When it comes to the state of Florida, there is really nothing more anyone can ask for when it comes to having fun. One great thing about Florida is that no matter where you are anywhere in the state, you are never more than an hour and a half a way from the ocean. Not many places in the world can brag about that unless they are a small island.

Florida has a land mass of 58,560 square miles, and with in this tropical paradise lies cities with rich cultural heritages. Each city will oblige any person with something that picks at their interests.

Miami is a city that is starting to looks like a new Manhattan island. Miami is currently undergoing a major building hike with over 80 high rise towers under construction, including the Biscayne Wall skyscrapers, like Ten Museum Park, Marina blue, Marquis, 900 Biscayne Bay, Everglades on the Bay and Freedom Square. Near Miami is the famous Miami Beach where millions each year swim and partake in the clear water.

The Florida Keys are 15 miles south of Miami and extend in an arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West. They compose of about 1700 islands and contain one of the longest bridges, The Seven Mile Bridge, which can be seen in modern movies action scenes like True Lies. Tourists can go to Key West and mingle with locals, shop at stores, and feast on local restaurants like Key West Historic Seaport at the Key West Bight.

One of Florida’s main hotspots is, of course, Orlando. It’s full of amusement parks for which adults and kids can have an equal amount of enjoyment. Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and Sea World all call Orlando home. Although Orlando is widely known for its abundance of tourist attractions, downtown Orlando is undergoing major redevelopment with a number of residential and commercial towers. There are also plans to build a brand new performing arts center, Orlando Arena, and improve the Florida Citrus Bowl.

Most of southern Florida contains nearly a million and a half acres of massive grass and water covered surface that is about 60 by 120 miles in size. This area is called The Florida Everglades National Park. The waterways are inhabited by otters, manatees, alligators and crocodiles. The park is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles coexist naturally.

Giving visitors nearly endless amounts of fun, Florida is a great place to visit and an amazing place to call home. With a ride to outer space at The Kennedy Space Center, or taking a safari through the Florida Everglades, Florida can easily be called one of the best spots on planet Earth.

Josh Gates - Host of Destination Truth. Photo copyright of The Syfy Channel

IN this week’s episode of Destination Truth - King Tut’s Curse/Swamp Ape - Josh and his team head to Egypt where they set out to make history as one of the only production crews in the world permitted to investigate inside King Tut’s tomb at night. The dangerous expedition has led to the untimely deaths of many who attempted it in the decades since the tomb’s discovery, and conditions prove to be no easier for the Destination Truth crew, who must battle illnesses and a sandstorm before collecting evidence of the paranormal in the sinister depths of the famed sepulcher. The crew then embarks on another unprecedented journey for the show’s first-ever U.S.-based investigation: the search for a swamp ape living in the Florida Everglades. King Tut’s Curse/Swamp Ape airs Wednesday, September 23rd @ 10 p.m. EST on The Syfy Channel.

Click on the following link to view a clip from this episode – https://rcpt.yousendit.com/741268429/90a622511bb131ddc33944335b127672

As noted above, photo is copyright of The Syfy Channel, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Atlanta – In an case of real life imitating Hollywood, the US scientific community is increasingly concerned that two nonnative python breeds currently slithering free in south Florida could morph into a giant man-eating swamp coil.

The African rock python is a known man-eater … and recently five of them were captured near an Everglades already infested with the Burmese variety. This spells big trouble if the two species get together and reproduce.

IMAGE: MrClean1982 on Flickr took this interesting and humorous shot of an American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) from the Florida Everglades.

BREAK
A master agreement has been reached between the South Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that puts the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan back on track. From MiamiHerald.com:

The “master agreement” details how the South Florida Water Management District and the Army Corps of Engineers will share costs and duties for 68 projects Congress approved in 2000 to restore the natural flow of the River of Grass.

Both sides hailed the agreement — reached when the Obama administration relented in a dispute over land values likely to shift as much as a half-billion dollars onto the federal ledger — as a breakthrough that should move restoration from talk to action.

.       .       .

Terrence “Rock” Salt, a deputy assistant secretary of the Army who oversees the Corps, said construction could begin within months, starting with reclamation of 55,000 acres in the Picayune Strand, site of a Southwest Florida development that flopped decades ago. The Corps has $41 million in stimulus funding for that job.

.       .       .

Over the next two years, the Obama administration has budgeted or is seeking congressional approval for almost a half-billion dollars to begin restoration projects, including ones to restore freshwater flows to Biscayne Bay coastal wetlands, overhaul the C-111 canal to keep more water in Everglades National Park and build a reservoir to bolster Broward County’s water supply and limit seepage from adjacent Everglades marshes.

Down the road, the agreement also could potentially open the door for federal help to complete Gov. Charlie Crist’s controversial $536 million deal to buy 73,000 acres from the U.S. Sugar Corp. and convert them to massive reservoirs and pollution-treatment marshes.

Meanwhile, Florida’s Burmese python problem continues to grow bigger and bigger—literally. From MiamiHerald.com:

Staff at the Okeechobee Veterinary Hospital routinely handle large animals. Along with pet dogs and cats, they treat hogs, horses, cows and bulls.

But the enormous critter that slithered uninvited onto the hospital grounds Thursday stunned everyone. It turned out to be one of the biggest Burmese pythons found roaming free in Florida.

The constrictor stretched 17 feet, two inches and measured 26 inches around at its thickest point. It weighed in at a staggering 207 pounds — four pounds more than the Miami Dolphins’ brawny No. 1 draft pick, Vontae Davis.

.       .       .

Florida wildlife managers pointed to the find as the latest, and largest, evidence that the exotic snake, which has settled into the Everglades, is spreading across the state.

“The capture of this large python shows us how well these snakes can thrive in the wild and create a dangerous situation after illegal release or escape,” said Rodney Barreto, chairman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. “It also illustrates why the FWC is partnering with other agencies to implement python control measures in South Florida.”

Two weeks ago, the FWC began an experimental permit program that allows reptile experts to euthanize Burmese pythons on state-managed lands around the Everglades, where the population is now estimated to number in the tens of thousands.

But the python patrol didn’t bag the giant snake that made its way onto the hospital’s 20-acre compound.

.       .       .

Wildlife officers scanned for a microchip, required for pets under state law since 2007, but found nothing.

The images below show a Burmese python that was caught and killed by a South Florida Water Management District employee. The female python measured 16.2′ in total length and weighed 117-pounds with 59 large oviductal eggs, which were all fertile. The Burmese python images are credited to Skip Snow/Everglades National Park.

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Photo source for attribution. The author or licensor of this image does not endorse my work or me and their image is protected under an attribution license.

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To test the theory of whether “after several generations, [Burmese pythons] could eventually migrate to and flourish in as much as a third of the continental United States,” the Savannah River Ecology Lab in South Carolina is conducting a study to determine whether Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) can survive further north.

Currently, these massive constrictors have established a breeding population within the Florida Everglades—which is expected to spread northwards—and this invasion has been blamed on the pet trade. Burmese pythons grow very large, so their prey can be large, but younger snakes feed on smaller animals. As a result, the impact on Florida’s ecosystems is systemic.

At the moment, a bill is in the works to control destructive non-native species kept as pets. Recently, “a Florida toddler was strangled on Wednesday by a 12-foot (3.6-meter) albino Burmese python that escaped from a holding tank in the girl’s home.” From the Richmond Times Dispatch:

Water managers dispatched two experts to Washington recently to back a bill targeting an Everglades problem that seems to get bigger every year. The latest, largest evidence emerged in mid-May: a Burmese python stretching 16½ feet.

It is the longest yet of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of the exotic constrictors the South Florida Water Management District has pulled off its lands and levees in the past few years. More sobering: The female was pregnant, carrying a clutch of 59 eggs — more proof the giant snakes are breeding in the wild.

“These are not little snakes running around. These are massive, dangerous animals,” said district spokesman Randy Smith.

.       .       .

But at its first hearing in April, the bill ran into what a co-sponsor quipped was a “hornet’s nest of opposition” from pet owners, breeders, hobbyists and pet stores. They expressed outrage to lawmakers in telephone calls, e-mails and YouTube videos — including one titled “Pets in Peril, Politicians Gone Wild” — arguing that the legislation would bar the ownership of anything more exotic than a Doberman or a Siamese cat.

“One-third of our nation has non-native species as pets, and apart from dogs, cats and goldfish, which are exempt [in the bill], virtually every species in those homes falls under” the legislation, said Marshall Meyers, CEO of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council. The bill “could shut down major segments of the pet industry virtually overnight.”

Proponents, including a coalition of 15 major environmental organizations such as the National Audubon Society and the National Wildlife Federation, call the fears unjustified. They say the bill targets only species that pose a threat.

Still, some suggest the language in the bill is vague.

“There were some legitimate concerns, no one doubts that,” said Peter Jenkins, director of international conservation at Defenders of Wildlife. He notes that pet owners were alarmed when some animals — ferrets, gerbils, guinea pigs and others — weren’t named as species that would be exempt from the bill.

.       .       .

Biologists argue that more than 400 of the 1,300 species on the endangered-species list are at risk primarily because they compete with — or are targets of — invasive species.

As one of the largest snakes in the world, sometimes topping 20 feet, pythons potentially could challenge the natural dominant predators of the Everglades or other wild places — a concern illustrated in 2005 by the now-famous photos of a 13-foot python that exploded after swallowing a 6-foot alligator.

Water district spokesman Smith said the impact is obvious along the L-67 levee.

“You won’t find a rabbit down there anymore,” he said. “That’s the most noticeable effect. It [the snake] doesn’t seem to have any predators, and it preys on native wildlife.”

Image Found Here

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Politics and snakes were two of the main topics on Tuesday’s 360.  Some people would argue that there is no difference between the two. 

Let’s start with the fifteen minutes Anderson spent on discussing the issues surrounding the important topic of torture.  Although Anderson called it “breaking news,’ the subject of the torture memos has been in the news since they were released last Thursday (April 16).  However, there have been a few new developments.

Anderson discussed these developments with CNN Senior White House correspondent Ed Henry. 

The most controversial being what Anderson called a “change of face” by Obama on whether or not to prosecute Bush officials for approving harsh interrogation methods that the Obama administration considers “torture.”

OBAMA:  With respect to those who formulated those legal decisions, I would say that that is going to be more of a decision for the attorney general within the parameters of various laws, and I don’t want to prejudge that.

In my opinion, this is just another example of Obama pushing the responsibility for his flip-flopping onto someone else, in this case Attorney General Eric Holder.  This was just 24 hours after White House press secretary Robert Gibbs and chief of staff Rahm Emanuel said that the president didn’t want prosecution.

What was it that Obama said in Prague on April 5th?  Oh yeah:

OBAMA:  Words mean something.

I guess he had a “change of face” about that as well.

There is speculation that Obama was pressured by senate intelligence chair Dianne Feinstein and by a petition circulated by liberal group moveon.org demanding that Attorney General Holder appoint a special prosecutor.

The second development had to do with seemingly conflicting memos by National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair.  As Henry reported, last Thursday, after the release of the torture memos by the White House, Admiral Blair sent a private memo to intelligence employees which said that ” High value information came from interrogation in which those methods were used and provided a deeper understanding of the al Qaeda organization that was attacking this country,” but in a public statement released later that same day, the admiral seemed to backpedal on what he had said, omitting that portion of the memo replacing it with the following:

“The information gained from these techniques was valuable in some instances, but ther is no way of knowing whether the same information could have been obtained through other means.”

However, Wendy Morigi, spokesperson for Blair told Henry that “Director Blair does believe that high-value information was obtained from these interrogations, but he believes more damage was done to America by the fact that there was alleged torture going on.  That at the end of the day, the price the U.S. paid in terms of image, in terms of recruitment, outweighed any benefits that may have come from these interrogations.”

In my opinion, that is quite a difference from what Blair originally said.  If that was truly what he meant why didn’t he say so in the first place?

Former Vice-President Dick Cheney has charged that the White House is withholding other memos that would support finding that torture tactics did work.

Henry said that the White House would not confirm whether or not these memos exist and he opined as to why they will not be releasing anymore memos in the near future:

HENRY:  Because A, it might not help their point of view. But B, they’re also very happy when you talk to administration advisers in private to have a battle with Vice President Cheney drag out.  It’s much better for them politically to be fighting with an unpopular former vice-president than to be battling out with fellow Democrats on the left who are upset with some of the president’s policies. 

The fireworks began during the panel discussion with Paul Begala and Ari Fleischer.

COOPER:  Ari, you said, it’s basically opening up a Pandora’s box for the president, leaving — leaving the door open to a possible prosecution.

How is that opening a Pandora’s box?

FLEISCHER:  Well, number one, we didn’t release any Clinton memos.  Clinton didn’t release any previous President Bush top-secret memos.  The problem that I have with all of this is, now that the White House is doing this to its predecessor, what will future White Houses do, depending on how the world turns under Barack Obama?

Something will go wrong during Barack Obama’s presidency.  Do you really want to be in a position where whoever follows him says, it was your fault; you must have done something; there’s this top-secret memo we will find somewhere that makes you look or sound culpable?

Fleischer makes a good point here.  Do we want all future presidents second guessing all of their decisions because they are worried that they may be brought up on charges by future administrations?

Of course Obama lap dog Paul Begala tried to excuse Obama from any and all responsibility for releasing the memos:

BEGALA:  Well, first up, the president was compelled to release them by a lawsuit, a lawsuit that his lawyers, the Justice Department and the White House counsel, decided they could not successfully defend.

We have a Freedom of Information Act, I know it’s — it’s an adjustment, but we now have a White House that lives under the rule of law and obeys the laws.

Oh really?  I guess Begala forgot about all those tax cheats that Obama appointed to his administration.

The discussion was not without its legitimate moments:

COOPER:  They destroyed the videotapes of two people being tortured, water-boarded, more than 100 times.

FLEISCHER:  I think that’s a fair question.  And I think the CIA destroys a lot of things.  They — they typically like to destroy as much things as they can.  That’s a matter of procedure at the CIA, not only on this, but on a host of…

In my opinion, that is unacceptable.  This type of information should never be destroyed and it should be a crime when it is.

Anderson asked both guests if torture can be justified if it is proven that is works, both guests said that it was not.  However, I wonder if Anderson, Begala, or Fleischer would have the same opinion if the life of one of their loved ones was on the line? 

Fleischer made another good point about the prosecutions:

FLEISCHER: And, Anderson, that’s why I said the only people who are in a position to make an authorative judgment on it (torture) should be career, independent-minded people at the Department of Justice, without anybody at the White House interfering or anybody else interfering…

And then, if they decide it was, then they have got a very careful decision to make about how far and extensive do you prosecute people.

Is it the people who did it?  Is it the Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill who were briefed on it and didn’t object to it?  And who in the administration would you have to apply the standard to?

It is very curious that Obama has decided to consider prosecuting those at the level that would probably not include any Democrats.  

Anderson’s behavior during this discussion was combative and highly unprofessional.  He was hostile towards Fleischer and interrupted him repeatedly, often to allow Begala to make his point and to prevent Fleischer from making his.  

Anderson literally choked on his own words when he said this to the viewers after this shameful display:

COOPER:  We’re trying to present multiple sides on this, so you can make up your own mind at home, what you believe.

Speaking of forked tongues…

John Zarrella reported about a problem residents of South Florida are having with Burmese Pythons.  Apparently people have been dumping their unwanted pet snakes into the Everglades and they have been mating in the wild.  Twenty years ago they did not exist in this area, but now there are an estimated 30,000 pythons flourishing there now. These snakes can grow to be 12 feet long and as much as 200 pounds.

They are traveling out of the Everglades in all directions and as Zarrella reports, ”Wildlife biologists are concerned they’ll devour pets and endangered species, or worse, menace small children.”  With no natural enemies in the area, the only way to control them is to catch them and kill them.

Zarrella did some snake wrangling himself during this report…

…and Anderson, a real “snake charmer,”  played with his own snake back at the NY studio!

When it comes to the state of Florida, there is really nothing more anyone can ask for when it comes to having fun. One great thing about Florida is that no matter where you are anywhere in the state, you are never more than an hour and a half a way from the ocean. Not many places in the world can brag about that unless they are a small island.

Florida has a land mass of 58,560 square miles, and with in this tropical paradise lies cities with rich cultural heritages. Each city will oblige any person with something that picks at their interests.

Miami is a city that is starting to looks like a new Manhattan island. Miami is currently undergoing a major building hike with over 80 high rise towers under construction, including the Biscayne Wall skyscrapers, like Ten Museum Park, Marina blue, Marquis, 900 Biscayne Bay, Everglades on the Bay and Freedom Square. Near Miami is the famous Miami Beach where millions each year swim and partake in the clear water.

The Florida Keys are 15 miles south of Miami and extend in an arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West. They compose of about 1700 islands and contain one of the longest bridges, The Seven Mile Bridge, which can be seen in modern movies action scenes like True Lies. Tourists can go to Key West and mingle with locals, shop at stores, and feast on local restaurants like Key West Historic Seaport at the Key West Bight.

One of Florida’s main hotspots is, of course, Orlando. It’s full of amusement parks for which adults and kids can have an equal amount of enjoyment. Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and Sea World all call Orlando home. Although Orlando is widely known for its abundance of tourist attractions, downtown Orlando is undergoing major redevelopment with a number of residential and commercial towers. There are also plans to build a brand new performing arts center, Orlando Arena, and improve the Florida Citrus Bowl.

Most of southern Florida contains nearly a million and a half acres of massive grass and water covered surface that is about 60 by 120 miles in size. This area is called The Florida Everglades National Park. The waterways are inhabited by otters, manatees, alligators and crocodiles. The park is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles coexist naturally.

Giving visitors nearly endless amounts of fun, Florida is a great place to visit and an amazing place to call home. With a ride to outer space at The Kennedy Space Center, or taking a safari through the Florida Everglades, Florida can easily be called one of the best spots on planet Earth.

Si es la primera vez que viene a Orlando o es un visitante recurrente, esta lista seguramente le dará algunas ideas de que hacer en Orlando en el 2009. Para más información, llame al  Official Visitor Center tel.t 407-363-5872 y hable con un Consejero Oficial de Viajes. O venga en persona. El Centro Oficial de Visitantes (en íngles The Official Visitor Center) estaconvenientemente ubicado en 8723 International Drive en la esquina sureste de International Drive y Austrian Row.

1.      Nade con una ballena beluga en SeaWorld Orlando.

2.      Sientese encima de un lagarto de verdad en Gatorland.

3.      Aprenda a surfear sin ir a la playa en Ron Jon’s Surfpark,.

4.      Pedalee en un bote cisne en el Lago Eola.

5.      Huela las rosas en Harry P. Leu Gardens.

6.      Tire una línea para pescar róbalo acompañado de un guía.

7.      Maravillese con los cristales Tiffany en el  Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art.

8.      Encuentre al Jefe Indígena Osceola en el mural de Celebration Hotel.

9.      Toque una raya en SeaWorld Orlando.

10.  Experimente la vida nocturna en el centro de Orlando.

11.  Cuente los manatís en Blue Spring State Park.

12.  Haga carreras en go-karts en Fun Spot Action Park.

13.  Explore las aguas de los Florida Everglades en botes de ventilador en Orlando.

14.  Maneje un carro modificado a 125 mph (201 km/h) en Richard Petty Driving Experience.

15.  Viaje por el mundo en menos de una milla en Epcot.

16.  Observa las ballenas en Port Canaveral.

17.  Cene en el más grande Hard Rock Cafe.

18.  Vea las estrellas desde el telescopio más grande en Florida en el ,Orlando Science Center.

19.  Deguste un Hawaiian fusion en Roy’s Restaurant.

20.  Pasee en bote de palas abordo del Indian River Queen.

21.  Dese gusto comprando “algo para usted” en Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Jimmy Choo o Coach en The Mall at Millenia.

22.  Sienta las fuerzas extremas de una montaña rusa en Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

23.  Nade con los delfines en Discovery Cove.

24.  Juegue golf en el mismo campo de golf donde juega Tiger Woods.

25.  Diseñe y pasee en su propia montaña rusa en WonderWorks y DisneyQuest.

26.  Haz tu propio osito de peluche en el The Florida Mall.

27.  Disfrute de la música de las nuevas bandas en el Florida Music Festival.

28.  Vea lo extraño y raro de Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Orlando Odditorium.

29.  Juega mini brilla en los oscuro golf  en Putting Edge en el Festival Bay Mall.

30.  Aprende a esquiar en agua en Orlando Watersports Complex or Lake Buena Vista Water Sports.

31.  Vea antigüedades en Orange Avenue y en Mount Dora.

32.  Surfee en Wet ‘n Wild Orlando o Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park.

33.  Vea a la Biblia cobrar vida en WordSpring Discovery Center y The Holy Land Experience.

34.  Descubra grandes descuentos en mercados de pulgas.

35.  Apueste en aguas internacionales en las lineas navieras Sterling Casino y SunCruz Casino.

36.  Toque en la casa abierta de Bob Marley’.

37.  Capture la gracia de la danza en una producción del Orlando Ballet.

38.  Sea un pirata por un día abordo de una gigante galeon en interiores en Pirate’s Dinner Adventure.

39.  Tome una clase de arte en Crealdé School of Art o Maitland Art Center.

40.  Pruebe algunos de los 150 vinos que se vende por onza en maquinas dispensadoras en The Wine Room en Winter Park.

41.  Reviva la historia de la Guerra de los Indios Seminoles en Fort Christmas.

42.  Juegue en nieve en Christmastime en Celebration.

43.  Sea rescatado por Arnold Schwarzenegger en Terminator 2: 3D.

44.  Visite el distrito de compras en Park Avenue en Winter Park.

45.  Vea los mejor en golf en los eventos de el PGA Tour y LPGA Tour.

46.  Pedale por la acera en Disney’s Boardwalk.

47.  Recoja naranjas en los arboles.

48.  Vuele gentilmente por primera vez en hang glider en Wallaby Ranch Hang Gliding Flight Park.

49.  Luche contra villanos de revistas comicas con el Hombre Araña en Universal Orlando Resort.

50.  Saboree su martini especial en el bar Blue Martini.

Si busca espaciosas villas a precios accesibles y cerca de sus parques tematicos favoritos durante su vacación en Orlando, le recomiendo visitar  http://espanol.orlando-florida.net/ para mayor información de las propiedades de Westgate Resorts, incluyendo Westgate Blue Tree Resort, Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa, Westgate Leisure Resort, Westgate Palace, Westgate Towers, Westgate Town Center y Westgate Vacation Villas.

  Orlando, Florida Guide, la guía más completa en línea de Orlando, le ofrece información de tiquetes a Disney World, tiquetes a Universal Orlando, ytiquetes a SeaWorld Orlando.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – After an altercation with police Monday night, the half-man half-alligator mutant Manigator has been banned from Tuesday’s Mardi Gras celebrations.

Police were called in Monday when Manigator became belligerent, disputing the results of a Wet T-Shirt contest.  When authorities arrived the clearly inebriated cryptid was standing on the bar shouting, “Those judges were in the tank, ‘n I declare a mistrial!”  Witnesses saw him be carried into the back of a cruiser still slurring loudly, “I demands a recount!  S’in the Consi’tushun!  Recount!”

In court this morning a judge ordered Manigator be banned from all celebrations, and will remain in a jail cell until Thursday.

Native to the Florida Everglades, Manigator visits Mardi Gras religiously. Due to his imprisonment, this will mark the first year since he was discovered that the mutant will not be arrested during the festivities.

Over the years, Manigator has been taken into custody for outstanding drunkenness and public indecency, harassing tourists, having an unregistered float in the parade (him on a red wagon), holding unlicensed séances for tourists, throwing a ‘pre-game cockfight’ which failed due to using hens, and stealing bead necklaces off of children.

When the judge asked Manigator if he had any final words before sentence was carried out, he said “Yer ‘Oner, I hold true to mah beliefs: number six should have won it and fer that blonde girl to get all the money is a miscarriage of justice.”

Court was closed and sentence carried out.  Upon leaving Manigator said he will be contacting the ACLU and the United Cryptid Defense Fund to file an appeal.

Invasive tropical fish spreading through the Everglades has been characterized as “10 times worse than the python [invasion], but it’s all under water, so nobody knows about it.”

During July 2008, “residents in a Pinellas County [Florida] subdivision found about 30 [walking] catfish” migrating to and from various waterways in their neighborhood:

Walking catfish use storm drains to migrate:

Walking catfish “swarm” an apartment complex:

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Invasive tropical fish spreading through the Everglades has been characterized as “10 times worse than the python [invasion], but it’s all under water, so nobody knows about it.”

Burmese pythons continue to reproduce and spread into suitable habitat throughout Florida, and the invasive population can continue to spread into suitable habitat further north outside of the sunny state—especially if climate change continues to increase northern temperatures (e.g., the plant hardiness zone map has shifted as northern temperatures warm; for example, “the Southern magnolia, once limited largely to growing zones ranging from Florida to Virginia, now can thrive as far north as Pennsylvania. Or that kiwis, long hardy only as far north as Oklahoma, now might give fruit in St. Louis.”)

Certainly, public education and awareness, in addition to new regulations are needed. Recently in California, “a 23-foot, 130-pound python was on the loose in a San Luis Obispo residential neighborhood for hours before the county sheriff’s search-and-rescue team located it sunbathing in a nearby backyard.” In Florida, the problem has become so serious that trained volunteers are needed to capture reptiles that are slithering out of the Everglades into residential areas. In order to learn how to capture the reptiles, which can inflict a painful bite, “a dozen mostly fearless students last week learned how to capture the enormous natives of Southeast Asia that have begun invading the Florida Keys.”

Furthermore, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) wants to “block sales to inexperienced pet owners, who in many cases have either released the snakes or let them escape when the creatures grew too large,” because the snakes are blamed for disrupting the already damaged Everglades ecosystem by competing with alligators and devouring endangered species. Certainly, snakes are efficient hunters, and it isn’t just the large snakes eating large prey that should be of concern, since juvenile pythons certainly have an impact on small animal populations. Increased conflicts between humans and the gigantic snakes will be another obvious problem too. At least these Burmese pythons don’t grow as large as some extinct “constrictors, [that weighed] more than a ton and [measured] 42 feet long.”

More on this topic from The Conservation Report:

1. INVASIVE SPECIES: 12-foot Burmese python found in Florida
2. INVASIVE SPECIES: Burmese pythons, an invasive species in south Florida, could spread to one third of United States
3. INVASIVE SPECIES: Invasive Burmese pythons spreading rapidly across Florida and populations could spread northwards into suitable climates

On the Net:

1. Everglades Burmese Python Project
2. USGS Maps Show Potential Non-Native Python Habitat Along Three U.S. Coasts
3. USGS Maps Show Potential Non Native Python Habitat Along 3 US Coasts
4. Python Invasion of U.S. Unlikely, New Study Says
5. Invasive Pythons Squeezing Florida Everglades

Image Found Here

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Environmental News Picks presents a summary of news regarding the environment, conservation, science, politics, and other interesting subject matter. The Conservation Report does not endorse any content found in these news picks, but the information is provided to put readers on notice of the various different beliefs and viewpoints. Comments, corrections, and suggestions are very much welcomed. Send your news tips and picks: .

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BIOFUELS: Biofuel Plantations on Tropical Forestlands Are Bad for the Climate and Biodiversity, Study Finds

BIODIESEL: Multitasking canola: A California miracle crop?

BIODIVERSITY: Antarctica Has More Species Than Galapagos, First Comprehensive Inventory Of Antarctic Life Shows

BIRDS: Iceland Puffin Threatened, Developing Oil from Canadian Tar Sands Could Kill 160 Million Migratory Birds by 2038

CAPE WIND: Ted Kennedy Rebuffed: Mass. Wind Farm OKed, Wind Farm decision delayed again

CLIMATE CHANGE: Can the Climate Survive the Financial Crisis?: Just as the world gathers in Poland to come up with a new climate treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol, the global financial meltdown threatens to torpedo the effort. But could a world recession actually help the climate?, Climate change experts ‘lose faith’ in renewable technology: Specialists less optimistic that wind, solar and hydro power have ‘high potential’ to solve climate crisis, survey shows, European Butterflies Threatened by Climate Change

COAL: Saboteur breezes in to shut 500MW turbine; Act single-handedly cuts UK carbon output by 2%, Oops…There’s Fly-Ash In The Clean Coal Ointment

CONSERVATION: 2009: ‘Year of the Gorilla’

CONSUMERISM: A Saner Cyber Monday

CORAL REEFS: New Deep-Sea Reefs Found With Sonar

CROSSBREEDING: The quagga, a zebra subspecies that is only partly striped, has been crossbred back into existence after a hundred years of extinction, scientists say.

ECO-FRIENDLY GIFTS: FSC-Certified Holiday Gift Guide

ECO-MYTH: Five Dire Green Myths Causing the Greatest Global Harm

ECOSYSTEM HEALTH: Biologists find new environmental threat in North American lakes

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Tesla Motors Getting Some Cash, Germany Wants One Million Electric Cars on the Road by 2020, California To Become The Electric Vehicle Capital of the US, 4,000 Electric Vehicles To Be Leased by US Army

ENDANGERED SPECIES: Cheetah joins UN’s endangered species list, Study: California fish face extinction, Rare Lions Bred Successfully

ENERGY: Whole Foods’ canola oil isn’t just for cooking: It makes electricity, too: Reuse plan will power commissary that supplies 43 stores

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: Lawyers call for international court for the environment: A former chairman of the Bar Council is calling for an international court for the environment to punish states that fail to protect wildlife and prevent climate change.

EPA: Activists slam EPA decision on mining rule change

EVERGLADES: Opponents Mount Last Stand on Everglades Plan: Proposed $1.3 Billion Land Sale Unites Environmentalists and U.S. Sugar Executives, but Critics Allege It’s a Sweetheart Deal

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE: No electricity? Island now energy independent

EVOLUTION: Move Over, Christianists, A chart showing public acceptance of evolution in 34 countries, Bracing for Islamic Creationism

FISHERIES: EU faces battle over fish quotas: EU fisheries ministers have begun an annual round of talks to decide the quantities of fish which can be caught from Europe’s seas in 2009., Fishing leaders warn of difficult EU quota carve-up, EU argue for greater access to Irish fish, Brussels annual fish haggle begins

FUEL SPILL: Antarctic Cruise Ship Runs Aground; Oil Leak Spreading?

GLOBAL WARMING: Global warming is changing organic matter in soil, Turtle Egg-Laying Season Thrown Off by Warming

GREEN CONSTRUCTION: Strong, lightweight green material could replace concrete, but contains no cement

GREEN POLICY: ‘Now Is the Time for a Green New Deal’: With the world gathered in Poznan, Poland to work out a successor deal to the Kyoto Protocol, UN Environment Program Director Achim Steiner spoke with SPIEGEL ONLINE about sustainable transportation and the failures of the auto industry.

HIV/AIDS: Getting high on HIV drugs in S Africa: Anti-retroviral drugs used to treat HIV/Aids are being bought and smoked by teenagers in South Africa to get high., Discovery of virus in lemur could shed light on AIDS

INVASIVE SPECIES: Super-Ant Taking Over Europe, Invading Starfish Plague Reefs, Arthritis ‘killing’ Australia’s cane toads: It seems a bad back might be the only thing that can stop the relentless spread of Australia’s poisonous cane toads, which are killing native animals as they hop across the nation, researchers say.

LEGAL NEWS: Colo. man charged with libel over Craigslist posts

LOBBYING: Green Is the New Color of Lobbying: Makers of Energy-Saving Products See Opportunities in Big Stimulus Bill

MARINE MAMMALS: Whale song drowned by humans, Canada Ignores Rescue Option, Kills 500 Endangered Narwhals: The Canadian government opted last week to allow the killing 500 narwhals trapped beneath ice rather than calling in icebreakers to free the animals, claiming the process would have been too stressful for the whales.

MARINE MAMMAL STRANDINGS: Mass stranding: All whales found dead

MEDICINE: ‘Injectable bone’ helps fractures: A material that can be squirted into broken bones, where it hardens within minutes, has been developed by UK scientists.

NEW SPECIES: Green-blood and turquoise bones. Very unusual new species of frog discovered in Cambodia, New Bizarre Monkey Group Found, Thousands of New Species Discovered on Tiny Island

RECOMMENDED IMAGE: Our Atmosphere

RECOMMENDED WEBSITE: Earth View

RECOVERING SPECIES: Giant Prehistoric Fish Rebounding in Canada

RECYCLING: Recycling Manure Safely To Avoid Polluting Rivers and Streams: Researchers at North Wyke Research, and Lancaster and Exeter universities, have come up with an advice system to help farmers recycle manure safely and avoid polluting watercourses., Should we recycle urine on Earth, too?

RENEWABLE ENERGY: Race for Scotland’s $15 Million Marine Energy Prize Begins

OBAMA: Obama’s Science Team: 4 Top Members Named, Steven Chu: ‘Coal is My Worst Nightmare’, More on the case for Steven Chu at energy

POACHING: Poaching May Erase Elephants From Chad Wildlife Park

POVERTY: The Infuriating New Face Of Poverty

PUBLIC LANDS: Conservation Coalition Protests Utah BLM Lease Auction: 100,000 Acres of Public Land for Oil and Gas Development

SCIENCE: Scientists film inner workings of the immune system: Forget what’s number one at the box office this week. The most exciting new film features the intricate workings of the body, filmed by scientists using ground-breaking technology.

SHARKS: Shark pregnancy baffles aquarium, ‘Virgin Birth’ By Shark Confirmed: Second Case Ever: Scientists have confirmed the second-ever case of a “virgin birth” in a shark, indicating once again that female sharks can reproduce without mating and raising the possibility that many female sharks have this incredible capacity.

SOLAR: World’s most efficient solar cells created, Near Barcelona, Spain, a large solar power plant is in an unlikely location: a cemetery., Los Angeles Unveils World’s Largest Solar Plan

T. BOONE PICKENS: Pickens Plan Reality Check: Energy Freedom or Farce?

TRAFFIC: New York City Grew, but Traffic Didn’t: As the city’s economy soared and its population grew from 2003 through 2007, something unusual was happening on the streets and in the subway tunnels.

WATER AVAILABILITY: LIFESAVER: World’s First Ultra Filtration Water Bottle, LifeStraw

WHALING: Japan Plans to Arrest Sea Shepherd Crew

WIND POWER: Offshore Wind Power Could Alter Ocean Currents, New Wind Turbine Design Good for Rural, Urban Environment

“Environmental News Picks” are made possible with help from Kevin.

:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

Seems like conservation has become the new refuge of scoundrels. Green is now the color of theft. Yep, by a 4-3 vote, a board of unelected officials approved the Everglades deal.

Elementary schools are closing around the state. Florida’s universities are aggressively cutting budgets. Public defenders and state attorneys can afford little more for our justice system than a plea-bargain assembly line. The state can’t even afford to hire someone to answer the phone for its public-assistance hotline.

But apparently we can afford to pay $1.34 billion for worthless cropland. 

Fortunately:

The board made one change that could potentially put the deal in doubt, adding an “out” clause intended to protect the agency from bankrupting its budget if state revenues plummet.

Of course state revenues are plummeting…

And don’t even get me started on the fallacy that this will somehow “reinvigorate” the Everglades restoration. The South Florida Water Management district is diverting $1.34 billion that could be spent on actual restoration to buy land that will require a $4 billion investment in marshes, lagoons and other earth-moving before it does any good. How does that reinvigorate anything?

In terms of cost to tax payers and conflicts with humans, Burmese pythons are going to become a big problem for Florida. It’s very irresponsible for pet owners to release their non-native pets outdoors—or any pet for that matter.

Theoretically, it is possible for these large constrictors to spread further north out of Florida, since habitat suitability extends much further north. Warming temperatures as the result of anthropogenic climate change is expected to exacerbate the problem.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had used “Non-native Pet Amnesty Day” to take custody of unwanted non-native wildlife. It’s one of many tools Florida biologists are employing to bring the Burmese python plague under control. From the Sun-Sentinel.com:

The 12-foot non-venomous snake was caught by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers on Indiantown Road near Sierra Square Plaza late Monday night.

The snake appeared to be injured and may have been hit by a car, commission spokeswoman Gabriella Ferraro said.

It was taken to Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter.

Releasing a Burmese python, a non-native species, is illegal because it can prey on native wildlife, Ferraro said.

Such pythons also are classified as “reptiles of concern” by the commission. Owners must have a permit and pay an annual fee of $100.

People may surrender their unwanted nonnative pets free of charge, no questions asked, during FWC’s pet amnesty days.

Read more about invasive Burmese pythons in Florida here.

On the Net:

1. Non-native Pet Amnesty Day
2. News Release: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission holds Non-native Pet Amnesty Day
3. Non-native Species Information

Image by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission found here.

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ANIMAL WELFARE: Animals Often Victims of Foreclosures, More pets are being cut loose as owners respond to economic hard times: During an economic downturn what’s the first expense to go? Some may say dining out or taking lavish trips. How about the family pet? Rising home foreclosures, food…, Military Dogs Get New Vet Hospital, Modesto police dog helps save suicidal teen

BIOGAS: London gets its first biogas fueling station

CARBON: Obama’s Carbon Ultimatum

CARPOOLING: Vote and save gas with Zimride’s “Carpool to the Polls”

CLIMATE CHANGE: Climate Changing Walden Pond’s Flowers, Climate Changing Thoreau’s Woods

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DRC): Rebels Seize Congo Gorilla Park; Hopes Dim for Apes

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Electric black cab project makes progress: Londoners could be hailing the first battery-powered black cabs in early 2009

ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT: Species review begins: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a notice of review in the Federal Register initiating 5-year reviews for wildlife and plant species as required under the Endangered Species Act. The species in consideration in the notice of review are…

EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS AND TOXINS: Man to sue after ‘toxic sofa’ left him with heart failure: A man is suing a furniture company over claims his “toxic sofa” left him with a permanent heart condition.

EVOLUTION: Vampire Moth Discovered — Evolution at Work: A previously unknown population of vampire moths has been found in Siberia. And in a twist worthy of a Halloween horror movie, entomologists say the bloodsuckers may have evolved from a purely fruit-eating species.

FISHERIES: Migrating Alaskan pollock are creating the potential for a new dispute with Russia

FLORIDA EVERGLADES: High water in the Everglades threatens wildlife: With deer belly-deep in the marsh, state wildlife managers fear animals will die if water levels in the Everglades don’t recede.

FUEL CELLS: Pepperidge Farm Opens Largest Fuel Cell Plant In United States

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY: 12,100 Megawatts of Geothermal Power by 2025: Department of Interior Opens Up Lands For Leasing

GLOBAL WARMING: Global Warming Good for Sharks?

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS: 2 greenhouse gases on the rise worry scientists

HABITAT DEGRADATION LOSS FRAGMENTATION: Fearful Elephants Would Sooner Starve Than Cross Roads: New research by the Wildlife Conservation Society and Save the Elephants has found that African Elephants are quickly becoming trapped by new road construction cutting through their forest habitats.

HOMOSEXUALITY IS NATURAL: How gay sex can produce offspring

IVORY: Ebay Bans Ivory Sales Amid Conservation Concerns

IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER: Cornell cuts back ivory-billed woodpecker search

MADAGASCAR: The Sapphire Mines of Madagascar, THE BIG PICTURE: The sapphire mines of Madagascar

MARINE MAMMALS: Orcas Missing From Puget Sound Thought Dead, Whale Endangered, Palin Pouts: The NYT reports that Cook Inlet Beluga Whales were listed as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act yesterday.

MINING: Bush rushes to open Grand Canyon to toxic uranium mining: BLM publishes proposed rule which ignores House committee’s resolution

NUCLEAR POWER: Should Libertarians Support Nuclear Power?

OBAMA IS NOT A SOCIALIST: “Socialism”

OCEANS: Pictured: The incredible secret world at the bottom of the sea: In a year-long mission, a BBC team probed a small part of the earth’s amazing undersea world. They completed 1000 dives and explored seven different oceans across the globe. What they found was extraordinary…

ORGANIC FARMING: Organic farming ‘could feed Africa’: Traditional practices increase yield by 128 per cent in east Africa, says

POLITICS: Biden Slammed During Florida Interview, Same Anchor Gives McCain Softballs, Where Eight Years Of Republican Leadership Has Left America Economically (VIDEO)

RECOMMENDED MAP: Map of Newspaper Endorsements in the 2008 US Presidential Election

RECYCLING: Thai Temple Built From One Million Recycled Bottles, Q and A: Recycling Astronaut Urine

SALMON: Dams Not Main Cause of Salmon Collapse, Study Says

SPACE: Depressed astronauts might get computerized solace, NASA unveils new lunar rover built for endurance, India’s manned mission not before 2012: Madhavan Nair, NASA turns to the private sector as China flexes new space muscles, Chandrayaan a wake-up call for America, says Obama

SCIENCE: Artificial Heart Gives New Hope to Patients: French Scientists Develop Artificial Heart that Beats Much Like the Real Thing, ‘Flying syringe’ mosquitos, other ideas get Gates funding: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded 100,000 dollars each on Wednesday to scientists in 22 countries including funding for a Japanese proposal to turn mosquitos into “flying syringes” delivering vaccines., It ain’t half snuggly, Mum! The ground-breaking pictures of animals capturing life in the womb, 3M taps into wind-power business with new `Wind Tape’: 3M Co., best known for its Scotch Tape, Post-it brand notes and adhesives, is going into the wind-energy business, with a new line of fillers and protective coverings that can extend the life of wind turbine blades.

SHARKS: “Shark Island” Swarms With Jaws

SOLAR: FedEx Ups Its Solar Power Production To Almost Double: FedEx’s New Solar System Is Enough To Power 370 homes, Solar Refrigeration: A Hot Idea for Cooling: How to build a solar refrigerator: The brighter the sun, the better it works, Solar-Powered Rickshaw Unveiled in India, In downturn, solar industry sees bright days ahead, BWL will build solar array: Project expected to produce enough electricity to power up to 50 homes

TAILPIPE EMISSIONS: Is This the Most Eco-Friendly Car Innovation Since the Hybrid?

UNDECIDED VOTERS: Swing Set

WAVE POWER: World’s first wave farm now generating power for 1,500 homes

WIND POWER: UK Becomes World’s Biggest Producer of Offshore Wind Power, Wind Power Generators Guide

WTF?: Toilet stench clears out London airport

YEAR OF THE FROG: Yellowstone Amphibians Declining Under Climate Change

“Environmental News Picks” are made possible with help from Kevin.

Found these two everglades fishing guides on the same everglades fishing site.

Everglades Fishing Guides and Charters

Fish the Florida Everglades with Joe Rodriguez

Captain Joe Rodriguez is one of South Florida’s premier inshore fishing guides. With over 20 years of local knowledge of the surrounding waters, Capt. Joe will guide you to South Florida’s hottest spots. He will show you why Florida is called the “Sportfishing Capital of the World”.

In order to provide maximum coverage, Capt. Joe trailers his HPX-V Maverick or Gordon Ambush Glades Skiff to all areas from Miami to the Everglades backcountry, to the skinny waters of Florida bay and down deep into the heart of the Florida Keys.

Fishing year round with either fly or spinning rods, Capt. Joe targets local species including bonefish, permit, tarpon, redfish, snook and sharks.

Captain Jerry Kernan, Everglades Backcountry

Welcome to the Everglades and 10,000 Islands! Come fish this land of extremes – spectacular beauty and rugged challenge – an extraordinary and wondrous landscape, one of the last frontiers. The waters of southwest Florida offer saltwater fishing that rivals any sportfishing venue on the planet, all set in a labyrinth of mangroves, cuts, passes, and bays second to none in terms of their mystery and reward.

Whether you like to fish live bait or are hooked on the challenge of artificials, whether you’re a beginning fisherman or a seasoned angler, with the expert guidance of Captain Jerry Kernan, you’ll search out the three most sought-after saltwater sportfish in the Everglades and 10,000 Islands: snook, redfish, and tarpon, trout, snapper.

I guess i will start here for more information.

Irresponsible pet owners that have released Burmese pythons into the Floridian landscape have caused an expensive problem that is certain to spread throughout the United States, and these large snakes can spread even further north into the United States as the climate warms. More here and here

Current areas of the U.S. suitable as Burmese python habitat:

Projected areas of the U.S. suitable as Burmese python during 2100 based on global warming models:

From the SFGate:

Burmese python facts

Size: They can grow to 250 pounds and stretch over 23 feet.

Popular pets: They’re often released into the wild by irresponsible owners.

Lifestyle: When young, the pythons spend much of their time in trees. In adulthood, their weight makes tree-climbing too difficult.

Food: They survive on small mammals and birds but have been known to eat deer and alligators.

Eggs: They lay up to 100 at a time.

On the Net: New threat to our way of life: giant pythons

ARCTIC MELTING: Exclusive: No ice at the North Pole: Polar scientists reveal dramatic new evidence of climate change

BIOFUELS: Biofuel feedstocks latest candidate: Kudzu, Biofuel future threatened by severe weather

CARBON: California air board announces plan for carbon-credit trading: The agency’s proposal would slash greenhouse emissions to 1990 levels. But it has a long way to go.

CLIMATE CHANGE: Climate change threatens penguins

COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER: House panel probes honeybee disappearances

CONSERVATION: Rocky Mountain conservation land deal tops $500 million, largest of its kind

ECO-DATING: Vegetarian singles go green eco-friendly organic dating

ENERGY: Solution, or mess? A milk jug for a green earth

ETHANOL: Crop prices shutting down ethanol plants and plans

FLORIDA EVERGLADES: U.S. sugar to sell land to Florida for Everglades renewal

FRESHWATER DOLPHINS: Irrawaddy dolphin numbers take a dive

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY: US Department of Energy to invest $90 million in advanced geothermal research

OIL: Costs hit drive for more oil refineries

PHEV: VW to join Toyota, GM with 2010 plug-in hybrid

SOLAR: Hawaii requires solar water heaters for new homes, Citing need for assessments, U.S. freezes solar energy projects

WATER POLLUTION: Olympic nightmare: A red tide in the Yellow Sea

WILDFIRES: Wildfires force firefighters to pick their battles, Slow progress made fighting smoky NorCal fires, Google map of major NorCal fires, Interactive Google map of major NorCal fires

Under a tentative agreement reached on June 24^th, U.S. Sugar Corp., the nation’s largest producer of cane sugar, would go out of business in a $1.75 billion deal to sell its nearly 300 square miles of land to Florida for Everglades restoration, the company and the state’s governor said Tuesday.  Under the deal, the state of Florida would buy U.S. Sugar’s holdings in the Everglades south of Lake Okeechobee, the virtual heart of the ecosystem.  Negotiations are still ongoing, but officials hope to sign an agreement by September. If the proposed deal is consummated, U.S. Sugar would be allowed to farm the 187,000 acres of land for six more years before shuttering its business. A $1.75 billion tentative agreement is as one of the biggest conservation initiatives ever.

The 300-square-mile tract of the Everglades would be returned to its natural state, as part of an attempt to undo ecological damages caused by decades of pollution and encroaching development. The Florida Everglades is one of the largest wetlands in the world. The Everglades are the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, and it is home to rare and endangered species, such as the American crocodile and the Florida panther.

As part of the proposal, U.S. Sugar would operate for six more years, then go out of business and allow its 187,000 acres, refinery and other assets to be taken over by the state. Florida wants the property to return to its natural state as part of a plan to clean up the famed “River of Grass.”

Seth: I have no problem with Republicans or conservatives. I think their core values are respectable and fair. I think the Republican party has gotten away from the conservative way, and their policies reflect that. Recently, two noteworthy Republicans impressed me, and I thought with all the pro-Obama bias on this blog, it was about time to recognize some good things Republicans are doing.

First, I want to talk about John McCain. While I don’t endorse his candidacy (I’m not crazy) I do believe he has a lot of good qualities and some good ideas. First, I want to recognize his bone-headed idea to open U.S. coastal areas for oil drilling. His proposal would allow states to choose to allow drilling off-shore, but would not open the Artic National Wildlife Reserve for drilling; he has identified that land is pristine and continually reaffirmed the need to protect that area.

But I have a question for the Senator: are the waters off the west and east coasts less pristine? Would the damage caused by a drilling accident not be worse closer to populated areas than the isolated artic? I think the contradiction this policy proposes is an example of Mr. McCain’s inability to effectively lead the nation. But this is about his good idea.

Senator McCain, while arguing for the need to increase supplies of oil to benefit the American consumer had an epiphany. Why not eliminate the need for gasoline in automobiles instead? June 23rd at Fresno State Univeristy, Senator McCain proposed initiating a contest of sorts to invite anyone to create a better battery for electric and hybrid cars, and a second “Clean Car Challenge” for automakers to prodice a zero-emissions car. In the same speech he stood up to proponents of ethanol saying

Corn-based ethanol, thanks to the money and influence of lobbyists, has been a case study in the law of unintended consequences. Our government pays to subsidize corn-based ethanol even as it collects tariffs that prevent consumers from benefiting from other kinds of ethanol, such as sugarcane-based ethanol from Brazil. The result is that Americans take the financial hit coming and going. As taxpayers, we foot the bill for the enormous subsides paid to corn produ cers. And as consumers, we pay extra at the pump because of government barriers to cheaper products from abroad … Here’s a better way. Instead of playing favorites, our government should level the playing field for all alcohol fuels that break the monopoly of gasoline, lowering both gasoline prices and carbon emissions.

He also stated his favor for “flex-fuel” cars, that is cars that can run on both gasoline and ethanol. He went on to say that Brazil was able to do this in a short period of time, which isn’t totally true. The drawback with his idea is the fact that even if cars are mandated to run on both fuels, ethanol isn’t readily available to the U.S. consumer. I think everyone does agree that if people can get the fuel, they will choose these flex-fuel cars. This idea is a good start for Senator McCain. If he is ever elected, it won’t be easy to enact, but it is an option.

Kudos also go to Florida’s Governor Charlie Crist who coincedentally is commongly metioned as a potential running mate to Senator McCain. Today he announced at a press conference that about 300 square miles of land held by the U.S. Sugar Corporation in the Florida Everglades is being bought in order to restore this national treasure.

“We have an opportunity to provide the critical missing link in our restoration activities,” Crist said. “I can envision no better gift to the Everglades, or the people of Florida, or to our country, than to place in public ownership this missing link that represents the key to true restoration.” -LA Times

It is important to note that U.S. Sugar currently has about 1,700 employees and the company plans to completely shut down in six to seven years. The company was founded in 1931 and currently produces almost a tenth of America’s sugar. This is due in part to successful efforts by the companies lobbyists in Washington who got federal water projects to work in their favor. Governor Crist’s efforts are stark in comparison to his predecessor Jeb Bush’s industry-favoring policies and appointments.

More information can be found in articles by Time and the LA Times.