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Airline removes life vests to save fuel
An official with Air Canada's regional carrier Jazz says the airline is removing life vests from all its planes to save weight and fuel.
Jazz spokeswoman Manon Stuart said Thursday Transport Canada regulations allow airlines to use floatation devices instead of life vests provided the planes remain within 50 miles of shore.
Safety cards in the seat pockets of Jazz aircraft now direct passengers to use the seat cushions as floatation devices.
Stuart says Jazz is a transcontinental carrier that doesn't fly over the ocean.
Jazz planes do fly over the Great Lakes and along the Eastern seaboard from Halifax to Boston to New York.
Stuart says all of Jazz's flights operate within 50 miles of shore. She says they operate 880 flights daily to 85 destinations in North America and says the number of flights that operate over water are minimal.
A commercial-style life vest weighs roughly a half-kilogram, meaning 25 kilograms would be saved by removing them from a Dash-8 aircraft with 50 seats.
Sounds risky, doesn't it? An official with Air Canada's regional carrier Jazz says the airline is removing life vests from all its planes to save weight an... more -
BA seals alliance with American
British Airways says it has sealed an alliance with American Airlines that will allow the two carriers to fix fares, routes and schedules together.
The move will also include Spain's Iberia, which is merging with BA. With aviation fuel prices near record levels and spending on air travel slowing, airlines are looking at ways to cut costs. But the carriers will have to persuade the US that the deal does not break US rules on foreign ownership of airlines.
Under the business agreement, the three airlines will co-operate on flights between the US, Mexico and Canada and the EU, Switzerland and Norway. "We believe our proposed co-operation is an important step towards ensuring that we can compete effectively with rival alliances and manage through the challenges of record fuel prices and growing economic concerns," said Gerard Arpey, chairman and chief executive of AMR Corp, the parent company of American Airlines.
However, BA's rival Virgin Atlantic, owned by Sir Richard Branson, said the plan would reduce competition in the airline industry. "What they're proposing is to create the world's biggest airline with American Airlines," said Virgin's Paul Charles.
"But we know what dominant players do - they snuff out competition, they raise prices and they become even more dominant."
(c0ntinued at link) British Airways says it has sealed an alliance with American Airlines that will allow the two carriers to fix fares, routes and schedu... more -
US government uncovers oil price manipulation
The government charged an oil trading firm Thursday with manipulating oil prices, the first indictment to come down since the regulators began a new investigation into wrongdoings in the energy markets.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission charged Optiver Holding, two of its subsidiaries, and three employees, with manipulation and attempted manipulation of crude oil, heating oil and gasoline futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
In May the CFTC announced a wide ranging probe into oil price manipulation. The agency says that there are currently dozens of investigations ongoing.
Further down in this article:
In a recent case, BP settled a suit that alleged the company tried to corner the propane market to inflate prices in 2003 and 2004. BP agreed to pay a $303 million settlement.
But overall, most experts say the incidents are so scattered, and the energy market so large, that it's unlikely a single trader or group of traders can have substantial sway over prices.
I say:
Bull Crap....put all of them together and they are all out for one thing: The Almighty Dollar, and if THAT doesn't put a tiger in your tank, you must be one of THEM! So, now we know why the price of fuel is going sky high....I hope this investigation gets REAL Deep...like Deep Throat deep! The government charged an oil trading firm Thursday with manipulating oil prices, the first indictment to come down since the regulato... more -
Ivory Coast halves government pay to cut fuel prices
The Ivory Coast government is halving the salaries of its ministers to pay for a reduction in the price of fuel. Prime Minister Guillaume Soro said the managers of state-owned companies would also have their pay cut in half, to pay for a 10% cut in fuel prices. "Having heard the people's cry from the heart, the government has decided to cut the price of fuel," Mr Soro said.
The announcement comes after a strike by public transport works in the main city Abidjan last week. On 7 July, Ivory Coast increased diesel prices by 44% and petrol prices by 29%. The government attributed the increase to rising global oil prices. Mr Soro said running costs and investments in government departments would also be cut to help cope with the extra expenditure.
Overseas trips by government members would also be reduced to a "bare minimum", he said. Escalating food prices sparked violent protests in Abidjan in March and April, when housewives took to the streets banging pots and pans, youths built burning barricades and at least one man was killed. The Ivory Coast government is halving the salaries of its ministers to pay for a reduction in the price of fuel. Prime Minister Guill... more -
The death of the mighty SUV?
With gas swelling above 4 dollars a gallon, many auto shoppers are opting for smaller cars, and it's not styling or horsepower making the sale. With gas swelling above 4 dollars a gallon, many auto shoppers are opting for smaller cars, and it's not styling or horsepower ma... more
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US inflation rate at 26-year high
US inflation accelerated at the fastest rate in 26 years in June, fuelled higher by surging energy prices, official figures have shown.
Consumer prices rose by 1.1% in June, the Labor Department said, more than the 0.7% many analysts had expected.
Federal Reserve boss Ben Bernanke said on Tuesday that the threat of rising inflation had intensified recently.
High inflation will make it harder for the Fed to cut rates and boost an economy hurt by a housing market slump.
'Fed in a hole'
The Fed chairman, who faces his second day of congressional testimony on Wednesday, also warned about the "downside" risks to growth in the world's largest economy. US inflation accelerated at the fastest rate in 26 years in June, fuelled higher by surging energy prices, official figures have shown... more -
Oil shale as the latest miracle solution to our energy crisis
Bush has been talking about this as a way to bring down gas prices for the average American and accuse Democrats of standing in the way of lower gas prices. But in reality, we wouldn't see an real effect from this until at least 2020, and there are still other questions about oil shale as an energy source. Bush has been talking about this as a way to bring down gas prices for the average American and accuse Democrats of standing in the wa... more
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Japan fishermen strike over fuel
Fishermen across Japan are mounting a one-day strike in protest at rising fuel costs. About 200,000 boats - almost the entire industry - sat idle in ports, and thousands of fishermen demonstrated in a park in central Tokyo.
In the Japanese capital, several thousand fishermen joined a march to highlight their concerns. Fuel costs for fishermen in Japan have tripled in three years. Fishermen across Japan are mounting a one-day strike in protest at rising fuel costs. About 200,000 boats - almost the entire industry... more -
Spend $300 at the brothel, get a $50 gas voucher!
Clients of the Shady Lady Ranch will get a $50 gas voucher if they fork out $300 at the brothel in Beatty, Nevada, 130 miles northwest of Las Vegas. The $50 rebate would roughly cover the cost of a round trip drive from Las Vegas to the ranch.
Owner James Davis said he already has had to order another $1,000 set of gas vouchers because the first $1,000 were spent in one week. Clients of the Shady Lady Ranch will get a $50 gas voucher if they fork out $300 at the brothel in Beatty, Nevada, 130 miles northwest... more -
Northwest Airlines cuts jobs and ups fees
Minnesota-based Northwest Airlines is to cut 2,500 jobs because of the "unprecedented" rise in the cost of jet fuel.
The cuts amount to 8% of Northwest's total workforce and will hit both frontline staff and management.
The airline, which is about to merge with Delta, is also introducing a fee for the first bag checked in. Northwest passengers will have to pay $15 for their first piece of luggage. Fees to change tickets will also rise. Minnesota-based Northwest Airlines is to cut 2,500 jobs because of the "unprecedented" rise in the cost of jet fuel. ... more -
National speed limit pushed to save gas
Sen. John Warner, R-Virginia, asked Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman to look into what speed limit would provide optimum gasoline efficiency given current technology. He said he wants to know if the administration might support efforts in Congress to require a lower speed limit.
Congress in 1974 set a national 55 mph speed limit because of energy shortages caused by the Arab oil embargo. The speed limit was repealed in 1995 when crude oil dipped to $17 a barrel and gasoline cost $1.10 a gallon.
Warner cited studies that showed the 55 mph speed limit saved 167,000 barrels of oil a day, or 2 percent of the country's highway fuel consumption, while avoiding up to 4,000 traffic deaths a year. Sen. John Warner, R-Virginia, asked Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman to look into what speed limit would provide optimum gasoline effici... more -
Make police chase you, pay for their fuel cost
Soaring fuel prices have forced one police force in the US to increase fines for offending motorists.
From 1 July, drivers caught in Holly Springs, Georgia, will have to pay an extra $12 to cover the costs of police chasing them down.
Recent $4-a-gallon fuel costs have forced other police forces in the US to turn to unusual cost saving measures.
n Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, police patrols are being ordered out of their cars and onto cycle and foot patrols.
In South Fayette, also in Pennsylvania, officers have been told not to sit parked up with air conditioning on. The local police chief told his patrols: "If you want to stay cool, park under a tree." Soaring fuel prices have forced one police force in the US to increase fines for offending motorists. ... more -
Chrysler cuts minivan production
Chrysler has announced plans to cut its production of minivans in the US as rising fuel costs have pushed consumers to switch to smaller vehicles.
One plant in St Louis will close and another will go from two shifts to one, affecting 2,400 jobs.
Rivals Ford and General Motors have also announced plans to make fewer larger vehicles.
Sales of Chrysler vehicles in the US were down 25% in May. Earlier this month, Ford said it expected to make a loss this year and revealed plans to cut the production of trucks and large SUVs in favor of more fuel efficient models.
Higher running costs have caused sales of minivans, trucks and sports utility vehicles to fall significantly. Chrysler has announced plans to cut its production of minivans in the US as rising fuel costs have pushed consumers to switch to small... more -
Envisioning a world of $200-a-barrel oil
"Throughout our history, we have grown on the assumption that energy costs would be low," said Michael Woo, a former Los Angeles city councilman and a current member of the city Planning Commission. "Now that those assumptions are shifting, it changes assumptions about housing, cars and how cities grow."
Push prices up fast enough, he said, and "it would be the urban-planning equivalent of an earthquake."
So sure, it will not be good in the short-term but such expensive oil could lead to the end of suburban sprawl! Yes, it's a little far off but still, we can hope. "Throughout our history, we have grown on the assumption that energy costs would be low," said Michael Woo, a former Los Ang... more -
Relief from rising gas prices?
Republicans have suggested that opening oil drilling in the US is the way to get relief from rising gas prices.
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Saudi Arabia to host oil price summit
Saudi Arabia is set to host a meeting of oil producing and consuming nations to discuss soaring oil prices.
The US and other consumers have urged producers to boost supply, blaming lack of capacity for the recent price surge.
Top world supplier Saudi Arabia has made slight increases but says market speculation, not lack of supply, has driven prices to nearly $140 a barrel.
Several nations have faced protests as rising fuel costs have hit industries and helped push up food prices.
Energy ministers from more than 30 countries, as well as senior executives from the world's largest oil companies, are gathering for the conference in the Saudi city of Jeddah amid concerns that recent record oil prices are helping tip the US and other major economies towards recession. Saudi Arabia is set to host a meeting of oil producing and consuming nations to discuss soaring oil prices. ... more -
Low oil production drives high prices
And you guys here think we shouldn't drill.
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Georgia town adding $12 fuel charge to speeding tickets
Some cash-strapped US municipalities are resorting to slapping fuel surcharges onto tickets issued to speeding drivers in order to fill dwindling city coffers hit hard by skyrocketing gas prices.
Beginning July 1, the Georgia town of Holly Springs, near the city of Atlanta, will add a surcharge of 12 dollars for each moving violation as a means to avert a budget deficit brought on by high fuel prices.
"It's a creative and innovative idea of our police chief," said Holly CothranDrake, spokeswoman of the city administration which on Wednesday received queries from several American municipalities that are considering similar measures, including Florida's Key West and California's Los Angeles County.
"The reason is to offset the cost of the trend of rising fuel prices," CothanDrake said.
The 12-dollar charge is expected to pull in around 20,000 dollars for the town of 7,700 people.
Nearby Atlanta is conducting a feasibility study for a similar measure that would tack on 10 to 15 dollars per violation.
"The hike in gas prices seriously hurts our ability to patrol," said Clarence Martin, the Atlanta city council member who proposed the measure.
Surging gas prices in the United States now stand at an average of 4.07 dollars per gallon (3.78 liters), a 25-percent increase in just five months. Some cash-strapped US municipalities are resorting to slapping fuel surcharges onto tickets issued to speeding drivers in order to fil... more -
McCain wants to lift ban on offshore drilling
John McCain on Tuesday proposed lifting the ban on offshore drilling as part of his plan to reduce dependence on foreign oil and help combat rising gas prices.
"The stakes are high for our citizens and for our economy," McCain, the presumed Republican nominee for president, said at a press conference Tuesday in Houston, Texas.
Hours later, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said President Bush on Wednesday will ask Congress to lift the ban on offshore drilling.
Bush has long called for opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil exploration, but Perino said he now wants to go further.
Earlier in the day, McCain, describing the high price of fuel, confused the cost of gallons versus barrels, which drew laughs from the crowd and the candidate himself. He quickly corrected himself.
"And with gasoline running at more than $4 a barrel ... a gallon ... I wish ... $4 a gallon, many do not have the luxury of waiting on the far-off plans of futurists and politicians," he said. John McCain on Tuesday proposed lifting the ban on offshore drilling as part of his plan to reduce dependence on foreign oil and help ... more -
RED STATE ROAD TRIP! DAY 3
Day 3: travel to Callao, Utah ... a town reachable only by an eighty mile dirt road. Its population is 42. Callao is a little piece of paradise nestled in the Snake River Valley, but it's already in the gun sights of an ever thirstier Las Vegas, 400 miles to the south. Day 3: travel to Callao, Utah ... a town reachable only by an eighty mile dirt road. Its population is 42. Callao is a little piece o... more
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