Monday, November 25, 2013

Energy News Digest for November 25, 2013

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THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for November 25, 2013

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Wind Energy Company Pleads Guilty to Wyoming Eagle Deaths (Associated Press)

Former Energy Secretary Calls for More Canada/U-S Co-Operation on Renewables - Like Hydroelectricity (Nanaimo Daily News, BC)

Idaho’s Governor Finds Major Ally on Grouse, Power Line (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

Orcas Power & Light Speeds Up Broadband Project (The Island Sounder, Eastsound, WA)

Franklin Pierce School District Gets Tacoma Power Rebate for $2 Million Power Project (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Idaho’s Governor Finds Major Ally on Grouse, Power Line
  • IDACORP CEO LaMont Keen to Retire, Leadership Succession Actions Announced
  • Bonneville Power Administration Increases Challenge Cheney Light
  • Snohomish PUD Taking Donations to Help Families in Need Pay Bills
  • Executive Director of Northwest Public Power Association to Retire in March
  • Canada: Pipeline Company Enbridge Plans Hydro Project; Environmental Group Argues Dam Would Endanger Salmon
  • LaFleur Named Acting FERC Chairman
  • FERC Approves New Small Generator Interconnection Procedures
  • What Does an All-of-the-Above National Energy Policy Mean?
  • United Kingdom: Why Is Everyone So Angry About Generating Energy?
  • GoldieBlox Ad Encourages Girls to Try Engineering - The building toy aims to inspire girls to think beyond pink & princesses
  • Hood River Chinook Rebound
  • ODFW Seeks Comments on Proposals to Waive Fish Passage at Two Eastern Oregon Dams
  • Chester Dam Project Expected to Benefit Fish on Henry’s Fork
  • Idaho: Project Aim - Restore Native Fish
  • Bureau of Land Management Gets Tough on Oregon Sage Grouse Protection to Avoid Harsher Listing
  • Everett Denying Some Claims from Overflowing Sewage
  • Wind Energy Company Pleads Guilty to Wyoming Eagle Deaths
  • Former Energy Secretary Calls for More Canada/U-S Co-Operation on Renewables - Like Hydroelectricity
  • With ISO Vote, Energy Imbalance Market Begins to Take Shape
  • Your Solar Panels Aren’t Facing the Wrong Way
  • Franklin Pierce School District Gets Tacoma Power Rebate for $2 Million Power Project
  • Energy-Conserving Homes May Soon Get Rewards from a Major Mortgage Insurer
  • Good Attic Ventilation - It’s More Important & More Attainable than You May Think
  • State Of California’s Carbon Permits Raise $297 Million
  • Stevens Pass on List of Ten Greenest Ski Resorts
  • Medford Receives Federal ‘Green’ Designation
  • Electric Vehicles Approach Tipping Point
  • Orcas Power & Light Speeds Up Broadband Project
  • Mobile Broadband, Free Wi-Fi, Tablets Killing TV, Statistics Show
  • Cable Consolidation Isn’t About TV: It’s About Broadband
  • What an Anonymous British Sheep Farmer Can Teach Us about the Power of Twitter
  • On the Job: Use the Right Words to Get Results
  • Top Five Reasons People Love Their Jobs & How You Can Love Yours, Too
  • Jack Graham: Scorching Email Exchange with Portland’s Top Accountant the Tipping Point in Downfall
  • Small Earthquake on Tahuya Peninsula
  • The Rock Doc: Cascadia Earthquake Could Bring Severe Damage to West Coast
  • Mostly Dry Thanksgiving Week in Washington State
  • Air Stagnation Advisory for Mason County
  • Washington Judge Tosses Out Ethics Board Fine for Corrections Manager
  • FCC Chairman Says He Even Opposes In-Flight Calls
  • Thanksgiving-Hanukkah Overlap Spurs Thanks, Angst

WORD OF THE DAY

Discomfiture • \diss-KUMP-fitch-err\ • Noun - The act of being upset or confused.

Woolen underwear
Exquisite discomfiture
Can’t sit still in this

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Idaho’s Governor Finds Major Ally on Grouse, Power Line (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

IDACORP CEO LaMont Keen to Retire, Leadership Succession Actions Announced (PR Newswire)

Bonneville Power Administration Increases Challenge Cheney Light (Cheney Free Press, WA – Paywall Advisory: ironic isn’t it?)

Snohomish PUD Taking Donations to Help Families in Need Pay Bills (Everett Herald, WA)

Executive Director of Northwest Public Power Association to Retire in March (American Public Power Association)

Canada: Pipeline Company Enbridge Plans Hydro Project; Environmental Group Argues Dam Would Endanger Salmon (Victoria Time Colonist, BC)

LaFleur Named Acting FERC Chairman (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)

FERC Approves New Small Generator Interconnection Procedures (American Public Power Association)

What Does an All-of-the-Above National Energy Policy Mean? (The Energy Collective)

United Kingdom: Why Is Everyone So Angry About Generating Energy? (British Broadcasting Corporation)

GoldieBlox Ad Encourages Girls to Try Engineering - The building toy aims to inspire girls to think beyond pink & princesses (U-S News & World Report)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Hood River Chinook Rebound (Corvallis Gazette-Times, OR)

ODFW Seeks Comments on Proposals to Waive Fish Passage at Two Eastern Oregon Dams (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Chester Dam Project Expected to Benefit Fish on Henry’s Fork (KPVI-TV, Pocatello, ID)

Idaho: Project Aim - Restore Native Fish (Bonners Ferry Herald, ID)

Bureau of Land Management Gets Tough on Oregon Sage Grouse Protection to Avoid Harsher Listing (Oregonian, Portland)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Everett Denying Some Claims from Overflowing Sewage (Everett Herald, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Wind Energy Company Pleads Guilty to Wyoming Eagle Deaths (Associated Press)

Former Energy Secretary Calls for More Canada/U-S Co-Operation on Renewables - Like Hydroelectricity (Nanaimo Daily News, BC)

With ISO Vote, Energy Imbalance Market Begins to Take Shape (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog)

Your Solar Panels Aren’t Facing the Wrong Way (Forbes Magazine)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Franklin Pierce School District Gets Tacoma Power Rebate for $2 Million Power Project (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Energy-Conserving Homes May Soon Get Rewards from a Major Mortgage Insurer (Washington Post)

Good Attic Ventilation - It’s More Important & More Attainable than You May Think (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

State Of California’s Carbon Permits Raise $297 Million (Sacramento Bee, CA)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Stevens Pass on List of Ten Greenest Ski Resorts (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Medford Receives Federal ‘Green’ Designation (Medford Mail Tribune, OR)

Electric Vehicles Approach Tipping Point (The Energy Collective)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Orcas Power & Light Speeds Up Broadband Project (The Island Sounder, Eastsound, WA)

Mobile Broadband, Free Wi-Fi, Tablets Killing TV, Statistics Show (Slashgear)

Cable Consolidation Isn’t About TV: It’s About Broadband (GigaOM)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

What an Anonymous British Sheep Farmer Can Teach Us about the Power of Twitter (GigaOM)

On the Job: Use the Right Words to Get Results (USA Today)

Top Five Reasons People Love Their Jobs & How You Can Love Yours, Too (Mashable)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Jack Graham: Scorching Email Exchange with Portland’s Top Accountant the Tipping Point in Downfall (Oregonian, Portland)

GENERAL NEWS

Small Earthquake on Tahuya Peninsula (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

The Rock Doc: Cascadia Earthquake Could Bring Severe Damage to West Coast (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Mostly Dry Thanksgiving Week in Washington State (Associated Press)

Air Stagnation Advisory for Mason County (National Weather Service, Seattle, WA)

Washington Judge Tosses Out Ethics Board Fine for Corrections Manager (Associated Press)

FCC Chairman Says He Even Opposes In-Flight Calls (Associated Press)

Thanksgiving-Hanukkah Overlap Spurs Thanks, Angst (Associated Press)

DIVERSIONS

‘Name-Dropping’ Burglary Suspect Leaves Clues for Cops

Butterball Investigates Underweight Gobblers (Associated Press)

Pilot Protests $3,000 Bill for Landing on Pennsylvania Turnpike

For Whom the Bell Cracks; Harvard Sues Over Defective Clapper

SONG OF THE DAY

Anita Ward - Ring my Bell (syndrums & rototoms, oh my!)

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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.


Note that as some newspapers migrate to a “paywall” system of access, some articles may not be available without forking over some cold hard credit card cash. However, some sites will allow a certain number of story accesses per month before holding out their hand. Sorry if this is an inconvenience.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Energy News Digest for November 22, 2013

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest word cloud for November 22, 2013

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

On 50th Anniversary of JFK Death, Dallas Holds First Memorial (Reuters)

Severe Winds Leave Two Dead, 50,000 without Power in San Francisco Area (Reuters)

Grant PUD Brings High-Speed Wireless Pilot Program to Part of Quincy Valley (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Wild Winter this Year? Not Likely, NOAA Forecasts (Associated Press)

How Rain Strengthens the Cascades Snowpack (Northwest Public Radio)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Severe Winds Leave Two Dead, 50,000 without Power in San Francisco Area
  • Alaska: Power Restored to Most Homes; Frigid Temperatures, More Wind Forecast for Fairbanks
  • Mason PUD 3 Customers Warned of Possible Telephone Scam
  • Power Bill Scam Targets Grant PUD Customers
  • Controversy over Enloe Dam Power Generation Continues - Group demands dam be breached
  • Helicopter to Trim Trees for Mason County PUD 1
  • Canada: Smart Meter Critics Seek to Expand Class Action Suit against BC Hydro
  • Emergency Outage Has Lasting Effect on Wood Pole Management
  • Energy Industry Is on Alert against Increasing Cyber Attacks
  • In Search of Woody Guthrie’s America
  • Puget Sound Restoration Fund Restores Olympia Oysters, One Shell at a Time
  • How Rain Strengthens the Cascades Snowpack
  • Skagit PUD Passes Budget; Water Rate to Increase
  • Can Mushrooms Help Fight Stormwater Pollution? - Using Wood Chips from Mason PUD 3 Tree Trimming, Donated for Study Purposes
  • Salton Sea Failures Hurt California, Audit Shows
  • Minnesota: Wind Energy Advocates Urge Renewal of Tax Credit
  • Listen Up: The Economics of Solar Hot Water Systems
  • Ask Umbra: Are My Newfangled Light Bulbs Making My House Cold?
  • Coastal Ocean Acidification: Answering the Seattle Times
  • The Earth’s Winds, Visualized in Glorious Detail
  • Grant PUD Brings High-Speed Wireless Pilot Program to Part of Quincy Valley
  • How Plain, Old Wi-Fi Will Revolutionize the Cellular Industry
  • Time Warner Cable Jumps on Comcast Takeover Report
  • Fire, Police Officials Get Retire-Rehire Deals
  • Best & Worst-Run States: Survey of All 50
  • On 50th Anniversary of JFK Death, Dallas Holds First Memorial
  • Wild Winter this Year? Not Likely, NOAA Forecasts
  • Deadly ‘Knockout Game’ Reported on the West Coast
  • I Can Hear You Now - FCC Considers Allowing In-Flight Cell Phone Use
  • That Stinks! Roadside ‘Potty Bombs’ Creating Quite a Mess
  • Pacific Lutheran, Evergreen, Saint Martin’s - Three South Sound Schools Recognized by U-S News in Rankings of Best Colleges for Veterans

WORD OF THE DAY

Hemidemisemiquaver • \hem-mee-dem-mee-SEM-mee-kway-verr\ • Noun - Sixty-fourth note.

Some say music, as love, is an international language. However, a strict British musicologist may confuse his U-S counterparts by using the term “hemisemidemiquaver” instead of “sixty-fourth note” when describing the hurry-up nature of the song “Flight of the Bumblebee.”

Harry James - Flight of the Bumblebee

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Severe Winds Leave Two Dead, 50,000 without Power in San Francisco Area (Reuters)

Alaska: Power Restored to Most Homes; Frigid Temperatures, More Wind Forecast for Fairbanks (Fairbanks News Miner, AK)

Mason PUD 3 Customers Warned of Possible Telephone Scam (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Power Bill Scam Targets Grant PUD Customers (Crescent Bar Chronicle, WA)

Controversy over Enloe Dam Power Generation Continues - Group demands dam be breached (Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune, Oroville, WA)

Helicopter to Trim Trees for Mason County PUD 1 (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Canada: Smart Meter Critics Seek to Expand Class Action Suit against BC Hydro (CTV, BC, Canada)

Emergency Outage Has Lasting Effect on Wood Pole Management (Bonneville Power Administration)

Energy Industry Is on Alert against Increasing Cyber Attacks (Sacramento Bee, CA)

In Search of Woody Guthrie’s America (NY Times)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Puget Sound Restoration Fund Restores Olympia Oysters, One Shell at a Time (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

How Rain Strengthens the Cascades Snowpack (Northwest Public Radio)

Skagit PUD Passes Budget; Water Rate to Increase (Skagit Valley Herald, Mount Vernon, WA)

Can Mushrooms Help Fight Stormwater Pollution? - Using Wood Chips from Mason PUD 3 Tree Trimming, Donated for Study Purposes (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Salton Sea Failures Hurt California, Audit Shows (Courthouse News Service)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Minnesota: Wind Energy Advocates Urge Renewal of Tax Credit (Minnesota Public Radio)

Listen Up: The Economics of Solar Hot Water Systems (Renewable Energy World)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Ask Umbra: Are My Newfangled Light Bulbs Making My House Cold? (Grist Online)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Coastal Ocean Acidification: Answering the Seattle Times (Cliff Mass Weather Blog, Seattle, WA)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

The Earth’s Winds, Visualized in Glorious Detail (Gizmodo)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Grant PUD Brings High-Speed Wireless Pilot Program to Part of Quincy Valley (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

How Plain, Old Wi-Fi Will Revolutionize the Cellular Industry (Washington Post)

Time Warner Cable Jumps on Comcast Takeover Report (USA Today)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Fire, Police Officials Get Retire-Rehire Deals (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Best & Worst-Run States: Survey of All 50 (USA Today)

GENERAL NEWS

On 50th Anniversary of JFK Death, Dallas Holds First Memorial (Reuters)

Wild Winter this Year? Not Likely, NOAA Forecasts (Associated Press)

Deadly ‘Knockout Game’ Reported on the West Coast (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

I Can Hear You Now - FCC Considers Allowing In-Flight Cell Phone Use (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

That Stinks! Roadside ‘Potty Bombs’ Creating Quite a Mess (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Pacific Lutheran, Evergreen, Saint Martin’s - Three South Sound Schools Recognized by U-S News in Rankings of Best Colleges for Veterans (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

DIVERSIONS

Inspiring Unilever Ad Gives You Hope for Future Children

People Already Camped Out for Black Friday Admit: “We Are Crazy”

Schedule of CBS News Livestream of JFK Assassination Coverage

In Ruins of Palace, a Wine with Hints of Cinnamon & Top Notes of Antiquity

SONG OF THE DAY

Loggins & Messina - Danny’s Song

Paul Anka & Odia Coates - Your Having My Baby

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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.


Note that as some newspapers migrate to a “paywall” system of access, some articles may not be available without forking over some cold hard credit card cash. However, some sites will allow a certain number of story accesses per month before holding out their hand. Sorry if this is an inconvenience.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Energy News Digest for November 21, 2013

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for November 21, 2013

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Study: California Wind Power is the Worst for Wildlife (KCET TV, Huntington Beach, CA)

Updated: Worker Injured in Fire at Grand Coulee Dam Is in Serious Condition (Wenatchee World, WA)

Study Reports 1.6 Billion People on Social Networks (Yahoo! News)

North Fork of the Lewis River Gets Huge Fall Chinook Return (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Shelton Resident in the Spotlight - Ductless Heat Pumps a Super Saver for Pacific Northwest Homeowners (Bonneville Power Administration)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Updated: Worker Injured in Fire at Grand Coulee Dam Is in Serious Condition
  • Puget Sound Energy, Union Negotiate as Strike Looms
  • Oregon:  Baker County Continues Working on Plan to Build a Hydroelectric Plant at Mason Dam
  • Former BPA Administrator, Ex-Marylhurst President Johansen Resurfaces on Bank Board
  • California: Rain Causes Several Utility Pole Fires in San Jose, Causing Power Outages
  • Tennessee Valley Authority Payments Fall to States, Localities
  • Smart Meters, but Dumb Pricing? Not in Sacramento
  • North Fork of the Lewis River Gets Huge Fall Chinook Return
  • Seines May Need Sport-Fishing Closures in Columbia
  • What Exactly Is the Impact of Setnet Bycatch on Alaska’s Kenai River King Salmon Fishery?
  • Op/Ed: Federal Government Doing Too Little to Help Columbia Salmon
  • Columbia Basin Farmer Fined for Illegal Water Use
  • Great Lakes Recover Substantial Water Levels
  • The Longest Rivers & the Tallest Mountains in One Exquisite Graphic
  • Study: California Wind Power is the Worst for Wildlife
  • Business Can Pave the Way for Renewable Energy in the U-S
  • Shelton Resident in the Spotlight - Ductless Heat Pumps a Super Saver for Pacific Northwest Homeowners
  • Energy Saving Initiative Putting Money into Chelan PUD Rate Payers’ Pockets
  • City of Blaine Moving Forward with New Streetlights
  • Living Smart: LED Lights for the Holidays
  • Developing Nations Stage Protest at Climate Talks
  • Putting the Chill on Climate Change, One Refrigerator at a Time
  • Just Ten Percent of California Car Chargers Delivered
  • Researchers Say U-S Internet Traffic Was Re-Routed through Belarus - That’s a Problem
  • Microsoft, Facebook Make Green Data Center Push
  • LG Investigates Smart TV ‘Unauthorized Spying’ Claim
  • Study Reports 1.6 Billion People on Social Networks
  • Half of All Active Twitter Users Live in Five Countries
  • Opower Chief on Fox Business, Bats Down IPO Question
  • Washington State’s Revenue Forecast Remains Steady
  • Sharon Nelson is Washington State Senate’s Democratic Leader
  • Oops: Pro-Boeing Ad in Seattle Uses Airbus Plane
  • Oversized Plane Stuck at Wrong Airport
  • Wire Theft Damage to Cowlitz Way Bridge in Kelso Estimated at $60,000
  • Mason County Asked to Send Fairgrounds Petition to FAA
  • Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Growers Say Business is Looking Up

WORD OF THE DAY

Apostate • \uh-POSS-tayt\ • Noun - Someone whose beliefs have changed & who no longer belongs to a religious or political group.

Apostate: See Dr. Patrick Moore, a co-founder of Greenpeace in 1971; now a supporter of using nuclear energy to slow climate change.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Updated: Worker Injured in Fire at Grand Coulee Dam Is in Serious Condition (Wenatchee World, WA)

Puget Sound Energy, Union Negotiate as Strike Looms (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

Oregon:  Baker County Continues Working on Plan to Build a Hydroelectric Plant at Mason Dam (Baker City Herald, OR)

Former BPA Administrator, Ex-Marylhurst President Johansen Resurfaces on Bank Board (Portland Business Journal, OR)

California: Rain Causes Several Utility Pole Fires in San Jose, Causing Power Outages Overnight (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Tennessee Valley Authority Payments Fall to States, Localities - Power drop hurts tax equivalent payments (Chattanooga Times Free Press, TN)

Smart Meters, but Dumb Pricing? Not in Sacramento (The Energy Collective)

FISH & WILDLIFE

North Fork of the Lewis River Gets Huge Fall Chinook Return (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Seines May Need Sport-Fishing Closures in Columbia (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

What Exactly Is the Impact of Setnet Bycatch on Alaska’s Kenai River King Salmon Fishery? (Alaska Dispatch)

Op/Ed: Federal Government Doing Too Little to Help Columbia Salmon (Oregonian, Portland)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Columbia Basin Farmer Fined for Illegal Water Use (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Great Lakes Recover Substantial Water Levels (NY Times)

The Longest Rivers & the Tallest Mountains in One Exquisite Graphic (Gizmodo)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Study: California Wind Power is the Worst for Wildlife (KCET TV, Huntington Beach, CA)

Business Can Pave the Way for Renewable Energy in the U-S (The Guardian, UK)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Shelton Resident in the Spotlight - Ductless Heat Pumps a Super Saver for Pacific Northwest Homeowners (Bonneville Power Administration)

Energy Saving Initiative Putting Money into Chelan PUD Rate Payers’ Pockets (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

City of Blaine Moving Forward with New Streetlights (The Northern Light, Blaine, WA)

Living Smart: LED Lights for the Holidays (Raleigh News & Observer, NC)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Developing Nations Stage Protest at Climate Talks (NY Times)

Putting the Chill on Climate Change, One Refrigerator at a Time (Environmental Defense Fund)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Just Ten Percent of California Car Chargers Delivered (Associated Press)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Researchers Say U-S Internet Traffic Was Re-Routed through Belarus - That’s a Problem (Washington Post)

Microsoft, Facebook Make Green Data Center Push (Network Computing)

LG Investigates Smart TV ‘Unauthorized Spying’ Claim (British Broadcasting Corporation)

SOCIAL MEDIA & MARKETING

Study Reports 1.6 Billion People on Social Networks (Yahoo! News)

Half of All Active Twitter Users Live in Five Countries (Mashable)

Opower Chief on Fox Business, Bats Down IPO Question (Washington, DC Business Journal)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State’s Revenue Forecast Remains Steady (Associated Press)

Sharon Nelson is Washington State Senate’s Democratic Leader (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

GENERAL NEWS

Oops: Pro-Boeing Ad in Seattle Uses Airbus Plane (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Oversized Plane Stuck at Wrong Airport (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Wire Theft Damage to Cowlitz Way Bridge in Kelso Estimated at $60,000 (Longview Daily News, WA)

Mason County Asked to Send Fairgrounds Petition to FAA (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Growers Say Business is Looking Up (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Wristwatch Used to Declare JFK’s Time of Death May Sell for $100,000

‘Tis the Season to Use a Frozen Turkey as a Weapon during Grocery Store Brawl

Man Uses Over 4,000 Christmas Lights to Heat His House

Suspect Taunts Police on Facebook & Almost Immediately Gets Arrested

SONG OF THE DAY

Glenn Frey - The Heat Is On

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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.

Note that as some newspapers migrate to a “paywall” system of access, some articles may not be available without forking over some cold hard credit card cash. However, some sites will allow a certain number of story accesses per month before holding out their hand. Sorry if this is an inconvenience.