Thog's Science Masterclass #4

[realthog]

Thanks to Think Progress (which see for a fuller story) for this:

Rep. Bill Sali (R-ID), who is participating in the GOP’s ongoing “Drill Now” energy stunt, has a unique idea about how to bring down gas prices: extracting oil from trees. In a meeting in his Capitol Hill office, Sali reportedly told a candidate for Idaho’s House of Representatives, Byron Yankey, that there “‘could be up to 40 barrels of oil‘ in a single tree.” Yankey wrote on his campaign blog:

Congressman Sali informed us that a solution to the high price of gasoline was to make petroleum from “all those trees in our forests.” … He continued by saying there “could be up to 40 barrels of oil” in a single tree.

Sali made a similar comment in 2006:

“Forty percent of the mass of every tree in the forest is crude oil,” he said. Going after that, he said, “could put Idaho in the oil business for the first time.”

There's further discussion on Obsidian Wings and The Stupid Shall be Punished (and, I imagine, lots of other places!).

Comments

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

There was an episode of Outer Limits back in the 90s about extra-terrestrial aliens who had taken over the earth through political and corporate rule, and then went about altering the earth's atmosphere to suit them, while simultaneously making it uninhabitable for human beings.

I'm beginning to wonder if there is some truth to this . . .

[realthog.livejournal.com]

I'd forgotten that episode, which was based on a story whose title/author I've still forgotten. Thanks for the reminder.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Given the density of Representative Sali's skull, I'm thinking of mining it for heavy metals.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

As someone commented via e-mail, we should squeeze Sali's head until it bursts -- bound to be about a gallon of crude in there.

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

What with all the fat between the ears, there should be plenty.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

*snort*

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Surely a typo for 'crudity'?

[quietselkie.livejournal.com]

...just...whut.

BIOMASS in a tree, sure, but not crude oil.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

So, if you ever see a guy by the side of the road feeding twigs into his SUV's gas tank, you'll know it's Rep Scali.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Or even leaves.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"Or even leaves."

Well, nuts, too.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

That last might confuse the poor man.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

My, you're on form today, aren't you?

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Comes from having had my office burgled.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"Comes from having had my office burgled."

Oh, lordy. All commiserations, mate.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Happened ten days ago. They stole my office computer and some money that was in my desk; left the office pretty trashed. They also got into the offices of some colleagues downstairs and ransacked those. Result: one unhappy political scientist, and two unhappy psychologists.

Curiously, when I asked the president what he was going to do about physical security for our building -- which is one of the most remote, since it isn't on the main campus -- he said he hadn't heard about the incident. That's a bit odd, since I reported it to the campus police, and spoke to the vice president of academic affairs about it.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"Curiously, when I asked the president what he was going to do about physical security for our building . . . he said he hadn't heard about the incident."

Clearly he's been taking lessons on this sort of thing from another president.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

That could be the case. He's a lot more approachable than his predecessor, but is pretty oily.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

That wasn't quite what I meant . . .

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know that.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

In which context you might want to take a read of this: http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/081508a.html

It's longish. Strong drink and/or tranquilizers recommended.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

How Colin, my distant cousin (come to think of it, possibly your distant cousin as well) got his ballocks cut off. A sad tale.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

More to the point in context is how Il Buce point-blank refused to listen to contradictory evidence. Of course, we knew this had happened, but not the extent. Nice to see it beginning to be documented.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Reality had to be shaped to conform to the predetermined narrative. The world was supposed to fit the movie scripted by George, Dick and the Neo-Con crew. Evidence could be trampled over. After all. It worked in 2000. It got George elected. It should be able to work all the time. How were they to know that reality was intractable?

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"How were they to know that reality was intractable?"

They're still to a great extent getting away with it. And McCain's learned the lesson: he's doing the same.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Perhaps he isn't. We shall see.

[al-zorra.livejournal.com]

What???????????????????

How does such stupid get elected?

Oh yeah. They buy the process(es).

Love, C.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"How does such stupid get elected?"

Anything to send him somewhere far away from Idaho.

I'm AWED.

[thalinoviel.livejournal.com]

Does he not have fact-checkers for his speeches? or do they just hate him?

Re: I'm AWED.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Reality has a known liberal bias.

Re: I'm AWED.

[thalinoviel.livejournal.com]

I've just choked. I blame you.

Re: I'm AWED.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

Re: I'm AWED.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"Does he not have fact-checkers for his speeches?"

If he says it, it's a fact -- everybody knows that. Rep. Sali's told us so himself.

Re: I'm AWED.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

This is the result of eating too many potatoes.

Re: I'm AWED.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"This is the result of eating too many potatoes."

Consuming them by hammering them in through his ears has been Sali's big mistake.

Re: I'm AWED.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

That could be. Or it could be that the statement 'Famous Potatoes' on Idaho licence plates refers to the citizens, not the products.

Re: I'm AWED.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Of course, there's a gallon and a half of crude oil in every Idaho potato. Everyone knows that, too.

Re: I'm AWED.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

That explains their fattening effect.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Listen to Rush Limbaugh for ten minutes. Or to Neil Boortz. Or Ken Hamblin. Or read Michelle Malkin's blog. There is some real craziness out there.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Or subscribe (free) to sites like Media Matters and News Hounds. The motto of the latter os "We watch FOX News so You Don't Have To".

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Somebody's got to.