The "New Energy Army" Pickens' Pushovers

I don't pretend to know everything, or even much about a little, BUT I sure know the difference between CLEAN energy and a DANGEROUS substitute. Pickens gets praised for creating an army to fight against using foreign oil. This fight includes increased natural gas drilling in the United States. How does that translate into "NEW ENERGY"? Does this NEW ENERGY ARMY wear blinders and are they being led around by the gonads? I'm gonna put this into terms that some of my fellow Texans can understand: Your prize bull is fixin' to be castrated! Bet that sent cold shivers down your spine!

I've blogged before about how many natural gas explosions does it take to convince you that natural gas drilling, miles of pipelines, venting into the atmosphere...is not safe. Natural gas is not an alternative energy. Natural gas is not a clean energy.

I know what you're saying, "Atleast Pickens has a plan." But do you really understand the full implications of the Pickens' Plan or HR 1835? Here's the letter that encourages your representative to support it:

Please support the NAT GAS Act of 2009 Complete the form below to encourage your U.S. Representative and your U.S. Senators to support the NAT GAS Act of 2009. This legislation has almost all of the elements for natural gas that we have been pushing for in the Pickens Plan. It extends the tax credit for natural gas used as a transportation fuel. It provides a tax credit for 80 percent of the additional cost when purchasing a dedicated natural gas vehicle. It extends the tax credit for the installation of natural gas refueling pumps. It creates incentives for the major manufacturers to sell natural gas vehicles (which they already produce for overseas markets) in the United States.

Extends a tax credit for whom? For big industry...that's who. The Pickens' Plan calls for the extension of the Production Tax Credit (PTC) which is government aid to big industry. This particular tax credit is directly linked to Wind Energy, it paid for a significant portion of new wind energy systems, and yet with all this government aid, American businesses still farmed out the work to China instead of reinvesting in American jobs.

None of this is being done to benefit the citizens of America. We're being used and abused, and dealt a defeating blow. Your representatives are mistaken by supporting this bill, it's not for the good of the Nation, only for a select few.

This bill also calls for the use of eminent domain. We've seen abuses of this starting back in the 50's and 60's with the passage of the Federal Aid HWY Act, President Eisenhower stated that this one act would change the face of America, and it did. Abuses of eminent domain continue today from useless entertainment facilities to big bullies of the oil and gas industry, forcing their will upon us.

I was scolded recently by a friend, who asked why I had to get government to force others to agree with my opinion. I don't know why I'm still smoldering over that comment. Maybe it's because the alternative is that corporations are buying government to ensure that their will be forced upon us. I'm only trying to put a monkey wrench into the machine.

Main Gas Line Rupture Imperial Texas

Final Wildcat Football game of the season, finds us traveling to McCamey, Texas. During the pep rally, the principal made an announcement that we should all avoid the highway next to the gas plant in Imperial, Texas. Seems that the main gas line ruptured.

Daddy and I did just that, took an alternate route avoiding the gas plant. Watched the game, a close defeat, 48 to 40 and then headed back home. On the way to McCamey, daddy and I talked about the dangerous side effects of natural gas. He remembered how'd they found one of our local boys a few years back over come and passed out in his truck near a gas well.

You'd think with the main gas line rupturing at a major gas plant, I'm thinking Arco, that there'd be something on the local news. So far, I've not come across anything on the television, internet or in the Odessa American. Back in February when a gas line ruptured at a Carthage gas plant owned and operated by DCP Midstream, it caused an explosion. The plant employees and people living within a mile and half were evacuated.

We only got the information to avoid the area because we were going out to play some football, I wonder if the locals know anything about it?

Levine Questions Drilling In New York Daily Star

Attention is drawn to gas drilling up North, specifically in New York. There's been heated debate, finger pointing and eye gouging. Important questions were raised by the Daily Star and answers were given by Harry Levine of Advocates For Springfield.


The Daily Star: ``Do you support existing and proposed state and federal regulations for gas drilling, and if not, how should they be changed?''

Levine: ``Our answer is a firm `no.'

Levine continues to state that gas drilling is exempt from, "all or parts of the clean air act, clean water act, comprehensive environmental response act, compensation and liability act, CERCLA (the Superfund), resource conservation and recovery act, safe drinking water act and others." Levine then asks his own question: "What possible reason gives rise to all these exemptions, especially to an industry that has a direct and proximate conflict with our air and water?"

Very good question, Mr. Levine.

Levine recounts that the state of New York has done what the feds have done and that is to exempt gas and oil despite warnings from the DEC. Right now, New York State only employs 14 DEC inspectors which is in adequate considering the current level of vertical gas wells. How will there be enough staff to supervise and monitor these new projects?

Why are local governing bodies turning a blind eye to this? That's like the old commercial of the bull walking through the fancy glass store with all of us just hoping that he doesn't break anything. Do we really expect the oil and gas industry to self regulate? To protect our interests? The bottom line is that they're only going to protect their bottom line.

Tasting Tears And Let It Be

Thursdays are usually my HCG Diet update, but after arriving at the gym, a friend pointed me towards the online article about the tragedy in Fort Hood. Leaning over the desk, I read the words printed on the screen. While reading I felt an immediate sense of panic, fear swept across my body and all at once, I wanted desperately to touch my children and see and hear them.

I understand overwhelming depression, I've been there. I know the feeling of just wanting to leave this world and never wake up. I know how exhausting it is sometimes to go day after day alone, to feel as if the world is caving in around you and all that you know is gone. And although I've been devastated beyond hope it would seem, I never lost hope.

I don't understand the feelings and emotions one would have in order to end so many lives. Some are suggesting this person acted in fear of going off to war, what I suggest is to let his motives be. Spend this time reaching out to the victims, the mothers, fathers, spouses and children whose lives are now filled with a void. 55,000 people are on lock down and can't comfort their loved ones. My thoughts are with you.

Taking A Poll

Someone suggested that I not demand the government force others to think the way that I think, but that I should just get everyone to agree with me. And that in total agreement, then we (I suppose those that agree with me) can make a difference without any laws being passed to ensure accountability. I was going to blog about the mining being done in West Virginia. I was going to tell you about how the strip mining has demolished and leveled hundreds of Appalachian Peaks. I was also going to relate how families are now more impoverished than before. Next I was going to show you pictures of the scarred landscape and the contaminated water. Then I was going to provide you with a link that you could click so that you could urge the current administration to save West Virginia's lone mountain in the Coal River Valley from blasting. But that would be demanding the government to force you to think like me, and I shan't do that.

So, I was thinking, if you agree with me, how's about we go stand on top of that last remaining mountain in the Coal River Valley and keep it safe from blasting. Are ya with me?

Senate committee to tackle climate measure despite boycott threats - API SmartBrief

Senate committee to tackle climate measure despite boycott threats - API SmartBrief

How much more proof do the Republicans need? Hasn't there been enough contaminated water?
Hasn't there been enough dead animals? Hasn't there been enough ordinary citizens inconvenienced? Hasn't there been enough ruined family land? I've only provided some of the stuff that's happened in Texas, I haven't even included the atrocities occurring in other states around our great country.

Republicans want more studies done to see if emission reducing legislation will actually reduce emissions? They're so up in arms that they're going to boycott? Why is the current administration being bullied by the minority Republicans? We can't wait any longer...the oil & gas industry is killing us.

Is That Texas Tea?

I know what you're thinking...I gave up coffee and settled for tea instead. Well, if that's what you're thinking, then you're thinking wrong. 'Cause darlin'...that's what just came out of my faucet. I'm guessing that's part of the reason why the water was shut off. The City of Wink was exhausted due to the influx of phone calls coming in stating that the water resembled cloudy tea. I haven't seen any notices not to drink the water. I may be a blonde, but I got enough common sense not to drink that stuff!



Forget about bathing anytime soon, brushing my teeth, washing clothes...I mean, it would be senseless, it'd be like bathing in someone else's bath water...YUCK! What are we going to do?

Oh NO! No Water In Wink!

I only have a few pleasures in life. One of those pleasures is having a good cup of coffee. So, as I was driving home from work, I fantasized about a great cup of coffee. I rushed inside, turned the oven on, put the chicken in for baking, of course after adding a few spices and garlic and onion. Selected the veggies for the evening, straightened up the living room and then proceeded to brew a most righteous cup of java. Turned the faucet on and no water.

I knew I hadn't paid my water bill yet, but I knew I still had until the 10th of November to do it. I was quite confident that my water hadn't been shut off due to nonpayment of invoice. I made the quick phone call to my mommy, she knows everything.

Yep, my suspicions were correct. Our old leaky antiquated pipes have come undone. Seems we've been without water since 9AM and there isn't any chance of having water until sometime on Tuesday. I hope that it's early Tuesday AM so I can at least take a bath before heading off to work and have a cup of coffee! Oh bother.

Oil and Gas News Brought Through The Gathering Line

Gathering Line - a special pipeline that transports gas from the field to the main pipeline.

The Gathering Line is a round-up of oil & gas drilling news brought to you by National Alliance for Drilling Reform (NA4DR), a broad alliance of grassroots activists from states across the nation that are affected with drilling development.

This week's Gathering Line is too scary for Halloween


Peacegirl writes about gas drilling in Bradford County, PA. Welcome To Bradford County, PA, calls attention to an article in the Fall 2009 issue of Save the Bay, the magazine of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation which features the North Branch Susquehanna River in Bradford County. From the blog Gas Wells Are Not Our Friends where your comments are always welcome.

Aruba Petroleum is drilling a Barnett Shale gas well in the backyard of Tim and Christine. Their property was taken, it's value diminished, they were threatened and now Aruba Petroleum spilled toxic drilling waste a few feet from where their daughter plays. Another tale (with VIDEO) about the Victims of the Shale on Bluedaze: DRILLING REFORM FOR TEXAS.

Allegheny State Forests Littered!! Park Management Tries To Bring Drilling To A Halt And Are Met With IntimidationRead it at Cheap
Tricks and Costly Truths.

Today뭩 environmental horrors could lead to a scary Sci-Fi future. Drilling Santa Fe offers an excerpt from Apocalypse Soon by Laura Paskus.

Meanwhile, Splashdown says, Kiss myGas!

Williams Petroleum wants to pipe drilling waste water under our homes in Flower Mound, TX to a huge tank farm. Flower Mound Citizens Against Urban Drilling we discovered an alternative that is safer and greener. Williams claims to be a "good neighbor." Here's their chance to prove it.

I'm Being Followed By The Oil & Gas People and Kevin Forbes

Imagine my surprise when I receive an email stating that the Oil and Gas people are following me, specifically Kevin Forbes. Hmm...I went to the link because I was curious to find out exactly who this Kevin Forbes was and who these Gas and Oil people were.

I didn't find out much, seems that Kevin Forbes is a (recruiter correction) Contractor for the oil and gas industry. (Kevin was kind enough to comment on this post and fill me in on some much needed details.) If you follow his link you'll see his work profile. I'll say...it's very impressive and he's worked all over the world.

I clicked on another link that sent me to a different part of the website and came across a tab for oil and gas news. Well, I thought this might be interesting. And sure enough it was. Seems that the US government fined the British company BP for "failing to fix hazards at its Texas City oil refinery." The hazards caused a major explosion at the refinery causing 15 deaths four years ago.

It was a record high fine, leading some to think that a criminal case could be brought against BP. What I found extremely interesting in the article was this statement from Obama's labor secretary, Hilda Solis,

"This administration will not tolerate disregard of our laws," said Solis, who said that BP had a moral responsibility to look after its employees at Texas City. "We don't need to see another loss of another life there. Our motto is we would like to see people go into work and be able to come home to their families."

WOW! Maybe there's hope for that family that were the recent victims of Aruba Petroleum. Does President Obama's labor secretary, Hilda Solis, know about these recent heinous acts of Aruba Petroleum? Is the administration aware of all the future lives of families that will be altered for years to come because of unenforced safety regulations? Is there actually a chance that the BUCK finally stops here?