Loading...
Symbols:
Get Seeking Alpha Free Stock Alerts by Email!
Get Free Stock Alerts by Email!
Transcripts
- EnerSys Inc. F2Q09 (Qtr End 9/28/08) Earnings Call Transcript
- PolyOne Corporation Q3 2008 Earnings Call Transcript
- Sunstone Hotel Investors Q3 2008 Earnings Call Transcript
- McCormick & Schmick’s Q3 2008 Earnings Call Transcript
- Consolidated Graphics F2Q09 (Qtr End 10/31/08) Earnings Call Transcript
- iMergent, Inc. F4Q08 (Qtr End 10/31/08) Earnings Call Transcript
- Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc. Q3 2008 Earnings Call Transcript
- eResearch Technology Inc. Q3 2008 Earnings Call Transcript
- Vignette Corp. Q3 2008 Earnings Call Transcript
- Dynamic Materials Corporation Q3 2008 Earnings Call Transcript
-
Editors' Picks
-
Most Popular
- Talking ETF with iShares CEO Lee Kranefuss
- Automakers: Bailout Arguments, Pro and Con
- My Reconsideration: Why Share Buybacks Are Pointless
- Four Commonsense Clues to a Genuine Market Bottom
- GM Could Benefit from Bankruptcy
- Throwing in the Towel on This Market?
- Full list of Editors' Picks »
- General Electric: Genuine Risk of Collapse? »
- Apple's Greatest Idea Yet »
- Four Commonsense Clues to a Genuine Market Bottom »
- Should We Really Bail Out the Big Three Automakers with $73.20 Per Hour Labor? »
- GE: Not-So-Good Things Come to Light »
- Thornburg Mortgage, Inc. The Wall Street Analyst Call Transcript »
- The Pickens Plan Changes Its Strategy »
- Memo to Warren: AmEx Preferred at 15%, Warrants at $12 »
- The9 Q3 2008 Earnings Call Transcript »
- Peak Oil's Bell Is Ringing »
- Precious Metals Will Depose Cash from Its Temporary Throne »
Hedge Fund Jobs
Job Seekers: Search jobs by category, get job alerts by email or live feed, apply online See full list of jobs »
Employers: See all recruitment options, get applications online or by email Post a job »
Trading Center
- Free E-Newsletters
- About Seeking Alpha
- About Us
- Contact Us
- What's New
- Readers Feedback
- Advertise With Us
- Contributors
- Contribute an Article
- Feature Your Book
- Our Contributors
- Anonymous Contributions
- Dispute an Article?
- Legal
- Terms of Use
- Privacy
- Copyright
Rikiki
19 Comments
The Future of Ethanol
I believe that the following link is where author got most of info on "sweet" sorghum. Milo is a short, seed variety popular in central and southern US grown mainly for the feed you are already familiar with.
www.agribusinessweek.c.../
Rikiki
To What Extent Is Alternative Energy Performance Linked to Fossil Energy Prices?
I totaly concur with your points above.
As long as the congress and president act again as if the oil spike is an aberration, we are condemned to the repeat of history as you suggested. Congress and President have never had the guts to put forth a true "alternative energy" program. They have repeatedly reneged on CAFE (especially for light trucks) standards and buried heads in sand as to an increase in federal tax on gasoline and diesel fuels which would make european size vehicles the norm here. Heavens, they stand the chance of not getting reelected by the mindless mobs who want cheap now and the hell with the future. We americans are guilty of "more for us now" and less for our kids and grandkids. Almost sounds unionesque.
We have F150 and F250 pickups getting an average of 12 MPG. Who really needs that big of a truck .... I know .. Dallas, TX commuters. Right... I pick on Ford because the F150 is the most popular vehicle throughout the US (especially Texas, my former abode) . Yes, I had a F150 for my business 10 years ago. And, I got at best 16 MPG on the highway.
Another area where the government is way behind on is the new clean diesel cars and trucks. Diesel vehicles get at least 20% better mileage than injected gasoline options. My F150 only got 16 at best... my neighbor's F250 (bigger truck) claims as much as 24 on the highway. Why is it that VW, Mercedes and other imports meet our stiff standards for emissions and there is no american car that can?
The congress and the mob that continually reelects them apparently do not believe in long term solutions. I guess that we here are all victims of our culture of " I want now". Is there hope? People tend to believe their elected officials who depend on the lobby wonks to provide them with information on our votes... their way, of course.
To move to alternatives to liquid fuels, a very long, high price spike in petroleum is needed to get the attention of the mobs an the elected "servants". A gasoline and diesel tax increase could do a lot, in the mean time, to forestall the inevitable disaster of extreem fuel shortages and the crippling effect on the economy of the US.
Rikiki
.
Paul Krugman + Al Gore = The Way Forward
Many people on this site now just shout palaver from the right and left over and over. No basis in fact... just assertions and shoutdowns.
AGW is a theory debated by the EARTH SCIENTISTS, a relatively small and select group of MSs and Phds. Let them collectively debate the issues without interference form polititians and writers. I venture that if there were as much interest in the "Theory of Relativity" as there is in the "Theory of Anthropogenic Global Warming" we might be less distracted by "SCIENTIFIC THEORIES".
Maybe we could concentrate on human basic needs right now..... like getting rid of air pollution, assuring a minimal level of medical care for those who are in greatest need, caring for the young disowned street kids and unowned orphans, here and around the world.
Such displaced energy. What a waste of human resource.
Rikiki
Oil: Long-Term Bull Still Intact; Short-Term Weakness Should Persist
Excellent article. You background in Petro shows .
Rikiki
Oil: Long-Term Bull Still Intact; Short-Term Weakness Should Persist
The oil production countries are not exactly the most stable in this world. Any conflagration, assination, revolution, or inter-tribal wars can easily spike oil by huge amonts in a very short time.
In short, oil, oil futures and oil stocks are mega risky. Suggest you consider puts on all your long stocks and calls on all your short stocks.
Consider the following risky oil producers as my case in point:
Iraq, Iran, Saudi, Nigeria, Venezuela, Russia and China.
If you are bullish consider Longer term call spreads on DIG; If bearish use the DUG call spreads. Limit your losses (and gains).... but predictable max and min $ for positions.
RIkiki
How Does the Financial Crisis Affect the Peak Oil Thesis?
I noted in your comment that you believe "Peak Oil" is just a theory. I admit that the "Peak Oil" production position for this planet is not currently knowable (only educated guesses at best) and therefore not really germane to shorter term price (supply and demand) discussions. So I do believe the insertion of "Peak Oil" into this headline leadin is just a teaser with little regard for the actual content.
I posted this earlier on another article on oil and it addresses "Peak any non-renewable commodity.
>>"How can you persist in calling "Peak Oil" a theory. When there is a finite quantity of ANY product or resource that is being consumed grand scale, you will have a "Peak XXXXXX" There are capped oil wells in both east and west Texas that reached their peak production prior to 1962. There are entire oil fields in California that reached peak production at mid century. There are regions such as the Permian Basin in west Texas and east New Mexico and Catarell in Mexico which have been in decline for over a decade. And, indeed, there are countries that are pumping less every year. The pool is being sucked dry worldwide. While some field's production is questionable ( i.e. Saudi), others are yet being discovered. Yes, Russia is pumping more and may not peak for some time but Norway and UK have to look forward to a lot less from the North sea platforms.
The point is that you (all countries) have proof that harvesting non-renewable, non-recyclable "stuff" is in decline. There is no argument here, scientific or otherwise, to dispute this "law of use and depletion of non-renewable resources". So it is not a theory. It is provable! <<
Rikiki
OPEC Embarks on a Fool's Mission
How can you persist in calling "Peak Oil" a theory. When there is a finite quantity of ANY product or resource that is being consumed grand scale, you will have a "Peak XXXXXX" There are capped oil wells in both east and west Texas that reached their peak production prior to 1962. There are entire oil fields in California that reached peak production at mid century. There are regions such as the Permian Basin in west Texas and east New Mexico and Catarell in Mexico which have been in decline for over a decade. And, indeed, there are countries that are pumping less every year. The pool is being sucked dry worldwide. While some field's production is questionable ( i.e. Saudi), others are yet being discovered. Yes, Russia is pumping more and may not peak for some time but Norway and UK have to look forward to a lot less from the North sea platforms.
The point is that you (all countries) have proof that harvesting non-renewable, non-recyclable "stuff" is in decline. There is no argument here, scientific or otherwise, to dispute this "law of use and depletion of non-renewable resources". So it is not a theory. It is provable!
AGW, on the other hand, has hundreds of variables, modeling and outright guessing based upon short historical patterns of climate. There is no "proof" one way or the other that global warming is anthropogenic. I believe most in the field of climatology simply say there is no proof. Therefore, like Einsteins Theory of Relativity, AGW will remain a theory.
Proof, Michael.
Rikiki
Using History to Plan Near-Term Investing
I like your timely ads... Er, I mean comments.
Rikiki
5 Reasons Stocks Will Keep Falling
2. MBS Creation
"MBS are issued by Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA or Ginnie Mae), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC or Freddie Mac), and Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA or Fannie Mae). Mortgage-backed securities typically carry some of the highest yields of any government or agency security" Look it up,VB!
3. Vote for what you think is best for your grand kids... not because you happen to Pi$$ed at nearly everyone off today. Both sides are equally evil in lectioneering. Has pretty well always been so... likely to always be. Hard to believe you are in your 60s.
(: > ))
Rikiki (Democrat, Republican and now Libertarian)
5 Reasons Stocks Will Keep Falling
George H. W. Bush was completely flummoxed during his reelection campaign by "It's the economy, stupid". In actuality the economy was showing improvement by summer of his final year. Economists and financial types knew this. But, the "great unwashed" (including th liberal press) are easily bamboozled by trite cliches and swallowed in Goebbels fashion.
Clinton inherited a growing economy and luckily did nothing major to derail it.
Most people today would agree that at the very base of the credit meltdown is Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS) which was inherent in the rush to create "Homeowners" at any cost. This has been a largely DEMOCRATIC progam for decades. And indeed, home ownership has increased... with little regard for the ability of the buyers to repay the loans.
If you are really honest with yourself you will arrive at the conclusion that I did decades ago running my nascent business..... Make sure your debtors have the ability to pay for your gods and services you provided to them.
Unfortunately, political agendas trump common sense and good business practices. Polititians alway deny their mistakes which are dumped onto the future generations.
( ;<( )
Rikiki
c
Grand Energy Debate Warms Up in Washington
It is nice to know that someone can still read and analyze. Thanks for your comments.
Clarifications:
1-- As you surmised, my point was about raising the price of fuels. Whatever the political systems exist in Europe and for whatever intent they had in taxing fuel, the (perhaps unsought) consequence of reduced consumption and higher efficiency resulted. I have great negative feelings about socialism. I am foremost a Libertarian by philosophy and a Republican by party. I am a native American citizen who grew up in a family where "waste not... want not" and "eat all you put on your plate" were rules of the day.
2--My parents were immigrants from Germany in the 20s. I was born in the Midwest, completed most of my graduate studies in CA and served my country for 6 years in the Navy. I earned the right to b*&^ch about conditions caused by the current "dumbed down" voters and political "leaders". For nearly 40 years since I became a Republican in college years, I have observed my fellow Americans slip into the morass of more government.
3--I concur that we have tried to support a more stable world and tried to keep the inter-country slaughter to a "minimum"... to our loss of precious young men and women in the military and to our financial detriment caused by hijacking a large portion of our GNP. We still have troops in Germany, Korea, and the Middle East. It is expensive to be the last line defenders of the free world. Because of our "Protector of the Free World" syndrome, we do not have the resources to spend on our own population.
4-- Having lived in MN, CA, HI, WA, TN and TX, I can assure you my observation of not only government waste but also of individual's waste is valid. . And, I was speaking about mainly scarce resource waste
----------------------...
>>JHM47
If you could not READ my post try this.
1--I did not condone any sort of European governance. If you were an economist, you would immediately note that Europeans who raised taxes on fuels for whatever reason garnered a welcomed collateral effect of reducing consumption. If you are not familiar with that language, then try this.... Reducing consumption and raising efficiencies was a side effect of whatever their intent was. I simply do not care what European intent was, as one who has had scads of college courses in economics, only the consequence matters.
2-- So Europe is becoming a "third world country. Who cares? I never took a pro-European stance in my position.... merely an economic observer of facts. Emulate?? Read with your mind and don't presume to be able to vet my stands on economic issues or political systems.
3--DA you are probably too young to remember what people burned in furnaces during winter for millennia. Wood, then coal, then heavy petro and now natgas. As a matter of fact many people do buy wood or harvest wood each year for the winter months. In many parts of this country wood pellet stoves are gaining popularity, as are high efficiency wood stoves. When the folks in Boston are paying $1,000 per month for winter fuel oil., those folks in Wisconsin, Maine, Washington, Idaho, Montana and New Hampshire. will be better off.
4-- I have been a proponent of Nuclear powered everything since my first college course in physics that dealt with the matter. I have followed the Nuclear Navy since the USS Nautilus was launched. We Americans have acted like a bunch of sheeple with regards to nuclear energy generation. The US Navy has had well over 100 nuclear reactors in ships since the USS Nautilus. Nuclear Works.
5-- I have a long-standing proclivity for diesel vehicles not electric. Next car,, I think CNG and maybe in a few decades a truly satisfactory hybrid diesel/electric. Electric... maybe like the early 1900s electric trucks... only in cities, I don not foresee an electric traveling from Austin to El Paso on one charge any time in my lifetime.
READ, THINK, THEN REACT.
Rikiki
PS I support certain government projects especially the Interstate highway infrastructure, the TVA, BPA, and certainly government power infrastructure for power transmission lines. T. Boone has it mostly right in my opinion.
Grand Energy Debate Warms Up in Washington
It is nice to know that someone can still read and analyze. Thanks for your comments.
Clarifications:
1-- As you surmised, my point was about raising the price of fuels. Whatever the political systems exist in Europe and for whatever intent they had in taxing fuel, the (perhaps unsought) consequence of reduced consumption and higher efficiency resulted. I have great negative feelings about socialism. I am foremost a Libertarian by philosophy and a Republican by party. I am a native American citizen who grew up in a family where "waste not... want not" and "eat all you put on your plate" were rules of the day.
2--My parents were immigrants from Germany in the 20s. I was born in the Midwest, completed most of my graduate studies in CA and served my country for 6 years in the Navy. I earned the right to b*&^ch about conditions caused by the current "dumbed down" voters and political "leaders". For nearly 40 years since I became a Republican in college years, I have observed my fellow Americans slip into the morass of more government.
3--I concur that we have tried to support a more stable world and tried to keep the inter-country slaughter to a "minimum"... to our loss of precious young men and women in the military and to our financial detriment caused by hijacking a large portion of our GNP. We still have troops in Germany, Korea, and the Middle East. It is expensive to be the last line defenders of the free world. Because of our "Protector of the Free World" syndrome, we do not have the resources to spend on our own population.
4-- Having lived in MN, CA, HI, WA, TN and TX, I can assure you my observation of not only government waste but also of individual's waste is valid. . And, I was speaking about mainly scarce resource waste
----------------------...
>>JHM47
If you could not READ my post try this.
1--I did not condone any sort of European governance. If you were an economist, you would immediately note that Europeans who raised taxes on fuels for whatever reason garnered a welcomed collateral effect of reducing consumption. If you are not familiar with that language, then try this.... Reducing consumption and raising efficiencies was a side effect of whatever their intent was. I simply do not care what European intent was, as one who has had scads of college courses in economics, only the consequence matters.
2-- So Europe is becoming a "third world country. Who cares? I never took a pro-European stance in my position.... merely an economic observer of facts. Emulate?? Read with your mind and don't presume to be able to vet my stands on economic issues or political systems.
3--DA you are probably too young to remember what people burned in furnaces during winter for millennia. Wood, then coal, then heavy petro and now natgas. As a matter of fact many people do buy wood or harvest wood each year for the winter months. In many parts of this country wood pellet stoves are gaining popularity, as are high efficiency wood stoves. When the folks in Boston are paying $1,000 per month for winter fuel oil., those folks in Wisconsin, Maine, Washington, Idaho, Montana and New Hampshire. will be better off.
4-- I have been a proponent of Nuclear powered everything since my first college course in physics that dealt with the matter. I have followed the Nuclear Navy since the USS Nautilus was launched. We Americans have acted like a bunch of sheeple with regards to nuclear energy generation. The US Navy has had well over 100 nuclear reactors in ships since the USS Nautilus. Nuclear Works.
5-- I have a long-standing proclivity for diesel vehicles not electric. Next car,, I think CNG and maybe in a few decades a truly satisfactory hybrid diesel/electric. Electric... maybe like the early 1900s electric trucks... only in cities, I don not foresee an electric traveling from Austin to El Paso on one charge any time in my lifetime.
READ, THINK, THEN REACT.
Rikiki
PS I support certain government projects especially the Interstate highway infrastructure, the TVA, BPA, and certainly government power infrastructure for power transmission lines. T. Boone has it mostly right in my opinion.
Grand Energy Debate Warms Up in Washington
The voters, who constantly reelect these career politicians, want low prices for petro-fuel.... their immediate gratification requirements and hedonistic and profligate lifestyles demand it. (aside... what is the savings rate in the USA?...What is the average credit card and non mortgage debt per household/)
Clearly, to most knowledgeable economists and thinkers, the price of fuel must rise, either by shortages( natural or contrived) or by government intervention. Europe has adopted a high fuel tax (originally to support massive socialistic programmes) which has the additional effect of reducing consumption by causing the consumer to seek ways to maximize the fuel efficiency of vehicles and moderate petro based lifestyles (jet skis, riding lawnmowers, ATVs, long auto trips, truck frame based SUVs, second or third cars, etc...). Americans from government down to states, counties, cities are downright WASTEFUL of energy resources, particularly gasoline and diesel fuels and even electricity. It is the way we grew up in an era of cheap energy. People want to continue this wasteful lifestyle even knowing the longer term consequences are quite undesirable. American consumers by stubbornly demanding lower prices to support their accustomed lifestyles act like temperamental spoiled pre-teens.
Americans have got to look to more than their current consumption habits and think about what they will be leaving on this planet for their children and more future generation. The current generationS are clearly the "ME" generationS. They are selfishly hedonistic to the detriment of those who will follow. Until Americans have the will to vote for representatives who will look to the future and who will institute the necessary programmes providing realistic sources of new energy and for conservation of existing resources, we will be in a constant crisis mode with respect to energy and maybe even eating.
I cannot believe that most religions in the USA promote "helping your fellow man" (in church that is) and then proceed to squander their "God given" resources to the detriment of their children and future generations.
Get real people. People are selfish. Government must take action to
I. conserve energy resources (by raise the prices via taxation of petro-fuels relative to hydro, solar, wind, and geothermal)
II. Promote heavily the conservation of all energy resources by reducing waste. E.G. Penalize the big rig driver with big $ ticket if he lets his 2 gallon/hour run in the parking lot. Penalize all entities which read neighborhood meters from narrow ranging non-electric vehicles. There are literally thousands of little things that can radically reduce the use of petroleum and all resources.
III. Promote and build an infrastructure nationwide for recycling waste of all sorts. Many progressive cities and counties already have this is place.
Will today's generations vote for the type of individual who works for the future of America and not just for the current registered voter? Probably not. It will take a major war or 1973 style petroleum supply disruptions to even get serious about the programmes needed. Maybe when Americans must have a "victory garden" producing food to survive, the reality of conservation and alternative energies will find a "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" class of "public servant".
I have hope.Rikiki
No Matter Who's Elected, Alternative Energy Wins
Liquid petroleum fuels are inelastic to a certain price point and starts to become more elastic above that. All we need is a congress with GUTS to do the right thing for the future of this country.
Rikiki
Is Steve Jobs Sick Again, or Just Thin?
As any team manager, Jobs would be replaced with a likely surrogate from his team. NOTICE that I, as a former business owner, said TEAM. A sane business owner or leader is always is training (grooming)his successor(s). This grooming of the team also has a good side effect is that one can take a vacation now and then and leave the "trainee(s)" in charge of the operation.
Rikiki