Author Archives: Isaiah McKenna

Obama Demands a Vote on Gun Reforms As Republicans Threaten to Filibuster

Mother Jones

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On Monday evening, four days after Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy signed some of the nation’s toughest gun control measures into law, and on the day that Democrats began debating their gun control reform package on the Senate floor, President Barack Obama gave an impassioned speech at the University of Hartford urging a vote on measures that would expand background checks, renew the assault weapons ban, and ban magazines holding more than 10 rounds. “All of them are common-sense,” Obama said. “All of them deserve a vote.”

Meanwhile, 11 more Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, have threatened to join Sens. Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, and Mike Lee in a filibuster to “oppose any legislation that would infringe on the American people’s constitutional right to bear arms, or their ability to exercise this right without being subjected to government surveillance” (PDF). Although Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has promised a vote on the assault-weapon and high-capacity magazine bans, they stand no chance of passage and are off the table entirely in bipartisan compromise talks.

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Obama Demands a Vote on Gun Reforms As Republicans Threaten to Filibuster

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We’re Still at War: Photo of the Day for April 2, 2013

Mother Jones

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A Marine Special Operations Team member fires a M240B machine gun during night fire sustainment training in Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 28, 2013. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau.

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We’re Still at War: Photo of the Day for April 2, 2013

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Massive Louisiana sinkhole caused by oil industry just keeps on growing

Massive Louisiana sinkhole caused by oil industry just keeps on growing

On Wings of Care

The oil-sheen-coated sinkhole, photographed over the weekend by nonprofit On Wings of Care. 

A sinkhole triggered in Louisiana by the fossil fuel industry grew to 12 acres over the weekend, and it appears that hundreds of displaced nearby residents will never be able to return to their homes.

The sinkhole has been growing since it appeared in August. It was caused by a salt mining operation that sucked brine out from beneath the Assumption Parish marsh and piped it to nearby petrochemical facilities. Houston-based Texas Brine had apparently excavated too close to the surface, and officials are worried that a similar fate could befall another Texas Brine salt mining site nearby.

Salt is used by the oil industry to stabilize the earth around drilled wells. Emptied salt domes are also used to store oil, gas, and other petrochemicals.

Natural gas is belching out of the sinkhole and the waters that have filled it are covered with a rainbow slick of oil. Officials are burning the gas as it escapes to try to prevent an explosion.

From the Daily Comet:

About 350 people living in the area have been under an evacuation order and many of them displaced for more than seven months, with no end in sight. Texas Brine officials said they were beginning to contact residents Monday to discuss buyouts and settlement offers for the 150 homes.

After months of silence on the issue, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) recently began discussing it at press conferences, and last night he met privately with affected residents. From The Times-Picayune:

Jindal, who met with the residents of Bayou Corne in a closed-door meeting around 2 p.m., … re-emphasized Texas Brine Co. LLC will be offering voluntary buyouts to locals looking to move on with their lives.

“Texas Brine is responsible for the sinkhole. We’ve been committed to holding them accountable. After months of discussions, after meeting with them last week, the company has finally agreed to start this process,” Jindal said.

The sinkhole has triggered fresh concerns about the practice of salt mining in Louisiana, where similar accidents have happened in the past. Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal recounted a 1980 accident for KATC:

November 20, 1980 is a day Sheriff Louis Ackal will never forget. He was Captain of Louisiana State Police Troop-I when a miscalculation sent an oil rig’s drill directly into the salt mine instead of under the lake, collapsing the Jefferson Salt Mine.

“There was just swirls of mud, giant oak trees were being sucked down like a hand pulling them into the mud,” said Ackal.

Ackal is worried a similar accident could play out at another salt-mine project in the state, where AGL Resources wants to expand natural-gas storage caverns under Lake Peigneur:

Ackal is urging Governor Bobby Jindal to intervene. He wants proof the dome is safe, and wants answers to why bubbling happens sporadically.

“Whatever monies it is paying the State of Louisiana to use that dome is not worth a damn penny of it if it’s going to endanger the lives and property of the people that live out there,” said Ackal.

Maybe one day the gas and oil industry will learn from past mistakes. But not today.

This video shows the Assumption Parish sinkhole and surrounding homes. It was filmed from a light airplane over the weekend by nonprofit On Wings of Care:

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Massive Louisiana sinkhole caused by oil industry just keeps on growing

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All You Need To Know About Green Energy

Green energy is affordable, environmentally beneficial and easy to implement in any home around the world. It doesn’t matter where you live, what your income is or even what your skill level is. The techniques provided in this article will help anyone make simple changes in their lives so they can benefit from green energy.

You do not have to leave your electronics behind to live a green lifestyle. Recharge your electronics with solar chargers and you no longer have to be concerned with your electronics being a drain on the environment. It is a small investment that pays off quickly in electric bills and a guilt-free conscience.

While it is a great idea to turn off your computer when you are not using it, it can be a waste of energy if you do it while you will only be away from it or short periods of time. It is best to wait until before you go to bed when you know there will be hours before you use it again.

When traveling short distances, try not to use your car. Instead, walk, run, or use a bicycle. Automobiles are not only expensive to keep up with, but they have many negative effects on the environment. If you must use your car, be sure that it is tuned up when necessary.

Warm-air registers, radiators, and baseboard heaters need cleaning at least once per year. It is best to clean these at the beginning of the cold season so they are ready to work at top efficiency once the weather turns cold. Clean heating units will distribute the heated energy evenly.

If you are looking to naturally heat your water using solar power, an indirect circulation system may be perfect for your home if you live in an area where the temperatures go below freezing. These systems run a fluid that does not freeze through the system to prevent icing. This pump will still use electricity, but only about 25% when compared to traditional water heaters.

Use rainwater to water outdoor plants and shrubs. This water can also be collected and used for kiddie pools and other outdoor water needs. Rain collection buckets are simple to install, and these reduce the amount of city or well water you use each year, saving you money and keeping your yard green.

A good energy saving tip for the kitchen is to cut any food you are cooking into smaller pieces. This greatly reduces the time necessary to cook the item which means your appliances will not be running as long. This serves to both cut the amount of energy needed as well as reduce the amount of your electric bill.

If you are in favor of using green energy to save money as well as to help the environment, try using an energy system that omits fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas, as these tend to emit carbon dioxide. Instead, use a renewable energy system such as solar, wind or hydro-power.

This article is a gold mine for anyone who wishes to change their lives to take advantage of the benefits of green energy. Everything that you’ve read here will help you to make simple adjustments, within your own home, leading to rewards you couldn’t have imagined. Take the time to start today!

The author simply by name Loren Orbison has written some procedures just like Steel Floor Decking about Green Energy.

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