We are developing the social individualist meta-context for the future. From the very serious to the extremely frivolous... lets see what is on the mind of the Samizdata people.

Samizdata, derived from Samizdat /n. - a system of clandestine publication of banned literature in the USSR [Russ.,= self-publishing house]

Samizdata quote of the day

Declaration of interest – I know a guy who works on an oil rig. That’s my credibility shot then.

Bishop Hill muses on how any link to Big Oil however tenuous means that your climate scepticism can be ignored by the AGW True Believers.

16 comments to Samizdata quote of the day

  • Alice

    Of course, it also works the other way. Any “scientific” work supported by a grant from a politician is suspect too.

  • RRS

    Me to, having done test drilling back in ’47 for Humble Oil in the early
    exploration for the syncline running from
    Cedar Key to Warrington, FL.

    But, be like the E Fs (Environmental Faithful) don’t bring up disclosures, assert purity of motives.

  • People go a bit funny whenever oil companies are mentioned. I once got dismissed by somebody on a web forum when discussing the policies of oil companies (a discussion unrelated to global warming) on the grounds that I worked in the oil business. Presumably he’d have paid attention if I was a cash register salesman.

  • Verity

    Doesn’t Al Gore have a long and cozy relationship with Occidental Petroleum?

  • Choey

    Strange that people don’t know that the EA-CRU was established by grants from the oil companies and a nuclear power group. Obviously we can’t believe a thing they say…

    Oh wait…

  • Brian, follower of Deornoth

    Tsk Tsk. Silly old you. Didn’t you know that if you hold the correct opinions you are right, and if you hold incorrect opinions you are evil? If you are connected to an Oil Company so much the better, but it doesn’t really matter. Evil is as evil does, after all.

  • Stonyground

    Being in possession of a fairly impressive and varied library, I have today pulled from one of my shelves the book, Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds, written in 1841 by Charles Mackay. I am now in the process of re-reading it as I feel that it may be relevant to the Global Warming issue.

    As I am writing this it is December and it is snowing quite heavily, I am wondering, is this unusual and should I be worried about it?

  • John B

    It is interesting to note the strange but apparently true connection that “Big Oil” often seems to have with those whom it would surely seem are dedicated to thwarting its ‘avaricious aims’.
    The pieces below are lifted from EUReferendum about the Copenhagen conference:

    Bearing in mind that the issue is based on the central deception that the life-giving gas carbon dioxide is a “pollutant”, behind the push to create this multi-trillion dollar industry is a vast nexus of influence, at or near the heart of which – it is emerging – is the chairman of the UN’s IPCC, Dr Rajendra Kumar Pachauri.

    Given Pachauri’s background, it is no surprise to find Big Oil represented, with Amoco Oil and Oman Oil listed amongst his sponsors.

    http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/2009/12/vast-nexus-of-influence.html

  • PersonFromPorlock

    As I am writing this it is December and it is snowing quite heavily, I am wondering, is this unusual and should I be worried about it?

    Posted by Stonyground at December 19, 2009 09:00 PM

    It is indeed unusual, as snow in December can happen – at most – only a little more than eight percent of the time.

  • Laird

    As I am writing this it is December and it is snowing quite heavily, I am wondering, is this unusual and should I be worried about it?

    Um, doesn’t that sort of depend upon where you are?

    Here is the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States we’re having a major blizzard of the “worst-in-a-decade” sort. I guess by definition that makes it “unusual”, but then again we’re not talking about a “once-per-century” event, either. Frankly, I don’t think there’s any significance to be attached to it; it’s just normally variable weather.

  • Stonyground

    “Um, doesn’t that sort of depend upon where you are?”

    Yes, sorry, Eastern England. If snow in December is an 8% possibility, we can presumably expect it about once every twelve years.

  • May I propose this as a future “QOTD”

    Mr Rudd made it clear that the deal had been an exercise in saving the international climate change process.

    “As of 24 hours ago, these negotiations stood on the point of total collapse … at midnight last night, we were staring into the abyss,” he said.

    He said the “big step forward” in the talks came with rich and poor countries agreeing to the goal of containing global warming to 2ºC.

    (from http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/copenhagen-accord-rescued-from-abyss-says-australias-prime-minister/story-e6frg6xf-1225811977309 )

  • Kevin B

    Well now that our leaders have taken the big step forward into the abyss by agreeing to limit global warming to 2ºC, can we prevail upon them to take another big step forward to limit global cooling at their next big jolly.

    I’m already tired of shoveling snow and frankly, these last couple of summers here in the UK have been pretty disappointing. Now that the UN has control of the global thermostat I would like to see ‘Climate Justice’ for all, so if the underdevoloped parts of the world are fed up with being a bit hot down there in the tropics. I’m sure our new weather controllers can arrange a swap for us. Some snow and ice for them and some hot sunshine for us.

    It’s only fair after all.

  • Kevin B

    Apologies for not declaring an interest. I once got two pence of a litre of fuel coupons when shopping at Tescos.

  • That’s it, then, I’m clearly biased: I know Tim Newman!
    [and, actually, trust him in everything that relates to Oil about 1000 times more than Algore&Co]

  • Paul Marks

    Exxon and the others make profits and do not ask for bailouts – so they must be evil.