There are more people in metropolitan Houston than in all of Norway. But the Norwegians have one key advantage over most Houstonians. Norwegians have been navigating the world since it was flat.

Whether it’s the flow of the news, or your friendly blogger’s momentarily shortened attention span, we offer up a smorgasboard of brief items for your consideration today.

Pemex better start exploring for more oil in the Gulf of Mexico or its going to pump out all its reserves in less than ten years. Mexican President Felipe Calderon went on national television last night in Mexico and told his countrymen (in Spanish, we presume), “We have to act now because we’re running out of time and out of oil.”