[MicroHydro]

Since the forum now has 2000 members, obviously PO.com is still serving a purpose and thriving. Therefore, any lack of interest on my part must be due to my own psychology.

For my part, 2005 was the year of change. Simmons' book came out, Katrina/Rita hit, and the year closed with credible news of peaks in Burgan and Cantarell. There was a lot of information to process, and plenty of valuable insights from fellow explorers.

The new year, 2006, has felt different to me. Now that the conventional oil peak has passed (yes, I know that "all liquids" might not arrive for another 4 - 5 years) it seems that Monbiot's prediction that people will "go back to fighting like cats in a sack" is being confirmed. Some of the most rational posters (Devil) have faded away. Adam Porter's webcast is silent. Chris Vernon, Leanan, and Khebab are more often found at TOD. PO.com has gained a new crop of members who seem to have developed their debating skills on AOL boards or worse and are not held back by their colossal ignorance. The news board is sprinkled with annoying articles about nonexistent golly gee whiz technofixes from third rate magazines and press releases from bogus perpetual motion machine type hucksters.

All in all, my EROEI for reading the site has gone way down and is now decidedly negative. Perhaps this a Tainteresque decline of a complex system. Or maybe it is just me. Perhaps I have said everything I want to say and read everything I want to read.

No matter. I need to get on with looking for a farm and designing the earth sheltered home. I need to get the LPG conversion done on the car. I need to spend more time back on the bicycle. I just can't be around here much anymore. Good luck to everyone. Anyone who wants to contact me can always PM me. I can also be found on TOD, same screen name.

[linlithgowoil]

i must admit, TOD is a better site all round, and the forums here are all played out.

[Cran]

what is TOD?

[crapattack]

The Oil Drum

Fair the well MicroHydro and good luck with your preparations, I hope to do the same soon. Do drop by every now and then.

[jato]

Most of the members here agree that global oil peak is near (+/- right now). However, nobody can agree on the ramifications of peak oil. From John Denver who thinks we will space mirrors & moon mining to yours truly who sides with Jay Hanson. We just go around in circles trying to poke holes in one side or the other.

[backstop]

Micro-Hydro -

I'd suggest that the first goal of PO.com has been met, in that discussion of PO is now mainstream and growing steadily, so the board has lost a main component of discussion - i.e. Will it happen ?

However, the critically important rate of change is still wide open to interpretation.

And still more important, "What are the criteria of new energies' selection" has yet to receive serious attention here. (I note an almost complete lack of discussion of the global relevance of Micro-Hydro for a start . . . )

And most critical is the fact that without a binding global "treaty of the atmospheric commons" no additional energy supply will do more than marginally defer the impacts of PO & GW - on this I've yet to see any serious discussion at all.

So I would hope that while you're getting on with practical developments you'll continue to contribute to what may yet become a really useful global site for the discussion of these issues.

All the best,

Backstop