The Weekly Roundup

Thursday, Feb. 2
From our It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane… Files, be on the lookout for pigeons
with cell phones over the South Bay. The Mercury News reports that San Jose
is about to get it’s own set of highly callibrated air pollution detection
devices–a flock of pigeons. “A flock of pigeons fitted with mobile phone
backpacks is to be used to monitor air pollution, New Scientist magazine
reported. The 20 pigeons will be released into the skies over San Jose,
California, in August. Each bird will carry a GPS satellite tracking
receiver, air pollution sensors and a basic mobile phone.”

Meanwhile, the governor helped OC Sheriff Mike Carona set a record for a
local candidate fundraiser last night, reports Martin Wisckol in the
Register. “Schwarzenegger, the guest speaker, fondly recounted his
4-year-old friendship with Carona and compared his generous praise to the
Valentine’s Day sentiments he’ll be delivering to his wife, Maria Shriver.

“‘No matter what my schedule was, I wouldn’t have missed this event,’ he
told about 460 people in the resort ballroom. ‘I would go through anything
for Mike Carona. … There’s no other person who should be sheriff for the
next four years. He’s the man.'”

Friday, Feb. 3
From our Call Me Ishmael Files: “A gray whale smashed into a 27-foot boat,
damaging the vessel and injuring one person, the boat’s owner said.”
“The Bayliner was cruising off Leadbetter Beach [off Santa Barbara] shortly
before 6 p.m. Wednesday when the whale surfaced under the right bow and
belly-flopped onto the boat, crushing the cabin, said owner Jerry Gormley.”

Saturday, Feb. 4
The Chronicle’s Matier and Ross review the cars driven by state legislators,
finding that one-fourth now drive hybrids. Legislative leaders, however, are
“behind the green curve.” “Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland,
is still sporting a gas-motored 2005 Dodge Charger, while Assembly Speaker
Fabian Nu