U.S. calls for comment on Atlantic offshore exploration

The U.S. Interior Department said Wednesday it is seeking comment from the public on a plan to allow energy companies to begin seismic testing to find oil and natural reserves in the Atlantic Ocean.

Officials have released a programmatic environmental impact statement on seismic testing for public review. The testing would be used to determine how much oil and natural gas is available and where the best places to drill would be, among other things. The studies also help identify archaeological and geologic hazards to avoid.

Companies would use the information to determine where to apply for energy leases, although no leases are currently available in the region that could be opened up for exploration until 2017.

Supporters of drilling argued that there needs to be a plan in place soon to sell drilling leases to make the seismic testing valuable. Environmental groups said seismic testing could harm wildlife, even before any drilling begins.

"Without an Atlantic coast lease sale in their five-year plan, the administration's wishful thinking on seismic research has no ultimate purpose," the American Petroleum Institute Upstream Director Erik Milito said in a statement.

The announcement comes as Americans grumble about escalating gas prices and the Obama administration seeks to fend off criticism from Republicans that not enough is being done to tap domestic energy resources.

"As the president has said, there is no silver bullet to high gas prices. But we must continue to reduce our reliance on foreign oil and reduce our vulnerability to the ups and downs of the international market," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said at a news conference in Virginia, a key election state.

Salazar said he would make his ruling on whether to allow seismic testing by the end of the year, following a series of public meetings from Delaware to Florida, where the testing would occur. Salazar said six companies have already filed applications expressing interest in conducting seismic testing.

The possibility of oil exploration in the Atlantic drew immediate criticism from environmental groups, who are concerned about its effects on marine life, including endangered whales.

"Today's announcement is great for petroleum companies, but horrible news for our coastlines and a potentially deadly blow to ocean fisheries and wildlife," Natural Resources Defence Council President Frances Beinecke said in a statement.

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Warren Buffett calls on 'mega-rich' to pay more taxes

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett is calling on his "mega-rich" friends to pay more in taxes, saying they've been protected too long from the government.

"My friends and I have been coddled long enough by a billionaire-friendly Congress," Buffett wrote in an op-ed piece in the New York Times. "It's time for our government to get serious about shared sacrifice."

Buffett said investment managers like himself can classify their income as carried interest, meaning they pay only a 15-per-cent tax rate.

"These and other blessings are showered upon us by legislators in Washington who feel compelled to protect us, much as if we were spotted owls or some other endangered species. It’s nice to have friends in high places," he wrote.

He said the mega-rich pay income taxes at a rate of 15 per cent on most of their earnings but pay practically nothing in payroll taxes. But he said the middle class pay somewhere in between 15 per cent and 25 per cent and also pay heavy payroll taxes.

Buffett said tax rates should be raised for those making more than $1 million and an additional increase for those who make $10 million or more.

"Most wouldn’t mind being told to pay more in taxes as well, particularly when so many of their fellow citizens are truly suffering," Buffett said.

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Sumo: n calls for a return to strict ' does in Japan, the rule of golfin'

Not even sumo Wrestling free of controversy. A few years back, the number of the sumo wrestlers and trainers – 25 – all the accusations of match fixing, were fired, and other charges, such as gambling, drugs, crime, the gang and attack.

Now that the sport is coming back, the Japanese Sumo Association Chairman Hanaregoma stated that sumo wrestlers will not be able to play golf during the tournament, and they must comply strictly with the traffic laws. First of all it is most likely due to a serious traffic accident a few years ago, but it is most likely due to the sumo wrestler Asashoryu, who was once caught in "the break (ing) each rule in the book" playing football when he was injured, such as "swanning around", Hawaii shirts, communal bathrooms nude and brawling …. ". He was eventually ended in the sumo wrestling control of intersections after the nightclub, Tokyo outside in 2010.

A new stringent rules for the implementation of (presumably) on July 24, when the Nagoya tournament ends. In the meantime, the wrestlers are not allowed to use their phones in between July 10 and 24. in July, mostly due in part to the discovery that the match fixing and more via text messages.

The favorite to win the 19th century, the Emperor Cup Nagoya Hakuho this year is known as the Mongolian "yokozuna" or grand champion. It loses the opportunity for the sport in the chronicles the tax breaks, in which it has been a very long time, might still at risk of the sport is not "clean up its act."

So much for the bathhouse nude Wrestling.

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Lycurgus-10-07-2011

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