Did we just spend 4 million dollars for “The Brokeback Mountain Daredevils” to have a place to play? What?!?!?
Did you all see the Marine’s throwing the puppy off of the cliff? That was a hoot…Y’know those “tough guys” will be back over here becoming police officers.
They get zero respect from me.
Once again, Screw the Air Force Brass. Someone had a “favor” to fulfil.
That is deplorable Pleefer. I won’t damn the entire Corps for the actions of one shitstain. Usually the military polices their own. They do in the Army, wouldn’t expect anything less from the Marines. He needs to be discharged at the least. What a total stain he is. And the one filming it.
I totally agree Sol. I hope I didn’t sound like I was castigating the entire Corps. They just happened to be Marines. What can I say about it?…Iraq Nam.
The problem with this statement is that soldiers are trained to be tough. If you have issues, as clearly this “Marine” does, you aren’t persuaded to seek counseling. You are encouraged to “suck it up and drive on”.
One more reason to get the hell out of Iraq. There are kids over there seeing and doing things that no one should have to see or do. And all in the name of… It certainly isn’t national security, as has been proven with the CREATION of Al-qaeda in Iraq. These people still aren’t free. Saddam is gone, but there are more deaths in Iraq SINCE we’ve been there than Saddam could have dreamed of.
So add to the list of dead and maimed American troops the total number of troops that will face PTSD issues. How will they assimilate back into society. This war is ever so awesome. It just keeps giving and giving and giving…
But the propagandists and chicken hawks have built in my argument, which is, if you let them change you and our “way of life”, then the “terrorists” have won.
If protecting Americans and American interests is un-American, sign me up brother. How about the billions we pump into Columbia? Is that un-American?
Have y’all noticed that everything bad that happens in this world gets attributed to America? Maybe it is time to put our Johnson back in our pants and start worrying about America instead of trying to maintain/grow some unattainable global empire.
We’ve got the freaking UN bitching about the way we are handling New Orleans. Why is it exactly that we write billion dollar checks out to these a$$holes and send our troops into harm’s way for them?
“if you let them change you and our “way of life”, then the “terrorists” have won.”
Then mark them down as the winner. We have an even larger government that grows our debt exponentially. Change. We have thousands of graves filled with young Americans. Change. We have maimed, disfigured, and brain damaged troops back from Iraq IEDs. Change. We have the government taping communications warrantlessly. Change.
Seems pretty clear this country has drastically changed since the invasion. They win.
Oh yeah, one more thing, the stated intent of these “terrorists” was to draw out this conflict and slow bleed our economy and defense structure into bankruptcy. Have to say they are winning that too. Welcome to America’s demise, sponsored by China.
Nevermind, I stand corrected, this Neo-con dude I work with here just told me it was kids being kids. They said that about Jeff Dahmer when he was young too, they called it “doing a Dahmer”. It was just a stupid dog.
I know you are are against the war in Iraq Sol, but you don’t have to go off the deep end over the Marine killing a puppy. Certainly it was wrong and is not acceptable here or overseas.
But there are 130,000+ American troops and who knows how many civilian contractors. There are going to be a few bad apples in the mix - no matter what group of Americans you want to dice up.
The Marine Corps has publicly made a statement about this and I’m sure these individuals will be dealt with.
It does provide another reason to vent about a war you feel is unjust. But the actions of an individual do not provide you a trend nor are they representative of the majority.
I can point you to a whole bunch of links to troops doing good in Iraq. Maybe if you read a positive article….
The Market meltdown continues. Major averages haven’t had a positive month since last October! We need to Nationalize the Oil companies before they turn us into a third world country! Even though oil consumption is down over 1% yr. over yr., the price is near an all time high. Supply and demand is a sham.
Sol, I’m moving this over from the Sebelius thread where we were discussing this earlier.
I have, for many years, used linked spreadhseets to handle payroll information. Yep, still had to manually “cut the checks”, but as small as we were/are, not a big deal. The importance of this was for preparation and filing of the Form 941 quarterly; the 940 annually; the Kansas Unemployment Tax form quarterly; the Kansas Withholding Tax deposits as due; and, all information was available for easy, efficient prep of the W-2s at EOY.
Not nice and easy as Quick Books, et al, but it worked.
For a “free” accounting program, may I suggest GnuCash. It is a good one, IMHO; it can do a variety of things that I didn’t need, but for a small business, it can be helpful. Of course, given my undergrad degree, setting up the double entry system, with chart of accounts, etc., was a snap. The program itself has a “wizard” that can help. You might take a look at it; it may or may not be what you are after, but the price is right (at least for the Linux version :-)). There are some others out there with which I’m not familiar but you surely can Google and find them as well.
This questionnaire is for self-avowed heterosexuals only. If you are not openly heterosexual, pass it on to a friend who is. Please try to answer the questions as candidly as possible. Your responses will be held in strict confidence and your anonymity fully protected.
1. What do you think caused your heterosexuality?
2. When and how did you first decide you were a heterosexual?
3. Is it possible your heterosexuality is just a phase you may grow out of?
4. Could it be that your heterosexuality stems from a neurotic fear of others of the same sex?
5. To whom have you disclosed your heterosexual tendencies? How did they react?
6. Why do heterosexuals feel compelled to seduce others into their lifestyle?
7. Why do you insist on flaunting your heterosexuality? Can’t you just be what you are and keep it quiet?
8. Would you want your children to be heterosexual, knowing the problems they’d face?
9. With all the societal support for marriage, the divorce rate is spiraling. Why are there so few stable relationships among heterosexuals?
10. Considering the menace of overpopulation, how could the human race survive if everyone were heterosexual?
11. Could you trust a heterosexual therapist to be objective? Don’t you fear s/he might be inclined to influence you in the direction of her/his learnings?
12. Heterosexuals are notorious for assigning themselves and one another rigid, stereotyped sex roles. Why must you cling to such unhealthy role-playing?
13. Why are heterosexuals so promiscuous?
14. There seem to be very few happy heterosexuals. Techniques have been developed that might enable you to change if you really want to. After all, you never deliberately chose to be heterosexual, did you? Have you considered aversion therapy or Heterosexuals Anonymous?
(I wish I could credit the author of this questionnaire. I received it and it had no identifying information.)
Phantom I can’t imagine why you are talking about fuel prices here. Al Gore made it very clear years ago that he wanted to see $5 gasoline. We are almost there. The environmentalists that are cheering the lack of drilling off our shores and in ANWAR are also driving the petitions to keep new refineries from being built. The libs have almost shut down our homegrown oil production. Why are you surprised then that fuel prices are going up?
Unfortunately supply and demand are driving the market. We have no local supply and so are reduced to demanding our oil from OPEC and S America. They have the opportunity to charge us what they want.
Funny how Boeing thought that the AIR Force would just hand over the contract to them. Goes to show that our peopel in office such as Tihart and Brownback have not the power they think they have.
All week we waited to hear the “Good News” as the news networks put it… and when it took so long to come about, I have a feeling that it would not be what they wanted to hear.
Now our politicians are demanding answers from the Air Force?
Boeing should have cut the price tag a little better.
I perdict that there will a little more finger pointing before all is said and done.
US President George W. Bush is said to have approved a covert initiative to overthrow the Hamas government shortly after Hamas won the January 2006 parliamentary election, according to confidential documents obtained by Vanity Fair magazine.
Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.
Photo: AP [file]
The documents, which have been corroborated by sources at the US State Department and Palestinian officials, reveal that the plan was supposed to be implemented by the State Department.
The report confirms allegations by Hamas and other Palestinians that the US has been supplying Fatah with weapons and money so that its forces could bring down the Hamas government. Some senior Fatah officials have also accused the US of “meddling” in Palestinian affairs by encouraging Fatah to work toward toppling the Hamas government.
The magazine said that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Deputy National Security Adviser Elliott Abrams were entrusted with provoking a Palestinian civil war, in which forces led by Fatah strongman Muhammad Dahlan - fortified with new weapons supplied at America’s behest - would remove the democratically elected, Hamas-led government.
JJ, agree! They must have a LOT more money than I do! My wife and I drive midsized, 4 cylinder cars and spend well over $200 a month on gas. It is scary to think what it will be this summer…
Not me. Sitting pretty in my foreign made Honda Civic Hybrid. 44 MPG, 140,000 miles and still running good!
I wish everyone would drive them and cut gasoline consumption in the US in half. (besides, I can’t see anything surrounded by all your big SUV’s and pick-em-up trucks)
Capn America good article. For decades during the cold war and following, we try to implant friendly governments overseas - and point to the Statue of Liberty. It always gets us into more trouble than it is worth.
The U.S. does not have the large, low-cost oil reserves of the OPEC nations. We cannot drive the market from the “supply” side.
Our only feasible option is to reduce demand. It is faster, cheaper, unlimited, and guaranteed — compared to doing more risky, high-cost domestic drilling. http://www.oilendgame.com/ReadTheBook.html
Also, refineries are most profitable when run at 100% capacity.
Refiners do not want to invest in expensive excess capacity. They want to run at 100% to maximize profits, and also get higher prices during demand spikes.
I appreciate your response, Sol. It just seems to me that when I find an Open Source app the quality of GnuCash, it is my duty to let anyone else who might be needing something like it know about it. Best of luck with your new venture, and with the app.
BTW, Sol, if you don’t mind digging in a bit, you can establish an effective payroll system with that app. It takes a bit of work; see the on-line manual, should you determine that it will work for you otherwise.
Ya gotta love those industrious Israelies!
Feds prosecuting foreclosure scam of California man
The Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. - An Israeli citizen living in California remains jailed until his federal trial over allegations he ran a foreclosure scam.
Forty-one-year-old Isaac Yass is accused of filing fraudulent bankruptcy petitions in Kansas that were part of a scheme to bilk homeowners facing foreclosure.
U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren in Wichita says Yass was arrested last week in Los Angeles. He was indicted in Topeka on six counts of mail fraud and six counts of aggravated identify theft.
U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson ruled that Yass is to remain in custody. Prosecutors called Yass a flight risk.
Melgren’s office says bankruptcy clerks in California, Maryland and Tennessee are investigating filings that may be tied to Yass.
Remember when the bushies response to any talk of high prices answered with ‘it’s not as high in inflation adjusted dollars as it was under Carter’. You just don’t hear that anymore!
My response always was, It will be before bush leaves office.
Interesting new means of propogranda, or a simple administrative presentation procedure? You decide.
“A controversial new Hillary Clinton attack ad is causing an Internet stir among critics who claim it deliberately darkens Barack Obama’s skin color.
A posting on the liberal site DailyKos.com shows side-by-side screen grabs of Barack Obama taken during a debate with Clinton in Cleveland last week. The screen grab used in the Clinton ad shows a clearly darker-skinned Obama, prompting some to wonder if it was done to highlight his race.
Clinton spokesman Jay Carson told FOX News that Obama’s image was darkened, as part of a “saturation-desaturation” process typical in commercial production. He said both candidates have done it in their ads, and that there was no ulterior motive behind doing so in the campaign’s most recent ad.”
One posting on the DailyKos site, though, charged that while darkening footage may be considered standard practice for political ads trying to “cast the target as sinister,” Fox
When you get around, take a look at this. Appropriate commentary on the burdens of home ownership, the fact that there area costs to the homeowner and the economy resulting thereby, and a study commented on within that finds a correlation between high rates of home ownership and high rates of unemployment, an interesting result. While not on point about the “walk away” problem, I think much therein contained supports my belief that walk aways will be increasing. BTW, if you haven’t seen it, I replied to your post on yesterday’s Open on the thread today about Oprah and Gov. Sebelius (error on this operator).
The opening of ANWR to oil and gas development includes the following impacts:
Reducing the U.S. dependence on imported foreign oil;
Improving the U.S. balance of trade;
Extending the life of TAPS for oil;
Increasing U.S. jobs; and
Reducing world oil prices.
Cosmos I took this from one of your links. It shows several advantages of opening ANWR. It also show it not running out until well after 2024. By that time we should be well down the road to energy independence and many sources of alternative fuel.
Your second source is a propoganda piece. I have read their site before and it is more opinion than fact.
I still say that Al Gore is getting what he wants. Higher fuel costs.
KsGrm, from what I have read about ANWR to date, nearly all of the oil proposed to be taken out of their would go to foreign destinations… How would such oil help reduce US dependence on foreign oil?? Just curious??
VT, read your responses. Some interesting observations in the article. Negative equity, not a good thing.
I’ve long thought that Americans (and America) has been trading equity in assets for short term durable goods. An idea that is lightly touched on in the article.
I’d read somewhere that currently, more homes being foreclosed, tha new homes being sold! Looks like housing is in its own recession, with the economy being pulled in behind it.
Did anyone else happen to listen to Paul Harvey today? Well it seem that the web master for a little town in Great Britain had been receiving e-mails for years. Top secret e-mails from the United States Pentagon!
Assuming he was receiving them by mistake, he would report the received e-mails to the local Royal Air base. Each time he was dismissed and told that the security of the U.S. intelligence would not be making such a stupid mistakes so it must be a practical joke. THAT IS until he showed up with the top secret flight plans for Air Force One! Only then was the mistake discovered and corrected at the Pentagon, and now you know the rest of the story. It seems the Pentagon got the e-mail address by doing a Google search for the Air base and picked the wrong e-mail address.
Here’s where Harvey stole the story from. Did he give the register credit? Usually you can’t find the source, since many of Harvey’s stories are completely untrue. I love him anyway. What a scalliwag.
Leading breast cancer surgeon Dr. Angela Lanfranchi says in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons that politics is corrupting science, and that scientists and the federal government are suppressing information about the increased risk of breast cancer caused by abortion, especially late-term abortion and abortion of a young woman’s first pregnancy, in violation of informed consent required by law and by medical ethics.
Well, Duhhh!
At least this public information can go to the next grand jury investigating Planned Parenthood’s flagrant violations of informed consent.
The next courtroom assault on Planned Parenthood needs to focus on mothers who are victims of Planned Parenthood’s abortion mill crimes retrieving their own abortion records and submitting them as public information, as was done last summer before the joint legislative committee in Topeka by one of Tiller’s young victims, so that jurors can bypass stalling tactics and backroom deals between corrupt judges and abortion mill shysters, and look at real criminal evidence that cannot be denied them.
Meanwhile, in Missouri, Planned Parenthood has again filed a lawsuit against a ballot proposal to enforce informed consent, claiming that abortionist quacks might fear civil suits for violating specific informed consent requirements, resulting in a decrease in elective abortions and abortion mill profits.
Planned Parenthood hates informed consent, as much as black babies.
- - -
If you had any doubts that the Canadian abortion industry had pretty well squashed free speech and academic freedom on the abortion issue, note that York University student government officials forced the shutdown of a debate on abortion hours before it was to start, stating that the legality of abortion is a subversive topic, and not allowable for debate. The Canadian Federation of Students compares pro-lifers to the KKK, and supports banning pro-life student clubs, preventing their advertising and meeting on campus, which has occurred at several Canadian “universities”.
The USofA will suffer the same loss of freedoms imposed by the American abortion industry, if regulation is not enforced, and corruption from abortion mill money in state and federal government is not surgically rooted out.
Our Constitution in the USofA is only as good as our ability and efforts to govern ourselves. Where we fail in our efforts, there tyrants forge their chains, and begin targeting the weak, the vulnerable, and the uncaring.
Please correct me if I’m wrong about any of these.
You believe that a detailed, peer-reviewed study, that was tasked and co-funded by the Pentagon, is a “propoganda piece”.
(RMI has done other consulting work for the Pentagon, such as an energy security report, and improving energy efficiency on Navy carriers.)
You want to drill in a pristine wildlife refuge, to possibly reduce the price of gasoline a few pennies a gallon, a few decades from now — if OPEC doesn’t adjust their production, etc.
You are unconcerned that the geology in the Refuge may be like the Badami field.
You hope that future oil prices stay high for the next 5 decades, so they can (possibly) get all that “technically recoverable” oil from the Refuge.
You would rather pay $60 to $100 per barrel of oil, instead of investing about $15 to eliminate the need for that barrel.
You want to continue relying on an old, worn pipeline that the Army says is “indefensible”, and was shutdown by a drunk with a rifle, during heightened security.
You are unconcerned about wear and corrosion of TAPS, and the possible need to replace the support beams due to a warming Alaska (thawing permafrost) — OR you want oil companies to invest in expensive repairs during the next 5 decades
You are unconerned that we are depleting our very small oil reserves faster than most (or all?) other nations — and want us to deplete them even faster.
Boeing had planned to offer the 777 to the Air Force but the AF indicated it wanted a medium-sized plane so B offered the 767 instead; the AF then chose a large plane. The field was neither fair nor even. That should be enough to void the decision. Lets keep it honest here.
Cosmos none of the above and unlike Chas who heard it ’somewhere’ I took the very info you posted and drew my conclusions from that.
Nothing you have stated will happen with any certain. It is scare tactics much the GW advocates who will soon have to defend their positions in a court of law.
Phantom, I’d heard the same thing about the number of foreclosures exceeding the number of new homes sold; I believe that was for January, 2008.
I think the housing market and subprime mortgage mess hastened the recession that, while not one which meets the formal definition thereof at this time, is for all intents and purposes occurring. On this, Warren Buffett and I are in agreement. I worry that the actions of the Fed in cutting the discount rate will likely result in stagflation. I’m not too darn sure that what we are facing isn’t a result of the attempt to have “guns and butter” as during the Viet Nam days; increased spending on social programs with increased spending on defense, accompanied (in the 1960s, the “Kennedy”; in the current time, the “Bush”) tax cuts.
Are you claiming that Badami production was not shutdown because it didn’t produce as expected — until higher prices later allowed them to try experiment with it?
ksgrm, while I fully understand your desire to see U.S. production increased, I am of the opinion that this will do little to nothing to affect either the price of petroleum products, as OPEC will do what it can to keep it high; further, OPEC will continue to supply what it wants to supply to China, India, et al, and will, through its actions as a cartel, keep production as minimal as possible while prices continue high, waiting for all others to exhaust their reserves, or at least the lower cost reserves, then move in for the economic kill.
For me, and this is my opinion, the only thing that makes sense is to get off the oil “teat” as soon as possible. I don’t care what the source is, as to the countries supplying same, we need to devote resources to find realistic alternatives, which, IMO, will provide economic benefits greater than those from continued petroleum use. This should have been supported in the past two plus decades. Meanwhile, conservation of what there is needs to be the key.
VT while I agree with what you are saying in the long term in the short term we need to be looking at our own sources. My husband best friend through high school was the top geologist for Phillips Oil out of Oklahoma before T Boone bought it up. He main job was looking for oil fields both for capacity and ease of recovery. He and many other reputable geologists say that ANWR and off shore drilling will free our economy from the vise OPEC has over us now.
I know Cosmos doesn’t want to believe this but I respect Kent’s opinion because I am very aware of his credentials.
Rabid environmentalists have got us to this point and we need to take the reins back. IMOHO
KsGrm, I also listed a number of networks where I heard about the exporting of ANWR Oil… All you need to do is go to any of them, and type ANWR in their search bars… Appaently you havent done that…
A 1998 United States Geological Survey (USGS) study indicated at least 4.3 billion (95% probability) and possibly as much as 11.8 billion (5% probability) barrels (0.9 to 2.5 km³) of technically recoverable oil exists in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 1002 area, with a mean value of 7.7 billion barrels (1.7 km³).
If the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was used to meet 100% of U.S. demand, it would last for 215 days . . .
A few weeks ago, I posted a link to an MSNBC story that indicated that drilling in ANWAR would only reduce our dependency on foreign oil by 3%.
We could reduce our consumption by 3% TOMORROW if we wanted to - just changing our driving habits SLIGHTLY would result in a reduction of greater than 3%.
Republicans love to scream about ANWAR, but drilling there would have little or no effect on our oil dependency.
As for drilling off our coasts? Bush nixed drilling off the Florida coast as requested by his brother Jeb.
So how come we have heard from the Hollywood liberal elite publically chastising hugo chavez of venezuala for not beginning talks with columbia instead of just immediately moving troops to the border, in a blatant saber rattling action?
Also I thought I heard a few years back that Nader is the closest thing we have to a green party candidate. So why haven’t I heard Al (here’s your check mr. gore) Gore, the so called guru of global warming, endorsing Nader?
“VT while I agree with what you are saying in the long term in the short term we need to be looking at our own sources.”
ksgrm, higher efficiency is a better solution for BOTH short and long term.
We cannot increase supply significantly, but we can greatly reduce demand.
It’d take a decade (or longer) after the Refuge was opened for the first trickle to flow. Another couple of decades to reach peak production, then it falls off.
(Assuming there are sufficient quantities of economically recoverable oil during all of those decades, etc)
Efficiency starts “producing” as soon as the higher mpg vehicles, etc are bought. The amount “produced” increases rapidly as more vehicles are bought.
The “production” is guaranteed, and never runs dry.
Just think, if all of us that drove 200 miles per week, just trimmed SIX lousy miles from that total, we could reduce our oil consumption by three percent.
Six miles per week - just ONE less trip to the grocery store - one less trip to McDonalds - one less trip to the liquor store - one less trip to visit your girlfriend.
Three percent - six miles per week - 24 miles per month.
Damn, we ALL could do that and not even notice the difference.
Now, start driving at the speed limit and coasting up to red lights.
Then tune up your car or truck.
Then use a light foot on the accelerator.
Before long, we would be seeing REAL reductions in oil and gas consumption.
It sure doesnt take a lot, Clark… just takes getting people to agree to work towards that!! And that can be difficult… Some might think it is the nanny state trying to give them orders!!
Nathan, I am not sure who said we did not need more refining capacity. I know early it was pointed out that refiners have no desire to increase capacity mainly because of profits.
Whomever posted about plenty of refining capacity has forgotten what happened after Katrina.
Nathan, the refineries not only have the switch between gas and home heating fuel, they also have to switch between types of gasoline to satisfy smog/clean air act regs. Different additives.
Refinery capacity is where they choke us. That is the control IMHO of where the oil companies keep supply level with demand. By keep, I mean working together to keep prices up. By not building any, new ones in twenty years, they are sure to not have to worry about flooding the markets with an oversupply.
Someone posted before, and I have too in support that we should build a federal refinery. Rent it out to producers AND have an emergency refinery for the strategic reserve (which will pump to commercial refineries).
Don’t you just love libs who whine and cry about the high cost of gas, and those dirty oil excutives, but on the other hand cry about drilling oil in Alaska and off shore?
Bring on $5.00 a gallon! The sooner the better. I like my DRIP XOM stock.
I once read a good Car and Driver article on how even the different counties in every state all have different regulations on fuel additives and this all drives up the cost because of supply issues.
We need to to also simplify and standardize fuel in this country as well.
These are the problems that happen from the Environmental do gooders constantly trying to fix things.
And as has been pointed out, no more refining capacity is desired. It’s an empty argument.
As to oil drilling, OPEC would LOVE for us to do that.
Any oil we could add to the market would be a drop in the ocean to what they can turn loose anytime they want. And it would be only a few years before our reserves wouldn’t even be an unknown in the equation. They’d be gone.
No we are going to have to evolve beyond our addiction to oil. We should have done that 30 years ago.
Don’t you just love conservatives who whine about Liberals and their objections to drilling in ANWAR, but never mention how Bush’s Brother Jeb, with the President’s help, scotched oil drilling off the coast of Florida. Don’t you just love how they whine, when for six years, they controlled both houses, and the presidency, yet were too scared of public opinion to force drilling in the wildlife refuge? Dontcha, Dontcha?
Nathan you can never love the earth as much as the libs. You can never be green enough. You can never cut your co2 output enough. No solution is as good as the liberal solution.
I was just having a nice political discussion earlier about how people will make absurd comments, yell, scream, and do whatever else they can do when they can’t engage in a real discussion.
Just like JR does by saying I don’t care about the Environment…
Well Nathan, your own post says you care more about cheap gas than the environment.
“I once read a good Car and Driver article on how even the different counties in every state all have different regulations on fuel additives and this all drives up the cost because of supply issues.
We need to to also simplify and standardize fuel in this country as well.
These are the problems that happen from the Environmental do gooders constantly trying to fix things.”
We as a nation should also be looking at the Green River Formation. This is reported to be the largest formation of oil shale in the world. The potential is there to extract enough oil for many years to come for the US. This is also being blocked by environmentalists. Bush sign an energy act in 2005 to set in motion future drilling here.
Who owns this formation. Why we do. It is right under our noses.
JR that was a very good explanation of the causation of the high cost of fuel. Everyday I hear bloggers complain about the high cost of fuel but when any solutions are floated they are shot down as being harmful to the environment. You can’t have it both ways. If we have to protect those adorable snail darters then we will just have to pay more for gas.
And have you ever been there ksgrm? The Green River area I mean?
See I have.
The Green river is one of the only rivers in the west that is not blocked by a dam. It runs through some of the most stark and beautiful areas of this country.
Gasoline internal combustion technology has had a hundred year run. It’s time for something else. Not time to start scraping the bottom of the barrel and digging UNDER the barrel. We need to invent our way out of this and not keep reinventing ways to play it out.
We as a nation should also be looking at the Green River Formation. This is reported to be the largest formation of oil shale in the world. The potential is there to extract enough oil for many years to come for the US. This is also being blocked by environmentali
The oil shale mining was part of Carter’s energy iniatives. A billion dollar project was begun near Rifle Colorado. When Reagan became president, he scotched all of Carter’s energy programs. Had we continuted on the path that Carter began, we would be sitting pretty today. Carter said at the time, that his energy policies required subsidies, but would pay off in the future. How right he was. Eh?
Cosmos, How are the deer, turkey, cottontail, and crow populations doing in Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas? There are many wells in these states and wildlife populations are abundant and even overly abundant in many cases.
Prudhoe Bay,
Maps showing concentrated calving moved to the south, away from oil development, plus info re avoiding roads, etc.
‘Section 4: The Central Arctic Caribou Herd’ http://www.absc.usgs.gov/1002/section4part1.htm
“Our data, in fact, indicate that productivity can and will decline if the cumulative loss of preferred habitat, when superimposed on natural forces, is sufficient to compromise nutrition.”
Very possible, jr. Shale mining was the least attractive of the carter energy iniatives. We could have been the world leader in green power, and the whole planet would be sucking up to us. Now, we’re just broke.
The “smallest footprint ever” Alpine oil field touted by pro-drillers. 5 more drill sites were approved on Dec. 4, 2004 — and they want “… 24 more production drill sites, 122 more miles of roads, 7 more airports, 150 miles of pipeline, and 1262 more acres of tundra smothered by gravel.”
JR, then you would know that it is extremely practical to place solar panels on the peaks of mountains…They are so accessible…because if you put them anywhere else they would be in the shade for a great portion of the day. Put on your thinking cap!
“If you think hybrids will soon serve as our lifeboats out of this mess, you’re wrong. Hybrids will not penetrate the U.S. market in large quantities anytime soon. Consider that the median lifetime of an American automobile is 17 years. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, there were 136.6 million passenger cars on America’s roads in 2005, the most recent year for which data has been published. In 2005, though, there were only 7.6 million new car sales and leases in the United States. In other words, new sales make up only 5.6% of U.S. cars every year. Even if hybrids were to make up 100% of new cars sold starting tomorrow, it would take a generation before they would replace the entire U.S. fleet. That’s the most optimistic, and totally unrealistic, scenario. In light of Detroit’s resistance thus far to hybrid development, we can be sure that it will take years before hybrids make up any significant fraction of new cars sold, and it will be a generation before hybrids replace our entire fleet. I don’t want to wait that long for energy security.”
Very good article JR about why we need an energy solution now. Technology will help us in the future but unless you expect someone to drop off a new energy efficient hybrid on everyones doorstep tomorrow we need to look at our own capability to drill for oil. The Green River Formation is the solution for this according to many.
West of the rockies would be arid to desert. Solar farms would impact the delicate ecosystem. They point is that there is no silver bullet to solve this. However a combination of different resources, and SOME impact on the environment will need to be accepted in order to provide our energy needs.
Cosmos how do you explain the fact that the porcupine caribou grew from a sparse 5000 in the mid 1970’s to over 14000 by 1983. The oil pipeline which many said would descimate the caribou herds actually increased the herds.
“Figuring that the actual size of the drilling location [singular] verses the HUGE and VAST size of the refuge is so small, not much will harm those animals.”
The Refuge drilling issue has been debated for many years, but Nathan still seems to believe that it requires only one “location” in the Refuge.
To be “civil”, I wont make any additional comment about Nathan’s Refuge “knowledge” in this post.
‘Drilling in the Arctic Refuge: The 2,000-Acre Footprint Myth
Oil development would stamp a spiderweb of industrial sprawl across the whole of the refuge’s 1.5-million-acre coastal plain.’ http://www.nrdc.org/land/wilderness/artech/farc2000.asp
The hybrids (electrical) are not a solution. They require electricity which primarily comes from coal…so if we all drive electric cars, demand for electricity goes up and more coal is used. Also, I would guess there would be a problem with disposal of all the batteries from the hybrids, which would lead to water and soil contamination. These are just a few things that the “Greens” don’t consider when they are pushing CO2 scare tactics around.
That is BS J R. Go back and read the articles.
In fact, read the articles about the shortages and increase in gas prices when KANSAS had floods.
Sorry got a call em as the news articles support them. Everyone remembers the feds discussing releases from the oil reserve during Katrina. Everyone should remember the gas increases amid threats to the refineries.
“And refiners do not want excess capacity.
They make maximum profits when running at/near 100% capacity.”
That is brilliant Cosmos! Exactly what my post stated. Feeling smart?
Now, you would EXPAND existing refineries? It ain’t a gonna happen. XOM will not let it happen. They like the 18 billion dollar quarterly profits. They can use YOUR EPA HUGE REGULATIONS to never build another refinery in America.
That IS where the cost is coming. We have lot’s of oil. Point is, we have limited capacity to process that oil into gas.
I guess you are arguing FOR the big oil companies.
cosmos-”would stamp a spiderweb of industrial sprawl across the whole of the refuge’s 1.5-million-acre coastal plain”
Cosmos, have you ever been to an oil or gas field? It is not a nuclear winter situation. They have a very small production area to ecosystem foot print.
hybrids (electrical) are not a solution. They require electricity which primarily comes from coal
ANTI, just thought someone should tell you: You are an idiot.
I have driven a hybrid since 2003. Never once put an ounce of coal in my gas tank.
To those who say hybrid is NOT the answer…………….
Enjoy $5.00 a gallon. Because without moving to the next level, which is hybrid cars getting 44-50 MPG, you are screwed for at least then next two decades. Congress made sure of that. They set MPG at 35 (fleet wide) by 2022.
There will NO alternative before that, and cars manufactured for decades before that will STILL be on the road (average life of a car ten years), and the fleet average - is not all cars/trucks.
In short, your solution ensures we are all f–ked.
Mandate hybrids now, until the next solution. There IS promise there. A new all electric was announced this week (221 miles before recharge).
But until that standard is mandated, the CAFE is not just a joke - it is a SIN. But of course, the libs are courting the UNION vote from the big three US auto manufacturers. Gotta keep those jobs making INefficient cars. Goooooo Libs!
Am Way, My apologies, I should have said total electric cars not hybrids- Total electrics require being plugged in, hence the reference to coal. Hybrids that generate their own power thru various methods, I am all for. And I am insulted that you referred to me as a Lib. My point was trading one environment problem for another just so you can feel good about yourself is not smart in my opinion.
I get 44 MPG with my FIVE YEAR OLD car. My Honda Hybrid.
The concern (or complaint) was HIGH GAS PRICES. The only solution is to reduce demand NOW. The high gas prices are NOW. Not tomorrow………….
You can talk smarty on the “future” world technology. But high fuel costs are NOW.
We have hybrids NOW. If EVERYone was driving one NOW - we would cut consumption in half. HALF!!!
You can dream about tomorrow. But you either cut consumption NOW, or you increase supply NOW. That supply is provided by refineries NOW.
Personally, you can all talk about and dream about the future all you want. I’m driving it today. Not because I’m green. Not because I give a rats ass about the environment. But because I care about my pocket book. I cut my annual fuel costs in half.
The rest of you? Just cry and whine. Talk about what NEEDS to be done. But forget about it. Congress GUARANTEED you will wait until at LEAST 2022 to experience 35 MPG (fleetwide average of NEW car sales).
I’d suggest you buy stock in XOM and the other oil companies. At least you will feel better knowing you are contributing to your own stock prices as you fill up at $5.00 a gallon.
ANTI, I do apologize if you inferred I was calling you a lib. I do realize just how awful that label is and the extreme horror and cruel that such a name calling can be. I am sorry if you felt that way. But the rest of my post - was directed elsewhere.
Again, I am sorry for in anyway calling you such a dastardly, lowlife name and cussword. Please don’t rat me out to the weblog for my offense. I really was not directing that portion of my post to you.
I will pray especially hard Sunday for my possible mistake or any undo hurt to your person for being called a l-b… Truly sorry.
I think that even if every single car in America was a hybrid, we’d see very much of an impact on the price of oil/gas. OPEC has found their price point and they will adjust supply to keep inventories tight, and prices high.
Imagine. The year is 1860. The townhall is burning down. The townspeople are all frantically passing buckets of water in a bucket brigade. As quickly as possible they are throwing buckets of water on the fire.
Suddenly, Cosmos appears. He says STOP! There is a better way. We can invent fire trucks. We can carry hundreds of gallon of water in the fire trucks to put out the flames.
The people stop and look at him as if he is crazy.
THE FIRE IS NOW!!!!
You want to let the townhall burn down, or fight the fire with what we have available today?
“OPEC has found their price point and they will adjust supply to keep inventories tight, and prices high.”
Phantom you are SO right. The arabs must be shaking their heads in amazement at the Americans. We have oil, we won’t drill. We have technology to regulate the use of oil/gas in automobiles TODAY. Yet we fail to act.
We love our big SUV’s and pick-em-up trucks.
They are building islands and paradise with the money we are spending each time we hit the fuel pumps. (Not to mention supporting radical muslims).
Congress loves the big three automakers and union workers. So there will be ZERO solution regardless of the next POTUS. Both parties.
VT, another interesting factor, is the new bankruptcy laws. I lifted this from another blog.
Does Mortgage Crisis Have its Roots in Bankruptcy Reform?
By Jonathan Ginsberg, Atlanta Bankruptcy Attorney on Nov 7, 2007 in Mortgages, Surrendering Property
My colleague, Georgia bankruptcy attorney Scott Riddle recently blogged about an interesting relationship between the BAPCPA laws and the recent problems in the mortgage industry. Under prior law, Chapter 7 was much more widely available to homeowning families in financial distress. A Chapter 7 filing would allow such families to get rid of credit card and other consumer debt while reaffirming their mortgage payments.
The Business Week article that Scott references in his blog post quotes a Wharton School professor who notes that a law lobbied for and designed to benefit the financial industry may actually be hurting lenders. With consumer debt much harder to eliminate, many families are giving up their homes, leaving lenders with increased inventory.
I see this phenomena in my own practice. Families earning $80,000 to $100,000 end up in Chapter 13 where they have to pay back 70%, 80% or more of unsecured debt based on the bizarre calculations of means testing. After living on bread and water for a few months, many of these families come to the conclusion that they need to give up homes, cars or furniture.
Bankruptcy “reform” has only served to restrict the safety valve function of bankruptcy - the current law is so harsh that many families decide that it is not worth the fight.
“I’m arguing that we increase efficiency (mpg, etc) to lower oil demand”
Then we need an entirely NEW congress and NEW president. Because they GAVE automobile makers 15 years to meet a standard which has been exceeded by 15 MPG today!!!!!
Fleetwide means that not ALL vehicles need to make 35 MPG. Just the average. Auto’s sold in 2022 will still be on the road in 2032. And you are STILL BELOW WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN MPG TODAY.
And Cosmos, get real. The refineries which are all at least twenty years old today, will be fifty years old by the time all cars on the roads in the USA average 35 MPG. You are going to need some capacity.
Think federal refineries. Rent them out. No one else can ever build them with the strict EPA standards. Think coal plants. There won’t be anymore.
I’m moving up to a Prius next. While you talk and wait, I’ll be at 48 MPG this year.
McCain will not fight the CAFE standards because they threaten the US automakers.
Don’t kid yourselves: Neither will Obama or Hillary.
They will talk trash about taxing the oil companies. But that means YOU. You will pay for the taxes. The dollars “might” go to new development.
But there is no promise. And why would anyone develope new? They have until 2022 to meet 35 MPG?
Why spend the money?
Taxing the oil companies will NOT cut demand for oil. Rising prices might - but only to a certain extent. We will all still drive to work. (don’t even tell me about the bus). Rising prices will cut our leisure travel. Our enjoyable travel. Our relaxing travel.
Thank Hillary, Obama, and McCain next for gas prices.
You only have yourselves to blame. Talk is cheap. Insist on new technology now! Buy hybrids.
1. Follow the Recommended Maintenance
A vehicle that is well maintained means it will operate with greater efficiency. This not only improves your overall vehicle performance, but it will improve your fuel economy as well. Fouled spark plugs, a dirty air filter or clogged fuel filter will all affect your fuel economy. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), replacing a clogged air filter can increase your mileage by 10 percent, while replacing an oxygen sensor could result in an improvement as high as 40 percent. Proper maintenance also means using the right octane gas and the recommended grade of motor oil. Using the recommended types for your vehicle will give you optimum fuel economy — and can save you money as well. Check your owner’s manual for your vehicle’s recommendations and have maintenance performed regularly by a dealer or reputable mechanic.
2. Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated
Underinflated tires require more energy to roll, which translates into more frequent fill-ups. You can improve
156 Comments
Did we just spend 4 million dollars for “The Brokeback Mountain Daredevils” to have a place to play? What?!?!?
Did you all see the Marine’s throwing the puppy off of the cliff? That was a hoot…Y’know those “tough guys” will be back over here becoming police officers.
They get zero respect from me.
Once again, Screw the Air Force Brass. Someone had a “favor” to fulfil.
What have we become????
Here’s a link to the video. I still don’t know why Fox is showing it…strange propaganda it is…
That is deplorable Pleefer. I won’t damn the entire Corps for the actions of one shitstain. Usually the military polices their own. They do in the Army, wouldn’t expect anything less from the Marines. He needs to be discharged at the least. What a total stain he is. And the one filming it.
I totally agree Sol. I hope I didn’t sound like I was castigating the entire Corps. They just happened to be Marines. What can I say about it?…Iraq Nam.
What truly sucks is that they’ll be in a patrol car near you soon.
“If he would do that to a puppy, what would he do to his kids or family?” Ho said.
The Marine Corps assures they have stress and anger-management intervention programs in place before, during and after deployment.
http://www.khon2.com/news/local/16204097.html
The problem with this statement is that soldiers are trained to be tough. If you have issues, as clearly this “Marine” does, you aren’t persuaded to seek counseling. You are encouraged to “suck it up and drive on”.
One more reason to get the hell out of Iraq. There are kids over there seeing and doing things that no one should have to see or do. And all in the name of… It certainly isn’t national security, as has been proven with the CREATION of Al-qaeda in Iraq. These people still aren’t free. Saddam is gone, but there are more deaths in Iraq SINCE we’ve been there than Saddam could have dreamed of.
So add to the list of dead and maimed American troops the total number of troops that will face PTSD issues. How will they assimilate back into society. This war is ever so awesome. It just keeps giving and giving and giving…
You sound very “UnAmerican” Sol…heh. You watch…here come the apologists.
But the propagandists and chicken hawks have built in my argument, which is, if you let them change you and our “way of life”, then the “terrorists” have won.
If protecting Americans and American interests is un-American, sign me up brother. How about the billions we pump into Columbia? Is that un-American?
Have y’all noticed that everything bad that happens in this world gets attributed to America? Maybe it is time to put our Johnson back in our pants and start worrying about America instead of trying to maintain/grow some unattainable global empire.
We’ve got the freaking UN bitching about the way we are handling New Orleans. Why is it exactly that we write billion dollar checks out to these a$$holes and send our troops into harm’s way for them?
“if you let them change you and our “way of life”, then the “terrorists” have won.”
Then mark them down as the winner. We have an even larger government that grows our debt exponentially. Change. We have thousands of graves filled with young Americans. Change. We have maimed, disfigured, and brain damaged troops back from Iraq IEDs. Change. We have the government taping communications warrantlessly. Change.
Seems pretty clear this country has drastically changed since the invasion. They win.
Oh yeah, one more thing, the stated intent of these “terrorists” was to draw out this conflict and slow bleed our economy and defense structure into bankruptcy. Have to say they are winning that too. Welcome to America’s demise, sponsored by China.
Amen bro. We need to send Columbia cash cause they supply our CIA with the best cocaine, you know that.
Explanation and comments on the registering of posters from the WE Editor’s Blog:
http://blogs.kansas.com/editors/2008/02/23/a-few-thoughts-on-kansascom-registration/
Could it be that blog monitoring is not the only reason this blog is moving to registration?
Nevermind, I stand corrected, this Neo-con dude I work with here just told me it was kids being kids. They said that about Jeff Dahmer when he was young too, they called it “doing a Dahmer”. It was just a stupid dog.
Pretty sick eh? They are coming back to be cops.
3 year old forced to drink, 2 arm fractures, bruised neck, cut lips.
No one is in jail…
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/03/04/grace.drunk.toddler.cnn
I know you are are against the war in Iraq Sol, but you don’t have to go off the deep end over the Marine killing a puppy. Certainly it was wrong and is not acceptable here or overseas.
But there are 130,000+ American troops and who knows how many civilian contractors. There are going to be a few bad apples in the mix - no matter what group of Americans you want to dice up.
The Marine Corps has publicly made a statement about this and I’m sure these individuals will be dealt with.
It does provide another reason to vent about a war you feel is unjust. But the actions of an individual do not provide you a trend nor are they representative of the majority.
I can point you to a whole bunch of links to troops doing good in Iraq. Maybe if you read a positive article….
The Market meltdown continues. Major averages haven’t had a positive month since last October! We need to Nationalize the Oil companies before they turn us into a third world country! Even though oil consumption is down over 1% yr. over yr., the price is near an all time high. Supply and demand is a sham.
AmWay,
Guess you missed this one…
SolDevVB
Posted March 4, 2008 at 6:34 am | Permalink
… I won’t damn the entire Corps for the actions of one shitstain…
There are entire fan sites dedicated to soldiers who do this type of stuff.
I don’t matter, it was just an Iraqi dog, so kill em all!
The next video will be babies being thrown off the cliff, and you all will STILL defend it.
Zombies.
By all I meant the Neo Con “Party” Members.
What’s happening to my country?
Sol, I’m moving this over from the Sebelius thread where we were discussing this earlier.
I have, for many years, used linked spreadhseets to handle payroll information. Yep, still had to manually “cut the checks”, but as small as we were/are, not a big deal. The importance of this was for preparation and filing of the Form 941 quarterly; the 940 annually; the Kansas Unemployment Tax form quarterly; the Kansas Withholding Tax deposits as due; and, all information was available for easy, efficient prep of the W-2s at EOY.
Not nice and easy as Quick Books, et al, but it worked.
For a “free” accounting program, may I suggest GnuCash. It is a good one, IMHO; it can do a variety of things that I didn’t need, but for a small business, it can be helpful. Of course, given my undergrad degree, setting up the double entry system, with chart of accounts, etc., was a snap. The program itself has a “wizard” that can help. You might take a look at it; it may or may not be what you are after, but the price is right (at least for the Linux version :-)). There are some others out there with which I’m not familiar but you surely can Google and find them as well.
A questionaire for “Nathan,” et al –
This questionnaire is for self-avowed heterosexuals only. If you are not openly heterosexual, pass it on to a friend who is. Please try to answer the questions as candidly as possible. Your responses will be held in strict confidence and your anonymity fully protected.
1. What do you think caused your heterosexuality?
2. When and how did you first decide you were a heterosexual?
3. Is it possible your heterosexuality is just a phase you may grow out of?
4. Could it be that your heterosexuality stems from a neurotic fear of others of the same sex?
5. To whom have you disclosed your heterosexual tendencies? How did they react?
6. Why do heterosexuals feel compelled to seduce others into their lifestyle?
7. Why do you insist on flaunting your heterosexuality? Can’t you just be what you are and keep it quiet?
8. Would you want your children to be heterosexual, knowing the problems they’d face?
9. With all the societal support for marriage, the divorce rate is spiraling. Why are there so few stable relationships among heterosexuals?
10. Considering the menace of overpopulation, how could the human race survive if everyone were heterosexual?
11. Could you trust a heterosexual therapist to be objective? Don’t you fear s/he might be inclined to influence you in the direction of her/his learnings?
12. Heterosexuals are notorious for assigning themselves and one another rigid, stereotyped sex roles. Why must you cling to such unhealthy role-playing?
13. Why are heterosexuals so promiscuous?
14. There seem to be very few happy heterosexuals. Techniques have been developed that might enable you to change if you really want to. After all, you never deliberately chose to be heterosexual, did you? Have you considered aversion therapy or Heterosexuals Anonymous?
(I wish I could credit the author of this questionnaire. I received it and it had no identifying information.)
Phantom I can’t imagine why you are talking about fuel prices here. Al Gore made it very clear years ago that he wanted to see $5 gasoline. We are almost there. The environmentalists that are cheering the lack of drilling off our shores and in ANWAR are also driving the petitions to keep new refineries from being built. The libs have almost shut down our homegrown oil production. Why are you surprised then that fuel prices are going up?
Unfortunately supply and demand are driving the market. We have no local supply and so are reduced to demanding our oil from OPEC and S America. They have the opportunity to charge us what they want.
We reap what we sow.
Can we please put this tired business about refineries to bed?
We don’t NEED anymore refineries. Proof is that there is nowhere at no time a shortage of gasoline.
Show me a gasoline shortage anywhere in this country anytime in the last 30 years. Then come tell me we need to build more refineries.
Funny how Boeing thought that the AIR Force would just hand over the contract to them. Goes to show that our peopel in office such as Tihart and Brownback have not the power they think they have.
All week we waited to hear the “Good News” as the news networks put it… and when it took so long to come about, I have a feeling that it would not be what they wanted to hear.
Now our politicians are demanding answers from the Air Force?
Boeing should have cut the price tag a little better.
I perdict that there will a little more finger pointing before all is said and done.
Amazing that even with the price of gas about to hit the $4.00 a gal that people are still driving their monster SUVs and Hummers.
Bush: We support democracy around the world.
So long as they support what we support.
And when they don’t, we knock them off . . .
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1204546391346&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
US President George W. Bush is said to have approved a covert initiative to overthrow the Hamas government shortly after Hamas won the January 2006 parliamentary election, according to confidential documents obtained by Vanity Fair magazine.
Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.
Photo: AP [file]
The documents, which have been corroborated by sources at the US State Department and Palestinian officials, reveal that the plan was supposed to be implemented by the State Department.
The report confirms allegations by Hamas and other Palestinians that the US has been supplying Fatah with weapons and money so that its forces could bring down the Hamas government. Some senior Fatah officials have also accused the US of “meddling” in Palestinian affairs by encouraging Fatah to work toward toppling the Hamas government.
The magazine said that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Deputy National Security Adviser Elliott Abrams were entrusted with provoking a Palestinian civil war, in which forces led by Fatah strongman Muhammad Dahlan - fortified with new weapons supplied at America’s behest - would remove the democratically elected, Hamas-led government.
JJ, agree! They must have a LOT more money than I do! My wife and I drive midsized, 4 cylinder cars and spend well over $200 a month on gas. It is scary to think what it will be this summer…
Not me. Sitting pretty in my foreign made Honda Civic Hybrid. 44 MPG, 140,000 miles and still running good!
I wish everyone would drive them and cut gasoline consumption in the US in half. (besides, I can’t see anything surrounded by all your big SUV’s and pick-em-up trucks)
Capn America good article. For decades during the cold war and following, we try to implant friendly governments overseas - and point to the Statue of Liberty. It always gets us into more trouble than it is worth.
High time we stop nation building.
VT,
Amazing. Thanx. And open source too. YEEEEHAAAAWWWWW
Sol, you are welcome. Glad to be of some assistance.
$2.99/gallon for regular around town today - Got me some of that. :)
ksgrm posted March 4, 2008 at 12:02 pm
“Unfortunately supply and demand are driving the market.”
ksgrm, you are misinformed, and only look at the “supply” side.
Arctic Refuge oil would at best only replace other declining domestic sources. Then it would run dry, like Prudhoe Bay.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/servicerpt/ogp/results.html
The U.S. does not have the large, low-cost oil reserves of the OPEC nations. We cannot drive the market from the “supply” side.
Our only feasible option is to reduce demand. It is faster, cheaper, unlimited, and guaranteed — compared to doing more risky, high-cost domestic drilling.
http://www.oilendgame.com/ReadTheBook.html
Also, refineries are most profitable when run at 100% capacity.
Refiners do not want to invest in expensive excess capacity. They want to run at 100% to maximize profits, and also get higher prices during demand spikes.
VT,
Just downloaded the windows version & ran it just to take a look. Outstanding. Double entry accounting. Really I can’t thank you enough.
I appreciate your response, Sol. It just seems to me that when I find an Open Source app the quality of GnuCash, it is my duty to let anyone else who might be needing something like it know about it. Best of luck with your new venture, and with the app.
BTW, Sol, if you don’t mind digging in a bit, you can establish an effective payroll system with that app. It takes a bit of work; see the on-line manual, should you determine that it will work for you otherwise.
OK Thx VT.
Lot of great open source programs out there Sol.
With LINUX, one need never touch a Windows or Apple program again if they don’t want to. :)
Remember when we screamed to high heaven when the price of gas was $2.50????
Now we would kill for that price.
Ya gotta love those industrious Israelies!
Feds prosecuting foreclosure scam of California man
The Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. - An Israeli citizen living in California remains jailed until his federal trial over allegations he ran a foreclosure scam.
Forty-one-year-old Isaac Yass is accused of filing fraudulent bankruptcy petitions in Kansas that were part of a scheme to bilk homeowners facing foreclosure.
U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren in Wichita says Yass was arrested last week in Los Angeles. He was indicted in Topeka on six counts of mail fraud and six counts of aggravated identify theft.
U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson ruled that Yass is to remain in custody. Prosecutors called Yass a flight risk.
Melgren’s office says bankruptcy clerks in California, Maryland and Tennessee are investigating filings that may be tied to Yass.
I guess Mc Cain isn’t that bad, at least he can admit this.
Remember when the bushies response to any talk of high prices answered with ‘it’s not as high in inflation adjusted dollars as it was under Carter’. You just don’t hear that anymore!
My response always was, It will be before bush leaves office.
Wow!! This place just got Rapidly Quiet today!!
Interesting new means of propogranda, or a simple administrative presentation procedure? You decide.
“A controversial new Hillary Clinton attack ad is causing an Internet stir among critics who claim it deliberately darkens Barack Obama’s skin color.
A posting on the liberal site DailyKos.com shows side-by-side screen grabs of Barack Obama taken during a debate with Clinton in Cleveland last week. The screen grab used in the Clinton ad shows a clearly darker-skinned Obama, prompting some to wonder if it was done to highlight his race.
Clinton spokesman Jay Carson told FOX News that Obama’s image was darkened, as part of a “saturation-desaturation” process typical in commercial production. He said both candidates have done it in their ads, and that there was no ulterior motive behind doing so in the campaign’s most recent ad.”
One posting on the DailyKos site, though, charged that while darkening footage may be considered standard practice for political ads trying to “cast the target as sinister,” Fox
Phantom,
When you get around, take a look at this. Appropriate commentary on the burdens of home ownership, the fact that there area costs to the homeowner and the economy resulting thereby, and a study commented on within that finds a correlation between high rates of home ownership and high rates of unemployment, an interesting result. While not on point about the “walk away” problem, I think much therein contained supports my belief that walk aways will be increasing. BTW, if you haven’t seen it, I replied to your post on yesterday’s Open on the thread today about Oprah and Gov. Sebelius (error on this operator).
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2008/03/10/080310ta_talk_surowiecki
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Chubby Grannies Chubby Blonde Mature Chubby Mature Thumbs
Nice. Real nice. I can’t type in Tex^s or Pec_ker, but we get spam like this…
The opening of ANWR to oil and gas development includes the following impacts:
Reducing the U.S. dependence on imported foreign oil;
Improving the U.S. balance of trade;
Extending the life of TAPS for oil;
Increasing U.S. jobs; and
Reducing world oil prices.
Cosmos I took this from one of your links. It shows several advantages of opening ANWR. It also show it not running out until well after 2024. By that time we should be well down the road to energy independence and many sources of alternative fuel.
Your second source is a propoganda piece. I have read their site before and it is more opinion than fact.
I still say that Al Gore is getting what he wants. Higher fuel costs.
KsGrm, from what I have read about ANWR to date, nearly all of the oil proposed to be taken out of their would go to foreign destinations… How would such oil help reduce US dependence on foreign oil?? Just curious??
Definitely going to bite him.
http://www.forbes.com/2008/03/04/john-mccain-boeing-face-markets-cx_ll_0304autofacescan04.html?partner=yahootix
Source on that Chas. I just read this on the official gov site.
I have heard that for quite some time on various TV and radio programs.
That would be CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS… etc.
Try this one too >>>>
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/30/seriously-gas-isnt-that-expensive/3
VT, read your responses. Some interesting observations in the article. Negative equity, not a good thing.
I’ve long thought that Americans (and America) has been trading equity in assets for short term durable goods. An idea that is lightly touched on in the article.
I’d read somewhere that currently, more homes being foreclosed, tha new homes being sold! Looks like housing is in its own recession, with the economy being pulled in behind it.
Did anyone else happen to listen to Paul Harvey today? Well it seem that the web master for a little town in Great Britain had been receiving e-mails for years. Top secret e-mails from the United States Pentagon!
Assuming he was receiving them by mistake, he would report the received e-mails to the local Royal Air base. Each time he was dismissed and told that the security of the U.S. intelligence would not be making such a stupid mistakes so it must be a practical joke. THAT IS until he showed up with the top secret flight plans for Air Force One! Only then was the mistake discovered and corrected at the Pentagon, and now you know the rest of the story. It seems the Pentagon got the e-mail address by doing a Google search for the Air base and picked the wrong e-mail address.
Here’s where Harvey stole the story from. Did he give the register credit? Usually you can’t find the source, since many of Harvey’s stories are completely untrue. I love him anyway. What a scalliwag.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/03/mildenhall_website/
Leading breast cancer surgeon Dr. Angela Lanfranchi says in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons that politics is corrupting science, and that scientists and the federal government are suppressing information about the increased risk of breast cancer caused by abortion, especially late-term abortion and abortion of a young woman’s first pregnancy, in violation of informed consent required by law and by medical ethics.
Well, Duhhh!
At least this public information can go to the next grand jury investigating Planned Parenthood’s flagrant violations of informed consent.
The next courtroom assault on Planned Parenthood needs to focus on mothers who are victims of Planned Parenthood’s abortion mill crimes retrieving their own abortion records and submitting them as public information, as was done last summer before the joint legislative committee in Topeka by one of Tiller’s young victims, so that jurors can bypass stalling tactics and backroom deals between corrupt judges and abortion mill shysters, and look at real criminal evidence that cannot be denied them.
Meanwhile, in Missouri, Planned Parenthood has again filed a lawsuit against a ballot proposal to enforce informed consent, claiming that abortionist quacks might fear civil suits for violating specific informed consent requirements, resulting in a decrease in elective abortions and abortion mill profits.
Planned Parenthood hates informed consent, as much as black babies.
- - -
If you had any doubts that the Canadian abortion industry had pretty well squashed free speech and academic freedom on the abortion issue, note that York University student government officials forced the shutdown of a debate on abortion hours before it was to start, stating that the legality of abortion is a subversive topic, and not allowable for debate. The Canadian Federation of Students compares pro-lifers to the KKK, and supports banning pro-life student clubs, preventing their advertising and meeting on campus, which has occurred at several Canadian “universities”.
The USofA will suffer the same loss of freedoms imposed by the American abortion industry, if regulation is not enforced, and corruption from abortion mill money in state and federal government is not surgically rooted out.
Our Constitution in the USofA is only as good as our ability and efforts to govern ourselves. Where we fail in our efforts, there tyrants forge their chains, and begin targeting the weak, the vulnerable, and the uncaring.
You lose again Parkay, Ill bet the good doctor testifies for you on a regular basis eh? A supporter?
GIVE IT UP Parkay, you’re such a liar. There is a personality disorder you need to be examined for.
ksgrm,
Please correct me if I’m wrong about any of these.
You believe that a detailed, peer-reviewed study, that was tasked and co-funded by the Pentagon, is a “propoganda piece”.
(RMI has done other consulting work for the Pentagon, such as an energy security report, and improving energy efficiency on Navy carriers.)
You want to drill in a pristine wildlife refuge, to possibly reduce the price of gasoline a few pennies a gallon, a few decades from now — if OPEC doesn’t adjust their production, etc.
You are unconcerned that the geology in the Refuge may be like the Badami field.
You hope that future oil prices stay high for the next 5 decades, so they can (possibly) get all that “technically recoverable” oil from the Refuge.
You would rather pay $60 to $100 per barrel of oil, instead of investing about $15 to eliminate the need for that barrel.
You want to continue relying on an old, worn pipeline that the Army says is “indefensible”, and was shutdown by a drunk with a rifle, during heightened security.
You are unconcerned about wear and corrosion of TAPS, and the possible need to replace the support beams due to a warming Alaska (thawing permafrost) — OR you want oil companies to invest in expensive repairs during the next 5 decades
You are unconerned that we are depleting our very small oil reserves faster than most (or all?) other nations — and want us to deplete them even faster.
Boeing had planned to offer the 777 to the Air Force but the AF indicated it wanted a medium-sized plane so B offered the 767 instead; the AF then chose a large plane. The field was neither fair nor even. That should be enough to void the decision. Lets keep it honest here.
Cosmos none of the above and unlike Chas who heard it ’somewhere’ I took the very info you posted and drew my conclusions from that.
Nothing you have stated will happen with any certain. It is scare tactics much the GW advocates who will soon have to defend their positions in a court of law.
That will be interesting.
Phantom, I’d heard the same thing about the number of foreclosures exceeding the number of new homes sold; I believe that was for January, 2008.
I think the housing market and subprime mortgage mess hastened the recession that, while not one which meets the formal definition thereof at this time, is for all intents and purposes occurring. On this, Warren Buffett and I are in agreement. I worry that the actions of the Fed in cutting the discount rate will likely result in stagflation. I’m not too darn sure that what we are facing isn’t a result of the attempt to have “guns and butter” as during the Viet Nam days; increased spending on social programs with increased spending on defense, accompanied (in the 1960s, the “Kennedy”; in the current time, the “Bush”) tax cuts.
accompanied = accompanied by; long day.
ksgrm,
Are you claiming that a drunk did not shutdown TAPS with a rifle?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1584553.stm
Are you claiming that Badami production was not shutdown because it didn’t produce as expected — until higher prices later allowed them to try experiment with it?
‘BP to mothball Badami’
http://www.petroleumnews.com/pnads/638153503.shtml
ksgrm, while I fully understand your desire to see U.S. production increased, I am of the opinion that this will do little to nothing to affect either the price of petroleum products, as OPEC will do what it can to keep it high; further, OPEC will continue to supply what it wants to supply to China, India, et al, and will, through its actions as a cartel, keep production as minimal as possible while prices continue high, waiting for all others to exhaust their reserves, or at least the lower cost reserves, then move in for the economic kill.
For me, and this is my opinion, the only thing that makes sense is to get off the oil “teat” as soon as possible. I don’t care what the source is, as to the countries supplying same, we need to devote resources to find realistic alternatives, which, IMO, will provide economic benefits greater than those from continued petroleum use. This should have been supported in the past two plus decades. Meanwhile, conservation of what there is needs to be the key.
KsGrm, I posted an addtional link upthread
VT while I agree with what you are saying in the long term in the short term we need to be looking at our own sources. My husband best friend through high school was the top geologist for Phillips Oil out of Oklahoma before T Boone bought it up. He main job was looking for oil fields both for capacity and ease of recovery. He and many other reputable geologists say that ANWR and off shore drilling will free our economy from the vise OPEC has over us now.
I know Cosmos doesn’t want to believe this but I respect Kent’s opinion because I am very aware of his credentials.
Rabid environmentalists have got us to this point and we need to take the reins back. IMOHO
I looked at that link Chas and it looks like an opinion blog to me. Where is the proof of what you said about the size of the oil field.
ANWR will give us six month’s worth of oil.
Wow.
KsGrm, I also listed a number of networks where I heard about the exporting of ANWR Oil… All you need to do is go to any of them, and type ANWR in their search bars… Appaently you havent done that…
I was attempting to be non-confrrontational, until YOU had to type I heard it “somewhere” when I clearly listed NETWORKS… Sorry!!
A 1998 United States Geological Survey (USGS) study indicated at least 4.3 billion (95% probability) and possibly as much as 11.8 billion (5% probability) barrels (0.9 to 2.5 km³) of technically recoverable oil exists in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 1002 area, with a mean value of 7.7 billion barrels (1.7 km³).
If the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was used to meet 100% of U.S. demand, it would last for 215 days . . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_Refuge_drilling_controversy
ksgrm,
Enjoy this report, from “rabid environmentalists”. /sarcasm OFF.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/servicerpt/hr/pdf/sroiaf(2005)04.pdf
See Table C12.
Opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, plus ethanol, = gasoline price drop of $0.008 per gallon.
Will ksgrm enjoy that possible 8/10ths of a penny drop, decades from now?
Blog ate the link at 5:57 pm — you’ll have to copy/paste it.
Cosmos, it doesnt seem to work on copy/paste either… appears broken!! :-(
Chas, worked for me. Tried it before posting at 5:57 pm, and just now with copy/paste.
Make sure you copy all of it, http: thru 04.pdf
Chas., it worked for me in copy/paste mode as well. As cosmos suggests, be sure to copy all of it.
OK Thanks guys I got it to work!!
A few weeks ago, I posted a link to an MSNBC story that indicated that drilling in ANWAR would only reduce our dependency on foreign oil by 3%.
We could reduce our consumption by 3% TOMORROW if we wanted to - just changing our driving habits SLIGHTLY would result in a reduction of greater than 3%.
Republicans love to scream about ANWAR, but drilling there would have little or no effect on our oil dependency.
As for drilling off our coasts? Bush nixed drilling off the Florida coast as requested by his brother Jeb.
So much for that…………………………..
So how come we have heard from the Hollywood liberal elite publically chastising hugo chavez of venezuala for not beginning talks with columbia instead of just immediately moving troops to the border, in a blatant saber rattling action?
Also I thought I heard a few years back that Nader is the closest thing we have to a green party candidate. So why haven’t I heard Al (here’s your check mr. gore) Gore, the so called guru of global warming, endorsing Nader?
Sorry, why HAVEN’T we heard from the elites
ksgrm posted March 4, 2008 at 5:50 pm
“VT while I agree with what you are saying in the long term in the short term we need to be looking at our own sources.”
ksgrm, higher efficiency is a better solution for BOTH short and long term.
We cannot increase supply significantly, but we can greatly reduce demand.
It’d take a decade (or longer) after the Refuge was opened for the first trickle to flow. Another couple of decades to reach peak production, then it falls off.
(Assuming there are sufficient quantities of economically recoverable oil during all of those decades, etc)
Efficiency starts “producing” as soon as the higher mpg vehicles, etc are bought. The amount “produced” increases rapidly as more vehicles are bought.
The “production” is guaranteed, and never runs dry.
‘The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Efficiency Saves More Oil than the Refuge Would Yield ‘
http://www.nrdc.org/land/wilderness/arcticrefuge/facts3.asp
See the PDF version for graph,
“Fuel Economy Savings v. Potential Arctic Refuge Production (Cumulative Data)”
Efficiency “produces” many times more than the Refuge, sooner, and longer.
Just think, if all of us that drove 200 miles per week, just trimmed SIX lousy miles from that total, we could reduce our oil consumption by three percent.
Six miles per week - just ONE less trip to the grocery store - one less trip to McDonalds - one less trip to the liquor store - one less trip to visit your girlfriend.
Three percent - six miles per week - 24 miles per month.
Damn, we ALL could do that and not even notice the difference.
Now, start driving at the speed limit and coasting up to red lights.
Then tune up your car or truck.
Then use a light foot on the accelerator.
Before long, we would be seeing REAL reductions in oil and gas consumption.
It sure doesnt take a lot, Clark… just takes getting people to agree to work towards that!! And that can be difficult… Some might think it is the nanny state trying to give them orders!!
Our refining capacity is being pushed to the limits right now.
Just the other year we had an increase in gas prices because several refineries were shut down for maintenance.
We face problems when switching from gasoline to home heating fuels.
How on earth could you possibly think that we don’t need more refining capacity?
Nathan, I am not sure who said we did not need more refining capacity. I know early it was pointed out that refiners have no desire to increase capacity mainly because of profits.
It is not just ANWR either.
ANWR is just one small part of an increase in our supply of oil.
It was never the only solution, only the most public one because of liberal opposition.
It is the consistent fighting of any new drilling or refining which has brought us to where we are.
Sure conservation is a great idea, however it is not a solution on it’s own either.
Lets both conserve and drill for more oil and get an even larger supply.
Whomever posted about plenty of refining capacity has forgotten what happened after Katrina.
Nathan, the refineries not only have the switch between gas and home heating fuel, they also have to switch between types of gasoline to satisfy smog/clean air act regs. Different additives.
Refinery capacity is where they choke us. That is the control IMHO of where the oil companies keep supply level with demand. By keep, I mean working together to keep prices up. By not building any, new ones in twenty years, they are sure to not have to worry about flooding the markets with an oversupply.
Someone posted before, and I have too in support that we should build a federal refinery. Rent it out to producers AND have an emergency refinery for the strategic reserve (which will pump to commercial refineries).
Don’t you just love libs who whine and cry about the high cost of gas, and those dirty oil excutives, but on the other hand cry about drilling oil in Alaska and off shore?
Bring on $5.00 a gallon! The sooner the better. I like my DRIP XOM stock.
American Way,
I once read a good Car and Driver article on how even the different counties in every state all have different regulations on fuel additives and this all drives up the cost because of supply issues.
We need to to also simplify and standardize fuel in this country as well.
These are the problems that happen from the Environmental do gooders constantly trying to fix things.
Where are the gas shortages?
Even after Katrina, there were none.
And as has been pointed out, no more refining capacity is desired. It’s an empty argument.
As to oil drilling, OPEC would LOVE for us to do that.
Any oil we could add to the market would be a drop in the ocean to what they can turn loose anytime they want. And it would be only a few years before our reserves wouldn’t even be an unknown in the equation. They’d be gone.
No we are going to have to evolve beyond our addiction to oil. We should have done that 30 years ago.
Don’t you just love conservatives who whine about Liberals and their objections to drilling in ANWAR, but never mention how Bush’s Brother Jeb, with the President’s help, scotched oil drilling off the coast of Florida. Don’t you just love how they whine, when for six years, they controlled both houses, and the presidency, yet were too scared of public opinion to force drilling in the wildlife refuge? Dontcha, Dontcha?
So much for Nathan’s stewardship of the Earth.
Screw the environment! To hell with pollution standards. I want my cheap gas!
Oh and to hell with state’s rights! How dare those states set their own fuel standards!
Leave it to JR to turn this into some illogical leap of claiming I don’t care about the enironment simply because we disagree….
The different states don’t have different formulations and additives for gasoline for fun Nathan.
Just like California has tough emission standards. They HAVE to.
Advocating for repeal of those standards is an assault on the environment. AND on state’s rights.
American Way posted March 4, 2008 at 8:48 pm
“Someone posted before, and I have too in support that we should build a federal refinery.”
New refineries are very expensive. Are you going to build it with tax-payer funds?
It’s cheaper to expand existing refineries, and make them more efficient.
And refiners do not want excess capacity.
They make maximum profits when running at/near 100% capacity.
They make extra profits when demand spikes, causing price spikes.
Nathan you can never love the earth as much as the libs. You can never be green enough. You can never cut your co2 output enough. No solution is as good as the liberal solution.
Just accept it.
Sigh… there is almost no point in even trying to talk with you anymore JR.
I know ksgrm.
I was just having a nice political discussion earlier about how people will make absurd comments, yell, scream, and do whatever else they can do when they can’t engage in a real discussion.
Just like JR does by saying I don’t care about the Environment…
Well Nathan, your own post says you care more about cheap gas than the environment.
“I once read a good Car and Driver article on how even the different counties in every state all have different regulations on fuel additives and this all drives up the cost because of supply issues.
We need to to also simplify and standardize fuel in this country as well.
These are the problems that happen from the Environmental do gooders constantly trying to fix things.”
Pretty clear.
We as a nation should also be looking at the Green River Formation. This is reported to be the largest formation of oil shale in the world. The potential is there to extract enough oil for many years to come for the US. This is also being blocked by environmentalists. Bush sign an energy act in 2005 to set in motion future drilling here.
Who owns this formation. Why we do. It is right under our noses.
Nathan or Hank,
Would you have an ideal as to when the Blog registration is to begin?
JR that was a very good explanation of the causation of the high cost of fuel. Everyday I hear bloggers complain about the high cost of fuel but when any solutions are floated they are shot down as being harmful to the environment. You can’t have it both ways. If we have to protect those adorable snail darters then we will just have to pay more for gas.
Nathan,
Since you care so much about the environment, tell us what happens in the Arctic Refuge if it’s opening for drilling.
For example, what problems will that cause for the caribou, musk oxen, polar bears, and snow geese.
And have you ever been there ksgrm? The Green River area I mean?
See I have.
The Green river is one of the only rivers in the west that is not blocked by a dam. It runs through some of the most stark and beautiful areas of this country.
Gasoline internal combustion technology has had a hundred year run. It’s time for something else. Not time to start scraping the bottom of the barrel and digging UNDER the barrel. We need to invent our way out of this and not keep reinventing ways to play it out.
Cosmos,
Figuring that the actual size of the drilling location verses the HUGE and VAST size of the refuge is so small, not much will harm those animals.
As has already been pointed out time and time again in these debates.
We as a nation should also be looking at the Green River Formation. This is reported to be the largest formation of oil shale in the world. The potential is there to extract enough oil for many years to come for the US. This is also being blocked by environmentali
The oil shale mining was part of Carter’s energy iniatives. A billion dollar project was begun near Rifle Colorado. When Reagan became president, he scotched all of Carter’s energy programs. Had we continuted on the path that Carter began, we would be sitting pretty today. Carter said at the time, that his energy policies required subsidies, but would pay off in the future. How right he was. Eh?
Just thought you’d like some history, grandmom.
And American industry WILL invent a way out if good old Mother necessity is brought into play.
No link, but just today I heard that some American auto company has ordered a large supply of hybrid batteries.
They want these hybrids on the road by 2010.
JR,
My post says nothing about me caring more about cheap gas than the environment.
Perhaps that is what your twisted little liberal mind decoded using your wierdo goggles, but that is not anywhere near what I said.
So please stop with that crap already.
Rifle?
I was through there. That place would be great for shale mining.
But even still, this would be only prolonging an already over prolonged problem.
Cosmos, How are the deer, turkey, cottontail, and crow populations doing in Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas? There are many wells in these states and wildlife populations are abundant and even overly abundant in many cases.
Well maybe you can tell us what you DID mean to say Nathan.
Nathan posted March 4, 2008 at 9:31 pm
“Figuring that the actual size of the drilling location verses the HUGE and VAST size of the refuge is so small, not much will harm those animals.
As has already been pointed out time and time again in these debates.”
WRONG ANSWER! (very annoying buzzer sound).
‘Potential Impacts of Oil and Gas Development on Refuge Resources’
http://arctic.fws.gov/issues1.htm#section4
Prudhoe Bay,
Maps showing concentrated calving moved to the south, away from oil development, plus info re avoiding roads, etc.
‘Section 4: The Central Arctic Caribou Herd’
http://www.absc.usgs.gov/1002/section4part1.htm
“Our data, in fact, indicate that productivity can and will decline if the cumulative loss of preferred habitat, when superimposed on natural forces, is sufficient to compromise nutrition.”
Very possible, jr. Shale mining was the least attractive of the carter energy iniatives. We could have been the world leader in green power, and the whole planet would be sucking up to us. Now, we’re just broke.
Hello Nathan…
The “smallest footprint ever” Alpine oil field touted by pro-drillers. 5 more drill sites were approved on Dec. 4, 2004 — and they want “… 24 more production drill sites, 122 more miles of roads, 7 more airports, 150 miles of pipeline, and 1262 more acres of tundra smothered by gravel.”
http://www.wilderness.org/Library/Documents/upload/AlpineNoEnvironmentalShowpiece.pdf
From my limited travels west of the Rockies, that area would seem to be prime for solar farms.
JR, then you would know that it is extremely practical to place solar panels on the peaks of mountains…They are so accessible…because if you put them anywhere else they would be in the shade for a great portion of the day. Put on your thinking cap!
Cosmos,
ANWR is over 19 MILLION acres and here you are making 1200 look like some huge impact?
Yeah, that is a small impact and footprint by any standard.
“If you think hybrids will soon serve as our lifeboats out of this mess, you’re wrong. Hybrids will not penetrate the U.S. market in large quantities anytime soon. Consider that the median lifetime of an American automobile is 17 years. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, there were 136.6 million passenger cars on America’s roads in 2005, the most recent year for which data has been published. In 2005, though, there were only 7.6 million new car sales and leases in the United States. In other words, new sales make up only 5.6% of U.S. cars every year. Even if hybrids were to make up 100% of new cars sold starting tomorrow, it would take a generation before they would replace the entire U.S. fleet. That’s the most optimistic, and totally unrealistic, scenario. In light of Detroit’s resistance thus far to hybrid development, we can be sure that it will take years before hybrids make up any significant fraction of new cars sold, and it will be a generation before hybrids replace our entire fleet. I don’t want to wait that long for energy security.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/j-thomas-andrews/oil-shale-to-the-rescue_b_62057.html
Very good article JR about why we need an energy solution now. Technology will help us in the future but unless you expect someone to drop off a new energy efficient hybrid on everyones doorstep tomorrow we need to look at our own capability to drill for oil. The Green River Formation is the solution for this according to many.
West of the rockies would be arid to desert. Solar farms would impact the delicate ecosystem. They point is that there is no silver bullet to solve this. However a combination of different resources, and SOME impact on the environment will need to be accepted in order to provide our energy needs.
Cosmos how do you explain the fact that the porcupine caribou grew from a sparse 5000 in the mid 1970’s to over 14000 by 1983. The oil pipeline which many said would descimate the caribou herds actually increased the herds.
Nathan posted March 4, 2008 at 9:31 pm
“Figuring that the actual size of the drilling location [singular] verses the HUGE and VAST size of the refuge is so small, not much will harm those animals.”
The Refuge drilling issue has been debated for many years, but Nathan still seems to believe that it requires only one “location” in the Refuge.
To be “civil”, I wont make any additional comment about Nathan’s Refuge “knowledge” in this post.
‘Drilling in the Arctic Refuge: The 2,000-Acre Footprint Myth
Oil development would stamp a spiderweb of industrial sprawl across the whole of the refuge’s 1.5-million-acre coastal plain.’
http://www.nrdc.org/land/wilderness/artech/farc2000.asp
The hybrids (electrical) are not a solution. They require electricity which primarily comes from coal…so if we all drive electric cars, demand for electricity goes up and more coal is used. Also, I would guess there would be a problem with disposal of all the batteries from the hybrids, which would lead to water and soil contamination. These are just a few things that the “Greens” don’t consider when they are pushing CO2 scare tactics around.
ksgrm
Whether you agree or not there is one and only one reason why we are maintaining a permanent garrison in Iraq.
Oil.
How many hybrids could we put on the road for what operations in Iraq are costing us?
Even after Katrina, there were none.
That is BS J R. Go back and read the articles.
In fact, read the articles about the shortages and increase in gas prices when KANSAS had floods.
Sorry got a call em as the news articles support them. Everyone remembers the feds discussing releases from the oil reserve during Katrina. Everyone should remember the gas increases amid threats to the refineries.
“And refiners do not want excess capacity.
They make maximum profits when running at/near 100% capacity.”
That is brilliant Cosmos! Exactly what my post stated. Feeling smart?
Now, you would EXPAND existing refineries? It ain’t a gonna happen. XOM will not let it happen. They like the 18 billion dollar quarterly profits. They can use YOUR EPA HUGE REGULATIONS to never build another refinery in America.
That IS where the cost is coming. We have lot’s of oil. Point is, we have limited capacity to process that oil into gas.
I guess you are arguing FOR the big oil companies.
ksgrm,
The Central Arctic caribou herd is not the Porcupine caribou herd. Please try to understand the simple basics.
Wow!
Look at all those scare tactics.
“a spider web of industrial sprawl”
“across the whole of the coastal plain”
And I never said that believed that it would only require one place either.
Once again, you bring nothing to the discussion but your typical scare tactics and twisting of my words.
cosmos-”would stamp a spiderweb of industrial sprawl across the whole of the refuge’s 1.5-million-acre coastal plain”
Cosmos, have you ever been to an oil or gas field? It is not a nuclear winter situation. They have a very small production area to ecosystem foot print.
“We have lot’s of oil”
That statement, like you James, is not based in reality.
hybrids (electrical) are not a solution. They require electricity which primarily comes from coal
ANTI, just thought someone should tell you: You are an idiot.
I have driven a hybrid since 2003. Never once put an ounce of coal in my gas tank.
To those who say hybrid is NOT the answer…………….
Enjoy $5.00 a gallon. Because without moving to the next level, which is hybrid cars getting 44-50 MPG, you are screwed for at least then next two decades. Congress made sure of that. They set MPG at 35 (fleet wide) by 2022.
There will NO alternative before that, and cars manufactured for decades before that will STILL be on the road (average life of a car ten years), and the fleet average - is not all cars/trucks.
In short, your solution ensures we are all f–ked.
Mandate hybrids now, until the next solution. There IS promise there. A new all electric was announced this week (221 miles before recharge).
But until that standard is mandated, the CAFE is not just a joke - it is a SIN. But of course, the libs are courting the UNION vote from the big three US auto manufacturers. Gotta keep those jobs making INefficient cars. Goooooo Libs!
(you ARE your own worse enemy on this)
American Way posted March 4, 2008 at 10:08 pm
“I guess you are arguing FOR the big oil companies.”
Guess again.
I’m arguing that we increase efficiency (mpg, etc) to lower oil demand, so that the existing refineries provide excess capacity.
Am Way, My apologies, I should have said total electric cars not hybrids- Total electrics require being plugged in, hence the reference to coal. Hybrids that generate their own power thru various methods, I am all for. And I am insulted that you referred to me as a Lib. My point was trading one environment problem for another just so you can feel good about yourself is not smart in my opinion.
Well Cosmos the future is NOW.
I get 44 MPG with my FIVE YEAR OLD car. My Honda Hybrid.
The concern (or complaint) was HIGH GAS PRICES. The only solution is to reduce demand NOW. The high gas prices are NOW. Not tomorrow………….
You can talk smarty on the “future” world technology. But high fuel costs are NOW.
We have hybrids NOW. If EVERYone was driving one NOW - we would cut consumption in half. HALF!!!
You can dream about tomorrow. But you either cut consumption NOW, or you increase supply NOW. That supply is provided by refineries NOW.
Personally, you can all talk about and dream about the future all you want. I’m driving it today. Not because I’m green. Not because I give a rats ass about the environment. But because I care about my pocket book. I cut my annual fuel costs in half.
The rest of you? Just cry and whine. Talk about what NEEDS to be done. But forget about it. Congress GUARANTEED you will wait until at LEAST 2022 to experience 35 MPG (fleetwide average of NEW car sales).
I’d suggest you buy stock in XOM and the other oil companies. At least you will feel better knowing you are contributing to your own stock prices as you fill up at $5.00 a gallon.
ANTI, I do apologize if you inferred I was calling you a lib. I do realize just how awful that label is and the extreme horror and cruel that such a name calling can be. I am sorry if you felt that way. But the rest of my post - was directed elsewhere.
Again, I am sorry for in anyway calling you such a dastardly, lowlife name and cussword. Please don’t rat me out to the weblog for my offense. I really was not directing that portion of my post to you.
I will pray especially hard Sunday for my possible mistake or any undo hurt to your person for being called a l-b… Truly sorry.
(no one likes being called that profane word)
Am Way,
Well I should have worded my post better…long day!
I think that even if every single car in America was a hybrid, we’d see very much of an impact on the price of oil/gas. OPEC has found their price point and they will adjust supply to keep inventories tight, and prices high.
Some of you are amazing.
Imagine. The year is 1860. The townhall is burning down. The townspeople are all frantically passing buckets of water in a bucket brigade. As quickly as possible they are throwing buckets of water on the fire.
Suddenly, Cosmos appears. He says STOP! There is a better way. We can invent fire trucks. We can carry hundreds of gallon of water in the fire trucks to put out the flames.
The people stop and look at him as if he is crazy.
THE FIRE IS NOW!!!!
You want to let the townhall burn down, or fight the fire with what we have available today?
Am Way,
If I was a Lib, I would run my car on Dreams and Rainbows!!!!
“OPEC has found their price point and they will adjust supply to keep inventories tight, and prices high.”
Phantom you are SO right. The arabs must be shaking their heads in amazement at the Americans. We have oil, we won’t drill. We have technology to regulate the use of oil/gas in automobiles TODAY. Yet we fail to act.
We love our big SUV’s and pick-em-up trucks.
They are building islands and paradise with the money we are spending each time we hit the fuel pumps. (Not to mention supporting radical muslims).
Congress loves the big three automakers and union workers. So there will be ZERO solution regardless of the next POTUS. Both parties.
That is a nice way for me to begin there “American way”.
The town hall is burning down? Well why did we build your figurative town hall that COULD burn down?
Let it burn and let’s us build a new town hall.
JR,
The heat and fumes are going to create GW and put hazardous fumes into our environment. Besides, there is one liberal still inside in the belfry……..
(besides, I had to start somewhere. Chicken or the egg).
VT, another interesting factor, is the new bankruptcy laws. I lifted this from another blog.
Does Mortgage Crisis Have its Roots in Bankruptcy Reform?
By Jonathan Ginsberg, Atlanta Bankruptcy Attorney on Nov 7, 2007 in Mortgages, Surrendering Property
My colleague, Georgia bankruptcy attorney Scott Riddle recently blogged about an interesting relationship between the BAPCPA laws and the recent problems in the mortgage industry. Under prior law, Chapter 7 was much more widely available to homeowning families in financial distress. A Chapter 7 filing would allow such families to get rid of credit card and other consumer debt while reaffirming their mortgage payments.
The Business Week article that Scott references in his blog post quotes a Wharton School professor who notes that a law lobbied for and designed to benefit the financial industry may actually be hurting lenders. With consumer debt much harder to eliminate, many families are giving up their homes, leaving lenders with increased inventory.
I see this phenomena in my own practice. Families earning $80,000 to $100,000 end up in Chapter 13 where they have to pay back 70%, 80% or more of unsecured debt based on the bizarre calculations of means testing. After living on bread and water for a few months, many of these families come to the conclusion that they need to give up homes, cars or furniture.
Bankruptcy “reform” has only served to restrict the safety valve function of bankruptcy - the current law is so harsh that many families decide that it is not worth the fight.
“I’m arguing that we increase efficiency (mpg, etc) to lower oil demand”
Then we need an entirely NEW congress and NEW president. Because they GAVE automobile makers 15 years to meet a standard which has been exceeded by 15 MPG today!!!!!
Fleetwide means that not ALL vehicles need to make 35 MPG. Just the average. Auto’s sold in 2022 will still be on the road in 2032. And you are STILL BELOW WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN MPG TODAY.
And Cosmos, get real. The refineries which are all at least twenty years old today, will be fifty years old by the time all cars on the roads in the USA average 35 MPG. You are going to need some capacity.
Think federal refineries. Rent them out. No one else can ever build them with the strict EPA standards. Think coal plants. There won’t be anymore.
I’m moving up to a Prius next. While you talk and wait, I’ll be at 48 MPG this year.
McCain will not fight the CAFE standards because they threaten the US automakers.
Don’t kid yourselves: Neither will Obama or Hillary.
They will talk trash about taxing the oil companies. But that means YOU. You will pay for the taxes. The dollars “might” go to new development.
But there is no promise. And why would anyone develope new? They have until 2022 to meet 35 MPG?
Why spend the money?
Taxing the oil companies will NOT cut demand for oil. Rising prices might - but only to a certain extent. We will all still drive to work. (don’t even tell me about the bus). Rising prices will cut our leisure travel. Our enjoyable travel. Our relaxing travel.
Thank Hillary, Obama, and McCain next for gas prices.
You only have yourselves to blame. Talk is cheap. Insist on new technology now! Buy hybrids.
ahhhh…
Never take Tylenol PM during the day :D
Just woke up, now I’ll be up all night. heh
American Way,
Hybrids are not the only way to increase mpg, and reduce oil consumption. And we don’t have to “invent” something new.
I’d explain it to you, but considering your multiple, long, angry (and boring) rants, I don’t want to waste my time.
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/103164/article.html
1. Follow the Recommended Maintenance
A vehicle that is well maintained means it will operate with greater efficiency. This not only improves your overall vehicle performance, but it will improve your fuel economy as well. Fouled spark plugs, a dirty air filter or clogged fuel filter will all affect your fuel economy. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), replacing a clogged air filter can increase your mileage by 10 percent, while replacing an oxygen sensor could result in an improvement as high as 40 percent. Proper maintenance also means using the right octane gas and the recommended grade of motor oil. Using the recommended types for your vehicle will give you optimum fuel economy — and can save you money as well. Check your owner’s manual for your vehicle’s recommendations and have maintenance performed regularly by a dealer or reputable mechanic.
2. Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated
Underinflated tires require more energy to roll, which translates into more frequent fill-ups. You can improve