Short Takes  

The FT has an article on North Sea oil production - Analysis: On its last legs.

Reuters has a report on smuggling of Mexico's state subsidised fuel across the border into the US - Entrepreneurs lug cheap Mexican fuel across border. I've seen reports of the same thing happening where this arbitrage possibility exists, like the Malaysia - Thailand border.

Steve Levine has an article in BusinessWeek on Saudi claims that they can ramp up production to 12.5 million barrels a day - Saudi Oil: A Crude Awakening on Supply?. Apparently he managed to get hold of a field by field database - but where from ?

Also at BusinessWeek, an article looking at the impact of high oil prices on the US, "U.S. dependence on foreign oil has led to both a wealth transfer and a power transfer" - Follow the Oil Money.

CounterPunch has a look at peak oil and US foreign policy in Oiling the War Machine.

Glenn at TOD Local has a post on smart growth and transit oriented development - Smart Growth Gets a New Look.

The LA Times reports that even Iraq, the holder of the world's largest oil reserves (and probably a lot of gas as well), is switching to solar powered streetlights - electricity-starved capital goes solar. Guess they have given up on US forces being able to make the grid work properly - but maybe Bush will be spinning this as a success story - "look, we are doing something about global warming !".

Energy Bulletin has a roundup of articles on the World Bank report on biofuels that blame them for much of the recent rises in food prices.

The WSJ reports that Total and StatoilHydro have accepted tough terms from Gazprom in order to get access to the Shtokman gas field - Oil Sees End of Sweet Deals.

Resource Investor has an article on delays to the Canada to US gulf coast oil pipeline, noting "supply out of Western Canada is ramping up at a little bit slower rate than was anticipated by the industry" - Enbridge Delays Completion of U.S. Gulf Coast Crude Pipeline. Apparently shipping the crude to the refineries costs $8 per barrel.

The Oil Drum has a video of Matt Simmons going into full doomer mode on CNBC.

My TOD ANZ co-editor Phil Hart made it onto TV last week - Peak Oil on ABC Stateline in Victoria.

Technology Review has an article on wave power, looking at the "Anaconda" I mentioned last week and other contenders - Energy from Waves.

REW reports on a proposed cellulosic ethanol plant in Nebraska - Novozymes To Build US Ethanol Enzyme Facility.

REW also has a report on Siemens New 3.6 MW Direct-drive "Concept" Wind Turbine.

One more from REW - Finding a Second Life for Retired Wind Turbines.

The Geothermal Power Blog reports that Reykjavik Energy is to Build Five 45MW Geothermal Plants in Reykjavik.

Freshome has a post on a Floating Ecopolis for Climate Refugees. Can't wait to see a few floating in Sydney Harbour - but I won't hold my breath waiting for it.

CNNMoney is diving into the "free energy" memeworld - BlackLight's physics-defying promise: Cheap power from water. Hey presto - (one) problem solved !

Mark Morford at the SF Chronicle says You are not reading enough, and asks "Has the Internet killed the joys of sitting down with a good book?". While I don't get to read enough books these days, I must say I don't have any trouble switching from my scattershot multi-tasking based mental state that I'm in when I'm sitting here in front of the computer back to concentrating on a book. Its positively relaxing in fact.

Jeff Vail has a repost of an old essay, asking if maybe we should wake up and smell the coffee (and blood orange blossoms) - Vernacular Zen.

The BBC reports on a UK government report showing a decline in zooplankton of more than 70% since the 1960s - Fall in tiny animals a 'disaster'.

The New York Times has a review of a book that looks at US torture practices and warns that "the abuse constituted war crimes, placing the highest officials in the U.S. government in jeopardy of being prosecuted" - Book Cites Secret Red Cross Report of C.I.A. Torture of Qaeda Captives.

Cryptogon has an update on the post-Katrina toxic FEMA trailer-homes scandal - FEMA Trailer Manufacturers Knew About Formaldehyde, Findings Went Undisclosed.

Cryptogon also has a post on the fuel price driven phenomenon of "desk rage" - Desk Rage Spoils Workplace for Many Americans.

Bruce Sterling was surprised to discover that the Creative Class has been cruelly crushing the poor under iron heel of commercial creativity. Take the boots off Bruce.

Bruce also has a post on The World's Last Surviving Durruti Anarchist. Save the Durruti ! Try and guess where he is hiding out before you click the link...

And to close, Jamais Cascio on The Participatory Decepticon.