There Go the Gas Prices Again

And, the sad thing is that the unrest in the Middle East and North Africa really doesn't have much to do with it. The reason those prices at the pump are going up is investors and Big Oil who see an opportunity to make some really big bucks.

Were they not buying and selling, then buying again so fast, oil would continue at its already too high price, but at least not spiking.

I can see prices going up if there is a lack of oil, or actual loss of oil, but not like this. Even back in that horrible summer of 2008, when gas went over $4 here in the US (setting the groundwork for the Super Recession), there was plenty of gas to be bought, as long as you were willing to pay for it.

An editorial in today's USA Today listed several other times the world's gas price sere shocked by foreign events:

1973 Arab Oil Embargo

1979 Revolution in Iran

1990 and 1991 Hussein's Invasion of Kuwait and the Persian Gulf War

So, Now We Have the 2011 Freedom and Democracy Excuse. --Cooter

Derelict WW II Oil Tanker's Last Voyage

The Ked, a WW II oil tanker has been declared a derelict and took her final voyage Sunday from Bremerton, Washington, where she has essentially been abandoned to Seattle where it will be broken up for scrap.

The rusting 156 foot ship has been rusting in one spot for the last ten years. The last owner had wanted to restore it and turn it into a salvage and research vessel. Lack of funds stopped him so the state DNR declared it a derelict and took it over.

It was built between 1943 and 1945 and was once named the Fletcher J and was one of several YO-153 class of fleet oil tankers. Some are still in use as fishing boats in Alaska.

The YO-153 itself was sunk in 2005 to create an artificial reef off Long Island.

Goodbye Ked. -- Cooter