An exploding ethics scandal in the Minerals Management Service, an Interior Department sub-agency located outside Denver, is bringing lots of unwanted attention to the arm of the government that collects collects oil and gas royalties. Read all about it.

The FBI will have broad new powers beginning October 1 once Mukasey gives the nod. In the name of preventing "terrorist strikes" agents will LEGALLY be allowed to become more intrusive than ever. READ this to see how. Regierung kennt Bestes!

Stop Shark Finning and other inhumane killing. Sharks are dragged onboard, fins cut off the livng animal, and they are thrown over, to die slowly. 'Protect Cocos Island', will fight this. VOTE HERE: http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/ WXKZ1S

Heartwarming story of thousands of baby squirrels knocked out of their nests by Ike being hand-fed & raised for healthy release by the Houston chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Read about their work to save these babies.

Wonderful piece on Shaker cooking, with links to authentic Shaker recipes on the page. This article will inspire you to cook AND make you hungry.

There's still a lot of goodness in bread that's hardened and stale, and many ways to put it to use. With the dark economic skies, using every last crumb might not only be savvy, but necessary.

Still no resolution for the big bailout - read all about it here - what's next?

UPDATE: Since starting this petition just yesterday 9/26/08 Phoenix passed away. Even though this lil boy was a fighter his little body was just to damaged and broken to go on, his heart stopped and he left this world early Saturday morning. I like so

PEABODY - The colorful birds were in a fit, fluttering through the dark, gray basement as Deborah Sauchuk and David Koeplin gave chase. The nets swooped back and forth, and one by one, the parakeets were captured and put in cardboard boxes.

Judge Emmet G. Sullivan of Federal District Court in Washington ruled against a BUSHCo proposal to allow more than 500 snowmobiles a day into two national parks. He said the plan favored use over the park's mission: conservation. Will the decision hold?