Peak Oil is a theory that is increasingly relevant as the price of oil and gasoline continue to skyrocket. It was first proposed in the 1950's by an American geoscientist named M. King Hubbert who worked for Shell in Texas and correctly predicted that the supplies of oil were limited in the United States and extraction would peak at some point in the late 1960's then fall afterwards.
This theory was later applied to world supplies of oil with the prediction for when peak oil would occur worldwide ranging anywhere from 2010 to "never" depending on which study you read. (The "never" people are the ones who claim that oil is produced continually by internal earth processes and are sort of like the folks who still deny climate change in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.) MetaFilter recently had a thread about an International Agency study of 400 oil fields that found that, barring a substantial decrease in demand, the world would face an oil
supply shortfall of 12.5 million barrels a day by 2015 or 15% of current
production.
On the contrary, even people who agree with the idea of peak oil and don't think it'll bubble from the ground forever, point out that improvements in technology and/or the rising price of oil will lead to more finds or re-approaching fields that were previously unfeasible or thought to be tapped.
The other related issue is, of course, climate change. Even if the earth did have unlimited supplies of oil, there has to be consideration of what the burning of so many fossil fuels are doing to our environment.
(A digression - "fossil fuels" is a bit of a misnomer and many people think that oil fields are like the dinosaur version of elephant graveyards. The reality is that oil fields were likely produced, not by dinosaurs but ancient micro-organisms and foliage. A great way to understand this that I read somewhere: the weight of all the ants on earth is more than the weight of all elephants.)
Ethanol isn't the solution because, although it is renewable since it is fuel made from crops such as sugar cane and maize, it still involves burning which harms the environment plus it drives up the cost of those basic food crops. (Mexico recently capped the prices for tortillas.)
The role of speculators, both in driving up the prices of food crops (see the last linked article) and of oil itself, can't be ignored either. In fact, there are some that think the huge increase in oil prices in the last year doesn't have anything to do with peak oil and is completely based on self-fulfilling speculator prophecies (if you bet millions that the price of oil will go up, that will push the price up which leads other speculators to do the same and it becomes a vicious cycle which only end with a massive crash which will make 1929 look like a 16-year old learning to drive versus the coming crash which would be more like Evil Kinevil jumping over a canyon and not quite making it.)
Why am I writing this now? I've always been interested in the idea of Peak Oil for all the different areas it brings into contact - economics, environmentalism, politics, geology, etc. - but now that the Saskatchewan economy is booming due to our oil and other natural resources, and having spent the last year living in the epicentre of the Saskatchewan oil & gas industry (Weyburn-Estevan), it's hitting especially close to homebi-. (out of curiosity, I even went to the bi-annual Saskatchewan Oil & Gas Show in Weyburn last year - a place I never thought I'd find myself!)
Recent studies have declared that there is a "Saudi Arabia of oil" under Saskatchewan, Manitoba, North and South Dakota and Montana in the Bakken and Torquay formations (the blogger who posted the image below has downsized his initial estimate but it's still apparently the largest find in Canada since 1957).
I drove out to Shea's farm with her family a few months ago and we didn't recognize the area. The landscape now looks like the moon - instead of the never-ending greens, yellows and browns of the farm fields, there is just endless, flattened, black earth covered in rows of pumpjacks.
I've got a lot more that I could say but I hear a baby crying so I might come back to this topic later. I do hope this has given you an introduction if you didn't know about peak oil and maybe some more info if you do!
Shea's got a few photos from our Calgary trip up on Flickr if you're interested. If not, this MetaFilter thread about the new M. Night Shamaladingdong movie, "The Happening", is pretty entertaining.
We happened to be downtown on the Sunday of the Gay Pride Parade in Calgary so spent some time at Olympic Plaza enjoying the music, the vendors and the atmosphere in general.
In a completely unrelated story, Pace was later photographed wearing this hat...
Well, we're back from Calgary and it was a great trip!
Pace was an amazing traveler, we saw lots of friends, family and old familiar sights. In many ways, it felt like we were trying to cram three and a half years of memories from when we lived there into just under a week of visiting. But even with that constraint, we managed to hit many of the spots we wanted to see - the Calgary Zoo, the Wave Pool, Shea's old unit at the Foothills, my old office at the Old Y Centre for Community Organizations plus lots of shopping and good eating. Oh, and the obligatory pilgrimage to IKEA that all Saskies must make when visiting Cowtown.
I haven't downloaded our pictures or video yet but was looking for something to sum up the trip and found the clip below.
If asked to name my single fondest memory of the three and a half years I spent in Calgary, it was when a dozen people (including the couple we stayed with while visiting on this trip) rented a 10 man dingy (yeah, I know I said it was a dozen people involved - but there were always two or more in the river at pretty much anytime so it wasn't *completely* illegal) spent a beautiful +30 day floating lazily down the Bow River that runs through the centre of Calgary.
The day had it all - beautiful hot weather, tons of other rafters to visit with, lots of chances to jump in and swim in the swift moving river or just hold on to the edge of the dinghy, a picnic lunch, getting ambushed by kids with water guns at one beach along the ride, a chance to drink directly from the river via one survivalist participant's new water filtration gizmo, a spot check by the river patrol (conveniently happening after our portage spot where we dumped a lot of empty cans!) and even a lost engagement ring swept away by the strength of the current (luckily not Shea's ring!)
We only did this once during the entire 3.5 years we lived in Calgary because I think we realised that doing it again might bring disappointment when it wasn't as magical as that first time.
I had the same worry going back to visit Calgary after so many years away and with so many good memories of our time living there. But except for a couple small pangs throughout the week (okay, and one big one when Shea and I spent a couple hours strolling 17th Ave aka "The Red Mile" where we'd spent so much time while we lived in Calgary), I realised I don't miss Calgary as much as I thought I would. It was a great city to spend a few years in during my 20's but I would argue that Regina's an equally great city to be a young parent in. (Comparing notes with a cousin who does a 2+-hour round trip to take her daughter to soccer three nights a week is all the proof I needed on this point! )
Anyhow, I found this video which doesn't quite do justice to how peaceful and wonderful and amazing our own day floating the Bow River was. But it may give you a bit of a taste...
I couldn't think what to post about so Shea suggested I give an update from my real life. So here it is...
- tonight we went for a big walk and ended up in River Park just down the hill from where we live in Weyburn. There was an In Motion celebration going on and Pace loved dancing and clapping and running around (yes, he's running now!) to the zydeco band that was playing.
- we're going to Calgary for a week, leaving tomorrow. Our main goals are to hit the zoo, do some shopping (Saskies have to make a pilgrimage to IKEA), visit some relatives and friends since we haven't been back since moving home in 2004 after having lived there for three and a half years
- blog posts may be a bit more sparse for the next week (but knowing me, probably not.)
- I had a day at work today where I accomplished tons, the time flew by, I wrapped up pretty much everything I needed to do before going on holidays. I love days like that!
- I'm on the road tomorrow doing weeding all day at one of our branches. This is completely different than smoking weed all day at one of our branches which is a practice that went out of fashion around 1977.
- Hockey is over. The other blood sport, the Democratic nomination proces is over. How will I entertain myself this summer. (Voice from next room: "Go outside!")
- I could see myself developing an addiction to energy drinks. I'd never tried them before but on a friend's recommendation, I gave it a shot and zowee-wowee. Them things pack a punch!
- Did I mention that I hope to visit a few of my old favourite CPL branches while in Cowtown?
- we probably won't go out to the mountains while we're there. We rarely did in the three and a half years we lived there - why change now? But seriously, we've got a pretty full week just with Calgary stuff so it's doubtful if we'll manage to head out that way.
- I've got a list of old favourite restaurants I want to visit as well. Beef satay at Viet West, chicken schwarma at Falafel King and a pizza from Hop n Brew are all on the menu.
- we've already been invited to a hot tub party - yay!
When I worked for the Writers Guild of Alberta, one of my main jobs each year was to organize their annual book awards program. One of my most memorable experiences during this time was when of our members submitted her book in both the fiction and non-fiction categories.
I looked at the book and saw that it was indeed part fiction and part non-fiction so I called her up to see if she was willing to just put the book in one category or the other since this could obviously lead to some confusion at the minimum should she be shortlisted in both categories and embarrassment if she won both!
"No. This book is half fiction and half non-fiction. Each chapter alternates from one to the other so those are the categories I want to be entered in."
"Okay, I'll let it go." I told her. "But if you win in both categories, you're explaining it to the media, not me!"
That was the thought that crossed my mind the other day as I was working through our patron request "show pile". A couple patrons had requested the OJ Simpson book. So I did the assessment we have to do for every requested book. But this one provided some interesting twists and turns.
If you don't know the story, OJ Simpson was offered a huge contract to write a fictionalized version of how he *might* have killed his ex-wife and her acquaintance. There was a huge public outcry so the book was canceled, editors were fired and a small dash of civility prevailed for once in our celebrity-obsessed, anything-goes society.
The reprieve lasted a month or so. Then the rights to the book were assigned to the family of one of the murder victims who decided to go ahead and publish it to try and recoup some of the $38 million they were awarded in civil suit against OJ after he was found innocent in the criminal trial.
Although the book was originally going to be marketed as a "fictionalized" account of how the murders may have occurred, I found that it was now classed as a "True Crime" book and the cover still had the original "If I Did It" title but the word "if" was in really small letters so it would appear to read "I Did It". A new sub-title was added "Confessions of the Killer" and the author was listed as The Goldman Family rather than OJ Simpson.
All I can say is "ouch!" The family aren't likely to recoup much of what they're owed by publishing this book. But they definitely got back at OJ with how they pulled a bit of a switcheroo. Also makes for some interesting questions for the cataloguers out there - how do you treat a book where the line between fiction and non-fiction is so blurry? (If I could remember the title, I could look up that WGA half and half book to see how various libraries dealt with it.)
Saskabush is like Saskatchewan's answer to The Onion (but with a much more random yet much less frequent publishing schedule.) Not sure how the humour translates outside the borders of the flatlands but as someone who lives here, I find the writer laugh-out-loud funny on a frequent basis.
So, in light of the recent provincial election results and the Riders first home playoff game in twenty years tomorrow, this article seems appropriate to post:
MICHAEL MOORE OFFERS TO REIMBURSE THE UNITED NURSES OF ALBERTA FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF HIS HIGHLY ACCLAIMED FILM SiCKO
CANADIAN DISTRIBUTOR APPLAUDS MICHAEL MOORE'S ACTION AND OFFERS FREE
ADMISSION TO ALL NURSES ACROSS CANADA STARTING MONDAY, JULY 16TH
TORONTO, ONTARIO - July 12, 2007 - In an effort to encourage members
of the public to see Michael Moore's latest provocative and acclaimed
film SiCKO last week, The United Nurses of Alberta purchased 150
tickets to distribute to the public. Today, Michael Moore
congratulated their efforts and offered to reimburse the union for
their action.
When reached for comment, Michael Moore stated, "Nurses across Canada
are on the front line in the battle against those forces who want to
inch the Canadian health care system toward the American way. They know
that once a Canadian sees SiCKO, the last thing they will want is an
American-style approach. The problems that do exist with the Canadian
system are a result of it being under-funded. The solution to better
health care in Canada cannot be found south of the border."
As further show of appreciation, Alliance Atlantis* Motion Picture
Distribution announced today that it will offer one free admission to
see SiCKO to all nurses across Canada for a limited time starting on
Monday, July 16th through to Thursday, July 19th. Nurses must present
valid documentation at the box office of participating theatres**.
"Sometimes it takes an American like Michael Moore, to remind us of
what Canada does right," says United Nurses of Alberta President
Heather Smith. "Some people are constantly pushing to turn health care
into a profit-making business. SiCKO is an excellent vaccination
against that privatization disease. It's good for our health."
Jim Sherry, Executive Managing Director of Alliance Atlantis* Motion
Picture Distribution comments, "We applaud the United Nurses of Alberta
for their enthusiasm and hope to encourage others in the nursing
profession to see the film that continues to spark debate across this
country. By offering this opportunity to nurses across Canada, we are
acknowledging the considerable amount of interest that has been
expressed to us by several nurses unions and it is our hope that this
gesture will resonate in continued dialogue and debate surrounding this
remarkable film."
Canadian exhibitors, Cineplex Entertainment and Empire Theatres, have
displayed overwhelming support by participating in this special
promotion as well as displaying generous support to the nurses' unions
throughout the country.
SiCKO, Michael Moore's highly acclaimed and entertaining expose of the
American health care system, continues to captivate audiences across
the country. It is written, directed and produced by Michael Moore. The
film is produced by Meghan O'Hara and co-produced by Anne Moore.
Kathleen Glynn, Bob Weinstein and Harvey Weinstein serve as executive
producers.
**Nurses must present one of the following along with photo id at the
box office to obtain a free ticket for SiCKO: License, Practice
Permit, Registration Card or Valid Union ID. Participating theatres
include Cineplex Entertainment, Empire and Landmark Theatres only.
About Motion Picture Distribution LP
Motion Picture Distribution LP ("MPD") is a leading distributor of
motion pictures in Canada, with motion picture distribution operations
in the United Kingdom and Spain. MPD distributes filmed entertainment
to theatres, on DVD, and to television broadcasters. Alliance Atlantis
Communications Inc. (TSX: AAC.A, AAC.B) indirectly holds a 51%
ownership interest in MPD and Movie Distribution Income Fund (TSX:
FLM.UN) indirectly holds the remaining ownership interest in MPD.
-30-
* "Alliance Atlantis" with the stylized "A" design is licensed
from Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc., an indirect limited partner
of Motion Picture Distribution LP, not a general partner.
#1 - I was driving home late at a night from a summer job during college after a week working in northern Saskatchewan. Anxious to get home, I was going pretty fast when an RCMP officer passed me just outside a town on the other site of the Qu'Appelle Valley. He whipped around, stopped me, then warned me that "speeding is dangerous because of all the deer" as he handed me the ticket (which also ate up the sales bonus I'd just earned that week as an added insult!)
#2 - I was going to pick up Shea during a practicum here in Regina when she was a nursing student. I went through a school zone at about 7 clicks over the posted speed limit but in what could only have been an attempt to get more money, the cop wrote up the ticket as if the school zone was in effect already. (It wasn't - the school zone began at 8am and I went by at 7:57am - which is the time he wrote on the ticket. So I protested that ticket on these grounds and the court dismissed it.)
#3 - when I was working in Alberta, my boss flew down from Edmonton to Calgary, rented a car and picked me up to go to a meeting in Crows Nest Pass. But we were way behind schedule so she asked me to drive while she worked on some paperwork. She also told me to "fly" and so I did. Along the way, there's a town called Longview which does the most evil trick a town can do - it goes from highway speed to town speed to school zone speed within a very short distance. I was whipping through town, slowed down to town speed but completely missed the school zone sign while talking to my boss about our upcoming meeting. I got stopped, tried an excuse and when the cop said "Well, the children at the school won't care if you're late for a meeting if you hit them." Ouch! So when he went back to his cruiser to run my license, I asked my boss if the organization would pay for the ticket since she'd been the one who told me to drive so fast (and truth be told, was the reason we were late due to a scheduling mistake on her part.) She said it would so I handed over the ticket and we carried on our way.
#4 - on a Sunday morning, I was driving through Calgary with Shea's parents on a mad quest to find a Flames jersey since I'd managed to score a single ticket for the first Flames home playoff game in seven years. I didn't get a jersey but I did get a $100 ticket from a photo radar camera a few days later. I protested this one too, mainly because I object to photo radar in general. The reason I used was that the photo didn't clearly identify the driver but since the vehicle was registered to me, I got the ticket. How was I to know that it wasn't my father-in-law driving? They didn't write off the ticket but reduced it by 50%. I never did end up buying a jersey though.
So anyhow, I was sure that ticket #5 (and my first in probably three years) was going to come today. I took today and tomorrow off so we were heading out of Weyburn for Regina at noon. I was accelerating up to highway speed on a road leading out of Weyburn but which was still a 70kph zone. So the cop stopped me and I was sure that I was in for a nice big ticket. But he saw Pace in his car seat and after glancing at my license and registration, said "I don't want your son to stay in the hot sun while I'm writing you up so I'm going to let you go." He didn't even write me a warning! So anyhow, Pace, if you're reading this someday, I owe you a hundred bucks (probably more than that actually - I don't even know what speeding tickets are these days.)
Home from BC and lots of catching up to do in terms of e-mail as well as other domestic chores. Back to work next Tuesday and the two weeks I had off for Pace's birth have passed way too fast, especially with a three-day detour in the middle of it.
It was fitting that I ended up sitting beside two mothers on the flight home - one with an 11-month old and a 2 year old from Kelowna to Edmonton then a first-time-flying-with-kids mother with a 5-month old from Edmonton to Regina. You should've seen me swapping parenting tips and tricks like an old pro!
If you compare it to the original version, you'll see how far it came through the revision process of the Partnership Journal.
I've said it before but it's worth submitting an article to this journal, especially if you have ambitions to become an academic librarian someday. Some people probably don't see an online publication as being as legitimate as a print one but if anything, I'd say that the editors are aware of this perception and are more stringent!
Quinn did a brief post with a link to a longer article recently exploring the subject of why publishing with open access journals is better than publishing via traditional methods.
(Oh, and the quote that gives this post its title is from an unsolicited e-mail a librarian I just met a couple weeks ago sent me after seeing my article. I'm expecting the hate mail from Alberta librarians to come flooding in any day soon so it was nice that my first feedback on the article was so positive. )
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