song that you like despite the fact your IQ level drops several points
    every time you listen to it.

    Where I'm From (Don't Fight The Clean Mix II) - Passion

    16) Your smooth song, for relaxing.
    Lifetime - Maxwell

    17) A song you would send to someone you hate or are mad at.
    Ain't No Future in Yo' Frontin' - MC Breed

    18) A favorite track from an outfit considered a “super-group.”
    Brick House - The Commodores

    19) A song that makes you reminsce about good times with a family member.
    Dear Mama - Tupac, always makes me remember growing up with my moms (BTW, she was NEVER a crack fiend)

    20) Your favorite song at this moment in time
    Fast Lane - Bilal, I know, it's not brand new, but I never get tired of it.

    Whew! That was hard work! It did take me down memory lane alot (good and bad memories), thanks to Nikki for bringing King's list to my attention!