Grampa Jim

Are Coal Stocks Heating Up?

Thanks, Nav21517, for a brilliant perspective. And isn't technology in which we're so strong in the USA encouraging for a solution to the nasty side of coal? And are there not powerful economic and political forces pushing "clean enough coal" here and globally?

Book Review: 'Game Over' by Stephen Leeb

Dr. Leeb:
Many thanks for your book, The Oil Factor. I read it in 2004, and, prompted largely by it (you), I set out to learn much, much more about peak oil and many other energy issues. Now, energy, alternative energy and clean tech make up approx 20% of my portfolio as an "Other" category...other than equities, bonds and cash. Until this price drop, I enjoyed being long BTU, PCX, CHK, CVX, RIG, NOV, FTEK, FCEL, SPWRA, AKNS, TSL, NBR, ENER, WFR, SSL, JOYG and GE. FSNGX and PRNEX are in there too! Yes, I've taken my lumps, but I'm holding for the times you forecast with the hope that I'm properly positioned - at least MOSTLY well positioned! Oh, and in this recent rally, our portfolio came back much stronger than the broader US market. -Jim


On May 26 10:17 AM Dr. Stephen Leeb wrote:

> Thank you very much for your kind words. Your commends helps me feel
> like I am truly helping individual investors become more aware of
> the upcoming volatility. Good luck with your investment choices.
>
>
> Sincerely,
> Stephen Leeb, PhD

Toyota Far Surpasses GM When It Comes to EV

Jack:

Many thanks for your extensively detailed reply. I was afraid it would be something like that. So, now the Toyota Solara convertible is looking better and better, the all-gasoline power notwithstanding. By the time I buy to replace my Chrysler Sebring convertible, the mileage on the Solara should really be up there. By the way, I just saw the VW "tear-drop" single-seater, supposedly coming out next year for $600 in China and getting 100 mpg with top speed of 62 mph. Is this for real? Your comments would be most appreciated.


On May 21 04:49 PM Jack Lifton wrote:

> Grampa Jim,
>
> You ask a very good question, and I think it deserves an answer,
> which i do not think you (or I) will like.
>
> One of the key engineering issues with the design of a small car
> to maximize fuel efficiency is that its aerodynamic drag be minimized
> so as to avoid wasting fuel. The Prius, Insight, and Ford Fusion
> hybrids, as well as the Chevrolet Volt, are designed with this as
> a primary concern.
>
> Even if the design were to include a retractable hardtop with all
> of the motors, energy required to operate them, and the dead space
> required to store the retracted top there would be the problem of
> what aerodynamics do we get with the top "down.?"
>
> Unfortunately for you and for me and for our sympaticos the loss
> of fuel efficiency from the design limitations of a convertible is
> considered to be negative economically for the target market. For
> every carefree boy or girl who wants the wind to blow through their
> (where in my case there was once) hair there are literally hundreds
> of customers who want fuel efficiency more.
>
> The stated reason from every car maker for no convertible EV is that
> the electric energy required to raise and lower the top is just too
> high to warrant the complexity of the design and the loss of overall
> perofrmance. The truer reason is that those who want a convertible
> do not add up to a large enough market segment to warrant the expense
> of the design and production.
>
> A Camero convertible with its high price tag will bring you to the
> showroom to ooh and aah while you settle for the hardtop. This is
> the very definition of a halo car.
>
> For your information it is no secret that with the initial limited
> production of the Chevrolet Volt it will be impossible for any dealer
> to "fairly" get more than one or two of them in the entire first
> year. GM is already telling its delaers: Use it as a halo car. Don't
> sell it. Just let customesr ooh and aah and put them into Malibus
> and Impalas.
>
> If the Volt is a flop then you can expect to see a convertible model,
> because by then it will only be a halo car.

Toyota Far Surpasses GM When It Comes to EV

So, how long 'till we get a Prius convertible?

Staley Cates on Chesapeake CEO Compensation

Trusting the credibility of the author...

>>By contrast, McClendon made shareholders about 30 billion dollars on three of his big four shale plays.<<

makes me feel lots better.

So, shut the wells so we can drive the price up already!

Uranium: An Under-the-Radar Bull Market

Lin: Thanks for your post with the info on thorium. How would you suggest one perform due diligence most efficiently on an investment opportunity in a new, presently closely-held corporation intending to supply thorium? Where might the best investment opportunities already be?


On May 14 07:07 PM Lin wrote:

> re
>
> Great article . Minlita , Good point . Check out thorium power ,
> a next generation nuclear fuel . Advantages : thorium cannot be prolifertized
> , made into nulear weapons , waste half life is less 1/2 time as
> uranium . Thorium is Hugely abundant . House , senate passed bill
> appox 50 billion for more research on thorium . Thorium power is
> working on Last milestone in fuel design before thorium can be used
> in present reactors . I personally spoke to someone at UX consulting
> re thorium . They replied " it'll be 5-10 years before this is used
> ". That was approx 5 years ago . Company insiders own the stock .
>
> Disclosure : Long uranium participation corp , paladin resources
> , thorium power .

Are Stocks and Oil Bottoming?

Thanks, Jim, for another great article!

Trend Reversal in Oil

Furthermore, WSJ, 2-28/3-1-09, pB6: Regulators Probe Oil Trading - Aim is to Rein In What They See as Excessive Speculation. "A probe of how US Oil Fund LP (USO) and others conducted themselves during a key trading period marks a renewed attempt by commodities regulators to rein in what they view as excessive speculation in the oil markets. ..."

Trend Reversal in Oil

>>speculators and hedge funds were NOT responsible for the escalation in oil price, although they might have been responsible for some of it.<<

Nonsense. I believe they were responsible for MOST of it, the CFTC report notwithstanding.

Three Conditions Needed for a Surge in Iraqi Oil

Many thanks, Jim. Very helpful for a perspective on Iraq's place in the oil supply picture.

Plug-In Natural Gas Hybrid Vehicles: A Game Changer

Keep 'em coming, Fitzman!!

Three Things Obama Will Do to Advance Alternative Energy

Mr. Banks: Why do you say that about wind?


On Dec 16 10:04 AM Fred Banks wrote:

> Looks to me as if this short 'article' was written by someone with
> plans to go long in wind energy. A piece of advice might be appropriate
> here, and I hope that it is widely circulated. The present emphasis
> on wind energy is crank, and the sooner it is abandoned the better
> it will be for the country. .

Energy Investing: Scenarios for a Turnaround

Many thanks, Jim Kingsdale, for this very helpful look at what we're experiencing and facing. Good to have this check of your compass in such a troubling storm.

Chesapeake Energy Analyst Day Update: Company Moves to Resource Conversion

Excellent analysis, Davy! Many thanks! I was really sweating gravy after that McClendon fiasco. I stand substantially reassured.

Has the Energy 'Tsunami' Been Aborted?

Many thanks, Jim, for your clear and well-reasoned perspective on prospects for oil and energy. I hope you're wrong on the the duration of that "open-ended" uncertainty in the markets and the upcoming over-supply of crude. Hopefully, the resolution of the "Who'll be president" question (regardless of whom) and restoration of confidence from the global bailouts will help many more energy investors "talk themselves back into" long positions earlier rather than later. Frankly, I couldn't resist doubling my long position in CVX this past Friday.