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America has an energy addiction.
(Source: theweek.com)
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Next time Twitter is down, there’s always the Bad Opinion Generator.
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On April 20, 2010, an explosion on BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig killed 11 people and spilled at least 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Now, a new report from Al Jazeera says sea creatures are showing up with horrible mutations as a side effect of the spill.
Among the disturbing mutations: Shrimp with tumors on their heads; fish that lack eyes or are missing flaps over their gills; fish with oozing sores; crabs with holes in their shells; crabs that are missing claws and spikes, or are encased in soft shells instead of hard ones.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Dr. Jim Cowan of Louisiana State University tells Al Jazeera. “The fishermen have never seen anything like this.”
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What does this woman have all over her face? Why are these men throwing water on a woman? And what’s up with those eggs?
Think you know the answer? Test your guessing skills with this week’s Weird News Photo Quiz!
(Source: theweek.com)
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A potential breakthrough in cleaning up oil spills comes in the form of magnetic soap. British researchers have found a way to imbue soap with magnetic properties, making it easier to gather up and remove from the water once it’s broken up the oil. “The goal is to create a soap… that can then be picked up out of the environment,” says Stephanie Pappas at Live Science, “not just rinsed away.” Check it out.
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“Tell me why being rich is such a bad thing, why being successful is such a bad thing. Tex Richman, The Muppets name is, that is the American dream, is to work hard and be successful.”
Fox Business takes issue with the fact that The Muppets villain is an oil tycoon named Tex Richman.
“Is liberal Hollywood using class warfare to brainwash our kids?”
“Yeah, absolutely.”
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Obama administration greenlights 500 oil drilling leases in the Arctic. Sparks fierce reactions:
Drilling will commence summer 2012 in the Chuckchi Sea, where Alaska and Russia meet. Environmental groups fume. Shell pleased. Rare species at risk.
Here is a round up:
- Approves former President Bush’s stalled plans to drill in Arctic
- Earth Justice sues
- Native Alaskans are pissed: “We have a right to life, to physical integrity, to security, and the right to enjoy the benefits of our culture. For this, we will fight, and this is why we have gone to court today. Our culture can never be bought or repaired with money. It is priceless,” Caroline Cannon, president of the Native Village of Point Hope, said in a press release.
- Shell Oil is pleased
- Crude prices drop
- Pew Center blasts Obama for politics over science stance, issues white paper
- University of Texas receives $5.6 million grant to study “safe oil extraction” without disturbing wildlife/ecosystems
- Home to thousands of rare species including bowhead, beluga, narwhals, and grey whales; ice, bearded, ribbon, and spotted seals; polar bears; puffins, auklets, sea ducks, and penguins; and cod, sharks, and eels.
- NASA reports sea-ice 2nd lowest levels ever recorded in the Chuckchi/Arctic
- National Snow & Ice Data Center: 40% lower than average ice extent - a loss the size of California, Alaska, Oregon, and Washington states combined
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Climate Adaptation: Breaking @ NYTimes: Keystone XL emails show bias, conflict of interest, and cozy relationship with Obama Administration...
Emails released in a FOIA request show that the Obama administration is biased towards getting the Keystone XL Pipeline built. I’ve been covering Keystone XL for a few months (see all my posts, here). I used to believe the pipeline will get the green light. Now I suspect it will be delayed…
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Only in America: Recite a Bible verse, get a cheap oil change
The Kwik Kar Lube & Service in Plano, Texas, is offering customers a righteous deal: Drivers who willingly recite a New Testament verse get a 50 percent discount on an oil change. The verse, John 3:16, is a concise declaration of owner Charlie Whittington’s Christian faith: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Hmph, gripes atheist blogger Hemant Mehta. “You never see an atheist business owner saying she’ll give you a discount if you say ‘God is a myth.’”
More from our collection of strange revelations about the nation
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I’ve written before about the Keystone TarSands XL Pipeline, and about the massive grassroots protest which just took place next to the White House with people from all types of backgrounds sitting outside to make the point clear: We don’t want dirty TarSands oil!
Did you know that over 1,200 people were arrested? Just for voicing their concerns about the environment, just for reminding Obama of his green promises in ‘08.
There’ve been reports attempted to discourage and play down the movement, like one which said that Obama wasn’t even aware of the protesters {wtfrack Obama?!}, but meanwhile the movement is alive - and growing. TarSandsAction.org has been followed by some other notable organizations in raising awareness, obtaining signatures for petitions, in letters, calls, and emails to political representatives, and more.
And those awesome people fighting to save our planet and America have an announcement: This Isn’t Over.
It’s not too late to join this historical and urgently important cause. Check out TarSandsActions.org to see what one minute of your time can do to help!
(via speakerforthetrees)
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It’s business as usual in the Gulf of Mexico. But in the year since the Gulf oil spill was stopped, there have been more than 5,000 new oil and hazardous materials spills in the Gulf region. This is a map of the 3,000 reports that can be charted.
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The newest issue, which hit shelves and doorsteps on Friday.
We begin this week by talking about oil prices. The impacts of the Arab uprisings are echoing far beyond the Middle East and North Africa — at the gas pump and in heating bills, for starters. Will the fragile economic recovering survive the revolts? Here’s what the talk show hosts had to say about it this weekend.
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Moammar Gadhafi's wealth, by the numbers
After decades ruling oil-rich Libya, Moammar Gadhafi and his family have amassed billion of dollars in wealth around the world. They have used their fortune to buy into Italian soccer teams, and pay for private performances by American pop stars. Much of it is sure to be taken away from the Gadhafis thanks to U.N. sanctions, but here, a brief guide, by the numbers:
$32 billion
Liquid assets worldwide that the Gadhafi regime controls, according to a January 2010 State Department cable released by WikiLeaks$300-$500 million
Regime funds managed by each of “several” U.S. banks$30 billion
Investments the U.S. has seized from the Gadhafi family. Canada and countries throughout Europe have also seized Gadhafi funds. “These assets appear to be just the tip of the iceberg,” says The Daily Mail. “No one is yet certain exactly what the family owns around the world.”$1 million
Amount singer Mariah Carey was paid to sing four songs for Gadhafi’s son Muatassim in 2008 at a New Year’s Eve party in the Caribbean. Other top entertainers have performed for the Gadhafis over the years, as well.7.5 percent
Share of the Gadhafi stake in the Italian soccer team JuventusMore numbers and info on Gadhafi’s money here.
