Hey Big Al, is that a new pic? You got some fancy shades there, pardner. And how do I set things up so my picture displays when I post?

But back to the topic. Yes we should use this country’s natural gas and heck, all the other natural resources. But if the politicians won’t allow that forget the CIA and Special Forces (whch are already in Libya). Mickey could prolly take out Gaddafi single handedly. He’s one tough hombre. He didn’t get the title Mercenary Geologist for nothin’. 🙂

Yep, new pic. Taken on a recent property visit to Arizona.

My comment on Libya? No one has convinced me that we belong there. They are after all a sovereign country that is NOT attacking us.

Mickey? Yep one tough hombre!

Big Al

Italy is said to be the most experienced producer of CNG vehicles. Volkswagen delivers some of its models (e.g. Passat) as gas versions. Mileage per filling is about 30% less than with gasoline so you need more fillings but he price per mile is much lower – I beleive about 50% (which may be different in the US due to different taxation). And its clean !! Since the cars also have a second tank for gasoline you are not stranded in areas whre there is no CNG filling station.

Hi Big Al,
I agree with you that we should not be in Lybia, at least not at this point given what limited intelligence we have. I’m a fairly simple man, so I like to keep things simple. Here’s my view on the where’s, why’s, and how’s of engaging in a war, i.e. “kinetic military action”..ha ha.
If we are going to commit our men and women to combat we should at a very minimum know these 4 things:
1. Why it is we are engaging. (clear mission)
2. How it is we are going to carry out the mission (clear plan/strategy)
3. Have we are going to achieve and assess victory, and
4. Have a clear and definable “exit strategy”.
At this point, it would appear we know none of these things, so what in the world are we doing there! From a military logistic point of view, one would have to scratch the head, but… there is always a reason that things are done. There is an objective, but it is an objective that is concealed behind actions designed to confuse or distract, ie. deceive. It is believed by many that Obama may have received as much as $200 million dollars(on the low end) for his Pres. campaign from the Arab lobby. If this is true, and the number of dollars whose source is unaccounted for, would suggest a strong prabability that this is true, it would make sense that the Arab nations, who are desirous of and actively seeking to restore the “Ottomon Empire”, through the implementation of the Caliphate and Sharia law around the globe, would expect a return for that money. (Yes, Obama was bought and paid for). Hence, Obama going to Egypt, Jordan, and other Arab nations right after his election, and bowing to the princes and Kings, etc… This was not an attempt at gracious humility, but an expression of acknowledged debt. “the borrower is slave to the lender”. What do these nations desire right now; Lybia, Egypt, Syria, Yemen, etc… etc… but to throw off the quasi democratic, Western styled leaders and to substitute with more radical, Muslim Brotherhood types, who all have a similiar desire to implement Sharia. From their own recent statements, they believe this is their moment, and much of Islam in in agreement. We here in the West do not understand Islam; what it is, what it desires, and how they plan to get it. What they need in these countries is destabilization and chaos, in order to throw out the old regime, and under the guise of seeking a Democratic gov’t, establish a pseudo, interim regime that will probably look somewhat Democratic and moderate. But it’s the next regime that will be put into power in place of the Democratically styled gov’t that will set the true direction for the future, and that my friends will be a militant, anti-Western, despotic regime with only one goal, which is to overthrow the great Satan, USA, and the little Satan, Israel, and conquer the whole world for Allah. No, I’m not crazy. These are the things they are saying, right now, in their mosques, schools, colleges, training camps, etc.. You need to be able to speak and understand Arabic, or at least have someone who can interpret for you. What we get in English, is complete smoke and mirrors. Alright, enough for now. Sorry I went so long.

One thing that may ameliorate the problems with Hydro-fracking, is a relatively new company (Symbol GSFVF) that uses pressurized chilled liquid Butane instead of water to do the Fracking and Hydrocarbon recovery. The advantages of this, in theory, are twofold. First water is not the best friend of oil or gas, so using water flooding to recover oil and gas is slightly odd on the face of it. Second, When water used in fracking and loaded with chemicals happens to encounter a water table through an unplanned stray crack formed during the fracking process, there is an immediate transfer of this chemistry into the water table as the drilling water and drinking water are immediately miscible. With Butane, a contact made like this should cause far less transfer as water is a polar molecule, and Butane is not. Being unlike, they will mix very unreadily. Should be far more environmentally friendly, but time will tell…

If this trick works, shale gas will truly change the face of energy production. This however still should be viewed as a transitional approach, and not the final answer to our energy problems…Down the road apiece, we’re gonna want to stop burning _anything_ to make a car move…

Typo:

Last sentence should have read:
Down the road apiece, we’re gonna want to stop burning _anything_ to make a 18 wheeler move…

Natural gas is for big trucks, not cars, as your guest and Pickens both point out..

Ken,

no, I’m not related to him…