Airline Terrorism Plot Foiled in London

While the People’s Daily Online coming up as the most updated site on a Google News search would be a small lesson in propaganda for another day, the actual story registered as only a blip on my personal radar screen. High-rise elevator TVs, on the other hand, were another matter.

I did find it intriguing that an early-20-something average-working-joe friend of mine became alarmed enough to say to me, “Man I don’t wanna be anywhere near [the Sears Tower]. Did you hear about the [terrorist plot]?” – especially when the only things he really talks about are hot girls and how much money he’s making.

(Would he be willing to exchange more of his freedoms for a greater sense of security?)

Crude Oil Rises to Record as Middle East Conflict Escalates

Please note that these posts aren’t meant to create anxiety or arouse a sense of apocalypticism (i.e., the world is ending very soon). Rather, peak oil is virtually guaranteed to create massive problems (and already has) with much of the third and developing world, which in turn means greater exploitation, greater nationalism and protectionist policies, an increasingly larger wealth distribution gap.

So, the same old story of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer – or even starving.

What are you doing about it?

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aBEjDi4er6jI&refer=home

July 14 (Bloomberg) — Crude oil rose above $78 a barrel for the first time as concern mounted that escalating violence in the Middle East, supplier of 30 percent of the world’s oil, may cut supply.

Israeli forces attacked Lebanon for a third day. Iran, embroiled in a dispute with the United Nations over its nuclear research, warned Israel against expanding the conflict. Chevron Corp. today said 40 workers in Nigeria were released after being held by kidnappers.

“I’m not going to say we’re going to $100 a barrel right away, but neither am I going to rule it out,” said Peter Beutel, president of Cameron Hanover Inc., a New Canaan, Connecticut, energy consultant. “If events drag Iran into the situation and it deteriorates to the point that they want to block the Strait of Hormuz, and we get a hurricane, yes, we will see $100.”

End of the World Poll

(Note: Sorry if you couldn’t read this properly. If you click here and scroll to the bottom, you should be able to read the whole question and available answers.)

[5/4/2013 update: sorry, dead link]