Dateline:  Terry, Montana, June 3, 2009 - 11:30 MST By:  Bob van der Valk   ....

Dateline:  Terry, Montana

By:  Bob van der Valk

Manipulated Oil Markets: Why the "reasons" for Memorial Day price gouging are little more
than excuses ...

Since January 1, gas prices have increased by almost 70 cents a gallon. Meanwhile, the per gallon price of oil has increased only 30 cents a gallon. Get the full story at fueltracker's parent Web site, the Utility Consumers' Action Network.

By: Bob van der Valk

Petroleum traders have been keeping a weary eye on the news about the swine flu spreading to other parts of the world.

But by now they are used to having the least amount of bad news effect crude oil and in turn fuel prices. However, the current scare may be short lived as the real story behind the headlines is just beginning to develop.

Over time I've noticed there's major changes in gas prices in groups and I surmise this to be a regular price change in a regular cycle of changes. But I've never really tracked it to pin down the actual day of the week (or the time of day) that this behavior can be counted on to occur. Of course not everyone is going make changes every time and it won't be the only time changes occur, but it is the time most frequently one can count on changes to occur. I feel it's about twice a week, on Thursday afternoons and again on Monday. Early in the day.

UCAN is making it easier for local writers, community groups, artists, musicians and concerned citizens to create and publish high-quality videos on the Internet.

The project is called www.newmediarights.org and it is dedicated to helping you express yourself or deliver your message to the world using new media.

Have you ever wondered what you can and can't say in a blog, a tweet, or on your facebook or myspace page?  Has this stopped you from publishing your work on U-Tube, Myspace, facebook, or Twitter?

For years, conspiracy buffs have claimed that the major auto-makers, working closely with the oil industry,  have intentionally suppressed the development of fuel efficient vehicles.

In today's Crude Reality Bob van der Valk writes that while everybody wants clean air, California's  callow enforcement of CARB's EVR mandate for "dripless" gas nozzles during an economic downturn is driving small gas stations into serious financial trouble. Read all about it.