COFFEE BREAK 48

+ updated at 1:34pm ESDT.

+ Shuck and Jive offers "Energy Literacy." John Shuck quotes from an article by James Howard Kuntsler and then adds an Oil Quiz and some Questions for Discussion. He closes with a call to "learn more about Peak Oil with the Peak Oil Primer and follow the links." I have posted some of the provocative Kuntsler points on The Abundancetrek Blog.

+ My home state seems to be taking sustainable abundance seriously. Grist is reporting that the NY legislature has passed an impressive Green Jobs bill. Go to "NY Legislature Votes for Green Jobs" on The Abundancetrek Blog.

+ Our nation makes progress dealing with racism when it doesn't sweep the problem under the rug. Once again, Jimmy Carter shows his prophetic courage and intelligence and compassion.

Democracy Now! offers "Carter: Racism Fuels Obama Attacks" > "Former President Jimmy Carter has also weighed in on the Wilson controversy and the recent right-wing protests against President Obama. Speaking to NBC News, Carter said the recent attacks on Obama are rooted in racism. Carter said: 'I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he’s African American. I live in the South, and I’ve seen the South come a long way, and I’ve seen the rest of the country that shared the South’s attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African Americans. And that racism inclination still exists. And I think it’s bubbled up to the surface because of the belief among many white people, not just in the South but around the country, that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country.'"

+ Cool air prevails along the Erie Canal. We are expected to remain below 70 F. through Saturday. It is 55 in Rochester and 50 in Utica at 9am.

+ RED SOX UPDATE: One big reason why the Red Sox fell behind the Yankees is because one of their best starters, Daisuke Matsuzaka, has been on the disabled list for 3 months. Last night, Dice-K was back on the mound and he put the league on notice that the Sox are contenders for the pennant as he shut out the Angels for 6 innings and got a standing ovation from the Fenway crowd. The Sox have won 6 in a row. The Sox beat the Western Division leading Angels 4-1. While it is unlikely that the Sox will catch the Yankees, it is also unlikely that they will not win the Wild Card race as they have now opened up a 5 and one-half game lead over the Texas Rangers.