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"From Peak Oil To Dark Age? - BusinessWeek (Wow!)

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Re: "From Peak Oil To Dark Age? - BusinessWeek (Wow!)

Postby threadbear » Fri 15 Jun 2007, 21:22:33

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Twilight', '
')
Eventually, you may become right, enough media people qualified to discuss the subject will be discussing it, and restrictive editorial policies may come into play. .


Eventually I MAY become right?

I can just hear the senior editor addressing his staff, if that kind of delicacy was the way it actually is:

"Yes in the fullness of time, when all procedural considerations have been made and deference to past protocols have been carefully mulled over, we shall assiduously ruminate over the idea that it may be wise, ney, neccessary to umm.... recommend "restrictive editorial policies" :lol:
Pleaase....

You're talking about tough as nails sharks with very definite ideas of what direction they want the fishies to swim in. Let me give you an example:

A writer for the Vancouver Sun wrote a satirical piece about the local right wing think tank, some years ago. When the senior editor got back from vacation, he pretty much grabbed the guy by the lapels and screamed--"You'll never work in this country again." Get that? This "country". At the time that particular newspaper belonged to a chain that controlled a majority of the print media in the country.

But don't take my word for it. Read this: INTO THE BUZZSAW:

Here, Murrow Award-winning reporter Borjesson edits essays by journalists from the Associated Press to CBS News to the New York Times. Each tells of their difficulties with news higher-ups as they tried to publish or air controversial stories relating to everything from toxic dump sites and civilian casualties to police brutality and dangerous hospitals.
http://www.amazon.com/Into-Buzzsaw-Lead ... 1573929727
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Re: "From Peak Oil To Dark Age? - BusinessWeek (Wow!)

Postby Twilight » Fri 15 Jun 2007, 22:28:56

I was only referring to energy. The quality of articles in the print media lead me to question whether editorial censorship has been necessary.

In other areas, you are correct. In this one, not yet. I seriously doubt an army of newspaper journalists was ordered to sit on peak oil stories through the 90s. They didn't give a damn. Controlling the message at that stage is only now becoming necessary.
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Re: "From Peak Oil To Dark Age? - BusinessWeek (Wow!)

Postby threadbear » Fri 15 Jun 2007, 22:41:09

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Twilight', 'I') was only referring to energy. The quality of articles in the print media lead me to question whether editorial censorship has been necessary.

In other areas, you are correct. In this one, not yet. I seriously doubt an army of newspaper journalists was ordered to sit on peak oil stories through the 90s. They didn't give a damn. Controlling the message at that stage is only now becoming necessary.


Oil is THE most sensitive subject in the media. On television, it's almost like there is a prohibition on the O word, with relation to war. I would say that the media is intensely interested in which way the winds are blowing, power and influence wise, on oil.
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Re: "From Peak Oil To Dark Age? - BusinessWeek (Wow!)

Postby Bas » Sat 16 Jun 2007, 14:34:27

there'll be probably ALOT of attention for peakoil when the oil price reaches the psychological barrier of 100$ until then it'll probably remain a trickle of (opinion) articles when it comes to the MSM.
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Re: "From Peak Oil To Dark Age? - BusinessWeek (Wow!)

Postby shortonoil » Sat 16 Jun 2007, 17:11:18

threadbear said:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')his article is dated May 17, 07, and it's referencing an incident that occured last summer. Please reread. Are you intentionally misleading, Shortonoil?


BP was having maintenance problems at Prudhoe Bay in 2002. Maybe Washington picked up on the 2006 event (someone must have accidentally woken up a Senator) but the situation is not new. Production at Prudhoe has been collapsing for years, and BP has had serious problems with the field for years. As this article mentions the problem may have been more one of inadequate oil to pump through the pipe than maintenance.

Prudhoe

In addition, oil prices have not been what one could call “fat city” for the industry until recently:

US crude prices $ per barrel:
1999......... 9.10
2000......... 22.68
2001......... 21.77
2002......... 17.06
2003......... 27.52
2004......... 27.63

Many like to point out the huge, ungodly profits being made by the oil companies, but if you average that profit out over five years, their ROI has been less than that of almost any industry sector. Manufactures of IPODs and Paris Hilton look a like dolls can make 15, 20, 25% returns on their money and no one says a thing, oil companies make 10% for a change and every one starts screaming they are in league with the devil. Why don’t you people get your heads screwed on straight.
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Re: "From Peak Oil To Dark Age? - BusinessWeek (Wow!)

Postby shortonoil » Sat 16 Jun 2007, 17:37:44

Twilight said:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') was only referring to energy. The quality of articles in the print media lead me to question whether editorial censorship has been necessary.


I know one exception to that, the Falls Church News of VA. A small independently owned paper that is read by everyone, who is anyone, inside the Beltway. Compared to the mainstream media garbage, the paper publishes news that is generally unavailable to the general public. Why can this little paper find news, while the nations mega publishers find crap. Tom Whipple of the FCN has been writing about the coming oil problem, lucidly and informatively for about two years. Why has MSMBC, CNN, ABC and etc. missed it entirely. If they really wanted to know what was going on, they could pick up a copy for 75 cents and spend 15 minutes reading it.
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Re: "From Peak Oil To Dark Age? - BusinessWeek (Wow!)

Postby threadbear » Sat 16 Jun 2007, 17:44:41

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('shortonoil', '
')
BP was having maintenance problems at Prudhoe Bay in 2002. Maybe Washington picked up on the 2006 event .


This article refers to the 2006 incident. Perhaps you'd like to comment on the conclusions of the investigation?
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Re: "From Peak Oil To Dark Age? - BusinessWeek (Wow!)

Postby shortonoil » Sat 16 Jun 2007, 17:59:27

threadbear said:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')his article refers to the 2006 incident.


“This is from an Anchorage Daily News article, Workers Convince BP Valve is Faulty, dated, January 9, 2002: Some workers believe BP, which runs Prudhoe, is finally replacing the valve only after facing criticism for poorly maintaining the pipes, valves and other machinery that handle more than a half-million barrels of oil a day.”

Prudhoe

Do a little Googlying, you will find that BP was having problems at Prudhoe back in the late ‘90. Or read the whole article!
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Re: "From Peak Oil To Dark Age? - BusinessWeek (Wow!)

Postby Twilight » Sat 16 Jun 2007, 18:33:50

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('shortonoil', 'I') know one exception to that, the Falls Church News of VA. A small independently owned paper that is read by everyone, who is anyone, inside the Beltway. Compared to the mainstream media garbage, the paper publishes news that is generally unavailable to the general public. Why can this little paper find news, while the nations mega publishers find crap. Tom Whipple of the FCN has been writing about the coming oil problem, lucidly and informatively for about two years. Why has MSMBC, CNN, ABC and etc. missed it entirely. If they really wanted to know what was going on, they could pick up a copy for 75 cents and spend 15 minutes reading it.

It would not surprise me to find that small publications have time for enthusiasts, hobbyists, writers to pursue an interest, and so on. Large companies don't have time for that. They don't gag them, they just don't hire them, don't grant those opportunities, and don't encourage them. The types who would be interested in good old-fashioned journalism don't apply except for the money, unless they want to be disappointed with the reality. I would be immensely surprised if there is a faction within the mainstream media constantly being summoned to the editor's office to be told "This article is unacceptable! Remove these references to the peak oil theory NOW!!!" No, the people there aren't the type to bother. There is enough volume going through to make sure there is little time for the personal touch. And what is an economics grad to write if given a free choice? The system is so self-selecting, up until now there has been little for a censor to respond to.

I might as well believe McDonald's are keeping the lid on culinary innovation within its own ranks. But no, it's not present to start with. Wrong infrastructure, wrong people. It's somewhere else. In small specialist restaurants. No conspiracy, see?
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Re: "From Peak Oil To Dark Age? - BusinessWeek (Wow!)

Postby threadbear » Sat 16 Jun 2007, 18:43:46

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Twilight', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('shortonoil', 'I') know one exception to that, the Falls Church News of VA. A small independently owned paper that is read by everyone, who is anyone, inside the Beltway. Compared to the mainstream media garbage, the paper publishes news that is generally unavailable to the general public. Why can this little paper find news, while the nations mega publishers find crap. Tom Whipple of the FCN has been writing about the coming oil problem, lucidly and informatively for about two years. Why has MSMBC, CNN, ABC and etc. missed it entirely. If they really wanted to know what was going on, they could pick up a copy for 75 cents and spend 15 minutes reading it.

It would not surprise me to find that small publications have time for enthusiasts, hobbyists, writers to pursue an interest, and so on. Large companies don't have time for that. They don't gag them, they just don't hire them, don't grant those opportunities, and don't encourage them. The types who would be interested in good old-fashioned journalism don't apply except for the money, unless they want to be disappointed with the reality. I would be immensely surprised if there is a faction within the mainstream media constantly being summoned to the editor's office to be told "This article is unacceptable! Remove these references to the peak oil theory NOW!!!" No, the people there aren't the type to bother. There is enough volume going through to make sure there is little time for the personal touch. And what is an economics grad to write if given a free choice? The system is so self-selecting, up until now there has been little for a censor to respond to.

I might as well believe McDonald's are keeping the lid on culinary innovation within its own ranks. But no, it's not present to start with. Wrong infrastructure, wrong people. It's somewhere else. In small specialist restaurants. No conspiracy, see?


Look...Most journalists learn pretty quick to censor themselves. This IS a kind of gag. Also, new hires are usually "team players" who don't tend to question the status quo. This is a relatively recent phenomenon, though. The blogosphere and forums like these are generally better sources of info than many mainstream productions, as a direct consequense.
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Re: "From Peak Oil To Dark Age? - BusinessWeek (Wow!)

Postby Ludi » Sat 16 Jun 2007, 18:44:53

The new postal rates are likely to put many independent journals out of business. The large journals will be exempt from the high rates, this is just another example of squashing the dissenting voices.
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Re: "From Peak Oil To Dark Age? - BusinessWeek (Wow!)

Postby Keith_McClary » Sun 17 Jun 2007, 01:06:07

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', ' ')At the time that particular newspaper belonged to a chain that controlled a majority of the print media in the country.


Conrad Black?
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Re: "From Peak Oil To Dark Age? - BusinessWeek (Wow!)

Postby threadbear » Sun 17 Jun 2007, 01:50:55

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Keith_McClary', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', ' ')At the time that particular newspaper belonged to a chain that controlled a majority of the print media in the country.


Conrad Black?


Yes.
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Re: "From Peak Oil To Dark Age? - BusinessWeek (Wow!)

Postby Carlhole » Sun 17 Jun 2007, 04:07:50

Things Your Media Momma Didn't Tell You

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('GlobalResearch.ca', '
')by Dave Lindorff

The fact that most Americans oppose the war in Iraq, and want the president impeached, is testimony to the native intelligence and common sense of the citizens of this nation.

It sure isn't thanks to the quality of the news we're getting here in America.!

Here are some of the things you don't know if you just depend on the corporate media for your information:


(1) Most Americans would like to see this president and vice president impeached and removed from office. Newsweek magazine published a scientific poll last October showing that 51 percent of us favor impeachment (including 29 percent of Republicans!), but the corporate media, which normally hasn't met a poll it won't publish, didn't publicize this one. And now, when the numbers supporting impeachment are surely even higher, you can't even pay a polling outfit to ask the question. No wonder most people who favor impeachment still think they're odd ducks.


(2) There is a bill, filed in the House of Representatives on April 24 by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), calling for the impeachment of Vice President Cheney. Since it was filed, it has gained six co-sponsors, including a member of the House Democratic leadership, Rep. Janice Shakowsky (D-IL). Most major media have ignored this important story completely. Most Americans also don't know that the Vermont State Senate voted overwhelmingly this spring to call on Congress to impeach the president.


(3) The president has been declared a felon in federal court. Yet even after Federal District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor ruled last August that President Bush and the National Security Agency were committing serial Class A felonies and were violating both the First and Fourth Amendments by spying on Americans' communications without first obtaining warrants, Bush continued ordering the NSA to continue the patently illegal program for at least half a year. In reports on the spying program, the corporate media never mention that it has been declared a felonious activity by the federal court.


(4) Fifteen Democratic Party state organizations have passed impeachment resolutions calling on Democrats in Congress to initiate impeachment proceedings against the president and vice president. The most recent of these, the Democratic Party of Oklahoma, passed its resolution at the party's annual convention on May 19. Other Democratic Party conventions, in states from Nevada and California to Massachusetts and North Carolina, have passed similar resolutions. Most have been ignored by the corporate media even in their own states.


(5) Bush's so-called "coalition of the willing" is not so willing and is not really much of a coalition either. When's the last time you've heard how many countries are on board with the US in the war and occupation of Iraq? The reality? Britain, the only significant contributor of combat troops besides the U.S., is pulling out, as did Italy and Spain, and many other countries, like Denmark, Lithuania and others, plan to be out of Iraq by August or at the latest December. One indication of the seriousness of situation: The Pentagon no longer lists the countries that are members of the "coalition." The only mainstream report I've seen laying this out this collapse in international support for Bush's war was in USA Today last February.


(6) The Homeland Security Department last year awarded Halliburton $385 million in a no-bid contract to construct prison camps designed to hold tens of thousands of unspecified prisoners in the event of domestic unrest. Meanwhile, President Bush has signed a bill altering the insurrection act so that he can declare martial rule and order active duty troops to take charge anywhere in the domestic US in the event of "public disorder." No one in the corporate media has reported on these developments or asked the White House to explain what it's all about.


(7) There is evidence that Cheney, as CEO of Halliburton, was a patron of the Washington Madam whose client book of high-class call-girls is causing many in Washington political circles-mostly Republicans it appears, who apparently need to pay for their sex-to sweat. So far no mention of the Cheney angle in the corporate media, though they've been having fun with the broader story of a political sex scandal. No mention either of how a brave West Point cadet refused to shake Cheney's hand on stage when the vice president was handing out this year's diplomas at the Army's premiere academy.


[8] Among the "worst of the worst" of the "evildoers" captured and held as "enemy combatants" at Guantanamo were children, some of them preteens and kids who were under 15 when captured and brought to Cuba-so many in fact that the military had to set up a special facility, called Camp Iguana, just for adolescent and pre-pubescent "fighters." The corporate media have barely reported on this atrocity (the New York Times ran only one article mentioning child captives, in June 2005). The only wider coverage of this outrage came recently when the government tried to prosecute one such alleged child "terrorist"-Omar Khadr-only to have the military judge in charge toss his case out because the government had misclassified him. Khadr, we learned, was captured in 2001 in Afghanistan at the ripe age of 15, making him one of the older child captives brought to and interrogated at Guantanamo. Under international law, the U.S. was supposed to treat this and other child soldiers as victims, not as war criminals. Khadr, a Canadian by birth, instead has spent five years doing hard time in US captivity.


(9 Well-researched reports on the rampant theft of both the 2000 and 2004 elections, and on Republican plans for theft of the 2008 election, such as Mark Crispin Miller's Fooled Again, have gone unmentioned in the corporate media. Books on the subject, like Miller's and like Greg Palast's best selling Armed Madhouse, have never been reviewed.


(10) And of course, there's my own book. The Case for Impeachment, despite its having sold over 20,000 copies in hardcover, and despite its having now come out in a mass-market paperback edition, in both cases printed by a mainstream publisher, St. Martin's Press, has not received a single review in the corporate media. In this, my co-author Barbara Olshansky and I are not alone. None of the books on the impeachable crimes of this administration, including one by Nixon-era impeachment panelist and former congresswoman Elizabeth Holtzman, and one by Judiciary Chair Rep. John Conyers, has been reviewed by a mainstream media outlet.

What we're talking about here is a media blackout of important stories and news.

Thanks to the internet and to the grapevine, and thanks to their basic native intelligence, most Americans seem to understand that we're being lied to and cheated. What the media blackout of important news does manage to do, however, is keep us all thinking that we are in a minority in opposing things like illegal wars, a trampled Constitution, and stolen elections.

In fact, however, we're actually the majority.

Once we realize this, maybe we will have a movement, instead of a just nation of isolated cynics and complainers.

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Re: "From Peak Oil To Dark Age? - BusinessWeek (Wow!)

Postby manu » Sun 17 Jun 2007, 06:02:50

Yes, and the food supply is held hostage by Cargill and Monsanto so to put it mildly, the US is screwed.
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Re: "From Peak Oil To Dark Age? - BusinessWeek (Wow!)

Postby shortonoil » Sun 17 Jun 2007, 10:02:27

Twilight said:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')t would not surprise me to find that small publications have time for enthusiasts, hobbyists, writers to pursue an interest, and so on.


You make it sound like the Falls Church News is a pack of amateurs playing journalist; enthusiasts, hobbyists. The FCN is a well run paper and delivers penetrating and high quality journalism (usually much superior to the main stream). The difference is that it is independent, meaning that it is not owned by one of the three major corporations that control 95% of the media (all media) in the US. It is not motivated by the agenda being pursued by the power elite, who have usurped the American democratic system, and are presently in the process of gutting the nation.


Fall Church News
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Re: "From Peak Oil To Dark Age? - BusinessWeek (Wow!)

Postby PeakingAroundtheCorner » Sun 17 Jun 2007, 12:17:39

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('shortonoil', '[')b]Twilight said:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')t would not surprise me to find that small publications have time for enthusiasts, hobbyists, writers to pursue an interest, and so on.


You make it sound like the Falls Church News is a pack of amateurs playing journalist; enthusiasts, hobbyists. The FCN is a well run paper and delivers penetrating and high quality journalism (usually much superior to the main stream). The difference is that it is independent, meaning that it is not owned by one of the three major corporations that control 95% of the media (all media) in the US. It is not motivated by the agenda being pursued by the power elite, who have usurped the American democratic system, and are presently in the process of gutting the nation.


Fall Church News


I have to agree with shortonoil. I often read Falls Church News as a reliable news source. Even as I type this today, the very first item I note as I open their website under "This Week's Popular News" is an article written by Mr. Whipple entitled: "The Peak Oil Crisis: Is Anyone Listening?". Considering their readers are DC suburbanites, there's no doubt that Peak Oil is a very familiar concept within the bowels of our government.

Being independent allows FCN to speak truth to power without the heavy-handed editorial practices of neocon/republic-infested corporate media brothel propoganda pimps.
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