Live Entertainment: Grizzly Cam

You've seen the documentary about grizzly bears and plenty of great still photos of the behemoths. But National Geographic offers a new view into the world of the Alaskan grizzly bear: bear cam

The camera, at the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary, is turned on from 5 a.m. until 11 p.m. Alaska Standard Time (9 a.m. to 3 a.m. Eastern) and has eight presets to zoom in on where the animals are likely to be at any given hour. The bears brawl over salmon, cool off in the falls, sunbathe on the rocks and fatten up for the long, Alaska winter.

"The first thing [viewers] have to say is 'Oh, this is live.' That intrigues them," said Mike O'Meara, project manager for the Pratt Museum in Homer across Cook Inlet from the sanctuary. "Then they really get wrapped up in watching the bears. A lot of them are struck in how the bears interact and communicate with each other."

More Reasons to See 'An Inconvenient Truth'

3 out of 4 conservatives agree...



Need a reason to see "An Inconvenient Truth"? I've got one:

107 degrees

That was the reading on our Weather Channel time and temperature gauge in the house this morning about 9:30. We have a measuring device attached to the side of the house, and I'm sure it was getting full sun. We're finally getting the heat wave that has been melting the rest of the country. (Make sure your pets are comfortable: Extra water, ice cubes in the water bowl, a chance to rest in from the air conditioner or fan, a trim at the groomer's, no unnecessary time in a parked car.)

Is our heat wave connected to global warming? That is the question. Almost all scientists agree that the planet's CO2 levels are increasing dramatically. They disagree on whether those increased levels are causing harm. See "An Inconvenient Truth" (9:35 p.m. through Thursday at Brandywine Town Center). Take your kids, too. They'll learn a lot about science and nature in -- dare I say -- an entertaining way. And the theater will offer a cool respite from the stifling heat.

Cool Pet Art by Cool Kids

Stopped by the Starbucks on Kirkwood Highway this afternoon for a pick-me-up, and saw some cool art by kids from the After School program at the Boys & Girls Club of Delaware.

Nicole's memory box (near right, photography by the multi-talented Rhina Guidos) entitled "Three Dogs" had a worn collar and training ball in it. The box is a tribute to her family's past and present dogs.

Logan's (far right) was named for his dog and cat, Smoky and Ginius -- love the spelling -- and included a dog chain.

Stop by and take a look for yourself at all of the great artwork on the wall.

Chicks Who Can Really Sing

This is one of those diversions from the world of pets ... Three friends and I went to the Dixie Chicks concert Tuesday night at the Wachovia Center. It's been three years since lead singer Natalie Maines caused a simultaneous earthquake in the worlds of entertainment and politics when she told a London concert that she was ashamed to be from the same state as President Bush.

All four of us liked their latest album, "Taking the Long Way," and wanted to see what this pop-country group might do or say at a live show. For starters, the Chicks -- Maines, and sisters Emily Robison (banjo) and Martie Maguire (fiddle, madolin), backed by six other musicians -- made it clear there would be no apology forthcoming for the Bush remark. They took the stage to "Hail to the Chief."

But if the fans who filled almost all of the available seats thought this would be an evening of political messages, they were wrong. The Chicks let their music and their musicianship do almost all of the talking. From the passion and power of "Lubbock or Leave It" and "Not Ready to Make Nice" to the quiet introspection of "Easy Silence" and "Lullaby," they showed their incredible range musically and emotionally during the two-hour show.

The evening's emotional peak came with "Not Ready to Make Nice," the group's angry response to those who thought they should be contrite in the wake of the backlash to the Bush remark from the media and fans, including death threats. Tuesday night, Maines sang, "It's too late to make it right/I probably wouldn't if I could/Cause I'm mad as hell/Can't bring myself to do what it is/You think I should."

When the band finished, the crowd's extended roaring ovation appeared to catch even Maines by surprise. The fans seemed to be saying, "Play it again, and thank you for saying what we've been thinking." It was louder than a Springsteen concert.

Maybe Dixie Chicks tickets don't sell as fast as they used to, maybe country radio has imposed a ban on their singles and maybe they won't sell 10 million albums this time, but they haven't sold out. For those whose minds are so closed that they can't listen to the group, they're missing music that says something real -- you won't find that on many Reba McEntire or Kenny Chesney albums. Your loss.

Tuesday night, when the Dixie Chicks played "Travelin' Soldier," a poignant song about the emotional scars of war, it was a reminder that an off-handed remark three years ago helped to bring even more attention today to a group that has something important to say.

P.S.: A big thank you to the Dixie Chicks or the management of the Wachovia Center. Our tickets were in the last row of the upper deck, but in between Anna Nalick's opening set and the Dixie Chicks taking the stage, an arena employee asked to see our tickets. He scanned them, handed over four new ones and sent us off to Section 115. Before we were done, we had floor seats in the last row of the first section. Primo. Thanks to whomever made that happen!

A New Kind of Poker Player

With people and their pets, you've always thought you seen everything. And then some photo will come along to dissuade you from that idea. This is the latest that's crossed my transom:

Watch 'Meerkat' Tonight

I did watch "Meerkat Manor" last week -- thanks to the power of TiVo -- and it's great. (It now has a coveted Season Pass designation.) Cambridge researchers followed and filmed this clan of meerkats -- small, masked mamals that are tough enough to kill a cobra -- in southern Africa's Kalahari Desert. Sean Astin narrates what happens -- threats from predators, who's the boss of the bunch (Flower is the dominant female), who's been exiled (Tosca was tossed from the group by Flower, and I did I mention that she's Flower's daughter? She's lingering near the clan, hoping to get back in, and I think she will.) and how the kids are growing up (the teens are rebellious and it almost got them killed). It really is like watching a family reality show.

Check it out at 8 p.m. Fridays on Animal Planet. It's a whole lot more interesting than watching who can dance, yodel, sew or search for treasure.

No Dogs in Hot, Parked Cars

How would you like to be left in a parked car when it's 92 degrees outside? You wouldn't. So I can't get the people who have no problem leaving their dogs in their Hondas and Fords to broil. It's hot. They're hot. No wonder they bark and whine. If you need to run an errand on your way home from the vet or the groomer, take your dog home first. Even with the windows partially rolled down, the car heats up fast during these hot months.

If you see someone who has left a dog in a parked car, leave a note on their windshield calling the action to their attention. And if you think the dog has been in there way too long, call the Delaware SPCA at 998-2281 (Stanton) or 856-6361 (Georgetown).

When a Beloved Companion is Lost

A friend of mine sent me a note that Joe, her dog of 14 years had to be euthanized. On the card with a picture of Joe, was this quote: "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." Truer words were never said. Godspeed, Joe.

A Dalmatian Riding a Bike. To Pink Floyd

OK, in the panoply of unusual pets, we offer:

Video of a dalmatian -- yes, a dalmatian -- riding a bike. And this is inspiring, it's the Pink Floyd Remix. Enjoy. Share. Contemplate.

Dalmatian Riding A Bike~ Pink Floyd Mix

One Cheer for the Ovaries

First a disclaimer: I renamed this blog "Of Pets and People," for more flexibility. Some of the time we'll talk about pets, other times, pets and people, and sometimes, just people. It's the latter today.

All of us have those times in life when by the way we're addressed or the questions we're asked, we know something has changed. Call it rite of passage through public address.

You know, the first time in your early 20s when you walk up to the counter at McDonald's and the kid says, "Can I take your order, M'am?"

Or, late in your 20s or early 30s, when they stop asking for your ID at your favorite liquor store or bar.

Or in your mid-30s when the telemarketer asks for "Mrs. Fredel" and you turn around looking for your mom.

It happened again, this time in my 46th year. My husband made me go to a walk-in clinic one evening last week when I wasn't getting over a nagging cough. The nurse asked about any chronic conditions, current medications or allergies. Then came the cannon shot over the middle-age bow: "Are you still menstruating?" It struck both ovaries at once. In between raspy coughs, I almost shouted, "Yes." "And the date your last cycle started?" "June 29," I said proudly.

I wonder how soon it will be until they start asking if I'm eligible for the senior discount at my favorite restaurant.

Of Shamu, Husbands, Wives and Happy Marriages

Do you think animals can't teach us anything about having a happy marriage? Amy Sutherland, the author of "Kicked, Bitten and Scratched: Life and Lessons at the Premier School for Exotic Animal Trainers," disagrees. And she put what she picked up observing at a school for exotic animal trainers to the test on Scott, her husband of 12 years.

She writes about this test and what it taught her in a June 25 column for The New York Times with the headline, "Modern Love: What Shamu Taught Me About a Happy Marriage." Today, almost three weeks later, that column is still the most e-mailed piece from the paper.

Read it and we'll discuss.

A Dog-Gone Good Candidate for Governor

Brinkley wants your vote. For governor. Of Alaska. Oh, and did we mention he's a golden retriever?

Yard signs are popping up all over Anchorage for Brinkley, named for newsman David Brinkley, and he's already been on "The Today Show." (Other candidates are barking mad about that kind of exposure.) The political push is the brainchild of owner Ruth Sisk, who started the write-in campaign as a way to raise money for the for her local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other dog groups. She's sold $4,000 worth of T-shirts ($20 each), and plans to expand the campaign to Fairbanks and Juneau. Can a campaign commercial be far behind? "The slogan is 'Get off your tail, hit the campaign trail, vote,' " Sisk told Scripps Howard News Service.

Running for office would seem to be a breeze for a dog, but governing? The state Constitution requires that the governor not be younger than 30. Brinkley has only reached 2 -- or 14 in people years.

Faithful Friends, in New Location, Opens to Public

Faithful Friends, the no-kill shelter in Wilmington, has moved down Germay Drive to a building that's twice as big as its old location, and on Wednesday, it'll be open to the public for adoptions for the first time since the move.

The shelter, at 12 Germay Drive, will be open from 1-7 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, and from 1-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Executive Director Jane Pierantozzi says the shelter has about 75 cats and kittens, and about 15 dogs available.

"We'll probably increase our dogs now that we have more space," she says. The shelter moved from a 2,500-square-foot location to one that's 5,000 square feet.

It costs $85 to adopt a cat or kitten, and includes spaying or neutering, all shots and microchipping. Dogs cost $120. For more info, call (302) 427-8514.

Bella, Indeed!

Even the dogs are celebrating Italy's nail-biting World Cup victory over France. This photo was supplied by my sister-in-law as she, my brother and their two daughters vacationed on the Amalfi Coast.

Henrietta, One Sexy Chicken

Here's a dog toy that I guarantee is like no other: Henrietta, the handpainted, poly-filled latex dog toy ($14.95 for the large). She's the new chicken in town. And Alyce Duffy, owner of Whiskazz and Pawzz in Hockessin, says she's a hot chick-en and a hot seller.

Maybe it's her back story: She was raised on chicken farm in America's Heartland, but showed a gift for performing at an early age. When she grew up, she was off to Vegas with her dreams of fame. She was cast as a showgirl and for 20 years she wowed the crowds. Now retired, she lives in a "swanky trailer park near Fort Lauderdale."

Maybe it's the outfit. Or maybe, just maybe it's the squawk she makes when you squeeze her.

Random Thoughts on Milk Duds, Meerkats and Mice

You know the time when you get back from vacation and you switch your brain from "time-to- relax mode" back to "high-alert mode," right? I'm making that transition, and my brain has powered into random-and-rapid-fire mode, so here goes ... and not all of this will be about pets.

Looks like Regal Cinemas has brought back Milk Duds, Goobers and Raisinets. For years, all you could get at their concession stands were M&Ms and other Mars-brand treats. A colleague and I each complained to managers at Regal's Delaware theaters when our faves were removed. We were told the chain signed an exclusive contract. I even filled out suggestion cards and got back nice letters and free movie tickets, but no Milk Duds. So, thanks, Regal for bringing them back, and I promise not to sneak in a box anymore.

At the movies -- I saw "The Devil Wears Prada" and Meryl Streep proves she can do comedy as a modern-day Cruella de Ville of the fashion world -- there was a promo for "Meerkat Manor" at 8 p.m. Fridays on Animal Planet. If you're a Spark reader, you read a plug for the show there, too. It's a nature documentary series with a twist: A meerkat clan in southern Africa's Kalahari Desert turns out to be just as dysfunctional as that infamous brood on "Roseanne." The only problem is that the dysfunction sometimes has very real consequences as detailed by a Cambridge University crew that filmed the clan over 10 years. Time to fire up theTiVo.

And how do you entertain yourself on a holiday when you're not headed to the beach or a barbecue, and your spouse has taken himself to a walk-in clinic for a bad cold? You hang out in PetSmart and watch the mice run the wheel. My favorite moment was side-by-side racing -- call it Roller Derby for the small creature set. They're running the wheel side by side, when the one on the left stops, sending the one on the right upside down and hanging my a toenail. He lets go, falls to the bottom of the wheel and tumbles out. The wheel was left to the survivor. There's your new Animal Planet reality series: "Mice Racing: Win at Any Cost."

I'm Back from Vacation ... Enjoy These Photos

We're back from vacation in New Mexico and Las Vegas. Loved Albuquerque and especially Santa Fe, where you're as likely to see someone walking a golden retriever along the peaceful streets in this art colony as to see another car. Wonderfully calming.

A colleague sent me these photos of dogs dressed as movie characters. Love that Superdog and the spider from "Harry Potter," Yoda and especially the little dog with the microphone. Who dreams up these costumes? They have absolutely nothing to do with our trip, but I know others will enjoy them as much as I did. Back to regular posts this week.

If you have photos of your dogs in costume, e-mail them to me at jfredel@delawareonline.com. I'll get them posted.