Monday, March 9, 2009

Energy News Digest for March 9, 2009

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Mason County PUD No. 3 to Reduce Proposed Rate Increase
- Idaho Senate Votes to Kill Power Assistance Bill
- Idaho Couple Got Someone Else's Power Bill for Three Years
- Orcas Power & Light Improves Reliability with Olga Substation Upgrade
- Nuclear Power Industry Sees Opening for Revival
- Washington Post Editorial – Post Yucca: Mountain of Trouble
- Coal Plants Checked by Environmentalist Campaigns, Costs
- Will New Power Lines Run Through Your Back Yard?
- Texas Bills Aim To Cut Wholesale Electricity Prices
- Energy Execs Have Low Hopes for Stimulus Bill
- United Kingdom - Dialing Back Power Supplies
- Judge Says Columbia Salmon Recovery Plan Is 'Very Close'
- Tale of Two Headlines - Judge Faults Gov't Plan to Save Pacific NW Salmon
- Judge makes plea for environmental officials to compromise on salmon
- Liveblogging the legal fight over salmon's future
- Healthy Returns Projected For Columbia Gorge Rivers
- Skirmish Continues Over Shellfish Farming In Puget Sound
- Olympian Editorial - Shellfish dispute vs. ethics pledge
- Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Issues in the 111th Congress
- Lewis County PUD to make Presentation on Chehalis Dam Projects
- Brightwater Sewer Project Likely Caused Kenmore Sinkhole
- Canadian Old-Growth Forests Fall In Tough Economy
- Washington Can Be Green and Still Protect Electricity Ratepayers
- NY Times Op/Ed - Home-Grown Power
- Oregon Major Utilities Ahead Of Green Energy Goals
- Kittitas County Wind Power Backers Tout Project’s Benefits
- Boot Camp Helps Harness Wind Energy Jobs
- Solar Maker Criticizes Renewable Energy Tax Credits
- Governors Envision Eco-Friendly Fuels At I-5 Rest Stops
- Northern Wasco PUD, City of The Dalles Explore Renewable Energy
- Stimulus May Get Small Wind Turbines Spinning
- Idaho Company Weighs Ore. Hot Springs for Energy
- Biodiesel Demand Conflicts with Farm Restrictions
- Ethanol Producers Press for Higher Limits
- Green Movement, Tighter Budgets Spur Interest in Energy Audits
- 13 Ways to Cut Energy Costs Year-Round
- The Recession’s Green Lining - A global downturn is doing what activists couldn't
- House Bill for a Carbon Tax to Cut Emissions Faces a Steep Climb
- Global Warming May Stop For Years or Decades
- Skeptics Dispute Climate Worries and Each Other
- Vision Of Future Tinted In Green - Environmentalism is good for economy
- California Air Regulators Have Beef with Charbroilers
- Fight Over Internet Filtering Has a Test Run in Europe
- Verizon Plays Stimulus Keep Away In Pennsylvania
- U.S. Gears Up For Digital TV Switch Now On June 12
- Washington Lt. Gov. Brad Owen got more powerful in court ruling
- Tribes, Olympia Will Get Big Boost from Stimulus
- Lawyers’ Attack Ads Doom Bills
- Meeting Planned on Formation of Grange in Grapeview
- Newspaper Publisher McClatchy Cutting 1,600 Jobs
- Spokane school tests jamming cell phone signals

WORD OF THE DAY

Equanimity • \ee-kwuh-NIM-uh-tee\ • noun - 1: evenness of mind especially under stress 2: right disposition: balance

Instead of the normally sedate procedures, the atmosphere at the bank shareholders meeting resembled a bloody day on the trading floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Shareholders seated next to Clancy were astounded at his seeming equanimity. Charges of fraud, malfeasance, misfeasance and other unpleasant physical shortcomings seemed to run off his back with no effect. That is, until one of the attendees realized that Clancy had quietly, peacefully passed away without a sign sometime early in the meeting.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Mason County PUD No. 3 to Reduce Proposed Rate Increase (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6620/reftab/1896/Default.aspx

Idaho Senate Votes to Kill Power Assistance Bill (Associated Press)
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/090306/id_utilities_help.html?.v=1

Idaho Couple Got Someone Else's Power Bill for Three Years (Associated Press)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/03/06/breaking_news/doc49b1791506106509766097.txt

Orcas Power & Light Improves Reliability with Olga Substation Upgrade (Island Weekly, Lopez Island, WA)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/sanjuans/isw/news/40455358.html

Nuclear Power Industry Sees Opening for Revival (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/08/MN3H16ANEN.DTL

Washington Post Editorial – Post Yucca: Mountain of Trouble - Mr. Obama defunds the nuclear repository at Yucca Mountain. Now what?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/07/AR2009030701666.html?nav=rss_opinions

Coal Plants Checked by Environmentalist Campaigns, Costs - Coal plants fall as global warming campaign makes gains; construction boom grinds on (ABC News)
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=7032209

Will New Power Lines Run Through Your Back Yard? (CQ Politics)
http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003069319

Texas Bills Aim To Cut Wholesale Electricity Prices (Dallas Morning News)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/030909dnbuselectricitybills.3c34978.html

Energy Execs Have Low Hopes for Stimulus Bill (Houston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2009/03/09/story5.html?ana=from_rss

United Kingdom - Dialing Back Power Supplies: Economic slowdown stalls plan for electric plant (Worcester Telegram & Gazette)
http://www.telegram.com/article/20090308/NEWS/903080339/1002

FISH & WILDLIFE

Judge Says Columbia Salmon Recovery Plan Is 'Very Close' (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/03/judge_says_columbia_salmon_rec.html

Tale of Two Headlines - Judge Faults Gov't Plan to Save Pacific NW Salmon (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ipjYpPd8lX55FO5Iz0UPfCSdVlpwD96P8U980

Plato’s Cave: Judge makes plea for environmental officials to compromise on salmon, dams in Northwest (Rocky Barker in the Miami Herald)
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/environment/story/938427.html

Liveblogging the legal fight over salmon's future (The Oregonian, Portland - Carries through to the end of the hearing)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/03/liveblogging_the_legal_fight_o.html

Healthy Returns Projected For Columbia Gorge Rivers (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/778932.html

Skirmish Continues Over Shellfish Farming In Puget Sound (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008824523_geoduck07m.html

Olympian Editorial - Shellfish dispute vs. ethics pledge: Shelton-based Taylor case calls Goldmark into question “…a minor donor to his campaign is asking to lease the same land…”
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/781080.html

Congressional Research Reports - Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Issues in the 111th Congress
http://opencrs.com/document/R40172/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Lewis County PUD to make Presentation - Chehalis Council to Vote on Support of Dam Project (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.outdoorslc.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1236432820&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&

Brightwater Sewer Project Likely Caused Kenmore Sinkhole (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008829998_sinkhole09m.html?syndication=rss

Canadian Old-Growth Forests Fall In Tough Economy - Firms face clashes in Island towns as they struggle to make profits (Victoria Times Colonist)
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/growth+forests+fall+tough+economy/1364932/story.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Seattle Times Editorial - Washington Can Be Green and Still Protect Electricity Ratepayers: Lisa Brown, D-Spokane argues the law can be made more flexible to account for its impact on ratepayers while remaining committed to environmental goals
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008829421_opinb09brown.html

NY Times Op/Ed - Home-Grown Power “…In the Northwest, the largest amount of green power comes from hydroelectricity…”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/07/opinion/07bowles.html?_r=1&em

Oregon Major Utilities Ahead Of Green Energy Goals - 25 percent of state's energy has to be renewable by 2025 “…Rates have gone up because of renewables, but they would have gone up anyway…” (Salem Statesman Journal, OR)
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20090308/NEWS/903080340/1001

Kittitas County Wind Power Backers Tout Project’s Benefits (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/03/02/daily64.html?ana=from_rss

Boot Camp Helps Harness Wind Energy Jobs - Hopes are high that wind technology will replace vanishing construction jobs (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090306/NEWS02/703069967/1025/rss1025

Solar Maker Criticizes Renewable Energy Tax Credits (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/03/09/newscolumn6.html?ana=from_rss

Governors Envision Eco-Friendly Fuels At I-5 Rest Stops (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008827158_greenfreeway08m.html

Green City - Northern Wasco PUD, City of The Dalles Explore Renewable Energy (The Dalles Chronicle)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2009/03/news03-06-09-01.shtml

Stimulus May Get Small Wind Turbines Spinning (CNN)
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/03/09/small.wind.turbines/

Idaho Company Weighs Ore. Hot Springs for Energy (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/780824.html

Biodiesel Demand Conflicts with Farm Restrictions (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1892355~Biodiesel_demand_conflicts_with_farm_restrictions.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Ethanol Producers Press for Higher Limits (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/05/AR2009030503815.html?wprss=rss_business

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Green Movement, Tighter Budgets Spur Interest in Energy Audits (Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area)
http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/stories/2009/03/09/focus1.html?ana=from_rss

13 Ways to Cut Energy Costs Year-Round - The 'Frugal Family Challenge' Has Money-Saving Tips for Every Household (ABC News)
http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/Weekend/story?id=7031633&page=1

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

The Recession’s Green Lining - A global downturn is doing what activists couldn't: closing dirty factories (Newsweek)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/188200?from=rss

House Bill for a Carbon Tax to Cut Emissions Faces a Steep Climb (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/07/us/politics/07carbon.html

Global Warming May Stop For Years or Decades (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/x-1586-Baltimore-Weather-Examiner~y2009m3d3-Global-Warming-may-stop-for-a-while

Skeptics Dispute Climate Worries and Each Other (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/09/science/earth/09climate.html

Vision Of Future Tinted In Green - Environmentalism is good for economy; Kennedy says "…Every nation that has decarbonized its economy has experienced immediate prosperity…" (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/402601_greenbuild07.html

California Air Regulators Have Beef with Charbroilers (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1892724~Valley_air_regulators_have_beef_with_charbroilers.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Fight Over Internet Filtering Has a Test Run in Europe (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/09/technology/internet/09neutral.html

Verizon Plays Stimulus Keep Away In Pennsylvania - Getting free marketeers to push new anti-muni bill (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Verizon-Plays-Stimulus-Keep-Away-In-Pennsylvania-101274

U.S. Gears Up For Digital TV Switch Now On June 12 (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE52461E20090306?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology

GENERAL NEWS

Seattle Times Editorial - Washington Lt. Gov. Brad Owen got more powerful in court ruling
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008829417_edita09kingowen.html

Tribes, Olympia Will Get Big Boost from Stimulus - HUD funds called 'brick-and-mortar money' for projects (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/779522.html

Lawyers’ Attack Ads Doom Bills - full-page newspaper ads to pressure three state senators apparently has backfired (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/government/story/650748.html

Meeting Planned on Formation of Grange in Grapeview (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/06/meeting-planned-on-formation-of-grange-in/?partner=RSS

Newspaper Publisher McClatchy Cutting 1,600 Jobs (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008830771_apmcclatchyjobcuts.html?syndication=rss

Spokane school tests jamming cell phone signals (KHQ-TV, Spokane)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=9971909

DIVERSIONS

Driver Sits through 6 Lights, Faces DUI Charge - Man Fell Asleep At Intersection
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/18872188/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_4pm&tmi=sea_4pm_1_06000203062009&ts=H

Bogus Love Notes Pricey - A series of viral love notes has cost a Seattle-based marketing company a $500,000 fine
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/402642_luvcrush07.html

Seattle near Bottom of U.S. “Manliest” Cities
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/03/02/daily61.html?ana=from_rss

Man Who Tried To Kill Himself Successfully Sued the Hospital Which Saved His Life
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4944419/Man-who-tried-to-kill-himself-sues-hospital-that-saved-him-for-compensation.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Annie Lennox - Ghosts In My Machine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofvf3tUTGvw&feature=related

Friday, March 6, 2009

Energy News Digest for March 6, 2009

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.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Residents Vent Frustrations over Avista Rates
- Hydropower Project Proposed For South Idaho
- Nuclear Waste Dogs US Energy Policy
- Senate Leader Says Energy, Climate Bills Will Be Combined
- Mason County PUD No. 3 Rolls Out New Website Design
- AARP Opposes Oklahoma Nuclear Plant Legislation
- Plans for 2 coal-fired power plants on hold in Nevada
- New Life for 'Clean Coal' Project
- NY Assembly: Re-Regulate State Electricity Market
- NW Salmon Dam Dispute Returns to Court
- Oregonian Op/Ed - A Strong New Current behind Columbia Salmon
- Report Says Invasive Species Are Greatest Threat to Northwest Salmon
- Dam removal offers opportunity for salmon, science
- Olympia’s Capitol Campus Water-Saving Project Begins
- Aluminum in Drinking Water Connected With Dementia Risk, Cognitive Decline
- Smart Grid Will Need More Federal Power: GE Exec
- Daylight Saving Time Is Supposed to Save Energy
- State of California’s Emissions Proposal Quickly Attacked
- Clearwire to Slow Network's Expansion
- Comcast Starting Digital Switch
- D.C. Tech Chief Tapped for Federal Chief Information Officer
- Federal Judge Allows Twitter Updates From Courtroom
- Wintry Weather Still Hanging Around The Sound
- Daylight Savings Start Sunday, Clocks Spring Forward
- Spring Ahead, Change Smoke Alarm Batteries
- Gregoire Signs $340 Million Highway Stimulus Plan
- Up To 40 State Parks Could Be Mothballed
- Port Of Shelton’s Tribute to Broadcaster Turns into Squabble

WORD OF THE DAY

Slush Fund • \SLUSH fund\ • noun - 1: A fund raised from the sale of refuse to obtain small luxuries or pleasures for a warship's crew 2: a fund for bribing public officials or carrying on corruptive propaganda 3: an unregulated fund often used for illicit purposes

The supervisor for the telephone “boiler room” operation was stumped. Although his crew was limited to one coffee per shift; no creamer or sugar; and doughnuts that were convenience store castoffs, his employees seemed to be living the life of Riley. Starbucks’ coffee brimming with the thickest cream, croissants from the high-faultin’ bakery down the street, and even party hats were common, especially on the graveyard shift. The secret was in the slush fund built up by the nefarious work of his unruly staff. For each phone sale, they called for a “processing fee” that was squirreled away for their personal comforts.

Life of Riley: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Life_of_Riley

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Residents Vent Frustrations over Avista Rates (KXLY-TV, Spokane)
http://www.kxly.com/Global/story.asp?S=9956618

Hydropower Project Proposed For South Idaho - Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir near Rogerson (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/777810.html

Nuclear Waste Dogs US Energy Policy - Yucca Mountain was supposed to be where the highly toxic material was sent. But Obama's energy budget leaves it out (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0306/p02s01-usgn.html

Senate Leader Says Energy, Climate Bills Will Be Combined (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/03/05/05climatewire-senate-dems-to-put-energy-emissions-bills-in-10009.html

Mason County PUD No. 3 Rolls Out New Website Design (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=511

AARP Opposes Oklahoma Nuclear Plant Legislation (Associated Press)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29536462/

Plans for 2 coal-fired power plants on hold in Nevada – (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/05/financial/f164229S89.DTL&feed=rss.business

New Life for 'Clean Coal' Project - Illinois Plant Was Abandoned by Bush; Now Its Backers Are in Power (NY Times)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/05/AR2009030502138.html?wprss=rss_business

NY Assembly: Re-Regulate State Electricity Market “…deregulation…costs New Yorkers $2.2 billion a year in overcharges, resulting in the fourth highest rates in the nation…” (Associated Press)
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--electricbills-ny0305mar05,0,7611532.story

FISH & WILDLIFE

NW Salmon Dam Dispute Returns to Court (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008819139_aporsalmondams.html?syndication=rss

Oregonian Op/Ed - A Strong New Current behind Columbia Salmon: A historic collaboration of tribes, states and federal agencies gives renewed hope for the future of Northwest salmon
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/03/a_strong_new_current_behind_co.html

Report Says Invasive Species Are Greatest Threat to Northwest Salmon (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/03/invasive_species_are_greatest.html

Dam removal offers opportunity for salmon, science (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/778070.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Olympia’s Capitol Campus Water-Saving Project Begins (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/778413.html

Aluminum in Drinking Water Connected With Dementia Risk, Cognitive Decline (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/health/2009/march/Aluminum-in-Drinking-Water-Connected-With-Dementia-Risk-Cognitive-Decline.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Smart Grid Will Need More Federal Power: GE Exec (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE5247VX20090305

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Daylight Saving Time Is Supposed to Save Energy--Does It? The Answer Is Mixed. (US News & World Report)
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/robert-schlesinger/2009/03/05/daylight-saving-time-is-supposed-to-save-energy--does-it-the-answer-is-mixed.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

State of California’s Emissions Proposal Quickly Attacked (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/06/BUE016A63B.DTL&feed=rss.business

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Clearwire to Slow Network's Expansion - Clearwire will slow the expansion of its high-speed wireless network over the next two years, giving larger competitors the chance to catch up (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008819515_clearwire06.html

Comcast Starting Digital Switch (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/brierdudley/2008814281_brier05.html?syndication=rss

D.C. Tech Chief Tapped for Federal Chief Information Officer (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/05/AR2009030501060.html

Federal Judge Allows Twitter Updates From Courtroom (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11851007

GENERAL NEWS

Wintry Weather Still Hanging Around The Sound - Just when you think it should be over and done with, winter weather rears its head again in the Puget Sound region (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008819677_weather06m.html?syndication=rss

Daylight Savings Start Sunday, Clocks Spring Forward (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11851472

Spring Ahead, Change Smoke Alarm Batteries (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090306/NEWS01/703069887/-1/RSS02

Gregoire Signs $340 Million Highway Stimulus Plan (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008812964_apwaxgrstimulushighways1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

Up To 40 State Parks Could Be Mothballed – Includes Jarrell Cove & Potlatch in Mason (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/politics/18865240/detail.html

Port Of Shelton’s Tribute to Broadcaster Turns into Squabble
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_030509WAB-paul-harvey-squabble-SW.8072198.html

DIVERSIONS

Woman Uses Super Glue To Fix Teeth
http://www.kirotv.com/health/18861788/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000103052009&ts=H

Seattle finds weed goo in zoo doo
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/03/seattle_finds_weed_goo_in_zoo.html

No Chicken? Testy Air Passenger Loses Argument, Then Federal Case
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/06/nyregion/06appeal.html?_r=1

CNBC Stays Mum after Takedown by Jon Stewart
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11846043

SONG OF THE DAY

Fire on the Mountain - The Marshall Tucker Band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2AJvhrAlRM&feature=related

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Energy News Digest for March 5, 2009

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.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Fitch Upgrades Energy Northwest Revenue Bonds to 'AA'; Outlook Positive
- Portland General Electric Plans Stock Sale
- "Smart Grid" Draft Standards Seen Available By Summer
- Canada - Fears Grow for Natural Gas in Obama Tax Squeeze
- New York Lawmaker Blasts NYISO Over Rates
- Texas - Energy Future Holdings, formerly TXU Corp., loses $9.8 billion in 2008
- Daily News Op/Ed: A Letter to President Obama about Our Dam
- Raid on Energy Company in Ukraine
- Columbia River Salmon Runs Forecast To Increase
- Fishery Managers Are Pumped About Columbia River Coho Returning
- Chinook Biting in Puget Sound
- Third Baby Orca Spotted Near San Juan Islands
- Taylor Shellfish makes it a Federal Case
- California Managers Declare Longfin Smelt Threatened
- Greenwashing the Columbia - Sam's Big Bridge Moves Forward
- Clash over Unpaid Water Bill Leads to North Dakota Standoff
- Let's Wipe Out Toilet Paper
- Many Green Efforts Beginning To Wither - Several bills have been watered down
- Ephrata Wind Tower Manufacturer Cuts 21 Jobs - Economy Blamed
- Portland General Electric Raising Cash for Wind Farm
- Activists Fight Small Power Plants: Chicken Waste as Fuel Draws Fire
- Vocational School Adding Wind Energy Program
- The Answer, My Friend, Is Blowing In The Wind--Or Is It?
- Energy-Gobbling City Home to Biggest Solar Roof
- Viewpoint: Conservation Not Enough To Spark Economic Development
- Why "green jobs" may not save the economy or the environment
- The Broadband Hot Potato
- Vermont Fiber Efforts Run Into Sour Economy
- Washington House Gets Highway Stimulus Flowing
- Dow Ends Wednesday Up 149 Points; Alcoa Up 12 Percent

WORD OF THE DAY

Purfle • \PUR-ful\ • verb - To ornament the border or edges of

The tiny ukulele shone like some religious icon. The abalone purfling around the edges of the diminutive instrument, and the inlays around the sound hole and the fingerboard made the Martin 5K what it is today…the holy grail of ukes. (Fanboy enthusiasm intended)

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Fitch Upgrades Energy Northwest Revenue Bonds to 'AA'; Outlook Positive (Marketwatch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/fitch-upgrades-energy-northwest-revs/story.aspx?guid={212BCE3A-1926-4151-87C5-E9E130221F77}&dist=msr_5

Portland General Electric Plans Stock Sale (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/03/02/daily47.html?ana=from_rss

"Smart Grid" Draft Standards Seen Available By Summer (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE5225YE20090303?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology

Canada - Fears Grow for Natural Gas in Obama Tax Squeeze - Independents fear loss of drilling cost deduction (Edmonton Journal)
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/Fears+grow+natural+Obama+squeeze/1351694/story.html

New York Lawmaker Blasts NYISO Over Rates: New study critical of its method of setting electric prices (Albany Times Union, NY)
http://dev.scoop.com/remote/article/include/77288240/53616c7465645f5fa68dad3932b9960ae067d962a3f1fd8b51b161f4624966cf

Texas - Energy Future Holdings, formerly TXU Corp., loses $9.8 billion in 2008 (Fort Worth Star Telegraph)
http://www.star-telegram.com/business/story/1236989.html

Daily News Op/Ed: A Letter to President Obama about Our Dam (Red Bluff, CA)
http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/ci_11833998

Raid on Energy Company in Ukraine (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/05/world/europe/05ukraine.html?_r=1

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia River Salmon Runs Forecast To Increase (Associated Press)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/402236_salmon05.html

Fishery Managers Are Pumped About Columbia River Coho Returning (The Astorian, OR)
http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=395&ArticleID=58816&TM=76535.87

Chinook Biting in Puget Sound (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2008815325_fish05.html?syndication=rss

Third Baby Orca Spotted Near San Juan Islands (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1886735~Third_baby_orca_spotted_near_San_Juan_Islands.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines

Taylor Shellfish makes it a Federal Case (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/04/taylor-shellfish-makes-it-a-federal-case/?partner=RSS

California Managers Declare Longfin Smelt Threatened (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1884770~Calif__managers_declare_longfin_smelt_threatened.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Greenwashing the Columbia - Sam's Big Bridge Moves Forward... So Where Are the Environmental Activists? (Portland Mercury)
http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/greenwashing-the-columbia/Content?oid=1275487

Clash over Unpaid Water Bill Leads to North Dakota Standoff (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/04/national/a152020S96.DTL&feed=rss.business

Let's Wipe Out Toilet Paper (The Guardian, United Kingdom)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/mar/04/stop-using-toilet-paper

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Many Green Efforts Beginning To Wither - Several bills have been watered down (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090305/NEWS02/703059939/

Ephrata Wind Tower Manufacturer Cuts 21 Jobs - Economy Blamed (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/03/04/news/doc49aeb2634098f742312591.txt

Portland General Electric Raising Cash for Wind Farm (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/03/pge_raising_cash_for_wind_farm.html

Activists Fight Small Power Plants: Chicken Waste As Fuel Draws Fire (The News & Observer, Raleigh, NC)
http://dev.scoop.com/remote/article/include/77276745/53616c7465645f5f526be52f2718cd82aa432d449218a67b33fd41bb4f2e3b44

Vocational School Adding Wind Energy Program - First students could enroll in July at Northwest Renewable Energy Institute (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090304/NEWS02/703059982/

The Answer, My Friend, Is Blowing In The Wind--Or Is It? Our Blue Earth - Global Warming (Appalachian Independent – and another quarter for Robert Zimmerman)
http://appindie.org/index.php/our-blue-earth/global-warming/464-the-answer-my-friend-is-blowing-in-the-wind-or-is-it

Energy-Gobbling City Home to Biggest Solar Roof (CNN)
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/03/05/solar.roof.atlantic.city/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Viewpoint: Conservation Not Enough To Spark Economic Development (Charleston Regional Business Journal, SC)
http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/news/26727-viewpoint-conservation-not-enough-to-spark-economic-development?rss=0

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Barking Up the Wrong Tree - Why "green jobs" may not save the economy or the environment (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2212903/?from=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The Broadband Hot Potato (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123612370867623587.html?mod=dist_smartbrief

Vermont Fiber Efforts Run Into Sour Economy (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Vermont-Fiber-Efforts-Run-Into-Sour-Economy-101212

GENERAL NEWS

Washington House Gets Highway Stimulus Flowing (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008812964_apwaxgrstimulushighways1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

Dow Ends Wednesday Up 149 Points; Alcoa Up 12 Percent (Pittsburgh Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2009/03/02/daily41.html?ana=from_rss

DIVERSIONS

Oregon School Removes Book over Its Portrayal of Logging (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1884197~School_removes_book_over_its_portrayal_of_logging.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Cat Flown, Arrives To New Owner Frozen
http://www.wpri.com/dpp/mobile/local_wpri_call12_frozen_cat_flown_to_oregon_20090303

Underwater Critters Fart Greenhouse Gas: Study
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090303/od_afp/germanydenmarkclimatewarminganimalscienceoffbeat_20090303155915;_ylt=AkELeGDgcKOhgrgEeoTgPD2gOrgF

Top 50 Shortlisted For 'Best Job in World'
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090303/lf_afp/lifestyleaustraliatourismoffbeat_20090303170827;_ylt=AnIxZtxwLyTEaLFWBqGbEqKgOrgF

SONG OF THE DAY

Molly Hatchet - Flirtin’ With Disaster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhhtRxqSrys

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Energy News Digest for March 4, 2009

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.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Dry Weather Means Low Water in S. Oregon
- Chelan County PUD Makes More Operational Cuts
- Northern Wasco PUD launches power partnership
- Seattle City Light Warns Of Scam
- Businesses Press Maryland Lawmakers to Reject Regulation of Energy Utilities
- California - Supervisor Seeks Hearing On S.F. Power Plant
- Natural Gas Burns Investors' Fingers
- Lighting up the Darkness in Rural Africa
- At 5.5 Million, Pacific Northwest Pink Salmon Return Could Exceed ’07 Record
- Salmon Count Up, But Fishing May Be Tough
- Negotiating Salmon Fishing Could Be Extra Tough This Year
- Fishermen Brace for New Ban on Ocean Salmon
- Ohio Power Plant Called A Fish 'Killing Machine'
- Herd of Elk Killed By Poachers in Grays Harbor County
- Environmentalists Oppose Stormwater Permits for Washington State Highways
- Breathing Problems Reported Near Tennessee Ash Spill
- T. Boone Pickens Progresses In Wind Energy, Natural Gas Campaigns
- Seattle 10th In US For Energy-Efficient Buildings
- L.A. Tops Rankings In Energy Efficiency
- Obama Tasks Interior Dept. with Conservation, Energy Security
- US Urged To Lead In Cutting Greenhouse Emissions
- Obama Picks Net Neutrality Backer As FCC Chief
- A Novel Idea: Actually Visiting America's Broadband Gaps
- Yahoo CEO Will Negotiate In Private With Microsoft
- John Chambers: Broadband Speeds Our Economy
- DUI Patrol Makes 10 Arrests in Mason County
- Seattle Times Editorial - WSU Tendrils Reach Every Corner of the State
- Law Passes Allowing Benton County Elected Officials to have Multiple Offices
- California Water Employee Arrested In Cat-Abuse Attempt

WORD OF THE DAY

Oligopsony • \ah-luh-GAHP-suh-nee\ • noun - A market situation in which each of a few buyers exerts a disproportionate influence on the market

The National Charcoal Briquettes Cartel had finally found its calling: establishing the first carbon-trading oligopsony under the new cap and trade program for controlling greenhouse gases. Unfortunately for them, barbequing was deemed outdoor burning by many air pollution agencies, which effectively collapsed the cartel in future years.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Dry Weather Means Low Water in S. Oregon (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1881948~Dry_weather_means_low_water_in_S__Oregon.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Chelan County PUD Makes More Operational Cuts (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee)
http://www.kpq.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=788

Northern Wasco PUD launches power partnership (The Dalles Chronicle, OR)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2009/03/news03-03-09-01.shtml

Seattle City Light Warns Of Scam (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/03/02/daily23.html?ana=from_rss

Businesses Press Maryland Lawmakers to Reject Regulation of Energy Utilities (Baltimore Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2009/03/02/daily27.html

California - Supervisor Seeks Hearing on S.F. Power Plant “…kills fish larvae and sits atop land that may be leaching toxic chemicals into bay mud…” (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/04/BA27168KSE.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

Natural Gas Burns Investors' Fingers (MSN)
http://money.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=759388

Lighting up the Darkness in Rural Africa (NY Times)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/lighting-up-the-darkness/

FISH & WILDLIFE

At 5.5 Million, Pacific Northwest Pink Salmon Return Could Exceed ’07 Record (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/644869.html

Salmon Count Up, But Fishing May Be Tough (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/40696707.html

Negotiating the Who, When of Salmon Fishing Could Be Extra Tough This Year (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/03/negotiating-the-who-when-of-salmon-fishing-could/?partner=RSS

Fishermen Brace for New Ban on Ocean Salmon (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/03/BAEN168F0I.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

Ohio Power Plant Called A Fish 'Killing Machine' (Detroit News)
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090303/METRO/903030374/1448/LIFESTYLE14

Herd of Elk Killed By Poachers in Grays Harbor County (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_030309WAB-elk-poachers-KS.222422b6.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Environmentalists Oppose Stormwater Permits for Washington State Highways (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1882867~Enviros_opposes_stormwater_permit_for_highways.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines

Breathing Problems Reported Near Tennessee Ash Spill (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008793785_apcoalashspill.html?syndication=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

T. Boone Pickens Progresses In Wind Energy, Natural Gas Campaigns (Dallas Morning News, TX)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/columnists/jlanders/stories/DN-landers_04bus.ART.State.Edition1.4a7e51a.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Seattle 10th In US For Energy-Efficient Buildings (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=9941736

L.A. Tops Rankings In Energy Efficiency - The Environmental Protection Agency says the city has the nation's most Energy Star buildings (Los Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-green4-2009mar04,0,6700613.story

Obama Tasks Interior Dept. with Conservation, Energy Security (The Hot Spring)
http://www.casavaria.com/hotspring/2009/03/355/obama-tasks-interior-dept-with-conservation-energy-security-science-based-policy/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

US Urged To Lead In Cutting Greenhouse Emissions (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008808083_apclimatetreaty.html?syndication=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Obama Picks Net Neutrality Backer as FCC Chief (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10187067-38.html?tag=nl.e703

A Novel Idea: Actually Visiting America's Broadband Gaps - Free Press visits Americans without broadband (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/A-Novel-Idea-Actually-Visiting-Americas-Broadband-Gaps-101204

Yahoo CEO Will Negotiate In Private with Microsoft (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11828455

John Chambers: Broadband Speeds Our Economy (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/03/03/john-chambers-broadband-speeds-our-economy/

GENERAL NEWS

DUI Patrol Makes 10 Arrests in Mason County (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/775555.html

Seattle Times Editorial - WSU Tendrils Reach Every Corner of the State: Massive cuts to programs tied to the school's land-grant roots are a false economy
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008808126_editb04exten.html

Law Passes Allowing Benton County Elected Officials to have Multiple Offices (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=9941907

California Water Employee Arrested In Cat-Abuse Attempt (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/04/BACJ1695GG.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

DIVERSIONS

Phew! Asteroid's Passing Was a Cosmic Near-Miss
http://www.examiner.com/a-1883774~Phew__Asteroid_s_passing_was_a_cosmic_near_miss.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

For Free Throws, 50 Years of Practice Is No Help
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/04/sports/basketball/04freethrow.html

Florida Woman Calls 911 Three Times over Mcnuggets
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090304/ap_on_fe_st/odd_mcnuggets911;_ylt=Amho_VhNuBTLRR9IttfmARftiBIF

Wal-Mart Customer in Massachusetts Finds Teeth in Wallet
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090304/ap_on_fe_st/odd_teeth_in_wallet;_ylt=AgrpFMPv3KM_eDrmSs31j6LtiBIF

SONG OF THE DAY

The Outlaws-Hurry Sundown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_Wp69BcP1U&feature=related

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Energy News Digest for March 3, 2009

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.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Moses Lake Senator’s Energy Bill Gains Legislative Support
- Tacoma Power Customers to Get Refunds
- Lower than Normal Snowpack Will Hit Power Customers in Pocketbook
- Maryland – Governor Wants to Force Utilities to Build Plants
- (Warning: PG-13 Content) Enron's "Grandma Millie" In High School Classrooms
- Salmon Forecasts to Be Explained on Tuesday
- Oregonian Editorial - No More Free Lunch on the Columbia
- $7M fish ladder revamp to aid passage on Klickitat
- Campaign to restrict gillnetters inflames Witt
- Overfishing Imperils Ocean Life, Study Says
- Sources: Obama putting Bush species rule on hold
- Black Rock Reservoir costly but good idea
- Japan - Grass-Roots Uprising against River Dam Challenges Tokyo
- For Some in Kitsap County, Cloudy Economic Times Are a Great Time to ‘Go Solar'
- Burglars Of Biomass - Protected Trees Turned to Firewood
- How the green building industry is thriving in a down economy
- Thousands Rally For Legislation On Climate Change
- United Kingdom - Climate Change Protest Disrupts Flights at Aberdeen Airport
- News Release - Plan By Obama Would Bring Higher Rates
- USDA Releases Report: "Rural Broadband at a Glance, 2009 Edition"
- Chief of Key Internet Oversight Body Is Leaving
- Where's The New FCC Boss?
- Would You Ever Head Back To Dial-Up?
- Includes Mason: 33 Washington Counties Declared Disaster
- Shelton Port Director Robinson to Spend More Time With Family
- Oregon & Washington Lumber Exports Up In 2008
- Oregon Timber Prices At Record Lows
- Proposal: Move Forest Service from Agriculture to Interior
- Stimulus Flows into Patchwork of State Transport Projects
- Stimulus Money Coming To Western Wash.

WORD OF THE DAY

Incarnadine • \in-KAHR-nuh-dyne\ • adjective - 1: having the pinkish color of flesh *2: red; especially: blood red

The committee given the job of naming “Crayola” colors was hamstrung by the stubborn holdout on the “pinky flesh” color. Barnardo insisted that the color be named “incarnadine,” while the rest of the group blustered that it be called “peach”. “It sounds kinda like ‘internecine,’” shouted one of the committee members, pounding his ham-like fist on the table. “Since mostly kids are gonna be using these things, we can’t make sound like an internal war,” he thundered over the quaking holdout.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Moses Lake Senator’s Energy Bill Gains Legislative Support - Bill Recognizes Hydropower (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/03/02/news/doc49ac073171973113422567.txt

Tacoma Power Customers to Get Refunds (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/643671.html

Lower than Normal Snowpack Will Hit Power Customers in Pocketbook Unless They Conserve (Idaho Statesman, Boise – Hey Rocky, watch me pull electricity out of a hat, if the dams are gone…)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/685019.html

Maryland – Governor Wants to Force Utilities to Build Plants (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/02/AR2009030202467.html

(Warning: PG-13 Content) Enron's "Grandma Millie" In High School Classrooms, F-Bombs and All (Houston Press, with props to SnoPUD)
http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/03/enron_grandma_millie.php

FISH & WILDLIFE

Salmon Forecasts to Be Explained on Tuesday (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/02/salmon-forecasts-to-be-explained-on-tuesday/?partner=RSS

Oregonian Editorial - No More Free Lunch on the Columbia: It is sad that the states must turn to killing sea lions, but every other effort to protect endangered fish has failed
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/03/no_more_free_lunch_on_the_colu.html

$7M fish ladder revamp to aid passage on Klickitat (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2009/03/03/03-03-09-fish-ladder

Campaign to restrict gillnetters inflames Witt (Daily Astorian, OR)
http://www.dailyastorian.com/Main.asp?SectionID=2&ArticleID=58736

Overfishing Imperils Ocean Life, Study Says (SF Chronicle – Man I hate headlines written like this. It should read “Study Says Overfishing Imperils Ocean Life…”)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/03/BAGQ167VF6.DTL

Sources: Obama putting Bush species rule on hold (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008806437_apobamaendangeredspecies.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Black Rock Reservoir costly but good idea (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/northwest/story/643052.html

Japan - Grass-Roots Uprising against River Dam Challenges Tokyo (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/world/asia/03dam.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

For Some in Kitsap County, Cloudy Economic Times Are a Great Time to ‘Go Solar' (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/01/for-some-in-kitsap-cloudy-economic-times-are-a/?partner=RSS

Burglars Of Biomass - Protected Trees Turned to Firewood: Poachers ply illegal trade in national forests (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/401919_firewood02.html?source=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Pulse Commentary - How the green building industry is thriving in a down economy
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1963

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Thousands Rally For Legislation On Climate Change (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gTJ799AtURArOnuR5jn5GDlyLWLQD96M6GM00

United Kingdom - Climate Change Protest Disrupts Flights At Aberdeen Airport: Nine members of campaign group Plane Stupid cut through perimeter fence (The Guardian, UK)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/mar/03/aberdeen-airport-climate-protest

News Release - Plan By Obama Would Bring Higher Rates: Climate change-related auction of credits will be “carbon tax” passed on to consumers (Trading Markets)
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2203507/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

USDA Releases Report: "Rural Broadband at a Glance, 2009 Edition" (Agrimarketing)
http://www.agrimarketing.com/show_story.php?id=53490

Chief of Key Internet Oversight Body Is Leaving (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11820649

Where's The New FCC Boss? Everybody's waiting on Genachowski announcement (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Wheres-The-New-FCC-Boss-101167

Would You Ever Head Back To Dial-Up? The Press certainly seems to think you're planning to (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Would-You-Ever-Head-Back-To-DialUp-101150

GENERAL NEWS

Includes Mason: 33 Washington Counties Declared Disaster (Associated Press)
http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/40582012.html

Shelton Port Director Robinson To Spend More Time With Family (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6549/reftab/1632/t/PORT-DIRECTOR-ROBINSON-TO-SPEND-MORE-TIME-WITH-FAMILY/Default.aspx

Oregon & Washington Lumber Exports Up In 2008, Report Says (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1881136~Ore___Wash__lumber_exports_up_in_2008__report_says.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines

Oregon Timber Prices At Record Lows (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4407-oregon-timber-prices-record-lows/

Proposal: Move Forest Service from Agriculture to Interior (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/government/story/642707.html

Stimulus Flows into Patchwork of State Transport Projects (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/04/us/04states.html

Stimulus Money Coming To Western Wash. (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/18839089/detail.html

DIVERSIONS

'Ugly' Bald Cat Wins Fans at New Hampshire Vet Clinic
http://www.kirotv.com/family/18814224/detail.html

Nearby Asteroid Zooms By Earth
http://www.kirotv.com/technology/18830568/detail.html

Oh the Irony - Car Thief Nabbed After Calling 911 to Boast: Man Tells Dispatchers He's 'Smarter Than Police'
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/18824368/detail.html

Pierce County: Man Caught On Camera Stealing Security Cameras
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/643674.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Can't You See-Marshall Tucker Band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4-a8zh0m9c

Monday, March 2, 2009

Energy News Digest for March 2, 2009

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.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Washington State Bill would ease utilities' energy targets House Is Abandoning Carbon Neutral Plan
- Kentucky – First, Power Failures. Now, Higher Bills
- Kansas House Can Override Governor’s Expected Veto Of 'Coal-Fired' Bill
- Bonneville Dam Sea Lions Face Cages Or Sharpshooters
- Locke Brings Unique Salmon Perspective
- Toward A Solution on the Columbia River Salmon Harvest Conflict
- Six Mason County Properties On Hazardous Sites List
- Olympian Editorial - Park For Artesian Well Should Be Goal: Thurston PUD To Help
- Some States Picking Economy Over Environment Regulations
- California Cities Face 20% Cuts In Water Use During Crisis
- Canada - Yes, It’s Been Dry, But We Have Water
- From Tons of Manure, a Growth Industry
- Pacific Ethanol Closing 2 Plants For Now
- Wind Farms Provide Energy - And Work
- T. Boone Pickens Pitches Energy Plan In Montana
- Everett Herald Op/Ed - National race for green jobs is on; let's win it
- Ski Resorts Toeing Green's Bottom Line
- Homeowners Stand to Gain From Energy-Efficiency Stimulus
- Can a 'smart grid' turn us on to energy efficiency
- Cap-And-Trade System Insufficient To Prompt Renewable Energy Roll Out
- Capping Carbon Emissions May Increase Energy Rates, Orszag
- Capitol Power Plant Dims Clean Energy Hopes
- Tennessee Offer to Offset Carbon Tax Credited In Deals to Attract
- Greenhouse Gas Rules Target Computer Chip
- The Methane Time Bomb - Rising Star Researcher Discovers Ominous Bubbles under the Ice
- WashPost Op/Ed: George Will - Climate Science in A Tornado
- Microsoft + Yahoo Still Doesn’t Make
- A Tour of Processors From WWII Through the
- U.S. Internet Firms Defend Tighter Web
- Port Of Shelton Director
- Thurston County Layoffs And Cuts Loom To Trim $5.7
- Gregoire Sets Up Site To Track Elusive "Stimulus"
- Oregon log prices hit rock bottom, mills cut
- Will Washington State’s Deficit Create a 'Zombie Governor'?
- Bank, Credit Union Replace Cards After Security
- Maple Syrup Trendy And In Short Supply
- We’ll Mow Our Own Lawns, Thank You Very Much

WORD OF THE DAY

Vinaceous • \vye-NAY-shus\ • adjective - Of the color of red wine

Norbert swore from here to Sunday that he was not the person who purloined the final bottle of wine from his housemate’s wine cellar. “That bottle did not leave the house,” he whimpered. “It certainly didn’t leave the house,” his friend intoned. But the incriminating, vinaceous stain on Norbert’s shirt showed that - at least technically - the merlot was still on (or in) his person.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Washington State Bill would ease utilities' energy targets (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008801080_greenenergy02m.html

House Is Abandoning Carbon Neutral Plan - Move Highlights Congress's Green Struggle “…leadership had dropped an essential part of the plan, the purchase of "carbon offsets" to cancel out emissions from its buildings…” (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/28/AR2009022801947.html?wprss=rss_business

Kentucky – First, Power Failures. Now, Higher Bills (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/us/01kentucky.html

Kansas State Representative Thinks House Can Override Governor’s Expected Veto Of 'Coal-Fired' Bill (Great Bend Tribune, KS)
http://www.gbtribune.com/localnews.php?sid=fd6e431

FISH & WILDLIFE

Bonneville Dam Sea Lions Face Cages Or Sharpshooters (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/02/sea_lions_at_bonneville_dam.html

Locke Brings Unique Salmon Perspective - As Commerce chief, he would be involved in their oversight (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090225/NEWS02/702269992

Toward A Solution on the Columbia River Salmon Harvest Conflict (Blue Oregon)
http://www.blueoregon.com/2009/03/toward-a-solution-on-the-columbia-river-salmon-harvest-conflict.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Six Mason County Properties On Hazardous Sites List (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6541/reftab/1632/t/SIX-MASON-COUNTY-PROPERTIES-ON-HAZARDOUS-SITES-LIST/Default.aspx

Olympian Editorial - Park For Artesian Well Should Be Goal: Thurston PUD To Help
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/772343.html

Some States Picking Economy Over Environment Regulations (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1879392~Some_states_picking_economy_over_environment_regs.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines

California Cities Face 20% Cuts In Water Use During Crisis (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/27/MN8H166JE1.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

Canada - Yes, It’s Been Dry, But We Have Water - Sooke Reservoir expansion will keep taps running (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/been+Sooke+Reservoir+water/1337963/story.html

From Tons of Manure, a Growth Industry (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/nyregion/connecticut/0301colct.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Pacific Ethanol Closing 2 Plants For Now - The company seeks new terms from its lenders, but its Boardman site is still running "full out" (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1235791507280380.xml&coll=7

Wind Farms Provide Energy - And Work (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1657563.html

T. Boone Pickens Pitches Energy Plan In Montana (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1876224~T__Boone_Pickens_pitches_energy_plan_in_Montana.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines

Everett Herald Op/Ed - National race for green jobs is on; let's win it
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090301/OPINION03/703019998/-1/RSS05

Ski Resorts Toeing Green's Bottom Line (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iQ3hOEfo33CE9XprpetdYeK75d4QD96KRC381

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Homeowners Stand to Gain From Energy-Efficiency Stimulus Funds (Sacramento Bee)
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1659989.html

Can a 'smart grid' turn us on to energy efficiency? (CNN)
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/03/01/eco.smartgrid/index.html#cnnSTCText

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Cap-And-Trade System Insufficient To Prompt Renewable Energy Roll Out, part 1 of 2 (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/x-1109-Dallas-Environmental-Policy-Examiner~y2009m2d26-Capandtrade-system-insufficient-to-prompt-renewable-energy-roll-out-part-1-of-2

Cap-And-Trade System Insufficient To Prompt Renewable Energy Roll Out, part 2 of 2 (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/x-1109-Dallas-Environmental-Policy-Examiner~y2009m2d27-Capandtrade-system-insufficient-to-prompt-renewable-energy-roll-out-part-2-of-2

Capping Carbon Emissions May Increase Energy Rates, Orszag Says (ABC News, Yah Think?)
http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/story?id=6983635&page=1

Capitol Power Plant Dims Clean Energy Hopes (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gTJ799AtURArOnuR5jn5GDlyLWLQD96L83280

Tennessee Offer to Offset Carbon Tax Credited In Deals to Attract Business (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008799678_apcarbontaxbreak.html?syndication=rss

Greenhouse Gas Rules Target Computer Chip Makers - and by inference, their brothers: PV chips? (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11795019?nclick_check=1

The Methane Time Bomb - Rising Star Researcher Discovers Ominous Bubbles under the Ice (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090228/EXPLORE/702289996/1025/rss1025

WashPost Op/Ed: George Will - Climate Science in A Tornado
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/26/AR2009022602906.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Microsoft + Yahoo Still Doesn’t Make Sense (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/02/28/microsoft-yahoo-still-doesnt-make-sense/

A Tour of Processors From WWII Through the ’70s (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/02/27/a-tour-of-processors-from-wwii-through-the-70s/

U.S. Internet Firms Defend Tighter Web Management (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE51P6ZU20090226?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology

GENERAL NEWS

Port Of Shelton Director Resigns (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6542/reftab/1632/t/PORT-OF-SHELTON-DIRECTOR-RESIGNS/Default.aspx

Thurston County Layoffs And Cuts Loom To Trim $5.7 Million (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/772252.html

Gregoire Sets Up Site To Track Elusive "Stimulus" Cash (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/771958.html

Oregon log prices hit rock bottom, mills cut back (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1878664~Oregon_log_prices_hit_rock_bottom__mills_cut_back.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Seattle P-I Columnist: Joel Connelly - Will Washington State’s Deficit Create a 'Zombie Governor'?
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/401635_Joel27.html?source=rss

Bank, Credit Union Replace Cards After Security Breach (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090301/BIZ/702269944/1001/rss1001

Maple Syrup Trendy And In Short Supply (Associated Press)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/641155.html

We’ll Mow Our Own Lawns, Thank You Very Much - The economic downturn is forcing America’s households to learn a tough lesson: how to fend for themselves (Washington Post)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/640086.html

DIVERSIONS

BusinessWeek ranks Portland at top of "unhappiest cities" list (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/03/business_week_ranks_portland_a.html

Olympia Bride, 90, Marries Her 'Perfect Gentleman'
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/773213.html

"Parliament of Clowns" Laughs Off Financial Crisis
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090227/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_germany_clowns;_ylt=AnXOMDCDwlEbB8wMIQ5pkRztiBIF

New Yorker launches barking mad lawsuit
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090227/od_afp/usoffbeatanimaljustice_20090227151054;_ylt=AgHGX5ZkiQkaRvJlWRxFfs6gOrgF

SONG OF THE DAY

The Allman Brothers Band - Midnight Rider
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EkJRy3gIS4&feature=PlayList&p=248DFD77C0BDC34D&playnext=1&index=38

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Energy News Digest for February 27, 2008

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.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Avista, BPA Reach Proposed Settlement Of Lengthy Fight
- Maryland - Energy firms fight reregulation
- Recovery in Action: Minnesota and Oregon
- DOE to Expedite Disbursement of Funds Received via Stimulus Act
- Dallas Morning News Editorial - Do Texans Pay Too Much For Electricity?
- U.S. Renewable Energy Faces Weak Economy and Old Grid
- Will Americans Learn To Love 'Smart Grid'?
- BPA, tribes and Washington advance first Fish Accord project
- Helping salmon downstream, emotional
- Court Won't Stop the Killing of Salmon-Eating Sea Lions
- South Kitsap District Waits for Federal Stimulus Ship to Come In
- Energy Company Looks for Biomass Location in Idaho
- $25 Billion to Promote Electric Cars Is Untouched
- GM Volt May Be Less-Effective Green Car than Prius
- Texas Green Energy to Grow Flush With Fed Cash
- N.C. Regulators Put Brakes on Save-A-Watt
- Rich-Nation 2020 Greenhouse Gas Cuts Seen At 15 Percent
- Australia Tackles Farm Animal Gas Emissions
- Time Warner Cable Getting Slammed By Denial Of Service Attack
- Senate bars FCC from revisiting Fairness Doctrine
- Man at Center of Belfair Attack, Fiery Standoff Identified
- Legislators Look to Reign in "Abuse" of Public Records Request

WORD OF THE DAY

Hackle • \HACK-ul\ • noun - 1: one of the long feathers on the neck or back of a bird 2: hairs (as on a dog's neck) that can be erected *3: temper, dander

Whistling past the graveyard, Abernathy’s little hairs started to stand up on the back of his neck. Clearly coming back in harmony from the Smith mausoleum in perfect harmony was another, unworldly whistle. His hackles raised, he switched from “Misty” into the “William Tell” Overture as he quickly ran from the scene.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast And Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Avista, BPA Reach Proposed Settlement Of Lengthy Fight (Spokane Business Journal)
http://www.spokanejournal.com/article.php?id=4279

Maryland - Energy firms fight reregulation - Constellation, Pepco lead State House battle (Gazette.com)
http://www.gazette.net/stories/02272009/businew172956_32470.shtml

Recovery in Action: Minnesota and Oregon (The White House)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/02/23/Recovery-in-Action-Minnesota-and-Oregon/

DOE to Expedite Disbursement of Funds Received via Stimulus Act (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/02/doe-to-expedite-disbursement-of-funds-received-via-stimulus-act

Dallas Morning News Editorial - Do Texans Pay Too Much For Electricity?
http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/02/do-texans-pay-t.html

U.S. Renewable Energy Faces Weak Economy and Old Grid (Reuters)
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20090223/tpl-uk-usa-renewables-grid-analysis-02bfc7e.html

Will Americans Learn To Love 'Smart Grid'? (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/02/27/27greenwire-will-americans-learn-to-love-smart-grid-9911.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

BPA, tribes and Washington advance first Fish Accord project - Klickitat fish ladder upgrade will boost key species, create jobs (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/257435/

Helping salmon downstream, emotional “…survival per mile traveled in the Fraser River, is lower than it is through the eight dam hydropower system in the Snake and Columbia…” (KMNT-TV, Twin Falls, ID)
http://www.kmvt.com/news/local/40391337.html

Court Won't Stop the Killing of Salmon-Eating Sea Lions (Examiner.Com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1874120~Court_won_t_stop_killing_salmon_eating_sea_lions.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

South Kitsap District Waits for Federal Stimulus Ship to Come In (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/feb/26/south-kitsap-schools-waits-for-federal-stimulus/?partner=RSS

RENEWABLE & ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Energy Company Looks for Biomass Location in Idaho (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/770910.html

$25 Billion to Promote Electric Cars Is Untouched (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/business/energy-environment/27green.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

GM Volt May Be Less-Effective Green Car than Prius “…A rechargeable auto with the Volt's target range of 40 miles on electricity is "not cost-effective in any scenario…” (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11794018

Texas Green Energy to Grow Flush With Fed Cash (Austin American Statesman, TX)
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2009/02/26/texas_green_energy_to_grow_flu.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

N.C. Regulators Put Brakes on Save-A-Watt (Charlotte Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2009/02/23/daily50.html?ana=from_rss

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Rich-Nation 2020 Greenhouse Gas Cuts Seen At 15 Percent (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE51P31K20090226?feedType=nl&feedName=ustopnewsearly

Australia Tackles Farm Animal Gas Emissions (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/international/2009/feb/Australia-Tackles-Farm-Animal-Gas-Emissions.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Time Warner Cable Getting Slammed By Denial Of Service Attack (Consumerist)
http://consumerist.com/5161168/time-warner-cable-getting-slammed-by-denial-of-service-attack

Senate bars FCC from revisiting Fairness Doctrine (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008789917_apfairnessdoctrine.html?syndication=rss

GENERAL NEWS

Man at Center of Belfair Attack, Fiery Standoff Identified (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/40388727.html

Legislators Look to Reign in "Abuse" of Public Records Requests (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/40398317.html

DIVERSIONS

Octo-Mess: Eight-Legged Resident Blamed for Flood at Santa Monica Aquarium
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11794140

Preschoolers Pitch In To Help Rescued Dogs
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_022609WAB-kids-help-puppy-mill-dogs-SW.853335a.html?npc

How Many Billion Dollars for That Tank of Gas?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008790918_webbigbill27.html?syndication=rss

Woman Claims To find $5 Bill inside Coconut (There’s gotta be a Gilligan’s Island joke in here somewhere)
http://www.kirotv.com/money/18803615/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Elvis Costello – Alison
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI4Qel8qvW0&feature=related