What Caught My Eye Today - Oil, Argentina, Nigeria, China, Egypt, Pardons, Wikipedia

Oil - The International Energy Agency (IEA) said The United States will overtake Saudi Arabia and Russia as the world's top oil producer by 2017, and saw a continued fall in U.S. oil imports with North America becoming a net oil exporter by around 2030 and the United States becoming almost self-sufficient in energy by 2035. Is this awesome news or what? Just think, in 23 years, gas prices might actually drop. Oh happy day. This could have significant geopolitical implications, if Washington feels its strategic interests are no longer as embedded in the Middle East and other volatile oil producing regions. Come again? I thought we were engaged in the Middle East to prompt democracy and world peace. These guys make is sound like we have ulterior motive of a more selfish nature.  The IEA said it saw U.S. oil production rising to 10 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2015 and 11.1 million bpd in 2020 before slipping to 9.2 million bpd by 2035. As I understand it, most of the domestic increase in production is expected to come from hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") which will result in pretty substantial output for 10 to 15 years, but drop off significantly after that. Saudi Arabian oil output would be 10.9 million bpd by 2015, the IEA said, 10.6 million bpd in 2020 but would rise to 12.3 million bpd by 2035. OPEC's share of world oil production will rise to 48% from 42% now. The U.S. oil boom would accelerate a switch in the direction of international oil trade, the IEA said, predicting that by 2035 almost 90% of oil from the Middle East would be drawn to Asia. A rise of 1.8 billion in the world's population to 8.6 billion would lead to a spike in global oil demand by more than 10% to over 99 million bpd by 2035. So basically, the dream of lower gas prices in 20 or so years is basically just that--a dream. See oil is a global commodity, so even if the U.S. produces more oil, the price will be dictated by global demand. Why would a U.S. oil producer sell its produce for less at home than it could get by exporting it abroad?

Argentina - Argentina has lowered its voting age to 16, a move that could help current President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who is popular among the young. Isn't that nice? Giving today's youth and tomorrow's leaders an opportunity to have their voices heard. Bravo, Argentina. Bravo. Dozens of opposition members in Parliament boycotted the vote on the law, saying the change was aimed at packing Parliament with Fernandez supporters in next year's midterm elections. My, my. Aren't we a cynical lot. Voting is compulsory for those 18 and over but will be optional for 16- and 17-year olds. Makes sense to me. One should be mindful that some youths have earlier bedtimes than others. Speaking of which, in a related article on the same topic, there was some concern that young voters might somehow be unduly influenced by their parents to vote the same as Mom and Dad. I don't know about that. Not many teens seem to give a flying fig what their parents want them to do.

Nigeria - Secessionists in Nigeria have re-declared the independence of the Republic of Biafra. Sounds like the name of drug, doesn't it? Biafra...the little blue pill for those who can't afford Viagra. The original declaration, in 1967, sparked a 3 year civil war in Nigeria that killed more than 1 million people and ended in Biafran defeat. Some 500 people held a brief demonstration and again raise the Biafran flag before begin arrested and charged with treason. 500 people. Really, they call that a secessionist movement? Must be a slow news day in Nigeria. Heck, the day after Barack Obama won a second term, 20 states had started secessionist petitions. Texas had 20,000 signatures alone. Among the detained was the head of the Biafran Zionist Movement who pledged to create a country "at equal par with world economic powers in Europe, Asia and America." Look out China. You might be aiming for #1, but you better look over your shoulder. The Biafrans, all 500 of them, are nipping at your heels.

China - Speaking of #1. Turns out it is not all it's good being at the top of the food chain. Prevalence of Type 2 diabetes, associated with inactivity and obesity, has more than tripled in China over the past decade as Chinese people adopt a more Western diet and lifestyle. China has more than 90 million diabetics, compared with 24 million in the U.S., and over the next two decades it expects another 40 million to acquire the condition. And this, boys and girls, is why if you are looking for a job, you might want to consider a career in health services. It's quite the growth industry and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Egypt - For the first time in 41 years, Egypt's Coptic Christians have a new pope, after a blindfolded child picked the winner from a bowl containing 3 names. I guess that is one way to go. Sort of lacks the showmanship of the Roman Catholic conclave, but why not. Maybe all the hype is associated with picking the lucky lad or lass who gets to draw the winning pope. Pope Tawadros II, formerly a little known rural bishop, takes over a church that was long allied with the Mubarak regime, which it saw as its protector in the mostly Muslim country. Tawadros says he will vigorously defend Christian rights now that an Islamist government rules Egypt and warned against drafting a new constitution that enforces Islamic law. Good luck with that, your holiness. 

Pardons - President Barack Obama has been very stingy in dispensing presidential pardons, pardoning just 22 individuals while denying 1,019, a rate of roughly 1 out of every 50 applications.  Who knew the Prez was such a hard ass? At this point in they presidencies, Ronald Reagan had pardoned 1 of every 3 applicants, George H. W. Bush had pardoned 1 in 16, Bill Clinton had pardoned 1 in 8, and George W. Bush had pardoned 1 in 33. I totally get the Clinton and Bush 43's ratios, but what up, Gipper? One in 3 sounds really, really generous. 

Wikipedia - Wikipedia has essentially finish cataloging the world's current knowledge. With 4 million entries, the collaborative Internet encyclopedia is running out of new topics and old topics to edit. So like does that mean there are only 4 million things worth knowing? If so, I'm like half way to knowing everything. A few more years and I really will be a know-it-all. Sweet.