The location of the sightseers’ and honeymooners’ allure, one Niagara Falls, moves approximately 5 feet upstream each year (natural erosion).

One slang phrase for lobster is “sea bug.” These so-called sea bugs had become so abundant in the 18th century along America’s northeast coastline that the crustaceans were sometimes used as a field fertilizer. The lobsters were despised as a food source and were often included in prison inmates’ meals in order to extend a stern admonition as to how harsh conditions could be for those committing crimes.

The newt is a diminutive salamander with remarkable regenerative capabilities regarding legs, internal organs and skin. Medical researchers and biologists have recently removed a particular newt’s eye lens more than a dozen times and each time the newt has grown a new lens biologically identical to the original. The hope is to someday understand the process well enough to regrow body parts on humans.

Norman Rockwell is an American artist who became famous partially because he created more than 300 covers for The Saturday Evening Post and a particular soft drink company (see image page right). What many folks do not know is that an artist named J. C. Leyendecker drew more covers for that particular magazine than did the renowned Rockwell.

Reclamation: New Zealand’s Campbell Island suffered the fate of many unspoiled isles once rats were locally introduced. Literal havoc was wreaked upon the indigenous wildlife, especially the native birds. However, after an operose (clean word) campaign, the island has been declared rat-free. (One wonders whether a similar campaign might succeed in D.C.) Native flora and fauna are making remarkable recoveries on Campbell Island.

The widely-recognized Chevrolet insignia was copied from some wallpaper designs that Billy Durant deemed attractive while in Paris (1913). Mr. Durant (founder of General Motors) ordered that the symbol that he “originated” was to be emblazoned on all his new Chevrolet automobiles.

For decades pioneers feared a mysterious disease that caused extreme pain and death. The mother of Abraham Lincoln was felled by the affliction in 1818. It was not until 1927 that “trained medical researchers” were able to determine that the cause of the malady was an herb known as white snakeroot. Whenever cows happen to eat this plant, milk from said bovines becomes deadly toxic for humans. An ironic bit of trivia is that the Shawnee medicine men had long known about the effects of white snakeroot but apparently were never asked.

Well, you might plan a visit to Niagara Falls before the natural wonder disappears – and do have a pleasant weekend.

After weeks of gathering opposition to the Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST), U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, yesterday declared victory.  

Inhofe has been the leader in encouraging his Senate colleagues to oppose the measure, garnering 31 signatures of opposition in a letter Inhofe drafted to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). 

Two other Members, U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), wrote their own letter of opposition, and a third, U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), publically announced he will vote against LOST, bringing the total opposed to 34 members.  Senate ratification of a treaty requires 67 votes in favor, therefore LOST will not be ratified.
 
"This is Victory Day for U.S. sovereignty in the Senate,” said Inhofe.  “There is not one concrete example that can be made where a company would benefit from our involvement in the Law of the Sea Treaty. Furthermore, this is the first time in history that an international organization, the U.N., would possess taxing authority, transferring potentially billions of dollars from the U.S. Treasury.  The treaty also would give the U.N. the ability to regulate 70 percent of the earth’s surface.  With 34 opposed to LOST, this debate is over. It is time for the Senate to move on and focus on important issues such as addressing Sequestration, passing National Defense Authorization Act, and preventing the looming massive tax hike on the American people.”
 
A copy of the letter is available on Inhofe’s website by clicking here.