NPR : Ivory-Billed Woodpecker Found Not to Be Extinct

VERY cool!!! The bird that was thought to be extinct, is not! :) Obviously beyond endangered, but maybe, just maybe there are a few left.

NPR : Ivory-Billed Woodpecker Found Not to Be Extinct

Several pictures are also here.

NPR : Voice from the Past on Lincoln Anniversary

NPR : Voice from the Past on Lincoln Anniversary

"Morning Edition, April 15, 2005 "Civil War veteran Julius Howell of Bristol, Va. was 101 years old when he was recorded at the Library of Congress in June, 1947. He spoke of how he learned of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, 140 years ago this morning."

t r u t h o u t - Chernobyl: Land of the Dead

Is nuclear power the way to go or not? I have my doubts, but either way, this shows what can go wrong. Horrifying stories.

t r u t h o u t - Chernobyl: Land of the Dead

BBC NEWS | UK | Disabled woman ends marathon feat

Feeling sorry for yourself? Need a pick me up? how is this for a story of human determination!

BBC NEWS | UK | Disabled woman ends marathon feat: "Miss Page, 54, of St Albans, Herts, left partially paralysed after surgery to remove a tumour in her skull, had walked the 26.2 mile course.

She finished the final mile and a half with her 82-year-old mother Josie Page, on Saturday afternoon"

"Initially she could not even lift a finger, but intensive rehabilitation enabled her to walk, drive and even return to work as a part-time personal assistant at HSBC."

Duke's Coach K, Bush assert importance of teamwork in life at Texas A&M

If you have never read one of Coach K's book, I definitely recommend it! He is not just a great coach, but a great leader!

Yahoo! Sports - NCAA Men's Basketball - Duke's Coach K, Bush assert importance of teamwork in life at Texas A&M: "'Good communication between people is critical to being a successful person in life,' Krzyzewski said. 'You also need to be able to care about others, tell each other the truth, show collective responsibility and show pride in whatever you do. These are thing that I have believed in my whole life.'"

Yahoo! News - Variety of Exercise May Ward Off Dementia

A reason to do a triathlon?

Yahoo! News - Variety of Exercise May Ward Off Dementia
"people who stay active in a wide variety of ways seem to have a better chance of warding off dementia, according to research that found it's the diversity, not intensity, of the exercise that counts."

STEVE ROSS: Grace is the Name of the Game -

I am so excited! I just found out today that Steve Ross is back on TV. He is my favorite TV yoga instructor! He is great! Funny, motivating, and yet relaxing to listen to.

In fact when I found that he was back on (6 AM ughh), I also found he has a CD out. Which of course I had to listen to, and then ended up buying. And yes, I also bought his book, but have not gotten it yet.

Listen here: CD Baby: STEVE ROSS: Grace is the Name of the Game -

TV Schedule

Steve's web site MahaYoga

A Fragile Success in Africa

What an interesting article!
1The New York Times > Opinion > A Fragile Success in Africa: "But Ghana is a good kid in a really bad neighborhood"

First the good news:
"Ghanaians like to brag that they have passed the point of no return in making their humid patch of West Africa a functioning democracy with all the perks that brings: a free and vibrant press, steady though slow economic growth, tourism. There is even a shopping mall with a multiplex cinema going up in Accra. With such obvious payoffs for adopting good governance, many Ghanaians say it is inconceivable that the country will turn back to the failed-state practices that have taken so many other African countries down the drain. "If anyone tried anything like a coup here, this place would immediately become ungovernable," says Kweku Sakyi Addo, the host of one of Ghana's innumerable political talk shows. "We've seen what happens in other African countries. There is no way people will put up with that here.""

Then the bad news:

"But for all the talk of what a model African country Ghana is, it is still, literally, dirt poor, a fact of life that demonstrates just how removed Africa is from the proverbial rising tide of the global economy that is supposed to be lifting all boats. Ghana has a per capita income of $421 a year; most people survive here on $300 to $400."

"Almost half of Ghana's national budget comes from foreign aid"

"Ghana shows what a tough road this is going to be. But it also shows that bringing Africa back is eminently doable."

BBC NEWS | Health | Happy moments 'protect the heart'

BBC NEWS | Health | Happy moments 'protect the heart': "Levels of cortisol - a stress hormone - were 32% lower in people who reported more happy moments.

Cortisol has been related to abdominal obesity, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and autoimmune disorders."

Don't worry, be happy! Sorry I couldn't resist ;)

Yahoo! News - Sun, Vitamin D Help Lung Cancer Survival - Study

How exciting is this!?! Research from Harvard ties Vit D and the Sun to Lung Cancer survivial rates! It opens a whole plethora of new hypotheses!

Yahoo! News - Sun, Vitamin D Help Lung Cancer Survival - Study: "If the research is validated it may mean that taking vitamin D or fortified nutritional supplements soon after a diagnosis and before surgery could provide 'a survival advantage,' Christiani said.

The link between vitamin D and surgery outcome is not known but other studies have hinted that it may work to inhibit a variety of cancers, the researchers said."

"It looks like vitamin D is anti-proliferative, so it inhibits proliferation of abnormal cells," Christiani said, adding that there was also evidence to suggest vitamin D inhibits the spread of tumors."

Yahoo! Sports - Cycling - Armstrong's next move is everybody's guess

Yahoo! Sports - Cycling - Armstrong's next move is everybody's guess: "The only thing spinning faster than the pedals on his bike these days is the rumor mill cranking stories about what Armstrong will do next, after defending his Tour of Georgia title later this week."

After the idea of his retiring BEFORE the tour has been floated, I guess I have to hope he announces he will stay through the year.

Lewis and Clark 200.GOV

You probably have heard the commericals, now see the site...

Seriously, can you imagine what it must have been like to go on that trip? They had no idea of what to expect! Indeed Jefferson told them that there might be wholly mamoths! Lewis and Clark 200.GOV

GiardiniBros_mine_proposal

Putting all economics aside and basing it totoally on running and quality of life issues (which is economics, just usually ignored), I really hope this does not go through. Not that it would be bad necessarily, but it sure has the potential to be really bad.

GiardiniBros_mine_proposal

BBC NEWS | In Pictures | In pictures: Horrors of Buchenwald

BBC NEWS | In Pictures | In pictures: Horrors of Buchenwald

April 11, 1945 US troops liberated the Buchenwald concentration camp.

Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

Having just finished ristening to Franklin and Winston, I want to learn more about each. I have to admit I knew much more about CHurchill than FDR.

My prior view on FDR was that I did not like him. Why? Built bug government, taxes, etc. And i always had the view that he could not be trusted. I am not sure that book did much to change that, but I do appreciate what he did (the positives) much more.

Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

Cartoons about FDR.

FDR's Fireside chats--VERY INTERESTING!!!

In spite of FDR's courage and leadership, I still think I am a bigger fan of Churchill. His stand against Hitler before the US entered the war is still one of the most important things I can imagine.
The Churchill Center is an excellent site!


BTW the book was really good! And contrary to some of the reviews, I did learn quite a bit! ;)

NPR : Fox News Anchor Neil Cavuto: 'More than Money'

NPR : Fox News Anchor Neil Cavuto: 'More than Money'

There are very few things I asked for for Christmas. Two things I did want (and got) were Marv Levy's book and Neil Cavuto's Book.

I am about half done with Marv's book and it is really interesting.

I just started Neil Cavuto's More than Money and definitely recommend it as well. Yes he is a business reporter. That said, this book is not on business. I really think everyone should read it. It is about how people have overcome their problems to help others. Great premise, done very well!

If you are not going to read it, minimally listen to his interview on NPR.org.

BTW I am 99% sure he is a St. Bona grad!

Putting Our Best Mets Forward

The Mets2005 Blog has a cool list of the top ten NY Mets of all time. Do you agree?

Faith and Fear in Flushing :: Putting Our Best Mets Forward

Papal Chase - Will the next pope be black, Hispanic, American, a Jew? By Steven Waldman

Papal Chase - Will the next pope be black, Hispanic, American, a Jew? By Steven Waldman

An interesting article written a few years ago. The BBC also has an interesting piece.

And finally decision markets (i.e betting markets) may give us the best look at who will be next.

How awesome would it be to have a non priest pope? I guess it is legal. Won't happen, but possible.

My hope is someone from Latin America. My bet? A conservative from Europe and probably Italy :(.

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Animal laughs no joke says expert

Cats purr....how could that not be mentioned?

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Animal laughs no joke says expert

Feeling the Burn from Costly Gas

Feeling the Burn from Costly Gas

A pretty interesting article from Business Week that shows what different cars consume for gas in a year.

The Replacements (2000): Keanu Reeves, Gene Hackman, Brooke Langton, Orlando Jones - PopMatters Film Review

The Replacements (2000): Keanu Reeves, Gene Hackman, Brooke Langton, Orlando Jones - PopMatters Film Review

Yeah it is stupid and no one cares, but I have watched it at least 5 times and have loved it every time. Many funny parts (I just watched it muted and still laughed out loud many times) and a "feel good movie". If you haven't seen it, make a point to do so. It is on TV virtually every month.