Just in time for summer travelers, FreeAirPump.com has launches its new website mapping gas and service stations across the U.S. and Canada offering free air pumps for motorists and bicyclists.

Bloomington, IL (PRWEB) May 14, 2012

Just in time for summer vacation travelers converging on the nation’s roadways by auto, truck, and bicycle, FreeAirPump.com launches its traveler-friendly website providing a comprehensive map of gas and service stations across the U.S. and Canada.

For anyone who is tired of digging for loose change, or for bicyclists traveling light, this user-generated website maps thousands of gas stations and service stations across the United States and Canada with access to free air for their tires.

The brainchild of Brian Peterson, a senior at Illinois State University studying renewable energy and economics, FreeAirPump.com is a godsend for anyone who has ever attempted to top off their tires during a long trip, or fill a flattened bicycle tire without cash or change in their pocket, only to discover that every gas station they approached required cash for air.

California and Connecticut are the only two states that mandate a no-charge policy for all service stations providing air pumps, which leaves travelers in 48 states in a frustrating position when they don’t have change for the air pump. The aggravation builds when those carrying no cash – not unusual in today’s age of card-wielding consumers– have to pay the ATM fee to withdraw cash to get change, to put 50 cents in the air pump.

For bicyclists, the ability to

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The oil and gas industry has urged the federal government to launch economic reforms to boost growth in the sector and shift its focus from low-performing industries such as manufacturing.

A Deloitte Access Economics report, commissioned by the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA), says the government must manage the economic adjustment to maximise industry investment, rather than focus on its redistribution.

The industry contributed more than $28 billion to the economy in 2010-11 and output will grow by more than 250 per cent in the next seven years to more than $35 billion in 2017-18.

The report warned any new rigidities or constraints, such as explicit industry protection measures and mandated local content requirements, would harm the broader economy.

APPEA chief executive David Byers said the policy-makers must help, rather than resist, the economic adjustment necessary to maximise the benefit associated with the sector’s growth.

“It (the report) supports the APPEA view that in a free economy, no business should be forced to sell its product at lower than market prices and that protectionist industry development policies under consideration around Australia lead to an economic dead-end,” Mr Byers said ahead of APPEA’s annual conference.

Tuesday’s federal budget was underpinned by the pipeline of resources investment but there was little evidence of any commitment to economic reforms to expand the prosperity pie, Mr Byers said.

“Policy-makers need to be mindful that Australia’s reputation as a place where investors can safely make long-term decisions is already being eroded,” he said.

The report’s preliminary findings highlighted policy areas which threaten the attractiveness of Australia as a place to invest and planned investment, including a sovereign wealth fund and local content requirements.

Economic advancement was overwhelmingly positive for Australia but it said public policy should focus on reallocating resources from low-performing capital-intensive industries, including manufacturing, to raise productivity.

Read the whole article at: http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/13673009/govt-urged-to-aid-oil-gas-growth/

BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao urged northeast Asian powers to cooperate more in the face of global economic headwinds, as China, Japan and South Korea agreed at a summit on Sunday to soon launch negotiations on a three-way free trade pact.

The three nations are major traders, and together accounted for 19.6 percent of global gross domestic product and 18.5 percent of exports in 2010, according to a feasibility study of that the governments issued last year on the proposed trade pact.

But they are divided by political distrust, trade barriers and diverging investment policies.

“In response to a slow economic recovery and rising trade protectionism around the world, many countries are seeking to strengthen regional economic integration to expand their market share and raise their competitiveness,” China’s Wen told reporters after talks in Beijing with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.

“Northeast Asia is the most economically vibrant region in the world,” Wen said. “The establishment of an FTA will unleash the economic vitality of our region and give a strong boost to economic integration in east Asia.”

The three governments plan to counter economic worries and tepid demand from advanced economies by launching formal talks this year for their own free trade agreement (FTA), an idea that has been under discussion for a decade.

Read the whole article at: http://news.yahoo.com/east-asian-powers-agree-trade-pact-talks-044212644--sector.html

There’s more heat coming down on the Manitoba government about cabinet ministers getting free Jets tickets.

Initially, the government said three ministers received tickets from Crown agencies, tickets the agencies received in exchange for buying ads at Winnipeg Jets games this season.

But it now turns out at least five other ministers received tickets from non-government groups, such as Red River College, Labatt Breweries, and an oil and gas company.

Energy Minister Dave Chomiak has disclosed that he got tickets from Tundra Oil and Gas. Advanced Education Minister Erin Selby got tickets from the president of Red River College.

In an email to The Canadian Press, Red River College said it also provided tickets to Finance Minister Stan Struthers and Justice Minister Andrew Swan for a game last December 23rd.

Swan also got four tickets from Manitoba Public Insurance.

Healthy Living Minister Jim Rondeau received tickets from Labatt Breweries in March, while Tourism Minister Flor Marcelino was handed tickets from hotel chain Canad Inns.

Conservation Minister Gord Mackintosh and Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton also received tickets. Mackintosh received four from the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission and Ashton received one ticket from Manitoba Lotteries.

Premier Greg Selinger said all of the ministers have paid back the price of the tickets.

“It has made everybody more conscientious about their responsibilities as a MLA or as a minister. I know it will be better going forward because we have a clear policy now,” he said.

In all, more than 2,400 Jets tickets went to Crown corporations in the province.

The government has tried to quell the controversy by establishing new policy that would forbid politicians from accepting any tickets to pro sports events.

Manitoba’s conflict of interest commissioner won’t comment on the so-called ticketgate.

Ron Perozzo said his job is only to provide advice

Read the whole article at: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/jets-tickets-conflict-widens-around-politicians-005407468.html

New fuel additive combats ethanol induced issues, promotes engine performance and improves gas mileage.

Longwood, FL (PRWEB) May 10, 2012

Bell Performance introduces Ethanol Defense, an alcohol-free commercial grade ethanol treatment designed to solve common ethanol problems, protect engines from ethanol damage and improve gas mileage by up to 12 percent or more.

The average driver may be innocently unaware of the severity of problems ethanol can cause to engines and the impending government sanction for an increase in ethanol concentration in fuel. The truth is that ethanol in gasoline lowers fuel economy and gas mileage and allows for increased water collection in fuel systems and storage tanks. Over time, ethanol in fuel can also dissolve rubber, plastic and resin materials, adding costly damage to equipment. With the recent EPA approval to raise the levels of ethanol in our nation’s gasoline from 10 to 15 percent (known as E10 as E15), and with fewer and fewer filling stations across the US and Canada offer ethanol-free alternatives, drivers are forced to find new, reliable ways to protect the health and life of their engines. Enter: fuel additive experts Bell Performance with the new Ethanol Defense.

“We have created a product that speaks to the conscious driver looking to protect their equipment, to extend its useful lifetime of their equipment and give them better performance,” says Glenn Williams, President of Bell Performance. “Making the choice to use Ethanol Defense will not only benefit these conscious drivers today, but it will also help to protect their vehicles and equipment for many years to come.”

Ethanol Defense users should expect improved gas mileage and noticeably better engine performance. The combustion improvers in Ethanol Defense make more fuel available for combustion at the

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin appeals court upheld the state’s minimum gas markup law as constitutional on Thursday, determining that it helps achieve the Legislature‘s goal of creating fair and robust competition at the pump.

The 4th District Court of Appeals‘ ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed nearly five years ago by Merrill gas station owner Raj Bhandari. He argued that the minimum markup law, known as the Unfair Sales Act, violates the state constitution’s equal protection clause because it unfairly singles out gas retailers for regulation.

“We’re very disappointed,” said Bhandari’s lawyer, Robert McNamara, an attorney with the Virginia-based Institute for Justice, a libertarian nonprofit law firm. “We think the court got it wrong. We remain committed to the idea that the Unfair Sales Act is a law designed to shovel more money into the pockets of established businesses at the expense of entrepreneurs and consumers.”

The law dates back to the 1930s. The measure makes it illegal for retailers to sell gasoline without marking it up either 6 percent over what they paid or 9.18 percent over the local wholesale price — whichever is higher. Violators face stiff fines from regulators and can be sued by competitors for selling gas too cheap. Supporters say the law prevents large gas retailers from undercutting smaller competitors, driving them out of business and then raising their prices.

State regulators warned Bhandari in April 2007 to end programs he created offering discounts of 2 cents per gallon for senior citizens and 3 cents per gallon for donors to a youth hockey league, saying the programs may violate the minimum markup law. Bhandari ended the discounts, saying his sales dropped by about 20 percent as a result.

He filed a lawsuit in Madison in June 2007 claiming the

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NEW YORK (AP) — The price of U.S. natural gas jumped to the highest level since February as companies shut down production across the country.

Natural gas futures rose 2.2 cents to $2.487 per 1,000 cubic feet on Thursday, extending a recent surge. The price has soared 30.4 percent since hitting a 10-year low on April 19.

The run-up could marginally boost energy costs for power plants, factories and other industrial consumers that are big users of natural gas. But the price is still about 40 percent cheaper than a year ago, and the recent jump isn’t expected to affect residential electricity bills this summer.

Until recently, natural gas prices had been in a free fall. A relatively warm winter had cut heating demand in the U.S. and natural gas supplies grew so rapidly that analysts warned that the industry could run out of places to put it.

Major producers such as Chesapeake Energy Corp., Encana Corp. and ConocoPhillips responded by shutting down some of their operations. Across the country, the number of active natural gas drilling rigs fell 40 percent from October to March.

Supplies still grew last week, according to the government’s latest report. But the increase was smaller than analysts expected.

“Producers are finally pulling back” on production, independent trader and analyst Stephen Schork said. “It’s making a difference.”

Meanwhile, oil prices were mixed after falling most of the week. Benchmark U.S. crude increased by 27 cents to end the day at $97.08 per barrel in New York while Brent crude fell by 47 cents to finish at $112.73 per barrel in London.

Oil has been mostly declining since April as some European countries fell into recession and the U.S. reported disappointing jobs growth. Benchmark U.S. oil has fallen 5.8 percent since April. Brent crude, which sets the

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ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) – Ten alleged members of a white supremacist group training near Orlando and Disney World for a “race war” have been rounded up in a series of arrests in central Florida, authorities said on Tuesday. The arrests were based on evidence from a confidential informant who infiltrated the neo-Nazi organization known as the American Front 17 months ago, according to an arrest affidavit. “The American Front (AF) is a military-styled, anti-Semitic, white supremacist, skinhead organization …

Read the whole article at: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/gas-giveaway-leads-traffic-tie-ups-northeast-calgary-191759665.html

Sana’a, May 3 (IANS/AKI) The Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has started offering free electricity and gas to villagers in Yemen‘s restive southern region, according to a Saudi daily.

The al-Sharq al-Awsat daily said the Al Qaeda has gained control of swathes of the southern provinces of Abyen and Lahaj and Shabwa, and was reportedly offering essential services the central government was failing to provide.

In Jaar town, the militants are also said to be offering water, and have abolished all taxes imposed by Sana’a.

Militants on armoured vehicles have reportedly surrounded Azzan, in Shabwa, where the AQAP’s regional commander Anwar al-Awlaki‘s son was killed in a drone strike in October 2011.

According to the treport, largely unopposed, the militants have filled a power vacuum left by more than a year of unrest in the impoverished state. Huge demonstrations against long-time ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh eventually led to his resignation in February and subsequent elections.

The AQAP was formed in January 2009 by a merger between two regional offshoots of the international Islamist militant network in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

The US president’s counter-terrorism adviser has called it “the most active operational franchise” of the Al Qaeda beyond Pakistan and Afghanistan.

–IANS/AKI

pm/tb

Read the whole article at: http://in.news.yahoo.com/al-qaeda-providing-free-electricity-yemen-113702720.html

By Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 — The indiscriminate firing of tear gas at over 25,000 people rallying for free and fair elections had triggered the chain of violent events yesterday evening, Bersih said today.

The electoral reforms movement insisted at a press conference today that the event was peaceful until police fired “tear gas everywhere.”

“Who ordered the tear gas? That’s when everything went wrong,” Bersih chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said.

The coalition of 84 civil societies admitted that some supporters had breached the barrier around Dataran Merdeka, which a court order had closed to public gatherings, before police reacted, but also pointed out that the crowd were instructed not to enter the historic square without police permission.

Ambiga said that “at most one or two” rounds were necessary to disperse the crowd, but “they (the police) continued firing tear gas everywhere.”

“It appears police were given instructions to punish. Who gave instructions to the police?” the former Bar Council president added.

Steering committee member Hishamuddin Rais added that “the chain of violence” only happened after “the tear gas was fired at those who wanted to hold peaceful sit-in.”

The movement called for a full inquiry by the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) into events as well as the individuals who had breached the barrier.

Over 25,000 demonstrators were dispersed by police with water cannon and tear gas after some rally-goers pushed through the barricade in front of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and tried to rush into Dataran Merdeka.

Some of the 15,000-strong group sandwiched between police and DBKL broke down the barriers and moved towards the historic square, leading to police firing chemical-laced water and tear gas canisters.

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali had tried to negotiate with police, who told the Gombak MP to calm the group down. But despite his advice, they still broke

Read the whole article at: http://my.news.yahoo.com/bersih-blames-police-tear-gas-for-triggering-violence-085252852.html