European natural gas crisis shows danger of centralized energy

Russian shutdown of gas pipeline starkly shows the danger of centralized energy-

We have been arguing against centralized energy as environmentally damaging and inherently insecure. With this development, I don’t think I need to say more.

Russia stops all gas supply to Europe via Ukraine. By Lynn Berry and Maria Danilova. AP

Park quakes could cause hydrothermal explosions But volcanic eruptions unlikely in Yellowstone, expert says.

Earthquakes were small, but it was an energetic swarm, expert says-

Although the quake swarm seems to be over, it might signify more changes with a small probability of dramatic stuff.

Story in the Jackson Hole News and Guide. By Cory Hatch.

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The late Rick Hutcheson, the Park’s geyser expect, told me that he hoped to see a basalt flow in the Park before he died.

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Follow the quakes, http://www.seis.utah.edu/

yellowstone

Agribusiness as usual. Obama’s campaign ag adviser mounts a weak defense of industrial food

Depressing news-

Agribusiness as usual. Obama’s campaign ag adviser mounts a weak defense of industrial food. Grist Magazine. Posted by Tom Philpott

Idaho’s one Democrat, Minnick, teams with Simpson to reintroduce CIEDRA

Prospects for “wilderness bill” have now improved-

Walt Minnick, the Democrat who defeated incumbent nutwinger Bill Sali for Idaho First Congressional District, joined with Idaho Second District Representative, Republican Mike Simpson to reintroduce the controversial Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA) on the first day of Congress.

With Democrats in control the prospects for the passage of the bill written by  Simpson have increased as well as the possibility of making the legislation less damaging.

While the media often call it a “Wilderness bill” because it designates 318,765 acres in the Boulder Mountains and White Cloud Mountains as Wilderness, there are other aspects of the bill that many see as problems. We need to see the actual text of the bill to see if any of these have been removed.