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
Vaudeville • \VAWD-vill\ • noun – 1: a light often comic theatrical piece frequently combining pantomime, dialogue, dancing, and song *2: stage entertainment consisting of various acts (as performing animals, acrobats, comedians, dancers, or singers)
“Look daddy,” piped the curious five-year old. “That man over there is putting on a show for us!” Unbeknownst to the precocious little boy, the vaudevillian appearance of Derwood’s herky-jerky dance was being caused by the invasion of yellow jackets from a nearby nest into his clothes. “That back flip was outstanding,” exclaimed the little boy’s father.
From Merriam-Webster: In the 15th century, several amusing songs became popular across France. These songs were said to have been written by a man named Olivier Basselin who lived in the valley of the river Vire in northwest France. The songs eventually became known as "chansons de vau-de-Vire," meaning "songs of the valley of Vire." Other people began writing and performing similar songs, and as this form of entertainment became more widespread, the link to vau-de-Vire was forgotten. The nickname was shortened to one word, "vaudevire." As the phenomenon spread beyond France, further changes in pronunciation and spelling shifted "vaudevire" into "vaudeville." The meaning also broadened to include humorous performances and variety shows.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Benton PUD may cut electric rates – Benton PUD announced Wednesday that it is working on a plan to reduce electric rates for the fifth time since 2003. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/story/9405150p-9318037c.html
Alcoa to PUD: Don't delay – Alcoa could lose interest in its Wenatchee Works aluminum smelter if Chelan County PUD commissioners fuss too much with the contract on the table that would have the utility supplying power to the smelter through 2028. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071024/NEWS04/710240013/1001
Clallam County PUD adding new outage tracking program (KONP Radio, Port Angeles)
http://www.konp.com/local/3202
Blackouts averted after Southwest link restored – San Diego County came within minutes yesterday afternoon of adding electricity blackouts to the list of woes caused by the wildfires. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20071025-9999-1b25power.html
New York – Lawsuit Over Nuclear Plant Defense. Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo filed legal papers yesterday arguing that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission must require the owners of nuclear plants to defend their reactors from an aerial attack. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/25/nyregion/25mbrfs-NUCLEAR.html?ex=1351051200&en=ce6fe2ec95ccb775&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
South Dakota – Basin Electric chooses S.D. site for plant. Basin Electric Power Cooperative has chosen an eastern South Dakota site for a new $331 million power plant with turbines fired by natural gas and steam, the company announced Wednesday. (The Jamestown Sun)
http://www.jamestownsun.com/articles/index.cfm?id=56068§ion=news&freebie_check&CFID=61515306&CFTOKEN=27664631&jsessionid=8830e5539ca258244d51
Massachusetts – GreatPoint to build gasification plant in Somerset. A Cambridge coal gasification company today revealed plans to build a pilot-scale manufacturing plant and research and development center in Somerset. (Mass High Tech: The Journal of New England Technology)
http://www.bizjournals.com/masshightech/stories/2007/10/22/daily43.html?ana=from_rss
New York – Questions raised about Long Island Power Authority appointment – Two state senators from Long Island this week asked Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to review the recent the appointment of former KeySpan director James Larocca as chairman of LIPA, saying the move "raises serious conflict of interest issues." (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via the Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CghlqpkmUUjf%23%3A%40%24bfem%5Ev
Utility’s Profit Surges – American Electric Power said Wednesday that its third-quarter earnings rose 54 percent, helped by a warmer than normal summer that increased energy usage. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/25/business/25power.html?_r=1&ex=1351051200&en=0da9f77dbcb9fbb8&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
$125,000 in pollution fines to help Duwamish salmon (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003973410_ecologyfine25m.html
Huge weir arrives at dam – After some 280 miles of smooth sailing, a 1,000-ton aid to salmon migration reached its new home here Tuesday. (Walla Walla Union Bulletin)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/10/24/local_news/local04.txt
Weather eases up after last week, allowing river fishing to rebound – Weather put the brakes on river fishing last week, but conditions have improved and so has fishing. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/252856.html
Hook your fill of salmon on the world-class runs of Chilliwack, B.C. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/outdoors/story/192599.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Pint-size hydro power on tap (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/Pint-size-hydro-power-on-tap/2100-11392-6215142.html?part=dht
Green Power Suppliers: Marketing Renewable Energy to the Masses – Department of Energy recognizes six companies for helping the U.S. 'go green' during 7th Annual Green Power Leadership Awards. (Renewable Energy Access)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50387&src=rss
CONSERVATION
Sealing Leaks Can Lower Heating Costs – Heating costs are rising again this year, but there are steps families can take to save money and still keep warm. (KMSP-TV, Eden Prairie, MN)
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=4729994&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.6.1
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Climate Change Testimony Was Edited by White House (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/25/science/earth/25climate.html?ex=1350964800&en=0831e864d81160b3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Self-Appointed Traffic Cop – Is the company you pay to bring you the Internet blocking parts of it instead? That's been a fear of some Internet users for a long time. Now many Comcast customers are anxious after reading the Associated Press report last week that the cable-modem service interferes with the BitTorrent file-sharing program. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/24/AR2007102402568.html?nav=rss_technology
GENERAL NEWS
CITY OF SHELTON’S REMOVAL OF CONTAMINATED SOIL TO BEGIN MONDAY – Work to remove gasoline contaminated soil from two intersections in downtown Shelton will begin Monday. The intersections are Fourth and Franklin and First and Franklin. Work at Fourth and Franklin will begin Monday as the State Department of Ecology is requiring a section seven feet deep to be dug from curb to curb to eliminate contamination. Fourth Street will be closed between Railroad Avenue and Franklin Street from Monday to next Thursday (November 1). The First and Franklin site was initially thought to have much higher contamination. However, current tests have revealed that the contamination may not be as high as initially thought, but a specialized crew may still be needed to clean up the site. The clean up at First and Franklin will require the intersection to be closed for two weeks beginning November 12. The City is continuing to test and gather information on both contaminated sites. Again, the intersection at Fourth and Franklin will be closed from Monday to next Thursday, and the intersection at First and Franklin will be closed for two weeks beginning November 12 so crews can clean up gasoline contaminated soil. If you have any questions, contact Shelton City Engineer Mike Michael at 432-5125. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Hospitals backtrack on keeping mistakes secret – The Washington State Hospital Association has changed its stance on the public disclosure of hospitals' preventable mistakes, saying now that it won't try to block the release of information about errors such as leaving instruments inside patients and performing the wrong operations. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003973499_medrecords25m.html
'No evidence mascots are demeaning' – A state panel heard strongly negative reviews Tuesday from local school officials about a proposal to ban American Indian high school mascots from 15 Oregon schools. (The Daily Astorian)
http://dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=37&SubSectionID=476&ArticleID=46300
DIVERSIONS
Free Publicity – Brewer in Dispute With Real Sam Adams. The Boston brewers of Sam Adams beer objected when they learned that a mayoral campaign here included Web sites invoking the name of their product.
http://www.examiner.com/a-1009215~Brewer_in_Dispute_With_Real_Sam_Adams.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Only in Mossyrock – Man Accused Of Killing Trees May Have Poisoned Neighbor
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14415304/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
Mom helps cheerleaders grab boys' beer – A woman let her teenage daughter lean out of a moving van to take beer from a vehicle that was driving alongside on a southeastern Nebraska highway, authorities said Wednesday
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071025/ap_on_fe_st/odd_beer_stunt;_ylt=AoCDkjYm4Wnuw0RVyZIuKLbtiBIF
Undressed sleepwalkers set off alarm for hotel chain – A surge in naked sleepwalking among guests has led one of the country's largest budget hotel groups to re-train staff to handle late-night problems.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071025/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_britain_sleepwalking;_ylt=Aq4i.NxZ1WMq5OQIS0HJCbHtiBIF
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
News Digest for October 24, 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
Hat trick • \HAT-TRICK\ • noun – 1: the retiring of three batsmen with three consecutive balls by a bowler in cricket 2: the scoring of three goals in one game (as of hockey or soccer) by a single player *3: a series of three victories, successes, or related accomplishments
From Merriam-Webster: It may surprise some people to learn that the term "hat trick" as it relates to sports actually originated in British cricket. A bowler who retired three batsmen with three consecutive balls was entitled to a new hat at the expense of the club to commemorate this feat. Eventually, the phrase was applied to a single player scoring three goals in any goal sport and later to three victories or successes in sports as different as horse racing and golf. The phrase finally broadened to include a string of three important successes or achievements in any field.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
N. Idaho utility worker electrocuted – A 23-year-old north Idaho utility worker has died after being electrocuted while working near Coeur d'Alene. (The Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP10242007news220094.cfm?newsletter=10
Fires threaten remaining power link to San Diego (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN2454614620071024
Snohomish County PUD hopes off-season work will prevent outages – The Snohomish County PUD made early preparations for foul weather this year after last year's double-whammy. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/snohomishcountynews/2003970010_pud24n.html?syndication=rss
Seattle Prepared For Winter Storms, Mayor Says – The city of Seattle has worked hard since the end of last winter to prepare for this storm season, trimming trees, clearing storm drains and hiring more power line workers, Mayor Greg Nickels said. "We're going to respond better, faster, smarter" (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14405394/detail.html
Chelan County PUD weighs its future with Alcoa – Two Chelan County PUD commissioners say they are uncomfortable with the length — 17 years — of a proposed new deal to power Alcoa's Wenatchee Works aluminum smelter through 2028. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071023/NEWS04/710230050/1001
A New Lecture on Electric Deregulation Failure – “At the mercy of forces that show no mercy” - Former governor Gray Davis of California (about deregulation) (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1591
An advertising power play: Natural gas company behind anti-coal media blitz – An extensive anti-coal campaign in Kansas makes no mention on its statewide ads or Web site of who is behind the media blitz.
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CghkkimvZUie%23%3A%40%24bfem%5Ev
BRIEF: It's more expensive to buy energy on open market – Modesto Irrigation District officials say buying power on the open market can be an expensive proposition. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CghkkklkRUie%23%3A%40%24bfem%5Ev
News Release – Virginia's Commitment: Independent Review Finds Dominion Power's Transmission Line Designed Mostly for needs outside Virginia. (MarketWire, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CghhnxsnUUie%23%3A%40%24bfem%5Ev
Arizona – Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative to consider rate hike; would be its first in 13 years – Although SSVEC has avoided increasing its rates for the past 13 years, but an increase will be considered in the next few years, said the company’s CEO. (Sierra Vista Herald/Review)
http://www.svherald.com/articles/2007/10/24/news/doc471f01568bc91169716087.txt
City of Port Angeles – City approves sale of old light building for new clinic (KONP Radio, Port Angeles)
http://www.konp.com/local/3197
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Several N. Idaho counties seek to delay water rights talks – Kootenai County commissioners have rejected a plan to join ranks with four other north Idaho counties (The Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP10242007news220129.cfm?newsletter=10
Oregon – Raises at Rockwood PUD draw criticism. The board chief's husband got one of the increases, which two officials say felt rushed. Salary increases as high as 37 percent approved for Rockwood Water People's Utility District employees last month were handed out too quickly (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/suburban/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_east_news/119319270346750.xml&coll=7
MASON COUNTY HOLDING MEETING ON BELFAIR SEWERS NEXT TUESDAY – The Belfair Wastewater and Water Reclamation Facilities will be the focus of the Mason County Commission's upcoming "Fifth Tuesday" meeting in Belfair. Information materials on the facilities will be available for residents to view at 5pm on October 30th. Project staff will be available to address questions starting at 5pm, followed by an overview presentation as part of the regular meeting agenda at 6pm. The Mason County Commissioners' Fifth Tuesday meeting in Belfair will be held in the Theler Community Center. Again, information on sewers for Belfair will be available at 5pm next Tuesday with the regular meeting set for 6pm. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Preliminary Work to Begin on Belfair Sewer System – Observant drivers may see indications next week that the long-awaited Belfair sewer system will become a reality. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/oct/21/preliminary-work-to-begin-on-belfair-sewer/
Their water's clear as mud – Clean water becoming harder to find in rural areas (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071024/NEWS01/710240036
Satellites eye Olympic Peninsula to help manage its water – NASA's eyes in the sky are focused on the North Olympic Peninsula to help it manage its water. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20071024/NEWS/710240307
Kitsap County PUD Commissioner Appointed to National Board – A Hansville man has been appointed to a board to advise a national association that deals with drinking water. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2007/oct/23/kpud-commissioner-appointed-to-national-board/
Feds find Klamath irrigation still hard on fish – The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said Tuesday that operating the federal irrigation project in the upper Klamath Basin is likely to continue causing problems for fish protected by the Endangered Species Act. (The Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1006032~Feds_find_Klamath_irrigation_still_hard_on_fish.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Kokanee salmon fail to garner protection – The Kokanee of Issaquah Creek, ruby-red fish so rare that none have been seen in seven years, weren't important enough to be protected under the Endangered Species Act, the federal government announced Tuesday. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003970959_kokanee24m.html
See salmon and more at McLane Creek Nature Trail (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/251846.html
Clam season opens Thursday on coastal beaches (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003969346_webclams23m.html?syndication=rss
Angler Catches Record Size Salmon (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14408105/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
Burgerville Announces Recycling And Composting Plans – Burgerville announced Tuesday that it plans to compost or recycle 85 percent of its waste. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/burgerville-announces-recycling-and-composting-plans/
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
California – Berkeley could pay upfront for solar. Berkeley is hoping to become a model for cities nationwide with a plan to bankroll homeowners who want to install solar energy systems. (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7266437?source=rss&nclick_check=1
CONSERVATION
Massachusetts – Conservation group pushes for rate reform. The Conservation Law Foundation said it plans to advocate for reforms that encourage energy efficiencies at state hearings that will explore new ways to set electricity rates in Massachusetts. (Boston Globe)
http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2007/10/conservation_gr.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
British Columbia reaches climate-change deals with Oregon, Manitoba – Greenhouse gas reduction, cleaner ports on agenda (Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=b0e75087-30b2-433d-80c4-f4fa5ce0d5d3
States Set to Sue the U.S. Over Greenhouse Gases – New York is one of more than a dozen states, led by California, preparing to sue the Bush administration for holding up efforts to regulate emissions from cars and trucks, several people involved in the lawsuit said on Tuesday. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/24/nyregion/24emissions.html?ex=1350878400&en=4365c786d3b5747a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Eugene Register Guard Op/Ed – Malibu aside, accelerating climate change will hit the poor hardest
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?mid=6781
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Comcast admits online "delaying" – Comcast on Tuesday acknowledged "delaying" some subscriber Internet traffic, but said any roadblocks it puts up are temporary and intended to improve surfing for other users. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003970806_comcast24.html
Cities themselves may be muni Wi-Fi's savior – Cities that commit to using new Wi-Fi networks for their own use could help rescue the ailing citywide Wi-Fi movement. (CNET News.com)
http://www.news.com/Cities-themselves-may-be-muni-Wi-Fis-savior/2100-7351-6214969.html?part=dht
Broadband-over-power-lines battle goes to court – A dispute that could affect the roll-out of broadband over power lines, which some hope will one day compete with cable and DSL services, went before a federal appeals court on Tuesday, but no immediate resolution occurred. (CNET News.com)
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9802730-7.html?tag=head
Could Electricity Grid Become A Type Of Internet? (Science Daily)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071024102656.htm
GENERAL NEWS
REACTION TO BELFAIR BYPASS CONNECTIONS MIXED – Reactions to the selected connections for the Belfair Bypass were mixed Tuesday during an open house in the North Mason High School gymnasium. The State Department of Transportation held the open house to update residents on the project, giving them a better idea of the connections. The northern connection, known as alternative “N3”, will realign Lake Flora Road, improving safety at the intersection with Highway 3. (There is also room at this location to construct a full clover leaf interchange.) The south connection, known as alternative “S4”, will realign the intersection of Highway 3 and Highway 302, improving the safety at that intersection. Traffic will be placed primarily on the Bypass and traffic lights will be placed at both intersections. By selecting the connections, the State now has a better idea of the construction cost: $77 Million. This total is in 2011 dollars and includes the $15 Million already allocated to the project. The next step in the project is environmental assessment which will include a SEPA hearing. That will be followed by design and right of way acquisition. D-O-T officials told those in attendance that construction could begin in four years IF the legislature decides to fund the project. A dozen people spoke during the open house asking questions and making comments. Some called the connections logical. Others suggested doing away with the traffic lights. While most just voiced they want the State to get moving on the project. There were some concerns voiced over traffic congestion in Allyn and how the County's proposed Rasor Road extension would also impact the community to the south. And the North Mason Chamber of Commerce wondered about a midway connection which is currently not in the Bypass plans. The goal of the Belfair Bypass is to relieve the congestion in Belfair through 2030. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Olympia man demands postage-free ballot – Seen as a “poll tax”
http://www.examiner.com/a-1007201~Olympia_man_demands_postage_free_ballot.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
DIVERSIONS
Violators Of Saggy Pants Ban Facing Fines
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14403739/detail.html
Woman Wants Service Horse As Roommate – Miniature Horse A Service Animal (Will the neigh-bors “bridle” at having a horsy room-mate?)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14401572/detail.html
"Purple Rain" greatest film soundtrack: Vanity Fair (Huh?)
http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN2335552920071024?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest
The Right To Remain Spiffy: Wash. State Patrol Named Best-Dressed
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14408428/detail.html
Meteor shower lighting up the sky – Unusually clear skies gave a handful of Puget Sound residents a glimpse of an annual occurrence -- the Orionids meteor shower.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/336503_meteor24.html?source=rss
Painting Found in Trash Could Fetch $1M – A painting stolen 20 years ago was found lying in trash along a street, and now it could fetch up to $1 million at auction.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/10/23/national/a062936D47.DTL&feed=rss.news
WORD OF THE DAY
Hat trick • \HAT-TRICK\ • noun – 1: the retiring of three batsmen with three consecutive balls by a bowler in cricket 2: the scoring of three goals in one game (as of hockey or soccer) by a single player *3: a series of three victories, successes, or related accomplishments
From Merriam-Webster: It may surprise some people to learn that the term "hat trick" as it relates to sports actually originated in British cricket. A bowler who retired three batsmen with three consecutive balls was entitled to a new hat at the expense of the club to commemorate this feat. Eventually, the phrase was applied to a single player scoring three goals in any goal sport and later to three victories or successes in sports as different as horse racing and golf. The phrase finally broadened to include a string of three important successes or achievements in any field.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
N. Idaho utility worker electrocuted – A 23-year-old north Idaho utility worker has died after being electrocuted while working near Coeur d'Alene. (The Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP10242007news220094.cfm?newsletter=10
Fires threaten remaining power link to San Diego (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN2454614620071024
Snohomish County PUD hopes off-season work will prevent outages – The Snohomish County PUD made early preparations for foul weather this year after last year's double-whammy. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/snohomishcountynews/2003970010_pud24n.html?syndication=rss
Seattle Prepared For Winter Storms, Mayor Says – The city of Seattle has worked hard since the end of last winter to prepare for this storm season, trimming trees, clearing storm drains and hiring more power line workers, Mayor Greg Nickels said. "We're going to respond better, faster, smarter" (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14405394/detail.html
Chelan County PUD weighs its future with Alcoa – Two Chelan County PUD commissioners say they are uncomfortable with the length — 17 years — of a proposed new deal to power Alcoa's Wenatchee Works aluminum smelter through 2028. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071023/NEWS04/710230050/1001
A New Lecture on Electric Deregulation Failure – “At the mercy of forces that show no mercy” - Former governor Gray Davis of California (about deregulation) (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1591
An advertising power play: Natural gas company behind anti-coal media blitz – An extensive anti-coal campaign in Kansas makes no mention on its statewide ads or Web site of who is behind the media blitz.
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CghkkimvZUie%23%3A%40%24bfem%5Ev
BRIEF: It's more expensive to buy energy on open market – Modesto Irrigation District officials say buying power on the open market can be an expensive proposition. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CghkkklkRUie%23%3A%40%24bfem%5Ev
News Release – Virginia's Commitment: Independent Review Finds Dominion Power's Transmission Line Designed Mostly for needs outside Virginia. (MarketWire, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CghhnxsnUUie%23%3A%40%24bfem%5Ev
Arizona – Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative to consider rate hike; would be its first in 13 years – Although SSVEC has avoided increasing its rates for the past 13 years, but an increase will be considered in the next few years, said the company’s CEO. (Sierra Vista Herald/Review)
http://www.svherald.com/articles/2007/10/24/news/doc471f01568bc91169716087.txt
City of Port Angeles – City approves sale of old light building for new clinic (KONP Radio, Port Angeles)
http://www.konp.com/local/3197
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Several N. Idaho counties seek to delay water rights talks – Kootenai County commissioners have rejected a plan to join ranks with four other north Idaho counties (The Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP10242007news220129.cfm?newsletter=10
Oregon – Raises at Rockwood PUD draw criticism. The board chief's husband got one of the increases, which two officials say felt rushed. Salary increases as high as 37 percent approved for Rockwood Water People's Utility District employees last month were handed out too quickly (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/suburban/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_east_news/119319270346750.xml&coll=7
MASON COUNTY HOLDING MEETING ON BELFAIR SEWERS NEXT TUESDAY – The Belfair Wastewater and Water Reclamation Facilities will be the focus of the Mason County Commission's upcoming "Fifth Tuesday" meeting in Belfair. Information materials on the facilities will be available for residents to view at 5pm on October 30th. Project staff will be available to address questions starting at 5pm, followed by an overview presentation as part of the regular meeting agenda at 6pm. The Mason County Commissioners' Fifth Tuesday meeting in Belfair will be held in the Theler Community Center. Again, information on sewers for Belfair will be available at 5pm next Tuesday with the regular meeting set for 6pm. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Preliminary Work to Begin on Belfair Sewer System – Observant drivers may see indications next week that the long-awaited Belfair sewer system will become a reality. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/oct/21/preliminary-work-to-begin-on-belfair-sewer/
Their water's clear as mud – Clean water becoming harder to find in rural areas (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071024/NEWS01/710240036
Satellites eye Olympic Peninsula to help manage its water – NASA's eyes in the sky are focused on the North Olympic Peninsula to help it manage its water. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20071024/NEWS/710240307
Kitsap County PUD Commissioner Appointed to National Board – A Hansville man has been appointed to a board to advise a national association that deals with drinking water. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2007/oct/23/kpud-commissioner-appointed-to-national-board/
Feds find Klamath irrigation still hard on fish – The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said Tuesday that operating the federal irrigation project in the upper Klamath Basin is likely to continue causing problems for fish protected by the Endangered Species Act. (The Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1006032~Feds_find_Klamath_irrigation_still_hard_on_fish.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Kokanee salmon fail to garner protection – The Kokanee of Issaquah Creek, ruby-red fish so rare that none have been seen in seven years, weren't important enough to be protected under the Endangered Species Act, the federal government announced Tuesday. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003970959_kokanee24m.html
See salmon and more at McLane Creek Nature Trail (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/251846.html
Clam season opens Thursday on coastal beaches (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003969346_webclams23m.html?syndication=rss
Angler Catches Record Size Salmon (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14408105/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
Burgerville Announces Recycling And Composting Plans – Burgerville announced Tuesday that it plans to compost or recycle 85 percent of its waste. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/burgerville-announces-recycling-and-composting-plans/
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
California – Berkeley could pay upfront for solar. Berkeley is hoping to become a model for cities nationwide with a plan to bankroll homeowners who want to install solar energy systems. (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7266437?source=rss&nclick_check=1
CONSERVATION
Massachusetts – Conservation group pushes for rate reform. The Conservation Law Foundation said it plans to advocate for reforms that encourage energy efficiencies at state hearings that will explore new ways to set electricity rates in Massachusetts. (Boston Globe)
http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2007/10/conservation_gr.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
British Columbia reaches climate-change deals with Oregon, Manitoba – Greenhouse gas reduction, cleaner ports on agenda (Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=b0e75087-30b2-433d-80c4-f4fa5ce0d5d3
States Set to Sue the U.S. Over Greenhouse Gases – New York is one of more than a dozen states, led by California, preparing to sue the Bush administration for holding up efforts to regulate emissions from cars and trucks, several people involved in the lawsuit said on Tuesday. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/24/nyregion/24emissions.html?ex=1350878400&en=4365c786d3b5747a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Eugene Register Guard Op/Ed – Malibu aside, accelerating climate change will hit the poor hardest
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?mid=6781
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Comcast admits online "delaying" – Comcast on Tuesday acknowledged "delaying" some subscriber Internet traffic, but said any roadblocks it puts up are temporary and intended to improve surfing for other users. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003970806_comcast24.html
Cities themselves may be muni Wi-Fi's savior – Cities that commit to using new Wi-Fi networks for their own use could help rescue the ailing citywide Wi-Fi movement. (CNET News.com)
http://www.news.com/Cities-themselves-may-be-muni-Wi-Fis-savior/2100-7351-6214969.html?part=dht
Broadband-over-power-lines battle goes to court – A dispute that could affect the roll-out of broadband over power lines, which some hope will one day compete with cable and DSL services, went before a federal appeals court on Tuesday, but no immediate resolution occurred. (CNET News.com)
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9802730-7.html?tag=head
Could Electricity Grid Become A Type Of Internet? (Science Daily)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071024102656.htm
GENERAL NEWS
REACTION TO BELFAIR BYPASS CONNECTIONS MIXED – Reactions to the selected connections for the Belfair Bypass were mixed Tuesday during an open house in the North Mason High School gymnasium. The State Department of Transportation held the open house to update residents on the project, giving them a better idea of the connections. The northern connection, known as alternative “N3”, will realign Lake Flora Road, improving safety at the intersection with Highway 3. (There is also room at this location to construct a full clover leaf interchange.) The south connection, known as alternative “S4”, will realign the intersection of Highway 3 and Highway 302, improving the safety at that intersection. Traffic will be placed primarily on the Bypass and traffic lights will be placed at both intersections. By selecting the connections, the State now has a better idea of the construction cost: $77 Million. This total is in 2011 dollars and includes the $15 Million already allocated to the project. The next step in the project is environmental assessment which will include a SEPA hearing. That will be followed by design and right of way acquisition. D-O-T officials told those in attendance that construction could begin in four years IF the legislature decides to fund the project. A dozen people spoke during the open house asking questions and making comments. Some called the connections logical. Others suggested doing away with the traffic lights. While most just voiced they want the State to get moving on the project. There were some concerns voiced over traffic congestion in Allyn and how the County's proposed Rasor Road extension would also impact the community to the south. And the North Mason Chamber of Commerce wondered about a midway connection which is currently not in the Bypass plans. The goal of the Belfair Bypass is to relieve the congestion in Belfair through 2030. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Olympia man demands postage-free ballot – Seen as a “poll tax”
http://www.examiner.com/a-1007201~Olympia_man_demands_postage_free_ballot.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
DIVERSIONS
Violators Of Saggy Pants Ban Facing Fines
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14403739/detail.html
Woman Wants Service Horse As Roommate – Miniature Horse A Service Animal (Will the neigh-bors “bridle” at having a horsy room-mate?)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14401572/detail.html
"Purple Rain" greatest film soundtrack: Vanity Fair (Huh?)
http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN2335552920071024?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest
The Right To Remain Spiffy: Wash. State Patrol Named Best-Dressed
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14408428/detail.html
Meteor shower lighting up the sky – Unusually clear skies gave a handful of Puget Sound residents a glimpse of an annual occurrence -- the Orionids meteor shower.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/336503_meteor24.html?source=rss
Painting Found in Trash Could Fetch $1M – A painting stolen 20 years ago was found lying in trash along a street, and now it could fetch up to $1 million at auction.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/10/23/national/a062936D47.DTL&feed=rss.news
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
News Digest for October 23, 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
Meme • \meem\ • noun – An idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture
“Red state/blue state; issues that ‘resonate’ with the voters; any scandal that ends with ‘gate’; ‘soccer moms’, ‘values voters’,” blurted Donald, sounding like a tobacco auctioneer. “Sorry folks,” he murmured, wiping spittle from his lips. “I just had a tourettes edition of meme overload.”
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
U.S. Pacific NW DC Tie-Line shut due Calif. Fires (Reuters)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN2229808620071023
Bradwood and its foes debate LNG in Astoria (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/10/23/area_news/news10.txt
Avista settles with Montana in rent lawsuit – Another utility has reached a settlement with Montana over the state's effort to collect rent payments for state-owned land underneath hydroelectric dams. (The Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1005001~Avista_settles_with_Montana_in_rent_lawsuit.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines
Powerless businesses burglarized after wind storm – Three businesses that were shut down by power outages from last Thursday's wind storm became victims twice-over when thieves and vandals took advantage of the fact that none of the stores had power to their alarm systems. (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_102207WAB_power_outage_burglaries_TP.1978cacca.html
(Had warned city of Lakewood) Windstorm victim gets a little help – There are big problems for a homeowner whose house was sliced in half by a falling tree during Thursday's windstorm. (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/10726836.html
NY Times Editorial – Montana and Kansas Take on Big Coal
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/opinion/23tue2.html?_r=1&ex=1350878400&en=7fdfcb850d70c424&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
United Kingdom – British Energy closes nuclear plants. The country’s largest electricity generating company was thrown into turmoil yesterday after it was forced to close two of its nuclear power plants. (The Times Online)
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/utilities/article2719820.ece
’70s Echo in New ‘No Nukes’ Campaign (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/washington/23nukes.html?ex=1350792000&en=b135c1ad28b5e775&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Low Rates & Reliable Service – Traditional regulation is alive and healthy in the Southeast and producing low rates and reliable service for customers—that was the key message from the 27th annual Bonbright Conference in Atlanta, Georgia (PowerMarketers Industry Publications, Message coming in for you sir!)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8kowu%5D%5CggmkkqqVTnk%23%3A%40%24bfem%5Ev
Ron Kirk named co-chairman of lobbying group that supports deregulation of the electricity markets. (Dallas Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2007/10/22/daily7.html?ana=from_rss
Making the Dumb Grid Smarter – "You know how we find out when the power goes out somewhere in our system?" Peter Darbee asks me. I don't know. Peter is the CEO of PG&E Corp., a $12.5-billion-a-year utility company in northern California. We had lunch recently at the National Press Club in Washington. "We get a phone call," he says. "You know what we do?" he asks. Again, I'm stumped. "Nothing," he replies. Not until the utility company gets a second call is a truck dispatched, to determine the scope of the problem. (Huffington Post)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-gunther/making-the-dumb-grid-smar_b_69344.html
Number of hackers targeting utilities increases 90 percent (Utility Automation and Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/display_article/309852/22/ARTCL/none/none/1/Number-of-hackers-targeting-utilities-increases-90-percent/
The Energy Solution: Do Something – Carl Pope, the executive director of the Sierra Club, likes to say that the environmental challenge can be boiled down to a pretty simple question. How are we going to fit a billion new rising consumers — mostly from India and China — into a biosphere that is increasingly full? (Time Magazine)
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1674517,00.html
Save Time for Home Safety (News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, AZ)
http://www.havasunews.com/articles/2007/10/22/familyfeatures/home_and_lifestyle/home_and_lifestyle2481.txt
TVA's Early Days – Northeast Mississippians with first-hand memories of the Tennessee Valley Authority's early days in Mississippi have a chance to become part of a major documentary film celebrating TVA's 75th anniversary in 2008. (NE Mississippi Daily Journal)
http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=255213&pub=1&div=News
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
CITY REBUKES NEWSPAPER REPORT AS TOP CONTAMINATOR OF SOUND – The City of Shelton is NOT one of the top five contaminators of Puget Sound as reported earlier this month in a Seattle newspaper. On October 11th, the Seattle Post Intelligencer reported that the Shelton Wastewater Treatment Plant exceeded the limits of its monthly discharge permit six or more time in 2005. The article made it sound as if the City was discharging fecal coliform and other types of harmful pollution into Hammersley Inlet and Oakland Bay. Monday, City staff rebuked that P-I story by compiling the “City of Shelton Wastewater Treatment Discharge Permit Report” which shows all permit violations at the plant since 2000. The report shows that the plant only had one effluent violation in 2005. Included in the report is the August 2005 Sanitary Survey of Oakland Bay by the State Department of Health which states “For many years the Shelton WWTP has consistently produced effluent that is reliably treated and disinfected prior to discharge to the Prohibited area of the bay.” In October of 2005, the Department of Health also opened up shellfish harvest areas in Oakland after the City completed upgrades to the Treatment Plant. The City did admit the Plant exceeded its permit for influent, which is water coming into the Plant during heavy rain events not pollution going out the Plants outfall. The City is sending this information to the P-I reporter who wrote the original story and will ask for a correction. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Fishermen sue state over chum changes – Gillnetters say it will be harder to get fresh fish to markets (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/336444_salmon23.html?source=rss
Gigantic weir makes way toward area dam – A new fish passage is to be installed this week at Lower Monumental Dam. (The Union-Bulletin, Walla Walla)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/10/22/local_news/local01.txt
Kayaker play on Sultan River as Snohomish County PUD tests flows – Snohomish County PUD officials opened the gate at Culmback Dam on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, allowing high flows to rush through a 14-mile long canyon on the Sultan River. (The Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071023/NEWS01/710230057
California – Dam plans washed out; river stretch restored. The American River near Auburn is flowing unfettered for the first time in four decades after agencies remade a stretch into a set of rapids designed to thrill paddlers. (Sacramento Bee, may require free registration)
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/448426.html
On the river and in the lab, Curtis Roegner works for salmon (The Daily Astorian)
http://dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=398&ArticleID=46210
Shock Therapy for Sea Lions Sparks Questions (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3309
Juniper Dunes bill clears House, heads to Senate – A bill that could help open public access to Juniper Dunes cleared the U.S. House on Monday …It primarily allows the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to sell 622 acres of land within the Wells Hydroelectric Project area to Douglas PUD… (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9400190p-9313521c.html
Guest Columnist for the Columbian – Good water policy addresses needs of all users
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2007/10/10232007_Good-water-policy-addresses-needs-of-all-users.cfm/
New to Being Dry, the South Struggles to Adapt (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/us/23drought.html?ex=1350792000&en=7e45de6646b4aaa3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Solar-power site near Ellensburg about to open (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071022/BIZ/710220003/1025/rss1025
GE Energy wind turbine orders top $1 billion (Atlanta Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2007/10/22/daily11.html?ana=from_rss
News Release – Going Green Brings Bonneville Environmental Foundation The Gold (Bonneville Environmental Foundation)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/partner/story?id=50357&src=rss
Idled Idaho plant resumes its production of ethanol – An ethanol plant idled since 2004 has resumed operation. The Caldwell plant built in 1985 by J.R. Simplot used potato waste to make biofuel but closed in 2004. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071022/BIZ01/710220009/1025/rss1025
Halt the gold rush to corn fuel – To take corn out of cereal bowls and put it into our gas tanks isn't an answer to global warming. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1023/p08s02-comv.html
CONSERVATION
Utah – Energy 'police' keep eye on Ogden School District (The Salt Lake Tribune)
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_7257512
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Carbon dioxide emissions grow faster than expected, study finds – days after the Nobel Prize was awarded for global-warming work, an alarming new study finds that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing faster than expected. (The Associated Press via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003968367_co223.html
Panel Urges Global Shift on Sources of Energy – Energy experts convened by the world’s scientific academies yesterday urged nations to shift swiftly away from coal and other fuels that are the main source of climate-warming greenhouse gases (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/business/worldbusiness/23energy.html?ex=1350792000&en=801052d528bf85df&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Washington Post Editorial – Climate Change on Capitol Hill. With Sens. Lieberman and Warner on board, maybe Congress will try something new: action.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/21/AR2007102101067.html?nav=rss_opinions
Little Green Lies – The sweet notion that making a company environmentally friendly can be not just cost-effective but profitable is going up in smoke. Meet the man wielding the torch (Business Week)
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_44/b4056001.htm
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Companies Seeking Immunity Donate to Senator – Executives at the two biggest phone companies contributed more than $42,000 in political donations to Senator John D. Rockefeller IV this year while seeking his support for legal immunity for businesses participating in National Security Agency eavesdropping. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/washington/23nsa.html?ex=1350792000&en=68681f6eaad69bb1&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Filing refutes ex-Qwest CEO's claims – Qwest Communications was part of a consortium awarded a key government contract, according to court filings made public Monday that refute former chief executive Joe Nacchio's claims that the telecom lost business because he refused a government request. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1193106308190540.xml&coll=7
Comcast says it's not blocking content, applications – Comcast said on Monday that file transfers on peer-to-peer networks such as BitTorrent may be delayed by bandwidth management technology, but it denied blocking access to any applications or content. (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/Comcast-says-it%27s-not-blocking-content%2C-applications/2100-1034_3-6214709.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent
Time Warner Telecom appeals FCC decision – The company is appealing a Federal Communications Commission decision granting AT&T some freedom to increase charges it levies on other Ethernet providers for carrying their business-to-business broadband traffic over AT&T's network. (The Denver Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2007/10/22/daily10.html?ana=from_rss
After major projects fail, Wi-Fi reborn as cities refine approaches (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/23/BUJOSU1FR.DTL&feed=rss.business
GENERAL NEWS
CONTAMINATED SOIL FOUND UNDER SHELTON INTERSECTIONS – Some contaminated soil has been discovered under two intersections in downtown Shelton. City Engineer Mike Michael reported to the Shelton City Commissioners Monday afternoon that the gasoline contamination is preexisting and was discovered while crews were working on the City's Basin Two project. The contaminated soil is at the intersections of Fourth and Franklin and First and Franklin. Both sites will need to be cleaned up. The Fourth and Franklin site has a low level contamination and can be cleaned up by the contractor doing Basin Two. The First and Franklin site, however, will require a specialized clean up crew. Michael estimates the cost of this cleanup at a couple of hundred thousand dollars and the City will have to foot the bill up front but there are some grant programs that could reimburse the City between 50% and 75% of the clean up cost. The source of the contamination and the exact cost is not known. City officials will be meeting with the clean up company later this week and more specific information will be known after that meeting. What is known is that clean up work will force the City to close the First and Franklin intersection for two or three weeks. The Shelton City Commission will have to declare an emergency to waive the competitive bidding process and award the clean up contract at its next meeting. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Olympia radio station asks for longer lease – KGY radio officials Monday asked commissioners for an extension to continue broadcasting on Port of Olympia property 10 years beyond their current lease, which expires the end of 2009. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/business/story/250774.html
DIVERSIONS
(Monday) Start YELLING! It's CAPS LOCKS DAY!
http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9801944-1.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e433
Mother Arrested After Boy Calls 911 About Her Driving
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14394373/detail.html
Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest Staged Near Key Largo (did you get college credit for that?)
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14394279/detail.html
Elephants electrocuted in drunken rampage – They had found rice beer in Indian village; incident reflects loss of habitat (Oh Great, another black eye for the GOP)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21432722/?GT1=10450
Woman seeking widow's benefits learns husband alive – A woman who has been fighting a long battle to regain widow's benefits has learned that Social Security Administration officials were right - her husband is still alive.
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_102307WAK_widows_benefits_husband_alive_JM.19b4e5a68.html
Talk about the “canary in the coal mine” – Parrot Imitates Fire Alarm, Saves Family: A noisy parrot that likes to imitate sounds helped save a man and his son from a house fire by mocking a smoke alarm, the bird's owner says.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/10/22/national/a180534D69.DTL&feed=rss.news
Follow up file – Judge Set to Lose Job, Sources Say: Panel Reportedly Votes Against Reappointment. Roy L. Pearson Jr., whose $54 million lawsuit against a Northeast Washington dry-cleaning shop was rejected in court, is about to lose his job as an administrative law judge, sources said last night.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/22/AR2007102202170.html?nav=rss_metro
WORD OF THE DAY
Meme • \meem\ • noun – An idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture
“Red state/blue state; issues that ‘resonate’ with the voters; any scandal that ends with ‘gate’; ‘soccer moms’, ‘values voters’,” blurted Donald, sounding like a tobacco auctioneer. “Sorry folks,” he murmured, wiping spittle from his lips. “I just had a tourettes edition of meme overload.”
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
U.S. Pacific NW DC Tie-Line shut due Calif. Fires (Reuters)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN2229808620071023
Bradwood and its foes debate LNG in Astoria (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/10/23/area_news/news10.txt
Avista settles with Montana in rent lawsuit – Another utility has reached a settlement with Montana over the state's effort to collect rent payments for state-owned land underneath hydroelectric dams. (The Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1005001~Avista_settles_with_Montana_in_rent_lawsuit.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines
Powerless businesses burglarized after wind storm – Three businesses that were shut down by power outages from last Thursday's wind storm became victims twice-over when thieves and vandals took advantage of the fact that none of the stores had power to their alarm systems. (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_102207WAB_power_outage_burglaries_TP.1978cacca.html
(Had warned city of Lakewood) Windstorm victim gets a little help – There are big problems for a homeowner whose house was sliced in half by a falling tree during Thursday's windstorm. (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/10726836.html
NY Times Editorial – Montana and Kansas Take on Big Coal
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/opinion/23tue2.html?_r=1&ex=1350878400&en=7fdfcb850d70c424&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
United Kingdom – British Energy closes nuclear plants. The country’s largest electricity generating company was thrown into turmoil yesterday after it was forced to close two of its nuclear power plants. (The Times Online)
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/utilities/article2719820.ece
’70s Echo in New ‘No Nukes’ Campaign (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/washington/23nukes.html?ex=1350792000&en=b135c1ad28b5e775&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Low Rates & Reliable Service – Traditional regulation is alive and healthy in the Southeast and producing low rates and reliable service for customers—that was the key message from the 27th annual Bonbright Conference in Atlanta, Georgia (PowerMarketers Industry Publications, Message coming in for you sir!)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8kowu%5D%5CggmkkqqVTnk%23%3A%40%24bfem%5Ev
Ron Kirk named co-chairman of lobbying group that supports deregulation of the electricity markets. (Dallas Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2007/10/22/daily7.html?ana=from_rss
Making the Dumb Grid Smarter – "You know how we find out when the power goes out somewhere in our system?" Peter Darbee asks me. I don't know. Peter is the CEO of PG&E Corp., a $12.5-billion-a-year utility company in northern California. We had lunch recently at the National Press Club in Washington. "We get a phone call," he says. "You know what we do?" he asks. Again, I'm stumped. "Nothing," he replies. Not until the utility company gets a second call is a truck dispatched, to determine the scope of the problem. (Huffington Post)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-gunther/making-the-dumb-grid-smar_b_69344.html
Number of hackers targeting utilities increases 90 percent (Utility Automation and Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/display_article/309852/22/ARTCL/none/none/1/Number-of-hackers-targeting-utilities-increases-90-percent/
The Energy Solution: Do Something – Carl Pope, the executive director of the Sierra Club, likes to say that the environmental challenge can be boiled down to a pretty simple question. How are we going to fit a billion new rising consumers — mostly from India and China — into a biosphere that is increasingly full? (Time Magazine)
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1674517,00.html
Save Time for Home Safety (News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, AZ)
http://www.havasunews.com/articles/2007/10/22/familyfeatures/home_and_lifestyle/home_and_lifestyle2481.txt
TVA's Early Days – Northeast Mississippians with first-hand memories of the Tennessee Valley Authority's early days in Mississippi have a chance to become part of a major documentary film celebrating TVA's 75th anniversary in 2008. (NE Mississippi Daily Journal)
http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=255213&pub=1&div=News
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
CITY REBUKES NEWSPAPER REPORT AS TOP CONTAMINATOR OF SOUND – The City of Shelton is NOT one of the top five contaminators of Puget Sound as reported earlier this month in a Seattle newspaper. On October 11th, the Seattle Post Intelligencer reported that the Shelton Wastewater Treatment Plant exceeded the limits of its monthly discharge permit six or more time in 2005. The article made it sound as if the City was discharging fecal coliform and other types of harmful pollution into Hammersley Inlet and Oakland Bay. Monday, City staff rebuked that P-I story by compiling the “City of Shelton Wastewater Treatment Discharge Permit Report” which shows all permit violations at the plant since 2000. The report shows that the plant only had one effluent violation in 2005. Included in the report is the August 2005 Sanitary Survey of Oakland Bay by the State Department of Health which states “For many years the Shelton WWTP has consistently produced effluent that is reliably treated and disinfected prior to discharge to the Prohibited area of the bay.” In October of 2005, the Department of Health also opened up shellfish harvest areas in Oakland after the City completed upgrades to the Treatment Plant. The City did admit the Plant exceeded its permit for influent, which is water coming into the Plant during heavy rain events not pollution going out the Plants outfall. The City is sending this information to the P-I reporter who wrote the original story and will ask for a correction. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Fishermen sue state over chum changes – Gillnetters say it will be harder to get fresh fish to markets (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/336444_salmon23.html?source=rss
Gigantic weir makes way toward area dam – A new fish passage is to be installed this week at Lower Monumental Dam. (The Union-Bulletin, Walla Walla)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/10/22/local_news/local01.txt
Kayaker play on Sultan River as Snohomish County PUD tests flows – Snohomish County PUD officials opened the gate at Culmback Dam on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, allowing high flows to rush through a 14-mile long canyon on the Sultan River. (The Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071023/NEWS01/710230057
California – Dam plans washed out; river stretch restored. The American River near Auburn is flowing unfettered for the first time in four decades after agencies remade a stretch into a set of rapids designed to thrill paddlers. (Sacramento Bee, may require free registration)
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/448426.html
On the river and in the lab, Curtis Roegner works for salmon (The Daily Astorian)
http://dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=398&ArticleID=46210
Shock Therapy for Sea Lions Sparks Questions (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3309
Juniper Dunes bill clears House, heads to Senate – A bill that could help open public access to Juniper Dunes cleared the U.S. House on Monday …It primarily allows the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to sell 622 acres of land within the Wells Hydroelectric Project area to Douglas PUD… (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9400190p-9313521c.html
Guest Columnist for the Columbian – Good water policy addresses needs of all users
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2007/10/10232007_Good-water-policy-addresses-needs-of-all-users.cfm/
New to Being Dry, the South Struggles to Adapt (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/us/23drought.html?ex=1350792000&en=7e45de6646b4aaa3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Solar-power site near Ellensburg about to open (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071022/BIZ/710220003/1025/rss1025
GE Energy wind turbine orders top $1 billion (Atlanta Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2007/10/22/daily11.html?ana=from_rss
News Release – Going Green Brings Bonneville Environmental Foundation The Gold (Bonneville Environmental Foundation)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/partner/story?id=50357&src=rss
Idled Idaho plant resumes its production of ethanol – An ethanol plant idled since 2004 has resumed operation. The Caldwell plant built in 1985 by J.R. Simplot used potato waste to make biofuel but closed in 2004. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071022/BIZ01/710220009/1025/rss1025
Halt the gold rush to corn fuel – To take corn out of cereal bowls and put it into our gas tanks isn't an answer to global warming. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1023/p08s02-comv.html
CONSERVATION
Utah – Energy 'police' keep eye on Ogden School District (The Salt Lake Tribune)
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_7257512
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Carbon dioxide emissions grow faster than expected, study finds – days after the Nobel Prize was awarded for global-warming work, an alarming new study finds that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing faster than expected. (The Associated Press via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003968367_co223.html
Panel Urges Global Shift on Sources of Energy – Energy experts convened by the world’s scientific academies yesterday urged nations to shift swiftly away from coal and other fuels that are the main source of climate-warming greenhouse gases (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/business/worldbusiness/23energy.html?ex=1350792000&en=801052d528bf85df&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Washington Post Editorial – Climate Change on Capitol Hill. With Sens. Lieberman and Warner on board, maybe Congress will try something new: action.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/21/AR2007102101067.html?nav=rss_opinions
Little Green Lies – The sweet notion that making a company environmentally friendly can be not just cost-effective but profitable is going up in smoke. Meet the man wielding the torch (Business Week)
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_44/b4056001.htm
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Companies Seeking Immunity Donate to Senator – Executives at the two biggest phone companies contributed more than $42,000 in political donations to Senator John D. Rockefeller IV this year while seeking his support for legal immunity for businesses participating in National Security Agency eavesdropping. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/washington/23nsa.html?ex=1350792000&en=68681f6eaad69bb1&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Filing refutes ex-Qwest CEO's claims – Qwest Communications was part of a consortium awarded a key government contract, according to court filings made public Monday that refute former chief executive Joe Nacchio's claims that the telecom lost business because he refused a government request. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1193106308190540.xml&coll=7
Comcast says it's not blocking content, applications – Comcast said on Monday that file transfers on peer-to-peer networks such as BitTorrent may be delayed by bandwidth management technology, but it denied blocking access to any applications or content. (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/Comcast-says-it%27s-not-blocking-content%2C-applications/2100-1034_3-6214709.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent
Time Warner Telecom appeals FCC decision – The company is appealing a Federal Communications Commission decision granting AT&T some freedom to increase charges it levies on other Ethernet providers for carrying their business-to-business broadband traffic over AT&T's network. (The Denver Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2007/10/22/daily10.html?ana=from_rss
After major projects fail, Wi-Fi reborn as cities refine approaches (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/23/BUJOSU1FR.DTL&feed=rss.business
GENERAL NEWS
CONTAMINATED SOIL FOUND UNDER SHELTON INTERSECTIONS – Some contaminated soil has been discovered under two intersections in downtown Shelton. City Engineer Mike Michael reported to the Shelton City Commissioners Monday afternoon that the gasoline contamination is preexisting and was discovered while crews were working on the City's Basin Two project. The contaminated soil is at the intersections of Fourth and Franklin and First and Franklin. Both sites will need to be cleaned up. The Fourth and Franklin site has a low level contamination and can be cleaned up by the contractor doing Basin Two. The First and Franklin site, however, will require a specialized clean up crew. Michael estimates the cost of this cleanup at a couple of hundred thousand dollars and the City will have to foot the bill up front but there are some grant programs that could reimburse the City between 50% and 75% of the clean up cost. The source of the contamination and the exact cost is not known. City officials will be meeting with the clean up company later this week and more specific information will be known after that meeting. What is known is that clean up work will force the City to close the First and Franklin intersection for two or three weeks. The Shelton City Commission will have to declare an emergency to waive the competitive bidding process and award the clean up contract at its next meeting. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Olympia radio station asks for longer lease – KGY radio officials Monday asked commissioners for an extension to continue broadcasting on Port of Olympia property 10 years beyond their current lease, which expires the end of 2009. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/business/story/250774.html
DIVERSIONS
(Monday) Start YELLING! It's CAPS LOCKS DAY!
http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9801944-1.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e433
Mother Arrested After Boy Calls 911 About Her Driving
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14394373/detail.html
Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest Staged Near Key Largo (did you get college credit for that?)
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14394279/detail.html
Elephants electrocuted in drunken rampage – They had found rice beer in Indian village; incident reflects loss of habitat (Oh Great, another black eye for the GOP)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21432722/?GT1=10450
Woman seeking widow's benefits learns husband alive – A woman who has been fighting a long battle to regain widow's benefits has learned that Social Security Administration officials were right - her husband is still alive.
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_102307WAK_widows_benefits_husband_alive_JM.19b4e5a68.html
Talk about the “canary in the coal mine” – Parrot Imitates Fire Alarm, Saves Family: A noisy parrot that likes to imitate sounds helped save a man and his son from a house fire by mocking a smoke alarm, the bird's owner says.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/10/22/national/a180534D69.DTL&feed=rss.news
Follow up file – Judge Set to Lose Job, Sources Say: Panel Reportedly Votes Against Reappointment. Roy L. Pearson Jr., whose $54 million lawsuit against a Northeast Washington dry-cleaning shop was rejected in court, is about to lose his job as an administrative law judge, sources said last night.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/22/AR2007102202170.html?nav=rss_metro
Monday, October 22, 2007
News Digest for October 22, 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
Nonchalant • \nahn-shuh-LAHNT\ • adjective – Having an air of easy unconcern or indifference
Derwood hummed a discordant, wandering tune as he strode through the ladies’ department at the local store. Although he was quivering with embarrassment, his promise to his wife to purchase new “foundation” garments drove him to act with utter nonchalance as he discussed the minutia of sizing and fit and laciness with the salesperson that was required by his visit to foreign soil.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Tacoma Public Utilities veteran will lead Tacoma Power (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/government/story/183569.html
Congressional Research Reports – Electric Transmission: Approaches for Energizing a Sagging Industry. The electric utility industry is inherently capital-intensive. At the same time, the industry must operate under a changing and sometimes unpredictable regulatory system at both the federal and state level. (These reports are what give most of the Congress their back of envelope understanding of these issues)
http://opencrs.cdt.org/document/RL33875
Energy transmission a problem in North Dakota – North Dakota wants to be the nation's electricity superstore, but it's having trouble finding a convenient location on the highway. (Bismarck Tribune)
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/10/20/news/ndpowersup/141267.txt
Whatcom County PUD proposes hydro plant for Petersburg, Alaska (Alaska Public Radio)
http://aprn.org/2007/10/18/washington-county-proposes-hydro-plant-for-petersburg-alaska/
The Energy Challenge – Fight Against Coal Plants Draws Diverse Partners (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/business/20coal.html?_r=1&ex=1350619200&en=7fbd18302d538ead&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Hopes for coal gasification ride on one project (Reuters)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUKN1819484620071022
Windstorm tests improvements to Puget Sound Energy (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_101907WAB_power_outage_KS.188b27ac5.html
Energy Traders Avoid Scrutiny – As Commodities Market Grows, Oversight Is Slight. One year ago, a 32-year-old trader at a giant hedge fund named Amaranth held huge sway over the price the country paid for natural gas. Trading on unregulated commodity exchanges, he made risky bets that led to the fund's collapse -- and, according to a congressional investigation, higher gas bills for homeowners. But as another winter approaches, lawmakers and federal regulators have yet to set up a system to prevent another big fund from cornering a vital commodity market. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/20/AR2007102001203.html?nav=rss_business
FERC accepts court decision limiting refund authority over non-public utilities – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) vacated each of the commission's California refund orders to the extent that they subject non-public utility entities to the commission's refund authority under the Federal Power Act. The action stems from a remand of a prior commission decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/display_article/309723/22/ARTCL/none/none/1/FERC-accepts-court-decision-limiting-refund-authority-over-non-public-utilities/
Home-Heat Prices Are Flaring Up – Winter's Chill to Bring Higher Bills for Oil, Gas (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/19/AR2007101901439.html?nav=rss_nation
Speak your mind on LNG on Monday – The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing Monday to discuss a Houston company's plan to build a liquefied natural gas terminal on the Columbia River. (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/10/21/area_news/news02.txt
Arkansas – Utilities aim to lighten low-income users’ bills (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/205281/
Xcel Energy first utility to use soy oil in transformers (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/display_article/309375/22/ARTCL/none/none/1/Xcel-Energy-first-utility-to-use-soy-oil-in-transformers/
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Idaho – Troubled waters for Craig, Idaho ESA concerns rise amid senator's scandal (Magic Valley Times-News)
http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2007/10/21/news/local_state/19127642.txt
Upper Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Recovery Plan (Links to PDF File at Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, all 352 pages worth!)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/pdf/fishplan.pdf
Ten-Story Fish Slide To Make Its Way Up The Columbia River (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/ten-story-fish-slide-make-its-way-columbia-river/
Oregon – High river breaches earthen coffer dam. The first high-river flows of the season triggered the last stages of the removal of Marmot Dam on the Sandy River Friday, breaching the earthen coffer dam that held back water during Portland General Electric's demolition activities. (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-999930~High_river_breaches_earthen_coffer_dam.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
STEELHEAD SEASON OPENING – For the first time in ten years, a steelhead season on the Wenatchee River opens Monday. The season is made possible by a strong return of steelhead. Doug Ward with the State Department of Fish and Wildlife says the object of the season is to remove hatchery bred steelhead. Rules for the fishery are available on the department's website. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee)
Out of Stilly, a likely record humpy – The main-stem Stillaguamish reasserted itself as a major salmon producer recently, putting out what will likely prove to be a new state and world record "humpy." (The Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071018/SPORTS/710180043/1004/sports
California oyster Farm Sparks Fight Among Environmentalists – An oyster farm may be closed down in a few years because it is located in a potential wilderness area. The dispute is between two different kinds of environmentalists -- those who support pure wilderness, and those who believe the wilderness can be used in a sustainable way. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15445775&ft=1&f=17
Here’s your tax credit – Bush nature plan for the birds, fish (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2003964955_bush21.html?syndication=rss
Atlanta may go dry in 90 days (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003963415_drought20.html
The Future Is Drying Up (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/magazine/21water-t.html?_r=1&ex=1350705600&en=2b95b51a3405ec4b&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
San Francisco Chronicle Editorial – Dry times ahead - even for the Bay Area. With its mild climate and breathtaking views, it's easy to think the San Francisco Bay Area is immune from California's water problems. But the region faces its own share of water challenges, and its economy and lifestyle are no less reliant on water than any other part of the state. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/21/EDN6ST769.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
Inch by Inch, Great Lakes Shrink, and Cargo Carriers Face Losses (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/22/nyregion/22oswego.html?ex=1350705600&en=d9e005bd60f97b87&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Future of artesian well lies with city – Anyone traversing State Avenue in downtown Olympia near the intersection of Adams Street in recent weeks would be hard-pressed to miss the artesian well flowing behind a chain-link fence on a freshly barren lot that belongs to the state Department of Transportation. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/249215.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
BPA – Regional power supplier plugging into wind energy. The region's largest wholesaler of electrical power is plugging into a new wind-energy project, part of a multi-year plan to substantially increase wind's contribution to the grid. (The Missoulian)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/10/22/news/local/news03.txt
Massachusetts – Cape Cod Commission denies proposed wind farm in Nantucket Sound (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CgglsxpoYTnk%23%3A%40%24bfem%5Ev
Solar-Home Designers Say Novelty Has Worn Off (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15460462&ft=1&f=2
Canola's golden promise for biodiesel loses luster – Oregon farmers face obstacles despite government incentives and green buzz (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/119285615573440.xml&coll=7
Farm Bill Crucial for U.S. Renewable Policy (Renewable Energy Access)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50340&src=rss
CONSERVATION
Late start to publicity dims L.A. lights-out conservation event (The Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_7243026?nclick_check=1
California – Not quite a blackout, but a good turnout for Lights Out event (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/21/BA5ISTN8T.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
California – Energy neutral homes urged. The PUC adopts targets emphasizing efficiency for new construction. (Lost Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-fi-puc19oct19,1,743086.story?track=rss&ctrack=1&cset=true
Bismarck Tribune Opinion – Energy use, conservation inseparable
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/10/21/news/opinion/editorials/141257.txt
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
California to sue Bush administration over law to limit emissions (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/20/MNU2ST4SS.DTL&feed=rss.news
Carbon offsets a budding business – Participation by U.S. companies, individuals is voluntary, but growing (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7241862?nclick_check=1
Who's the greenest of them all? Members of low-carbon-living groups can be tough on each other's choices
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/21/MN6ESTILU.DTL&feed=rss.news
Greening Up Baby – For the Eco-Conscious Parent, How to Be Gentle on the Earth and the Wallet. Those cute little feet sure do make a big carbon footprint. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/20/AR2007102000111.html?nav=rss_business
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Grant County PUD, former employee settle lawsuit for $150,000 – The Grant County Public Utility District agreed to pay former employee Steven Beckett $150,000 to settle claims of wrongful termination and a Public Disclosure Act violation. (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2007/10/19/news/news02.txt
Yahoo confirms new Bellevue office – Engineering branch leases 115,000 square feet of space (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/336187_yahoo20.html
Software Notebook: Web giants get cozy in Seattle area – Microsoft, Google, Yahoo share supply of engineers. It's official, Seattle: The Web titans have arrived. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/336309_software22.html?source=rss
California – Capital's (sic) Wi-Fi hopes hit snag. Consortium chosen to build system seeks additional financing. (Sacramento Bee, may require free registration)
http://www.sacbee.com/103/story/446488.html
AT&T Is Latest to Sue Vonage Over Patent – The Internet telephone company Vonage Holdings Corporation disclosed yesterday that it was the target of yet another patent lawsuit from a telephone company, in this case AT&T. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/technology/20phone.html?ex=1350619200&en=0736b44fd3f0c4dc&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
New Hampshire – Fiber-optic customers wonder what deal will mean for them. The dazzling TV commercials Verizon has been running for FiOS, its fiber-optic multimedia service, can be painful for New Hampshire residents to watch, since Verizon long ago ditched plans to bring its own version of TV to the state. But for the thousands of people in area communities who have FiOS in their homes for voice and Internet service, the real anxiety comes from seeing commercials about FairPoint’s proposed takeover of Verizon phone service here. (Nashua Telegraph)
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071021/NEWS01/71021003/-1/news
Web 2.0 Summit: Big Media Defiant Against Internet Threat – Why be a dinosaur? CBS and Comcast say getting TV clips out to Web users through YouTube or Facebook brings additional viewers to the full-length shows. (InfoWeek)
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=202404948&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_News
What’s Online – I Want My Web TV (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/technology/20online.html?ex=1350619200&en=a34f39dccc07b063&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Ahhh, Semantics – Don’t like Net Neutrality? What about “Structural Separation?” (ZDNet)
http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/?p=2621
E-mail-free Fridays a silly idea (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003963297_ptinbo20.html?syndication=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Bus vandalism closes schools in Snoqualmie (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/10715156.html
Voters to decide on clinic needs – Voters in Mason County will decide on a Shelton mayor, new school board members, several tax increases and whether to create a second hospital district in the Nov. 6 election. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/249222.html
Pruning trees helps to keep them upright and saves money in the long run (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=7239895
Running Start program is running colleges into red – High school? Who needs it? It turns out that so many high-school students are also taking college classes that it is costing the community-college system nearly $35 million a year. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/2003963480_runningstart20m.html?syndication=rss
Seattle Times editorial columnist – Stormin' Norman (Catching up with Norm Dicks)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003962945_sundaydicks21.html
Wenatchee – Changes afoot at KPQ with new ownership. The transition from being a family-owned to corporate-owned media outlet has caused some shake-ups at KPQ radio including relocating the station and abruptly cutting ties Friday with a popular on-air personality. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071020/NEWS04/710200005/1001/rss1001
DIVERSIONS
"Mythbusters" put roaches' radiation resistance to test at Hanford – Can you save yourself by jumping in a falling elevator? Is a penny dropped from the top of the Empire State Building lethal? Would cockroaches survive a nuclear holocaust that killed everything else?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003963482_roaches20m.html
New Zealand Brewer Offers Lifetime Beer Supply For Return Of Laptop
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14378761/detail.html
Surgeons Get Sweet On Honey To Heal Wounds – Bee Product Never Spoils, Reduces Inflammation
http://www.kirotv.com/health/14377266/detail.html
The wedding's off -- see you in court! Instead of walking down the aisle of a church, a former New York couple will traipse down the aisle of a court room to settle a fight over a $48,800 diamond engagement ring.
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1820524420071019?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Pentagon's record contract: a recording error – The U.S. Defense Department said on Thursday it was awarding what might have been its richest-ever single contract at $24 billion, but it erred by a factor of 1,000.
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1841645120071019?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
WORD OF THE DAY
Nonchalant • \nahn-shuh-LAHNT\ • adjective – Having an air of easy unconcern or indifference
Derwood hummed a discordant, wandering tune as he strode through the ladies’ department at the local store. Although he was quivering with embarrassment, his promise to his wife to purchase new “foundation” garments drove him to act with utter nonchalance as he discussed the minutia of sizing and fit and laciness with the salesperson that was required by his visit to foreign soil.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Tacoma Public Utilities veteran will lead Tacoma Power (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/government/story/183569.html
Congressional Research Reports – Electric Transmission: Approaches for Energizing a Sagging Industry. The electric utility industry is inherently capital-intensive. At the same time, the industry must operate under a changing and sometimes unpredictable regulatory system at both the federal and state level. (These reports are what give most of the Congress their back of envelope understanding of these issues)
http://opencrs.cdt.org/document/RL33875
Energy transmission a problem in North Dakota – North Dakota wants to be the nation's electricity superstore, but it's having trouble finding a convenient location on the highway. (Bismarck Tribune)
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/10/20/news/ndpowersup/141267.txt
Whatcom County PUD proposes hydro plant for Petersburg, Alaska (Alaska Public Radio)
http://aprn.org/2007/10/18/washington-county-proposes-hydro-plant-for-petersburg-alaska/
The Energy Challenge – Fight Against Coal Plants Draws Diverse Partners (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/business/20coal.html?_r=1&ex=1350619200&en=7fbd18302d538ead&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Hopes for coal gasification ride on one project (Reuters)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUKN1819484620071022
Windstorm tests improvements to Puget Sound Energy (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_101907WAB_power_outage_KS.188b27ac5.html
Energy Traders Avoid Scrutiny – As Commodities Market Grows, Oversight Is Slight. One year ago, a 32-year-old trader at a giant hedge fund named Amaranth held huge sway over the price the country paid for natural gas. Trading on unregulated commodity exchanges, he made risky bets that led to the fund's collapse -- and, according to a congressional investigation, higher gas bills for homeowners. But as another winter approaches, lawmakers and federal regulators have yet to set up a system to prevent another big fund from cornering a vital commodity market. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/20/AR2007102001203.html?nav=rss_business
FERC accepts court decision limiting refund authority over non-public utilities – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) vacated each of the commission's California refund orders to the extent that they subject non-public utility entities to the commission's refund authority under the Federal Power Act. The action stems from a remand of a prior commission decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/display_article/309723/22/ARTCL/none/none/1/FERC-accepts-court-decision-limiting-refund-authority-over-non-public-utilities/
Home-Heat Prices Are Flaring Up – Winter's Chill to Bring Higher Bills for Oil, Gas (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/19/AR2007101901439.html?nav=rss_nation
Speak your mind on LNG on Monday – The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing Monday to discuss a Houston company's plan to build a liquefied natural gas terminal on the Columbia River. (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/10/21/area_news/news02.txt
Arkansas – Utilities aim to lighten low-income users’ bills (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/205281/
Xcel Energy first utility to use soy oil in transformers (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/display_article/309375/22/ARTCL/none/none/1/Xcel-Energy-first-utility-to-use-soy-oil-in-transformers/
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Idaho – Troubled waters for Craig, Idaho ESA concerns rise amid senator's scandal (Magic Valley Times-News)
http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2007/10/21/news/local_state/19127642.txt
Upper Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Recovery Plan (Links to PDF File at Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, all 352 pages worth!)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/pdf/fishplan.pdf
Ten-Story Fish Slide To Make Its Way Up The Columbia River (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/ten-story-fish-slide-make-its-way-columbia-river/
Oregon – High river breaches earthen coffer dam. The first high-river flows of the season triggered the last stages of the removal of Marmot Dam on the Sandy River Friday, breaching the earthen coffer dam that held back water during Portland General Electric's demolition activities. (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-999930~High_river_breaches_earthen_coffer_dam.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
STEELHEAD SEASON OPENING – For the first time in ten years, a steelhead season on the Wenatchee River opens Monday. The season is made possible by a strong return of steelhead. Doug Ward with the State Department of Fish and Wildlife says the object of the season is to remove hatchery bred steelhead. Rules for the fishery are available on the department's website. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee)
Out of Stilly, a likely record humpy – The main-stem Stillaguamish reasserted itself as a major salmon producer recently, putting out what will likely prove to be a new state and world record "humpy." (The Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071018/SPORTS/710180043/1004/sports
California oyster Farm Sparks Fight Among Environmentalists – An oyster farm may be closed down in a few years because it is located in a potential wilderness area. The dispute is between two different kinds of environmentalists -- those who support pure wilderness, and those who believe the wilderness can be used in a sustainable way. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15445775&ft=1&f=17
Here’s your tax credit – Bush nature plan for the birds, fish (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2003964955_bush21.html?syndication=rss
Atlanta may go dry in 90 days (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003963415_drought20.html
The Future Is Drying Up (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/magazine/21water-t.html?_r=1&ex=1350705600&en=2b95b51a3405ec4b&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
San Francisco Chronicle Editorial – Dry times ahead - even for the Bay Area. With its mild climate and breathtaking views, it's easy to think the San Francisco Bay Area is immune from California's water problems. But the region faces its own share of water challenges, and its economy and lifestyle are no less reliant on water than any other part of the state. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/21/EDN6ST769.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
Inch by Inch, Great Lakes Shrink, and Cargo Carriers Face Losses (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/22/nyregion/22oswego.html?ex=1350705600&en=d9e005bd60f97b87&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Future of artesian well lies with city – Anyone traversing State Avenue in downtown Olympia near the intersection of Adams Street in recent weeks would be hard-pressed to miss the artesian well flowing behind a chain-link fence on a freshly barren lot that belongs to the state Department of Transportation. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/249215.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
BPA – Regional power supplier plugging into wind energy. The region's largest wholesaler of electrical power is plugging into a new wind-energy project, part of a multi-year plan to substantially increase wind's contribution to the grid. (The Missoulian)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/10/22/news/local/news03.txt
Massachusetts – Cape Cod Commission denies proposed wind farm in Nantucket Sound (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CgglsxpoYTnk%23%3A%40%24bfem%5Ev
Solar-Home Designers Say Novelty Has Worn Off (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15460462&ft=1&f=2
Canola's golden promise for biodiesel loses luster – Oregon farmers face obstacles despite government incentives and green buzz (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/119285615573440.xml&coll=7
Farm Bill Crucial for U.S. Renewable Policy (Renewable Energy Access)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50340&src=rss
CONSERVATION
Late start to publicity dims L.A. lights-out conservation event (The Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_7243026?nclick_check=1
California – Not quite a blackout, but a good turnout for Lights Out event (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/21/BA5ISTN8T.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
California – Energy neutral homes urged. The PUC adopts targets emphasizing efficiency for new construction. (Lost Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-fi-puc19oct19,1,743086.story?track=rss&ctrack=1&cset=true
Bismarck Tribune Opinion – Energy use, conservation inseparable
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/10/21/news/opinion/editorials/141257.txt
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
California to sue Bush administration over law to limit emissions (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/20/MNU2ST4SS.DTL&feed=rss.news
Carbon offsets a budding business – Participation by U.S. companies, individuals is voluntary, but growing (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7241862?nclick_check=1
Who's the greenest of them all? Members of low-carbon-living groups can be tough on each other's choices
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/21/MN6ESTILU.DTL&feed=rss.news
Greening Up Baby – For the Eco-Conscious Parent, How to Be Gentle on the Earth and the Wallet. Those cute little feet sure do make a big carbon footprint. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/20/AR2007102000111.html?nav=rss_business
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Grant County PUD, former employee settle lawsuit for $150,000 – The Grant County Public Utility District agreed to pay former employee Steven Beckett $150,000 to settle claims of wrongful termination and a Public Disclosure Act violation. (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2007/10/19/news/news02.txt
Yahoo confirms new Bellevue office – Engineering branch leases 115,000 square feet of space (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/336187_yahoo20.html
Software Notebook: Web giants get cozy in Seattle area – Microsoft, Google, Yahoo share supply of engineers. It's official, Seattle: The Web titans have arrived. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/336309_software22.html?source=rss
California – Capital's (sic) Wi-Fi hopes hit snag. Consortium chosen to build system seeks additional financing. (Sacramento Bee, may require free registration)
http://www.sacbee.com/103/story/446488.html
AT&T Is Latest to Sue Vonage Over Patent – The Internet telephone company Vonage Holdings Corporation disclosed yesterday that it was the target of yet another patent lawsuit from a telephone company, in this case AT&T. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/technology/20phone.html?ex=1350619200&en=0736b44fd3f0c4dc&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
New Hampshire – Fiber-optic customers wonder what deal will mean for them. The dazzling TV commercials Verizon has been running for FiOS, its fiber-optic multimedia service, can be painful for New Hampshire residents to watch, since Verizon long ago ditched plans to bring its own version of TV to the state. But for the thousands of people in area communities who have FiOS in their homes for voice and Internet service, the real anxiety comes from seeing commercials about FairPoint’s proposed takeover of Verizon phone service here. (Nashua Telegraph)
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071021/NEWS01/71021003/-1/news
Web 2.0 Summit: Big Media Defiant Against Internet Threat – Why be a dinosaur? CBS and Comcast say getting TV clips out to Web users through YouTube or Facebook brings additional viewers to the full-length shows. (InfoWeek)
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=202404948&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_News
What’s Online – I Want My Web TV (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/technology/20online.html?ex=1350619200&en=a34f39dccc07b063&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Ahhh, Semantics – Don’t like Net Neutrality? What about “Structural Separation?” (ZDNet)
http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/?p=2621
E-mail-free Fridays a silly idea (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003963297_ptinbo20.html?syndication=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Bus vandalism closes schools in Snoqualmie (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/10715156.html
Voters to decide on clinic needs – Voters in Mason County will decide on a Shelton mayor, new school board members, several tax increases and whether to create a second hospital district in the Nov. 6 election. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/249222.html
Pruning trees helps to keep them upright and saves money in the long run (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=7239895
Running Start program is running colleges into red – High school? Who needs it? It turns out that so many high-school students are also taking college classes that it is costing the community-college system nearly $35 million a year. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/2003963480_runningstart20m.html?syndication=rss
Seattle Times editorial columnist – Stormin' Norman (Catching up with Norm Dicks)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003962945_sundaydicks21.html
Wenatchee – Changes afoot at KPQ with new ownership. The transition from being a family-owned to corporate-owned media outlet has caused some shake-ups at KPQ radio including relocating the station and abruptly cutting ties Friday with a popular on-air personality. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071020/NEWS04/710200005/1001/rss1001
DIVERSIONS
"Mythbusters" put roaches' radiation resistance to test at Hanford – Can you save yourself by jumping in a falling elevator? Is a penny dropped from the top of the Empire State Building lethal? Would cockroaches survive a nuclear holocaust that killed everything else?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003963482_roaches20m.html
New Zealand Brewer Offers Lifetime Beer Supply For Return Of Laptop
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14378761/detail.html
Surgeons Get Sweet On Honey To Heal Wounds – Bee Product Never Spoils, Reduces Inflammation
http://www.kirotv.com/health/14377266/detail.html
The wedding's off -- see you in court! Instead of walking down the aisle of a church, a former New York couple will traipse down the aisle of a court room to settle a fight over a $48,800 diamond engagement ring.
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1820524420071019?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Pentagon's record contract: a recording error – The U.S. Defense Department said on Thursday it was awarding what might have been its richest-ever single contract at $24 billion, but it erred by a factor of 1,000.
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1841645120071019?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Friday, October 19, 2007
News Digest for October 19, 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
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
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
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