I think I can lend something to this discussion (other than obscure, yet totally awesome Simpsons references) about oil and gas prices. When I was up in Alaska in May I was talking to friends, associates, etc. about the price of oil/gas and one thing that came (even with the few petroleum engineers I know) is the fact that there aren't enough refineries to process the oil the U.S. needs. This is a serious part of the problem underlying gas prices, as the Middle East can pump all the oil they want (Hell, AK and Canada can drain the North Slope dry), there aren't enough refineries in U.S. to process the oil into gasoline for use. Here are refinery numbers. The top US refinery produces 557,000 barrels/day. The US uses 20,687,000 barrels/day AS OF 2006 (EIA data).
Just some stuff to consider.
Also, Bert, no one here really know what Formosa is. But the food is delicious. And the girls are pretty. But it's hot and humid as hell.
