Consider: A new bird report from the National Audubon Society shows that populations of some of America's most “familiar and beloved birds” have taken a precipitous fall over the past four decades, with some down as much as 80 percent. On the list are northern bobwhites, red-headed woodpeckers, northern pintail ducks and Eastern meadowlarks, among many other birds that once boasted healthy populations.the report / hat tip to todays news hour (no web presence)
The dramatic declines are caused by the loss of grasslands, healthy forests and wetlands and other critical habitats from multiple environmental threats: urban sprawl, energy development and the spread of industrialized agriculture, according to the report.
“Direct habitat loss continues to be a leading cause for concern,” said Audubon Bird Conservation Director and analysis author, Dr. Greg Butcher. “But now we're seeing the added impact of large-scale environmental problems and policies.”
Grassland bird species have been declining for years. That's not a big surprise, nor should it be to the Audubon Society or any other conservation group. Still, for those who love to see birds at their bird feeders, or for those who are active in the fine art of spying birds in the field, the American landscape has seen better days.
Dr. Butcher says that global warming “is damaging some key habitats and speeding the spread of invasive species” that many scientists believe could spur further bird declines. Mounting demand for corn-based fuels is expected to result in increased use of marginal farmland that currently serves as important habitat.
On the latter point, demand for ethanol across the Great Plains (and beyond) is already causing land-use shifts into environmentally sensitive areas, a disturbing trend that most conservation officials say will continue for the foreseeable future. With corn at roughly $4 a bushel, farmers are cashing in, and it is tough to blame them, for they're simply heeding national policy set by President Bush and lawmakers from both major political parties.
Tom Snyder R.I.P.
Google's battle for wireless spectrum -- Google is pushing the FCC to write rules for an upcoming auction to enforce openness.
Sex and Violence
* Japanese Porn Industry Embraces Blu-Ray Disc
* Sony Inks Exclusive Rockstar Deal for PlayStation 3
* Japanese Porn Industry Embraces Blu-Ray Disc
* Sony Inks Exclusive Rockstar Deal for PlayStation 3
The man who bought Jerry Garcia's house 10 years ago is selling everything, including the kitchen sink.
Its Really not easy being green
audubon ch13 wed at 9
France vs. USA: May the Best Cheese Win
In the past, American cheesemakers' reputations have lagged behind the French. Now we'll do a taste test and find out whether America's cheeses have caught up. Ruth Reichl of Gourmet magazine joins cheesemongers Rob Kaufelt of Murray's cheese and Anne Saxelby of Saxelby's Cheese.
Here are the cheeses we're tasting on-air today:
French
Valencay (goats' cheese)
Pyrenee Brebis (raw sheep's milk from the Pyrenees)
Chatelain Camembert
Persille de Malzieu
Mimolette (cows' milk, from Flanders and other parts of northern France)
American
Twig Farm Square Cheese (raw goats' milk, West Cornwall, VT)
Jasper Hill Farm Constant Bliss (raw cows' milk, Greensboro, VT)
Woodcock Farm Weston Wheel (raw sheeps' milk, Weston, VT)
Birchrun Hills Farm Birchrun Blue (raw cows' milk, Chester Springs, PA)
Uplands Farm Pleasant Ridge Reserve (raw cows' milk, Dodgeville, WI)
group hug
Make Me Laugh (1979-80) - Frank Zappa appears in another unlikely scenario on this game show hosted by Bobby Van. Van was a regular face on 1970s television, showing up on programs like The Match Game, The Merv Griffin Show, CHiPs, Wonder Woman and that other show with a ridiculous Frank Zappa appearance, Dance Fever. Make Me Laugh regularly featured 1970s comedy icon Avery Schreiber, and 1980s comedy icon Gallagher, trying to make the contestant crack a smile (surely they could've found somebody more qualified for that job than Gallagher). It was a short-lived attempt to revamp a 1958 game show of the same name, previously hosted by Arthur Q. Bryan, the voice of Elmer Fudd.
Password Plus (1979-1982) - George Peppard is famous to one generation for Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) and to another generation for The A-Team. He was also known for being testy. Case and point, appearing as a celebrity contestant, he chastises the network executives of Password Plus for what he feels to be their ridiculous and overbearing methods - while host Allen Ludden does his best to keep the show from going out of control in this 1979 episode. Ludden was the ultimate television square, awkward and obtuse, but also professional. His star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame lies next to his wife of twenty years, Betty White (It's also next to Gary Owens' star).
Continue reading "Classic Game Show Madness" »
droll model
if you thought decorated resin cows and donkeys as a civic activity was bad, how about these? (via AFC)
tales of rat fink on sundance tomorrow.
YouTube here on the iPhone and net neutrality. I have no opinion.
