It almost sounds like something sci-fi, doesn't it? Like the end of the film 'The Planet of the Apes...'
Anyway, here is the mundane article that I was sent to after reading such a humorous news herald/headline...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,191053,00.html
By JOSEPH B. FRAZIER, Associated Press Writer Fri Mar 31, 5:15 PM ET
CASCADE LOCKS, Ore. - In his way, C404 is kind of cute, with those sea-lion whiskers, soft brown eyes and furry little head. But to many he is a sea lion either from hell — or from Harvard.
Numerous sea lions head for the dam each spring, but C404 is in a class by himself.
He has figured out how to get into fish ladders that help fish past the dam — where endangered salmon and other fish become his easy prey.
The engineers have used everything legal to get rid of the California sea lion, who may weigh 1,000 pounds or more. They have installed grated exclusion gates and tried huge firecackers, rockets, rubber bullets, and noises sea lions don't like.
But C404 has given them the flipper.
He and a handful of cohorts already are waiting for the spring run of chinook salmon, which starts in earnest in April.
Then C404, named because of a brand applied by a state and federal program, will personify a larger problem, as 100 or more of his buddies join him.
Last year they ate about 3.5 percent of the migrating run at a time when salmon numbers were down and demand was up. This year's commercial salmon season may be cancelled because of river problems elsewhere. The loss percentage is climbing.
Robert Stansell, a fish biologist at Bonneville with the Corps of Engineers, knows the lively and alert C404 all too well.
"If he were in a litter of puppies, he's the one you would pick," he said.
He said C404 has been showing up each year since at least 2003 and has learned to rub it in. Last year he appeared in a window where fish counters keep track of salmon migrating upstream. The data helps predict the size of future runs.
"He even rolled over a little so we could get a look at his brand," Stansell said.
Other marine mammals haven't learned to pull that trick off.
Stansell says the sea lions are intelligent and can be taught. He would rather they not be taught by C404.
But he said the animals are showing up earlier and in greater numbers, and they are staying later. Now they have begun crawling onto the rocks to rest.
"They're becoming comfortable here," he said.
The run peaks in about September, but the sea lions head back to southern California breeding grounds around late May when the water temperature in the river rises.
They'll be back next year with their friends, and maybe their friends' friends too.
The animals have always been in the river. But now that the fish mass at the base of the dam, they provide a quick and easy meal for the sea lions.
C404 and his kind aren't endangered, but they are protected under the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act and can't be killed.
Incorrigibles can be singled out for "lethal removal," a long, complicated process, Stansell said.
He said that nearly happened at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, where sea lions that nearly wiped out a winter steelhead run in the 1990s were marked for death.
But the Humane Society sued and then- President Clinton urged clemency. The worst of the miscreants were packed off to Sea World in Orlando, Fla. Then-Vice President Al Gore called Sea World to say thanks.
BY THE WAY, THIS IS NOT AN APRIL FOOLS JOKE!
Some of you have heard me rant and rave about avoiding trans-fatty-acids (partially hydrogenated fats) in your food... but here's something you should attempt to avoid in your soap, shampoo, and conditioner type products, especially if you have sensitive skin: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS); sodium laureth-3 sulphates; and DEA or TEA sodium lauryl sulphates. Technically, the chemical is in about 90% of most soap style products... and is a known skin irritant, and is also used in industrial cleaning (heavy chemical cleanup).
I've been having trouble during cold weather with itchy skin, but no flaking... and turned to researching new products to try and alleviate the mild irritation. I have tried natural soaps/organic products... and various moisturizers... trying different samples and options at my local Whole Food's grocery store. The switch to better soap (those without SLS's) met with success - concerning the whole skin irritation problem, plus my mild dandruff condition has improved!
Where do I find these safer soap options? Some Crabtree and Evelyn products are clear of this stuff, along with Thymes products, vegetable glycerin based products, and many other lines of organic or natural soap... If you play your cards right, you won't have to spend too much more on attempting an alternative from SLS based items. Many ebay sellers offer home-made options of quality product at a nice cheap bulk rate. Look for a seller with good feedback. One side effect of moisturizing/parfum based soaps (that guys might run into) is that they don't always get rid of body oder very well (i.e. underarm). Problem solved... buy some 'natural' antibacterial hand soap for those underarms... leave it on for 60 seconds, and case closed: this brand works for me - EO Liquid Hand Soap, Peppermint & Tea Tree (and it doesn't take much to do the job). 
I'm not saying to drop all your current SLS products at one time... But go out and experiment with a natural soap, instead of these detergent based SLS type products (Dial, Toni & Guy, etc) and see if you notice an improvement in skin/hair condition. One way to make the transition is to phase out the old soap with the new.
Most of what you might buy at Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Central Market, and health food stores will not contain this harsh chemical. If you dont' have sensitive skin, maybe you've never worried about this issue. If you'd like smoother, cleaner feeling skin... I urge you to try this out! If you want to know what other soaps and shampoos have worked for me, post your question in the comments section.
Also, if you're still reading... I pledge here and now to send an free SLS free bar of soap to the first 4 people who make a comment in this blog article, and email me their physical address: Banana Republic Classic 8.5+ ounce - NEW (I happened to get 14 bars of the great smelling discontinued stuff for under $3.00 each, lol).
Here are two mostly un-biased SLS info links.
http://www.greenpeople.co.uk/Organics_Features_SLS.htm
http://homepages.tig.com.au/~pvzalm/earthhaven/and%20-Laurel%20Sulphates
SCIENCE NEWS UPDATES: 
Lately I've been in the global warming camp that alludes to the fact that geological emissions create more damage to the ozone layer than humans, by a large percentage. However, that doesn't mean that humankind should cut back on efforts to stop pollution or nasty emissions. It is my belief that pollution poses the greatest global threat, above greenhouse emissions, and war. However, I have a lot to accomplish concerning being called a worthy recycler of materials, and what not.
Here are some interesting new links on the environment, etc. Also, I believe ocean currents and their effect on weather, etc. is quite overlooked in the media.
Geologic Evidence for previous global warming trends:
http://www.livescience.com/environment/050120_great_dying.html
Could global warming spur global cooling?:
http://www.livescience.com/forcesofnature/041217_sealevel_rise.html
Glacier National Park: Down to 26 glaciers from 150! (Check out the links at the bottom of this page, very interesting and worth your time: various theories on global warming effects).
Essays from the Patagonia Web site... links for buying organic & 'recycled material' clothing (remember, one way to join the recycling movement is to buy used clothes - ebay, thrift, etc.):
http://www.patagonia.com/enviro/reports/archive_enviro.shtml
http://www.veoh.com/channel.html?channelId=9&network=Cult+Classics
http://msn-cnet.com.com/Its+the+site+of+the+living+dead%2C+as+cult+films+hit+Web/2100-1025_3-6047466.html?part=msn-cnet&subj=ns_3-6047466&tag=tg_ns (for more general information)
Yes, you've heard it... Yes, its true... Find those hard to obtain older films, cult-classics, sci-fi/horror reels, and sundry unusual plots - all for free on video streaming/download!!!!!
Memorable genre titles are waiting at the click of a mouse button: Metropolis; Night of the Living Dead; House on Haunted Hill, kung-fu films, and many others...
One thing I like while studying: listening to good ambient, IDM, electronic, and micronaut style music...
Check out www.somafm.org for an unusual treat in the free music department. Extremely low hassle, and the music plays in seconds!
Song of the Week
She Lay Her Whip Down -- Jeff Bridges
Being a fan of the film 'The Big Lebowski' - and combing the internet for film related material - I stumbled across this 'little ditty' from an album by the actor Jeff Bridges. Aside from memorable performances in Thunderbolt & Lightfoot, White Squall, The Last Picture Show, and other films, Jeff has done a decent job crafting his laid back 'California beat' blues/rock album - 'Be Here Soon'. The Album was produced a year after 'Lebowski' - with supporting vocals (that you might recognize) successfully sewn in by noteworthy artist Michael McDonald.
Here is my favorite track from the album entitled - She Lay Her Whip Down.
Download she_lay_her_whip_down_jeff_bridges.mp3
(Right click and choose 'Save As' if you have problems accessing this file automatically)
(click on the pic)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcosanti
Ok, has anyone heard of this place in Arizona called Arcosanti? When you read about the concept, it sounds like an urban development chocolate cake of sorts... But the fact that approximtely only 100 people can be caught 'living' there at any time (when it was originally conceived for 3000+ persons); the fact that they haven't produced many scientific results/observations/upbuilding-trends over the years since its initial developement - to further buffet overpopulation problems (including the fact that it may take several decades to complete construction); and the fact that they use MACs... all lead me to critically scrutinize what's going on at this place.
My second thoughts are that this little village (built for studying urban issues) is cranked up for sophist-minded sociologists/scientists who think they've created an socialistic 'eco-ivory tower' of sorts for themselves (basically, an upscale commune).
Does this place grow its own food? Because where do they 'renew' all of the water that they use to keep biological lifeforms perpetuating themselves (in the middle of a god-forsaken desert)?
One thing is for sure, I plan to visit the physical site, if I'm ever in Arizona again (which would be a waste of this author's time if I were there for any other reason than visiting a national park/monument area). I'll make a whole new category for the blog, just for that trip - entitled: The Strange and the Superfluous.
But oh well... When I read their 'job opportunites' section for a network administrator, I was suspicious of their true scientific credulity when I saw that MACs were the primary OS!
To learn more about Arcosanti theory, read this clip about SOFT!
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What is School of Thought?
It is a weekly open dialogue with Dr.Paolo Soleri examining his writings and philosophies. The main purpose of School of Thought (SOFT) is to study and seek to define "The Lean Alternative", especially as it manifests itself in Arcology Theory and Soleri 's hypotheses. It is also intended to provide both people passing through and those living and working at Arcosanti with a foundation to think about and discuss Arcosanti, Arcology, and Paolo Soleri. The ongoing nature of SOFT will allow the group to cover a range of topics, return to central ideas on a regular basis, and delve more deeply into these dense and complex concepts and writings by Soleri. The continuing exchange with Dr. Soleri will provide clarifications for what is being attempted at Arcosanti.
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Hmmm, the whole concept of SOFT is starting to sound like bologna to me.. gourmet bologna.
For further tangent thoughts, check out what the Japanese are cooking up:
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