Rice Farmer: News Links, November 14, 2012

"There are two important things going on here, one is that the capital isn't going to last forever, especially since shale gas is a commercial failure. Shale gas has lost hundreds of billions of dollars and investors will not keep on pumping money into something that doesn't generate a return. The second thing that nobody thinks very much about is the decline rates shale reservoirs experience. Well, I've looked at this. The decline rates are incredibly high."

Man Uses a Toyota Prius to Power his House During Weeklong Blackout

In case there's a misunderstanding, my purpose in posting this is not to recommend that people buy hybrid cars to power their homes during blackouts. -- RF

Secrecy cloaks South Korea's civil nuclear program

Many Coal-Fired Power Plants Poised to Retire, Group Says (US)

Sudan contains 762 million barrel in oil reserves: official

Not even a 10-day supply for the world, but I suppose every little bit helps. -- RF

Chinese wind owners face cash crunch as state subsidy stops

Here it is again: The energy trap. Fossil fuels are already too expensive to adequately subsidize renewables. -- RF
Coal stocks at power plants dwindle to the level barely enough to light the nation for five days (India)

## Got food? ##
Wheat: Supply losses keep mounting

Big Win for Monsanto

Adventurous Eating Helped Human Ancestors Boost Odds Of Survival

UN: Haiti faces 2013 food shortage after Hurricane Sandy
How Dangerous Is Genetically Modified Food?

"However, Professors Heinemann and Carman warn, there's a risk that the gene silencing done to these plants might make its way into humans and wreak havoc on our bodies. In their press conference and subsequent papers, they describe the possibility that the siRNA molecules – which are pretty hardy little chemicals and not easily gotten rid of – could wind up interacting with our RNA."

## Environment/health ##
Electricity from burning trees is 'dirtier than coal'

The whole idea of trying to prop up industrial civilization on biomass is mistaken to begin with. -- RF

France's Champagne Harvest Shrinks Drastically

Man-made emissions are stalling the start of the next ice age

Unleashing the Methane Monster

Yellow fever kills nearly 100 in Sudan's Darfur: WHO

Three more killed by Italy floods, hundreds evacuated

## Intelligence/security/internet/cyberwar ##

Google Says Governments Requesting More Content Removals
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Feinstein: 'We will need to talk to David Petraeus' about Benghazi

UAE places restrictions on online dissent
US to scan status updates and tweets for bioterrorism evidence

The Police Drones which are Watching You

Security exercises at Indian Point
"Entergy will be conducting security training drills at the Indian Point nuclear power plant during part of the day and evening on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 13 and 14 using simulated weaponry that sounds like actual gunfire, Entergy announced."

## Systemic breakdown ##
For 'preppers,' every day could be doomsday

There's no shortage of articles ridiculing preppers as half-crazed "doomers" or wild-eyed "conspiracy theorists" screaming incoherently from grassy knolls (OK, some of them might be crazy, but rational people can easily see what's happening). At the same time, preparations are being made for mock zombie attacks, so the authorities too are getting ready for something big. However, holing up in a bunker is not recommended. As the industrial/consumer society crumbles bit by bit, it's important that we form mutually supportive communities that will salvage what we can from the old in order to build the new. -- RF

Cities–too big to fail?

Our understanding of the "city" is incomplete unless we consider also the underlying ethos of urban culture, which is to exploit the ecologically viable portions of the planet in order to achieve ever higher levels of extravagance and maintain their suicidal expansion. Cities will perforce downsize, but the mindset that underlies them must also change, otherwise there will be no end to the emperors, kings, dictators, bosses, and various other elites and aristocrats. -- RF

## Japan ##
Japan's Tepco sees no quick re-start for biggest nuclear plant

Damage to Japanese companies in Chinese protests totals $126 million

Ishihara formally launches new Party of the Sun

Worries over highly radioactive fish prompt study
"Persistently high radioactivity in some fish caught close to the Fukushima nuclear plant has sparked a government investigation into the physiological basis for contamination and why radiation readings in some specimens remain hundreds of times over the official safe limit."

Residents demanding decommissioning of Hamaoka nuke plant to sue national gov't

Nation's power output down for 2nd month

## China ##
China turns to machines as farmers seek fresh fields
"China needs to replace millions of workers who have quit farms for cities, but even its vast state power might not be able to transform the countryside into a network of big industrial farms capable of feeding its growing economy."
Indentured Servitude in Hong Kong Abetted by Loan Firms

China may cut retail fuel prices as early as Wed.

## UK ##

'Virtually zero growth' in the private sector economy
Ash dieback: number of affected counties doubles

NHS 'Loses 6,000 Nurses' In Two Years
Britain launches energy savings drive

## US ##

People From 20 States Ask To Secede On White House Website
NBCUniversal cuts about 500 employees
Bullet-train planners face huge engineering challenge

Won't happen. Like Japan's plan for a maglev train line snaking from Tokyo to Osaka, the planners can't see that expensive energy and rapidly evaporating capital will be the death of their dreams. -- RF

'Just sickening': Vandals smash nearly 70 gravestones in Alabama cemetery

Massive Indianapolis explosion baffles investigators

Top U.S. commander in Afghanistan under investigation, scandal widens

Budget deficit rises to $120 billion in October

Ron Paul: Secession an Important Constitutional Principle

U.S. study sees 59,000 MW of coal output too costly to run

AT&T Wants To Cut the Cord on Your Landline Phone

Obama considering John Kerry for job of defense secretary

And finally…

NZ man planning manure protest told to stay away from Prince Charles
Human intelligence slowly declining, says leading geneticist

Wife runs over husband with SUV, because Obama was re-elected

Degrees For Dollars: Students Petition Uncle Sam To Refund Student Loans For Worthless Diplomas