THE US REPORT

Get into a discussion about global warming and the congregation rises up as dramatically as animations of the sea level shooting 20 feet into the sky once west Antarctica or Greenland melts. Both are gonna blow soon according to Al Gore’s movie ‘An Inconvenient Truth.’ Gore measures time a bit more radically than most because the general consensus is that it will take those icy lands thousands of years to melt. But try to question someone who is convinced last week’s unusually warm temperatures are the result of human beings and you will more than likely be called an idiot. After all, Gore, Leonardo DiCaprio and Barbara Streisand thump the global warming holy book every chance they get. Problem is these GW theologians cannot possibly practice what they preach. Otherwise their celebrity brand, dependent on all sorts of environmentally unfriendly practices, will blow as well. Then who’ll listen to them or worse, who’ll pay them hefty speaker and performance fees?

Celebs and global warming
The Daily Mail (UK) has a great article about who is practicing vs. who is preaching, and it’s worth a read if for no other reason than to make you ponder how on earth Streisand might cope without those thirteen 53-foot semi-tractor trailers, 4 rental vans, 14 buses and limo she needed while on tour last year.

Al Gore’s 10,000 sq. ft. home in Tennessee blew through approximately 191,000 kilowatt hours in a single year. A typical home in Nashville uses about 15,600 kwh per year. We know these facts because CBS News cited the Associated Press who published them originally. But wait! Gore purchases green power too, so all is not lost since he’s offsetting his impact. But wait! Does that keep the carbon monoxide from the 191,000 kwh from shooting into the atmosphere, possibly melting a sizable percentage of Greenland as we speak? But wait! Gore is pumping bucks into green technology. That ought to count for something and it probably will, namely, fattening up Gore’s wallet.

Here’s the rub from an admittedly cantankerous environmentalist, one who preached a long time before I first learned the earth was gonna freeze followed by news the earth is gonna fry. Live long enough and I reckon someone will decide the earth is gonna flip itself upside down. But the fact is you cannot be a true environmentalist and engage private jets, semi-tractor trailers, limousines, and 10,000 square foot mansions. For one thing, how many species of flora and fauna do you think that 10,000 square feet displaced (not to mention the pool which I somehow doubt is a peanut or above ground type)? What happened to all those Tennessee rabbits and possums and other critters who probably liked having a little foliage to forage in? What about the lichens and the native plants, the snakes and tortoises?

What's the real problem?
In my experience, the single greatest harm to our environment is deforestation. Trees =oxygen. Forests=wildlife habitat.

The next greatest harm is our dependence on hundreds of items that can neither be recycled nor disposed of in an eco-friendly way—cell phones, computers, certain plastics, the plastic rings that hold your beer bottles in place, those tiny little contaminating containers your dog’s anti-flea treatment comes in. What, I wonder, do you do with a container Botox comes in?  We’ve got pharmaceuticals in our public water supply. You’d think people would be concerned, but after a brief newsbreak, no one’s saying a word about it.

What is completely lacking in the scientific battle that will cost the American consumer a far larger percentage of income than a millionaire like Al Gore? Common sense. The lack of common sense has already cost your average homeowner—check out the increase in your home heating and cooling system replacement costs, and this cost will continue to climb.

You can buy all the carbon credits you want but part of the big solution requires doing something about deforestation. You can observe this on a local level. The green space that’s there today will not be there tomorrow. Someone will pop up a strip mall or a restaurant or maybe some of those cookie cutter houses on property completely scalped down to the last twig.

Missing: common sense
The UN Commission on Sustainable Development predicts Africa and South Asia could have an additional 1.8 billion people to feed by 2050.  Considering the desertification in those regions, you’d think we’d be looking at that population projection and the cultural factors that produce more children than a culture can possibly feed. We could also do something about agricultural practices. We could also take a hard look at how the United Nations spends our American money because this American would really like to see that money go to the people who need it instead of into the pockets of certain high-ranking officials. But wait!

Common sense has run out the door and melted into the fictional runoff from Antarctica. The human impact on global warming may be real or not and the cause may still be debated, but real solutions for healing the environment are getting nowhere other than a high profile bio note on some celeb’s press release and maybe an increase in their net worth. (filed by Kay B. Day)

A couple weeks ago I wrote about the Carolina Wren couple who took up residence in last year’s begonia in a hanging planter on our deck. The babies have hatched, and the wren activity fascinates us when we’re having coffee or we’re working out back. When I wrote the first story, there were a handful of eggs in the nest. Now the babies stay hungry. The mother and father work hard to feed them right now, taking turns zooming to and from the nest. I had to be patient yesterday in order to get a photo while both parents were gone—I don’t want to disturb them.

If the hound goes to barking as he often does when he catches an interesting scent or hears a loud sound, the father wren (I think it’s the father) will protest loudly. You can listen to the wren song at pages on the Cornell University website. Our adopted chicken is fascinated by the bird sounds she hears; she struts around the deck near the nest area and cocks her head every now and then. We’re curious to see what Chickie will do when the fledglings start their flying lessons. I moved a large begonia beneath the hanging basket where the nest is—hopefully that will cushion a fall if one occurs. I’m thinking about placing a large fern there as well.

Thankfully there aren’t any predators, pets or otherwise, that can get to this nest. But it’s tricky because I have to water the begonia so the foliage stays full enough to shelter the nest. That means waiting, as I do for a photo opp, for the parents to forage. Then I sneak up to the back of the basket and gently water it around the edge so it doesn’t get the nest or babies wet.

I’m hoping to get more photos once the fledglings venture out. There are some cool photos also at the blog Deep Fried Kudzu.

Watching birds make a nest and raise a family reminds me that amazing experiences often come wrapped in simplicity. (filed by Kay B. Day)

**Please note I will be offline May 1-4.

At the moment the US presidential election offers vast potential for imaginative news coverage, with Obama-drama raging over the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Clinton (finally!) recovering from sniper fire in Bosnia, and McCain going about business as usual as though he hadn’t a care (or a strategist) in the world, and the Associated Press (Apr. 28) declaring ‘Clinton leads McCain by 9 points.’ Problem with that AP headline is the story is stacked and you don’t get down to the nuts and bolts of that poll until the final paragraph. The writer does mention this fairly early on, however: 30 percent of Clinton supporters and 21 percent of Obama supporters said they would vote for McCain in November if their preferred candidate didn't win the nomination.

I confess US citizens are vested in this election. I have read messages and stories declaring the effect Obama has on fans—think Elvis. I have read heavy criticism of Clinton, and some of those comments, if they were a movie, would be completely unrated. MoveOn dot whatever—you know, George Soros’s Clinton-hatin’, Betrayus clan—is running snippets of remarks by McCain in an effort to convince Americans the Arizona senator wants to keep the guns a’blazin’ for the next century or millennium, depending on your imaginative abilities and lack of access to the full text of what McCain said, and more importantly what he implied. I am getting daily emails from various friends who beg me to vote for their preferred candidate even though I only get to vote once.

Ironically, not a single media outlet has talked about a single candidate’s actual voting record (other than the famed McCain-Feingold legislation) and McCain’s statement about $3 million for a grizzly bear study which, according to Townhall’s glossy new magazine (May, ’08) was actually a grizzly bear count. As an avid environmentalist, would somebody please tell me how you spend $3 million to count bears? I’m serious. I’ll count ‘em for half that amount. Long as I can take a shotgun with me.

But the AP story is the latest cherry on top of the sundae. Here’s why. Start with the headline: ‘AP Poll: Clinton leads McCain by 9 points.’ The first 20 or so paragraphs in the story extol Clinton (unusual for media, I know). But it’s the last para that really begs a second look and also begs what the hell the AP editors are doing on their lunch break. I’d like to try some myself. Here it is and you tell me why it’s a surprise a Democrat is ahead in this poll. (Feel free to use the comment form below): The poll, taken April 23-27, questioned 1,001 adults nationally, with a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points. Included were interviews with 457 Democratic voters and people leaning Democratic, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.6 points, and 346 Republicans or GOP-leaning voters, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 5.3 points.

So in that poll we got 111 more Dems or Dem-leaners than Repubs or Repub-leaners, with I guess 198 undecideds? 198 phantoms? 198 interviewees on drugs? I’m subtracting the total results from the total polled. No one seemed to notice this—not the guys on CNN, or the guys on Fox, or even McCain’s strategists. Was this actually a poll or a work of fiction?

I figure this election is gonna get so crazy Howard Dean might be talkin’ in whispers at the DNC national convention and decide he wants to run himself. I figure Ronald Reagan may pull a Lazarus and show up to claim the GOP nomination, Karl Rove may declare his support for Ron Paul and Dem strategist Bob Beckel may go down on his knees and confess his suggestions to the DNC on how to select a presidential candidate were inspired by a night of very hard partying.

 At the moment, the US presidential election coverage feels a little like a scene from a fantasy film, with Mickey Mouse and Darth Vader flashing each other gang signs on a gangplank straight out of 'Pirates of the Caribbean.' Or one of Andy Warhol’s films, depending on your preference and intellect.

And we’re just getting started. Be leery. Very leery. “Fudge.”

[Filed by Kay B. Day; watch the video for the 'fudge' allusion if it just doesn't sink in otherwise.]

See 4/30 update at end of story.

New Smyrna Beach, Fla.)—Volusia County has chalked up 9 shark bites so far this year, a number outpacing bites in 2001, a year cited by beach records as the “Year of the Shark,” according to Local6.com. The most recent bites occurred at New Smyrna Beach at the rate of 1 a day over a 3 day period, and the TV station website notes each incident occurred near a jetty. A short section of New Smyrna Beach has recently been closed for dredging by the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Inland Navigation District, begging the question of whether dredging in an area could cause marine animals to behave differently than normal.

Site offers expert information about sharks
The Florida Museum of Natural History  ‘Ichthyology’ website has lots of information about sharks, even offering tips for swimmers and surfers. There’s a surprising statistic there, considering the hordes of tourists and locals heading for the water on a daily basis. Worldwide, shark attacks average 50-70 incidents each year. That puts the fear inspired by the defining movie for the killer shark film canon, ‘Jaws,’ in a little clearer perspective. The museum website notes in a very useful FAQS section that most shark attacks are basically a case of mistaken identity.  There’s a long list of tips for avoiding an attack, including avoiding swimming alone in the ocean, and also avoiding swimming during darkness or twilight hours. Avoid uneven tanning, brightly colored clothing, excess splashing and bright jewelry. Furthermore, be very cautious when occupying the area between sandbars or near steep dropoffs—these are favorite hangouts for sharks. I’d suggest anyone swimming in the ocean visit this site—some great photos of these intriguing creatures are posted there.

Close encounters of the shark kind
My own encounters with sharks have been sporadic and I’ve never encountered one in Florida. A couple years ago we vacationed at St. Simon’s Island off the Georgia coast and my husband, who is a far earlier riser than I am, would stroll down the beach for the sole purpose of watching a particular shark. This creature was about 4 feet long. Before our week ended, my daughters and I joined my husband—we all stayed on shore by the way. The shark actually came up into the very shallow water and we had a perfect view. That was as personal as any of us wanted to get with the king of the ocean.

I grew up in a rural area, accompanying my uncles on hunting trips, and during my years as a freelancer, I’ve had amazing opportunities to work on wildlife protection programs. The first rule of thumb when you are in an environment that you have little or no control over: respect it. The ocean does not belong to us despite our various attempts to hijack, wreck and otherwise impact it and the creatures who call it home. When swimming or surfing, pay attention to beach safety signs and exercise caution. Volusia County has a very neat life cam at the official government site, and it’s evident New Smyrna Beach is a gorgeous place. The sound of the ocean is a reminder nature makes amazing music.

Does dredging disturb habitat, altering marine animal behavior?
I don’t know whether the dredging at New Smyrna has anything to do with the unusual number of shark bites reported, but it seems to me anytime we tamper with habitat, we often achieve more results than those we hope for.

[Note: I have a call in to the Ichthyology staff about the impact of dredging on shark behavior. I’ll update this column as soon as I hear back from the staffer in charge.]

Update to story, April 30: I talked to expert George Burgess late yesterday afternoon. When I asked him if dredging might increase potential for shark attacks, he said no. However, dredging does sometimes stir up the water, creating murky conditions. So a shark may be more prone to misidentifying prey. “But they’re not hugely affected [by dredging],” he said. On the subject of jetties, it’s good to bear in mind that often, what sharks like to eat are in that area. In my opinion, the latest attacks come down to this: exercise caution, pay attention to beach warnings, and if you or someone else spots a shark, steer clear. You’re in that creature’s home and it’s a no-contest battle if you engage.posted by Kay B. Day

Having Saturday morning breakfast on the deck is one of the best things about living in Florida, and this morning we found a family of wrens had made a nest in a hanging basket of slightly dowdy begonia. Plants live through winter here, and I hadn’t repotted this one yet. I saw the Carolina wren dart out of the basket and realized she and her mate probably had some little ones coming along. Sure enough when I looked, I found the nest containing 5 eggs. I took a quick photo because I didn’t want to upset the parents. Then I sat back down at the table and my husband, daughter and I watched her zoom back to the basket to resume her motherly duties. I didn’t try to make her photo; I was afraid it would make her skittish. There are some great photos of Florida birds by a fellow named Bill Schmoker at the blog BrdPics.

My daughter asked why the bird would make her nest in such a place. I think it was a good move. The basket is inaccessible to cats or any other predator that might like to feast on the eggs. I doubt our black racer would slither from his preferred spot in the big Sago to bother with her eggs. Not likely that other birds like bluejays would want to try to get to that nest. For one thing, the hound, which the wren doesn’t seem to mind, loves to dart after jays and squirrels, barking madly, though of course he can’t catch them. Our yard is deliberately not cut back the way many Floridians choose to landscape. I like allowing the shrubs to grow a little wild, to reach beyond our fence line. That gives small critters and birds some cover. I keep two different water bowls available and change the water out every day, not only for the feral chicken that moved in a few years ago, but also for the lizards, frogs, birds and squirrels that like to have a drink every now and then.

I spent the first 18 years of my life pining to leave the farm. I’ve spent most of my years after trying to recreate it, first in Carolina and now in Florida. We’ll watch that wren take care of her babies, and we’ll do all we can to accommodate her. I hope to snap some photos as the birds hatch and begin to make their way into the world as fledglings. (Photo & Text by Kay B. Day)
**Read our May 1 update ; the babies have arrived.