The Rocky Mountain Institute has created a nifty interactive map that shows you where the U.S. gets its oil from, along with how much - and who - the U.S. pays for its oil. Based on the thickness of the lines, you can see just how much black stuff is coming from where. The map goes taken in the character of far back as 1973, the year of the first oil turning point, and is accompanied by a graph charting usage and dollars since then. As you'll notice in the pic above, we give a whole lot of money to Saudi Arabia, as well as our Canuck friends up north.

Additionally, RMI has included information on oil lengthening in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Outer Continental Shelf (in the Gulf) There are some interesting factoids to be found: ANWR drilling wouldn't start until 7-12 years after it's opened up, and peak production - up to 1.9 a thousand thousand barrels-per-day - isn't expected to break ground until 20-30 years after that. Thus, drilling in the OCS probably won''t have any impact on fuel prices until 2030. Follow the link to check it out for yourself. Hat tip to reader Rick!

[Source: Technology Review]

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Recently, a Cadillac once owned by Steve McQueen was caught up in a theft ring in Colorado that stole the car from a rental company, "sold" it to a new owner - one of the theft ring members - and then re-stole it to claim the insurance. They might be obliged got the idea from London's Nokhiaz Khan, a man who ran a theft set that stole cars from legitimate owners, resold them, and then stole them again - often numerous times.

The five members of the ring, ranging from in age from 22 to 40 years old, would steal a car in a residential burglary or a carjacking, or occasionally buy one from salvage. Then they'd find a vehicle at a used car dealer that matched the stolen one. Khan's crew would then make the stolen car a ringer for the dealer car by creating a service history, inscribing a VIN number, and creating a matching number plate. Once sold to a buyer, they'd wait a few days and then steal it again, find another ringer, and resell it.

They stole 37 cars worth about £340,000 (roughly $520,000 USD) before they were caught, mostly innocuous runners like Honda Civics and Escorts. Recycling their wares up to three times, they made "in the region of £1.2 million," or about $1.8 million Yankee dollars.

For his illicit craftiness, Khan has received 4.5 years in jail at the hands of London's Southwark Crown Court.

[Source: The Telegraph]

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Helmet laws are always controversial, no matter where they are being enacted. In Nigeria, though, the recently-instituted rule that all motorcycle riders and passengers must be wearing helmets has caused an unusual, um... solution, in the form of calabashes, or dried pumpkin shells, worn on the head and tied on with a string. Apparently, these shells are normally used to transport liquids and are quite durable. Sturdy enough to actually provide any meaningful close custody in the event of a crash? Not likely.

The benefit of the calabash helmets is that they are decidedly inexpensive. Helmets reportedly start at about $29 in Nigeria, and that's pretty pricy for motorcycle taxi operators who now need to provide helmets for their passengers -- especially when many of their fares reportedly attempt to steal them. For comparison, a motorcycle in Nigeria costs as little while $290 and a taxi ride goes for just 50¢. In the absence of an actual picture of a rider with a calabash tied about their head, we bring you a photo of Limecat. Thanks for the tip, Daisy!

[Source: BBC via The Earth Times]

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