Uri's Blog Notes from 44.483N, -92.261W, planet Earth

A hero in my book.

Dispute over bird nest leads to gun play, arrest
Thursday, 08 July 2010
"An apartment resident, angered over a building caretaker's efforts to remove a bird's nest from an entry way, allegedly pointed a gun at the caretaker during a Wednesday morning incident in Forest Lake. The resident, a 60-year-old male, is now in the Washington County Jail in Stillwater awaiting formal charging for second-degree assault and terroristic threats, said Chief of Police Clark Quiring on Thursday.

Police were called to 956 SW 12th St. at 11:20 a.m. on Wednesday when the wife of the caretaker reported the incident. The caretaker, 68, was attempting to remove the nest when the building resident objected. When the caretaker continued with the task of taking down the nest, the resident went to his apartment and returned with a 45 caliber handgun. The man then allegedly ordered the caretaker to halt his work, the chief said. The caretaker complied, Quiring said, adding that the gun was allegedly pointed at the caretaker. When police arrived, the resident had returned to his apartment and was cooperative as he was placed under arrest, Quiring said. The weapon was also secured, the chief said."

Good for him. Someone has to stick up for our fellow creatures and try to defend them against the ignorant and the mean-spirited. I imagine that this man had been watching the nest all along, it brought him joy each day until this idiot came along to take it down. Too much bird poop around I suppose. Oh, can't have that!

Can-do attitude we need!

How refreshing to read an interview with a person who not only advocates a direct approach, but is smart, witty, and expresses himself beautifully. Puts me in mind of a certain bald starship captain. Engage!

Carl Safina tells it like it is.

Gulf oil disaster has very far-reaching repercussions for Earth's creatures. Watch renowned marine biologist Carl Safina on the BP oil spill’s ecological impact on the Gulf Coast and worldwide.

We need more like these two.

From Teddy “In His Own Words” HBO, it’s great!

Bill Moyers, a real journalist

Money-Driven Medicine by Maggie Mahar. An Investigation of the money-hungry medical industrial complex. Tune in Friday August 28 to BIll Moyers Journal on PBS for a film based on the book. Here's a link to his website.

More frank people like Barney, please

Watch the short video, it's worth it!

Michael Pollan on Julia Child

Michael Pollan's writings are dear to my heart, but dearer still is the personhood of Julia Child.  I highly recommend "My Life in France," and I can't wait to see Meryl Streep as the beloved Julia!  Here is an article by Mr. Pollan from today's NYTimes. Thanks for sending it, Ced.