The fact that this article by Nick Ferguson is our most read story in the past five years is perhaps not that surprising. It is well written and about that ever intriguing topic -- oil. What surprised us, however, is that it generated so much interest without being particularly "newsy" -- at a time when everyone was focused on the still unfolding financial crisis and huge losses at banks around the world.
The story was generated out of a round-table in mid-December 2008, was written up during the first few days of January and then sat in our system for a couple of weeks as one of those "time insensitive stories" that can run any day, which typically means any day when we are short of "real news". It eventually ran on January 21, 2009. And quickly became our most read story that day and the next and the day after that. If we recall correctly it completely dominated our hit count for an entire week. Chances are, in other words, that you have already read it. But if you didn't, here's another chance. It is just as intriging today: