I fly for my job - a lot. And almost always on Northwest Airlines.

This week I was on four Northwest flights (New York and Chicago [and back]), and on my outbound flight to Chicago yesterday morning I heard something completely new and foreign to me during the in-flight announcements:

Something to the effect: “As part of Northwest Airlines’ commitment to the environment, we will be coming through to collect aluminum cans, newspapers and plastic for recycling…” The flight attendant read a whole little speech about it.

Apparently this is part of a bigger environmental program called EarthCares.

However, during my three other NWA flights this week, the cans and papers were thrown into the same garbage sack with all the other trash — just like always. Maybe it’s an effort in-progress.

• twin_cities: ISO grassy metro parks for a guinea pig festival! “The grass has to be chemical free as dozens of hungry guinea pigs will be snacking on and simultaneously fertilizing it.” OMG SO KYOOT!
• MPR: College of St. Catherine to become a university. “The new name hasn’t been determined, but will include ‘St. Catherine’s’ and ‘university.’”
• Minneapolis Issues Forum: Do Idaho’s bike safety statutes make more sense?
• MinnPost: How we’re doing so far. Joel Kramer reports in on the first six months of MinnPost. “MinnPost.com has more than 100,000 absolute monthly unique visitors, as measured by Google Analytics. This makes us the most-visited local-news website in Minnesota that is not driving traffic to itself from a legacy medium, like TV, radio or print.”
• Minnesota Monitor: Congress studies wrong city for RNC disaster preparedness. “The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee found that Minneapolis’ Hennepin County Medical Center did not have sufficient capacity to handle a terrorist attack. The committee completely overlooked St. Paul’s Regions Hospital, which would be the first responder in the unlikely event of a terrorist attack on the RNC.”
• Southwest Journal: Neighborhood organizations are adjusting their fundraising strategies in preparation for the loss of NRP funding. They mention Bryn Mawr Neighborhood Association; Elliot Park Neighborhood, Inc.; and East Harriet Farmstead Neighborhood Association.
• City of Minneapolis: Sustainability Initiatives
• City of St Paul: Sustainable Saint Paul
• The Deets: Ed looks at recent reports on the link between local food environments (i.e., stores/restaurants in your neighborhood) and obesity and diabetes. Ed’s theory: “The distance you drive to buy groceries effects how you shop.”

I do not pretend to understand the gasoline economy when it comes to Minnesota and the world. I’m just listening and trying to sort it all out.

I’ve heard that by inflation’s standard, gasoline is relatively cheap. I’ve heard that oil companies make exorbitant profits. I’ve heard oil companies make big profits because they make big investments in research and risk and are just plain big companies. I’ve heard oil markets are controlled by Middle East interests and secret societies. I’ve heard arguments about war for oil. I’ve heard oil companies pay billions to our government in taxes every year and arguments for drilling off-coast and in ANWR a way to increase oil supply.

Lots of conflicting viewpoints and philosophies, really.

Now I’m hearing about states suspending gas taxes for the summer to help the economy, and I would appreciate your thoughts on the matter.

According to the NYT:

…state gas taxes, which run as high as 45.5 cents a gallon, often add far more to the price of gas than the 18.4-cent federal excise tax and are the primary cause of price disparities across state lines. So lawmakers and candidates at the state level have been getting into the act…The New York plan, sponsored by Republicans in the State Senate, would suspend three state gas taxes, amounting to about 32 cents per gallon, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

The Florida plan would create a tax holiday around July 4, cutting 10 cents per gallon off the 33.2 cents in total state gas taxes.

Meanwhile Minnesota just recently raised our gas tax by 5.5 cents per gallon (phased in through October) amidst a swarm of debate, emotion and fear-mongering (mostly about paying for bridges without thought of trimming pork projects). The NYT piece shows a gas holiday for the summer would save the average Minnesota driver less than $50 for the entire summer. That won’t even get two adults into Valley Fair.

It seems like we as a society continue to think in the short term and talk out of both sides of our mouths when it comes to fiscal responsibility and taxes. Here’s a piece from the Hartford Courant that address this way of thinking:

Any 9-year-old understands that paying less for something is a nice thing, but most adults know it is not always the smart thing to do. Suspending the gas tax would cause consumption to go up, which in turn would cause oil prices to go up.

The Strib’s Nick Coleman is happy to pay his taxes — even says “It is an American thing,” about our responsibility to pay gas taxes.

So in a meandering way, I think I agree with everyone. I agree gas prices are too high for my personal budget. I agree it’s our responsibility to pay taxes. I agree we need to be thinking long term about prices and not be reactionary — heck, I don’t even remember to keep 5 cent/gallon coupons.

I suppose the disconnect for me (as only a five year MN resident, mind you) is why the gas taxes in Minnesota were raised when all these other states are looking for gas tax relief and if ~$50/summer is really enough reason to bother for any state.

Of course, the gas tax increase is a done deal now, but I wish every time the local news does a story on the gas taxes (one local station seems to do a segment on each 10 o’clock newscast), they would subtract the new taxes just to make it fair to our fellow gassy states.

The StarTribune is reporting that the new 35W Bridge is on track to open in September. The expected date is currently September 15th, which would also result in the maximum financial incentive of $20 million.

Going back to the old bridge for a moment, I found this interesting video of it being built in 1967, courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society.

Deal reached for bridge collapse victims

I’m really not sure how to feel about this. Can I borrow your moral compass?

• Downtown Journal - Three arrested in Downtown BASE jumping attempt. BASE jumping is illegal in Minneapolis. And most cities.
• Behind the Mortgage - Condo for sale in doomed development includes Adult Entertainment room, complete with mirrors, couches, and poles. BTM is offering a bounty for photos.
• Metro Independent Business Association - The MetroIBA members featured in City Pages’ 2008 Best of the Twin Cities.
• MPR - Rural Renewable Energy Alliance donating solar home heating systems to low-income families.
• St Paul Issues Forum - On 24-hour health clubs. The city is trying to close them down because they don’t keep a CPR-trained staff person onsite round-the-clock. This is supposedly overly restrictive and a remnant of sex-club crackdowns from the ’80s.
• 76th Street - “Does Richfield have too much senior housing but not enough affordable senior housing?” If you even have to ask…
• Longfellow Nokomis Real Estate Guide - Foreclosures in their neighborhood. There are LOTS.
• Northstar Commuter Rail - Construction begins on Coon Rapids station.
• District del Sol - This weekend’s Cinco de Mayo activities in St Paul. (pdf) The lowrider car show is Friday from 4-9 on Wabasha.

The news today is “Five of the seven major US airlines (Continental, Delta, Northwest, United, and US Air) plan to charge most customers $25 each way to check a second bag starting May 5″

*Note - Delta and Northwest being linked is from the source.

[Via] - Airlines Win Big on Those who Overpack

Overcharging or legitimate price increase?

I can see both sides.

On one hand, it seems suspiciously timed with a business merger. On the other hand, fuel prices have gone through the roof.

What do you think?

Us Minnesotans don’t mess around with bridge safety these days. The Lowry Avenue Bridge was closed in 2004 after an inspection found a section had shifted 11 inches off center, and now it’s doomed and slotted for replacement. And although everyone’s denying it has anything to do with the 35W bridge collapse, there’s no questioning the intensified scrutiny on the structural soundness of Minnesota bridges.

From the Star Tribune:

The bridge, which connects north and northeast Minneapolis, was rebuilt in 1958, using its original 1905 piers and making them 20 feet taller. The county’s current goal is to begin construction of a replacement bridge in October 2009 and finish in late 2011.

Eluko79 posted this video on YouTube, “One last drive over the Lowry Bridge”

Kind of makes you feel like the bridge is a roller coaster. Again, not something that us Minnesotans like to equate with our bridges these days.

With the weather slipping into spring, ’tis the season for the police to sell other people’s stolen or impounded bicycles to the general public. If you’re looking for a two-tired vehicle, there is an auction being held at 6024 Harriet Ave S. tonight. Viewing is at 4:00 and the auction begins at 6:00, but bring cash or your checkbook, as they don’t accept plastic. If you can’t make it tonight, there are more auctions scheduled throughout the summer. Find a new ride or reclaim a lost one in time to hit the asphalt for mplsbikelove’s next ride set for Saturday.

It looks like biking will be easier in Minneapolis soon. When I lived on the north side I would make pretty good use of my bike to get around and found the biggest trouble was sharing the pothole-filled roads with cars. It was pretty cool to ride into downtown or over to the UofM campus and realize I hadn’t spent any fuel (and thus money) getting there.

With the turn in weather for the better, I have been trying to run more local errands on my bike. I have found getting around in the suburbs hasn’t been as hard as I thought it would. Sidewalks are pretty much empty, so there’s no bike vs. pedestrian conflict there, and it keeps me off the road with the H2’s. So far I’ve done stuff that hasn’t required carrying much - the bank, post office, or picking up bagels. Anyone have experience using a bike almost exclusively, even for tasks like grocery shopping?

Oh, and if you’re on the fence about biking, or any exercising really - take note that it’s apparently good for your brain as well!