Coffee from an elephant's gut fills a $50 cup

GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Thailand (AP) — In the lush hills of northern Thailand, a herd of 20 elephants is excreting some of the world's most expensive coffee.

Trumpeted as earthy in flavor and smooth on the palate, the exotic new brew is made from beans eaten by Thai elephants and plucked a day later from their dung. A gut reaction inside the elephant creates what its founder calls the coffee's unique taste.

Stomach turning or oddly alluring, this is not just one of the world's most unusual specialty coffees. At $1,100 per kilogram ($500 per pound), it's also among the world's priciest.
For now, only the wealthy or well-traveled have access to the cuppa, which is called Black Ivory Coffee. It was launched last month at a few luxury hotels in remote corners of the world — first in northern Thailand, then the Maldives and now Abu Dhabi — with the price tag of about $50 a serving.

The Associated Press traveled to the coffee's production site in the Golden Triangle, an area historically known for producing drugs more potent than coffee, to see the jumbo baristas at work. And to sip the finished product from a dainty demi-tasse.

In the misty mountains where Thailand meets Laos and Burna, the coffee's creator cites biology and scientific research to answer the basic question: Why elephants?

"When an elephant eats coffee, its stomach acid breaks down the protein found in coffee, which is a key factor in bitterness," said Blake Dinkin, who has spent $300,000 developing the coffee. "You end up with a cup that's very smooth without the bitterness of regular coffee."

The result is similar in civet coffee, or kopi luwak, another exorbitantly expensive variety extracted from the excrement of the weasel-like civet. But the elephants' massive stomach provides a bonus.

Source :  Coffee from an elephant's gut fills a $50 cup

US public offered prizes for python hunt

 PEOPLE in Florida will have their mettle tested as the wildlife service seeks help in eradicating the giant Burmese python. 
 
The public has been asked to join in a month-long hunt for the invasive species, which, lacking natural predators, snacks on native birds, deer, bobcats and other large animals, some of them protected.
Cash prizes up to $US1,500 ($A1,400) will be up for grabs in the January program of "harvesting" the giant snakes, organised by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

"Increasing public awareness about Burmese pythons and how this invasive species is a threat to the Everglades ecosystem, including native wildlife, is the goal of the 2013 Python Challenge," a statement said.
The environmental challenge is open not only to "python permit holders" but also ordinary members of the public.

A Burmese python was found for the first time in Florida's Everglades swamp in 1979, where it may have been abandoned by a pet owner. It has taken 21 years to become an established species there.
There are now hundreds of thousands of the snakes slithering across southern Florida. In August, University of Florida scientists examined a record 5.36-metre specimen that had 87 eggs.

Source: US public offered prizes for python hunt

Seattle marijuana advocates mark Washington's new cannabis laws

• Washington state first in US where it is legal to smoke pot
• Legislation approved by voters in the US general election
• Marijuana use for any purpose still a federal crime

MARIJUANA advocates have rejoiced by lighting joints under Seattle's iconic Space Needle as Washington became the first state in the US where it is legal to smoke pot for recreational purposes. Washington state had been among 20 US states to allow the uses of marijuana for physician-approved medicinal purposes.

A voter approved law legalising same sex marriage also came into force on Thursday, with some 300 licences issued to gay couples in the first hours after the law went into effect at midnight.

Supporters of gay marriage were equally jubilant about their new law with many lining up for hours to be among the first to get same sex marriage licences at midnight.

Because the state has a three-day waiting period, the earliest that weddings can take place is Sunday.
Washington was one of three states, along with Maine and Maryland, to approve same-sex marriage in the November elections.

They joined New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the District of Columbia that have previously enacted laws or issued court rulings permitting same-sex marriage.

Source : Seattle marijuana advocates mark Washington's new cannabis laws

Head to the moon for a mere $700m

A TEAM of former NASA executives is launching a private venture to send people to the moon for a price that is definitely out of this world.

 

For $US1.5 billion ($1.4 billion), the newly formed business is offering countries a two-person trip to the moon, either for research or national prestige.

NASA's last trip to the moon was 40 years ago. The United States was the only country that landed people there, beating the Soviet Union in a space race to the moon that transfixed the world.

But once the race ended, there has been only sporadic interest in the moon. US President Barack Obama cancelled NASA's planned return to the moon, saying America had already been there.

But the firm has talked to other countries, which are showing interest in going, said former NASA associate administrator Alan Stern, who is president of the new Golden Spike Company. Mr Stern said he's looking at countries like South Africa, South Korea, and Japan.

"It's not about being first. It's about joining the club," Mr Stern said.

 

Soure: Head to the moon for a mere $700m

Wave hits Japan after Pacific quake

A ONE-metre-high tsunami has hit Japan's northeast coast, the country's meteorological agency says. 
 
The wave was recorded in Ishinomaki, a city in Miyagi prefecture that was badly hit by the tsunami of March 2011, which killed thousands.

Earlier, a strong earthquake struck off the coast of northeastern Japan in the same region that was hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.3 and struck in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Miyagi prefecture. The epicentre was 10km beneath the seabed.
Initial warnings said the tsunami could be as high as 2m.

There is no tsunami warning current for Australia or neighbouring nations.
NHK television broke off regular programming to warn that a strong quake was due to hit shortly before the earthquake struck. Afterward, the announcer repeatedly urged all near the coast to flee to higher ground.

YouTube video has begun to appear showing the streets flooded with worried residents.

Full Story :  Wave hits Japan after Pacific quake