US Dept of Interior Troubles

Interior officials messed with science, say witnesses at House hearing

Posted from the Daily Grist:

Think you've had a rough week? Imagine how the U.S. Interior Department feels. This week saw a heated House hearing in which activists and former officials testified about Interior's nasty habit of meddling with science. "This is an agency that seems focused on one goal: weakening the law by administrative fiat, and it is doing much of the work shrouded from public view," said Natural Resources Committee Chair Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.). Witnesses including former Fish and Wildlife head Jamie Rappaport Clark said politics had led to manipulation of research relating to the Endangered Species Act, but Interior Deputy Secretary Lynn Scarlett insisted the agency was establishing an accountability board and was shocked, shocked to find politics in its establishment. Amidst the hubbub, the official who inherited Interior's messed-up-beyond-belief oil and gas leases, Johnnie Burton, announced plans to resign. And agency head Dirk Kempthorne was found huddled in a corner, muttering, "TGIF, TGIF."

straight to the source: Casper Star Tribune, Noelle Straub, 10 May 2007

straight to the source: San Francisco Chronicle, Associated Press, Matthew Daly, 09 May 2007

straight to the source: The Guardian, Associated Press, H. Josef Hebert, 09 May 2007

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Go Green Curbside Recycling in Manhattan

Message from David Carter with K-State's Pollution Prevention Institute: Go Green Curbside Recycling is a new business in Manhattan. There are a couple of pick up options you can choose (see full post). Anyway, this new business makes it more convenient for Manhattan residents to recycle.

Contact Mandy Scholz, gogreencurbside@yahoo.com or 785-410-8010, for additional information or to register for the service.




Go Green Curbside Recycling

A simple, convenient way to recycle!

We can pick up your recyclables on a weekly basis or 2 x month.

Materials Accepted: newspapers, magazines, paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, aluminum, tin

How It Works: After you sign up, we will contact you to verify your start date. We will then deliver a recycling container and information about sorting the recyclables along with details about getting started.

Fees: 2 x month = $10/month (available for households with minimal recyclables)

Weekly = $15/month (additional fee for more than 2 containers)

*There is a $5 deposit for 18-gallon container

To sign up, Mail or Email the following information:

Your Name

Address

Contact Phone Number

Pick Up Option (2 x month or weekly)

Go Green Curbside Recycling

1228 Westloop Pl #215

Manhattan KS 66502

gogreencurbside@yahoo.com

785-410-8010

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Gardening: I'll be gone for a while...

Gardeners:

I will be gone starting tomorrow through next friday, then gone again saturday to monday/tuesday. I need help watering and planting while I'm away! It looks like it will be raining for a while, but probably about next thursday it will stop. So, I've already talked to Champion, and he is willing to be "in charge" while I'm gone. It shouldn't take but ~30 minutes to water the garden.

Also, I have bought two eggplants, 1 mint plant, a series of pepper plants, and two big bags of potatoes (red and irish cobbler). I've already talked most of this over with Kevin; the potatoes (one kind) get planted in the back, and the rest get planted somewhere outside the garden (next to the tree). Also, if people are motivated, the peppers, eggplants, and mint can be put in the ground. But please keep in mind that if they aren't planted, they need to be watered inside.

My roommate Jeff should be around, and as always, there's the key in the locker out back.....

thanks everybody,

~Sir Knabe

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