'Knowing where the whales are at any time is critical to protect them,' NOAA said in a statement. "'inding an aggregation of whales can trigger a management action affording protection, such as slowing ship speeds in the vicinity of the whales.'
So, this finding, coupled with the government ruling, could hypothetically mean great things for the right whale. More
As we say goodbye to 2008 and look forward to 2009, we already have received the less-than-satisfying news that researchers think that 2009 will be one of the top five warmest years on record. So, you know, buy more tank tops.British Reuters (which is just like our Reuters but far more polite) reports that 2009 will most likely be the warmest year since 2005, even though global climate patterns suggest temperatures should be going the other way.
The average global temperature for 2009 is expected to be more than 0.4 degrees celsius above the long-term average, despite the continued cooling of huge areas of the Pacific Ocean, a phenomenon known as La Nina.
The article doesn't say exactly how warm researchers expect the earth to be, but let's see if we can't figure it out from some quotes in the text, but it looks to be somewhere around 14.4 degrees Celsius, while the long-term average is 14 degrees Celsius. More
Planning to be in Times Square tonight? Well, your New Years kiss could help a child in need. Procter & Gamble is making a donation to Operation Smile for every couple caught kissing on the Scope "Kiss Cam" in Times Square on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" hosted by Ryan Seacrest tonight on ABC. P&G also is launching an in-store program, called "See a Difference, Make a Difference," to support Operation Smile which raises money to treat childhood deformities such as cleft lip. takepart and learn more about Operation Smile at http://www.operationsmile.org.
New Years is a great time to think about the things that make our lives worth living. For me, one of those things is Muppets (which should come as no surprise to a regular reader of this blog, see HERE, HEREand HERE).
If you don't believe me that Muppets can make it worth it to wake up each day, watch the video below (and try not to smile) - which is not only appropriate for the holiday at hand, but also features one of my favorite Muppets.
And now that you feel better about life, takepart with the Jim Henson foundation!
Traffic Roundabouts are up to 30% more fuel efficient than stoplights according to a study by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. It all comes down to basic principles of hypermiling. If you're stopped and sitting around waiting for a light to turn from red to green, you're burning much more gas - and going nowhere while doing so - than the efficient traffic funneling system of a roundabout, at which you can move as soon as traffic is clear.
But what about those more timid drivers who seemto have a crisis of paralyzation every time they come upon a traffic circle you ask? Obviously they're not getting as good of gas mileage as they would if they just took the plunge into the circle (already), but the study took those drivers into account as well, which means even with the less adventurous gumming up the works, roundabouts are still saving fuel for all involved. More
One last movie list for 2008. This time I give a shout out to those films that I saw, loved but sadly did not get distributed in 2008 - so most people couldn't see them. If any of my Top 5 Undistributed Films of 2008 comes anywhere near you be sure to check them out - it may be your only chance and they are not to be missed.
Apparently, 24 City now was distribution for 2009(which is exciting news!) - but I am including it on the list anyways since I've been wanting to put it on a list since I started making them.
It is that good.
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1. 24 City (Jia Zhangke)
Here are my initial thoughts on 24 City after seeing it at the NYFF :
Officials at the Republican National Committee have signaled they will try to pass a resolution next month accusing George W. Bush of "embracing socialism". Top GOP members say they are fed up with the President's bailouts to Wall Street and Detroit, a betrayal of the party's core principles of laissez-faire capitalism.
With 2008 coming to a close, it is truly delightful to observe the Republican party in such a state of disarray. NRA approved guns have not only been turned inward, after the GOP's devastating losses in the November elections, but are now being discharged on rapid fire. Add to this an internal Red Scare, where the onetime champion of the Conservative Movement is being schizophrenically demonized as a Commie in an incredibly lame effort to distance these very same Republicans from the President they enthusiastically followed off a cliff. Disastrous policies have consequences, as these politicians and policy makers are quickly learning. However rather than own up to their failures, the GOP is apparently trying to pull a switcheroo on the public by claiming that it was somehow the man, and not the policies, that got us where we are today. I just hope Republicans keep up the infighting and these ridiculous stunts rather than do any soul searching that might get their organization back on track. These clowns deserve as much time in the political wilderness as possible, and stupid human tricks like the one described above will ensure a long exile from power in Washington. More
Around this time of the year many people start looking towards the stars and making predictions for the new year. I say that they should stop wasting their time and simply watch the video below. I was first introduced to this video by my good pal Lex and then today found that this video of the 1989 public-access TV phenomenon Harvey Sid Fisher, is also filmmaker Guy Maddin's favorite moving image moment of 2008.
Watch and be amazed (and informed!)
Thank you for that Harvey!
Also, speaking of my sign, Taurus, takepart to learn PETA's position on bulls, pit bulls that is.
Eating less processed food is something I'm always working at and depending on my stress level and my schedule, sometimes I make decent progress. However, after finally watching the documentary King Corn last night and with the new year upon us, I think a more concentrated effort is needed!
Processed food more or less is food that needs to be put together, food that is man made. It is full of high fructose corn syrup, something that I and the rest of the TakePart team don't like very much. Put simply, high fructose corn syrup is a man made sweetener made of corn that has no nutritional value and adds empty calories to everything that it is in. Processed foods also often contain hydrogenated oils, which like high fructose corn syrup, increase your chances of getting type II diabetes and often contribute to weight gain. Hydrogenated oils also increase your chances of heart disease.
With all of that (which I knew but hadn't confronted in quite awhile) it seems that knocking out processed food is the only way to go this New Years. Plus I bet if more folks took this on as their New Years resolution, they would also be taking care of another resolution most folks have - to lose weight.
takepart to contact the President of the Corn Refiners Association and let them know that you are against High Fructose Corn Syrup
Audrae Erickson - President - Corn Refiners Association - 1701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW - Washington, DC 20006-5806 - pressinquiry@corn.org and then takepart by going to the Eat Well Guide to see where you can find local, sustainable, food.
And also give a look to the trailer for King Corn below:
A couple months back, we told you that the government has decided to 
As we say goodbye to 2008 and look forward to 2009, we already have received the less-than-satisfying news that researchers think that 
Planning to be in Times Square tonight? Well, your New Years kiss could help a child in need. Procter & Gamble is making a donation to Operation Smile for every couple caught kissing on the Scope "Kiss Cam" in Times Square on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" hosted by Ryan Seacrest tonight on ABC. P&G also is launching an in-store program, called "See a Difference, Make a Difference," to support Operation Smile which raises money to treat childhood deformities such as cleft lip. 
Traffic Roundabouts are up to 30% more fuel efficient than stoplights according to a study by the 
