Free Republic

When Discovery Communications launched the Animal Planet channel in 1996, network executives hunted for a star to help distinguish it from the staid, narrated documentaries that were the hallmark of animal shows.

TERRI IRWIN, the widow of Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin today spoke for the first time about the loss of her "soulmate" in a freak accident off the north Queensland coast.In a statement read by her father-in-law Bob Irwin today, Mrs Irwin described her late husband as as her "soul mate" and thanked the community for their "overwhelming outpouring of love, support and prayers". Bob Irwin today announced the details of a memorial service for the larger than life conservationist and television personaility. It will be held at Australia Zoo on Queensland's Sunshine Coast next Wednesday.Irwin, 44, died last Monday when...

We have, in some respects, become a nation of too much. Too much money, too much gluttony, too much time on our hands. The other day I read of children completing sixth grade whose parents pay for limousines to take them to the graduation ceremony. The story mentioned that some kindergartners are also getting the limo treatment. What are these kiddies going to expect when finally they get socially promoted out of high school? Another symptom of excess is the close to irrational way we treat pets. Don’t get me wrong. I like animals a great deal and think they...