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| Levels-4-You : Lounge : you bet ur life! in tha big easy |
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| smotty |
  Posted 3rd Sep 2005 5:45am |
L4Y Member
Post 55 / 163
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By Michael C. Ruppert.....from the wilderness
It makes a clear case for what we are all now suspecting and seeing: the Bush administration is horribly mismanaging relief efforts along the Gulf Coast. Several things are now becoming clear. It is unlikely that New Orleans will ever be significantly rebuilt. When we talk about collapse as a result of Peak Oil, New Orleans is an exemplary – if horrifying – glimpse of what it will look like for all of us. In the case of New Orleans, however, it’s happening about two or three times as fast as we will see it when Peak Oil becomes an unavoidable, ugly, global reality. How long? Months. If we’re lucky, a year. As of August 2005 it’s not just a race to make sure that a particular region is not eaten by warfare and economic collapse. Mother Nature is obviously very hungry too. What region will be the next to go? What sacrifices can be offered before the inevitable comes knocking at our own personal door? Who can be pushed ahead of us into the mouth of the hungry beast in the hopes it will become sated?
How low can human beings sink? Keep watching the news. It’s not the first time civilizations have collapsed. This has all happened many times before. This behavior is not new. What is new — but is now dying — is our enshrined belief that there were to be no consequences of our reckless consumption and destruction of the ecosystem. What is now dying a horrible death is America’s grotesque global arrogance, brutality and cupidity.
What is not being discussed rationally by the mainstream media is Katrina’s impact on energy production. They don’t dare. By my calculations and those of oil energy expert Jan Lundberg, the United States has just lost between 20% and 25% of its energy supply. My projection is that it’s not coming back — at least not most of it.
As a result of Katrina, Saudi Arabia has finally admitted that it cannot increase production. Many of us knew they’ve been lying for at least two years. The Energy Information Administration has just admitted that global demand has been outstripping supply for several months before Katrina. Nice time to start telling the truth. Nature is finally calling everybody’s bluff. The liars, deniers and mentally ill will be exposed soon enough and they will pay their own price. Daniel Yergin will finally get his comeuppance. FTW’s(from the wilderness) race is to reach as many people as possible who want to prepare and are willing to prepare for this in local community settings.
You save whom you can.
Gulf energy production has four main components: drilling and production, pipeline delivery to shore, refinery capacity, and then delivery to the rest of the nation. We have heard precious little about the damage to Louisiana’s Port Fourchon which is the largest point at which energy passes from sea to land in the region. It is heavily damaged and mostly inoperable for now, despite optimistic financial reports, intended to calm the markets, stating that “damage is minimal.” I am quite sure that I speak for the maybe 250,000 New Orleans residents who couldn’t or wouldn’t get out when I say, “Screw the markets!”
Production, if and when it starts trickling again, will most likely shift to Port Murphy or to Lake Charles. Sounds easy in the abstract, but the corporate headquarters at which to make and implement those decisions were mostly located in New Orleans. Shifting energy flows will never replace what was lost because those two facilities already face the daunting task of restoring their own output. They can’t handle the additional burden of compensation for what has been lost. As one astute and great researcher put it, “How will the oil companies even find their workers or tell them where to report for work?” Where will the workers live? Where will they buy groceries? How will they get to and from work if the gasoline they’re supposed to produce isn’t there? The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) is also much more seriously damaged than press accounts disclose. It’s here that supertankers from overseas (used to) offload. They have no place else to do it. They’re too big. I have seen video of LOOP damage which doesn’t look anything like the minimal damage that’s been reported. OK, so when the port is fixed what about the damaged pipelines running to shore? How many boat anchors have been dragged over them? In how many places are they ruptured, crushed or broken?
As many as twenty offshore rigs have now been confirmed as adrift, capsized, listing or sunk. Each rig may have as many as eight wells. Where’s the money coming from to replace them? How long will that take?
Bottom line: my assessment is that New Orleans is never going to be rebuilt and that US domestic oil production will never again reach pre-Katrina levels. The infrastructure is gone, the people are gone, and the US economy will be on life support very, very quickly. If people are griping at $5.00 gasoline what will they do when it’s $8.00? $10.00? Start shooting (the wrong people)? How difficult is it to rebuild in that kind of social climate? And if US oil production does not soon exceed pre-Katrina levels then the US economy is doomed anyway. It’s a catch-up game now. I think it’s quite likely that the Bush administration is responding so ineptly in part because it is in a complete crisis mode realizing that the entire United States is on the brink of collapse and there’s very little they can do about it. The Bush administration doesn’t know how to build things up, only blow them up. They aren’t worrying about New Orleans because they’re frantically triaging the rest of the nation and deciding what can be saved elsewhere.
What lingers for all of us is the inexplicably bovine behavior of the Bush administration. And how in the name of a loving God could Louisiana’s Attorney General Charles Foti say on national television that he will prosecute those who loot for survival with the same vigor as those who have looted for profit and greed? Even New Orleans police are smarter and better than this. They’re letting people go who have taken food, water, shoes that fit their feet and clothing that fits their bodies. Those who understand the situation condemn Mr. Foti’s callous and unreasoned position in the strongest possible terms.
And may God have mercy on the Democratic Party if it approaches the 2008 campaign with a platform saying that oil will flow, the prices will fall, and unbridled consumption will return if only we elect Hillary.
I was on ABC network satellite radio yesterday and after the show I repeated an observation that has been clear to me for some time. “Demand destruction” has become a priority not only to mitigate Peak Oil but also to mitigate global warming. The United States, with 5% of the world’s people, consumes (wastes) 25% of the world’s energy. How do you destroy demand? You collapse the economy. Homeless, unemployed “refugees” (what a cold, depersonalizing term) don’t buy gas, take trips, fly on airplanes or buy consumer goods (made with energy and requiring energy to operate). They don’t use air conditioning because they can’t afford it. They are the embodiment of Henry Kissinger’s infamous term “useless eaters,” a phrase from the Nazi vocabulary. If energy demand destruction, as acknowledged by the Bilderbergers and the CFR, is a priority, then the only – I repeat only – beast that must be tamed is the United States.
What happens when we run out of the poor and “minority” people whom our country has historically regarded as expendable – and the beast is still not satisfied?
The people in New Orleans and Mississippi are being sacrificed just as surely as the World Trade Center, Pentagon and airline victims were sacrificed on 9/11.
The most chilling thing I have heard is that hurricane Katrina fell on the thirteenth anniversary of Hurricane Andrew which devastated Florida in 1992. Hurricanes are named alphabetically. Andrew was the first tropical storm of 1992. Katrina was the eleventh of 2005 and the hurricane season is just beginning. There are more storms forming now. Some of them will most likely become very large hurricanes because water temperatures are so high in our dying oceans.
Go ahead. Tell me we’ve all been wrong about Peak Oil, about climate collapse, and the metastatic corruption of our government and economic system. Now it’s an easy bet and one that we will not have to wait long to settle. I’ll take your wager.
As New Orleans is showing us, and as Groucho Marx once said, “You bet your life!” .....crazy man!!!!! |
Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell
the difference. |
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| General_187 |
Posted 3rd Sep 2005 7:20am |
L4Y Member
Post 265 / 496
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I think i just wasted 3 minutes of my life reading that! Those are three minutes i may never get back  LOL... Soon somebody will oppose that article and have another one written or copied in this thread! This might become interesting and make those 3 minutes worthwhile!  All I can say is... Please refer to the forum rules when posting. <-- to the future people that will post. |
| 3D Mark '01 My score is 25,472! BEAT IT PUNK! |
Modified Sep 3rd, 07:22am by General_187 |
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Lace  |
Posted 3rd Sep 2005 8:15am |
Post 458 / 1216
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If you think it was a waste of time reading it, maybe you should re-read it. Some of those statements made are serious matters, and deserves to be taken seriously.
What if more oil-producing countries decide not to sell to USA, like Venezuela is about to do now? |
| A common mistake people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. |
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| tagmaster |
Posted 3rd Sep 2005 3:20pm |
L4Y Member
Post 107 / 232
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Ohhh Venezuela will never stop selling oil to USA  , because the USA is Venezuela main oil buyer, even if Chavez has so bad relationships with USA he nows that Venezuela cannot live without the USA  .
Belive me i live in Venezuela  |
Who dares, win!
-Cpt. Pliskin. |
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| smotty |
Posted 3rd Sep 2005 3:25pm |
L4Y Member
Post 56 / 163
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if u think its a wast..you should look into "peek oil"..its not a oil co. its where we are at now..we have reach tha peek...and from here on out the oil we get,find drill for will be less and less,Iran knows this..thats why they are in such a hurry ta get nuke power..their oil is running out too,and all the oil in Alaska is a drop in tha bucket,our kids will inherit a world of dung..and Venezuela is being bullied by this white house and we are in real danger of gettn cut of,wich will mean anutha war!god help us all..and venezuela dosnt need us,china is already tryn ta get at the oil...and china has tha $$$$ |
Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell
the difference. |
Modified Sep 3rd, 03:28pm by smotty |
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| tagmaster |
Posted 3rd Sep 2005 6:44pm |
L4Y Member
Post 108 / 232
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The oil is far from ending in the world, and the "Energetic War" is too far to come. Besides USA buys oil because they want, but they got plenty oil in its country to exploit. |
Who dares, win!
-Cpt. Pliskin. |
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| General_187 |
Posted 3rd Sep 2005 7:10pm |
L4Y Member
Post 266 / 496
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| Quoting Lace | If you think it was a waste of time reading it, maybe you should re-read it. Some of those statements made are serious matters, and deserves to be taken seriously.
What if more oil-producing countries decide not to sell to USA, like Venezuela is about to do now? |
Meh!
| Quoting tagmaster | | The oil is far from ending in the world, and the "Energetic War" is too far to come. Besides USA buys oil because they want, but they got plenty oil in its country to exploit. |
What he said! BTW, I live in USA, and well, just say to yourself.. what can I do, nothing. Maybe send some money to New Orleans... that's about it.  |
| 3D Mark '01 My score is 25,472! BEAT IT PUNK! |
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| DVL-Blaze |
Posted 3rd Sep 2005 7:31pm |
L4Y Member
Post 299 / 372
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i agree with 187. I already knew this and quite frankly it doesn't mater. We're all doomed no matter what we do so why bother wasting time that in truth we'll regret doing? I take the statements seriously and just say "government(especially US) is CENSORED . poliyicians will always lie to us cause they don't want to be centre of attention. I live in Canada and the price of gas is like $1.38/Litre. And with all the exchange rates and all that it turn out that people in the US are paying like 89-92 cents a litre. Earth is ending and it doesn't seem to be bothering anyone cuz we're all in the same problem. |
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| D2k |
Posted 3rd Sep 2005 8:19pm |
L4Y Member
Post 362 / 1923
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I said it before, ill say it again...
Were all gonna die.
Heres a little addon too. No matter what you or anyone else does, you can never stop death, it is inevetable. So, in conclusion, the exsistance of life is just one big futile effort to survive. were fighting a loosing game, immortals don't exsist and never will...
(this is uaually where religion pops in to tell me im wrong)
However, since im here, might as well ride it what its worth. |
My AP 1 - NEW
AQuest update 7/17/08 |
Modified Sep 3rd, 08:25pm by D2k |
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| tagmaster |
Posted 4th Sep 2005 1:24am |
L4Y Member
Post 109 / 232
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A word from Max Payne 2 that D2k used, and it resumes all this:
"Its a loosing game" There is no easy magic way out.... |
Who dares, win!
-Cpt. Pliskin. |
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| DVL-Blaze |
Posted 4th Sep 2005 1:30am |
L4Y Member
Post 307 / 372
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| Quoting D2k | I said it before, ill say it again...
Were all gonna die.
Heres a little addon too. No matter what you or anyone else does, you can never stop death, it is inevetable. So, in conclusion, the exsistance of life is just one big futile effort to survive. were fighting a loosing game, immortals don't exsist and never will...
(this is uaually where religion pops in to tell me im wrong)
However, since im here, might as well ride it what its worth. |
hurray for D2K!!! he shortened my explaination |
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| smotty |
Posted 4th Sep 2005 2:19am |
L4Y Member
Post 57 / 163
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yep..were all gona die..but its how u live that counts..and i CAN change the world around me!mabee u choose not to..hey thats cool wit me,but u can change the world around u if u try..even if its only a little..and yes I just sent tha red cross 1/2 my savings..wasnt much but hey...my little world just got better..every1 you know is my brother,as r u..like it or not..and 1 day u might have kids..dont u want them to have a good world ta live in??I do!  |
Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell
the difference. |
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| D2k |
Posted 4th Sep 2005 3:11am |
L4Y Member
Post 365 / 1923
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i never said anything about not trying to change the place i live. Also, i won't be having any kids either... Personally, i think there is nothing worse that anyone can possibly do than to bring another innocent soul into this hell of a world... 
but i guess some people see having children as rewarding, I don't...  |
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| tagmaster |
Posted 4th Sep 2005 4:13am |
L4Y Member
Post 110 / 232
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| Quoting D2k | i never said anything about not trying to change the place i live. Also, i won't be having any kids either... Personally, i think there is nothing worse that anyone can possibly do than to bring another innocent soul into this hell of a world...
but i guess some people see having children as rewarding, I don't... |
Hey D2k whats the big dissapointment with life??, i know that we are all going to die at the end, but we can try to have a better world by just making good actions for so little they are, and live life at max every day (without getting into bad exceeds).
Dont look the bad side of all things.... |
Who dares, win!
-Cpt. Pliskin. |
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| smotty |
Posted 4th Sep 2005 5:47am |
L4Y Member
Post 60 / 163
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Monetary donations can be sent to these outlets, which are REALLY delivering services to folks in need:
BlackAmericaWeb.com Relief Fund
PO Box 803209
Dallas, TX 75240
OR you can make an online donation by going to
www.blackamericaweb.com/relief
This fund has been set up by nationally syndicated radio personality TOM JOYNER
NAACP Disaster Relief Efforts
The NAACP is setting up command centers in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama as part of its disaster relief efforts. NAACP units across the nation have begun collecting resources that will be placed on trucks and sent directly into the disaster areas. Also, the NAACP has established a disaster relief fund to accept monetary donations to aid in the relief effort.
Checks can be sent to the NAACP payable to NAACP Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund
4805 Mt. Hope Drive
Baltimore, MD 21215
Donations can also be made online at: www.naacp.org/disaster/contribute.php
Team Rescue One
Set up by native New Orleans rapper Master P and his wife Sonya Miller. Online here
You can mail or ship non-perishable items to these following locations, which we have confirmed are REALLY delivering services to folks in need:
Center for LIFE Outreach Center
121 Saint Landry Street
Lafayette, LA 70506
atten.: Minister Pamela Robinson
337-504-5374
Mohammad Mosque 65
2600 Plank Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70805
atten.: Minister Andrew Muhammad
225-923-1400
225-357-3079
Lewis Temple CME Church
272 Medgar Evers Street
Grambling, LA 71245
atten.: Rev. Dr. Ricky Helton
318-247-3793
St. Luke Community United Methodist Church
c/o Hurricane Katrina Victims
5710 East R.L. Thornton Freeway
Dallas, TX 75223
atten.: Pastor Tom Waitschies
214-821-2970
S.H.A.P.E. Community Center
3815 Live Oak
Houston, Texas 77004
atten.: Deloyd Parker
713-521-0641
Alternative media outlets where you can get a more accurate and balanced presentation of the New Orleans catastrophe:
www.diversityinc.com
www.alternet.org
www.blackelectorate.com
www.npr.org
www.daveyd.com
www.slate.com
www.bet.com
www.allhiphop.com
www.democracynow.org
www.blackamericaweb.com
Five things you can do to help immediately:
1. Duplicate what we are doing elsewhere in New York City, in your city or town, on your college campus, at your church, synagogue, mosque, or other religious institution, via your fraternity or sorority, or via your local civic or social organization.
2. Cut and paste the information in this eblast about:
Items needed by survivors of the New Orleans catastrophe:
Monetary donations
Where you can ship non-perishable items
Alternative media outlets
Five things you can do to help immediately
And share this information, as a ONE SHEET, with folks near and far, via email, or as a hand out at your event, religious institution, and with your civic or social organization.
3. Voice your opinion to local and national media, and to elected officials, via letter, email, op ed article, or phonecall, regarding the coverage of the New Orleans catastrophe, as well as to the federal government’s ongoing handling of the situation.
4. Ask the hotel you frequent, such as the Marriott or Holiday Inn, to give your hotel points to an individual or family in need of a stay for a night, a few nights, or longer, depending on how many points you have. Be sure to get confirmation that your points have been applied in that way. Encourage others to do the same. Also inquire if your airline Frequent Flyer mileage can be used for hotel stays as well.
Finally, either offer to pay for hotel rooms, or encourage others to do so, including your place of employment or worship or your organization.
5. Dare to care about other human beings, no matter their race, gender, class, sexual orientation, religion, geography, culture, clothing, hairstyle, or accent or language. Like September 11th, the New Orleans catastrophe is a harsh reminder that all life is precious, as is each day we have on this earth.
AND REMEMBER that our attention and response to the New Orleans catastrophe needs to happen in three stages…DISASTER, RECOVERY, and REBUILDING. We need you for all three stages. |
Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell
the difference. |
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