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Off Shore Drilling - Don’t Buy the Lie

CAN WE DRILL OUR WAY TO LOWER FUEL PRICES?

Argument 1:

Drilling more oil and gas wells will reduce gasoline prices.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the total additional oil that could be
brought into production from drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Outer
Continental Shelf, and the Rocky Mountain states is likely to be only about 1.2 million
barrels of oil a day at peak production. This only adds up to a $1.20 reduction in the price
of a barrel of oil, which is currently well over $140.(footnotes) i ii iii

If this drop were to reduce pump prices at all, the savings would be mere pennies (only about 3 cents a gallon according to Department of Energy figures) and would not be seen by Americans for at least another 10 years.

Even in the most optimistic case, drilling in those sensitive areas combined would
possibly garner a savings at the pump of only 4-5 cents a gallon in 2025. Even the
Department of Energy admits that: “Because oil prices are determined on the
international market, however, any impact on average… prices is expected to be
insignificant.” (footnote)iv Any oil pumped here would go right into that international market, where we’d have to bid for it right alongside India, China and other nations.

In fact, a record 1.6 billion barrels a day in U.S. refined petroleum products were
exported from January-April of this year, up 33 percent over the same period in 2007.
This surge in exports seems to contradict arguments of supporters who want to increase
domestic drilling in order to help alleviate fuel shortages in the U.S. The bottom line is
profit –domestically drilled oil will not stay in the U.S. if another nation is willing to pay
more for it.

Despite the fact that drilling will not help consumers at the pump, the industry continues
to push for more drilling permits on public lands. This strategy is little more than an
attempt to control more land and reap bigger and bigger profits. Between 1999 and 2007,
the number of drilling permits issued for development of public lands increased by more
than 361%, yet gasoline prices have also risen dramatically. There is no correlation
between more drilling and lower gasoline prices.

Even if increased domestic drilling could affect the price of gasoline, there is yet no
justification to open additional federal lands because oil and gas companies have shown
that they cannot keep pace with the rate of drilling permits that the federal government is
handing out. In the last four years, the Bureau of Land Management has issued 28,776
permits to drill on public lands; yet, in that same time, 18,954 wells were actually drilled.
That means that companies have stockpiled nearly 10,000 extra permits to drill that they
are not using to increase domestic production.

Argument 2:

Vast quantities of oil and gas beneath public lands are closed to energy
development.

According to the Department of the Interior, only 38% of the oil and 16% of the natural
gas are excluded from leasing – largely because those resources are underneath National
Parks and wilderness areas that have significant scenic, recreational and wildlife values.

Industry already has more lands than it can drill. Of the 44.5 million leased acres, most -more than 30 million acres -have not been used by the oil and gas industry.

Industry isn’t developing most of the public lands it already has under lease. Although we
object to some of the areas under lease, we believe that the oil and gas industry should
make better use of existing leases before it attempts to lock up more public lands in
environmentally fragile areas.

Argument 3:

Opening the 19.2 million acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska to
drilling would reduce today’s gasoline prices.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that it will require 8 to 10 years
after opening ANWR before oil is produced. According to the EIA, opening ANWR
could reduce U.S. crude oil imports, but not until 2022-2026 and only by a few
percentage points.

Oil prices are set on a global market. Historically, increases in U.S. oil production have
had little impact on those prices. If commercial quantities of oil are discovered in
ANWR, the effect would be a reduction of just a few pennies per gallon during peak
production.

During the next two decades, US oil imports as a percentage of consumption will
decrease, a dramatic shift in US energy policy. The reasons for this decrease are
improvements in energy efficiency and conservation and the use of alternative energy and new technologies that will reduce our nation’s need for oil between now and 2050 by 100 million barrels – that’s 10 times the amount of oil that ANWR could provide.

Argument 4:

We need to increase domestic drilling in order to achieve energy independence and
increase homeland security.

More drilling will not achieve “energy independence.” At current consumption levels,

U.S. resources are inadequate to achieve energy independence. The United States
contains 2.5 % of the world’s oil resources and 3% of world natural gas resources.
But we account for 24% of total world consumption of oil and 22% of natural gas
consumption. The U.S. could drill every national park, wildlife refuge, and coastline and still be importing 60 percent of the oil we use. Opening more areas to drilling in the U.S. can never make us less dependent on foreign oil or natural gas.

Additionally, because oil and petroleum products are traded globally, there is no
guarantee that oil drilled in the U.S. will stay in the U.S. In fact, a record 1.6 billion
barrels a day in U.S. refined petroleum products were exported from January-April of this
year, up 33 percent over the same period in 2007. The bottom line is profit -
domestically drilled oil will not stay in the U.S. if another nation is willing to pay more for it.

The only way we will ever reduce our dependency is to reduce our consumption. Federal
legislation that promotes clean, alternative energy and cuts global warming pollution will
reduce our oil imports four times more than drilling in the pristine wildlife habitat of the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, off our beaches, and in the Rocky Mountains combined.

A study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that under the Climate
Security Act, U.S. petroleum consumption would drop by nearly half by 2030—saving
far in excess of the amount of oil we could ever pull from Alaska or the coasts.

Argument 5:

There are too many environmental restrictions on drilling.

Many of these environmental restrictions are what help keep our drinking water and the
air we breathe clean. They also help conserve wildlife and lands for recreation.

Even with current environmental restrictions, wildlife and clean water and air are taking a
hit from drilling. During the first four years of development on the Pinedale Anticline
natural gas field in Wyoming the overall wintering mule deer population dropped by
46%. The Greater sage-grouse may require listing under the Endangered Species Act, in
part, as a result of damage to its habitat from oil and gas drilling. This past year in
Colorado, over 1 million gallons of polluted, industrial drilling mud was accidentally spilled into the West Parachute Creek on the Roan Plateau.

Drilling also pollutes the air. The oil industry on Alaska’s North Slope annually emits approximately 70,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, an important component of smog. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, this is more than twice the amount emitted by the city of Washington, D.C.

The small town of Pinedale, Wyoming (pop. 1412), which sits just 100 miles south of Grand Teton National Park, experienced its first hazardous ozone alerts this past winter as a result of emissions from nearby drilling operations.

These are just a few examples of the impacts to wildlife, water and air from drilling. We
would see many more if current environmental restrictions are loosened or relaxed.

Our facts are from credible sources –the U.S. Department of Energy and the Bureau of
Land Management (under the U.S. Department of Interior). A lot of other “information”
is out there (mostly based on opinion)

i
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Agency, “Analysis of Crude Oil Production in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge” May 2008

ii
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Agency, “Impacts of Increased Access to Oil and Natural Gas Resources in the Lower 48 Federal Outer Continental Shelf” 2007.

iii
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Agency, “State Energy Profiles”

iv
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Agency, “Impacts of Increased Access to Oil and Natural Gas Resources in the Lower 48 Federal Outer Continental Shelf” 2007.

Save Money & Save The World - 22 Simple Steps for Energy Savings!

Here are 22 steps you can take – each with the energy savings you can achieve each year. Pick the ones you’ll do to get your first 10% energy savings. (These energy savings assume an average US home, which uses about 11,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year and 19,000 cubic feet of natural gas per year.) 1. Turn off lights you’re not using – We even have switchplate reminders for you, downloadable on our Web site. (2% energy savings per year, assuming an average family’s energy use) 2. Schedule an energy audit – Your local utility will probably provide an audit for free, and you may also get a more comprehensive audit (saving you more money in the long term) by paying for a whole-house audit. (Up to 50% energy savings per year) 3. Don’t heat or cool empty rooms – If there is a room in your house that is rarely used, close off the vents to save on heating and cooling. (Varies by size of room.) 4. Give your dishwasher a rest – Skip the energy-intensive drying cycle on your dishwasher and choose the air-dry option, or open the door for zero-energy dish drying. (5% energy savings per year) 5. Shift your energy load to off-peak hours – Because power sources must produce electricity around the time of use (without capacity for long-term storage) it is our collective peak demand that triggers the building of more polluting power plants. (Varies) 6. Turn off your electronics – If you’re going to be away from your computer or other appliance for more than an hour, turn it off. (5% energy savings per year) 7. Eliminate “phantom load” – Many electronics use energy even while turned off, so your best bet is to unplug them when not in use. (5% energy savings per year) 8. Make your fridge more efficient – Keep your refrigerator’s coils clean to boost its overall power, and store jugs of water in any empty space inside, because water retains coldness better than air. (4% energy savings per year) 9. Wash clothes in cold water – Your clothes will get just as clean, on half the energy. (7% energy savings per year) 10. Give up your dryer – Hang your clothes to dry on a clothesline or indoor rack. (10% energy savings per year) 11. Plug your air leaks – Energy-efficient heating and cooling systems are wasted when you’re leaking out the cool or warm air you’re putting in. (5% energy savings per year) 12. Reduce your water use – Simple ways to save water include fixing any leaks and replacing faucets and showerheads with low-flow options. (3% energy savings per year) 13. Cut waste through windows – Properly seal window edges, cover windows with curtains to prevent heat loss, or coat windows with reflective “low-e” films that reduce heat loss while still allowing light to shine through. (10% energy savings per year) 14. Help your hot water heater – Add an insulating cover to reduce heat loss. (1% energy savings per year) 15. Install ceiling fans – Reduce your air conditioner usage with ceiling fans. Look for “Energy Star” models that use 50 percent less energy. (19% energy savings per year) 16. Get a programmable thermostat – Automate when your heating or cooling systems come on to save energy while you sleep or are away from home. (10% energy savings per year) 17. Upgrade your appliances – Look for the “Energy Star,” and you may be eligible for a tax break. (3 - 12% energy savings per year) 18. Upgrade your hot water heater – Save energy and space by upgrading to a tankless or solar hot water heater. (14% energy savings per year) 19. Green your roof – Studies have found that a green roof on a typical one-story building can result in a 25 percent reduction in summer cooling needs. (12% energy savings per year) 20. Save energy through landscaping – The US Department of Energy found that the proper placement of as few as three shady trees will save an average household between $100 and $250 in energy costs annually. (12% energy savings per year) 21. Replace your windows – In step 13, we have recommendations for working with the windows you have. Replacing your windows with more energy-efficient versions can save you even more. (14% energy savings per year) 22. Don’t waste energy on TV – With the switch to digital TV coming in 2009, many people are buying new, digital-ready TVs. If you must shop for a new television, look for an LCD (liquid crystal display) screen, which uses six times less energy than a plasma screen. (2% energy savings per year)

If you have a blog or a personal Web site, post or link to Co-op America’s new Steps for Energy Efficiency and help us spread the word. E-mail us to let us know you’ve linked to our site‚ and we’ll link back to you in an upcoming blogroll. Support our work to build a greener economy by donating to our Climate Action Program. Help us promote greener energy and energy efficiency, while working against the expansion of the polluting coal industry. Donate today » Not yet a supporting member? Join todayto begin receiving the Co-op America Quarterly (from which today’s e-mail was adapted) by mail. Membership is only $20 and includes a subscription to our bi-monthly green-living newsletter Real Money, a copy of our National Green Pages™, and a copy of our Guide to Socially Responsible Investing. Your membership provides valuable support for our economic action programs for people and the planet. Join today »

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Colin Hay - Men at Work - - Music Review

Are You Looking At Me? - Colin Hay’s 2007 release has found it’s way to my disc player. Let me just dispense with the suspense. Oh my god - I freaking love this disc. Holly smokes out of the blue comes a mature, sophisticated, smart, intelligent, sumptuous delight of audio, lyric, fun and contemplation from the former Men At Work front man. I can not rave about this disc enough. First off Colin’s voice is still intact. Secondly, his sense of humor is as strong as ever tempered with age, wisdom, insight, humility, compassion, and yes love. The production is first rate. The tunes bounce along, float, rock, boogie and reflect. The syncopation isn’t hurried but tempered and well I am so impressed - this is now my new favorite disc. He’s out touring with Ringo - that’s just completely perfect. If he comes to Virginia Beach I’ll be the first to buy tickets.

Well done Colin well done and welcome back amigo!!!!!!!!!!

This time is different - this time we got you — and I thank you for that!

Paul
Author- Journey Home

70 miles per gallon!!!!

Necessity is the mother of invention and the oil industry has plunged the stake into their own heart. Clean energy and sustainability is the wave of the future because it is the only way to survive. The status quo will not give up without a fight but when they finally WAKE UP and realize there is money to be made they will all jump on board the new green economy. Until then they are blocking all legislative initiatives, tax breaks and guarding their outrageous subsidies (your government at work) like any entrenched power might do - the unenlightened ones.

Paul
Author - Journey Home

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia - Television Review

This is my first television review. There’s obviously some good stuff on television from the Simpson’s to the Sundance Channel, Discovery, History and A&E. But this is the first time I’ve reviewed a series. How I Met Your Mother, Rules of Engagement, Two and a Half Men, Rescue Me, The Riches, Weeds, and old reruns of Hawaii Five -O - keep me well entertained. But this freakin’ show is hilarious. I can’t believe how funny Sunny in Philly is for a live action sketch comedy. I hope this comes back for a few more seasons and continues a long, long run.

The steroid eating on the season 1&2 disc is hysterical and even the commentary on the discs extra features is a complete crack up. Charlie rules of course but Mac is understated mayhem. The whole mistaken gay bar bit is a riot. The players are all characters. You know how in Friends they had the dumb one, the pretty one, the obsessive one, the quirky one and the nerdy one, all one dimensional and that series was a hit (??). Well the characters here are all characters and there is nothing one dimensional about any of them. They all get turns being outlandish and playing it straight and delivering the money lines. This is what I want and I can not wait until season four starts in September. Kudos for FX giving the writers full reign to create and do their thing. This show is a blast!

Lets give a shout out to the writer/actors Charlie (Charlie Day), Mac (Rob McElhenney), Dennis (Glenn Howerton), and Dee (Kaitlin Olson) and of course Danny DeVito. Danny may have found himself a new “Taxi” to ride! What a riot read the outstanding reviews on amazon at the link above and rent it from NetFlix. You’ll want to buy it for your collection after that.

Here’s the Wikipedia Link

Ray Davies Other Peoples Lives

I waited a while to purchase this CD because of some bogus reviews (and budget of course). Well without leaving you in suspense this is a great disc. I read a bunch of insipid comments about the lyrics weren’t tricky enough - here’s a reminder you negative dopes - this man rhymed Lola and cola and you loved it - and you should.

In Ray’s latest effort there are plenty of sonic delights. The production is stellar, the energy is up and direct and Ray…well hearing Ray’s voice again is a sheer delight. Now I’m not a hard core Kinks fan and you don’t have to be to enjoy this album. Archetypal themes mix with Rays wit and salty mind set to produce a rather surprising disc. In fact I’m surprised by how much I really like this batch of tunes. It starts out rockin’ and then the third song bounces in with a very Kink like tune, a bouncy theme that runs counter with the look at yourself lyrics. I’ve always loved how Ray makes a song sound all light and airy while the lyrics paint a different story, but in the end still hopeful.

Well done Ray!

There’s a lot going on here - different styles of music at once edgy, rockin’, folky, satirical, spacey, acoustic, humor. In other words it doesn’t sound all the same cut after cut. Welcome back Ray and for the uber fans lighten up. His lyrics are just fine and as insightful, hopeful and honest as ever. This is a big boy record by a man, and completely accessible to all. You don’t have to know about the Kinks or even like them to appreciate this disc. It’s well worth the buy! Stand Up Comic is a hoot and it rocks…and that’s that!

Interstate 60 - Movie Review

Interstate 60 is another off the beaten track movie I can recommend. From one of the co-producers/writers of the “Back To The Future” movies it has that same sort of essence, visual feel to it and pure popcorn entertainment value, but with an interesting thread of a message, and some outrageous characters. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the movie but there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested. It has an outstanding group of actors who star in and make cameo’s and that keeps the element of the movie fresh. A typical road story about a road that doesn’t exist it has a certain smartness to it that Gary Oldman and Chris Cooper bring to every movie. The subject matter may not be entirely suitable for the pre-teens (a little racier than the Back To The Future movies) and it is not nor is it trying to be Citizen Kane. Rent it from Net Flix. It’s great light entertainment that may actually do it for you if you let it.

Interstate 60

Out of Order - Movie Review

It’s gushing time - I loved this movie. Eric Stoltz plays the lead character so well and understated. Felicity Huffman digs down deep and delivers the goods on a very difficult part. Kim Dickens also does an excellent job and has a quiet dignity about her. Justine Bateman plays it to the hilt and we love her for it. All the acting is top notch, subtle, not over the top. This is an adult film about adult problems and adult situations directed by adults but not so maudlin it doesn’t have a sense of humor about itself and it’s protagonist and characters. The actual film shooting, camera work and the way the director moves you through time into the past and back again is artful and imaginative and a complete no-brainer. This is a great movie I loved each and every aspect of it. The ending is a knock out to the solar plexus. It brought about a sense of joy and longing and affirmation that is too often blunted. This is a movie about selfishness, anger, hurt, perseverance, hope, love, lust, ambition, opportunity and opportunity lost. It is all here and the amazing thing is that this was a Showtime mini series from 2003. What has been released is the pilot. I was amazed at the passion and backlash at only releasing the pilot by the fans. I guess the other four episodes were just as gut wrenching and fulfilling. Not knowing any of this I watched this as a stand alone movie - and it delivered the goods.

You won’t be disappointed - as far as people not getting this movie - have a heart - we should all be so lucky and count your blessings!

Out of Order Reviews at Amazon

Arturo O’Farrill

I have been meaning to write about Arturo for a while but every time I do I put on one of his CD’s and start listening. Well I can’t help it his playing just rifles along in bouncy rhythms that disguise the effort. The man can play and well writing about playing is very difficult especially when listening. Afro-Cuban Jazz I guess if you are going to label something that’s as good a name as any. I would throw out the phrase World Jazz, or describe it as jazz with an island sensibility. Calypso meets Swing meets Coltrane. It doesn’t matter the music has heart and a real sense of joy. His father (also Arturo) was an innovator but over looked by the establishment. Well the establishment is a bunch of small minded idiots protecting their own turf. So they suck and who cares what they think. Now a days more enlightened individuals (thank you Wynton Marsalis) have opened doors for Arturo. His Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra performs at the Lincoln Center in NY as a regular gig, and all over the world.

I’m not really sure how I stumbled into his work. Pulling on the Buena Vista Social Club string I probably came across his recording Night in Tunisia and well I’m hooked. This is not unaccessible music and the Brazilian and Santa Domingo influences from Latin America are here as well as the mellow classic jazz lines of Monk and Mcoy Tyner, and even shades of Vince Guaraldi very, very nice. It is a wide musical landscape played very tastefully.

Music is gumbo and Arturo is a world renowned chef - and so now you know - dig in and enjoy - hot and spicy, cool and mellow and it swings - it’s all here.

Play the strings of discovery here and here!

This is a repost but the cartoon is priceless set this creep straight.

Senator Larry Craig - famous for misbehaving in a different kind of stall - is using stall tactics on the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.

His threat to hold up Senate consideration of the bill (S.311 by Sens. Landrieu and Ensign) is putting thousands of horses in danger of ruthless killer buyers who want to buy horses at auction and haul them to Mexico or Canada for a gruesome demise.

Tell your Senator to Stop the Larry Craig Stall.

Please do it today: Click HERE and send your Senator a message.

And please forward this email to 10 of your horse-loving friends, asking them to do the same.

Thanks for all you do to protect horses.

Soraya Gheissari

Executive Director

National Horse Protection League