Here's a big huge international movement Homer can support. According to a World Wildlife Fund press release received at Betster Galactic Headquarters, momentum is building in support of Earth Hour. Globally recognized landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge will go dark in each time zone at 8 p.m. local time March 29.
Starting in New Zealand, cities will turn off their lights in successive time zones as far west as Pacific Daylight Saving Time to "join the climate change movement sweeping the world," the press release says.
Holy Tropic of Capricorn! Homer is so on top of this. We've already formed a Global Warming Task Force and issued a 674-page (with appendices) Climate Action Plan. We're on the ball here at Latitude 59 degrees. Whether you think global climate change is a vast liberal crunchball granola conspiracy or the end of the world as we know it, hey, for once we can show the world we care. We can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the world and make a difference.
So come 8 p.m. Saturday that's a whole 49 minutes before sundown don't turn on your lights. Keep your house dark. OK, semi-dark. OK, just enjoy springtime as usual, with ever lengthening days and late sunsets. But shhh, if any of your greenie friends in the Lower 48 ask "Did Homer go dark for Earth Hour?" tell 'em you kept the lights off for them.
And while you're being all smug, hey, think about the energy you're saving this summer and celebrate a little, maybe with some of these Best Bets:
BEST "HELLO MY NAME IS" BET: New to town? Starting a new business and want to meet the movers and shakers? Hey, what better way than to drop in at the monthly Homer Chamber of Commerce Mixer. This month it's 5:30-7:30 p.m. today at Smoky Bay Natural Foods. Chamber members and guests welcome.
BEST LIVE FROM LA BET: Bunnell Street Gallery has been bringing some great theater to town. This weekend Jamie M. Fox that's the actress, one X, ravishing red hair, not the black guy presents "inDEPENDENCE," a multi-character play about a family dealing with a brother and son's drug addiction. Heavy stuff, yeah, but Fox has her roots in improv comedy, so expect some humor. The play opens at 7 p.m. today and plays at 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday. See story, page 16.
BEST GO WHERE I'M GOING BET: In Jean Cocteau's "Beauty and the Beast," to get to the Beast's castle, Belle climbed on the back of Magnifique, a great white horse, and said, "Go where I'm going. Go, go, go!" You don't need a horse to find Homer High's version of "Beauty and the Beast." Head to the Mariner Theatre and catch the magic of the Disney musical, "Beauty and the Beast." Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 3 p.m. Saturday. For ticket information, see page 16.
BEST WHERE THE BEARS ARE BET: Not everyone comes to Homer for the halibut. In our big backyard on lower Cook Inlet you can see huge, magnificent, like awesome, dude, brown bears. Learn about the bears and birds and flowers, too of Kamishak Bay, when naturalist Dale Chorman presents a slideshow at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center, part of a meeting of the Kachemak Bay Conservation Society.
BEST MY FRIEND FLICKA BET: Well, gosh, cowpokes, if you love horses, you ought to head on out to Alice's Champagne Palace at 6 p.m. Saturday for this big Kachemak Bay Equestrian Association fund-raiser and hoe-down. There will be some rootin' tootin' cowboy poetry, good grub, dancing and music by the Seafarin' Strangers. Tickets are $25.
