Hayseeds No. 247

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Link: Tonko: Thinking About It, But Not in Race Yet. Tonko: Thinking About It, But Not in Race Yet P'Link

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Link: Western States Consider New Dams. Western States Consider New Dams P'Link

Link: Cellulosic ethanol: A Mirage?. Cellulosic ethanol: A Mirage? P'Link

Link: Oil Tops Inflation-Adjusted Record Set in 1980. Oil Tops Inflation-Adjusted Record Set in 1980 P'Link

Link: For Democrats, a Pivotal Night, but in Which Direction?. For Democrats, a Pivotal Night, but in Which Direction? P'Link

Link: Spitzer Helps Donors Skirt $10k Limit He Set. Spitzer Helps Donors Skirt $10k Limit He Set P'Link

Link: Challengers hope shifting tide helps wash Silver from office. Challengers hope shifting tide helps wash Silver from office P'Link

Link: Bruno, Silver questioned over private-sector jobs. Bruno, Silver questioned over private-sector jobs P'Link

Link: State permits late-winter goose hunting. State permits late-winter goose hunting P'Link

Link: To Clifton Park via CDTA: You can't get there from here. To Clifton Park via CDTA: You can't get there from here P'Link

Link: Complex storm could cause flooding to south, icing to north. Complex storm could cause flooding to south, icing to north P'Link

Link: Phil Steck on Albany Weblog. Phil Steck on Albany Weblog P'Link

Link: OPEC: Keep Those High Oil Prices. OPEC: Keep Those High Oil Prices P'Link

Link: GM Announces 2nd Generation Mild Hybrid. GM Announces 2nd Generation Mild Hybrid P'Link

Link: Another Primary Candidate Against Breslin. Another Primary Candidate Against Breslin P'Link

Link: GOP to Run Schenectady County Legislator Jim Buhrmaster for McNulty's Seat. GOP to Run Schenectady County Legislator Jim Buhrmaster for McNulty's Seat P'Link

Link: Hugh Carey Endorses Obama. Hugh Carey Endorses Obama P'Link

Link: Bloomberg Defends Donation To Senate Republicans. Bloomberg Defends Donation To Senate Republicans P'Link

Link: How Eliot Spitzer Finally Got Joe Bruno on the Ropes. How Eliot Spitzer Finally Got Joe Bruno on the Ropes P'Link

Why I Hope Obama Wins in Ohio. Honestly, while I voted for Hillary Clinton, at this point I hope Barack Obama wins one way or another in Ohio.

While I believe Hillary has a better platform, and better ideas then Obama, a lot of people in the activist community and liberals in the party want Obama to win. These people already are trying to spread rumors that today's vote will be stolen, or unfairly counted.

I'm sure they'll be questionable counting of some votes. That is what happens with all elections, particularly close ones, where luck often chooses candidates more then actual measure of public sentiment.

It's not good for democracy, if there is a group of people question the legitimacy of every election. Honestly, whoever gets picked out of today's close primaries, will represent the majority or close to majority of people will who get out and vote today in Ohio, Texas, Vermont, and Rhode Island. P'Link

Link: Hinchey proposes tougher TCE standards. Hinchey proposes tougher TCE standards P'Link

Link: Bruno, Silver questioned over private-sector jobs. Bruno, Silver questioned over private-sector jobs P'Link

Link: Grass-based agriculture to be topic. Grass-based agriculture to be topic P'Link

Link: Grasstravaganza 2008. Grasstravaganza 2008 P'Link

Link: DASNY: Green Bonds Pay for Energy Efficency. DASNY: Green Bonds Pay for Energy Efficency P'Link

Link: Meredith to Recind Wind-Energy Law; Ban Wind Turbines. Meredith to Recind Wind-Energy Law; Ban Wind Turbines P'Link

Link: State Legislators Against Illegal Guns. State Legislators Against Illegal Guns P'Link

Joe Bruno's House on Google Maps Street View. Some of you might be curious where the Senate Majority Leader lives or what his horse farm looks like at 345 Bulson Road in Brunswick (this address is public information—see his campaign finance filings).

View Larger Map

He lives in a relatively conservative white ranch-style house, with a tacky old "wagon" wheels next to his driveway. It's also being remodeled as of last summer, as evidenced by the dumpster next to it. South-West on the road is the Senator's office and below it, the garage for his other cars, with a farm worker housing in the back. His horse barn, with a tractor towing a manure spreader is North-East on the road.

Nice, but not really that nice. I guess some people have this view that Senator Bruno is some super-elite with an expensive house and a fancy horse farm. While he does have 120 acres, it's not like his out buildings are that fancy or wreak of the extreme wealth of some places in Rensselear County.

Honestly, I always envisioned Senator Bruno as having a McMansion, located several hundred feet from the road, connected to a model barn built to the highest standards, not a 1950-era house with a relatively nice A-frame located right on the road.

So Senator Bruno isn't as elitist as some of us might imagine. He's not that far from the family down the road with some horses in their backyard. P'Link

Pataki Blows Through Ol' PAC Money. All the money that Pataki raised in his dashed Presidential-bid treated him well, spending it for a variety of political gatherings, Broadway Theater Tickets, and gifts to political loyalists.

After ending his exploration of a presidential bid early last year and all but disappearing from politics, former Gov. George E. Pataki spent more than $1 million from his political action committees for Broadway theater tickets, gatherings at the Yale Club and payments to political loyalists and advisers.

Mr. Pataki’s PACs were established to lay the foundation for a presidential run. In September 2006, he opened a campaign office in Urbandale, Iowa.

The money came from PACs used to raise Mr. Pataki’s profile nationally and to lay the foundations for a possible presidential run. They were organized in Virginia, where candidates are given broad discretion in spending.

Really nice for him. Of course, why would he care with him retiring after making a lot of money as governor of our fine state. P'Link

Link: Binghamton: Free WiFi Downtown. Binghamton: Free WiFi Downtown P'Link

Link: Countdown to Digital Disaster: Our E-Waste Problem. Countdown to Digital Disaster: Our E-Waste Problem P'Link

Link: Harvesting Vermont Forests. Harvesting Vermont Forests P'Link

Link: Ohio, Texas Could Decide Democratic Race. Ohio, Texas Could Decide Democratic Race P'Link

Link: Snow Flurries: Caused By Bacteria?. Snow Flurries: Caused By Bacteria? P'Link

The Ins and Outs of Phil Steck. Dan over at Albany Weblog this month has an amazing 2-hour interview with Phil Steck on almost all the issues one could think of interviewing a Congressional candidate on.

Honestly, if you have two hours to listen then check this out. It's amazing how candid Phil Steck is throughout the interview. P'Link

Link: Despite Fed Assurances, Stagflation Fears Grow. Despite Fed Assurances, Stagflation Fears Grow P'Link

Link: Ethanol Demand, Prices Boost Farm Communities. Ethanol Demand, Prices Boost Farm Communities P'Link

Link: Cattle Farmers Pay Price for Ethanol Boom. Cattle Farmers Pay Price for Ethanol Boom P'Link

Link: Albany police officer indicted in gun incident. Albany police officer indicted in gun incident P'Link

Link: Activitists: Brownfield program languishes. Activitists: Brownfield program languishes P'Link

Link: Vt. town votes on Bush 'indictment'. Vt. town votes on Bush 'indictment' P'Link

Wednesday: Maxed Out Video. At 7 PM at the Bethlehem Library they will be showing Maxed Out which you can watch online.

It's quite interesting, I'm watching it now. P'Link

Link: Why Is the 1998 Ford F-150 No. 1 on Mexicos Most Wanted List?. Why Is the 1998 Ford F-150 No. 1 on Mexicos Most Wanted List? P'Link

Link: State travel office considering 'green' certification program. State travel office considering 'green' certification program P'Link

Link: blog.nyspra.org: New introductions A-10151, A-10154. blog.nyspra.org: New introductions A-10151, A-10154 P'Link

Link: Chevy Volt: In 2010?. Chevy Volt: In 2010? P'Link

Link: High Gas Prices: People Stop Buying Pickup Trucks. High Gas Prices: People Stop Buying Pickup Trucks P'Link

Link: Oil Falls on OPEC Worries. Oil Falls on OPEC Worries P'Link

Link: Aging Corporate Campuses: NYT Photo Show. Aging Corporate Campuses: NYT Photo Show P'Link

Link: The Life and Death of the Modern Suburban Office Campus. The Life and Death of the Modern Suburban Office Campus P'Link

Link: Food Market Chain Halts Tobacco Sales. Food Market Chain Halts Tobacco Sales P'Link

Link: From bill to law, wine to icecream?. From bill to law, wine to icecream? P'Link

Link: Dairy Coalition Calls For Revisions in Pricing System. Dairy Coalition Calls For Revisions in Pricing System P'Link

Link: Albany Councilman Proposes Residency Requirement. Albany Councilman Proposes Residency Requirement P'Link

Link: Officials expect record turnouts. Officials expect record turnouts P'Link

Link: Drop in N.Y. Prisoners Bucks Nationwide Trend. Drop in N.Y. Prisoners Bucks Nationwide Trend P'Link

Link: Texas Primary: A Number Game. Texas Primary: A Number Game P'Link

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Link: Brownfield cleanup funds stalled. Brownfield cleanup funds stalled P'Link

Link: Students support revised bottle bill. Students support revised bottle bill P'Link

Link: Agreement aims to block inflation of home values. Agreement aims to block inflation of home values P'Link

Link: NYS Assembly: Bring Back the Tax Surchage on Wealthy New Yorkers?. NYS Assembly: Bring Back the Tax Surchage on Wealthy New Yorkers? P'Link

Link: Clinton & Obama Playing A Funny Game. Clinton & Obama Playing A Funny Game P'Link

Link: Two Vermont Towns Approve Bush-Cheney Indictment Articles. Two Vermont Towns Approve Bush-Cheney Indictment Articles P'Link

Link: Gas-Saving Tips: Sierra Club. Gas-Saving Tips: Sierra Club P'Link

Link: Ex-CEO to seek McNulty's seat. Ex-CEO to seek McNulty's seat P'Link

Link: Assembly Plan Would Add to Taxes of More Affluent. Assembly Plan Would Add to Taxes of More Affluent P'Link

Link: Highway Privatization, Taxes, and Picking the Public Pocket. Highway Privatization, Taxes, and Picking the Public Pocket P'Link

Still No Democratic Nominee. It looks like after last night's primaries in Texas, Ohio, Vermont, and Rhode Island there is still no favored candidate to win the Democratic nomination for President. The Republicans have gone ahead, and with their rules picked John McCain in a rather quick fashion.

I'm rather amazed how deadlocked the party is over the two candidates. It seems like almost every state will have a significant voice over who becomes from the Democratic candidate for President, although it seems likely that Barack Obama will continue to pull forward and be the likely nominee. Hillary would have to do an awful lot of catching up now, and almost all the big states except for Pennsylvania have had their say, making it more difficult for her.

I guess it's good to see that so many people are getting a chance to vet our party's candidates. Most reassuring is that the spread was great enough in Ohio, that people didn't spend the whole night claiming that one candidate or another stole the race from the other. I hate to see people believing that the political system is corrupt or that elections are always stolen. P'Link

Some Observations from the Phil Steck Interview. Yesterday, I spent about 2 hours listening to the Phil Steck tapes that Albany Weblog posted to it's blog and had some thoughts on a few specific sections of the tapes.

Steck on Agriculture. Phil Steck is quick to criticize some of the farms in our district for their environmental impact. His description of dairying suggests that farmers "abuse" their cattle, rails against prosilac as the root of all evil (what activists call bovine growth hormone that extends the lacation cycles of cattle), and talks about the poverty that "those farmers" live in. He certainly is no Congresswomen Gillibrand, and his ignorance on these issue comes out in this discussion.

Dairy cattle aren't cheap, they are a $1.5k a head investment. Do you think your going to do anything that isn't going to protect that investment? Yes, there is livestock insurance, but they aren't going to cover you if your mortality rates are high or if you abuse your stock. And I don't think farmers like being told that they are poor.

His remarks are cute when he says: "everything I know about agriculture is from Sandy Gordon". I'm sure that makes Sandy proud with his couple of cows on his pasture in his backyard in wind swept Knox. At least Sandy grew up on a farm and knows a little bit about agriculture, unlike Mr. Steck.

I have to say I thought Tracey Brooks' positions on agriculture on her website where offensive—making a mockery of the farm community, then I listened to what suburbanite Phil Steck had to say about farmers. All I can say, after listening to this tape—is that we get a real politican to run like Paul Tonko who isn't so ignorant or politically stupid.

(Listen to Part 1 at about 20 min)

Steck on Suburban Sprawl. Phil Steck likes suburban sprawl, although he claims that he was pushing for more smart growth and planning as Colonie was built out. He thinks that suburbanization is natural and that he as a Congressman can't do anything to stop it. He doesn't talk much about how Congress could push main street redevelopment or provide funds for our small cities to renovate their aging infrastructure.

Not that any of this should be surpising. Steck is a product of suburban sprawl, and he's quite happy living in his house on a squiggly development a long ways from any form of mass transit. Keeps them underclass blacks away, as you know by living there. He might as well just build a wall around his house, so well protected in the suburbs.

(Listen to Part 1 at about 25 min)

Steck on Global Warming. "Love me I drive a Prisus." "I am morally virtuous, and your just a dirty hick who can't afford a fancy Prisus car." He mentions he's concerned about global warming, yet doesn't actually mention any particular approach to the problem, except to say "those poor people who can't afford to buy a Prisus".

He seems to be pretty lacking on this issue, although maybe the interview didn't tease out all the possibilities. He talks briefly about the he supports "solar and wind alternatives" and "getting energy costs down" before talking about economic development. He doesn't say if he supports any particular trade and cap system or other program to reduce greenhouse emissions, or if that would be too bothersome for his subrurban standard of living.

(Listen to Part 3 at about 18 min)

Steck on Mass Transit & Electric Cars. He thinks mass transit is a joke and that people will be driving cars forever to getting to work regardless of gas prices. He doesn't believe that mass transit is pratical for most people, and that efforts to expand it would be futile. Not that Saratoga's massively popular expansion of CDTA means anything to him, as that's in Kirsten Gillibrands District.

And for getting around the city, bikes rock, despite what he claims as bikes as useful toys.

He pens his hopes on electric cars as the solution to all our problems. He figures that we have plenty of coal to burn and make all the electric we could ever waste as inefficenctly as possible in our cars. 15.5 cent a kilowatt electric doesn't phase him as it's guzzled down by massive batteries used to power massive electric motors for the first few miles of a commute, in the regular 80 °F weather of Albany after global warming (which we will need for the electric batteries and motors to work anywheres near efficiently).

The Chevy Volt will have a 16Kwh (with an acceptable range of 8Kwh or 0.2Kw/h per mile) battery that will cost you $1.24 to charge for a theoritical 40 mile range. On regular gas, it looks like this car will get 50 MPG thanks to the hybrid function and it's small size.

Coal (our most popular source of electricity) produces 966g of carbon dioxide per kilowatt hout. Gasoline has 2421g of carbon dioxide per gallon. Do the math there. I think you'll find a burning gasoline in this car will create less global warming, and be better for the environment.

8Kw/h from coal power plant (for 40 miles) * 966g equals 7,728 g carbon dioxide.

8Kw/h from natural gas power plant (for 40 miles) * 335g equals 3,038 g carbon dioxide.

0.8 gallons of gasoline burned in car (for 40 miles) * 2,421g equals 1,937 g carbon dioxide.

Clearly, it's much more efficient and better for the environment to burn gasoline then it is to burn electricity in a car. But, it's more complicated then that as gasoline engines and electric engines have different levels of inefficiency, depending on temperature and design.

Just stop praying for electric cars or future cars that will get a million miles per gallon. It won't happen, as humans can't exempt themselves from the laws of physics. It takes a lot of energy to propel 2 tons of steel forward at 60 MPH within seconds of a light turning green. Generating that energy on site, in a conventional gasoline engine, is much more efficient then moving it over a wire hundreds of mile and storing it in batteries.

(Listen to Part 4 at about 20 min)

I give it Phil Steck for being so candid in the Albany Weblog Interview. But he comes off as so ignorant and unthinking on environment and agriculture policy. He stuck in the suburban mindframe and can't escape the notion of the car as king. He always refers to his county legislator experience, but doesn't ever see beyond that.

I'm not sure if I'm ready to support him for County Legislator—I mean Congressman. P'Link

Link: Several Albany Roads Closed Due to Big Puddles. Several Albany Roads Closed Due to Big Puddles P'Link

Link: More FBI privacy violations confirmed. More FBI privacy violations confirmed P'Link

Link: Charges may be dropped against man who took dead man's snowmobile. Charges may be dropped against man who took dead man's snowmobile P'Link

Link: Smart actions now can prevent floods later. Smart actions now can prevent floods later P'Link

Link: Spitzer's SUNY Funding Plan. Spitzer's SUNY Funding Plan P'Link

Link: Beech-Nut remains committed to helping Canajoharie. Beech-Nut remains committed to helping Canajoharie P'Link

Link: Transforming the Liberal Checklist. Transforming the Liberal Checklist P'Link

Link: Wal-Mart Connection: Hillary's Years on the Board. Wal-Mart Connection: Hillary's Years on the Board P'Link

Link: NPR: William F. Buckley, Conservative Bulwark, Dies. NPR: William F. Buckley, Conservative Bulwark, Dies P'Link

Link: AlterNet: Health and Wellness: McDonald's Goes Feng Shui, But Fast Food Is Still Gross. AlterNet: Health and Wellness: McDonald's Goes Feng Shui, But Fast Food Is Still Gross P'Link

Link: AlterNet: War on Iraq: Cost of Iraq War Now Beyond Human Comprehension. AlterNet: War on Iraq: Cost of Iraq War Now Beyond Human Comprehension P'Link

Link: Hillary Ad Makes Obama Skin Color Darker in Racist Overtone. Hillary Ad Makes Obama Skin Color Darker in Racist Overtone P'Link

Link: Chuck E. Schumer: Kids, You Need to Work This Out. Chuck E. Schumer: Kids, You Need to Work This Out P'Link

Link: Was Moses High on Psychedelic Drugs?. Was Moses High on Psychedelic Drugs? P'Link

Link: Why You Should Never Pump a Plastic Gas Tank in the Bed of Your Pickup (!!). Why You Should Never Pump a Plastic Gas Tank in the Bed of Your Pickup (!!) P'Link

Link: NYT: Mass Transit Needs Congestion Pricing. NYT: Mass Transit Needs Congestion Pricing P'Link

Link: EPA: No Timeline to Answer High Court on GHG Regulation. EPA: No Timeline to Answer High Court on GHG Regulation P'Link

Link: Feinstein exasperated with EPA chief's response. Feinstein exasperated with EPA chief's response P'Link

Link: Two new hybrids from Honda in 2009. Two new hybrids from Honda in 2009 P'Link

Link: Newell Calls Out Shelly On Side Income. Newell Calls Out Shelly On Side Income P'Link

Link: Senate GOP rejects idea of personal income tax hikes. Senate GOP rejects idea of personal income tax hikes P'Link

Link: Bittner a possible challenger to Maziarz's reign. Bittner a possible challenger to Maziarz's reign P'Link

Link: Advisers for Clinton Plan the Endgame. Advisers for Clinton Plan the Endgame P'Link

Link: Americans Using Less Gasoline. Americans Using Less Gasoline P'Link

Link: Nipping It In the Bag | New york city and Los Angeles County, Calif., pass legislation to remove plastic bags from the waste stream.. Nipping It In the Bag | New york city and Los Angeles County, Calif., pass legislation to remove plastic bags from the waste stream. P'Link

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Link: Older People Seeking Drug Abuse Help. Older People Seeking Drug Abuse Help P'Link

Link: IED Damages NYC Armed Forces Career Center. IED Damages NYC Armed Forces Career Center P'Link

Link: New Solar Thermal Power Plant Near Las Vegas. New Solar Thermal Power Plant Near Las Vegas P'Link

Link: Come September, GOP convention may go much 'greener' than the party will. Come September, GOP convention may go much 'greener' than the party will P'Link

Link: Earn $1 Million a Year? Assembly Democrats Will Seek a Tax Rise Just for You. Earn $1 Million a Year? Assembly Democrats Will Seek a Tax Rise Just for You P'Link

Link: Data centres: Cool it! Time to Make Them More Efficent. Data centres: Cool it! Time to Make Them More Efficent P'Link

Link: Antidepressants: Hope from a pill - Economist.com. Antidepressants: Hope from a pill - Economist.com P'Link

Link: Commercial construction brisk in Albany thanks to government spending. Commercial construction brisk in Albany thanks to government spending P'Link

Link: State makes parks renovation plans. State makes parks renovation plans P'Link

Link: Editorial: Save the view from battlefield. Editorial: Save the view from battlefield P'Link

Link: Pet sterilization law just what New York needs (?!). Pet sterilization law just what New York needs (?!) P'Link

Link: Maziarz named Senate energy committee leader. Maziarz named Senate energy committee leader P'Link

Link: GE collaborates on research with lithium-ion car battery maker. GE collaborates on research with lithium-ion car battery maker P'Link

Link: Power Plant at Former BASF Site Construction to Start. Power Plant at Former BASF Site Construction to Start P'Link

Link: WF Party: A Call for Fair Taxes (Petition). WF Party: A Call for Fair Taxes (Petition) P'Link

Link: Mechanicville briefed on Luther Forest impacts. Mechanicville briefed on Luther Forest impacts P'Link

Link: W’vliet eyes facelift for Route 32. W’vliet eyes facelift for Route 32 P'Link

Link: GE bets $24M on electric cars. GE bets $24M on electric cars P'Link

Link: Nassau wins rulings in bid to block mine. Nassau wins rulings in bid to block mine P'Link

Link: Promoting Belleayre is not good for state. Promoting Belleayre is not good for state P'Link

Link: Burning barrel is quality of life issue, not a rite. Burning barrel is quality of life issue, not a rite P'Link

Link: An Overloaded 21st Congressional District Race. An Overloaded 21st Congressional District Race P'Link

Link: Oil prices spike to record $105.10 in wake of supply report and OPEC production call. Oil prices spike to record $105.10 in wake of supply report and OPEC production call P'Link

Link: Green events slated at Dutchess fairgrounds. Green events slated at Dutchess fairgrounds P'Link

Link: "Lost" Power Leads to NYPA to Demand 1/2 Million Dollars from Muni Power Companies. "Lost" Power Leads to NYPA to Demand 1/2 Million Dollars from Muni Power Companies P'Link

Link: Fish movement and their right of passage. Fish movement and their right of passage P'Link

Link: Tonawanda: Tests find elevated air pollution. Tonawanda: Tests find elevated air pollution P'Link

Link: Into the Brain of a Liar. Into the Brain of a Liar P'Link

Link: Big Money for Big Ads This Campaign Season. Big Money for Big Ads This Campaign Season P'Link

Link: Internet helps Americans save 10x more energy then non-computer use. Internet helps Americans save 10x more energy then non-computer use P'Link

Link: Can states cut carbon? EPA says no.. Can states cut carbon? EPA says no. P'Link

Link: Emission worry hits oil-sands plan. Emission worry hits oil-sands plan P'Link

Link: Oil prices hit new record of nearly $106 a barrel. Oil prices hit new record of nearly $106 a barrel P'Link

Link: Dean Urges Do-Over Voting in Fla., Mich.. Dean Urges Do-Over Voting in Fla., Mich. P'Link

Link: 2004: The Perfect Storm That's About to Hit: Average Gas Prices Rise to $1.77/gallon. 2004: The Perfect Storm That's About to Hit: Average Gas Prices Rise to $1.77/gallon P'Link

Link: GM will expand hybrid offerings. GM will expand hybrid offerings P'Link

Link: Pressure mounts for state to redo Democratic contest. Pressure mounts for state to redo Democratic contest P'Link

Link: Crossing The State on Old Route 20. Crossing The State on Old Route 20 P'Link

Friday, March 7, 2008

Link: Groups push state for mercury emission limits. Groups push state for mercury emission limits P'Link