Busy time of year!

Meeting tonight is pressuring my day, so just some highlights for now, I fear:

• Lots of ex-staffers among the lobbyists working closely with Sens. Santorum and Specter in DC. Earmarking and other ugly practices exposed from under the usual rocks...
  
  
• Inquirer offers a profile of Patrick Murphy (past and plans) and the race for the 8th Congressional district.
  
  
• Two quick political notes include Lynn Swann getting a new publicity manager and charges of name-calling in the Josephs--Farnese race.
  
  
• Two interesting Inquirer editorials look at issues affecting Pennsylvanians but also the nation as a whole: the security of nuclear plants (especially against terrorists threats) and health insurance (looking at the experiment underway in Massachusetts).
  
  
• An official of the plumbers' union argues why flushless urinals may pose safety risks, and that there might be better ways to strive for energy-efficiency (such as use of "grey water" for flushing systems).
  
  
• John Baer looks at Ed Rendell's middling popularity in the middle and west parts of the state, and what it reflects about Philadelphia's uniqueness in Pennsylvania.
  
  
• U.Penn continues to set the standard for use of wind-based energy. Yay!
  
  
• There's a good government panel discussion tomorrow night on Penn's campus. A timely opportunity for anybody interested in making a change in political culture in our area.
  
  
• The threatened demonstrations against the 12th Street gym's homophobic owner appears to have paid off: one owned is buying the other out, separating the business from the political activities that its members found odious. The event is still planned, but is being converted to a celebration rally -- congrats!
  
  
• Marc Stier offers his take in the race in the 175th state house district today. Basically, he is happy to conclude that both Anne Dicker and Terry Graboyes have real progressive qualifications, but he argues in favor of his choice to support Dicker for philosophical reasons related to the future of politics in the larger region. I largely agree with his assessments, and (but?) hope to have more to say at some future point.