This is humorous.  “A pair of turnstones, birds that fly thousands of miles across oceans, are taking the ferry to save themselves a three-mile commute. They catch the 8.30am boat from Falmouth to St Mawes, where they are served a breakfast of breadcrumbs by the skipper. They land after 20 minutes then spend the day feeding, before catching the 4.15pm back across the River Fal. The birds, known as Fred and Freda, have been hitching rides on the Cornish ferry every winter for the past six years. So fond are they of the skipper, John Brown, that if he is captaining another boat they will often fly off to find him.”

Typical.  The man simply has no interest in doing what the people want—what his bosses want.  “President Bush has vetoed just one bill in nearly six years in office. That soon may change. As newly empowered Democrats forge ahead with their own agenda, some items may make it to his desk as prime candidates for veto. One might be a recycled version of the stem-cell funding bill that drew Bush’s lone veto last July. Other possibilities include measures that would raise the minimum wage without offsetting tax breaks for businesses, fully put in place the September 11 commission’s recommendations and curb oil-industry subsidies. The Democratic takeover of Congress and the planned 100-hour burst of legislation sent parliamentary experts in both the administration and Congress scurrying to dust off the manual on vetoes and to brace for a possible onslaught.”

Don’t miss the First Good Planets of 2007.  As usual, it’s full of stunning photography of our little pale blue dot.  Check out the mass of baby bunnies, and “the last sunset of 2006 over the island of Niihau from Polihale beach on the west side of Kauai,” and that stunning owl, and…  Ah, hell, just go look at all of the photos.  It’s a grand celebration of Earth.

Carnival of the Cats #146 is wonderfully full, so head on over and check out all the cat coolness you can stomach.