Merry Python

Missing Missoula man died of hypothermia

Merry Python — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:16:53 +0000

MISSOULA – The daughter of a 77-year-old Missoula man who was
reported missing Monday says her father died of hypothermia.

Search Results – helenair.com

Same circus, new clowns

Merry Python — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:16:51 +0000

Relations between state House Democrats and Republicans collapse in spat over reform bills.

_So much for the new civility.
mcall.com – Breaking News

Maine treasurer warns of state debts

Merry Python — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:13:25 +0000

Treasurer Bruce Poliquin says taxpayers’ obligation to pay off the unfunded liability in the retirement system will balloon in the years ahead.
Portland Press Herald News Stories

San Mateo police arrest San Leandro man over $25,000 scam

Merry Python — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:12:14 +0000

The man is accused of stealing purses and wallets in the East Bay and then using their owners’ credit cards to make the fraudulent purchases, according to a San Mateo police statement.
Inside Bay Area Most Viewed

Dick Gregory joins bridge crossing lineup

Merry Python — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:11:53 +0000

SELMA — Comedian Dick Gregory, who has mixed humor with civil rights activities throughout his long career, will join other well-known celebrities at this year’s Bridge Crossing Jubilee.
montgomeryadvertiser.com – Alabama

NASA’s Glory Satellite Will Study the Climate Impact of Atmospheric Aerosols

Merry Python — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:09:34 +0000

Photo: NASA

Better Measuring for Better Understanding
NASA’s latest tool to study and understand our planet’s atmosphere is scheduled to launch from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Feb. 23. The Glory satellite will study how the sun and tiny atmospheric particles (aerosols) are affecting the Earth’s climate. “Glory is going to help scientists tackle one of the major uncertainties in climate change predictions identified by the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: the influence of aerosols on the energy balance of our planet,” said Michael Freilich, dir…Read the full story on TreeHugger

TreeHugger

Black Rhino Calf Born at the Saint Louis Zoo (Photos)

Merry Python — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:09:31 +0000

Photo credit: Saint Louis Zoo

It’s thought that in the 1970s, 65,000 black rhinos roamed Africa. By the mid-1990s, only an estimated 2,300 survived. This dramatic loss is the largest among any rhino species and protecting those that remain against increasingly well financed and organize poachers is difficult.

As bleak as the situation for black rhinos may be, there is still some opportunity for hope. The birth of a black rhino calf at the Saint Louis Zoo—ju…Read the full story on TreeHugger

TreeHugger

Obama’s plan to win the clean energy future and the GOP plan to send us back to our dirty energy past

Merry Python — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:09:29 +0000

While the SOTU disappoints on climate, on clean energy it’s light years ahead of the GOP plan, as CAP’s Kate Gordon and Daniel J. Weiss explain in this Wonk Room cross-post.

In last night’s State of the Union address, President Obama reaffirmed his commitment to American innovation and ingenuity by proposing new investments in clean energy research, development, and deployment. This stands in sharp contrast to the Republican Study Committee, whose plan undermines American competitiveness by chopping away at key programs designed to leverage private investment in clean energy solutions for tomorrow.

President Obama’s clean energy plan would launch the United States into the 21st century by investing in high tech vehicles. This would protect people from pollution, cut foreign oil imports and create jobs. The Republican Study Committee would keep us chained to oil imports by ignoring cars of the future while eliminating investments in high speed rail.

Here a great chart laying out the side-by-side comparison of Obama vs. RSC:

Clean Tech Innovation and Public Health Protection
	President Obama	Republican Study Committee
Clean tech innovation and job growth	“We’ll invest in…clean energy technology – an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new jobs for our people.”“The President’s Budget will propose increasing clean energy technology funding by a third compared to 2010.” “The President’s Budget will also …more than doubl[e] investments in energy efficiency and a more than 85 percent increase in renewable energy investment.”	Eliminates key energy innovation programs including technical assistance for advanced manufacturers and the Applied Energy Research program at the Department of Energy. See Chopping at the Roots of Innovation
Tax breaks for big oil	“I’m asking Congress to eliminate the billions in taxpayer dollars we currently give to oil companies. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but they’re doing just fine on their own. So instead of subsidizing yesterday’s energy, let’s invest in tomorrow’s.”He would “end the approximately billion per year in tax subsidies to oil, gas and other fossil fuel producers.”	Maintains billion in tax loopholes for big oil companies.
Reduce foreign oil imports	“With more research and incentives, we can break our dependence on oil with biofuels, and become the first country to have 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2015.”This would “reduc[e] oil consumption by 785 million barrels by 2030.”	Eliminates oil saving alternatives to driving by cutting the New Start Transit program, funding for Amtrak, and the Washington D.C. Metro system.
Reduce foreign oil imports	“Within 25 years, our goal is to give 80% of Americans access to high-speed rail, which could allow you go places in half the time it takes to travel by car.”	“Eliminate Intercity and High Speed Rail Grants.”
Clean electricity deployment	“Clean energy breakthroughs will only translate into clean energy jobs if businesses know there will be a market for what they’re selling… By 2035, 80% of America’s electricity will come from clean energy sources. Some folks want wind and solar. Others want nuclear, clean coal, and natural gas. To meet this goal, we will need them all.”	Continues to rely on old, dirty coal fired power plants. In 2009, all but eight House Republicans voted against American Clean Energy and Security Act that included a renewable electricity standard.“Eliminate the Energy Star Program.” The program provides consumers with information about the energy efficiency of appliances and other technologies, many of which are made in the U.S.
Protect public health	“I will not hesitate to create or enforce commonsense safeguards to protect the American people. That’s what we’ve done in this country for more than a century. It’s why our food is safe to eat, our water is safe to drink, and our air is safe to breathe.”	Over 100 Republican representatives have cosponsored H.R. 97, which would make it impossible for EPA to limit carbon pollution from coal fired power plants, oil refineries or other sources to protect public health. There are 50 cosponsors of other, similar bills.

President Obama reiterated that he will “create or enforce commonsense safeguards” to protect Americans from harm. This should include requiring coal fired power plants and oil refineries to cut mercury, carbon, smog and other dangerous pollutants.

– Kate Gordon, Vice President of Energy Policy, and Daniel J. Weiss, Senior Fellow and Director of Climate Strategy, Center for American Progress Action Fund

Republican Study Committee proposes unilateral disarmament to China in innovation, clean energy

Climate Progress

Fishman’s deli preparing to close, citing looming rent increase

Merry Python — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:08:07 +0000

Fishman’s deli, a favorite of Jewish families and others in St. Louis Park, is reluctantly preparing to close, its owner said Wednesday.
StarTribune.com rss feed

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigating possible inmate suicide

Merry Python — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:08:06 +0000

Inmate was found alone and unresponsive in his cell

Breaking News from The Birmingham News