Don't let the Republicans know but thousands of undocumented hunters are coming into the United States for the first time over the Canadian borders. This will drive the GOP nuts. They will be eating our food in impoverished regions and drinking our water in drought stricken areas.
They weren't invited and historically have never been seen in these kind of numbers in the United States. These interlopers can be found from Oregon to Maine and even are starting to penetrate the Southern States. In Hawaii, one was shot for fear they would menace our airport security.
American citizens most likely will hear of this illegal immigration in the next debates. What is all the fuss about? The stunningly beautiful Snowy Owl has for the first time appeared in the lover 48 states by the thousands. They stand two feel tall and have massive five foot wingspans.
MSNBC has given serious space to these undocumented birds. They write on their site:
A certain number of the iconic owls fly south from their Arctic breeding grounds each winter but rarely do so many venture so far away even amid large-scale, periodic southern migrations known as irruptions.
"What we're seeing now — it's unbelievable," said Denver Holt, head of the Owl Research Institute in Montana.
"This is the most significant wildlife event in decades," added Holt, who has studied snowy owls in their Arctic tundra ecosystem for two decades.
Holt and other owl experts say the phenomenon is likely linked to lemmings, a rodent that accounts for 90 percent of the diet of snowy owls during breeding months that stretch from May into September. The largely nocturnal birds also prey on a host of other animals, from voles to geese."
In the 1970's, only about thirty of the majestic Florida Panthers could be found in the entire state. In fact, just a few years ago there was a census count of only 70. Slowly but surely progress is being made in protecting this endangered species. Last year 10 more panthers were born than died making this one of the better years for the panther. It is estimated that the population is somewhere around 130 to 150 cats. Most of the panthers' deaths are caused by loss of habitat and encounters with cars.
At one time panther ranged over eight southern states but now they are confined to South Florida. The beautiful animal is far from out of danger but the good news gives a glimmer of hope.
In today's world you can have the weather at your fingertips 24/7 and even be warned by phone and computer of pending severe weather. There are channels on cable-TV dedicated to the weather, apps for your IPhones and IPABs and hundreds of web sites begging for your attention and dollars. If one would be interested in tomorrow's weather, it would take you about five seconds to get it by the minute for the next day.
Growing up in a very rural farming area where for years we didn't have television or even a good radio, we learned to rely on nature to give us that warning. For centuries nature has been the best forecaster and in many cases still outstrips technology. The fact that the weather is so damn stubborn, unpredictable and mysterious is what makes it so interesting.
My Grandpappy Grove was the first one to teach me the forecasting skills of nature. If the squirrels were collecting their nuts early and their nests were high in the tree expect a brutal winter. If the geese flew south later rather than earlier then expect a mild one. He taught me if there was a ring around the moon to count the stars inside the moon and that is how many days until there was rain. If the quarter moon or half moon was 'tipped' instead of upright, you could be sure rain was on the way.
Birds were also an important forecasting tool. If the seagulls were way inland then count on a tough coastal storm. If the sparrows suddenly roosted in the trees and became quiet, a thunderstorm was not far off. If the deer had their fawns early, spring was on the way. The geese heading back north was a sign that, even though there might be some more snow, basically the worst of winter was over.
Of course there was always human instinct that had been perfected over the generations that would guide your predictions. Sitting on the porch one August day, Grandpappy Grove looked at the sky, puffed on his cigar and said, "David, batten down the hatches. We are going to have a hurricane tomorrow." Being the age where I of course knew better and we now had access to weather forecasts, I resisted mightily the order to do more work since no storm was even on the map. Nevertheless, shear seniority and maybe a whack with his cane convinced me to get loose items fastened down. The next morning a sudden tropical storm formed off the Jersey coast and we had gale force winds.
Even in modern times we can be warned by nature. Animals become seriously agitated before major earthquakes are felt by humans. Remember all the elephants heading to the hills in Sri Lanka right before the great Christmas Tsunami? Or all the birds that suddenly fly at once into the sky moments before we could feel a quake. After the California, Northridge earthquake in 1994, my cats always would feel an upcoming major aftershock before me. Of course, scientists say there is no such thing as earthquake weather - warm and perfectly still - but when is the last time you heard of an earthquake in a pouring-down rainstorm?
Weather is, and always has been, a deep passion of mine and I follow the charts, the forecasters and approaching storms. Yet, no matter how much I love the technology I still miss the wailing of a hound dog's warning.
-You know it is the holidays when you can start giving the gift of a basketball court around the 'john.' The question is who wants it the most. The man who loves basketball or the woman who is tired of the man missing the basket!
-If you want to be more supportive in the efforts to combat anti-Muslim hysteria in America you can go to this wonderful website, myfellowAmerican.us and join the battle against hate.
-There was a story that the Art and Culture Center in Denver wouldn't use the word "Gay" on its sign outside the facility for a performance by the Denver Gay Men's Chorus. Turns out the sign was a mistake and the center had been advertising and printing programs with the word 'gay' all over them. Gregory Ward, in response to an inquiry by my sister, Patsy, said, "It is an inexcusable error but an accidental one none the less."
-Mike Signorile got an amazing and informative interview with Rosie O'Donnell in his new position as the new editor of "The Gay Voice" section of The Huffington Post. The interview is chocked full with new information
-Love, Honor and Cherish has decided to see if they obtain the one million signatures needed to qualify for the November, 2012 ballot and repeal Proposition 8. The signatures have to be into the Secretary of States office by May 14. This is an uphill effort but admire their determination.
-Is Barack Obama preparing to endorse marriage equality? Unlikely but the rumors are spreading especially after his Presidential International memorandum and Secretary Clinton's speech. Joseph Williams of Politico.com has written a detailed article about Obama's outreach to the LGBT community.
-There are so many college bowl games over the holidays it no longer means an automatic sell-out like in the old days. Both Virginia Tech and West Virginia are having a very hard time selling tickets for their respective appearances in the games. At last count both has only sold about half their tickets!
-Weather.com has a story of the "Five Weirdest White Christmases Ever" Number one is South Corpus Christi along the Gulf of Mexico in Texas receiving 4.4 inches of snow on Christmas Day in 2004. Here are the rest.
-Democratic Congressman Martin Heinrich (above) is the Party's likely nominee for the open U.S. Senate seat in New Mexico. He holds a solid 7 point lead over likely Republican nominee Heather Wilson.
-The National Journal has a story about how easy it would be to end up with an Electoral College tie in 2012. The outline is very scary.
-Virginia is looking better for the Democrats this coming year. Not only is the President holding strong but former Democratic Governor Tim Kaine has taken a five point lead over former Republican US Senator George Allen in the last poll.
-Foreign Policy Magazine has picked the "Top 100 Global Thinkers." There are some really interesting names on the list.
-Have you ever wondered what President Benjamin Harrison sounded like? He is the first President in history to have his voice recorded.
While considered not endangered but just 'vulnerable', the stunningly beautiful Marble Cat is a wild feline very few humans have ever seen . Home is Southeast Asia in densely forested areas. The beautiful animal is about the size of a domestic cat but has a tail that equals its body and is used for climbing. Like the Clouded Leopard its paws are outsized.
Estimates are that there are about 10,000 surviving in the wild. However, since they are impossible to spot it is just only an estimate. There is currently only one known pair in captivity at a breeding center at the United Arab Emirates.
This extremely rare video was taken by National Geographic with the 'trip wire.' There is another surprise visitor in the video.
No holiday is more associated with turkeys than Thanksgiving. Consider this a warning for those of you who are not giving a second thought about eating turkey today. They are planning and will get their revenge. Be careful and look constantly behind your back this holiday. Enjoy!
Just weeks after the Javan Rhino was declared extinct in mainland Asia the International Union for the Conservation of Nature has stated that the subspecies Western Black Rhinos no longer exist roaming in the wilds of Western Africa. BBC reports that the organization says 25% of all mammals are on the verge of extinction. Soon to join the Javan Rhino and Western Black Rhino is a subspecies of the White Rhino in Central Africa.
The species of Black and White Rhinos are increasing worldwide but we are also seeing subspecies disappear from wide geographic locations around the world. The massive area of Western and Central Africa just made it impossible for conservationists with limited resources to protect these subspecies from poachers.
In South Africa, the BBC reports a record 341 rhinos have been poached so far in 2011. Poachers just barbarically saw off the horn and leave the animals to bleed to death. Up to 2005, an average of only 36 rhinos where killed but that number has skyrocketed since then. This year ten times that amount have already been killed.
Here is a video showing ten most recently declared extinct species - never again to be seen.
-You have to love the above picture of Mitt Romney and his team taken in the 1980's. They all are holding cash and looking into the camera celebrating another victory for their company Bain Capital. The company often would take over other companies and lay off thousands of workers. The picture is just perfect.
-The new Quinnipiac Univesity Poll shows that by a 87% to 10% support the Occupy Wall Street protesters and 67% agree with their issues!
-3,000 people waited in line all night in Los Angeles at a one time chance for free medical care at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. Organized by CareNow they treated 5,000 people in an effort to help in these difficult times.
-The Rainbow Snake and Fairy Shrimp have officially gone extinct in the state of Florida. Seems like each day we see more and more of our life forms just disappear forever.
-Time Magazine Poll shows Romney and President Obama in a neck and neck race. What is very interesting in the poll is how women are strongly supporting Obama. The magazine says:
In each case, the President was buoyed by his performance among female voters. Women prefer Obama over Romney by 8 percentage points (49% to 41%), over Perry by 17 points (53% to 36%) and over Cain by 21 points (53% to 32%).
-Anything Goes star Colin Donnell (below) will star in City Center Encores of Stephen Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along." Donnell has been on a real hot streak.
-Aussie Star Hugh Jackson admitted on The Rachael Ray Show that one time on stage during "Beauty and the Beast" he had to go so bad on stage that he simply peed in his pants.
-For National Coming Day last week, President of Jujamcyn Theaters, Jordan Roth, wrote a powerful piece in The Huffington Post.. It is worth the read.
-Brava to out lesbian Janice Langbehn! According to Towleroad.com she won the nation's second highest civilian honor. President Obama awarded her the Presidential Citizens Medal.
-Another very loud BRAVA to open lesbian Alison Nathan who was confirmed as a Federal Judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
-Want to know what the protesters are so angry about? "Business Insider" has charts and yes, more charts about the economic injustice in this country. Read these charts and you will be moving downtown to help these folks out!
-The newly elected openly Gay Chairman of the British National Labour Party Michael Cashman (photograph below) was seen breaking bread with Actress Judith Light in The Glass House Tavern. Cashman, who is an MP in the Euporean Parliament, has been a huge champion of international LGBT rights. He is the first openly member of the LGBT community to head the Labour Party. Also seen breaking bread at the eatery was Hugh Dancy and Claire Danes.
-In the latest Public Policy Poll, pizza king Herman Cain is leading for the Republican nomination. He is ahead of Romney by 8%! Guess who is third place with 15%? Newt Gingrich!
-For the first time in years, according to a CNN Poll, only 48% of the American people support the death penalty given a choice between that and life imprisonment without a chance for parole. Historically those who support the death penalty have led by wide margins.
-Speaking of polls, The American Research Group Poll shows that Cain is leading in Florida! The pizza king has 34% of Republicans and Romney is second with 28%. Gingrich has risen to third with 11% and Rick Perry is only at 5%.
-Good news coming out of New Hampshire! The latest poll showed that 50% of the voters do not want to repeal marriage equality and only 27% support repeal!
-Continuing on the marriage equality front, you know we are making progress when in Nebraska even 52% of Republicans support more rights for the LGBT community. Yep, that is right - Nebraska Republicans!
-You better get your tickets real quick for Cheyenne Jackson's much talked about upcoming performance at Carnegie Hall on November 18. Tickets are going quickly and it promises to be a special evening. Just click here to get these prized seats.
-God evidently shouldn't be trusted. The deity is obviously quick with the endorsements. According to Bloomberg, the following have claim God's endorsement: Michele Bachman and Herman Cain both claim God spoke to them about running. The wives of Rick Perry and Rick Santorum have made the same claims.
-The news isn't so much that Zach Quinto has come out as is how lucky we are as the LGBT community to have such a talented and sterling performer among us.
-No sign yet that the State of Virginia won't once again keep us up again into the late hours of the morning awaiting results for their Senate race. The Richmond Times poll shows Tim Kaine and George Allen running neck and neck for the open United States Senate seat.
-Monday was a historic day in New Mexico with the opening of the first ever commercial spaceport in the world.
-In the all important South Carolina primary for Republicans, the latest poll showed Cain with a two to one lead over Romney. Cain was at 32%, Romney at 16% and Rick Perry came in third with 12%.
-North Carolina is the scene of an all out battle over a ballot measure to be voted on for next May. The voters would decide if an amendment to the State Constitution should be added to ban marriage equality. Couples have been attempting to get licences over the state in protest. The following video shows a couple of 30 years getting arrested as they attempted to get a marriage licence in Buncombe County. (It is toward the end of the emotional video). Here is the video from the North Carolina's "I Do" campaign .
At one time, hundreds of thousands of the magnificent Saiga Antelope roamed a range from Russia to Mongolia. Today this huge-nosed beast can only be found in areas of Russia, Kazakhstan and occasionally in Uzbekistan and Turmenistan. They love open areas and migrate huge distances with little effort. The nose keeps them warm in winter and acts as a filter in summer from dust storms.
They almost were extinct in the 1920's but made a huge comeback with two million of them by the 1950's. Recently the horn (only on the male) has become a prized source for Chinese medicine. As a result, the population of the antelope has dropped 95% in a little over a decade. This once again is yet one more indication how much China could do to save wildlife in the world if it would only clamp down on the trade in horns and skins.
The number of Saiga still alive is at question- estimates range from 40,000 to 100,000. Reserves are being created to protect them but poaching is still at an all-time high. To make matters worse, in 2010 over 20,000 died from an infectious disease.
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