By Jason Atkinson, on Fri Sep 21, 2012 at 8:30 AM ET  Today we go public: Why the Klamath Matters
I want to share the story of an historic water-sharing agreement which will restore salmon, clean water and – most importantly – peace and prosperity, to one of the most beautiful regions in America.
The Klamath River has been a passion of mine, for my entire life.
Here in western America, where farmers are pitted against fish, states’ rights are bogged in years of lawsuits, native tribes struggle for existence and fish issues are considered partisan, the Klamath River story is unique…because for the first time a win/win, human and ecosystem solution, in the form of a historic water-sharing agreement is what’s at stake.
Recently a remarkable pact has been signed, calling for the largest dam removal project in the world, a path forward to end one of the most bitter resource struggles in our history. Years of negotiations between federal officials, tribes, irrigators, power corporations and conservation groups will lead to restoration that supports and enhances fishing, farming, and ranching…the backbone of Klamath’s economy and the heart of the Klamath Basin.
As a 4th generation steelheader raised on the middle river in California, the waters of the once-wild Klamath feed my dreams and sustain my soul. My grandparents – Grandma, a Reagan hating liberal, and Big Tom, an Eisenhower Republican – gave me the mantel to restore this river.
Now I’m turning to you to help make restoration of the Klamath a reality. Together, we will bring the story to the big screen, inspiring others to follow our path forward towards a world in balance.
Here’s an introductory video:
Our plan is simple: raise 10% of our budget from our friends grassroots style, start shooting this fall, show our grassroots support to our first funder (yet to be landed, a lot of interested groups) to get thefirst $150k in, then our second funder (already ready for $80-100K) and then our finish funder (real solid interest from friends in philanthropy), then distribute nationally, (Nat Geo, PBS, History- lots of interest here) then change the world of conservation. Today we launch, and you can help in three ways:
1. Go to our site, and make a contribution of any size.
2. Send the link to anyone you know and help generate buzz.
3. If you can it would greatly help if: you have suggestions, can make introductions, or other thoughts regarding the above plan.
Read the rest of…
Jason Atkinson: Why the Klamath Matters
By Chris Schulz, RP Staff, on Fri Aug 10, 2012 at 3:00 PM ET Scientists are already trying to explain an anomaly in some of the pictures from the Curiosity rover. [latimes]
The next step is of course sending humans to Mars. [pcmag]
It should come as no surprise that July was officially the hottest month on record. [nytimes]
The US begins its first official project to clean up Agent Orange in Vietnam. [bbc]
Scientists are working on a new glass that will prevent the estimated hundreds of millions of birds from running into it and dying every year. [npr]
By John Y. Brown III, on Thu Aug 9, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET  Dear Olympics,
A modest proposal.
In the future, if you want to pull in a bigger and broader audience and gin up some fun and dazzling sports competition, please have fewer athletic events that seem selected by a prep school athletic director and more sporting events drawn from popular street ball pick up games.
Thank you, John
By Jeff Smith, on Wed Aug 1, 2012 at 1:30 PM ET Check out this one from Tom Friedman [New York Times] and this one [Economist] and let us know what you think.
By Chris Schulz, RP Staff, on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 2:00 PM ET This summer’s heat is affecting more than just the nation’s farmers. [nytimes.com]
Adding iron to the ocean can help stem climate change, but what could the negative consequences be? [npr.org]
Part of the interconnectedness of our planet is the spread of disease through air travel. MIT took a look at the 10 airports that spread the most disease. [cnn.com]
The federal government creates energy zones for the development of solar power. [latimes.com]
By Jonathan Miller, on Thu Jul 26, 2012 at 7:40 AM ET  The RPette and I made a detour on our visit to Israel to check out the Jewish State’s most friendly neighbor, Jordan. We checked out Petra, one of the seven modern wonders of the world, and the hype was no exaggeration.
Our first visit was to the Treasury, Petra’s most elaborate ruin, which is hewn into the sandstone cliff. Harrison Ford and Sean Connery filmed Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade here, so I tried to bring some Kentucky blue to the Hoosier mentality.
The majestic work, which was probably constructed between 100 BCE and 200 CE ,was named for the rumor that pirates often hid their loot in it. My attempt to throw around the fact that I ran the Kentucky Treasury for eight years was met by confused shrugs and offers to ride a camel.
We moved on to Petra’s famed amphitheater, which was built by the Nabataeans out of the rock around 1 CE. It originally had 11 rows with 300 seats. Later, after the Romans conquered Petra in 106 CE, they increased the seating capacity to between 3000-4000 people.
I delivered what I thought was a very powerful speech about financial literacy and Texas hold ’em poker, but unfortunately the historic address met upon deaf ears, except of course for one very embarrassed teenage girl.
 Finally, after the Jordanians got wind that I was an inveterate gambler — and after one two many awful “Air Jordan” and “Crossing Jordan” jokes — we were thrown out of the country to return to our Zionist roots.
The picture at left was snapped by a Jordanian security official upon the condition that should the RPette ever return, it would be with her mother instead.
By RP Staff, on Tue Jul 24, 2012 at 1:30 PM ET While traveling through the Jewish State, The RP was interviewed about his new book, The Liberal Case for Israel by The Times of Israel. Here’s a clip:
 Q: Your book debunks “eight crazy lies” about the Jewish State. Are they actually lies, or possibly misunderstandings?
A: There are many misunderstanding, but I identify untruths that really do rise to the level of crazy lies. This includes the libel that Israel is an Apartheid state and the ridiculous notion that Israel promotes gay tourism as a way to “pinkwash” its faults.
Q: One of the lies you debunk in the book is the use of the word “apartheid” when referring to Israel. In brief, what is your argument against this lie?
A: Arab citizens of Israel have all of the same rights and responsibilities as their Jewish neighbors (with one exception — military conscription which is now being debated.) This thoroughly refutes the notion that there is apartheid. Even in the disputed territories, Palestinian engage in self-government — a completely opposite approach of the former apartheid regime in South Africa.
Click here for the full article, and click here to purchase The Liberal Case for Israel.
The RP was also interviewed by Israel’s Titan Poker Blog for his exploits in Las Vegas a few weeks ago. Click here to read the entertaining interview.
By RP Staff, on Tue Jul 24, 2012 at 9:15 AM ET  It’s official: The RP is a very, very, very old man.
To commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Six Day War (and his ignominious birthday milestone), The RP is traveling the Jewish State with Mrs. RP and an RPette. The big birthday celebration will be held in Eilat, on a cruise boat in the Red Sea. At the conclusion, The RP will part the Red Sea, a la Moses.
(Hey, it couldn’t be much more difficult than reaching a World Series of Poker final table!)
Above, The RP is enjoying four of his favorite things: an RPette, his birthday hat, the State of Israel, and the country’s largest solar installation at Kibbutz Katura in the Negev desert in Southern Israel.
If you want to join in the commemoration of this dreadful day, please feel free to add your birthday wishes in the comments below.
By RP Staff, on Mon Jul 23, 2012 at 9:15 AM ET
OK, this one’s too easy for a contest.
Instead, we will challenge you to a more important question.
With his new hat, is The RP setting a new fashion trend? Or is this a major fashion FAIL?
Please comment below
By Chris Schulz, RP Staff, on Fri Jul 20, 2012 at 3:00 PM ET A European pest has found its way to the US for the first time. [yahoo.com]
Climate change is forcing behavioral and evolutionary changes in salmon. [nytimes.com]
A 77 mile long iceberg breaks off from Greenland, is this more evidence of climate change? [bbc.co.uk]
Lastly, a video of a diver being snuck up on by a 10-foot long shark. [grindtv.com]
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Today we go public: Why the Klamath Matters
