SAR #9005

Is Big Oil still manipulating the markets?

Ups and Downs: Friday the market continued its January jump, even while US manufacturing reached its lowest level in over 60 years. But we're a service economy, right?

It's A Gas: Is this Russia/Ukraine spat a market dispute, an ongoing scam on the West, or simply a bunch of criminals and politicians arguing about how big a cut they're going to get?

Behind the Curtain: Lawyers for the innocent millionaires fleeced by Bernie Madoff have turned to the government looking for a handout. It'll be interesting to see if they cite collusion and conspiracy on the part of various governmental figures to bolster thier case. Le affaire Madoff is not what it appears. The 20 year scam required a large and knowing support staff. Federal regulators' blindness to the ongoing crime does not pass the laugh test. As hard as Madoff worked at stealing the money, a lot more people are working harder to make sure he takes the blame alone.

Pre-emptive Strike: Is the Israeli "preventive incursion" into Gaza simply a way to prevent the new administration from establishing better relationships with Muslim nations?

Suspicion: Saudi Arabia is expected to take the lead in cutting production. Given doubts about the status of their reserves, is this leadership or convenient cover?

Team Spirit: Ford declined to enlist in the all-volunteer car corps, so the Treasury is letting GM, via GMAC, give 0% 60 month loans to unemployed folks with credit scores so low they don't qualify for day old pizza. Turns out it was the sort of offer Dearborn shouldn't have refused.

Tide Keeps Rolling On: Despite commands by President Zadari for the shortages of electrical power and natural gas to end, the shortages continue. The populace is not amused.

Six of One: Reports suggest that cutting world-wide soot emissions would slow climate change because the soot darkens the snowfields and absorbs heat. On the other hand, soot in the atmosphere blocks incoming sunlight. Airplane contrails have the same blessing/curse aspects.

Gas Money: Customers claim they are wasting the money not spent on $4 gasoline on groceries. Or savings. No statistics were provided to back up these virtuous claims, although lottery ticket sales have leveled off.

Last Minute Shopping: Getting in some last minute payoffs, the Bush administration, ignoring the advice of two federal agencies and the pleas of the governor, has ordered that 2.6 million acres of obnoxious, ugly, huggable trees would be removed from federal lands in Oregon.

Fulcrum: Alternative energy sources are not free. True, the sunshine is there for the taking and the wind blows without charge. But they must be captured using equipment manufactured using coal, oil, natural gas and electricity. Once installed, their maintenance, repair and eventual replacement depend upon fossil energy. Read the fine print.

Penny Saved: Oregon wants to tax drivers based on miles driven instead of gasoline burned. What have they got against hybrids?

20 Questions: There is no accurate data on how much oil there is in the ground, how much anybody could or does pump, nor any real data on how much gets sold or at what price. The front month price flops around unrealistically pretending to reflect supply and lack of demand, but no one knows enough to pass judgment.

Quote: "A quarter of all British families will have no disposable income in 2009." And this differs from America how?