Wolves Hated in Utah

Senator Allen Christensen, of Utah, has a thing against wolves. That is why he is pushing a bill in the state senate declaring any wolf seen in Utah to be captured and killed. Forget about the fact that in some areas of the state wolves still have protection under the Endangered Species Act.

Christensen must have had a bad experience with wolves to be so adamantly against this canine. As reported by Defenders of Wildlife, Christensen said, “We don’t want any (wolves) of them here.” He went on the say that the bill is really, really simple. Any wolf simply walking in the state’s boundaries may be captured and ultimately killed.

How nice. How friendly. How environmentally wrong! He apparently doesn’t know that wolves play a vital role in eco-balance. These animals prey upon the sick and the weak, culling the elk herds so only the strong may breed and reproduce. The elk populations in Montana and Idaho are up anywhere from  5%-35% from a decade ago, and these states also have wolves. The wolves are doing a good job from these reports. Elk herds are not suffering.

But if Christensen has his way, all wolves will be killed. They will be cast off his territory despite all evidence that wolves provide a natural balance that man fails to achieve.

Contact Governor Gary Herbert if you find Christensen’s proposal S.B. 36 appalling. Tell the governor that you believe that wolves should be allowed to survive. Tell him soon, because Christensen is on a mission. A mission of destruction.

Contact Governor Herbert:

http://www.utah.gov/governor/

Jake Kicks Out Four In One Evening

My, my, my.  Jake The Bachelor really thinks he knows all about the women he is keeping….or not. After two weeks of rapid fire decisions regarding the women who share his afternoons and evenings, he has been left with only a handful of women to choose as his wife.

And a wife seems to be what he is after. On last night’s show when Jake had two roses left to hand out, he began to break down. He excused himself and went to find host, Chris Harrison. He asked, Harrison if he had to give out all the roses.

From a viewer stand-point, I was thinking, yes, give out all the roses, otherwise the show will be over by next week. But Harrison asked him what the motive was behind the question. The answer was that Jake really couldn’t  see himself marrying two of the three women left standing at the rose ceremony. That’s pretty certain, pretty quick.

Earlier in the program I felt sorry for Ella. Ella has a son and she’s from Tennessee. She seems to have a good head about life, and she has made it clear that her son comes first. But she also wants a good man to share her life with, and a man who she can depend upon for her boy. Ella also seems mature. She talks reasonably and grasps what is going on around her without making a lot of noise about it.

When Jake picked her as one of two women to share an evening date with, he knew he was sending one of the girls home. That was the rule. So when the time came to hand out the rose, he pulled Ella outside and told her she was a wonderful, complete package. He also showed her the limo door and said goodbye.

That left Kathryn thinking she was going to get the rose. Wrong. She got booted out as well, because, after all, Jake knows for positive sure she isn’t the one. But he always adds how great the women are as he’s escorting them away.

It’s a typical guy thing. They tell you how wonderful you are just to never be heard from again. I think for Jake, Ella’s maturity level scared him. Sure, the chemistry may not have been totally there, but really, isn’t it more about the maturity level? Guys have a hard time being with women who can make rational decisions and who handle themselves without getting all fluttery and silly.

I felt bad for Ella, but she’s probably better off. Why waste time on someone who is so sure it could never work.

Jake is flying high now that he eliminated four women during one week. That’s either confidence or folly. Guess time will tell.

Meet Jake:

http://abc.go.com/shows/the-bachelor/bio/jake-pavelka/356575

Obama Receives a “C” on Environment

The Center for Biological Diversity has issued President Obama a report card for his efforts towards wildlife and the environment.

The Center gave him a “C”.

President Obama has indeed proven to be somewhat of a disappointment regarding the wild world.  He has been doing a lot of give and take. For instance, he has stated that carbon dioxide is a threat to everyone, but has lacked the ability or desire to lead negotiations in Copenhagen on developing true workable solutions towards the global warming situation.

Recently he has allowed more endangered sea turtles to be caught by industrial fishing companies. But he does seem to know that ocean acidification is a dangerous creation.

Obama has authorized logging in Alaska’s roadless areas.

He has robbed the gray wolf of any federal protection, and now hundreds of wolves are being slaughtered, from the air, in the lower 48 states.

He authorized mountaintop removal. What a bad deal. If you haven’t seen pictures of this practice, you need to. Companies come in and literally chop the mountaintop off like a piece of onion. Disgusting.

He has retained the rules put in place by the former administration that weakens protection of the polar bear.

He has allowed new coal-mining leases on public lands.

He has approved Shell’s offshore oil exploration plans off the coast of Alaska where polar bears live, and continues to issue oil and gas leases on public lands in the Western United States.

I understand the “C” rating. There is a lot here that needs attention. And while I have not given him any credit for things he has done like revoking damaging Bush-era endangered species policies, I feel that the negatives out way the good. Next time I’d like to write about all the good turns this president has made to improve our natural world.

To see full Report Card go to:

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/2010_report_card.html

Whoopi Says Give Us What You Got!

Today on The View, Whoopi Goldberg made a comment about the current state of our health care. The girls were talking about the new Republican winner in Massachusetts, Scott Brown. Whoopi said, Brown, now that he’s been elected, will have some of the best health care in the world. Not only will he have it, but his family will too.

Good point.

She then went on to say, as if to the people in congress, ‘Give us what you got!!’

Right on, Whoopi Goldberg. Give us what you got should be a new catch phrase for this country as we muddle through health care reform. With the current standing, one of the changes proposed is that a person won’t be disqualified for coverage if they have preexisting conditions. This is fabulous. But has anything been said about the cost? Will the cost escalate to unbelievable proportions? Will the cost be so sky-high that those facing serious illness will end up living on the street because all they can afford is health insurance?

They keep saying that costs will be lower, but how will this be possible if there is no central program? Can you imagine companies like Blue Cross or United Healthcare lowering their prices just because it is morally correct?

Whoopi on The View

I’m with Whoopi, Give Us What You Got, people of congress. Let us all share in the security that you hold every day in your hands. Give us health care that truly gives us peace and comfort for those illnesses too big for us to handle. Give us what you have!

Elvis, A Truly Amazing Grace

If you’re an Elvis fan you all ready know he would have been 75 years old yesterday. Imagine that. He was such an awesome power it makes you wonder how his music would have evolved over time.

Priscilla, his ex-wife, thinks he would have been into more gospel and maybe a little preaching. I can see him preaching, standing at the pulpit exclaiming about God and all things spiritual, and I can see the people flocking before him eager to hear his words about divine presence.

Elvis used to sleep walk and one night he arose, went outside, and said he saw an angel in the yard. Of course, with the drug addiction, it is hard to know if he was hallucinating, but chances are he actually saw an angel or two. His powerful draw seemed almost non-human at times, so it’s likely he had a closer, immediate connection to the other side than most people.

All these years later, Elvis is still pulling people towards him. I became a big fan way after the fact of his earthly life. Sometimes, when you get immersed in learning and listening to his music, you can almost feel him there in the room with you, which is absurd because he has been dead for a long time. On the other hand, maybe he does come to visit, and we are feeling his presence during those emotionally charged renditions he always delivered.

Anyway, Happy Birthday to Elvis. I think he will really, truly, live forever.

To read the inteview with Priscialla go to:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/34765087/ns/today-today_entertainment/

Sea Turtle Song–a poem

Sea Turtle Song

Swim

they say

away from the hate

away from the fear

Swim

far

far away, my children

to the greatest shore

where there is no

hate

there are no killings

and there is no man to make things wrong.

*****************

Help stop the slaughter of Sea Turtles by contacting www.BiologicalDiversity.org

Sea Turtles Need Protection

Sea turtles are facing a new challenge. Recently the Obama administration has tripled the allowable amount of sea turtles caught by industrial fishing fleets.

Loggerheads and leatherbacks are at greatest risk. According to the Center of Biological Diversity, turtles off the coast of Hawaii and the Gulf of Mexico may see their numbers plummet. Each year 200,000 loggerheads and 50,000 leatherbacks are caught each year in fishing nets.

These nets contain thousands of hooks which attach to miles of cables. These cables are dragged through the ocean like a sieve. Once caught, there is little escape.

Sea turtles have many obstacles. Being ravished by immense fishing vessels does not help their plight. Sea turtles are beautiful creatures. They should be able to swim in their waters without facing extinction.

Wolves Gunned in Idaho

In Idaho the wolves are running again.

With an open season of wolf hunting upon them, they are being slaughtered from the air as you read these words. The quota for the state is 220. All ready 110 wolves have been killed, but apparently some believe wolves aren’t being killed fast enough. The season was to end December 31st. Now due to the brilliance of  Idaho’s Fish and Game Commission, they have decided to extend the open season until March 31, 2010.

The propaganda surrounds the health of the elk herds. The Game Commission wants everyone to believe that the elk are being harmed by the wolves. They still will not admit that human hunters do more harm than the canines. Humans take the strong where as the wolves take the weak and the dying.

This aerial assault on the wolves in the lower 48 states is appalling. It has begun and will be continuing into the spring. By then most likely, more than 220 wolves will be slaughtered. Since the state supports the practice, I’m sure they will never investigate if the quota has been violated. They will probably be glad. **

 You can help save the wolves by contacting www.defendersofwildlife.com

Rihanna & Lady Gaga Tie For Outrageousness

Not only did Adam Lambert top the bizarre charts with his outrageous musical performance last night at the American Music Awards, a few other “singers” deserve a mention.

Let’s start with Rihanna. This poor girl needs a little more help in the feel- better-category. Her mad house tribute certainly told the tale of a woman mixed up beyond belief. Having been a victim of abuse, she definitely has a long and winding road ahead. Figuring out why and how abuse happens to you is not a frivolous topic, nor is it something to be glossed over or ignored. Her performance on the American Music Awards solidified her journey. I’ve never been a fan of Rihanna, and won’t likely start now considering her “singing” doesn’t even sound like the verb, and her visuals left me running for the door. But having said that, if you like her sound and her troubled interpretations, enjoy.

And then there was Lady Gaga. I have heard that she has a really good voice, so I was ready and willing to listen. I watched past the weird, unbecoming outfits and her breaking of glass, to see her finally get to her piano. Once there she slammed numerous wine bottles against the keyboard, and when that happened  I actually heard what sounded like  a woman with a decent voice. That sound didn’t last, and I kept asking myself, what is with all the glass breaking and the piano catching fire? I mean really, was that necessary? Perhaps the words of the song made the whole theatrics plausible, but honestly who keeps listening when you’re afraid the whole set may go up in flames? She may have a good voice but it is overshadowed by outrageous and ridiculous events.

Oh well, I guess it was just another night at the AMA’s. Most outrageous winner…..probably still Lambert.

Lambert Blew It

Adam Lambert just blew it. His appearance on the American Music Awards will be remembered as a tawdry, risqué disappointment, and not the hopeful new talent that sprang from American Idol.

Not only did he imply various sexual acts during the song, his physical displays left a bad taste. The crouch groping, butt holding, and tongue dances are what I will take away from tonight’s show. Let’s hope most of the kids who watched him grow and succeed on American Idol had already gone to bed. If they didn’t they will not only be talking about Lambert’s performance tomorrow, they will probably start acting it out in the hallways, and that won’t be pretty.

It’s a shame Lambert went this direction with his debut album. He has so much talent that tonight’s performance was a waste on more than one level.

Lambert was one of my favorites. Now his album won’t be on my wish list. Seems like he has too many wishes he wants to grant himself.