What’s the best type of olive oil to use in hummus?

By pcgumban | December 28, 2009
Donna M asked:


What makes the best hummus - extra virgin olive oil, light olive oil, pure olive oil, etc.? Would I sacrifice anything if I chose a cheaper type of olive oil?

Bertie
Posted in Ethnic Cuisine | Tagged , | Comments closed

What is your view on Palm Oil as an alternative energy resource?

By pcgumban | December 27, 2009
bada_bing2k4 asked:


Oil Palm plantations are growing at rapid rates in the tropical nations of Indonesia and Malaysia. These lands were once covered by upwards to 90% rain forest just a century ago, while that has declined presently to less than 50%. This is due largely to oil palm plantations. Palm oil has been used historically as a cooking and cosmetics additive with other uses. However, the palm oil industry is now booming with its realization of clean energy. Europe has turned to this clean energy in hopes of reducing the global warming problem. Palm oil is about 8-10 times as efficient as ethanol for power. However, rainforests are being slashed and burned at record rates in these nations, to make room for more palm oil plantations. These areas which were a rich are for trees and plants as well as animals are now being turned into an oil palm monoculture for profits. Think about how the atmosphere is effected when dense rain forests are being burnt down at blinding speeds.

Frederick
Posted in Green Living | Tagged , | Comments closed

Commodities priced in dollars and inflation?

By pcgumban | December 26, 2009
sa1518 asked:


“With commodities fromm oil to natural gas to grain to meat priced in dollars and becoming more expensive as the greenback falls, consumers have to take more out of their wallets to simply buy the same amount of goods.”

Why are these commodities becoming more expensive as the dollar falls if they are priced in dollars? (assuming their price stays constant). In other words - how does a falling dollar make them more expensive?

Am I interpreting that quote correctly? (The theme of the article is that a dollar slide leads to a rise in prices… from an import stantpoint, I agree. But the sentence above seems like he is getting at something slightly different).

Thanks!

Ray

Posted in Investing | Tagged , | Comments closed

Should Indian Govt. go for crude oil options in International Energy Exchange?

By pcgumban | December 24, 2009
OM S asked:


In commodity market going for crude oil option is benifitial for India ot not?

Cliff
Posted in Investing | Tagged , | Comments closed

Can speculation really raise the price of oil in the long term?

By pcgumban | December 22, 2009
crookmatt asked:


It seems to me based on my basic economics 101 experience, that if the price of oil is pushed higher than what would normally be supported by worldwide supply and demand, then the artificially high price will cause demand to decline, supply to rise which would normally cause a surplus. Speculators would then need to add even more money into oil commodities to account for that surplus to keep the price high. Therefore for speculators to keep the price of oil above what is supported by supply in demand for any extended period of time, they would by necessity keep adding more and more and more money into oil. Since speculators pot of money isn’t endless eventually supply and demand will catch up and pop the speculative bubble.

Does anyone want to refute my analysis or support it? What do you think we have now (a speculative bubble or a real price increase in supply and demand) ? What is the reason oil has gone down $40/barrel in the last month?

Anne

Posted in Economics | Tagged , | Comments closed

Can the USA continue to have a good economy and rely on oil for energy?

By pcgumban | December 16, 2009
robert f asked:


I just saw the special, “We were warned: Out of gas.” If terrorists destroyed oil installations in Saudia Arabia then how would it affect the USA economy? Has the USA taken measures to protect its economy from an oil, supply, disruption?

Sandy
Posted in Economics | Tagged , | Comments closed

What are the best countries for oil engineer jobs?

By pcgumban | December 14, 2009
Vlad D asked:


I know times are extremely tough right now..
But where are the best oil engineer/drilling manager jobs located at currently?

For someone with 30 years experience.
And was once a VP of a petroleum company.

This isn’t me obviously, but am just curious….where the best countries are for this type of job right now?

Thanks.

Rita

Posted in Engineering | Tagged , | Comments closed

What is the ultimate source of energy in oil?

By pcgumban | December 12, 2009
whatwhat asked:


I have this question that was on an environmental science exam and the answer is solar energy is the ulitmate source of energy in oil. I can’t seem to figure out why and how that is the answer. Any ideas???

Ty
Posted in Earth Sciences & Geology | Tagged , | Comments closed

Why do Reid and Obama want to wait until after the election to bring oil prices down with off-shore drilling?

By pcgumban | December 5, 2009
Ophelia asked:


Why not get lower oil prices as fast as possible?

They’re not even going to allow a Senate vote before the election—–holding everything up, and raising the expectation that it won’t happen, causing commodity pricing of oil to drive it even higher…..

Why not do something right now?

Arron

Posted in Politics | Tagged , | Comments closed

What would be the economic effect of removing oil from the speculative markets?

By pcgumban | November 25, 2009
Jack L asked:


Does oil have to be a traded commodity? Could we remove it from trading and have some other pricing means? How would the US economy be affected? Global economy?

Sofia
Posted in Economics | Tagged , | Comments closed