Fewer pitchforks, more facts: How do we take back energy discussions?
One fine November day long ago in my university days, the Saskatchewan Roughriders won the Grey Cup for the first time in decades. It was a big upset and the province went nuts; at the time it had little else to cheer about. My friends and I joined a huge throng of people running purposefully […]
In violent agreement – both sides in energy wars envision same future, but too entrenched to notice
Here in Canada, energy wars are reaching a fever pitch. The petroleum business has begun to fight back after having been comprehensively outfoxed by a very savvy opponent in the form of formidably organized protest groups. The fossil-fuelers, mostly consisting of technical engineers, geologists, and finance people, was busy focusing on cash flows and finding […]
When I get hit by a self-driving car, I’m suing everyone in sight for 8 trillion dollars
If I survive, that is. At the end of the day I won’t be unreasonable though and would probably settle for $500 billion-ish. Not that litigiousness is a good thing. I roll my eyes like everyone does at the stories about millionaires being created by dumping hot coffee in their laps, or slipping on ice, […]
Stop fighting, start planting trees
Is anyone else out there exhausted by ridiculous environmental arguments? The topic isn’t ridiculous, but the entrenchment is. We’re getting nowhere and everyone is just getting more riled up. It’s like an argument about the best sushi, except that the loser loses his job forever. The green side sees fossil fuels as the ultimate enemy, […]
Elitism and energy – maybe progress is a whole lot easier when you’re rich
A funny thing happens when the price of gasoline increases and stays there for a while – people of lesser means often find themselves driving big, new-ish fuel hogs. I know, because I’ve been there. How does that work? Well, in periods of low gasoline prices, few people care about mileage and sales of big […]
Public Energy Number One 