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Plankton, base of ocean food web, in big decline
Study finds 40 percent drop since 1950s, ties it to warming seas


by SETH BORENSTEIN

updated 1 minute ago

WASHINGTON — Despite their tiny size, plant plankton found in the world’s oceans are crucial to much of life on Earth. They are the foundation of the bountiful marine food web, produce half the world’s oxygen and suck up harmful carbon dioxide.

They also are declining sharply.

Worldwide phytoplankton levels are down 40 percent since the 1950s, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature. The probable cause is global warming, which makes it hard for the plant plankton to get vital nutrients, researchers say.

The numbers are both staggering and disturbing, say the Canadian scientists who did the study and a top U.S. government scientist.

“It’s concerning because phytoplankton is the basic currency for everything going on in the ocean,” said Dalhousie University biology professor Boris Worm, a study co-author. “It’s almost like a recession … that has been going on for decades.”


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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38451744/ns/us_news-environ… /

Hugh Laurie, the award-winning actor, writer, director and musician has signed a recorded music deal with Warner Music Entertainment (WME), an imprint of the Warner Music Group. Laurie is the star of Fox’s hit drama series ‘House’, the world’s most-watched TV show, a role which has garnered him two Golden Globes, the People’s Choice and Teen Choice for Best Actor, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Television Critics Association Awards and five Emmy nominations. 

The agreement will see Laurie release a New Orleans blues album, to be recorded this summer and autumn, and distributed worldwide by Warner Bros Records. He will collaborate with a range of vocal and musical talent on the record with the goal of producing an album with mainstream, international appeal. Joe Henry, the acclaimed two-time Grammy Award winner, will produce the album. Henry has worked with diverse artists such as Teddy Thompson, Solomon Burke, Ani Di Franco, Aimee Mann, Loudon Wainwright III, Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint. His work on film scores includes ‘I’m Not There’ and ‘Knocked Up’ and he has co-written songs for Madonna and Madeleine Peyroux, amongst others. 

Laurie, who has played piano for much of his life, is predominantly self-taught (after creative differences with his childhood teacher) and has sung, performed and written music throughout his career. He is actively involved in the musical content used on ‘House’ and his character Gregory House has played blues piano and guitar regularly on the programme. Hugh is also keyboardist in the ‘Band From TV’ charity group and most recently contributed to a track on Meat Loaf’s latest album, produced by Rob Cavallo. 

Hugh Laurie said “I am drunk with excitement at this opportunity. I know the history of actors making music is a checkered one, but I promise no one will get hurt. I am particularly thrilled to be working with Joe Henry, who has produced some of my favourite records of all time, and I can’t wait to get started.” 

Joe Henry said “All musicians are actors to begin with – our jobs being to embody characters and articulate stories for three and four minutes at a time. I’ve been a great fan of Hugh’s work on screen, and believe purely that he is investing the same wit, intelligence and emotional generosity into his music.” 

Conrad Withey, President, Warner Music Entertainment said “I am a huge fan of all Hugh’s work and have enjoyed his musicianship on ‘House’ and in many other shows over the years. The world already knows how wonderfully versatile and talented Hugh is so this first album is an exciting opportunity to put the spotlight on his passion for New Orleans blues. 

Hugh is exactly the kind of artist that WME enjoys working with. We look forward to building on the incredible success Hugh has had in ‘House’ with a music project that will establish Hugh at the top of his game in a new artistic arena.” 

This past month, Senate Republicans filibustered against a bill to extend jobless benefits to over 2 million unemployed Americans, saying they were fiscally unwise and irresponsible given the current national deficit. It’s too bad all of these Republicans voted for Bush’s tax cuts:

Cost of Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthy for fiscal year 2010: $200 billion [source 1, 2] (Note: This only covers one year of the cost of Bush’s tax cuts, which are estimated to cost the US Treasury over $2.2 trillion if extended to 2020).

Cost of jobless benefits for fiscal year 2010: $34 Billion [Source 1]

Source: Wall Street Journal

WASHINGTON—Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the Obama administration will allow tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans to expire on schedule despite calls from a small but increasingly vocal group of Democrats to delay any tax increases.

Mr. Geithner said the White House will allow taxes on top earners to increase on Jan. 1, 2011, as part of an effort to help bring down the mounting budget deficit. He said the White House still plans to extend tax cuts for middle- and lower-income Americans and expects to undertake a broader tax overhaul next year.

“We believe it is appropriate to let those tax cuts that go to the most fortunate expire,” Mr. Geithner said at a breakfast with reporters, hosted by the Christian Science Monitor. 

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Mr. Geithner said there is “still some uncertainty about how strong the recovery is going to be,” which may be impacting spending decisions by businesses and individuals. But he discounted that as a reason to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for top earners, saying most private forecasts show moderate economic growth and increasing public confidence in the recovery.