Hear ye, hear ye
Published 11:13 pm Friday, May 21, 2010
Don’t tell the old fogies: Microsoft is marketing its new Kin cell phones to teens and young adults with surprise concerts by groups including Passion Pit and the Black Keys, but the details about where and when will only be released through social media, including Twitter posts, Facebook updates and blog posts.
Older adults who feel left out can expect to learn of concerts for the Eagles and Billy Idol when Microsoft sends out teams of town criers and people with posters and buckets of glue.
And not the mint cookie kind: Scientists in Eastern Washington are predicting the worst grasshopper outbreak in 30 years after a mild spring and the discovery of an increase in the number of grasshopper eggs.
Just in case, scientists are also carefully watching local populations of frogs, lice and flies.
For the birds: A study in England found that, given a choice, songbirds preferred conventionally grown wheat to grain that was grown organically, 55 percent to 45 percent. Scientists believe the birds preferred the nonorganic wheat because it had a higher protein content.
However, the birds were more likely to bring canvas shopping bags with them to the feeders than they were to ask for paper or plastic bags.
