Ethan Miller, Getty Images

Disco legend Donna Summer has died after a battle with cancer, TMZ is reporting. She was 63 years old.

Insiders say she wanted to keep the disease quiet, and a friend said that as recently as two weeks ago, Summer seemed okay and was even finishing up work on a new album.

The five-time Grammy winner shot to fame in the 1970s with songs like ‘Love to Love You Baby,’ ‘Hot Stuff’ and ‘Bad Girls,’ and continued her reign on radio airwaves into the ’80s with hits including ‘She Works Hard for the Money’ and ‘This Time I Know It’s for Real.’

Summer was also the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach No. 1 on the US Billboard chart.

[TMZ]

ed yourdon, flickr

Riding a bicycle is no longer just for kids without a driver’s license or adults carrying around the burden of a DUI.

These days, more and more Americans are jumping on their bikes as a way to get some much needed exercise, as well as an alternative to driving or using public transportation.

With respect to May being National Bike Month, the people at Walk Score, which is a website that rates neighborhoods for their “walkability,” has just released its list of the top 10 most bike-friendly cities in America. These cities were rated by the number and quality of bike lanes and trails, destinations and road connectivity, and number of bike commuters and hills.

The highest possible rating that could be awarded was 100, although the top-rated city this year, Minneapolis, could only muster a 79.

So if your city made the list, congratulations. If it did not, Bike Score invites you to air your grievances.

America’s Most ‘Bikeable’ Cities:

1. Minneapolis
2. Portland, Oregon
3. San Francisco
4. Boston
5. Madison, Wisconsin
6. Washington, DC
7. Seattle
8. Tucson, Arizona
9. New York City
10. Chicago

[TIME]

The National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, announced that the partnership of Glacier National Park and the Glacier Institute is one of eight grant recipients participating in the 2012 Parks Climate Challenge program using national parks as classrooms to educate students about climate change.  The ability to learn about this important issue through hands-on, science-based field curriculum has proven a positive model through which to reach students.

The four-day workshop will be June 25-28 at Glacier Institute Field Camp in West Glacier.  The workshop will provide an opportunity for twenty 6^th-12^th grade teachers to learn more about climate change and how to incorporate it into curriculum in the classroom.  Room, board, and travel expenses during the workshop will be provided.

Glacier National Park Education Specialist Laura Law said, “This is a great opportunity for teachers to learn and work in the field with park researchers.”  The workshop will provide teachers with information and materials on how park resources are being affected by climate change.

Glacier Institute Executive Director Joyce Baltz said, “We are proud to have received the grant and extend this outstanding opportunity for teachers to attend a science and field-based workshop in Glacier National Park.”

In its third year, the Parks Climate Challenge first connects with teachers, giving them the tools to create engaging curriculum to teach to their students on the subject of climate change.  Then it assists them with stipends to implement using the materials in their classrooms.

For more information and to apply, visit the Glacier Institute’s website at www.glacierinstitute.org or contact the Institute at 406-755-1211.   On-line applications are due by close of business on Monday, May 21.

Though all grant recipients will participate directly in the National Park Foundation program, teachers everywhere can utilize the unique and versatile program model to replicate the valuable learning and strategies nationally through the online site www.parksclimatechallenge.org.

This project was made possible through the generous support of Inner Spark Foundation and individual donors, and is done in partnership with the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation.  For more information, visit www.parksclimatechallenge.org.

Zappos

You may have seen the ads for Skechers’ Shape-ups shoes featuring spokesmodels like Kim Kardashian and Brooke Burke.

But the FTC says the claims made within those ads and others like them were false, and it’s now ordered the shoe manufacturer to cough up a $40 million fine.

Skechers said the $100 sneakers’ design promoted weight loss and toned muscles, but the FTC said such assertions were deceptive and misleading to consumers. The action brought by the agency also included Skechers’ Resistance Runner, Toners, and Tone-ups shoes.

People who bought the shoes will be eligible for refunds, though how much they’ll get back is unclear. The FTC did say that most of the $40 million settlement will be returned to consumers.

It’s not the first time the FTC has cracked down on the makers of athletic shoes. Last year Reebok faced similar trouble over its EasyTone walking shoes and RunTone running shoes, and eventually paid out $25 million in customer refunds.

“The FTC’s message, for Skechers and other national advertisers, is to shape up your substantiation or tone down your claims,” said David Vladeck, director of the agency’s consumer protection bureau, adding that for millions of buyers, “the only thing that got a workout was their wallet.”

[Associated Press]

WEST GLACIER, MONT. – Glacier National Park, as well as the other 397 sites of the National Park Service, will offer a free annual pass to active duty military members and their dependents.  The passes will be available beginning on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 19.  The annual pass will allow free entrance to national parks and other federal recreation sites.

Active duty members of the U.S. Military and their dependents can obtain their pass at Glacier National Park’s headquarters building or any park entrance station. They must show a current, valid military identification card to obtain their pass. More information is available at www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm.

This military version of the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass also permits free entrance to sites managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Forest Service.

The active military pass is not available to veterans and retirees, but there are other passes available.  US citizens 62 years of age and older may purchase a lifetime pass for $10, and citizens with a permanent disability may obtain a free lifetime pass.  An annual Glacier National Park pass for unlimited access to the park for one year from time of purchase of the pass is available for $35.  An annual pass available for $80 allows free entrance to federally operated recreation sites across the county.

National parks and the military have strong ties going back to the establishment of Yellowstone as the world’s first national park in 1872. The U.S. Cavalry watched over America’s national parks and did double duty, serving as the first park rangers until the National Park Service was created 44 years later. During World War II, many parks were set aside for the training and care of military personnel. Today, dozens of national parks commemorate military battles and achievements.

The new military pass, and any of the annual passes, may be obtained from a staffed park entrance station, or from the park headquarters building.  For more information about the passes please contact Glacier National Park at 406-888-7800.

To show appreciation for those who serve in the U.S. Military, on May 19 – Armed Forces Day – the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will begin issuing an annual pass offering free entrance for active duty military members and their dependents to the National Bison Range and every unit of the Refuge System, as well as National Parks and other public lands.

“Through the years, military members, especially those far from home in times of conflict, have found inspiration and rejuvenation in America’s wild landscapes. Their dedication enables all Americans to enjoy these special places in safety and security,” said Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. “This new pass gives us a way to thank members of the Armed Forces and their families for their service and their sacrifices.”

Active duty members of the U.S. Military and their dependents can pick up their pass at the refuge: National Bison Range, 58355 Bison Range Road, Moiese, MT. Please call (406)-644-2211 for pass pickup details. They must show a current, valid military identification card to obtain their pass. More information is available at http://store.usgs.gov/pass/index.html.

Currently, 35 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System charge entrance fees. This military version of the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass also permits free entrance to all of them, as well as to sites managed by the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Forest Service that charge entrance fees. The pass is also available through these Federal agencies. 

“We’re proud to open our refuge to the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families,” said Project Leader Jeff King. “Refuges across the nation offer outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities, and we hope they’ll be able to relax and have fun with their families on this or any of our other outstanding refuges.”

The Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System and the military have strong ties. More than 200,000 acres of the Refuge System are former military lands, and nearly 50 of the 556 units in the Refuge System include lands transferred from the military to the Service. Following World War I and all subsequent conflicts in our nation’s history, returning veterans took advantage of hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreational opportunities on refuge lands – and thousands continue to enjoy these activities. Today, the Service employs some 1,400 veterans in full-time and temporary positions, equal to nearly 20 percent of the agency’s workforce.

Alex Goodrider represents the Blackfeet against Open enrollment and June “Birdrattler” Humphrey represents those in favor.    They have both accepted our invitation to appear on the program Monday morning May 21st, starting just after 9 am.

Voting will be open May 15-21 and can be accessed online through the Big Sky State Games Facebook page at or on the Big Sky State Games webpage at under the BSSG ‘Special Events’ tab. The winner will be announced by May 30, 2012. Good luck, Whitney! Vote for her and help her win!

Old Trail Museum 2012 Grand Opening

(CHOTEAU) Saturday, May 19 is the date set for the 2012 season Grand Opening for the Old Trail Museum (OTM) located at the north end of main street in Choteau, MT.  OTM continues to work closely with Choteau elementary and DeLaSalle Blackfeet students to promote exchange and the connections between Choteau, the Blackfeet and Metis cultures.  The DeLaSalle Blackfeet and Choteau students and teachers have been working on the design and painting of a new Blackfeet tipi for display at OTM.  It will be erected at OTM during the Grand Opening activities.

OTM Grand Opening activities will begin at 10:00 am with the Choteau Boy Scouts flag presentation, followed by the Holy Star drummers and singers presenting the Blackfoot Confederacy flag song. A welcome will be given by Choteau’s mayor, Jay Dunckel.  DeLaSalle Blackfeet students will have drum and dance groups performing.  Choteau students will teach tipi design and a traditional Blackfeet game they learned during their April visit to Browning.  The Northern Rockies Métis group will play music during the opening and DeLaSalle Blackfeet students will help erect the new outdoor tipi exhibit.  Sign up for Old North Trail tours in June will also be available during the day’s activities.

All of the museum exhibits and buildings will be open to the public for viewing during the Grand Opening.  The Ice Cream Parlor will not be open for business until Memorial Day weekend.

OTM Board Chairman Stewart Merja and OTM Manager Julie Ameline invite everyone to come and spend the day or even part of the day.  OTM is looking forward to the 2012 season.  The museum will open for the season on May 26 with regular hours of  9:00 am – 5:00 pm.  A Wednesday evening campfire program will be offered most weeks during the summer at 7:00 pm.  Three weeks of summer day camp for grade school students will also be offered at OTM this year.  Registration forms for these camps will be available during the grand opening.

OTM is a non-profit organization that depends totally on the donations from its friends and visitors each year.  The OTM board encourages everyone to take advantage of what OTM has to offer and support the museum complex.

On war and jobs, Teske speaks first about Afghanistan and says it’s not really a war.“it’s a police state.   We never declared war.  We’ve been there for 10 years and we have no mission. We need a mission, go in and fight it, don’t nation-build and get it over with.”  He said.

On jobs, he says, “the government needs to get out of the way.    Obama has manipulated the system, stacked the deck, created winners and losers.    He said small businessmen are fearful of spending their dollars to create jobs.

Teske also took a swipe at career politicians who he said “keep kicking the can down the road,” with their addiction to spending. Teske was born in Havre and graduated from Chinook high school. He has owned an irrigation farm in Terry the past 15 years.

By the way, the American Center for Law and Justice says Planned Parenthood is America’s largest abortion business, taking more than 300-thousand babies’ lives every year, committing an abortion every 95 seconds. According to the ACLJ Planned Parenthood’s atrocities are paid for with a $1 billion dollar annual budget.   With nearly half of that budget coming from our tax dollars.

I think we all have had a tree on our property that has or could lead to problems.  So when I saw this on my e-mail…courtesy of the Tree Care Industry Association…. I thought it was very informative and worth sharing with everyone.

Trees are hardy plants, and their roots fight back against man-made limits around them. In the urban and suburban landscape, tree roots often are forced to grow between buildings or under driveways and walkways. As roots grow, they will break walls, pipes and patios, causing damage to properties.

Plan before you plant

Woody tree roots thicken as they grow, gradually pushing shallow roots toward the surface. Since soil near the surface is best suited for root growth, most tree roots are just below the surface – putting them in conflict with man-made obstacles. Where the soil is covered by a solid driveway or patio, upward growing roots do not experience the normal signals (increased light and air) that they are reaching the surface. As a result, they often grow against the underside of pavement and become intrusive.

Cutting roots with discretion

Some homeowners, masons and landscapers deal with intrusive roots by grinding down or removing them. This can be expensive and is very harmful to the tree. Wounding a tree’s roots creates points of entry for pathogens, leaving a tree vulnerable to disease. Cutting major roots also reduces a tree’s ability to take up nutrients and water, leaving it more susceptible to drought. Finally, cutting roots can reduce a tree’s structural support, which increases the danger the tree will topple onto your house in high winds.

Keep these cautions in mind when cutting problem tree roots:

• the farther you cut from the trunk, the less threat to the tree’s health, and the less danger of creating a hazard
• try not to cut roots greater than 2 inches in diameter
• prune roots back to a side or sinker root (growing downward) when possible
• roots recover better from being severed when you:
  • cut them cleanly with a saw instead of breaking them with a backhoe
  • mulch and water well after root pruning
• consult a qualified arborist when cutting within a distance equal to five times the trunk diameter to the trunk

Some better root management options include:

• installing physical root guides and barriers that redirect tree roots down and away from hardscapes with minimal impact on the tree
• curve new hardscape features – such as a driveway or patio – around the tree roots
• suspend hardscape features on small pilings to bridge over roots

Find a professional

A professional arborist can assess your landscape and work with you to determine the best trees to plant. Contact the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), a 71-year-old public and professional resource on trees and arboriculture. It has more than 2,000 member companies who recognize stringent safety and performance standards and who are required to carry liability insurance. TCIA also has the nation’s only Accreditation program that helps consumers find tree care companies that have been inspected and accredited based on: adherence to industry standards for quality and safety; maintenance of trained, professional staff; and dedication to ethics and quality in business practices. An easy way to find a tree care service provider in your area is to use the “Locate Your Local TCIA Member Companies” program. You can use this service by calling 1-800-733-2622 or by doing a ZIP code search at www.treecaretips.org.

As his sports trivia question today, Mark asked what was the first professional sports team to have an insect as a mascot or team nickname. Randy Gramm (of course) jumped right in and answered “Charlotte Hornets”, which was a good answer, but made my spidey sense tingle. I remembered the Cleveland Spiders of 1899, maybe the worst baseball team ever, and also remembered the National League Boston Braves had changed their name to the Bees in the late 1930s before changing it back to the Braves around 1940. So now my mascot curiosity is aroused. There goes the day.

The oldest insect mascot my research turned up was the Binghamton Crickets of the old New York State professional baseball league of 1886, which would be a full year before the American Association Cleveland Spiders began play in 1887. Binghamton actually had one of the more normal nicknames in their league, which would become the International League. The Crickets played against the Jersey City Skeeters (another insect mascot! in 1887), the Utica Pentups, and the Oswego Starchboxes! Not to mention the addition to the league of the Scranton Coal Heavers in 1895, and the Troy Washer Women in 1894! Now that’s not a timid mascot!