"David Perry, a longtime headhunter, says you're wasting your time if you're looking for job postings online. And he should know: he's often the guy on the other side helping companies lure new talent. Perry, who's based in Ottawa, says that in the last 22 years he has accomplished 996 searches totaling $172 million in salary. And the bottom line in today's economy, he says, is you have to tap the 'hidden job market'."
(Contined here)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Peak Oil Financial Planning: Living the Frugal Life
Introducing "Living the Frugal Life" a blog on "How we live well on less. Frugal recipes, practical tips, money confessions, and a dollop of modern homesteading technique," by Kate of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
See Kate's Most Popular Posts and Topical Topics
See Kate's Most Popular Posts and Topical Topics
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Guest Post by Sebastian Ronin: “Post-Peak Oil and NAmerican Regional Secession”
In a web posted article, Sebastian Ronin concludes that national economic policies and Peak Oil mean that national governments will fail. A regional legal structure will be needed. Clearly, after the last power blackout national governments will not be able to govern. No communications and no transportation mean no national government.
Sebastin’s introduction to “Post-Peak Oil and NAmerican Regional Secession:”
I am an entropist. Being an entropist entails a meta-perspective upon this world that captures and stamps all natural, social, political and economic phenomena within its unique parameters of qualification. It applies equally from the build-up of clutter in a household, to global warming and climate chaos, to financial meltdown, to the implosion of the large industrial nation-state, as it does to the departure of a soul from the constraints of its body. It is a worldview, a Weltanschauung, a philosophical Babushka doll of many layers and complexities. It is my hope that one day the Laws of Thermodynamics will be taught at the grade school level, matching if not displacing, a false and jingoistic Pledge of Allegiance.
Albert Einstein is purported to have said about the Second Law of Thermodynamics, “It is likely the truest law in the physical universe.” The Second Law is the Entropy Law. It foreshadows and dictates that our world rushes towards a state of maximum disorder. Nowhere is this more evident than with the events we witness on a daily basis, events that signal the pinnacle and beginning collapse of industrial civilization. The only hypothetical antidote to the dictates of entropy is the creation of small pockets of negative entropy, the creation of small eco-states inclusive.
Industrial civilization has arrived at its apex, as is so clearly signaled by the ever-increasing acknowledgment of Peak Oil. It is all about energy, or lack thereof, as laid out by the Second Law: the ability to do work is dependent on access to energy; without energy, social institutions collapse/implode, the institution of the large industrial nation-state inclusive.
As an historical metaphor, I offer the following: we live in Copernican times. A new worldview, a true paradigm shift, is birthed from out of the cauldron of crisis. As the false notion of the earth being the center of the universe was rejected because it had to be rejected, I maintain that the false notion of the large industrial nation-state will in time be rejected because it also has to be rejected.
The rationale and motives for my being a secessionist revolve around my first of all being an entropist. Cultural and ethnic drivers towards secession, even the bourgeoning States’ Rights movement, are contained within the meta-conditions and meta-dictates of the Second Law. It is my hope that the paper, Post-Peak Oil and NAmerican Regional Secession, offers the reader an introductory glance, with the benefit of wearing entropic spectacles, at secessionist tendencies in play on the North American continent. It is my hope that one will perceive that our destiny as citizens lies in responsibly embracing a political philosophy of secession-by-default in order to seize the opportunity at hand, in order to begin the creation of new eco-states upon this continent, in order to extend social and political liberties and responsibilities beyond the cadaver of the industrial nation-state, and lastly, in order to survive and continue the human adventure.
The article is found here.
Sebastin’s introduction to “Post-Peak Oil and NAmerican Regional Secession:”
I am an entropist. Being an entropist entails a meta-perspective upon this world that captures and stamps all natural, social, political and economic phenomena within its unique parameters of qualification. It applies equally from the build-up of clutter in a household, to global warming and climate chaos, to financial meltdown, to the implosion of the large industrial nation-state, as it does to the departure of a soul from the constraints of its body. It is a worldview, a Weltanschauung, a philosophical Babushka doll of many layers and complexities. It is my hope that one day the Laws of Thermodynamics will be taught at the grade school level, matching if not displacing, a false and jingoistic Pledge of Allegiance.
Albert Einstein is purported to have said about the Second Law of Thermodynamics, “It is likely the truest law in the physical universe.” The Second Law is the Entropy Law. It foreshadows and dictates that our world rushes towards a state of maximum disorder. Nowhere is this more evident than with the events we witness on a daily basis, events that signal the pinnacle and beginning collapse of industrial civilization. The only hypothetical antidote to the dictates of entropy is the creation of small pockets of negative entropy, the creation of small eco-states inclusive.
Industrial civilization has arrived at its apex, as is so clearly signaled by the ever-increasing acknowledgment of Peak Oil. It is all about energy, or lack thereof, as laid out by the Second Law: the ability to do work is dependent on access to energy; without energy, social institutions collapse/implode, the institution of the large industrial nation-state inclusive.
As an historical metaphor, I offer the following: we live in Copernican times. A new worldview, a true paradigm shift, is birthed from out of the cauldron of crisis. As the false notion of the earth being the center of the universe was rejected because it had to be rejected, I maintain that the false notion of the large industrial nation-state will in time be rejected because it also has to be rejected.
The rationale and motives for my being a secessionist revolve around my first of all being an entropist. Cultural and ethnic drivers towards secession, even the bourgeoning States’ Rights movement, are contained within the meta-conditions and meta-dictates of the Second Law. It is my hope that the paper, Post-Peak Oil and NAmerican Regional Secession, offers the reader an introductory glance, with the benefit of wearing entropic spectacles, at secessionist tendencies in play on the North American continent. It is my hope that one will perceive that our destiny as citizens lies in responsibly embracing a political philosophy of secession-by-default in order to seize the opportunity at hand, in order to begin the creation of new eco-states upon this continent, in order to extend social and political liberties and responsibilities beyond the cadaver of the industrial nation-state, and lastly, in order to survive and continue the human adventure.
The article is found here.
Peak Oil Financial Planning: High Oil Prices and Inflation Loom
"Financier sees oil shock from credit crunch," By Christopher Johnson
Reuters, March 26, 2009
"The global financial crisis and collapse in the oil market have stalled vital investment in oil exploration and production and are likely soon to lead to a sharp spike in prices," says energy investment banker Matthew Simmons. "We are three, six, maybe nine months away from a price shock. We are not talking about three to five years away -- it will be much sooner." (Continued here)
Thus, in addition to the dollar losing value from "printing dollars" to pay for bailouts the dollar will weaken from inflation brought on by high oil prices. This will bring about tighter credit and reduced investment in oil production and ageing/corroding oil production infrastructure.
Soon, governments will have to subsidize oil production and the unemployed, as well as heating oil and natural gas for heating their homes.
Reuters, March 26, 2009
"The global financial crisis and collapse in the oil market have stalled vital investment in oil exploration and production and are likely soon to lead to a sharp spike in prices," says energy investment banker Matthew Simmons. "We are three, six, maybe nine months away from a price shock. We are not talking about three to five years away -- it will be much sooner." (Continued here)
Thus, in addition to the dollar losing value from "printing dollars" to pay for bailouts the dollar will weaken from inflation brought on by high oil prices. This will bring about tighter credit and reduced investment in oil production and ageing/corroding oil production infrastructure.
Soon, governments will have to subsidize oil production and the unemployed, as well as heating oil and natural gas for heating their homes.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Peak Oil Financial Planning: Get Out of the U.S. Dollar Now
"Why you should get out of the US dollar now!" By Justice Litle in CommodityOnline.com
"Get out of the U.S. Dollar. NOW. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, do not stop to conduct an impromptu inventory of your unmentionables." (Continued here)
This article is based on concerns that "China wants the dollar replaced as reserve currency." But regardless of this, printing dollars means inflation, and Peak Oil inflation is just around the corner. All currencies, pensions, retirement plans, life insurance, health insurance, and long term care insurance are promises to be able to buy oil in the future (all depend on oil). As oil supplies diminish, these promises evaporate in inflation and bankruptcies.
Gold and silver are mentioned as possible safe havens, but are not. The prices of gold and silver have not been going up as the world economy collapses. Both are used in electronics and jewelry and therefore the demand for these metals is collapsing. Gold and silver are a bubble waiting to burst.
"Get out of the U.S. Dollar. NOW. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, do not stop to conduct an impromptu inventory of your unmentionables." (Continued here)
This article is based on concerns that "China wants the dollar replaced as reserve currency." But regardless of this, printing dollars means inflation, and Peak Oil inflation is just around the corner. All currencies, pensions, retirement plans, life insurance, health insurance, and long term care insurance are promises to be able to buy oil in the future (all depend on oil). As oil supplies diminish, these promises evaporate in inflation and bankruptcies.
Gold and silver are mentioned as possible safe havens, but are not. The prices of gold and silver have not been going up as the world economy collapses. Both are used in electronics and jewelry and therefore the demand for these metals is collapsing. Gold and silver are a bubble waiting to burst.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Peak Oil: Myth or Reality
Oil and stock analyst Tony Ericksen of the Oil Megaprojects Task Force concludes that global oil production peaked in 2008:
"World oil production peaked in 2008 at 81.73 million barrels/day (mbd). This oil definition includes crude oil, lease condensate, oil sands and natural gas plant liquids. If natural gas plant liquids are excluded, then the production peak remains in 2008 but at 73.79 million barrels per day. However, if oil sands are also excluded then crude oil and lease condensate production peaked in 2005 at 72.75 mbd.
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) should make official statements about declining world oil production." (continued here).
Other sources have concluded much the same.
"World oil production peaked in 2008 at 81.73 million barrels/day (mbd). This oil definition includes crude oil, lease condensate, oil sands and natural gas plant liquids. If natural gas plant liquids are excluded, then the production peak remains in 2008 but at 73.79 million barrels per day. However, if oil sands are also excluded then crude oil and lease condensate production peaked in 2005 at 72.75 mbd.
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) should make official statements about declining world oil production." (continued here).
Other sources have concluded much the same.
Friday, March 6, 2009
The Peak Oil Economic Depression Has Arrived
A headline from Chicagotribune.com states: "Jobless rate bolts to 8.1 percent, 651K jobs lost in February."
"The net loss of 651,000 jobs in February came after even deeper payroll reductions in the prior two months, according to revised figures. The economy lost 681,000 jobs in December and another 655,000 in January," based on U.S. Department of Labor statistics."
But the real unemployment rate is now more like 12 or 13 percent, according to analyst Lee Adler, writing in "The Wall Street Examiner." Adler concludes that, "today’s deterioration is at least as rapid, and probably more rapid, than the beginning of the Great Depression."
Dow Jones concludes that today's stock market decline mimics the Great Depression.
Thus, both increasing unemployment and declining stock values indicate that we are entering an economic depression similar to the Great Depression.
Although it is difficult to determine how much of this economic depression is caused by Peak Oil impacts and how much stems from mismanagement of the economy as well as from business and government corruption, ASPO-Ireland explains that Peak Oil plays a major role.
But the current economic depression is permanent, due to declining global oil production, according to a recent post on EnergyBulletin.net.
We are entering the "Greatest Depression."
In the Great Depression of the 1930s, government programs and the build up for World War II stimulated the economy. The East Texas oil boom powered the factories, highways, trucks, tractors, trains, transportation, and infrastructure to make it possible.
Now, the problem is declining oil production, and there is no energy boom to help us pull ourselves up by the bootstraps.
There is no plan for developing energy alternatives that will power trucks, trains, ships, tractors, and combines, nor is there time or capital to develop alternatives. Capital is scarce due to declining oil production. Chris Shaw explains that energy is the source of capital, and hence, capital declines as oil production drops.
A review of government and scientific studies indicates that regardless of the time or capital available, no alternatives will begin to make up for declining global oil production.
Whatever alternative energy we attempt to develop will consume valuable oil (mining, manufacturing, and transportation) and not deliver the liquid fuels that we need. Chris Shaw call this the "quicksand effect."
The Congress and president will be at a loss of how to manage this ever-worsening economic collapse. They would be wise to commission the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to provide the nation with advice. Chaos will result from the advice of contradictory interest groups, organizations, bloggers, and individuals. The NAS is the most credible source for such advice. The NAS and other scientific sources have already undertaken the basic research needed for a policy study to advise the nation. The NAS could provide an energy policy study within a year and could then provide advice on a continuing basis.
The best advice for individuals and organization is to prepare for Peak Oil impacts. No federal or state agencies are studying Peak Oil impacts and contingency planning. A few local governments and organizations are beginning to make plans.
This is what we must plan for. With increasing costs for gasoline and diesel, along with declining taxes and declining gasoline tax revenues, states and local governments will eventually have to cut staff and curtail highway maintenance. Eventually, gasoline stations will close, and state and local highway workers won’t be able to get to work. We are facing the collapse of the highways that depend on diesel and gasoline powered trucks for bridge maintenance, culvert cleaning to avoid road washouts, snow plowing, and roadbed and surface repair. When the highways fail, so will the power grid, as highways carry the parts, large transformers, steel for pylons, and high tension cables from great distances. With the highways out, there will be no food coming from far away, and without the power grid virtually nothing modern works, including home heating, pumping of gasoline and diesel, airports, communications, water distribution systems, waster water treatment, and automated building systems.
"The net loss of 651,000 jobs in February came after even deeper payroll reductions in the prior two months, according to revised figures. The economy lost 681,000 jobs in December and another 655,000 in January," based on U.S. Department of Labor statistics."
But the real unemployment rate is now more like 12 or 13 percent, according to analyst Lee Adler, writing in "The Wall Street Examiner." Adler concludes that, "today’s deterioration is at least as rapid, and probably more rapid, than the beginning of the Great Depression."
Dow Jones concludes that today's stock market decline mimics the Great Depression.
Thus, both increasing unemployment and declining stock values indicate that we are entering an economic depression similar to the Great Depression.
Although it is difficult to determine how much of this economic depression is caused by Peak Oil impacts and how much stems from mismanagement of the economy as well as from business and government corruption, ASPO-Ireland explains that Peak Oil plays a major role.
But the current economic depression is permanent, due to declining global oil production, according to a recent post on EnergyBulletin.net.
We are entering the "Greatest Depression."
In the Great Depression of the 1930s, government programs and the build up for World War II stimulated the economy. The East Texas oil boom powered the factories, highways, trucks, tractors, trains, transportation, and infrastructure to make it possible.
Now, the problem is declining oil production, and there is no energy boom to help us pull ourselves up by the bootstraps.
There is no plan for developing energy alternatives that will power trucks, trains, ships, tractors, and combines, nor is there time or capital to develop alternatives. Capital is scarce due to declining oil production. Chris Shaw explains that energy is the source of capital, and hence, capital declines as oil production drops.
A review of government and scientific studies indicates that regardless of the time or capital available, no alternatives will begin to make up for declining global oil production.
Whatever alternative energy we attempt to develop will consume valuable oil (mining, manufacturing, and transportation) and not deliver the liquid fuels that we need. Chris Shaw call this the "quicksand effect."
The Congress and president will be at a loss of how to manage this ever-worsening economic collapse. They would be wise to commission the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to provide the nation with advice. Chaos will result from the advice of contradictory interest groups, organizations, bloggers, and individuals. The NAS is the most credible source for such advice. The NAS and other scientific sources have already undertaken the basic research needed for a policy study to advise the nation. The NAS could provide an energy policy study within a year and could then provide advice on a continuing basis.
The best advice for individuals and organization is to prepare for Peak Oil impacts. No federal or state agencies are studying Peak Oil impacts and contingency planning. A few local governments and organizations are beginning to make plans.
This is what we must plan for. With increasing costs for gasoline and diesel, along with declining taxes and declining gasoline tax revenues, states and local governments will eventually have to cut staff and curtail highway maintenance. Eventually, gasoline stations will close, and state and local highway workers won’t be able to get to work. We are facing the collapse of the highways that depend on diesel and gasoline powered trucks for bridge maintenance, culvert cleaning to avoid road washouts, snow plowing, and roadbed and surface repair. When the highways fail, so will the power grid, as highways carry the parts, large transformers, steel for pylons, and high tension cables from great distances. With the highways out, there will be no food coming from far away, and without the power grid virtually nothing modern works, including home heating, pumping of gasoline and diesel, airports, communications, water distribution systems, waster water treatment, and automated building systems.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Peak Oil Preparation: Dow Jones decline rate mimics Great Depression
By Dawn Kawamoto, March 2, 2009
With the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling below the psychological watermark of 7,000 on Monday, investors may be wondering how it all stacks up against the stock market crash of the Great Depression.
It's not looking good. (continued here)
With the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling below the psychological watermark of 7,000 on Monday, investors may be wondering how it all stacks up against the stock market crash of the Great Depression.
It's not looking good. (continued here)
Peak Oil Preparation: Protecting Your Financial Assets
From MONEY and MARKETS, "Beginning Now: The Panic Phase of the Collapse"
By Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. February 3, 2009 (Excerpts)
The panic phase of this collapse is about to begin.
The panic phase is an acceleration in the economic decline … a chain reaction of debt explosions … a free-fall in the financial markets … and a series of rude awakenings that will accelerate the decline even further.
First and foremost, get your money to safety. (Continued here)
By Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. February 3, 2009 (Excerpts)
The panic phase of this collapse is about to begin.
The panic phase is an acceleration in the economic decline … a chain reaction of debt explosions … a free-fall in the financial markets … and a series of rude awakenings that will accelerate the decline even further.
First and foremost, get your money to safety. (Continued here)
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