Pleistocene re-wilding

Now wouldn't this be cool!

If a group of US researchers have their way, lions, cheetahs, elephants and camels could soon roam parts of North America, Nature magazine reports.

The plan, which is called Pleistocene re-wilding, is intended to be a proactive approach to conservation.

The initiative would help endangered African animals while creating jobs, the Cornell University scientists say.

Evidence also suggests, they claim, that "megafauna" can help maintain ecosystems and boost biodiversity.

"If we only have 10 minutes to present this idea, people think we're nuts," said Harry Greene, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Cornell University, US.

"But if people hear the one-hour version, they realise they haven't thought about this as much as we have. Right now we are investing all our megafauna hopes on one continent - Africa."

Intelligent Design Lawsuit

The ACLU is challenging the Dover, PA school district in their bid to teach intelligent design in their school science classes.

Attacked By A Duck

In the early 1980's, my friend Bob Brown and I were in Houston, TX visiting my brother Dan. Here is Dan's somewhat enhance description of the event.

Interestingly, we did not know that Bob had a photo of the event until Bob, Dan, and I were talking at my father's visitation in June, 2004.

The Riddle of Epicurus

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

Bush and the Hurricane

Being a news-junkie, I read, listen to, and watch a lot of news, including the right wing people (Fox News' O'reilly, Hannity, and the local and national radio guys). I'd listen to left wing media but we don't get Air America in Milwaukee.

For the past five days or so I have repeatedly heard from the Right wing news that "left" has been blaming President Bush for the hurricane. I have heard this time and time again and even had two different right-wing friends of mine ask me if I'm one of those lefties who are blaming Bush for it.

I can't say, however, that I have heard, read, or seen anyone blame Bush for the hurricane.

Global warming does increase surface water temperature which increases the force of hurricanes, but those are probably minimal and regardless GWB can't be held responsible for all of global warming.

The marshes and barrier islands are in dire trouble off the coast of LA, but have been in decline for years and will take decades to repair.

George Bush does need to be accountable for his response, however. He flew back from vacation on a Sunday night to sign the Terri Schiavo bill, but went on two stump speeches to shore up support for his war instead of going back to D.C. to coordinate the relief effort.

He actually came out and said that "no one could imagine the levees breaching" when FEMA's simulation last year showed they would and that scenario has been discussed for decades.

On Thursday 9/1/05 our director of Homeland Security said he didn't know that there were people in the Superdome that didn't have food and water. Shouldn't these people have better information than what I can get from MSNBC??

Fortunately we are now hearing from the legitimate Right-wing media pointing out the gross incompetence of this administration, including George Will, Pat Buchanan,and David Brooks.

We have no plan for Iraq. We have no domestic agenda at all. And now we have the greatest natural disaster with no plan to handle it.

You'd need a second glass of Kool-Aid to "stay the course."