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Oil trade's winners now reap the wrath
Los Angeles Times ^ | May 24, 2008 | Tom Petruno

Posted on 05/24/2008 5:40:18 AM PDT by RayChuang88

Investing in commodities has been a brilliant move in this decade -- so brilliant that the strategy has attracted untold numbers of large and small players, particularly in the last few years.

What do you suppose all of their buying has done to the price of oil? Pushed it down?

With crude surging above $130 a barrel this week for the first time, a long-simmering issue is threatening to boil over: the role these new investors, often derided as rank speculators, have had in stoking the prices of oil and other commodities.

Their standard line has been, "It's not our fault." They point to rising demand for raw materials in China and other developing nations and to tight supplies as the main drivers of prices.

But at a Senate hearing Tuesday, a hedge fund manager named Michael Masters offered a different viewpoint.

He branded institutional investors such as pension funds as "one of if not the primary factors affecting commodities prices today."

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: commodities; energy; hedgefunds; oilprice
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To: Toddsterpatriot
I believe I mentioned cold fusion.

Given the geometric progression of technology, it is impossible to make a claim like this with any certainty.

Only if you have a weak understanding of physics.

Above statement indicates you know absolutely everything to be known about physics and that no technology can ever evolve that will provide a power source that will make extracting Hydrogen from water cost effective.

Have I got that right? If so can you explain why that would be true?

41 posted on 05/27/2008 5:44:59 AM PDT by lexusppd
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To: lexusppd
I believe I mentioned cold fusion.

You expect a "hydrogen fuel cell LIKE" power source will use a fake technology like cold fusion? The last I heard they hadn't been able to duplicate it. You might as well wish for a car powered by a mini black hole.

Above statement indicates you know absolutely everything to be known about physics and that no technology can ever evolve that will provide a power source that will make extracting Hydrogen from water cost effective.

Where did I mention cost?

42 posted on 05/27/2008 5:58:27 AM PDT by Toddsterpatriot (Why are doom and gloomers, union members and liberals so bad at math?)
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To: lexusppd
technology can ever evolve that will provide a power source that will make extracting Hydrogen from water cost effective

At least you understand it will take another power source to make the Hydrogen. Seems like that would be the power source to use, rather than taking a loss converting into hydrogen.

43 posted on 05/27/2008 6:01:49 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: Toddsterpatriot
Sorry, I am not a physicist so perhaps I misunderstood you. Aren't you saying that stripping Hydrogen atoms from the H2O molecule would use more in energy (and dollars) then it would provide us in usable energy (and dollars savings)?
44 posted on 05/27/2008 6:12:51 AM PDT by lexusppd
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To: lexusppd
Yes! Otherwise we'd already be doing it on a massive scale.
45 posted on 05/27/2008 6:14:34 AM PDT by Toddsterpatriot (Why are doom and gloomers, union members and liberals so bad at math?)
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To: Toddsterpatriot
"The last I heard they hadn't been able to duplicate it. You might as well wish for a car powered by a mini black hole.

You are right about this, but because something has not yet been done does not mean it cannot be done.

46 posted on 05/27/2008 6:20:39 AM PDT by lexusppd
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To: Toddsterpatriot
"Yes! Otherwise we'd already be doing it on a massive scale.

Ok, so it IS about the cost factor, whether you mentioned it or not.

47 posted on 05/27/2008 6:22:46 AM PDT by lexusppd
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To: RayChuang88
He branded institutional investors such as pension funds as "one of if not the primary factors affecting commodities prices today."

There you go folks, I've been saying this for over 3 years now, and you've all called me insane for pointing out the blaringly obvious fact. Now here is one of those hedge fund managers openly admitting the truth.

So go take your "market is god" idiotic mentalities that yoru political rhetoric pin heads on talk radio regurgitate and stuff it. This is no different than what Standard Oil was doing over 100 years ago, only now its not one single entity doing it, but a collusions among the wealthy themselves to hose the people.

Unfettered capitalism is not moral, its an economic system.. it is AMMORAL, the morality of the US system comes from the judeo-christian based laws applied to it. Capitalism left to its own devices has no issue at all with the captal holders screwing the masses for their own benefit. And that's all thats been going on with Oil now for about 3-5 years.

48 posted on 05/27/2008 6:27:22 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: lexusppd
You are right about this, but because something has not yet been done does not mean it cannot be done.

I thought we were talking about the current oil issue, not what we'll be using to power our flying cars in 1000 years?

49 posted on 05/27/2008 6:29:05 AM PDT by Toddsterpatriot (Why are doom and gloomers, union members and liberals so bad at math?)
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To: lexusppd
Ok, so it IS about the cost factor,

Cost is always a factor. Losing energy to split water is no way to make money. Or power our country.

50 posted on 05/27/2008 6:32:55 AM PDT by Toddsterpatriot (Why are doom and gloomers, union members and liberals so bad at math?)
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To: Toddsterpatriot
What we were speaking about was the FUTURE possibilities for absolving us of the need for fossil fuels. Or at least that was what I was speaking about.

Your comment about what we will/may be using in “1000 years” is intersting because it seems to indicate what hasn't been done will likely not be done anytime soon. This makes no sense. I refer you back to my comment about the geometric advance of technology.

51 posted on 05/27/2008 7:01:53 AM PDT by lexusppd
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To: lexusppd
What we were speaking about was the FUTURE possibilities for absolving us of the need for fossil fuels. Or at least that was what I was speaking about.

Really?

The laws of supply demand cannot be revoked and if these devices, which can power homes as well as automobiles become the norm, the oil producers will lower their prices to wherever they must in order to sell their product.

I'm more interested in the laws of physics. Maybe you should look into them?

This makes no sense. I refer you back to my comment about the geometric advance of technology.

Please ping me when they build the first cold fusion or black hole powered car. Thanks.

52 posted on 05/27/2008 7:12:42 AM PDT by Toddsterpatriot (Why are doom and gloomers, union members and liberals so bad at math?)
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To: Toddsterpatriot
Look, you're playing word games here. I distinctly posted in my FIRST post that I was mentioning Hydrogen Fuel cell LIKE devices. Understand? LIKE, as in a device LIKE another one in that it accomplishes the same thing but is of a different design.

And your comment re cold fusion simply indicates a closed mind, giving no credence to technology advances and their natural progression. According to you, it has not not happened, therefore it will not happen and if it does happen it will take a hundred years.

You have you mind made up, your blinkers firmly attached and you are staring straight ahead convinced nothing can come at you from either side.

53 posted on 05/27/2008 7:50:14 AM PDT by lexusppd
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To: RayChuang88

Another article diligently pointing out anything but the True Cause.


54 posted on 05/27/2008 7:54:32 AM PDT by RightWhale (You are reading this now)
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To: lexusppd
Look, you're playing word games here. I distinctly posted in my FIRST post that I was mentioning Hydrogen Fuel cell LIKE devices.

Fuel cells are like batteries. You want to tell us how batteries will save us?

And your comment re cold fusion simply indicates a closed mind, giving no credence to technology advances and their natural progression.

Something that cannot be reliably duplicated can't be claimed as an advance in technology. Sorry.

According to you, it has not not happened, therefore it will not happen and if it does happen it will take a hundred years.

Wrong. According to me, if it takes more energy to get hydrogen out of water than the fuel cell will produce, you haven't added to our energy supply.

You have you mind made up

It's true, you don't understand physics, my mind is made up. LOL!

55 posted on 05/27/2008 7:56:46 AM PDT by Toddsterpatriot (Why are doom and gloomers, union members and liberals so bad at math?)
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To: lexusppd

I don’t think McCain will win simply because he is doing his very best to insure that conservatives stay home this fall.


56 posted on 05/27/2008 8:09:35 AM PDT by mainerforglobalwarming
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To: mainerforglobalwarming
Depends what you mean by Conservatives. Not all Rep are Conservatives in the sense I believe you mean. I am a Republican and don't believe I fit the mold of many here on FR. I am totally against abortion, support gun owners, love to death tax cuts, want our borders secure and am a literal fanatic about national defense and winning the WOT. I also want smaller government that spends less BUT I also believe that these things are not all of the same importance all the time.

Today the national security issue including the overseas WOT and the proper surveillance techniques here is of primary importance. It is in this venue I believe McCain is head and shoulders above anyone on the left and most especially the empty suit.

That said, what ever hard line Conservatives McCain loses (and I don't think in the end it will be near as many as you think, he will more then make up for by grabs from the center and right.

57 posted on 05/27/2008 10:06:16 AM PDT by lexusppd
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To: lexusppd
Who do you think will make more screwups over the next few months McCain or Obama? I think McCain will continue to crap all over the conservative base. But Obama seems destined to have some John Kerry moments. Then again, I thought the oil bubble would burst by September. Doesn't appear that this will happen. If it doesn't Obama can make all the idiotic statements he likes and he'll beat McCain.
58 posted on 05/28/2008 7:22:20 AM PDT by mainerforglobalwarming
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