Topic: Culture & Society

The Weather Channel's "Forecast Earth" has beed redesigned, offering expanded environmental coverage on how to "live smart" and stay green

Visitors to Forecast Earth, the interactive broadband site dedicated to climate change issues created by The Weather Channel Interactive, can now find new content on how to "live smart" and stay green in an entirely redesigned and easy-to-navigate site. The redesigned Web site contains practical information to help consumers live well, reduce waste, save money and sustain the planet. Additionally, a roster of new bloggers provides perspective and commentary on environmental issues. Eco-friendly lifestyle tips and features can also be found directly from weather.com.

Development company Ferrumar has discovered that George Putnam, the future husband of aviator Amelia Earhart (who vanished in the Pacific Ocean 71 years ago), directed the killing of a polar bear and capture of her cubs on behalf of the Manhattan-based American Museum of Natural History.

Privately-held development company Ferrumar has discovered that George Putnam, the future husband of aviator Amelia Earhart , directed the killing of a polar bear and capture of her cubs on behalf of the Manhattan-based American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Wednesday marked the 71st anniversary of Earhart's disappearance in the Pacific Ocean.

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George Putnam, 3rd from left.

The latest release in the Fairy Houses Series, "Fairy Houses and Beyond!" by Barry and Tracy Kane, proves that fairy houses are as varied as a child's imagination and as limitless as the wonders of nature. The book takes readers on a magical pictorial tour of the evolving world of fairy house neighborhoods, coastal communities, intricate interiors and even a fairy house spa.

Fairy Houses and Beyond! by Barry and Tracy Kane proves that fairy houses are as varied as a child's imagination and as limitless as the wonders of nature. The latest release in the popular children's book series takes readers on a magical pictorial tour of the evolving world of fairy house neighborhoods, coastal communities, intricate interiors and even a fairy house spa.

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Jeffrey Fisher's new 2-CD set explores the subjects of war and spirituality in relation to the ancient Sanskrit text of "The Bhagavad Gita." This text is among the most widely read in the world, and Fisher translates it both literally and personally with "Ocean of Consciousnesses" two discs, "The Bhagavad Gita Suite" and "The River."

War is never black and white; nor is nature. In his new work, Ocean of Consciousness, eclectic composer and performer Jeffrey Fisher explores the spiritual challenges and emotional impact of socio-political life on earth, as well as, our paradoxical relationship with nature. This 2-CD set includes "The Bhagavad Gita Suite" and "The River," both produced by Fisher. It was released on Tuesday by his label Healing Music of the Southwest.

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In honor of the impending wedding season, The Nature Conservancy offers tips to make your special day one Mother Nature will celebrate.

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something ... green? It’s really not as out of the ordinary as it sounds - last year, Brides.com estimated that approximately 33% of future brides and grooms in the U.S. are planning an eco-friendly wedding.

Eight citizens groups have chosen 08/08/08 at 8 pm as the time when individuals and citizen organizations around the world can collectively join in calling for an end to secret agreements between governments and extraterrestrials.

A multinational consortium of citizen organizations has issued a Galactic Freedom Day Declaration calling for an end to all secret government and corporate agreements concerning extraterrestrial life. The Declaration establishes 08/08/08 as "Galactic Freedom Day" and asserts that hidden agreements concerning extraterrestrial life have been secretly entered into by a range of government authorized agencies, departments and corporations. In some cases, these pacts involve representatives of advanced extraterrestrial civilizations whose existence has not been disclosed to the general public. Evidence of these secret agreements, as well as the full text of the Declaration, special Galactic Freedom Day events schedules, and an online petition are available at the official website, GalacticFreedomDay.com.

"Foraging for food in the forest or even in your backyard can take the strain off your pocket book, it does for me," says Weed Lady Mollie Stolle. Mollie will soon be sharing her wildcrafting know-how in a summer Weed-Shop in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. Wildcrafting in Western North Carolina can be good exercise and may be one of the best places on the planet for getting a large variety of pristine nutritious plants, healing herbs and appetizing wild foods for even the pickiest eater.

Asheville, North Carolina is reaching new heights as a center for alternative culture, including health, wellness and personal development with the announcement of Wellness Weeds fun-shop, all day workshop. On Saturday, June 28, 2008, Weed Lady will share her special approach to wildcrafting in her summer weed workshop. Mollie has an eye for both herb safety and nature conservation. Mollie keeps a sharp focus on protecting endangered plant species. Mollie Stolle will be sharing her secrets at an undisclosed location at the mountain's base of nearby Cold Mountain, North Carolina. With room left for just seven herb enthusiasts, the class includes a wild gourmet meal. Participants will be gathering their own lunch, the menu, not final yet, may include fresh Stinging Nettle pesto, Burdock drizzled with Chick Weed vinegar, savory soup of Yellow Dock, Poke Sallet with Chick Weed, Stinging Nettle tea and Dandelion wine but mother nature can offer up her own surprises all this, something different or much more.

As gas prices rise and the economy battles with the massive burden of Iraq and the War on Terror, a new film comes to Showtime and DVD reminding Americans about the other, longer, more costly war that has yet to be brought up this election season.

The new Showtime documentary, American Drug War: The Last White Hope, is coming to DVD, and leads the debate on the War on Drugs.

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Tommy Chong serving time in a privately owned prison.

A lawyer describes the benefits of holistic way of life and how it can be applied to the practice of law. Did you know there's an International Alliance of Holistic Lawyers?

It is apparent that a new day has arrived in politics, where a more positive focus on the issues and policies is being emphasized, as opposed to the negativity of dirty tactics - although some have found it hard, perhaps out of desperation, to totally forgo the latter. This is due to the public's hunger for not just change, but change that is positive. The electorate, especially the younger generation, is rewarding politicians that are perceptive, and seemingly genuine and adept enough to tap into this emerging consensus. As with politics, so it has increasingly become with medicine, and even with the practice of law - which arguably is the last holdout in which dirty antics and nastiness naturally exist. Practitioners are seeking a comprehensive, more positive approach to solving legal issues.

A constant companion since before we began this web site back in January, 2000, Magick passed away on Thursday, June 5. She will be forever missed.

Magick, the Chief Executive Companion at AlternativeApproaches.com, died quietly on Thursday, June 5th, evidently of an illness common to her breed. At the time of her passing, she was about a month shy of her tenth birthday, which means that she was approximately 70 years old in human terms. She became ill late Tuesday evening and died just hours after visiting her veterinarian in Pilot Mountain, NC.

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Magick, at home in her back yard - June, 2001.