Hummer Drivers Believe They’re Defending America’s Frontier Against Anti-American Critics (Links)
Krugman: ‘most widely respected climate models’ show ‘hurtle toward catastrophe’ These days, dire warnings aren’t the delusional raving of cranks. Our relationship to the natural world is a Ponzi scheme Beyond the illegality of Madoff’s scam, why didn’t he consider his responsibility to his clients, to their future, and even to his own? Give birds a break. Lock up the cat Free-ranging felines do a lot of damage to the baby bird populations in neighborhoods. Gila National Forest threatened by off-road vehicles The well-funded off-road vehicle lobby is pressuring forest managers to add unnecessary roads and permit other destructive practices in the forest. Hummer drivers believe they’re defending America’s frontier against anti-American critics Hummer drivers believe they are defending America’s frontier lifestyle against anti-American critics, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research, which researched attitudes toward owning and driving Hummers, which have become symbols to many of American greed and wastefulness. Children who are spanked have lower IQs Children who are spanked have lower IQs worldwide, including in the United States, according to groundbreaking new research. Pennsylvania gun nuts shoot, kill each other A car parked in the driveway bore a badge-shaped sticker that read “NRA law enforcement.” Boing Boing offers ‘nourishing soup and sandwiches’ to Ralph Lauren’s deathly ill models “Dude, her head’s bigger than her pelvis.” Ted Williams’ frozen head abused in cryogenics lab Workers at an Arizona cryogenics facility mutilated the frozen head of baseball legend Ted Williams—even using it for a bizarre batting practice, a new book claims.
Climate Change Causing Birds to Shrink (Links)
Navy To Conduct Warfare Training Near Right Whale Calving Grounds The training range will be constructed near the only known calving grounds for the North Atlantic right whale, a species whose total population is thought to be around 300 individuals. On the Prowl For Water-Use Scofflaws Since June, nearly 700 citations have been issued to L.A. residents caught violating the city’s tightened water laws. San Diego Company Fined $600,000 for Groundwater Contamination Regional water pollution cops fined an industrial company $600,000 and threatened to nearly double the penalty if it doesn’t meet deadlines leading up to treatment of a contaminated groundwater plume in El Cajon. Alaska’s Kensington Gold Mine Gets Go-Ahead The Army Corps of Engineers has green-lighted a controversial plan to dump millions of tons of waste into Lower Slate Lake. U.S. Military Says to Act Now or ‘Pay Later’ For Climate Change U.S. military intelligence studies have concluded that over the next 20 to 30 years, the world’s vulnerable regions will food and water shortages, and catastrophic flooding, which could demand costly American humanitarian relief or military response. Climate Change Causing Birds to Shrink Global warming is making birds smaller. Exxon Mobil vs. New York City New York City claims that Exxon Mobil knew that a certain additive used in their gasoline would contaminate groundwater, but used it anyway. ExxonMobil Pleads Guilty to Killing Protected Birds The company will pay $600,000 in fines and fees, and most of the 85 birds that died were exposed to industrial pollution. Russian Oil Rigs Just 45 Miles From Florida? Cuba will allow Russia to look for oil and gas in its territorial waters. Biologists Demystify Elusive War Zone Bacterium The bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii causes mortality rates as high as 75 percent in the Middle East. Houshold Spices Provide Eco-friendly Pesticides for Organics Well-known spices such as rosemary, thyme, clove, and mint are becoming organic agriculture’s key weapons against insect pests as the industry tries to satisfy increased demands for organic produce. How Does College Major Affect Religious Faith? College students who major in the social sciences and humanities are likely to become less religious, while those who in education are likely to become more religious. I Say Spend. You Say No. We’re in Love. When it comes to money, opposites do attract: “spendthrifts” and “tightwads” tend to marry.
1/3 of U.S. Bird Species Threatened or Declining
One-third of the 800 bird species in the United States are either endangered, threatened, or in significant decline, according to a report from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The report, compiled by scientists within the government and from universities, found that bird populations in forests, grasslands, and arid areas have declined by as much as 40 percent in the past 40 years. At the same time, wetland bird populations have increased, as have populations of bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and other raptors whose eggs are no longer being damaged by the use of the insecticide, DDT. The report said the state with the most threatened bird populations is Hawaii, where 71 bird species have gone extinct and 31 are listed as threatened or endangered.
[Yale.edu]
