Member of the reality-based community of progressive (not anonymous) Massachusetts blogs
The Primary is one week from yesterday.
A note from Ariela: This is the same night as the fund raiser for the bombing victims being held at the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center. It is understood that at 6pm, many of the attendees will be walking over to the ICC for that event, as well. I hope to see you all soon.
FERC had a brainfart.
The cub reporter quickly blurted out the bits his Editor want to float:
“We find that the proposed pneumatic crest gate system can be installed without unacceptably altering the dam or adversely affecting the park and historic districts,” FERC wrote in its ruling. “The crest gate system will also provide important benefits to recreation, fish passage, dam and worker safety, and project generation, and will help alleviate upstream backwater and flooding effects to the maximum extent possible.”
Of course, there are little gems stashed in the “Order Amending License.” (h/t Corey Sciuto)
Project Economics
47. The licensees’ proposal to install an inflatable crest gate system has an estimated capital cost of $5,980,000. This capital cost results in an average, annualized cost of $956,000. We estimate that the annual cost to operate the system would be minimal.48. Operation of an inflatable crest gate system instead of flashboards could enable the project to generate more power, because the gates could be reinflated relatively soon after high flows. In contrast, the flashboards would be washed out for an estimated three months. The licensees estimate that project operation with the inflatable crest gates would result in an increase in annual generation of approximately 8,000 megwatt hours (MWh). Using a regional estimated alternative energy value of $38.74/MWh, as determined from the Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Outlook for 2012, this additional generation would be valued at $310,000 annually. Therefore, the net cost of the licensee’s proposed action, including total capital costs and generation benefits, would be approximately $646,000 annually.
49. Although our analysis shows that the cost of installing the crest gates would exceed the value of the increased generation, it is the applicant who must decide whether to accept this license amendment and any financial risk that entails.
(bold mine)
There is a lot to digest. Please give it a go, then chime in here.
PS. We are about to find out, if the Dept. of Interior folks are willing to take it to the next level. The Dept. of the Interior(Parks) has a brand new Secretary and Energy(FERC) is due to get a new Secretary. So, leadership may come from the locals until Obama’s Cabinet members can find their way around. This matter may be determined by which Department has better insulated its ‘Legal Eagles’ from sequestration. :v\
After the 2012 election, it didn’t take long for me to brag about how we routed Scott Brown: Groundgame (h/t Andrew Howe & Ariela Gragg, et al)
This map is a screen grab from The Boston Globe:
Excuse me, … I can’t stop chuckling. *deep breath* Anyways, let’s look at what happened in Lowell. (more…)
Update: Greg Page digs into this ruse, using analytical tools As Greg Page says, “Stylometry basically involves looking at patterns in someone’s linguistic style in order to determine authorship — it has been used to look at everything from Shakespeare to the Federalist Papers to anonymous letters in corporations.”
Why anyone, or cabal, would try to frame me for issuing such a silly screed is beyond my comprehension. Maybe you can help me out? I scanned the original document and used MS Paint to add red underlines.
There are 4 things to take note of: 1) The use of my ‘blog vanacular.’ Note the inclusion of modern references to the current drama. 2) The attempt to paint Bernie Lynch and me as conjoined in an effort to defeat a common foe. (Like everyone driving down Rte 93S at 7:30 am are all going to the same place.) 3) The promulgation that I, little ol’ Jackie, sees myself as a political demigod. 4) The odd reference to some forthcoming revelation, via the Library.
Dear readers, please pity the author of this note. They have their ass, soooo twisted in a knot, that they laboured to craft this clumsy deception. That is not to excuse the ugly intent and the heinous attempt to smear my name. (I can ruin my own reputation, thank you.)
All I can figure is that whatever pies I currently have my digits stuffed in, I have struck several nerves.
For those of you rowing in the same direction as me, take heart. The advantage is clearly ours. For those of you defending the defunct ways of a by-gone political error, you folks should really think about your ‘comrades in arms.’ For sure, your crew, is feeble and flailing. Especially, if the note below is any indication.
I found this great media tool at the Oyez Project at Chicago-Kent (hat tip Ed Brayton) with the audio of today’s oral arguments combined with a rolling transcript complete with pictorial avatars of the speakers. So glad I found this - it’s going to be my preferred SCOTUS audio choice from now on. My only complaint is that the tool doesn’t have an independent audio control.
Follow below the fold for the embedded audio with rolling transcript. (more…)
Has it been “four to five years” already?
From The Column, 9/30/12 (Archived Online)
STATE REP. David Nangle held a fundraiser at Ricardo’s Restaurant on Gorham Street several days ago. And the chatter was about a hush-hush huddle between former state Sen. Steven Panagiotakos , for whom Nangle used to work, and UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan.
Meehan downplayed the conversation. He said the two talked about the many UMass Lowell building projects. Political insiders, however, speculated the political titans talked about Panagiotakos ‘ future: Specifically him becoming city manager .
As City Manager Bernie Lynch gets roughed up every Tuesday night, Panagiotakos has said privately that he would indeed consider the job, but he doesn’t want to be viewed as pushing Lynch out.
That’s in stark contrast to 2006. Following the departure of John Cox as city manager , the job was Panagiotakos ‘ for the taking. He did not enter the ring, thus opening the door for Lynch, the former Chelmsford manager.
Government has been divided since Cox was forced to resign by the City Council — remember the “six rats?” One camp holds Cox was treated unfairly, the other embracing change at the top.
Several names are circulating of possible managers to replace Lynch. None would be as welcomed by both sides of the divide as Panagiotakos .
Panagiotakos is everyone’s pol, and he relishes that. As city manager , that could erode starting day one. That’s why not everyone is buying into Panagiotakos ‘ alleged interest.
Panagiotakos is vehement: He’s not interested. “Maybe five or six years from now, but not now.” He repeated it several times.
As for Lynch, he’s playing with house money. He’s already passed six years on the job, an accomplishment particularly for a non-Lowellian.
“The clock starts ticking in this city on city managers at four to five years,” said one pol. “Bernie’s passed six.”
The manager’s contract doesn’t expire until the Aug. 2014. But with controversies in several city departments and several councilors beating him up every Tuesday, folks are wondering how much more Lynch is willing to take.
But Lynch sounded confident at the Lowell Plan annual breakfast Thursday morning, boldly proclaiming the “city is in excellent health and the prognosis is even better.”
Why leave? Lynch said he has no plans.
(bold mine)
I’m getting mixed signals from ‘the word on the street.’ I’ve got sources saying Pangi is beginning to get his ducks in a row, to make a move on the corner office. But others, in the know, say all is quite on that front. Palace intrigue can be agonizingly deceitful. :v\
(more…)
Did you ever, for a minute, think the kerfuffle around LHA was about public health, or any of the touted altruistic motives that were puked up by the Blog of Record?
It was always about UNION BUSTING!
(more…)
“You’ve got to check the travel records. I’ve come back and forth (from Washington to Boston) every weekend, almost, for three years, and I see, you know, most of the delegation, and I have never seen Ed on the airplane - ever,” Brown added.
Ever the ready echo, David Nangle ensured that if anything crossed his lips to a reporter, at Lowell’s Democratic Caucus, it would be negative.
Democratic Lowell state Rep. David Nangle agreed. Nangle, who supports Lynch, said one of the South Boston candidate’s strengths in the Merrimack Valley is his blue-collar roots.
“He’s so well known in his home community because he’s always there,” said Nangle.
Click the link I provided, please. Read the quotes our very own Paul Sweeney provided. He gives us some hearfelt testimony on why he supports Markey. I know it’s heartfelt because Paul has said very similar things to me, directly, since Markey’s interest in the vacated seat became public. Paul’s support contrasts starkly against the manufactured smear campaign that Scott Brown’s flacks jotted on a yellow sticky for their patron. Now, Steve Lynch’s ‘man-about-town,’ Dave Nangle, is regurgitating that smear.
The Lynch folks better put Tipa Golden up front, in Lowell, before Nangle screws it up even more.
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