All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.
WORD OF THE DAY
Bete Noire • \bet-NWAR\ • noun – a person or thing strongly detested or avoided
It was a lazy, warm summer day. Agnew was lounging in his hammock, listening to his favorite “Percy Faith” album. Just as the strings started to zoom upwards to the final climax of the beautified version of “LA Woman”, his neighbor, Albert started his gas-powered leaf blower. Long considered his bete noire at the neighborhood block parties, Agnew’s hatred for Albert was cemented forever as spilled lemonade pooled in the hammock under his ample, pillowed posterior.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
WIND STORM HAS MINIMAL IMPACT TO MASON COUNTY – Mason County saw minimal impact from Thursday's high winds. Just under 300 customers of Mason County PUD No. 3 were affected by the storm. According to the P.U.D., their linemen, call center personnel and engineering staff worked quickly to restore electricity last night in the fastest and safest manner. Most of the Mason County PUD No. 3 customers who were affected by the outage were along the Pickering Road and in the Mason Lake area. Otherwise, there were small, scattered outages throughout the county. An unofficial survey of weather stations in and near Mason County showed gusts yesterday of 28 mph at the Mountain View Substation in Shelton, 45 mph at Sanderson Field, 32 mph in the Matlock area, 31 at Lake Limerick, 40 mph in Belfair, and 46 mph in Brinnon. This was the first of the fall and winter storms that are expected to visit Washington State over the next several months. Customers are urged to take steps to be prepared if inclement weather causes a power outage or presents a danger to their homes. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Seattle - Kite boarder dies in windstorm; thousands lose power – The first big storm of the season blew into Seattle on Thursday with a punch that knocked out power to more than 280,000 residences and businesses throughout the Puget Sound region beginning mid-afternoon. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, great photo!)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335991_wind19.html?source=rss
Seattle - Thousands still without power, but we're back to "typical Northwest blustery" weather – In the aftermath of Thursday's brief but powerful windstorm that left a kite surfer dead and also knocked a tree onto a Kent woman, many woke up today to restored power and mild showers. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003962018_webwindstorm19m.html?syndication=rss
Snohomish County – Storm packs a punch: Thousands lose power (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071019/NEWS01/710190077
Scattered outages remain for PSE customers (The Olympian, Includes Mason PUD 3 Report)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/247923.html
Pierce County – Wind takes trees, power – If you’re reading this, you survived the first storm of the fall. Luckily, the casualties Thursday were mainly trees, power lines, after-school activities and commutes. (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/182739.html
Kitsap County Takes 'Hardest' Hit in Storm; 26,000 Customers Lose Power – Thursday's windstorm knocked out power to more than 26,000 homes, according to a spokeswoman at Puget Sound Energy. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/oct/19/kitsap-takes-hardest-hit-storm-26000-customers-los/
Grays Harbor County – Harbor hit by first windy winter storm. It’s begun. The messy, wet, toad-strangling weather that will be the norm for months, blew in from the Pacific this morning, knocking out power in some areas. (The Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/10/18/local_news/03news.txt
Grays Harbor County PUD hires former radio news director Liz Anderson for communications spot (The Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/10/18/local_news/12news.txt
Power Plant Rejected Over Carbon Dioxide For First Time – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment yesterday became the first government agency in the United States to cite carbon dioxide emissions as the reason for rejecting an air permit for a proposed coal-fired electricity generating plant, saying that the greenhouse gas threatens public health and the environment. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/18/AR2007101802452.html?nav=rss_email/components
Vote near on new S.F. power generating plant – After years of debate, San Francisco may soon build a fossil-fuel power plant in a controversial gambit to replace an older one. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/19/BUBOSSF48.DTL
Carbon Sequestration Part of Coal Generation's Future (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1584
Utah – Legislators or nuclear power businessmen? Critics say they can't be both (Salt Lake Tribune)
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_7200144
Cyberthreats said to be increasing against electric grid, other critical power facilities (Associated Press via the International Tribune)
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/17/america/NA-GEN-US-Power-Grid-Security.php
News Whiz – ISO New England Releases Annual Power System Assessment (PR-Inside)
http://www.pr-inside.com/iso-new-england-releases-annual-power-r256127.htm
New Jersey – Man admits role in energy rebate fraud. A third man pleaded guilty Thursday to his role a scheme that prosecutors said siphoned $11.5 million from a state energy rebate program through bogus or inflated invoices.
http://www.abcmoney.co.uk/news/192007147747.htm
Copper prices spur crime wave – There's a mighty fortress look to St. Paul's AME Church, but appearances have provided no bulwark against thieves stripping copper tubing from the church's air conditioning units and ripping off electrical wires. (Chicago Tribune)
http://www.grandhaventribune.com/paid/290093793124663.bsp
Australia – Moves to help cut power use. Tasmanians will be urged to cut their power use to cope with spiraling electricity prices. Power prices will jump by 15 per cent next year, adding $182 a year to the average bill. (The Mercury)
http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,22612581-3462,00.html
Liberia – Liberia: LEC On Anti-Power Theft Campaign. The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has launched a major campaign against power theft leading to the seizure of several electrical wires that were subsequently burnt yesterday. (The Inquirer, Monrovia)
http://allafrica.com/stories/200710190731.html
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Idaho Power sues federal government over water rights (Associated Press, Via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/247441.html
Montana – Trout Return to Once-Contaminated Creek. Silver Bow Creek, contaminated for more than a century by tailings and other mine waste, appears to be responding to environmental cleanup. (The Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-997115~Trout_Return_to_Once_Contaminated_Creek.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines
Chinook, sturgeon fishing improving – Rain falling this week will have an impact on rivers, unlike the last round of precipitation which fell and was absorbed the dry ground, raising water levels only marginally. Now that the ground is saturated, rainfall will go into the rivers. (The News-Register, McMinnville, OR)
http://www.newsregister.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=227329
Legislative Committee Tackles Economic Impact Of Fishing And Hunting (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/legislative-committee-tackles-economic-impact-fishing-and-hunting/
Olympia – LOTT rates to go up in 2008. LOTT Alliance sewer ratepayers will see their first rate increase since 1999 when the new year rolls around. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/247659.html
Deforest Your Mailbox (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/fashion/18ROW.html?ex=1350360000&en=ab2c83c5d3ecbf7d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Foul weather delays Oregon State wave energy testing – Stormy fall weather has delayed part of the testing Oregon State University scientists had scheduled for an electricity-generating wave buoy. (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
http://www.gtconnect.com/articles/2007/10/19/news/community/3aaa05_elektrobuoys.txt
Ironing Out Bumps In Wind Turbine Output – As Texas’ electric grid operator prepares to add power lines for carrying future wind-generated energy, an electrical engineer at The University of Texas at Austin is developing improved methods for determining the extent to which power from a wind farm can displace a conventional power plant, and how best to regulate varying wind power. (Carbon Free)
http://www.carbonfree.co.uk/cf/news/wk42-07-0005.htm
Indiana – Wabash Valley Power Association Adds New Renewable Power Sources (Inside Indiana Business)
http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=26022
Massachusetts – Cape Wind denied cable access in Yarmouth (Mass High Tech: The Journal of New England Technology)
http://www.bizjournals.com/masshightech/stories/2007/10/15/daily51.html?ana=from_rss
CONSERVATION
Lights Out LA! It's Time To Conserve Energy – To encourage people to conserve energy, Los Angeles officials are asking residents to turn off non-essential lights from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. (KCAL-TV, Studio City, CA)
http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_291175521.html
Some cities try going 'green' with blackouts – On Saturday evening, it's "Lights out San Francisco," where people will voluntary turn off lights for an hour. The aim is to raise awareness of light pollution and the energy wasted by lights left on. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1019/p01s05-ussc.html
Connecticut – New lights said to save schools money and energy – What started with a simple meeting between employees of the Board of Education and an energy consultant has blossomed into a major savings of both energy and money in Wilton’s public schools. (Wilton Bulletin)
http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/wilton/23977.shtml
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Historic bill in Senate to fight warming – A bipartisan group of senators, borrowing heavily from California's efforts to fight climate change, fired the starting gun on what's expected to be a long global-warming debate in Congress with a proposal for limits on greenhouse gases affecting every major segment of the nation's economy. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/19/MNKCSSD3I.DTL
Giving climate change the business – I believe it was radical climatologist Bob Dylan who first opined, "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows." Listen to the global-warming debate; the conversation has taken a sharp turn. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003960794_lance19.html?syndication=rss
New Coast Guard Task in Arctic’s Warming Seas (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/19/us/19arctic.html?_r=1&ex=1350532800&en=133b8cbb5e502cc4&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Penguins Urge Green Travel – Traveling by Motor coach Can Help Save Their Habitats from Climate Change (WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee)
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/tech/10669056.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Comcast blocks some subscriber Internet traffic – Comcast Corp. actively interferes with attempts by some of its high-speed Internet subscribers to share files online, a move that runs counter to the tradition of treating all types of Net traffic equally. (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/10669666.html
Connecticut – Blumenthal: AT&T wasting its time on litigation. Despite a recent federal court ruling, AT&T still refuses to apply for a cable license in Connecticut and state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal refuses to let the company get away with it. (Legal Newsline)
http://www.legalnewsline.com/news/202688-blumenthal-att-wasting-its-time-on-litigation
Illinois – City moves to block Lightspeed. West Chicago Monday became one of the first among many local municipalities expected to pass an ordinance protecting city rights of way from a new AT&T service. (The Daily Herald)
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=58051&src=140
FCC chair proposes looser controls on media ownership (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003959208_webfcc18.html?syndication=rss
Google's 3rd-quarter profit hurdles expectations – Google's third-quarter profit soared 46 percent to hurdle the enormous expectations that have elevated the Internet search leader's stock price by more than $100 during the past month. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003960286_webgoogle18.html?syndication=rss
In California, a Second Internet Gold Rush – At the Web 2.0 conference here in 2005 -- back before Google had paid $1.65 billion for YouTube and people were talking about valuations for Facebook of $15 billion -- Zach Coelius, a precocious 25-year-old who had snuck into the hall without paying, stepped up to the microphone and asked the speaker for a bit of career advice. Start a company, replied Rupert Murdoch. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/18/AR2007101802462.html?nav=rss_business
GENERAL NEWS
PDC wants court to clarify ruling – The state Public Disclosure Commission wants the state Supreme Court to clarify its recent decision that struck down a law against candidates lying about other candidates in political campaigns. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/247637.html
WA high court: Workers due more pay for time in car – Workers in a wide range of service jobs could be in line for more money - or fewer shots at the company car - after the state Supreme Court's ruling that some commuters must be paid for their drive time, lawyers said. (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/246975.html
Weyerhaeuser to mothball 3 plants, cites weak demand – Lumber and paper producer Weyerhaeuser Co. said Thursday it will indefinitely mothball three plants before the end of 2007 because of weak customer demand amid a sagging housing market. (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP10192007news217712.cfm
It’s not just a hassle in Olympia – Traffic Circle Has Drivers in a Spin, Some Motorists Avoid the Area. How do you get around a roundabout? For some drivers in Southern Maryland, that has suddenly become a pressing question. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/17/AR2007101702412.html?nav=rss_metro
DIVERSIONS
Man Knocked Out Before He Could Use His ‘Lethal Weapons' (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration – Why does this remind me of “Uncle Rico” from Napoleon Dynamite?)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/oct/17/man-knocked-out-before-he-could-use-his-weapons/
Humbug! Sea-Tac avoiding religious Christmas decorations. No Christmas trees, nativity scenes or menorahs this holiday season at Sea-Tac Airport. Not even Santa Claus.
http://www.examiner.com/a-998548~Sea_Tac_avoiding_religious_Christmas_decorations.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Gregoires to dress up as penguins. Brilliant! Well, so much for Harry Potter or Optimus Prime. Gov. Chris Gregoire announced yesterday that she and husband Mike will dress ups as penguins from the movie Happy Feet.
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/blogs/mulick/v-rss/story/9391682p-9304648c.html
The Comcast Hammer Granny – Washington Post spotlights disgruntled user...
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/The-Comcast-Hammer-Granny-88577
Friday, October 19, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.
WORD OF THE DAY – A “TWO-FER” TODAY
Aghast • \uh-GAST\ • adjective – Struck with terror, amazement, or horror: shocked
Allegory • \ALL-uh-goree\ • noun – 1: the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence; also: an instance (as in a story or painting) of such expression 2: a symbolic representation: emblem
Albert was aghast. He had organized a conference in Bodega Bay to discuss Alfred Hitchcock’s use of birds in his movies as an allegory for coming chaos and death. Unfortunately, as the presentation began, the attendees were attacked from all sides by diving, darting birds. They ranged from barn swallows to lumbering, awkward domesticated turkeys. The former school mistress could not help but smile as she watched from her house next door “you brought the birds…you’re evil,” she murmured under her breath, stifling a hysterical cackle.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
WIND ADVISORY ISSUED – The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory, which is in effect from two this afternoon to 11 tonight. Winds will increase this afternoon right ahead of an incoming weather system. South winds in the 10 to 20 mph range will increase to 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph between 2 PM and 8 PM. The winds will decrease significantly after 11 PM. Winds this strong can snap small tree branches, topple small or shallow-rooted trees and cause local power outages. Motorists, especially those with high profile vehicles, should be alert for sudden strong cross winds. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
"Significant wind event" due, so don't blow it off – Prepare to chase down knocked-over garbage cans and deal with flickering lights later today — forecasters say a windstorm is headed for Western Washington. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003958304_windstorm18m.html?syndication=rss
Storms Bearing Down On Northwest – KIRO 7 Eyewitness News meteorologist Rick VanCise said the National Weather Service has issued a high wind watch for Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14360046/detail.html
Get Ready For Big Storm, Officials Say (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/weather/14364246/detail.html
La Niña good news for skiers, farmers – Tropical system is expected to bring snow and cold weather to the Northwest this winter. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/186832.html
Prepare for wind storm power outages (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_101707WAB_wind_storm_preview_power_TP.17e159b8f.html
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Coal plans hit snags – At least 16 coal-fired power plant proposals nationwide have been scrapped in recent months, and more than three dozen have been delayed, as utilities face increasing pressure due to concerns over global warming and rising construction costs. (Associated Press via the Jackson Hole Star-Tribune)
http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/articles/2007/10/18/news/wyoming/f9c6aaaec106f1318725737700821ad7.txt
North Carolina – Merger savings under fire at Duke hearing – A lawyer at the Duke Energy Carolinas' N.C. rate hearings argued Wednesday that the company seriously underestimated its merger savings, allowing Duke Energy Corp. shareholders to profit at the expense of utility customers. (Charlotte Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2007/10/15/daily30.html?ana=from_rss
Electricity Plan Advances to Public – Four-State Power Line Called Necessary to Address Energy Needs. The operator of the mid-Atlantic region's electricity grid approved yesterday a high-voltage power transmission line that would begin in Northern Virginia and cut across Southern Maryland before going under the Chesapeake Bay and ending in New Jersey. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/17/AR2007101702439.html?nav=rss_metro
News Release – FERC improves market transparency in New England – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today approved a proposal from ISO New England Inc. (ISO-NE) and the New England Power Pool that will help improve market transparency by reducing the lag time for posting of demand bid and supply offer data (FERC)
http://www.ferc.gov/news/news-releases/2007/2007-4/10-18-07-E-13.asp
Texas – PUC Responds To Meter Reader Complaints; access to meters is the issue (KPRC-TV, Houston)
http://www.click2houston.com/news/14353606/detail.html
FERC’s Winter 2007/2008 – Energy Market Assessment (Links to PDF File)
http://www.ferc.gov/market-oversight/mkt-views/2007/10-18-07.pdf
Creative Bill Presentment Contributes to the Bottom Line (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1583
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
While industries clean up, wildfires spew mercury – Oregon blazes release far more of the element than factories, a study says. Most of the toxic mercury spewed into the air in Oregon does not come from smokestacks that face tightening pollution rules, but from smoky wildfires that are getting more frequent and more intense with global warming. (The Oregonian – So then, what does this say about burning biomass for electricity generation?)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/119267792896220.xml&coll=7
New Battle of Logging vs. Spotted Owls Looms in West – A 1990s’ truce that quieted the bitter wars between loggers and environmentalists in the Pacific Northwest is in danger of collapse. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/us/18owl.html?_r=1&ei=5088&en=abd455191c7b5fa8&ex=1350446400&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1192726807-Yscdt59Idp+Lwhu/VhmNbA
Bottled water leaves some cities with a bad taste – Backlash against bottled water is spreading, prompting bans on the plastic bottles at city-sponsored events in some communities, their removal from restaurant menus and campaigns urging the use of tap water instead. (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-10-17-bottled-water_N.htm
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Northwest's largest solar-power site about to come on line – The sun peeked through the clouds Thursday above the Wild Horse solar power project atop Whisky Dick Mountain near Ellenburg. (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakima-herald.com/page/dis/290075315846184
Idaho – Elmore wind power projects move forward. Idaho Power and Energy Vision get the PUC's OK for interconnection deals. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/185695.html
CONSERVATION
Gripes over Bush's first energy-efficiency upgrade – The new standard for electrical transformers, announced Friday, will save less energy than utilities had expected. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1017/p02s03-usec.html
Canada – Energy critic says less demand for power this summer proves conservation works (Oilweek Magazine)
http://www.oilweek.com/news.asp?ID=11955
How Hiring an Energy Inspector Can Save You Money – Auditors ferret out funky accounting at corporations. Can they also find the energy culprits in my home? (The Street.Com – She paid $175 for an audit that PUD 3 provides as a free service)
http://www.thestreet.com/s/how-hiring-an-energy-inspector-can-save-you-money/newsanalysis/clean-energy-news/10384728.html
Awesome Cool Homework Tool – Use Con Edison Kids Web Site to Get Ahead (Market Wire, via CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0317184.htm
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
How can you predict global warming if you can't predict rain? Some say climate change is part of a complex natural cycle – so complex, in fact, that it can't be forecast. Are current climate models reliable?
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1018/p14s01-wogi.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
‘Google effect’ spreads money around globe (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/181866.html
GENERAL NEWS
Man wins right to have nativity scene in Capitol Rotunda (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/246108.html
Canada – Safety panel concerned about pot use by B.C. ferry crews. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is worried about marijuana use by British Columbia ferry crew members, based on interviews after a fatal ferry sinking last year. (Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003956644_webferrypot17m.html?syndication=rss
DIVERSIONS
From the institute of colorful language – Swearing At Work Is OK, Study Finds. British University Finds Swearing Can Benefit Employers
http://www.kirotv.com/money/14366871/detail.html
Killer swimwear! Mystery underwear stymies Guantanamo investigators
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSNASUA170120071018?feedType=nl&feedName=ustopnewsearly
Alleged purse-snatcher drops phone – When a teenage boy allegedly grabbed a 63-year-old woman's purse and ran off, he might have escaped arrest. That is, if he hadn't dropped his cell phone.
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/10/10172007_Alleged-purse-snatcher-drops-phone.cfm?newsletter=2
Colbert Consulted Parties Before Announcing Run – Stephen Colbert — who announced plans to run for the presidency, though only in South Carolina, on his Comedy Central show Tuesday night — is serious enough about the stunt that his staff reached out to the state’s Democratic and Republican committees in advance of his declaration.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/arts/television/18colb.html?ex=1350446400&en=0ceea37a8ed8dcff&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
WORD OF THE DAY – A “TWO-FER” TODAY
Aghast • \uh-GAST\ • adjective – Struck with terror, amazement, or horror: shocked
Allegory • \ALL-uh-goree\ • noun – 1: the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence; also: an instance (as in a story or painting) of such expression 2: a symbolic representation: emblem
Albert was aghast. He had organized a conference in Bodega Bay to discuss Alfred Hitchcock’s use of birds in his movies as an allegory for coming chaos and death. Unfortunately, as the presentation began, the attendees were attacked from all sides by diving, darting birds. They ranged from barn swallows to lumbering, awkward domesticated turkeys. The former school mistress could not help but smile as she watched from her house next door “you brought the birds…you’re evil,” she murmured under her breath, stifling a hysterical cackle.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
WIND ADVISORY ISSUED – The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory, which is in effect from two this afternoon to 11 tonight. Winds will increase this afternoon right ahead of an incoming weather system. South winds in the 10 to 20 mph range will increase to 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph between 2 PM and 8 PM. The winds will decrease significantly after 11 PM. Winds this strong can snap small tree branches, topple small or shallow-rooted trees and cause local power outages. Motorists, especially those with high profile vehicles, should be alert for sudden strong cross winds. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
"Significant wind event" due, so don't blow it off – Prepare to chase down knocked-over garbage cans and deal with flickering lights later today — forecasters say a windstorm is headed for Western Washington. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003958304_windstorm18m.html?syndication=rss
Storms Bearing Down On Northwest – KIRO 7 Eyewitness News meteorologist Rick VanCise said the National Weather Service has issued a high wind watch for Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14360046/detail.html
Get Ready For Big Storm, Officials Say (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/weather/14364246/detail.html
La Niña good news for skiers, farmers – Tropical system is expected to bring snow and cold weather to the Northwest this winter. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/186832.html
Prepare for wind storm power outages (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_101707WAB_wind_storm_preview_power_TP.17e159b8f.html
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Coal plans hit snags – At least 16 coal-fired power plant proposals nationwide have been scrapped in recent months, and more than three dozen have been delayed, as utilities face increasing pressure due to concerns over global warming and rising construction costs. (Associated Press via the Jackson Hole Star-Tribune)
http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/articles/2007/10/18/news/wyoming/f9c6aaaec106f1318725737700821ad7.txt
North Carolina – Merger savings under fire at Duke hearing – A lawyer at the Duke Energy Carolinas' N.C. rate hearings argued Wednesday that the company seriously underestimated its merger savings, allowing Duke Energy Corp. shareholders to profit at the expense of utility customers. (Charlotte Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2007/10/15/daily30.html?ana=from_rss
Electricity Plan Advances to Public – Four-State Power Line Called Necessary to Address Energy Needs. The operator of the mid-Atlantic region's electricity grid approved yesterday a high-voltage power transmission line that would begin in Northern Virginia and cut across Southern Maryland before going under the Chesapeake Bay and ending in New Jersey. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/17/AR2007101702439.html?nav=rss_metro
News Release – FERC improves market transparency in New England – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today approved a proposal from ISO New England Inc. (ISO-NE) and the New England Power Pool that will help improve market transparency by reducing the lag time for posting of demand bid and supply offer data (FERC)
http://www.ferc.gov/news/news-releases/2007/2007-4/10-18-07-E-13.asp
Texas – PUC Responds To Meter Reader Complaints; access to meters is the issue (KPRC-TV, Houston)
http://www.click2houston.com/news/14353606/detail.html
FERC’s Winter 2007/2008 – Energy Market Assessment (Links to PDF File)
http://www.ferc.gov/market-oversight/mkt-views/2007/10-18-07.pdf
Creative Bill Presentment Contributes to the Bottom Line (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1583
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
While industries clean up, wildfires spew mercury – Oregon blazes release far more of the element than factories, a study says. Most of the toxic mercury spewed into the air in Oregon does not come from smokestacks that face tightening pollution rules, but from smoky wildfires that are getting more frequent and more intense with global warming. (The Oregonian – So then, what does this say about burning biomass for electricity generation?)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/119267792896220.xml&coll=7
New Battle of Logging vs. Spotted Owls Looms in West – A 1990s’ truce that quieted the bitter wars between loggers and environmentalists in the Pacific Northwest is in danger of collapse. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/us/18owl.html?_r=1&ei=5088&en=abd455191c7b5fa8&ex=1350446400&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1192726807-Yscdt59Idp+Lwhu/VhmNbA
Bottled water leaves some cities with a bad taste – Backlash against bottled water is spreading, prompting bans on the plastic bottles at city-sponsored events in some communities, their removal from restaurant menus and campaigns urging the use of tap water instead. (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-10-17-bottled-water_N.htm
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Northwest's largest solar-power site about to come on line – The sun peeked through the clouds Thursday above the Wild Horse solar power project atop Whisky Dick Mountain near Ellenburg. (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakima-herald.com/page/dis/290075315846184
Idaho – Elmore wind power projects move forward. Idaho Power and Energy Vision get the PUC's OK for interconnection deals. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/185695.html
CONSERVATION
Gripes over Bush's first energy-efficiency upgrade – The new standard for electrical transformers, announced Friday, will save less energy than utilities had expected. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1017/p02s03-usec.html
Canada – Energy critic says less demand for power this summer proves conservation works (Oilweek Magazine)
http://www.oilweek.com/news.asp?ID=11955
How Hiring an Energy Inspector Can Save You Money – Auditors ferret out funky accounting at corporations. Can they also find the energy culprits in my home? (The Street.Com – She paid $175 for an audit that PUD 3 provides as a free service)
http://www.thestreet.com/s/how-hiring-an-energy-inspector-can-save-you-money/newsanalysis/clean-energy-news/10384728.html
Awesome Cool Homework Tool – Use Con Edison Kids Web Site to Get Ahead (Market Wire, via CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0317184.htm
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
How can you predict global warming if you can't predict rain? Some say climate change is part of a complex natural cycle – so complex, in fact, that it can't be forecast. Are current climate models reliable?
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1018/p14s01-wogi.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
‘Google effect’ spreads money around globe (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/181866.html
GENERAL NEWS
Man wins right to have nativity scene in Capitol Rotunda (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/246108.html
Canada – Safety panel concerned about pot use by B.C. ferry crews. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is worried about marijuana use by British Columbia ferry crew members, based on interviews after a fatal ferry sinking last year. (Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003956644_webferrypot17m.html?syndication=rss
DIVERSIONS
From the institute of colorful language – Swearing At Work Is OK, Study Finds. British University Finds Swearing Can Benefit Employers
http://www.kirotv.com/money/14366871/detail.html
Killer swimwear! Mystery underwear stymies Guantanamo investigators
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSNASUA170120071018?feedType=nl&feedName=ustopnewsearly
Alleged purse-snatcher drops phone – When a teenage boy allegedly grabbed a 63-year-old woman's purse and ran off, he might have escaped arrest. That is, if he hadn't dropped his cell phone.
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/10/10172007_Alleged-purse-snatcher-drops-phone.cfm?newsletter=2
Colbert Consulted Parties Before Announcing Run – Stephen Colbert — who announced plans to run for the presidency, though only in South Carolina, on his Comedy Central show Tuesday night — is serious enough about the stunt that his staff reached out to the state’s Democratic and Republican committees in advance of his declaration.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/arts/television/18colb.html?ex=1350446400&en=0ceea37a8ed8dcff&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
News Digest for October 17, 2007
All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.
WORD OF THE DAY
Enmity • \EN-muh-tee\ • noun – Positive, active, and typically mutual hatred or ill will
The tension in the room was so thick you could have cut it with a knife. Ambrose stalked into the meeting room, his handlebar moustache projecting further than normal due to the build-up of wax he had used to twirl the ends into question marks. Dagwood entered last, his enmity for his opponent in the moustache contest clearly showing in his dark, scowling face. His Fu Manchu moustache dangled to nearly his waist. “I don’t need no stinkin’ props to win this contest,” he howled at Ambrose. “Yeah,” shot back Ambrose. “It’s one thing to have a moustache, but it’s quite another to know what do do with it!”
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
News Release – Possibly Blustery Weather This Thursday - PUD 3 Urges Preparation
The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement regarding potentially windy weather this Thursday. (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=367
Wild windstorm may be on the way – Seattle could be hit with a wild windstorm Thursday, but how severe the winds will be depends on where the storm goes on Wednesday, a National Weather Service spokesman said. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335746_weather17.html
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Electricity Overseer Says Grid Must Grow – Resistance to New Lines Called a Threat – The electric-power industry in the mid-Atlantic region and other parts of the nation is not keeping up with long-term demand, the industry's reliability organization warned yesterday in its annual assessment. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/16/AR2007101601943.html?nav=rss_business
Investment in U.S. power grid needed – The watchdog that oversees North America's power grid says the full promise of renewable fuels cannot be harnessed without first building more power lines that can carry this cleaner energy to consumers. (Associated Press via the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat)
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20071016/NEWS/710160364/1036/BUSINESS01
News Release – We’re doing a GREAT job! New Reports Show ISOs and RTOs Provide Tangible Benefits. ISO/RTO Council Issues Reports on Markets, Demand Response, Renewables (ISO/RTO Council)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=76061
New Chelan County PUD power contract for Alcoa – 17-year deal would create 60 new jobs, start up third pot line at Wenatchee Works New power contract for Alcoa (Wenatchee Herald, nice shot of the eight-inch thick contract documents!)
http://www.wenworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071016/NEWS04/710160052/1001
Okanogan County PUD board ponders new $6 million headquarters – PUD commissioners and staff took a field trip Oct. 9 to look over the possible site for a new headquarters by traipsing in the weeds just behind the current facility. (Omak Chronicle)
http://www.omakchronicle.com/nws/n071016a.shtml
Snohomish County PUD chief now makes $308,407 – General manager Steve Klein received a raise of 22.7 percent to make his salary competitive. (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071017/NEWS01/710170035&news01ad=1
AEP developing CO2-capture technology at Oklahoma plant (Columbus Business First)
http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/10/15/daily15.html?ana=from_rss
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Montana – Federal Agencies Oppose Lowering Flood Stage – Ask Bill Michalk or any farmer about the thousands of dollars in crops they have lost over the years from overbank flooding during spring runoff when the Libby Dam is kept higher, and you'll hear a familiar echo: Lower the flood stage on the Kootenai River two feet. (Rural Northwest)
http://www.ruralnorthwest.com/artman/publish/article_7840.shtml
Lake Superior in the Midst of a Drought – Water levels in the three upper Great Lakes are wavering far below normal, but Lake Superior, the northernmost lake, is already at a record low for this time of year. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15353639&ft=1&f=3
KID's budget hit with shortfall – Kennewick Irrigation District has about $500,000 less in its budget than officials thought. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9385291p-9298647c.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
BPA exec supports governor's decision on wind farm – In a meeting with the Herald editorial board this week Bonneville Power Administration Executive Steve Wright was asked what he thought of Gov. Chris Gregoire's recent decision to approve a wind project near Ellensburg even though it had been rejected by Kittitas County. (Chris Mulick, Tri City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/blogs/mulick/v-rss/story/9384160p-9297525c.html
PacifiCorp unit opposes mandatory renewable standard in Utah – PacifiCorp's Rocky Mountain Power subsidiary and Utah's municipal and cooperative utilities are opposing a renewable portfolio standard for the state, according to a report released Monday. (Platts Energy News)
http://www.platts.com/HOME/News/6525912.xml?sub=HOME&p=HOME/News&
Grays Harbor County PUD to study using methane from treatment plant for power (The Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/10/16/local_news/02news.txt
In Washington, D.C., it takes a village to build a solar house – There are green buildings, and then there are really green buildings. (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9798161-7.html
CONSERVATION
A loophole could dim impact in proposed energy-saving bill – New legislation is slated to phase out inefficient bulbs, but efficiency groups are concerned a loophole could diminish impact. “…new legislation would phase out energy-intensive incandescent bulbs on the basis of their size and shape rather than on the amount of power they draw…. manufacturers could easily skirt the phase-out by changing slightly the shape of their incandescent offerings dramatically reducing the measure's benefits...” (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1016/p02s02-uspo.html
Get the right CFLs for your home (The Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071016/BLOG15/71016005/-1/RSS01
Why your electric bill is so high – Don't be fooled. Appliances on 'sleep' mode still suck power. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1016/p09s01-coop.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Forbes Magazine’s America's Greenest States – “…On top: Vermont, Oregon and Washington. All have low carbon dioxide emissions per capita (or "carbon footprints")…”
http://www.forbes.com/2007/10/16/environment-energy-vermont-biz-beltway-cx_bw_mm_1017greenstates.html?feed=rss_news
Warming's Costs to Top Its Benefits, Study Says – The costs of climate change to the United States will outweigh its benefits, according to a new University of Maryland study. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/16/AR2007101601773.html?nav=rss_nation
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Clearwire draws closer to mobile – Clearwire is taking another step closer toward a high-speed wireless Internet service that can be used on the go. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003955477_clearwire17.html
Small Steps at Yahoo Bear Fruit – Jerry Yang’s plan for reviving the fortunes of Yahoo, the company he co-founded and now runs, does not involve the kind of shock therapy for which some investors had hoped. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/17/business/media/17yahoo.html?ex=1350360000&en=d06013cebe97ebd8&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Former Mason County Resident, convicted of local 1996 murder – Escaped murderer caught at motel. A convicted murderer who escaped from a privately run prison in Arizona has been captured in Spokane. (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/10605707.html
GROUND BREAKING FOR NEW MASON COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS SHOP SET – Mason County is holding a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Public Works Facility being constructed on 42 acres on the northwest corner of the intersection of U.S. Highway 101 and State Route 102. The ceremony is set for 11am Monday. This new shop will consolidate all Public Works employees (administration, Emergency Management, Roads, and vehicle maintenance) in one location. Cost of the new facility is $15 Million and is being paid for through a 20-year loan from the State Treasurer. Again, the ground breaking for Mason County new Public Works facility is 11am Monday at the corner of U.S. Highway 101 and Highway 102 (Dayton Airport Road). (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Port Townsend council kills salary increase proposal for itself – Citing a squeeze on city revenues, Port Townsend City Council members rejected proposed council salary raises that would have made them eligible for participation in the state retirement program. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20071017/NEWS/710170305
DIVERSIONS
Cell Phone Phantoms Haunt Addicted Users – Cell phone addicts and BlackBerry junkies say they feel a telltale vibration on their hipbones when they're not wearing the device, or they hear their cell phone ringing even if they've left it at home. The experience is so common that it is now being called "Ringxiety." (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15323419&ft=1&f=17
A Death in the Funny Pages Stirs Controversy (NY Times)
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/a-death-in-the-funny-pages-stirs-controversy/index.html?ex=1350273600&en=1b4bf750cc9262c3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Well, this is @%$^#^ - Woman Cited For Swearing At Toilet In Her Home. Talk about a potty mouth. A Scranton woman who allegedly shouted profanities at her overflowing toilet within earshot of a neighbor was cited for disorderly conduct, authorities said.
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14351708/detail.html
Four Charged In Theft Of Giant Key Sculptures
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14351780/detail.html
Toothpicks On Field Sideline Football Game – Prank Causes Game To Be Moved. Thousands of toothpicks caused a big problem for the Tawas Braves high school football team.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14350211/detail.html
WORD OF THE DAY
Enmity • \EN-muh-tee\ • noun – Positive, active, and typically mutual hatred or ill will
The tension in the room was so thick you could have cut it with a knife. Ambrose stalked into the meeting room, his handlebar moustache projecting further than normal due to the build-up of wax he had used to twirl the ends into question marks. Dagwood entered last, his enmity for his opponent in the moustache contest clearly showing in his dark, scowling face. His Fu Manchu moustache dangled to nearly his waist. “I don’t need no stinkin’ props to win this contest,” he howled at Ambrose. “Yeah,” shot back Ambrose. “It’s one thing to have a moustache, but it’s quite another to know what do do with it!”
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
News Release – Possibly Blustery Weather This Thursday - PUD 3 Urges Preparation
The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement regarding potentially windy weather this Thursday. (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=367
Wild windstorm may be on the way – Seattle could be hit with a wild windstorm Thursday, but how severe the winds will be depends on where the storm goes on Wednesday, a National Weather Service spokesman said. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335746_weather17.html
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Electricity Overseer Says Grid Must Grow – Resistance to New Lines Called a Threat – The electric-power industry in the mid-Atlantic region and other parts of the nation is not keeping up with long-term demand, the industry's reliability organization warned yesterday in its annual assessment. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/16/AR2007101601943.html?nav=rss_business
Investment in U.S. power grid needed – The watchdog that oversees North America's power grid says the full promise of renewable fuels cannot be harnessed without first building more power lines that can carry this cleaner energy to consumers. (Associated Press via the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat)
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20071016/NEWS/710160364/1036/BUSINESS01
News Release – We’re doing a GREAT job! New Reports Show ISOs and RTOs Provide Tangible Benefits. ISO/RTO Council Issues Reports on Markets, Demand Response, Renewables (ISO/RTO Council)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=76061
New Chelan County PUD power contract for Alcoa – 17-year deal would create 60 new jobs, start up third pot line at Wenatchee Works New power contract for Alcoa (Wenatchee Herald, nice shot of the eight-inch thick contract documents!)
http://www.wenworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071016/NEWS04/710160052/1001
Okanogan County PUD board ponders new $6 million headquarters – PUD commissioners and staff took a field trip Oct. 9 to look over the possible site for a new headquarters by traipsing in the weeds just behind the current facility. (Omak Chronicle)
http://www.omakchronicle.com/nws/n071016a.shtml
Snohomish County PUD chief now makes $308,407 – General manager Steve Klein received a raise of 22.7 percent to make his salary competitive. (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071017/NEWS01/710170035&news01ad=1
AEP developing CO2-capture technology at Oklahoma plant (Columbus Business First)
http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/10/15/daily15.html?ana=from_rss
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Montana – Federal Agencies Oppose Lowering Flood Stage – Ask Bill Michalk or any farmer about the thousands of dollars in crops they have lost over the years from overbank flooding during spring runoff when the Libby Dam is kept higher, and you'll hear a familiar echo: Lower the flood stage on the Kootenai River two feet. (Rural Northwest)
http://www.ruralnorthwest.com/artman/publish/article_7840.shtml
Lake Superior in the Midst of a Drought – Water levels in the three upper Great Lakes are wavering far below normal, but Lake Superior, the northernmost lake, is already at a record low for this time of year. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15353639&ft=1&f=3
KID's budget hit with shortfall – Kennewick Irrigation District has about $500,000 less in its budget than officials thought. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9385291p-9298647c.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
BPA exec supports governor's decision on wind farm – In a meeting with the Herald editorial board this week Bonneville Power Administration Executive Steve Wright was asked what he thought of Gov. Chris Gregoire's recent decision to approve a wind project near Ellensburg even though it had been rejected by Kittitas County. (Chris Mulick, Tri City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/blogs/mulick/v-rss/story/9384160p-9297525c.html
PacifiCorp unit opposes mandatory renewable standard in Utah – PacifiCorp's Rocky Mountain Power subsidiary and Utah's municipal and cooperative utilities are opposing a renewable portfolio standard for the state, according to a report released Monday. (Platts Energy News)
http://www.platts.com/HOME/News/6525912.xml?sub=HOME&p=HOME/News&
Grays Harbor County PUD to study using methane from treatment plant for power (The Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/10/16/local_news/02news.txt
In Washington, D.C., it takes a village to build a solar house – There are green buildings, and then there are really green buildings. (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9798161-7.html
CONSERVATION
A loophole could dim impact in proposed energy-saving bill – New legislation is slated to phase out inefficient bulbs, but efficiency groups are concerned a loophole could diminish impact. “…new legislation would phase out energy-intensive incandescent bulbs on the basis of their size and shape rather than on the amount of power they draw…. manufacturers could easily skirt the phase-out by changing slightly the shape of their incandescent offerings dramatically reducing the measure's benefits...” (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1016/p02s02-uspo.html
Get the right CFLs for your home (The Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071016/BLOG15/71016005/-1/RSS01
Why your electric bill is so high – Don't be fooled. Appliances on 'sleep' mode still suck power. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1016/p09s01-coop.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Forbes Magazine’s America's Greenest States – “…On top: Vermont, Oregon and Washington. All have low carbon dioxide emissions per capita (or "carbon footprints")…”
http://www.forbes.com/2007/10/16/environment-energy-vermont-biz-beltway-cx_bw_mm_1017greenstates.html?feed=rss_news
Warming's Costs to Top Its Benefits, Study Says – The costs of climate change to the United States will outweigh its benefits, according to a new University of Maryland study. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/16/AR2007101601773.html?nav=rss_nation
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Clearwire draws closer to mobile – Clearwire is taking another step closer toward a high-speed wireless Internet service that can be used on the go. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003955477_clearwire17.html
Small Steps at Yahoo Bear Fruit – Jerry Yang’s plan for reviving the fortunes of Yahoo, the company he co-founded and now runs, does not involve the kind of shock therapy for which some investors had hoped. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/17/business/media/17yahoo.html?ex=1350360000&en=d06013cebe97ebd8&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Former Mason County Resident, convicted of local 1996 murder – Escaped murderer caught at motel. A convicted murderer who escaped from a privately run prison in Arizona has been captured in Spokane. (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/10605707.html
GROUND BREAKING FOR NEW MASON COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS SHOP SET – Mason County is holding a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Public Works Facility being constructed on 42 acres on the northwest corner of the intersection of U.S. Highway 101 and State Route 102. The ceremony is set for 11am Monday. This new shop will consolidate all Public Works employees (administration, Emergency Management, Roads, and vehicle maintenance) in one location. Cost of the new facility is $15 Million and is being paid for through a 20-year loan from the State Treasurer. Again, the ground breaking for Mason County new Public Works facility is 11am Monday at the corner of U.S. Highway 101 and Highway 102 (Dayton Airport Road). (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Port Townsend council kills salary increase proposal for itself – Citing a squeeze on city revenues, Port Townsend City Council members rejected proposed council salary raises that would have made them eligible for participation in the state retirement program. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20071017/NEWS/710170305
DIVERSIONS
Cell Phone Phantoms Haunt Addicted Users – Cell phone addicts and BlackBerry junkies say they feel a telltale vibration on their hipbones when they're not wearing the device, or they hear their cell phone ringing even if they've left it at home. The experience is so common that it is now being called "Ringxiety." (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15323419&ft=1&f=17
A Death in the Funny Pages Stirs Controversy (NY Times)
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/a-death-in-the-funny-pages-stirs-controversy/index.html?ex=1350273600&en=1b4bf750cc9262c3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Well, this is @%$^#^ - Woman Cited For Swearing At Toilet In Her Home. Talk about a potty mouth. A Scranton woman who allegedly shouted profanities at her overflowing toilet within earshot of a neighbor was cited for disorderly conduct, authorities said.
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14351708/detail.html
Four Charged In Theft Of Giant Key Sculptures
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14351780/detail.html
Toothpicks On Field Sideline Football Game – Prank Causes Game To Be Moved. Thousands of toothpicks caused a big problem for the Tawas Braves high school football team.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14350211/detail.html
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
News Digest for October 16, 2007
All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.
WORD OF THE DAY
Fervid • \FER-vid\ • adjective – 1: very hot: burning *2: marked by often extreme intensity of feeling
Irving Berlin was stumped. He just couldn’t work up a fervid enthusiasm for his latest composition. “We’re having a cold wave…an arctic-like cold wave,” he hummed over the keyboard. “Golly, that just doesn’t swing,” he moaned.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Oregon – PacifiCorp hopes to deliver a jolt. The utility wants a threatened 2.5% rate increase to nudge ratepayers into seeking changes “…the company doesn't want customers to feel gouged, but it has no choice other than to surcharge customers until legislators change the controversial utility tax law..” (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1192343206203830.xml&coll=7
Seattle – Tower worker shocked, hospitalized with burns (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335617_shock16.html?source=rss
News Release – Fitch Rates Cowlitz, Washington PUD $63.49MM Electric Distribution System Revs, 2007 'A-' (Fitch Ratings, Via Yahoo! Finance)
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/071015/20071015006339.html?.v=1
News Release – North American Electricity Demand Continues to Outpace Resource Growth; Reliability Concerns Remain. California, Rocky Mountain states, New England, Texas, Southwest and Midwest United States; and Western Canada; are areas of concern (North American Electric Reliability Corporation)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071016/netu082.html?.v=23
A ‘Circuit of the Future’ That Keeps Blackouts Brief and Local Is Tried in California (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/business/16electric.html?ex=1350187200&en=707845c638798760&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Australia – Racing to the aid of king coal. Climate change is the Achilles heel of the Australian resources boom that both coal companies and Australian governments are fully aware of but prefer not to acknowledge or address. (The Courier-Mail, Queensland)
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22596694-27197,00.html
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Surrogate Fish Could Save Endangered Brethren – When Japanese scientists found a way to make one species of fish lay the eggs of another, some dismissed the work as a genetic parlor trick. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15287000&ft=1&f=17
UW scientists create pollution-sucking trees – Rabbit gene helps poplars neutralize chemicals quickly. …while the poplars could benefit cleanup projects, they raise a multitude of ecological and ethical concerns. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer – Not the mention the fact that they breed like, well, rabbits!)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335572_transgenic16.html
Southeast facing "ongoing water crisis" Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003952706_drought16.html
Vancouver Island, BC – Province tells Tofino to treat sewage discharge. Sewage treatment is moving to the front of line for Tofino. (Victoria Times Columnist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=9f12efe2-c6cc-42ed-9369-7f146df2b1d6&k=31365
Oregon – Group seeks tougher penalties for killing birds. Frustrated by the sentences of two Portland-area pigeon hobbyists who tried to kill protected hawks and raptors, the Audubon Society of Portland wants Congress to establish more severe penalties for killing migratory birds. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1192497933261450.xml&coll=7
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Winds of change may blow on Rattlesnake Mountain – Wind power prospectors once again are poking around Rattlesnake Mountain. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9381539p-9294925c.html
PacifiCorp to Build Second Marengo Wind Facility – PacifiCorp subsidiary Pacific Power last week announced a new 70.2-MW wind project near its recently completed Marengo facility in the hills near Dayton, Washington. Construction on the Marengo II project will begin this month. (Renewable Energy Access.com)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50282&src=rss
Oregon State University wave energy buoy bobs according to plan (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1192497912261450.xml&coll=7
CONSERVATION
Don't Let High Heating Costs Melt Your Budget – It's going to be expensive staying warm this winter. (The Street.com)
http://www.thestreet.com/s/dont-let-high-heating-costs-melt-your-budget/funds/saving-money/10384527.html?puc=googlefi
News Release – Prepare Now before Winter Increases Your Energy Costs (PECO)
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,199663.shtml
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Scientists Wary of Iron as Proposed Climate Fix – Two companies say the best way to slow global warming is to dump iron into the oceans. Some scientists, however, have serious doubts. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15298749
Even as economy lags, corporate 'green' push may advance – Companies used to shelve environmental initiatives when times got tough, but now, with oil so expensive, spending on green projects is expected to accelerate. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1015/p01s02-usec.html
Peace likely to erode alongside glaciers, coasts – Shortages will bring wars, experts say (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/335381_climate13.html?source=rss
Proposal would measure projects' impact on climate change – Builders in Seattle would be required to identify the impact of large projects on climate change if legislation by City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck wins approval. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2003952779_greenhouse16m.html?syndication=rss
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Tektronix Bought Out By East Coast Conglomerate – Oregon's tech sector today is watching one of its founding members move away. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/tektronix-bought-out-east-coast-conglomerate/
Comcast to raise cable rates by 4.2 percent (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2007/10/15/daily8.html?ana=from_rss
AOL to cut 2,000 jobs – The 20 percent staff cut adds to the 5,000 layoffs last fall as the Internet company transitions from access provider to online advertising company. (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/2007/10/15/news/companies/AOL.ap/index.htm?eref=ib_topstories
Washington Post Editorial – The Web grows up; Internet services shouldn't be a tax-free zone.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/15/AR2007101501373.html?nav=rss_opinions
Broadcasters unveil digital TV campaign (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_101507BUB_future_tv_KC.174359fb8.html
Connecticut – State Says AT&T Needs Cable License; Orders Company to Stop Signing Up Customers for TV Service (The Hartford Courant)
http://www.courant.com/business/hc-att-1015,0,7352347.story?coll=hc_tab01_layout
Verizon Letter on Privacy Stirs Debate – Verizon Wireless, one of the nation’s largest cell phone carriers, has stirred up controversy with a letter it sent to customers recently telling them that it would begin sharing information from their calling records with its “affiliates, agents and parent companies.” (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/business/16phone.html?ex=1350187200&en=528c62515ff42013&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Memorial for sky divers planned – Friends and family of the pilot and nine sky divers killed in the Oct. 7 White Pass plane crash have planned a public memorial for the dead, as federal investigators continue their efforts to determine what caused the plane to go down in the Cascades. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335623_skydivers16.html?source=rss
State applies for I-5 permits – Relief for drivers on the crowded eight-mile stretch of Interstate 5 between Grand Mound and Maytown is a step closer after a Thurston County permit hearing Monday on a $70 million to $90 million freeway widening project. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/244685.html
Oregon – Superior Lumber Arsonists: Burned by their own fire. Cases wrap up for eco-arsonists who attacked Superior Lumber (The News Review, Roseburg, OR)
http://www.newsreview.info/article/20071014/NEWS/71013005/-1/NEWS
That's Senator McDermott to you – As expected, state Rep. Joe McDermott, D-West Seattle, was appointed to the Senate this afternoon to replace Erik Poulsen, who is stepping down to work for the Washington PUD Association. (Chris Mulick, Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/blogs/mulick/v-rss/story/9381874p-9295263c.html
Silly String Is Shipped Off to Iraq – About 80,000 cans of Silly String will be shipped to Iraq, where troops use it to detect trip wires on bombs. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/nyregion/16string.html?ex=1350187200&en=f7282984996d0ba3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Trouble brewing for small beer makers over hops shortage (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP10162007news215815.cfm?newsletter=10
DIVERSIONS
Hardee's Unveils 920-Calorie Burrito – The people who brought you the Monster Thickburger and the 1,100-calorie salad are at it again — this time for breakfast.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/10/15/financial/f113609D38.DTL&feed=rss.news
Paging Charlie Chaplin! Veteran Puts Hitler's Globe Up for Sale – Days after the end of World War II, an American soldier entering the wreckage of Adolf Hitler's mountain stronghold found that fierce Allied bombing had left the "Eagle's Nest" in ruins.
http://www.examiner.com/a-990883~Veteran_Puts_Hitler_s_Globe_Up_for_Sale.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Great news! They're stealing our books! The Frankfurt Book Fair has an indicator to help publishers gauge public interest in the new offerings presented at the annual exhibition -- the unofficial "most stolen book" index.
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL142392220071016?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest
Craigslist advertiser pleads guilty – A 28-year-old woman accused of placing a Craigslist ad that led to her aunt’s house being gutted earlier this year pleaded guilty Monday.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/180133.html
Bridezilla! A Bride Sues Her Florist Over Pastel Hydrangeas. The wedding bouquet has barely faded and already an Upper East Side bride has regrets — not because she married, but because of the flowers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/nyregion/16flowers.html?_r=1&ex=1350273600&en=44ae21eb600c7395&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
WORD OF THE DAY
Fervid • \FER-vid\ • adjective – 1: very hot: burning *2: marked by often extreme intensity of feeling
Irving Berlin was stumped. He just couldn’t work up a fervid enthusiasm for his latest composition. “We’re having a cold wave…an arctic-like cold wave,” he hummed over the keyboard. “Golly, that just doesn’t swing,” he moaned.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Oregon – PacifiCorp hopes to deliver a jolt. The utility wants a threatened 2.5% rate increase to nudge ratepayers into seeking changes “…the company doesn't want customers to feel gouged, but it has no choice other than to surcharge customers until legislators change the controversial utility tax law..” (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1192343206203830.xml&coll=7
Seattle – Tower worker shocked, hospitalized with burns (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335617_shock16.html?source=rss
News Release – Fitch Rates Cowlitz, Washington PUD $63.49MM Electric Distribution System Revs, 2007 'A-' (Fitch Ratings, Via Yahoo! Finance)
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/071015/20071015006339.html?.v=1
News Release – North American Electricity Demand Continues to Outpace Resource Growth; Reliability Concerns Remain. California, Rocky Mountain states, New England, Texas, Southwest and Midwest United States; and Western Canada; are areas of concern (North American Electric Reliability Corporation)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071016/netu082.html?.v=23
A ‘Circuit of the Future’ That Keeps Blackouts Brief and Local Is Tried in California (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/business/16electric.html?ex=1350187200&en=707845c638798760&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Australia – Racing to the aid of king coal. Climate change is the Achilles heel of the Australian resources boom that both coal companies and Australian governments are fully aware of but prefer not to acknowledge or address. (The Courier-Mail, Queensland)
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22596694-27197,00.html
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Surrogate Fish Could Save Endangered Brethren – When Japanese scientists found a way to make one species of fish lay the eggs of another, some dismissed the work as a genetic parlor trick. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15287000&ft=1&f=17
UW scientists create pollution-sucking trees – Rabbit gene helps poplars neutralize chemicals quickly. …while the poplars could benefit cleanup projects, they raise a multitude of ecological and ethical concerns. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer – Not the mention the fact that they breed like, well, rabbits!)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335572_transgenic16.html
Southeast facing "ongoing water crisis" Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003952706_drought16.html
Vancouver Island, BC – Province tells Tofino to treat sewage discharge. Sewage treatment is moving to the front of line for Tofino. (Victoria Times Columnist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=9f12efe2-c6cc-42ed-9369-7f146df2b1d6&k=31365
Oregon – Group seeks tougher penalties for killing birds. Frustrated by the sentences of two Portland-area pigeon hobbyists who tried to kill protected hawks and raptors, the Audubon Society of Portland wants Congress to establish more severe penalties for killing migratory birds. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1192497933261450.xml&coll=7
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Winds of change may blow on Rattlesnake Mountain – Wind power prospectors once again are poking around Rattlesnake Mountain. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9381539p-9294925c.html
PacifiCorp to Build Second Marengo Wind Facility – PacifiCorp subsidiary Pacific Power last week announced a new 70.2-MW wind project near its recently completed Marengo facility in the hills near Dayton, Washington. Construction on the Marengo II project will begin this month. (Renewable Energy Access.com)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50282&src=rss
Oregon State University wave energy buoy bobs according to plan (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1192497912261450.xml&coll=7
CONSERVATION
Don't Let High Heating Costs Melt Your Budget – It's going to be expensive staying warm this winter. (The Street.com)
http://www.thestreet.com/s/dont-let-high-heating-costs-melt-your-budget/funds/saving-money/10384527.html?puc=googlefi
News Release – Prepare Now before Winter Increases Your Energy Costs (PECO)
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,199663.shtml
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Scientists Wary of Iron as Proposed Climate Fix – Two companies say the best way to slow global warming is to dump iron into the oceans. Some scientists, however, have serious doubts. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15298749
Even as economy lags, corporate 'green' push may advance – Companies used to shelve environmental initiatives when times got tough, but now, with oil so expensive, spending on green projects is expected to accelerate. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1015/p01s02-usec.html
Peace likely to erode alongside glaciers, coasts – Shortages will bring wars, experts say (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/335381_climate13.html?source=rss
Proposal would measure projects' impact on climate change – Builders in Seattle would be required to identify the impact of large projects on climate change if legislation by City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck wins approval. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2003952779_greenhouse16m.html?syndication=rss
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Tektronix Bought Out By East Coast Conglomerate – Oregon's tech sector today is watching one of its founding members move away. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/tektronix-bought-out-east-coast-conglomerate/
Comcast to raise cable rates by 4.2 percent (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2007/10/15/daily8.html?ana=from_rss
AOL to cut 2,000 jobs – The 20 percent staff cut adds to the 5,000 layoffs last fall as the Internet company transitions from access provider to online advertising company. (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/2007/10/15/news/companies/AOL.ap/index.htm?eref=ib_topstories
Washington Post Editorial – The Web grows up; Internet services shouldn't be a tax-free zone.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/15/AR2007101501373.html?nav=rss_opinions
Broadcasters unveil digital TV campaign (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_101507BUB_future_tv_KC.174359fb8.html
Connecticut – State Says AT&T Needs Cable License; Orders Company to Stop Signing Up Customers for TV Service (The Hartford Courant)
http://www.courant.com/business/hc-att-1015,0,7352347.story?coll=hc_tab01_layout
Verizon Letter on Privacy Stirs Debate – Verizon Wireless, one of the nation’s largest cell phone carriers, has stirred up controversy with a letter it sent to customers recently telling them that it would begin sharing information from their calling records with its “affiliates, agents and parent companies.” (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/business/16phone.html?ex=1350187200&en=528c62515ff42013&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Memorial for sky divers planned – Friends and family of the pilot and nine sky divers killed in the Oct. 7 White Pass plane crash have planned a public memorial for the dead, as federal investigators continue their efforts to determine what caused the plane to go down in the Cascades. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335623_skydivers16.html?source=rss
State applies for I-5 permits – Relief for drivers on the crowded eight-mile stretch of Interstate 5 between Grand Mound and Maytown is a step closer after a Thurston County permit hearing Monday on a $70 million to $90 million freeway widening project. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/244685.html
Oregon – Superior Lumber Arsonists: Burned by their own fire. Cases wrap up for eco-arsonists who attacked Superior Lumber (The News Review, Roseburg, OR)
http://www.newsreview.info/article/20071014/NEWS/71013005/-1/NEWS
That's Senator McDermott to you – As expected, state Rep. Joe McDermott, D-West Seattle, was appointed to the Senate this afternoon to replace Erik Poulsen, who is stepping down to work for the Washington PUD Association. (Chris Mulick, Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/blogs/mulick/v-rss/story/9381874p-9295263c.html
Silly String Is Shipped Off to Iraq – About 80,000 cans of Silly String will be shipped to Iraq, where troops use it to detect trip wires on bombs. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/nyregion/16string.html?ex=1350187200&en=f7282984996d0ba3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Trouble brewing for small beer makers over hops shortage (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP10162007news215815.cfm?newsletter=10
DIVERSIONS
Hardee's Unveils 920-Calorie Burrito – The people who brought you the Monster Thickburger and the 1,100-calorie salad are at it again — this time for breakfast.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/10/15/financial/f113609D38.DTL&feed=rss.news
Paging Charlie Chaplin! Veteran Puts Hitler's Globe Up for Sale – Days after the end of World War II, an American soldier entering the wreckage of Adolf Hitler's mountain stronghold found that fierce Allied bombing had left the "Eagle's Nest" in ruins.
http://www.examiner.com/a-990883~Veteran_Puts_Hitler_s_Globe_Up_for_Sale.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Great news! They're stealing our books! The Frankfurt Book Fair has an indicator to help publishers gauge public interest in the new offerings presented at the annual exhibition -- the unofficial "most stolen book" index.
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL142392220071016?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest
Craigslist advertiser pleads guilty – A 28-year-old woman accused of placing a Craigslist ad that led to her aunt’s house being gutted earlier this year pleaded guilty Monday.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/180133.html
Bridezilla! A Bride Sues Her Florist Over Pastel Hydrangeas. The wedding bouquet has barely faded and already an Upper East Side bride has regrets — not because she married, but because of the flowers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/nyregion/16flowers.html?_r=1&ex=1350273600&en=44ae21eb600c7395&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Monday, October 15, 2007
News Digest for October 15, 2007
All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.
WORD OF THE DAY
Malign • \muh-LYNE\ • verb – To utter injuriously misleading or false reports about: speak evil of
“Of course I have your best interests in mind,” purred the curvaceous market trader to the visiting utility representative. However, underneath her beautiful exterior beat the malign heart of a serpent…already thinking of her next victim, the legendary “Gramma Millie”.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
News Release – Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals: In another victory for public power, Bonneville Power Administration is directed to fix issues over excess subsidies paid to private utilities (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=365
News Release – BPA makes U.S. Treasury payment in full and on time (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/178134/
Alcoa power contract to be discussed at Chelan County PUD meeting (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071012/NEWS04/710120054/1001/rss1001
Personal Observations, John Dodge, the Olympian – Commissioner Welch played big role in career-defining stories. A flood of memories came rushing back this week with the news that former Grays Harbor Public Utility District Commissioner Jack Welch, 88, died last Sunday at a Hoquiam retirement home.
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/243193.html
Nevada – Valley Electric tacks on impact fees to hookups (Pahrump Valley Times)
http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com/2007/Oct-12-Fri-2007/news/17244575.html
Idaho – Otter: Rules preventing coal-fired plants 'still appropriate'. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter is sticking to a plan that keeps mercury-emitting coal power plants out of Idaho. (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/244065.html
Meanwhile, Pocatello, Idaho mayor doesn't want coal-fired plant in state (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/242952.html
Oklahoma power plant dealt final blow – The Oklahoma Corporation Commission issued a final order Thursday quashing a proposed $1.8 billion coal-fired power plant known as Red Rock. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via PowerMarkets.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CgffhjkrYTgd%23%3A%40%24bfem%5Ev
Oklahoma utilities plan for future without coal – It's back to the planning room (how about “back to the drawing board”?) for the state's largest electric utilities. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via PowerMarkets.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CgffglpuZTgd%23%3A%40%24bfem%5Ev
Kansas – Fossil fuel feud erupts out of poll on coal plants. Opposition to coal-fired power plants in Kansas appears to be growing beyond its environmentalist roots. (Hays Daily News)
http://www.hdnews.net/Story/coalpoll101207
Kansas – Debate over coal plants also debate about power needs – Timothy Carr delivered his message with a matter-of-fact tone: The world is going to consume more energy; little of the electricity it will need will come from renewable resources, and much of that power will come from coal. (Dodge City Daily Globe)
http://www.dodgeglobe.com/stories/101507/loc_20071015011.shtml
Canada – Ottawa to explore coal as energy solution. Alberta coal could be the key to a clean energy revolution, say industry and government proponents of a $33-million plan to gauge its merits in producing nearly emissions-free electricity. (Calgary Sun)
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/10/13/4573427-sun.html
Nuclear reactors for sale: France vies for big stake in industry revival (AFP, via Google News)
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jR373WV8d1a2bsj-cFUbOw0QFLcA
New Zealand – Govt denies electricity plan will jeopardize supply. The Government has rejected claims its energy strategy will place New Zealand's electricity supply in danger in the future. (National Business review)
http://www.nbr.co.nz/home/column_article.asp?id=19249&cid=15&cname=Politics
The Olympian Opinion – Pipeline records should not be kept from public: Pipeline industry officials who have failed to change the state law have turned to the courts to keep specific pipeline records out of the hands of the public and away from the media.
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/242492.html
Canada – Unstable Mix: Politics and Liquefied Natural Gas
PM Harper: Opposes LNG shipments through New Brunswick waters. Citing 'safety concerns,' feds fight LNG project back east -- but not along BC's coast. (The Tyee)
http://thetyee.ca/News/2007/10/11/LiquifiedNatGas/
Pennsylvania – Tax issue surfaces in energy rebate proposal. A Republican proposal to fund rebates for solar energy systems with existing tax revenues could mean a big federal income tax bill for homeowners who get rebates. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via PowerMarkets.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CgentrqmSTgd%23%3A%40%24bfem%5Ev
Texas – Financing for TXU Deal Is a Test for Debt Markets. Last month, the debt markets passed their first test of the fall with better-than-expected results. Now comes the second challenge. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/15/business/15txu.html?ex=1350100800&en=c192186427f7b592&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
The Potential for an Effective and Timely Deregulatory Endeavor (Energy Pulse Commentary – Uses AT&T breakup as an example)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1585
When power shuts down, preparation pays off (Cox News Service, via the Register-Guard, Eugene)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?mid=5918
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
All five Makah whalers enter not-guilty pleas (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20071014/NEWS/710140302
After Possible ‘Oops,’ a Trout Rescue Project Regroups – State and federal biologists, who are smarting from research showing that they may have been protecting the wrong fish the past 20 years, are regrouping in their efforts to restore the rare greenback cutthroat trout to Colorado waters. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/us/14fish.html?ex=1350014400&en=94137db979a300af&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Bremerton – Streams Set for Salmon. Most Kitsap Peninsula streams are primed for salmon, thanks to recent rains, biologists say. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2007/oct/15/streams-set-for-salmon/
The Olympian – Calendar of events: Salmon outings. Oct. 24: Come learn about the amazing chum salmon during a Stream Team evening
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/243851.html
Seattle Times Outdoors Notebook – Steelhead fishing off to decent start
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2003948404_outn14.html
Washington Post Editorial – The Dam Breaks. FOR CHINA'S communist leadership, which gathers today for a major party congress, the gigantic Three Gorges Dam holds out the promise of abundant hydroelectric power and an end to devastating periodic floods along the Yangtze River. Yet from the moment they hatched a plan to build the colossal project, China's leaders have known that its benefits would come at a high environmental cost.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/14/AR2007101401010.html?nav=rss_opinions
Columbia River water to be discussed at Ecology meeting – The state Department of Ecology will host an open house Wednesday at the Okanogan County Fairgrounds Agriplex building to talk about water allocations. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071012/NEWS04/71012013/1025/rss1025
California Grapples with Water Shortage – California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger calls a special session of the legislature to deal with the state's biggest water shortage in 15 years. Arid conditions set the stage for huge cuts in water shipments to southern California farms and residences. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15276497&ft=1&f=3
Jefferson County closes Lake Leland over toxic bacteria; homeowners warned (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20071014/NEWS/710140307
Past its archaeological scare, Beckett enclave nears its new septic system – "It's gonna get done," Jim Parker, Jefferson County PUD general manager, assured Beckett Point residents. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20071010/NEWS/710100303
New Landowners With New Agenda Flood the West – a new wave of investors and landowners across the American West…are snapping up open spaces as private playgrounds on the borders of national parks and national forests. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/13/us/13timber.html?ex=1349928000&en=96ea77f4b41a89f8&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Utah – Wind Harvest. Energy resources are blowing through Utah, but cannot be captured without state policy change (Daily Herald)
http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/240298/3/
Georgia – Green power: Electric co-ops try to build renewable energy sources (Athens Banner-Herald – Wow! Check out that dam in the accompanying picture.)
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/101407/business_20071014008.shtml
Turbine Free Wind Power: Alternative Alternative Energy – Wind power is great, but those big turbines are inefficient (the bearings suck out a lot of energy) and, if you're a passing bird, dangerous. (Wired, Gadget Lab)
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/10/turbine-free-wi.html
News Whiz – Poll Shows Overwhelming Support for Renewable Fuel Options. Nearly Nine in 10 Agree U.S. Should Pursue Renewable Energy Sources. 95 Percent Blame Increasing Oil Prices for Rising Cost of Food. (And now, would you be willing to pay the higher cost for it? Clean Fuels Development Coalition)
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/071015/20071014005078.html?.v=1
CONSERVATION
News Release – HolidayLEDs.com Launches Energy Scrooge™ Calculator (PR Newswire)
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/10/prweb560945.htm
PGE donates additional $50,000 to Oregon HEAT (KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR)
http://www.ktvz.com/Global/story.asp?S=7211411
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Guest Columnist David Crane for the Washington Post – We're Carboholics. Make Us Stop. I am a carboholic. As Americans, we are all carboholics, but I am more so than most. The company I run, NRG Energy, emits more than 64 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere each year -- more than the total man-made greenhouse gas emissions of Norway. (David Crane is chief executive of Princeton, N.J.-based NRG Energy Inc)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/12/AR2007101202153.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
Obama: Electric bills would rise under his greenhouse emissions plan (Chicago Tribune)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-071014obama,1,1962706.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Other views, The Olympian – We cannot afford to leave rural Washington behind. Cell phones are quickly becoming the single most important device that Americans use. While urban residents often take for granted reliable wireless service, people living in rural areas of Washington suffer from spotty service and potentially dangerous dead zones where there is no signal at all. James Peters, chairman of the Squaxin Island Tribe in Mason County, for The Olympian
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/242497.html
What's DTV? Click! answers your questions! Click! Cable TV experts are hosting workshops next week about the federal government's mandated conversion to digital television in February 2009 and how it might affect you. (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/business/2007/10/12/what_s_dtv_click_answers_your_questions
PTTV eyes webcasts across Peninsula – Public access television has a future on the Web in Jefferson County, says a community broadcasting leader, and one day could extend its reach west into Clallam County. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20071015/NEWS/710150303
The Insider: Starbucks mum on rumor it will offer free Wi-Fi (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/335456_theinsider15.html?source=rss
Three Minutes With MuniWireless.com's Founder – Esme Vos tells how her blog about municipal wireless grew into a leading aggregator of news and analysis about the industry. (PC World)
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,138237-c,wireless/article.html
UK Studies Health Risks of Wi-Fi – No one wants to believe that it might just be safe (Broadband Reports. Note: comment section may contain PG-13 language)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/UK-Studies-Health-Risks-of-WiFi-88392
Rural Missouri lags in broadband access – Providing universal access to broadband capability has been compared to driving the golden spike that completed America's transcontinental railroad in 1869. (The Southeast Missourian)
http://www.semissourian.com/story/1284275.html
New Hampshire – New bill may eliminate state web tax: Sununu aims to keep internet affordable (Concord Monitor)
http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071014/BUSINESS/710140354/1265
Two Are Sentenced to 5 Years in Spam Case
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/us/14spam.html?ex=1350100800&en=e1df800585a4d60e&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Some grumble that Google isn't model citizen – Bracing for an invasion of Google employees in February after the Internet search giant bought up its office complex, startup Become.com erected a makeshift sign: "I for one welcome our Google overlords." (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003950330_btgoogletown15.html
Google Adds More Online Storage – In competition with Yahoo’s unlimited storage? (Broadband Reports. Note: comment section may contain PG-13 language)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Google-Adds-More-Online-Storage-88424
Former CEO Says U.S. Punished Phone Firm – Qwest Feared NSA Plan Was Illegal, Filing Says (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/12/AR2007101202485.html?nav=rss_business
Survey: Office workers still the greatest security threat – Businesses still consider desktop users to be the biggest security risk to their networks, despite increased concern over outsourced labor and remote users. (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/Survey-Office-workers-still-the-greatest-security-threat/2100-7355-6213227.html?part=dht
GENERAL NEWS
Pressure grows for lobbyists' back rent – Lobbyists are getting their arms twisted at the Capitol. And government is doing the twisting — over a bill for back rent that keeps growing. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/242577.html
Computer system an issue for family leave – Machines' cost estimated at $18 million. Whichever state agency takes on a new paid family leave program, it will have less than two years to put a major computer system together — a difficult and costly task. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/243196.html
All hail the lobbyconners – Why pay for hefty conference fees when you can hang out in the hallway and network for free? (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/All-hail-the-lobbyconners/8301-13772_3-9797091-52.html?part=dht
DIVERSIONS
Thieves plunder metal from Seafair Pirates' ship (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_101207WAB_moby_duck_cannons_TP.163d572ae.html
Three Arrested In Connection With Blow-Dart Attacks in Chehalis – Three people were arrested for investigation of shooting blow darts at people in several drive-by attacks in Chehalis.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14330708/detail.html
Who will the governor be for Halloween?
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/blogs/mulick/v-rss/story/9372160p-9285708c.html
North Mason Couple Takes Abandoned Squirrels Under Their Wing – What's this? The five-acre residence of Jeff and Katrina Lunore is a veritable menagerie. Nearly two dozen chickens, three dogs and a pair of cats call the white-fenced parcel south of Belfair home. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/oct/13/nm-couple-takes-abandoned-squirrels-under-their/
Family beaten as YouTube party descends into chaos
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL1249768320071012?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
(More YouTube shenanigans) In a City Far, Far Away From Hollywood, the YouTube Tales of a Lesser Vader – Aaron Yonda and Matt Sloan have become YouTube stars with their satirical series depicting Darth Vader’s brother, Chad in costume, as a power-hungry manager of a grocery store.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/15/business/media/15chad.html?ex=1350187200&en=d801febbe463d66b&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
WORD OF THE DAY
Malign • \muh-LYNE\ • verb – To utter injuriously misleading or false reports about: speak evil of
“Of course I have your best interests in mind,” purred the curvaceous market trader to the visiting utility representative. However, underneath her beautiful exterior beat the malign heart of a serpent…already thinking of her next victim, the legendary “Gramma Millie”.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
News Release – Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals: In another victory for public power, Bonneville Power Administration is directed to fix issues over excess subsidies paid to private utilities (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=365
News Release – BPA makes U.S. Treasury payment in full and on time (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/178134/
Alcoa power contract to be discussed at Chelan County PUD meeting (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071012/NEWS04/710120054/1001/rss1001
Personal Observations, John Dodge, the Olympian – Commissioner Welch played big role in career-defining stories. A flood of memories came rushing back this week with the news that former Grays Harbor Public Utility District Commissioner Jack Welch, 88, died last Sunday at a Hoquiam retirement home.
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/243193.html
Nevada – Valley Electric tacks on impact fees to hookups (Pahrump Valley Times)
http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com/2007/Oct-12-Fri-2007/news/17244575.html
Idaho – Otter: Rules preventing coal-fired plants 'still appropriate'. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter is sticking to a plan that keeps mercury-emitting coal power plants out of Idaho. (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/244065.html
Meanwhile, Pocatello, Idaho mayor doesn't want coal-fired plant in state (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/242952.html
Oklahoma power plant dealt final blow – The Oklahoma Corporation Commission issued a final order Thursday quashing a proposed $1.8 billion coal-fired power plant known as Red Rock. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via PowerMarkets.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CgffhjkrYTgd%23%3A%40%24bfem%5Ev
Oklahoma utilities plan for future without coal – It's back to the planning room (how about “back to the drawing board”?) for the state's largest electric utilities. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via PowerMarkets.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CgffglpuZTgd%23%3A%40%24bfem%5Ev
Kansas – Fossil fuel feud erupts out of poll on coal plants. Opposition to coal-fired power plants in Kansas appears to be growing beyond its environmentalist roots. (Hays Daily News)
http://www.hdnews.net/Story/coalpoll101207
Kansas – Debate over coal plants also debate about power needs – Timothy Carr delivered his message with a matter-of-fact tone: The world is going to consume more energy; little of the electricity it will need will come from renewable resources, and much of that power will come from coal. (Dodge City Daily Globe)
http://www.dodgeglobe.com/stories/101507/loc_20071015011.shtml
Canada – Ottawa to explore coal as energy solution. Alberta coal could be the key to a clean energy revolution, say industry and government proponents of a $33-million plan to gauge its merits in producing nearly emissions-free electricity. (Calgary Sun)
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/10/13/4573427-sun.html
Nuclear reactors for sale: France vies for big stake in industry revival (AFP, via Google News)
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jR373WV8d1a2bsj-cFUbOw0QFLcA
New Zealand – Govt denies electricity plan will jeopardize supply. The Government has rejected claims its energy strategy will place New Zealand's electricity supply in danger in the future. (National Business review)
http://www.nbr.co.nz/home/column_article.asp?id=19249&cid=15&cname=Politics
The Olympian Opinion – Pipeline records should not be kept from public: Pipeline industry officials who have failed to change the state law have turned to the courts to keep specific pipeline records out of the hands of the public and away from the media.
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/242492.html
Canada – Unstable Mix: Politics and Liquefied Natural Gas
PM Harper: Opposes LNG shipments through New Brunswick waters. Citing 'safety concerns,' feds fight LNG project back east -- but not along BC's coast. (The Tyee)
http://thetyee.ca/News/2007/10/11/LiquifiedNatGas/
Pennsylvania – Tax issue surfaces in energy rebate proposal. A Republican proposal to fund rebates for solar energy systems with existing tax revenues could mean a big federal income tax bill for homeowners who get rebates. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via PowerMarkets.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CgentrqmSTgd%23%3A%40%24bfem%5Ev
Texas – Financing for TXU Deal Is a Test for Debt Markets. Last month, the debt markets passed their first test of the fall with better-than-expected results. Now comes the second challenge. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/15/business/15txu.html?ex=1350100800&en=c192186427f7b592&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
The Potential for an Effective and Timely Deregulatory Endeavor (Energy Pulse Commentary – Uses AT&T breakup as an example)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1585
When power shuts down, preparation pays off (Cox News Service, via the Register-Guard, Eugene)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?mid=5918
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
All five Makah whalers enter not-guilty pleas (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20071014/NEWS/710140302
After Possible ‘Oops,’ a Trout Rescue Project Regroups – State and federal biologists, who are smarting from research showing that they may have been protecting the wrong fish the past 20 years, are regrouping in their efforts to restore the rare greenback cutthroat trout to Colorado waters. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/us/14fish.html?ex=1350014400&en=94137db979a300af&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Bremerton – Streams Set for Salmon. Most Kitsap Peninsula streams are primed for salmon, thanks to recent rains, biologists say. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2007/oct/15/streams-set-for-salmon/
The Olympian – Calendar of events: Salmon outings. Oct. 24: Come learn about the amazing chum salmon during a Stream Team evening
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/243851.html
Seattle Times Outdoors Notebook – Steelhead fishing off to decent start
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2003948404_outn14.html
Washington Post Editorial – The Dam Breaks. FOR CHINA'S communist leadership, which gathers today for a major party congress, the gigantic Three Gorges Dam holds out the promise of abundant hydroelectric power and an end to devastating periodic floods along the Yangtze River. Yet from the moment they hatched a plan to build the colossal project, China's leaders have known that its benefits would come at a high environmental cost.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/14/AR2007101401010.html?nav=rss_opinions
Columbia River water to be discussed at Ecology meeting – The state Department of Ecology will host an open house Wednesday at the Okanogan County Fairgrounds Agriplex building to talk about water allocations. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071012/NEWS04/71012013/1025/rss1025
California Grapples with Water Shortage – California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger calls a special session of the legislature to deal with the state's biggest water shortage in 15 years. Arid conditions set the stage for huge cuts in water shipments to southern California farms and residences. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15276497&ft=1&f=3
Jefferson County closes Lake Leland over toxic bacteria; homeowners warned (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20071014/NEWS/710140307
Past its archaeological scare, Beckett enclave nears its new septic system – "It's gonna get done," Jim Parker, Jefferson County PUD general manager, assured Beckett Point residents. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20071010/NEWS/710100303
New Landowners With New Agenda Flood the West – a new wave of investors and landowners across the American West…are snapping up open spaces as private playgrounds on the borders of national parks and national forests. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/13/us/13timber.html?ex=1349928000&en=96ea77f4b41a89f8&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Utah – Wind Harvest. Energy resources are blowing through Utah, but cannot be captured without state policy change (Daily Herald)
http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/240298/3/
Georgia – Green power: Electric co-ops try to build renewable energy sources (Athens Banner-Herald – Wow! Check out that dam in the accompanying picture.)
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/101407/business_20071014008.shtml
Turbine Free Wind Power: Alternative Alternative Energy – Wind power is great, but those big turbines are inefficient (the bearings suck out a lot of energy) and, if you're a passing bird, dangerous. (Wired, Gadget Lab)
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/10/turbine-free-wi.html
News Whiz – Poll Shows Overwhelming Support for Renewable Fuel Options. Nearly Nine in 10 Agree U.S. Should Pursue Renewable Energy Sources. 95 Percent Blame Increasing Oil Prices for Rising Cost of Food. (And now, would you be willing to pay the higher cost for it? Clean Fuels Development Coalition)
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/071015/20071014005078.html?.v=1
CONSERVATION
News Release – HolidayLEDs.com Launches Energy Scrooge™ Calculator (PR Newswire)
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/10/prweb560945.htm
PGE donates additional $50,000 to Oregon HEAT (KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR)
http://www.ktvz.com/Global/story.asp?S=7211411
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Guest Columnist David Crane for the Washington Post – We're Carboholics. Make Us Stop. I am a carboholic. As Americans, we are all carboholics, but I am more so than most. The company I run, NRG Energy, emits more than 64 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere each year -- more than the total man-made greenhouse gas emissions of Norway. (David Crane is chief executive of Princeton, N.J.-based NRG Energy Inc)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/12/AR2007101202153.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
Obama: Electric bills would rise under his greenhouse emissions plan (Chicago Tribune)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-071014obama,1,1962706.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Other views, The Olympian – We cannot afford to leave rural Washington behind. Cell phones are quickly becoming the single most important device that Americans use. While urban residents often take for granted reliable wireless service, people living in rural areas of Washington suffer from spotty service and potentially dangerous dead zones where there is no signal at all. James Peters, chairman of the Squaxin Island Tribe in Mason County, for The Olympian
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/242497.html
What's DTV? Click! answers your questions! Click! Cable TV experts are hosting workshops next week about the federal government's mandated conversion to digital television in February 2009 and how it might affect you. (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/business/2007/10/12/what_s_dtv_click_answers_your_questions
PTTV eyes webcasts across Peninsula – Public access television has a future on the Web in Jefferson County, says a community broadcasting leader, and one day could extend its reach west into Clallam County. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20071015/NEWS/710150303
The Insider: Starbucks mum on rumor it will offer free Wi-Fi (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/335456_theinsider15.html?source=rss
Three Minutes With MuniWireless.com's Founder – Esme Vos tells how her blog about municipal wireless grew into a leading aggregator of news and analysis about the industry. (PC World)
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,138237-c,wireless/article.html
UK Studies Health Risks of Wi-Fi – No one wants to believe that it might just be safe (Broadband Reports. Note: comment section may contain PG-13 language)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/UK-Studies-Health-Risks-of-WiFi-88392
Rural Missouri lags in broadband access – Providing universal access to broadband capability has been compared to driving the golden spike that completed America's transcontinental railroad in 1869. (The Southeast Missourian)
http://www.semissourian.com/story/1284275.html
New Hampshire – New bill may eliminate state web tax: Sununu aims to keep internet affordable (Concord Monitor)
http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071014/BUSINESS/710140354/1265
Two Are Sentenced to 5 Years in Spam Case
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/us/14spam.html?ex=1350100800&en=e1df800585a4d60e&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Some grumble that Google isn't model citizen – Bracing for an invasion of Google employees in February after the Internet search giant bought up its office complex, startup Become.com erected a makeshift sign: "I for one welcome our Google overlords." (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003950330_btgoogletown15.html
Google Adds More Online Storage – In competition with Yahoo’s unlimited storage? (Broadband Reports. Note: comment section may contain PG-13 language)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Google-Adds-More-Online-Storage-88424
Former CEO Says U.S. Punished Phone Firm – Qwest Feared NSA Plan Was Illegal, Filing Says (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/12/AR2007101202485.html?nav=rss_business
Survey: Office workers still the greatest security threat – Businesses still consider desktop users to be the biggest security risk to their networks, despite increased concern over outsourced labor and remote users. (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/Survey-Office-workers-still-the-greatest-security-threat/2100-7355-6213227.html?part=dht
GENERAL NEWS
Pressure grows for lobbyists' back rent – Lobbyists are getting their arms twisted at the Capitol. And government is doing the twisting — over a bill for back rent that keeps growing. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/242577.html
Computer system an issue for family leave – Machines' cost estimated at $18 million. Whichever state agency takes on a new paid family leave program, it will have less than two years to put a major computer system together — a difficult and costly task. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/243196.html
All hail the lobbyconners – Why pay for hefty conference fees when you can hang out in the hallway and network for free? (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/All-hail-the-lobbyconners/8301-13772_3-9797091-52.html?part=dht
DIVERSIONS
Thieves plunder metal from Seafair Pirates' ship (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_101207WAB_moby_duck_cannons_TP.163d572ae.html
Three Arrested In Connection With Blow-Dart Attacks in Chehalis – Three people were arrested for investigation of shooting blow darts at people in several drive-by attacks in Chehalis.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14330708/detail.html
Who will the governor be for Halloween?
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/blogs/mulick/v-rss/story/9372160p-9285708c.html
North Mason Couple Takes Abandoned Squirrels Under Their Wing – What's this? The five-acre residence of Jeff and Katrina Lunore is a veritable menagerie. Nearly two dozen chickens, three dogs and a pair of cats call the white-fenced parcel south of Belfair home. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/oct/13/nm-couple-takes-abandoned-squirrels-under-their/
Family beaten as YouTube party descends into chaos
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL1249768320071012?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
(More YouTube shenanigans) In a City Far, Far Away From Hollywood, the YouTube Tales of a Lesser Vader – Aaron Yonda and Matt Sloan have become YouTube stars with their satirical series depicting Darth Vader’s brother, Chad in costume, as a power-hungry manager of a grocery store.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/15/business/media/15chad.html?ex=1350187200&en=d801febbe463d66b&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
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