Free Republic

In his announcement rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline today, President Obama boasted that under his administration, “domestic oil and natural gas production is up.” Obama, of course, failed to mention that his administration can’t actually take any credit for the increase. The vast majority of America’s oil and gas production is happening on private lands in states like North Dakota, Alaska and Texas. It’s not that Obama is devoid of responsibility. His administration oversees oil and gas production on federal lands by issuing leases. But when measuring oil and gas production in areas under Obama’s jurisdiction, the numbers tell a...

Production of opium and the illicit crop's value soared in Afghanistan last year, the United Nations said in a report released Thursday. According to the UN's Office on Drugs and Crime, farmer income derived from Afghanistan's opium crop in 2011 was $1.4 billion (1.09 billion euros), representing nine percent of GDP. "Opium is therefore a significant part of the Afghan economy and provides considerable funding to the insurgency and fuels corruption," Yury Fedotov, executive director of the UN office, said in a statement. Afghanistan grows about 90 percent of the world's opium. The UN said poppy-crop cultivation covered more than...

Jessica Lynch was just 19 when the world first saw her — a broken, blond soldier caught on combat video in Iraq, her face wearing something between a grimace and a grin. The Army supply clerk was being carried on a stretcher after nine days as a prisoner of war. She had been captured along with five others after the 507th Maintenance Company took a wrong turn and came under attack in Nasiriyah on March 23, 2003. Eleven of her fellow soldiers died. Lynch had joined the Army at 18 to earn money for college and become a school teacher....

By establishing facilities in Egypt, group aims to protect its assets since it believes Israel won't strike targets inside Egypt due to affect it would have on bilateral relations. Hamas has established forward bases and rocket production facilities in the Sinai Peninsula in an effort to protect them from Israeli air strikes, The Jerusalem Post has learned. By establishing the facilities in Egypt, Hamas aims to protect its assets since it believes Israel will not strike targets inside Egypt due to the affect it would have on bilateral relations.

The nation’s industrial production rose 0.2% in September, capping a third-quarter rebound in activity for the manufacturing sector, the Federal Reserve reported Monday. Though the headline gain was stronger than the 0.1% that economists polled by MarketWatch had forecast, August’s reading tracking output by factories, mines and utilities was downwardly revised to zero from an initially reported 0.2% growth.

Scientists say climate change will eventually claim many victims -– including, according to a new report, chocolate. As temperatures increase and weather trends change, the main growing regions for cocoa could shrink drastically, according to new research from the International Center for Tropical Agriculture. Ghana and the Ivory Coast –- which produce more than half of the global cocoa supply –- could take a major hit by 2050. Currently, the optimal locations to grow the crop are about 330 feet to 820 feet above sea level, with temperatures of about 72 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees. That range will soar...

U.S. industrial production rose 0.2% in August after a strong 0.9% gain in July. Production is now up in four straight months. Economists had expected no change in industrial output in August.. Capacity utilization increased 0.1 percentage point to 77.4% in August, the highest level since August 2008.

"Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of production and trade ..."

~ EXCERPT ~ **snip** The sane among us recognize that in a free society, income is neither taken nor distributed; for the most part, it is earned. Income is earned by pleasing one's fellow man. The greater one's ability to please his fellow man, the greater is his claim on what his fellow man produces. Those claims are represented by the number of dollars received from his fellow man. Say I mow your lawn. For doing so, you pay me $20. I go to my grocer and demand, "Give me 2 pounds of steak and a six-pack of beer that...

I''m glad Andrew Sullivan has responded to my Sarah Palin piece. You'd hate to write as much about her as I did and not have it register on the Dish. That would be like if you were a large white whale and Ahab just ignored you. Andrew's response covers a lot of terrain, and I agree with his point that Alaska is essentially a socialist state, or more accurately, a ward of the federal government (for more on that, see this excellent Charles Homans piece in the Washington Monthly). In fact, its perverse tax structure is one reason why Alaska...

Industrial production posts largest drop 2011/04/29 Japan's industrial production plunged by a record 15.3 percent in March as the Great East Japan Earthquake slashed output at automakers and other manufacturers. The index of industrial production fell to 82.9 for the first decline in five months, according to a preliminary report released April 28. The industry ministry downgraded its assessment of industrial production for the first time since September 2010, although it said production is expected to recover.

Remember how the war in Iraq was just to steal Iraqi oil? CNN reports today that the Iraqis are now preparing to keep the profits of their own resources, rather than having them line the pockets of the tyrant Saddam Hussein. The Oil Ministry will auction 12 new exploration zones as Iraq attempts to boost production fivefold in the next six years: To put these plans in perspective, oil production in Iraq prior to the 2003 invasion was 2.6 million barrels per day. Saddam Hussein sold it through the UN’s Oil-for-Food Programme, a bypass for sanctions that was supposed to...

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 Toyota To Suspend More Output In N America Due To Parts Supply Delay NEW YORK (Kyodo)--Toyota Motor Corp. will fully halt manufacturing operations at its 14 North American factories on Mondays and Fridays during the period from April 26 through June 3 due to disruptions in parts supply caused by the March 11 earthquake-tsunami disaster in Japan, the company said Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — U.S. industrial production rose a solid 0.8% in March, with broad-based gains across sectors, the Federal Reserve reported Friday . It was the fifth straight gain in factory output, as manufacturing continues to lead the economy. The increase was a modest upside surprise as economists were expecting a 0.6% gain. In the first quarter, industrial output rose at a 6% annual rate, faster than the 3.2% rate in the final three months of 2010.

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Business conditions for New York state-based manufacturers in April were the best in a year as new orders surged, according to a survey of executives released Friday. The Empire State manufacturing survey rose for a fifth consecutive month in April, with general business conditions increasing over four points to a reading of 21.7, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said. Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected a dip to 15.5, down from 17.5 for March. The new orders index for April jumped 17 points, to 22.3, and the shipments index shot up 27 points to 28.3,...

This a Rueters flash... As was just discussed on NHK, Japan is having severe power problems in the North. I wonder how this will affect U.S. Production?

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — An index tracking manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia region jumped in February to its highest level since January 2004, a sign that the factory sector is gaining strength, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia reported Thursday. The Philly Fed business condition index rose to 35.9 in February, up from 19.3 in January — an increase much stronger than expected. Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected the index to tick higher, but just to 20.8. See MarketWatch economic calendar.

A good deal of our coverage of JSF has been focused on flight testing, and that is the focus of the latest program changes revealed since the turn of the year. However, there are also problems affecting the JSF production effort. As noted in yesterday's post, briefings by JSF program office leaders (then-director Maj Gen Charles Davis in September 2008 and deputy director Brig Gen CD Moore a year later) set out the planned first flight and delivery dates for the remaining systems development and demonstration (SDD) aircraft. All were missed with one exception - the first flight of BF-2...

In spite of our smashing victories last November there are still linger concerns that even this great social upheaval may be too late. The media’s constant drum beat is that America is fading and China will inevitably be our masters. In fact the most recent Rasmussen poll tells us just 35% of likely voters think America’s best days are yet to come while an alarming 45% say we’ve seen our best days and have little to look forward to. Using the ability to out produce rivals as the best measure of likely mastery of the future shows America’s doom and...

Monday 7 February, Wellington – Production company, 3Foot7 Ltd, is pleased to announce that the first day of principal photography for THE HOBBIT will be Monday 21 March, 2011.This date has been chosen following practical considerations of the filming schedule requirements, actor availability and the NZ seasons. Shooting will take place at Stone Street Studios in Miramar and on location around New Zealand.Confirmed cast include: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott, Graham McTavish, William Kircher, James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunter, Rob Kazinsky, Aidan Turner, Peter Hambleton, John Callen, Jed Brophy, Mark Hadlow, Adam Brown, Cate Blanchett, Andy Serkis, Mikael...

AL ANBAR – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers here has been introducing innovative ways to solve electrical power issues and bridge the gap between supply and demand in Iraq's increasing quest for more electrical power. Fans of the old Star Trek television series were constantly bombarded each episode by Capt. Kirk pleading with Scotty, the engineering officer of the star ship Enterprise, for more engine power to escape one deep space disaster after another. Iraqi residents are also reiterating that plea for more electrical power with the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity as they place more demands on an aging,...

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's manufacturing powered ahead in January, providing more evidence of its robust economic health to markets fretting about Beijing's policy tightening and the dire state of government finances around the world. A pair of surveys showed on Monday that China's vast manufacturing industry expanded at close to record pace last month as the world's third-largest economy continues to lead the global recovery. For a graphic on China, India and South Korea PMI click here India, another emerging power that avoided recession and is coming out strongly from a soft patch, saw its factory sector expanding at the...

From Slide 1: "The purpose of this material is to educate citizens about various key aspects of the US electricity grid, and the electrical power source choices we have. This is a complicated matter, so I have tried to strike a balance between being too technical and too simplified . . . "

American homes on the fourth Thursday in November will waft with more than the aroma of turkey and pumpkin pie. Also in the air will be the joy at the start of the holiday season running from Thanksgiving to Christmas through New Years. As temperatures turn cold outdoors, we'll warm ourselves inside and out with gatherings of friends and family, festivities, parties and presents. Inevitably this season also gives rise to queries about the "true meaning" of this or that holiday, usually with complaints about the superficiality of the season. To these critics I say, "Stop being an ugly hair...

Another day of economic data that doesn’t spell raging recovery. Industrial Production Capacity utilization increased slightly from 68.1% in June to 68.5% in July. Industrial production was up 0.5% which is the first increase in that number since December 2007. Manufacturing production was up 1% but that was almost entirely due to auto companies ramping up production after their summer shutdown which was exacerbated by the bankruptcies of GM and Chrysler. Taking autos outo fo the equation, manufacturing was up 0.2%. Overall, the economy still has enormous excess capacity. Their is nothing in these numbers to suggest that new investment...

Global warming could rob the U.S. economy of $1.4 billion a year in lost corn production alone, a national environmental group estimated in a report released Thursday. The Environment America study, based on government and university data, projects that warming temperatures will reduce yields of the nation's biggest crop by 3% in the Midwest and the South compared with projected yields without further global warming. Iowa would be hit hardest, losing $259 million a year in corn revenues, followed by Illinois at $243 million. California, which leads the country in agriculture but doesn't grow much corn, would take an estimated...

Stocks of foodstuff are dangerously low Low stocks of foodstuff make the world’s falling agriculture output particularly worrisome. The combined averaged of the ending stock levels of the major trading countries of Australia, Canada, United States, and the European Union have been declining steadily in the last few years: 2002-2005: 47.4 million tons 2007: 37.6 million tons 2008: 27.4 million tons These inventory numbers are dangerously low, especially considering the horrifying possibility that China’s 60 million tons of grain reserves doesn't actually exists. Global food Catastrophe The world is heading for a drop in agricultural production of 20 to 40...

(Note: Targum permits linkage only.) A scheduled performance of "The Rocky Horror Show" has been running into quite a bit of difficulty - in the form of official demands and restrictions. I've never been privileged (???) to see this show, but understand it entails considerable,enthusiastic audience participation - something the authorities find threatening. (Transylvanian transvestites ??? An acquired taste, I suppose.)

The reason that stimulus packages cause a further loss of capital is that their starting point is the consumption of previously produced wealth. That wealth is part of the capital of the business firms that own it. The stimulus programs offer money in exchange for this wealth and capital. But the money they offer does not come from the production of any comparable wealth by the government or those to whom it gives money—wealth which has had to be produced and sold and thus put into the economic system prior to the withdrawal that now takes place. The starting point...

In their zeal to oppose the lunacy of the so-called "stimulus" plan, many radio talk show hosts and other pundits have fallen into the Keynesian trap. Rather than the politicians spending nearly a trillion dollars, they argue, it would provide much more stimulus if the government gave massive tax cuts. This would "put money back in the pockets of average Americans" and they would go to the mall and "get that money into circulation and boost the economy." Although the instincts behind such arguments are sound, they often betray an underlying Keynesian mindset. By justifying tax cuts on the grounds...

China factories cut output at record pace: CLSA PMI Fri Jan 2, 2009 3:58am EST By Jason Subler BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese factories slashed output and workers at a record pace in December and manufacturing activity overall fell for a fifth month as the global financial crisis hit export demand, a survey by brokerage CLSA showed on Friday. The figures, which CLSA said showed a sector close to recession, spell further gloom ahead for the Chinese economy and highlight the urgency with which the government is trying to cushion the country from the effects of the global crisis. "Chinese manufacturing...

The OPEC oil group has agreed to cut its real output by 520,000 barrels per day in the next 40 days, OPEC's President and Algerian Energy Minister Chakib Khelil said Wednesday. When asked about the size of a proposed cut to OPEC's current production, Khelil replied: "I think if you do your own calculations, it is a cut of 520,000 barrels per day."

World oil production fell by 0.2 percent in 2007, the first decline since 2002, while consumption rose by 1.1 percent, BP (British Petroleum) said on Wednesday, highlighting a tight supply/demand balance that has helped push oil prices to record levels. Production fell by 130,000 barrels per day (bpd) last year to 81.53 million bpd and reserves were essentially flat at 1.24 trillion barrels, London-based BP said in its 2008 Statistical Review of World Energy. The figures compiled by BP underline the world's challenge of boosting production to meet growing demand, particularly from developing economies such as China and India.

But after decades of seemingly terminal decline, Japan's coal country is stirring again. With energy prices reaching record highs — oil rose above $135 a barrel on Thursday — Japan's high-cost mines are suddenly competitive again, and demand for their coal is booming. Production has jumped to its highest in nearly four decades, creating a sensation rarely felt in these mining communities: hope. "We are seeing a flicker of light after long darkness," said Michio Sakurai, the mayor of Bibai, on Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido. "We never imagined coal would actually make a comeback." Soaring commodity prices have had...

CNN) -- Gasoline prices set a record for the 16th consecutive day Wednesday. A gallon of gas cost an average of $3.62, according to AAA, and much more in some markets. All three presidential candidates have weighed in on the issue, and President Bush on Tuesday addressed it during a news conference. John Hofmeister, president of Shell Oil Co., the U.S. division of Royal Dutch Shell, addressed rising gasoline prices during an interview Wednesday with John Roberts on CNN's "American Morning." ROBERTS: What do you say to people who are in this budget crunch of trying to fill up the...

Exxon's flat oil forecast was even more surprising because it came during a meeting when the company was trumpeting a big increase in capital expenditures -- to at least $25 billion a year going forward, up from $21 billion last year. The company also outlined a slew of big projects, 12 of which are starting up this year. These include the 600 million barrel Kizomba C development off the coast of Angola years. But how could oil production be flat? Peer into Exxon's historical numbers and you see the problem Tillerson faces. Since 2000, Exxon's oil output from two of...

ZHANGQIU COUNTY, China (Reuters) - When Yuan Shanchun became China's first farmer to receive a government subsidy to buy a refrigerator, he was inundated with queries from just about everyone he knew asking how they could get one too. "Who can believe it? How come the government is giving us money to buy things?" the bubbly 51-year-old asked, speaking in the thick accent of the eastern province of Shandong. "This is like free food falling from the sky!"

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU — The fruits of the past month’s labor were reaped when the Al Rasheed Land Owners Association took a major step in becoming a self-sufficient entity, Dec. 17, providing for the welfare of the farmers. The organization was originally formed a few months ago, to help unionize local farmers and allow them to increase their harvests. During the event, 250 rolls of plastic were distributed, one per farmer. “They are totally in charge. We are just here to observe,” said Capt. Ken Guglielmina, Civil Affairs Team 11, currently attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd...

Cessna has become the latest airframe manufacturer to tap into China's growing aircraft production expertise, with the US airframer picking AVIC I subsidiary Shenyang Aircraft to assemble its new Model 162 SkyCatcher light sport aircraft (LSA). Under the terms of the agreement, Shenyang will be responsible for aircraft assembly and Cessna will provide on-site personnel to oversee manufacturing, quality assurance and technical design. Cessna will design the aircraft and handle American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) compliance work, and be responsible for sales, distribution, customer service and warranty administration.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14, 2007 – Production of mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles continues ahead of schedule, Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said here today. “For the month of October, we had hoped to produce 431 vehicles,” Morrell said during a news conference. “We have produced 452. That's 21 more than we had anticipated, which puts us overall, year-to-date, program-to-date, 34 ahead of schedule.” The vehicles are state-of-the-art defenses against the leading killers of American troops in Iraq – improvised explosive devices and explosively formed penetrators. The V-shaped armored hull deflects explosive blasts from mines, IEDs and EFPs away from the crew...

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today he refuses to accept that improvised explosive devices are an uncontrollable challenge, and he urged private industry members today to produce Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, known as MRAPs, quickly and in greater numbers to counter this threat. “We absolutely are not accepting (IED attacks) as a challenge that can’t be defeated,” Gates said during a Pentagon news conference with Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, at his side. The secretary said he was briefed this week on how quickly MRAP vehicles, which...

Saudi Arabia plans to increase its crude oil production capacity nearly 40 per cent by 2009 and double its refining size over the next five years to keep pace with growing global demand, the country’s oil minister said on Thursday. Ali Naimi said the plans are part of a $80-billion-commitment that Saudi Arabia — the world’s biggest oil exporter — has made to increase oil supplies in the global market. Naimi blamed the sharp rise in global crude prices over the past two years mostly on “insufficient investment and rising energy demand,” especially from the booming economies of Asia. “The...

The question of counterfeit and adulterate products endangering the economic security of Russia has been discussed for quite a long time, but these are only talks. 62% of Russians apprehend to buy a counterfeit good, while going shopping. According to the results of the survey undertaken by the Public Opinion Fund, 53% of Russians purchased counterfeit goods during the past year. 44% of the respondents believe that food commodities (particularly meat and dairy products, preserves, etc.) are most frequently falsified; 31% consider medicaments to rank first. 21% of the pollees mentioned clothes, which is on the third place. Apart from...

FOB BRASSFIELD-MORA — Iraqi Army soldiers discovered multiple weapons caches during joint patrols with U.S. Army Paratroopers Oct. 21-22 in a village north of Samarra. Iraqi Army soldiers from 2nd Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division, were patrolling fields outside of the village with the Company D, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division Paratroopers when they came across five 130mm artillery rounds hidden in a hole. The Iraqis reported the find to their Paratrooper counterparts, which lead to a second, more thorough, search of the area. They discovered one cache after another — each...

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil held around $60 on Friday, as traders weighed OPEC's plans to cut production against overflowing stockpiles in top consumer the United States. U.S. crude rose 7 cents to $60.10 a barrel by 0806 GMT, after dipping to a low of $59.60 in early trade. London Brent rose 13 cents to $60.13. "The market is moving on rumors that Saudi Arabia has agreed to cut production since prices have continued to fall despite the earlier news," said Tetsu Emori, chief commodities strategist at Mitsui Bussan Futures. Officials from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said...

Time to Remove Barriers to Boosting Oil Refining Capacity by Ben LiebermanPosted Jul 27, 2006The high price of oil is the main reason that the price of gasoline has nearly doubled over the last three years, but it is not the only reason. The cost of turning oil into gasoline has also risen, thanks in part to costly federal regulations on refinery operations and expansions. Many in Congress are aware of this problem, and the House recently passed the Refinery Permit Process Schedule Act (H.R. 5254) to address it. This very modest measure would streamline refinery-related regulations and would be...

Jack Welch gives advice on how the new graduate can succeed in American companies. It seems to be good advice to succeed in any company -- anywhere. His number one piece of advice: OVERDELIVER - This is very un-American -- and very un-student-like. In school, students learn to meet certain objectives -- answer certain questions within certain time parameters. In the workforce -- it's not that way anymore. To get an A+ in business, Welch says, a person -- 22 years old or 62 years old -- needs to: 1. Expand the organization's expectations of what you can do --...

The Committee of 100 survey that I have mentioned here in the past asked the question of American opinion leaders - What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear "China?" 4. Human/religious/civil rights - 16% (This is the percentage of the US population that are treehuggers and activists.) 3. Communism - 16% (They think this means everyone eating off of the same table and sharing the car.) 2. Population - 40% (Finally someone realizes that China has something the rest of the world doesn't - the largest population in the world) and.... 1. Economic growth -...

According to this report, China is making inroads into India's domestic market. Imagine that: China can produce textile raw material and export it to India CHEAPER than India can do it on its own. The increase in imports to India from China is growing at a 33% a year rate. The reasons: 1. India has lower-scale operations. 2. India cannot fulfill large-scale orders. 3. India cannot produce specialized fabrics. Thus, India has to rely on imported fabrics. It appears that the quality of products produced in China and Taiwan is higher. These products have more uniform shades and fewer defects...

May 2006 Vol. 89, No. 5       print-friendly pdf By John A. Tirpak, Executive Editor Are We Losing Nuke Expertise?; Modernizing the Arsenal; Iran, North Korea, and Friends ....  Strategic Strike: Fund It or Lose It Unless steps are taken to create new programs and attract new expertise, US strategic missile capabilities will soon become extinct, warns a Defense Science Board task force. In a March report titled “Future Strategic Strike Skills,� the DSB task force said the Defense Department has failed to make long-term plans for strategic systems or adequately fund their modernization. This neglect, the DSB said,...