Buzz Bin

by Michael Bowen & r & & r & Excuse Us, Just Migrating Through


We were ambling down the pathway on the south side of the Inn at the Park the other day, right there by the swimming pool, when we turned a corner and wondered if the spring weather had brought out any early-season bikinis from among the hotel's guests.





That's when we noticed two ducks paddling lazily across the pool's surface, eyeing the water slide suspiciously and wondering when the cabana boy was going to show up with warm towels.





Bet they got a great deal on room rates.





Don't Be a Boob


Turn off the tube. National TV Turnoff Week is April 23-29. You've got a few days to warm up by, say, watching only the first four minutes at 11; then you can move on to the heavy lifting of actually skipping parts of Oprah. Whichever TV-less path you choose, you'll benefit by having more time to spend with your pets, self, partner, children, books and plants. Did you know that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children younger than 24 months should never watch TV? And that TV-viewing time should be carefully regulated for kids of all ages? Not to mention the needs of indoor plants. We have a fichus tree, and if it's exposed to too much of that Donald Trump person, the leaves shrivel right up.


Just a Walk Through the Park





Join in a procession this Saturday in Riverfront Park and you'll be part of a nationwide effort to urge Congress to reduce America's carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050. On April 14 at noon, rally at the Canada Island amphitheater (on the island between the suspension bridges). Write [email protected] or call 838-4912 or visit www.stepitup2007.org. (And check out the conversation with author and national organizer Bill McKibben on page 35.)





15-Minute Break Every Eight Hours


That Spokane radio jock who was going to stay on the air for 125 hours straight? Kekeluv of the New Live 104.5 actually lasted 127 hours. Best of all, he raised $16,000 (and counting!) for the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery. And all you folks who called at 3 am to check up on him -- he's doing just fine, accomplished it all without caffeine or sugar, and plans to do it again (this time with official world-record recognition) next year.