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Leanan
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Joined: May 20, 2004
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 Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 6:12 am Post subject: Bill Gates and Peak Oil |
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| Over at the Oil Drum, someone reports that they saw Bill Gates on TV last night. The interviewer asked him what he was reading, and he named some peak oil books, including "Twilight In the Desert." He said energy will be the great issue of our time. |
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Doly
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| Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 6:19 am Post subject: Re: Bill Gates and Peak Oil |
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| Considering how long it usually takes Bill Gates to become aware of a hot issue in his own chosen speciality, you can say that by the time Bill Gates becomes aware of an issue, the writing is on the wall. |
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Novus
Light Sweet Crude
Joined: Jun 21, 2005
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| Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 7:03 am Post subject: Re: Bill Gates and Peak Oil |
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| If Bill Gates cares about oil he should make his next Windows OS more efficient on older hardware. Everytime a new Windows comes out you have to buy a whole new computer. New computers cost about 15 barrels of oil to make. Bill Gates has the power to make a lot of change in the world and I am not talking about his charity foundation. He could make a lot of money if Microsoft went in the direction of reusing old PCs. |
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basketballjones
Heavy Crude
Joined: May 17, 2004
Posts: 140
Location: sydney, australia
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| Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 7:22 am Post subject: Re: Bill Gates and Peak Oil |
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| Doly wrote: | | Considering how long it usually takes Bill Gates to become aware of a hot issue in his own chosen speciality, you can say that by the time Bill Gates becomes aware of an issue, the writing is on the wall. |
i think you mean oprah. |
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Heineken
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Location: Rural Virginia
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| Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 7:52 am Post subject: Re: Bill Gates and Peak Oil |
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Notwithstanding his brainy, New Age image, Gates has been remarkably conventional in his thinking about the energy, economic, and environmental issues of importance to POers. For example, he sings praises of China's pell-mell "growth."
Just another businessman. |
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Leanan
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bartholland
Heavy Crude
Joined: Nov 12, 2005
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| Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 11:09 am Post subject: Re: Bill Gates and Peak Oil |
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| Nothing to do with your machine. The link is incorrect! |
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NeoPeasant
Light Sweet Crude
Joined: Oct 12, 2004
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Location: In the suburban sea of strangers
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| Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 11:17 am Post subject: Re: Bill Gates and Peak Oil |
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| Leanan wrote: | | Over at the Oil Drum, someone reports that they saw Bill Gates on TV last night. The interviewer asked him what he was reading, and he named some peak oil books, including "Twilight In the Desert." He said energy will be the great issue of our time. |
I imagine doing things like buying the rights to "end of suburbia" and then mass producing it like AOL cds and putting a copy in every mailbox in America. Not everyone would believe it but it would start one hell of a national conversation.
Someone like Bill Gates could, if he wanted to, actually do such a thing.
_________________
The battle to preserve our lifestyle has already been lost. The battle to preserve our lives is just beginning. |
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Leanan
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Joined: May 20, 2004
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| Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 12:10 pm Post subject: Re: Bill Gates and Peak Oil |
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Better yet, he could make a really good peak oil documentary. One that was fast-paced and interesting, one that stayed away from conspiracy theories, etc. Translate it into a bunch of languages. Then he could give it away. Not just on DVD, but online, off the Microsoft servers and on P2P networks.
And include it with each copy of Windows shipped. |
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Luckystars
Heavy Crude
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Joined: Dec 09, 2005
Posts: 186
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| Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 12:27 pm Post subject: Re: Bill Gates and Peak Oil |
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Jimmy Carter on Larry King Live a few days ago they go to a clip of him in 1977 saying "The energy shortage is real, we must begin to conserve."
And there you have the total insainity of this current situation, we were told. |
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LadyRuby
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Joined: Jun 13, 2005
Posts: 1206
Location: Western US
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| Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 12:27 pm Post subject: Re: Bill Gates and Peak Oil |
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It would be nice to get a transcript of that.
Here's what he said a few days ago, doesn't sound too awfully worried:
Microsoft's chairman defends Google in China censorship row
| Quote: | Mr Gates, meanwhile, played down fears that the world was headed for a long-term energy crisis, despite high oil prices.
“This is not a two-year spike, or at least that is not the way the markets are looking at (it),” he said of oil prices. However, he insisted that although it created difficulties in the short term, particularly for developing countries, in the long run there should not be an energy problem or a need to increase carbon emissions, as alternative energy sources are developed.
“The amount of innovation that is required is dramatic” he said. “We cannot be in denial to solve this problem.” |
Although he does have some investments in Pacific Ethanol. |
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Leanan
News Editor
Joined: May 20, 2004
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| Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 12:38 pm Post subject: Re: Bill Gates and Peak Oil |
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I think businessmen are inclined to be optimistic. They believe in the free market, or they would not be businessmen.
Even Matthew Simmons...I think the worst he expects is that a lot of people will lose a lot of money. |
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mekrob
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| Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 1:11 pm Post subject: Re: Bill Gates and Peak Oil |
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| Well of course he won't be pessimistic. He sees this as an oppurtunity as well as all businessmen who know about it. There's so much money to be made if you're smart and inventful. Alt energy, very/super fuel effecient vehicles/homes/buildings are going to make billions (or quadrillions in future money) for those who can be the first and best. They don't look at it from a standpoint of a GM or Ford worker, veteraniarian, astronomer, etc who will most likely be out of a job and can't afford anything. |
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nth
Light Sweet Crude
Joined: Feb 24, 2005
Posts: 1976
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| Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 1:31 pm Post subject: a single computer does not use 15barrels of oil. |
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| Novus wrote: | | New computers cost about 15 barrels of oil to make. |
I hope you are not saying one new computer uses 15 barrels of oil or boe.
Computer industry is energy intensive but not that intensive. |
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oilfreeandhappy
Heavy Crude
Joined: Jan 29, 2006
Posts: 309
Location: Fort Collins, CO
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| Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 2:12 pm Post subject: Re: Bill Gates and Peak Oil |
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Overall, I think computers actually save us energy. Examples:
- Use of Internet instead of running to the library.
- Use of disk space instead of paper.
- In-home entertainment instead of going out.
- Shopping on-line instead of the malls (assuming the route-oriented shipping is more efficient than the independent use of the automobile).
There's probably others I didn't think of...
Jim
http://home.comcast.net/~oil_free_and_happy/ |
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