According to a 2009 study from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the world currently consumes 89 million barrels of oil a day, and by 2030, world consumption would likely be over 100 million barrels. The United States now produces 9.7 million barrels of oil a day, according to the EIA. That's the most oil this country has pumped in 20 years, and puts it just behind Saudi Arabia and Russia as the world's top producer. Since 2005, US oil production has been steadily rising. The United States now produces about a million and a half more barrels today than it did 6 years ago. From 2005 to 2011, at one point, oil hit a record $147 a barrel.  

Oil Minister Wilson Pastor told Reuters in an interview that OPEC did not want prices "shooting up" because that could slow global economic growth. "For OPEC, a normal price range that would not affect the economy and would let oil producers have profits in the long term is between $80 and $90 a barrel," Pastor said, adding that he saw prices stabilizing in the next few months. OPEC Secretary General Abdullah al-Badri said in Iran, however, on April 19 that he did not expect crude prices to fall below $100 this year, even though there was no shortage in the market.  

In a strange catch-22, it is largely due to high oil prices that new oil production is possible in the US. The deepwater drilling, shale rock extraction and other techniques used to increase production are pricey endeavors. It's been a bounty for those that work in the oil and gas industry. In the last ten years the industry has added 2 million jobs, said Rayola Dougher, senior economic advisor for the American Petroleum Institute. The industry now employs over 9 million Americans. These are well-paying jobs. People can earn $15 to $20 an hour right out of high school. With a just a few years experience, $60,000 a year is possible. Petroleum engineers and others with advanced degrees easily clear six figures. It's also been good for oil companies. Thanks to lower taxes, companies generally make much more money on a barrel of oil produced in the United States than they do from North Sea or Middle East crude. [Full Article]  

With oil prices rapidly becoming the hot political topic, the EIA's 2011 EIA Energy Conference, held on April 26 and 27, promises to garner extra attention. The conference topics include a discussion on potential energy source "Game Changers" presented by Dr. Ernest Moniz, Professor of Physics and Engineering Systems at MIT. He stresses that mobility and energy security have the greatest role in implementing the new technologies of photovoltaic cells, batteries for electric vehicles, gas-to-liquids technology, and adding flexibility to fuels. [AR]

"The Solicitor General filed a petition with the Supreme Court about the growing dispute in the federal courts over warrantless locational tracking. There is a split among the appellate court about GPS tracking by police agencies. The petition appeals a decision from the DC Circuit which held that the warrantless tracking of a motor vehicle violates the Constitutional right against unlawful searches. Earlier, EPIC filed an amicus brief in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court case that also held that a warrant is required for the use of a GPS tracking device. For more information, see EPIC – Commonwealth v. Connolly and EPIC – Locational Privacy," according to the Electronic Privacy Information Center's (EPIC) April 18 post.  The 9th Circuit apparently is on the side that says warrantless location tracking is ok.  In US v. Pineda Moreno, 591 F.3d 1212 (9th Cir. 2010) DEA agents attached three different mobile tracking devices to the underside of Peneda's car on seven different occasions.  The court held, "The only information the agents obtained from the tracking devices was a log of the locations where Pineda-Moreno's car traveled, information the agents could have obtained by following the car." [BB]

On April 11th, 2011, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1976 (2011) to urgently consider the establishment of specialized Somali courts to try suspected pirates both in Somalia and in the region.  The Council, expressing its intention to take further decisions on the matter, requested the Secretary-General to propose modalities for such specialized courts within two months and to describe the role of international personnel and other international support, taking into account the work of the Contact Group on Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia and in consultation with regional States. [MF]

March 11, the NFL players association decertified itself. The next day, the NFL officially announced a lockout of players by team owners. A lockout effectively closes down the league's activities and will halt any trade activities and any other dealings between players and clubs; it also puts the 2011 season at risk. At least 10 players, including leading quarterbacks, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees, filed antitrust lawsuits against the NFL to attempt to halt a lockout.

One month later, on April 12, in a federal district court ordered mediation, the league began a series of negotiations with representatives for the players in order to resolve the labor dispute. After the first day of mediation, the likelihood of going back on the practice field may not be until June. Lawyers for the players argued the lockout is not valid because they no longer are a union. The NFL attorney countered that the players union's decertification is a sham.

Federal Judge Susan Nelson said she will need a couple of weeks to make a decision, but all might not be lost for the fans. In the NFL labor dispute storm whipping up, an early trend may be emerging with regard to ticket sales for next season: The lack of price increases. Stay Tuned!    [AR] 

Celebrate National Library Week at the LRC this week!

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support.

Celebrating National Library Week from CNN, Librarians: Masters of the Universe [MF]