Hybrid Anyone?

So in keeping with the oil concern on everyone's lips and the news' tendency for excited doomsaying the NYT published this long, but seemingly well researched notice that the world is going to end soon. The key introductory paragraph is here:

I visited Ras Tanura because oil is no longer out of mind, thanks to record prices caused by refinery shortages and surging demand -- most notably in the United States and China -- which has strained the capacity of oil producers and especially Saudi Arabia, the largest exporter of all. Unlike the 1973 crisis, when the embargo by the Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries created an artificial shortfall, today's shortage, or near-shortage, is real. If demand surges even more, or if a producer goes offline because of unrest or terrorism, there may suddenly not be enough oil to go around.

However, it hasn't taken long for some to take offence and rush to the rescue with another arguement. The discussion continues if you scroll done to see the comments. I am also now annoyed because I had this book on order at the library and I just realized that my place in line has come and gone while I was obsessing over my thesis and Robert shipping off. I suppose my priorities are right, but it did take like a month for my place in line to come up and I just missed it.