Coffee and Provocation

Poverty at the Pump:
I now spend more than $60 to fill my tank. Sixty dollars!!! And YES, for those of you who are wondering, oil really has set a new inflation-adjusted price record. The old record of $39.50 a barrel, which was set in the 1980s, is $103.76 a barrel when adjusted for inflation. The current price of oil is $108.79 a barrel. Which brings me to the point of this post -- the question for each you to answer in your own way: Can we really afford, in dollar-and-cent terms, to elect a "Fossil Fool" like John McCain who opposes mandating improved vehicle fuel economy standards, and who says he would be happy to keep us in Iraq for 100 years, and who seems eager to get us into a war with Iran as well? Here's a thought: maybe its time for an economic plan that does not involve direct-depositing our paychecks with Exxon, and direct-depositing our children in the Middle East? I'm just saying. Give it a think, and then vote as you will.

Nothing to Fear:
As I have noted in the past, death by snake, bear, alligator, wolf, coyote, rabies, cougar, or terrorist is far less likely in America than death by bee sting or even whitetail deer. For those interested in assessing relative risk, check out this article on 10 Ways We Get the Odds Wrong.

How to Piss Off the Press and Politicians:
The press corps and our politicians have made a job description out of scaring the crap out of us about one thing or another. Fight back by wearing a Keep Calm and Carry On T-shirt which echoes the old British World War II poster. Always good advice, and now more than ever.

Invasive Species Lessons from Star Trek:
If you're looking to teach the kids a little about invasive species and population growth, I have good news: all of Star Trek seasons I, II and III are now online and in incredible resolution, including the greatest one ever: "The Trouble With Tribbles." Check it out.

East Coast Cougar Watch:
After the April Fools day post about a cougar kill in Kentucky, I got a nice note from Jack B. about the possibility of cougar in Maryland. It seems he found a possible track some years back near the Pretty Boy Reservoir, and there's no question that these pictures of possible cougar tracks in Maryland and Pennsylvania sure do look the part! I have no doubt that if cougars are not on the East Coast already, they are coming in the not-too-distant future. In Virginia, they did a two-year camera trap study in the Monongahela National Forest, and came up blank , but they may have discovered a red wolf pack none-the-less (see link), so that tells you something. We don't know everything that is out there, and there's no shortage of wild lands or deer for a large predator to eat, eh? In any case, I think it's only a matter of time before a trail camera reveals that cougars are out there.

Camera Trap Pachyderm:
In Pench National Park in Madhya Pradesh, India, they've trained elephants to carry around camera traps encased in logs. The result is a collection of photos that a fixed game trail camera might not have gotten: tiger cubs, wild dogs, playful leopards and the like.

Achondroplastic Love?
Some people love achondroplastic dog breeds, never mind the health consequences of this genetic disorder. Achondroplasia occasionally occurs in the human population as well, and now it seems a young achondroplastic woman (age 14) in India may hold claim to being the smallest person in the world. She stands under-two-feet-tall and weighs 11 pounds, which makes her about the size of a working Jack Russell Terrier. Though I am not a match-maker, it occurs to me that this young lady might want to strike up a meeting with Romeo Dev, the world's smallest body builder, age 19, as they both live in the same country. He's a bit tall for her, but I suspect that's true of nearly everyone.

Online Dating for the Daring:
As previously noted, I am not a match-maker. That said, if you are a lonely man leading a very boring life I recommend two dating web sites that are sure to add real excitement and suspense to your love life. Here's the first, and here's the second. Have fun!

Enormous Man Clams:
No, not "man hands" -- that's what Ann Coulter has. I said Man Clams. Geoducks. Or "Goo-ey Ducks" if you prefer. These are the kind of things that got Euell Gibbons leaping to his cooking pots (God bless him, may he rest in peace). Man Clams. And believe it or not, they can live to be 146 years old. Wow. Check 'em out.

Food for Thought:
Check out this photo essay on What the World Eats, with shots of one-week's worth of food for the average family in Japan, Italy, Germany, the U.S., Mexico, Poland, Egypt, Ecuador, Great Britain, China, Bhutan, Kuwait, Mongolia, Ecuador and Chad. Note the near-absence of fruit and vegetables in the American diet, as compared to nearly everywhere else in the world.

More Food for Thought:
I am not a "foodie, but I strongly recommend Omnivore's Dilemma for those who have not yet read it. I have just finished Michael Pollan's latest book, In Defense of Food, and though it is not as good as the previous tome, it is a practical book in that it gives you very simple instructions on how to shop at the grocery store in order to stay slimmer and healthier. Worth the price.

"Yes, We Have 'Coon"
Best. Sign. Ever. From St. Louis. Check it out. The "visit the pet shop outside" sign gives pause, however.

Time to say Absolutely NO:
This is the advertisement that the fools at Absolut Vodka ran in Mexico. They apparently though it was clever. I say it's time we all changed brands. There are a lot of vodka makers in the world; let's help this one slip into insolvency, eh?

Bible Lesson of the Day:
The Bible lesson of the day is to never mess with a bald guy. We have bears. Two of them.
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