In today's Spokesman Review we have another article about a pipeline for transporting Canadian tar sands oil. Some excerpts and comments.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canada’s national interest makes the $5.5 billion pipeline essential. He was “profoundly disappointed” that U.S. President Barack Obama rejected the Texas Keystone XL option but also spoke of the need to diversify Canada’s oil industry. Ninety-seven percent of Canadian oil exports now go to the U.S. (bolding mine)
Hence the reason for the Keystone XL pipeline to take it's oil to a port on the Gulf of Mexico or a port on the Pacific ocean where it can be shipped overseas. Right now Canada is stuck selling most of its oil to the U.S.
Meanwhile, China’s growing economy is hungry for Canadian oil. Chinese state-owned companies have invested more than $16 billion in Canadian energy in the past two years, state-controlled Sinopec has a stake in the pipeline, and if it is built Chinese investment in Alberta oil sands is sure to boom.
It's a simple supply and demand issue where those with greater demand will outbid others to get the oil they need. Canada knows this and wants to use it to its advantage.
But oil analysts say Alberta has enough oil to meet both countries’ needs, and the pipeline’s capacity of 525,000 barrels a day would amount to less than 6 percent of China’s current needs.
That's not the point. Canada doesn't want to supply the U.S. and itself. Canada wants top dollar for its oil and if China--or any other country--is willing to pay more than the U.S., then that is where the oil will go.
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers expressed her disappointment in President Obama's decision to delay the pipeline project.
This is a project that has bipartisan support, would create 100,000 jobs, and would reduce our dangerous dependence on Mideast oil.
First, the number of jobs she presents is totally bogus. It's more like 2,500 to 6,000. Second, since the purpose of the pipelines is to allow Canada to sell its oil anywhere it chooses as opposed to just the U.S., it isn't going to do squat to reduce our dependence on oil from the Middle East. Last of all, she never addresses the impact on the environment. Business is a privileged class for our politicians and the "government regulation impeding business" mantra is often used to distract from the reason for regulation--the protection of people and the environment.
Call it being deceitful, duplicitous, disingenuous or all of the above. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is not serving her district's or her country's best interests in this matter.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Lost Hearing Aid
I went for a run following the route below today during lunch. Afterwards, I was just about to get in the shower when I reached to remove my hearing aids and discovered the left one was gone. Totally bummed out, I cleaned up, got dressed and traced by steps back to where I removed my hat on Riverside. No luck.
View Lunch 4.6 mile loop in a larger map
In the unlikely event someone should be out running along that same route, here's what it looks like. And don't get me started on the cost of these things. Believe me, I know all too well.
It looks just like this but with blue writing. My initials, H.G., are also printed on it.
View Lunch 4.6 mile loop in a larger map
In the unlikely event someone should be out running along that same route, here's what it looks like. And don't get me started on the cost of these things. Believe me, I know all too well.
What Goes Around, Comes Around
For several years now, Kathy has decorated the yards of friends and relatives for their 40th and 50th birthdays. A couple of them struck back today, this being Kathy's 50th. They actually saved the decorations Kathy used for them and put them to use again.
How it looked when Steph got home.
The inside was made to look like there had been a party.
Steph made the recent WSU graduate a no sew fleece blanket.
Go Cougar!
Go Cougar!
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Valentine's Day - A Day Of Purity
I stumbled across this rather creepy video about a week ago. I took a look at the whole Day of Purity message sponsored by the Liberty Counsel, but watch the video first and see what message(s) you get from it.
The Purity Fact Sheet presents of number of "facts" that aren't so much after you look into them.
Teen virgins can expect an average income that is 16 percent higher than sexually active teens from identical socioeconomic backgrounds. This will mean an increased average salary of $370,000 over their lifetime according to the Heritage Foundation.
When a woman is married as a virgin, her divorce rate is 76 percent lower than a non-virgin. For men it's 63 percent lower, according to The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States.
Among those who have already lost their virginity, two-thirds wished they had waited longer to have sex (77 percent of girls and 60 percent of guys) according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
The Heritage Foundation study referenced by the first "fact" references another study and then draws conclusions as if the outcomes were strictly based on sexual behavior being the causal factor.
The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States sampled only 3,432 men and women whose birth year groups were divided up in 1933-42, 1943-52, 1953-62, and 1963-74. It does make the following statement:
But later on, after considering all the factors involved in the study, there is this statement:
Next, a survey by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy in which 501 young people between the ages of 12 and 17 were asked questions.
I'm not saying the responses are false, but the important part that's missing are the reasons why they wish they had waited longer. As exciting and frightening the formative teen years are, one can imagine a number of reasons why someone who had sex at 12-17 years of age would wish they had waited. By the way, the respondents generally gave their sex education high marks, recommended waiting for sex until after high school, and said that sexually active teens should have access to birth control.
More from The Day of Purity fact sheet:
Every year on Valentine’s Day thousands of students participate in the Day of Purity in their schools, youth groups, and other public locations. Some people wear white shirts or wristbands to symbolize purity. Others pass out educational fliers to their peers or have a Father-Daughter event.
Leaving the "facts" aside, what I find disturbing is the emphasis on the young lady's purity. Sure, they want young men to wait until marriage as well, but the purity message overwhelmingly applies to the girl.
This video portrays the young lady as a temptress--not a particularly enticing one, but she's the one showing that opportunity awaits--and it's the creepy sounding bear acting as the young man's conscience reminding him of his responsibility to keep her pure until the big day. It's like girls can't help themselves and must be looked after to keep their purity intact. How demeaning.
So is the "Please use front entrance" sign on the door is an accidental double entendre?
The Purity Fact Sheet presents of number of "facts" that aren't so much after you look into them.
Teen virgins can expect an average income that is 16 percent higher than sexually active teens from identical socioeconomic backgrounds. This will mean an increased average salary of $370,000 over their lifetime according to the Heritage Foundation.
When a woman is married as a virgin, her divorce rate is 76 percent lower than a non-virgin. For men it's 63 percent lower, according to The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States.
Among those who have already lost their virginity, two-thirds wished they had waited longer to have sex (77 percent of girls and 60 percent of guys) according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
The Heritage Foundation study referenced by the first "fact" references another study and then draws conclusions as if the outcomes were strictly based on sexual behavior being the causal factor.
The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States sampled only 3,432 men and women whose birth year groups were divided up in 1933-42, 1943-52, 1953-62, and 1963-74. It does make the following statement:
But later on, after considering all the factors involved in the study, there is this statement:
Next, a survey by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy in which 501 young people between the ages of 12 and 17 were asked questions.
I'm not saying the responses are false, but the important part that's missing are the reasons why they wish they had waited longer. As exciting and frightening the formative teen years are, one can imagine a number of reasons why someone who had sex at 12-17 years of age would wish they had waited. By the way, the respondents generally gave their sex education high marks, recommended waiting for sex until after high school, and said that sexually active teens should have access to birth control.More from The Day of Purity fact sheet:
Every year on Valentine’s Day thousands of students participate in the Day of Purity in their schools, youth groups, and other public locations. Some people wear white shirts or wristbands to symbolize purity. Others pass out educational fliers to their peers or have a Father-Daughter event.
Leaving the "facts" aside, what I find disturbing is the emphasis on the young lady's purity. Sure, they want young men to wait until marriage as well, but the purity message overwhelmingly applies to the girl.
This video portrays the young lady as a temptress--not a particularly enticing one, but she's the one showing that opportunity awaits--and it's the creepy sounding bear acting as the young man's conscience reminding him of his responsibility to keep her pure until the big day. It's like girls can't help themselves and must be looked after to keep their purity intact. How demeaning.
So is the "Please use front entrance" sign on the door is an accidental double entendre?
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Getting Ready For The New Year
According to Steph's Justin Bieber calendar, Monday is the Chinese New Year. "Oh my God can we make fortune cookies?"
Sure. What better way to bring on the Chinese New Year than to make a cookie characterized as "introduced by the Japanese, popularized by the Chinese, and consumed by Americans."
Voila! Notice the cookie in the top right. Steph calls it the platypus cookie. When you remove the cookie from the sheet, it's very hot. You have to fold it quickly before it cools. I managed to fold it in half all the while feeling like my fingertips were burning off so it didn't make it to the final fold. By the way, these homemade cookies are very tasty, far better than the ones served in a restaurant.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Who Needs Cameras In Federal Court
...when you can watch it all on the Puppet Court instead? The corruption trial of a county commissioner is brought to life via transcripts and puppets.
Move To Amend - Occupy The Courts
A pleasant yet vociferous group of protesters, part of Move to Amend - Occupy the Courts, gathered in front of the federal courthouse during the lunch hour today. I hope they generate enough interest to actually get our political leadership to actually do something about the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Josh's Birthday
Josh turned 20 today. UW cancelled classes and HvZis delayed a week because of snow so he had plenty of time to do as he pleased today. But someone is looking out for him. Today he woke up to this:
Monday, January 16, 2012
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