Photograph: Frozen Water

(Credit: My Confined Blog)

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Avant Browser Version 11.7 – Build 10, Available for Download

Avant Web browser (Credit: Avant Corporation)

Early this morning, I found out that the Avant Development Team had upgraded their Web browser to Version 11.7 – Build 10. According to my records, their last version was 11.7 – Build 7.

Below are additions made to the Avant Web browser since Build 7:

• Fixed the bug that kept the scroll bar from showing up completely while you’re switching back from Full Screen/Desktop mode.
• Fixed the bug where the search bar generated 2 pop-up boxes after a search in the current page.
• Fixed the bug that kept some images searching results from showing up.
• Fixed the saving images to 0 bytes bug through floating tool bar.
• Fixed the bug that caused the history of visited sites to be mismatched if sorted by visited order.
• Fixed the bug keeping you from dragging and dropping the desired rss url to open up in a new tab.
• Fixed the bug that kept the scroll bar from showing up completely.
• Fixed the bug where the new version can’t replace some files if you’re reinstalling Avant without uninstalling the old one.
• Fixed the bug where deleting words in the Organizing Bookmarks/AutoFills dialog caused it to prompt you to delete the whole item.

If you are interested in updating your Avant Web browser, please click here.

Avant Browser is a standalone application designed to expand features provided by Internet Explorer. It adds a bunch of features and functionalities to IE and its user-friendly interface brings a new level of clarity and efficiency to your browsing experience, and frequent upgrades have steadily improved its reliability.  Have a nice weekend!

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Oil Prices Are Falling Amidst Two Powerful Hurricanes

Crude oil prices have nosedived since last July, when it reached the record price of $147.25 a barrel. (Credit: SkyNews.com)

Even though the U.S. has been hit by two powerful hurricanes, oil prices have fallen drastically during the last two months. On July 11, 2008, the price of a barrel of oil reached the unprecedented price of $147.25. There was a worldwide panic that it would go up to $200 a barrel by the end of the year. But something happened that turned the ascending trend around.

A weak U.S. economy affected other countries eroding global demand for oil. A global “demand destruction”, plus a stronger U.S. dollar, brought the volatile price of oil down significantly. This morning, the price of U.S., light, sweet oil was $102.30 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. This means that in 63 days, crude oil prices declined $44.95, equivalent to 30.5 percent.

For the first half of 2008, U.S. oil demand was down 4.5 percent, or 925,000 barrels per day. Oil consumption in 29 other mature markets—including Britain, Italy, and France—was flat. On Sept. 10, the International Energy Agency, a closely watched forecaster, cut its world oil-demand projections for this year and next.

However not everything has a rosy color; gasoline prices are going up. Hurricanes are starting to hike the price of gasoline in the U.S. Twice in two weeks, a powerful hurricane is forcing oil companies to shut down major production and refining facilities, driving up gasoline prices in the United States even as the price of oil continues to slide on global markets. Regular unleaded gasoline stands at $3.67 a gallon on average, according to the automobile club AAA, up more than a penny in two days.

According to the New York Times,

“Much sharper price spikes could be on the way, at least in some regions. Wholesale gasoline prices on the Gulf Coast soared to more than $4 a gallon on Thursday morning, up more than 70 cents from the day before, according to Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst of the ‘Oil Price Information Service.’

‘The market is in panic mode’, Mr. Kloza said. ‘The oddity here is I would not be surprised to see oil at $99 and retail gasoline above $4′. Whether the high prices stick and spread to gasoline stations in the U.S. will likely depend on how much damage Hurricane Ike causes.

OPIS (The Oil Price Information Service), a market research firm, reported that suppliers are raising prices in record time and concludes that the industry should expect to see a “myriad of supply issues, and wild swings in prices.”

OPIS also informed on Sept. 11, that gasoline trading on the Gulf Coast is “absolutely frantic,” with wholesale prices nearing $5 a gallon. That’s twice what gasoline futures were trading for on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

In Panama City, Panama the current prices of gasoline and light diesel oil are:

• Light Diesel Oil (Gas Oil): $3.92 per gallon
• Gasoline – 91 Octanes (Regular Unleaded Gasoline): $4.02 per gallon
• Gasoline – 95 Octanes (Premium Unleaded Gasoline): $4.19 per gallon

The energy scenario in the U.S. is in the middle of a surrealistic situation: gasoline prices are soaring, while at the same time, oil prices are dwindling. Let’s wait and see what happens after Hurricane Ike calms down and fades away into the sunset. Good Day!

Source: Oil Companies Brace for a 2nd. Blow – The New York Times

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