7/25/03

LC030725

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

REACHING FOR THE STARS AND TRYING TO CASH IN ON A HUGE PRIZE.

PETER DIAMANDIS>> IT'S GOING TO BE OFFERED TO THE FIRST PRIVATE TEAM WHO CAN BUILD A SPACESHIP THAT CAN THREE ADULTS, FLY A HUNDRED KILOMETERS, SIXTY-TWO MILES UP INTO SPACE, COME BACK DOWN AND, THE IMPORTANT IS, MAKE THE TRIP AGAIN WITHIN TWO WEEKS.

VAL>> AND THEN, POLLUTION-FREE MUSIC POWERED BY THE SUN. WE'LL FIND OUT HOW ONE LOCAL MUSICIAN HAS TAPPED INTO NATURE'S ENERGY.

ALL THIS AND MORE STRAIGHT AHEAD ON TONIGHT'S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

VAL>> HELLO, I'M VAL ZAVALA AND WE'RE STARTING WITH A LOOK AT A NEW RACE FOR SPACE. IT'S NOT LIKE THE ONE WE ALL REMEMBER, PITTING AMERICA AGAINST THE RUSSIANS. THIS TIME IT'S ALL ABOUT PRIVATE ENTERPRISE. INDIVIDUALS, NOT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, BLAZING A NEW TRAIL INTO SPACE. AND BEYOND THE GLORY OF GETTING THERE, THERE'S A HUGE PRIZE AT STAKE. NEWSHOUR CORRESPONDENT, JEFFREY KAYE, TELLS US ONE OF THE FRONT RUNNERS IS AN AVIATION PIONEER WHO HAS SOME STRONG SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ROOTS.

>> "I MEAN THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL. IT WENT DOWN VERY RAPIDLY."

JEFFREY KAYE>> FROM THE DAWN OF THE SPACE AGE THROUGH THE APOLLO MOON LANDINGS --

>> "YES, INDEED. THEY'VE GOT THE FLAG UP NOW."

JEFFREY KAYE>> -- TO TODAY'S SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM --

>> "ROGER ROLL, ATLANTIS."

JEFFREY KAYE>> -- SPACE FLIGHT HAS BEEN A LARGELY GOVERNMENT-RUN OPERATION. NATIONAL SPACE AGENCIES AND MILITARIES HAVE RUN THE PROGRAMS, PLANNED THE MISSIONS AND PICKED AND TRAINED THE ASTRONAUTS, BUT GOVERNMENT'S MONOPOLY ON SPACE TRAVEL IS ENDING. AEROSPACE ENTHUSIASTS RECENTLY GATHERED IN A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AIRCRAFT HANGAR TO SEE A VEHICLE THAT COULD MAKE HISTORY. IT'S A COMPLETELY PRIVATELY BUILT AND OPERATED SPACESHIP THAT COULD LAUNCH WITHIN A YEAR.

BURT RUTAN>> IF THE SPACESHIP COULD GO THIS WAY AND THE WHITE KNIGHT GO THAT...

JEFFREY KAYE>> THE CRAFT'S CREATOR IS AEROSPACE ENGINEER AND ENTREPRENEUR, BURT RUTAN, A MAN WHO DREAMS OF USHERING IN AN ERA OF AFFORDABLE AND ROUTINE PRIVATE SPACE TRAVEL.

BURT RUTAN>> I'M GOING TO SAFELY SEND THREE PEOPLE TO SPACE MULTIPLE TIMES IN THIS LITTLE CRAFT, THIS LITTLE THING THAT COSTS LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF WHAT THE COST WOULD BE IN A GOVERNMENT DEVELOPED PROGRAM, PROBABLY HALF A PERCENT.

JEFFREY KAYE>> RUTAN IS NO PIE IN THE SKY DREAMER. HIS AIRCRAFT DESIGNS HAVE MADE HIM A LEGENDARY FIGURE IN THE AEROSPACE WORLD. ALTHOUGH RUTAN'S SPACESHIP IS MONTHS AWAY FROM A LAUNCH, THE CRAFT'S MOTHER SHIP CALLED "WHITE KNIGHT" HAS ALREADY TAKEN TO THE SKIES IN A SERIES OF TEST FLIGHTS. THIS PLANE'S JOB IS TO FERRY THE SMALLER SPACECRAFT HIGH INTO THE ATMOSPHERE FOR LAUNCH.

BURT RUTAN>> WE TAKE THIS MATED PAIR OF A SPACESHIP AND A LAUNCH AIRPLANE AND WE FLY MUCH HIGHER THAN AIRLINERS FLY. WE GO TO FIFTY THOUSAND FEET. WE RELEASE THIS INTO A GLIDE AND, IN A FEW SECONDS, THE PILOT THROWS A SWITCH WHICH TURNS ON A ROCKET THAT ACCELERATES HIM AT THREE AND A HALF G'S STRAIGHT UP TO SIXTY-TWO MILES ALTITUDE, WHICH IS A HUNDRED KILOMETERS.

JEFFREY KAYE>> AFTER EXPERIENCING THREE TO FOUR MINUTES OF WEIGHTLESSNESS AT THE SAME ALTITUDE ASTRONAUT ALAN SHEPARD REACHED IN HIS 1961 FLIGHT, RUTAN'S CREW WILL THEN RE-ENTER EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE AND GLIDE TO A LANDING AT AN ORDINARY COMMERCIAL AIRPORT.

BURT RUTAN>> ISN'T THAT COOL?

JEFFREY KAYE>> RUTAN'S SPACESHIP IS ONLY A SUB-ORBITAL CRAFT UNABLE TO REACH THE MOON OR PLANETS, BUT BEFORE THIS SPACESHIP TAKES ITS MAIDEN FLIGHT, A HOST OF TECHNICAL CHALLENGES FROM DESIGNING THE RIGHT KIND OF ENGINE TO FIGURING OUT RE-ENTRY TRAJECTORIES MUST STILL BE SOLVED. IF AND WHEN THE CRAFT DOES FLY, TEST PILOT BRIAN BENNY MIGHT BE AT THE CONTROLS. HE ACKNOWLEDGES THE RISKS HIGHLIGHTED BY TWO U.S. SHUTTLE DISASTERS.

BRIAN BENNY>> THERE'S ALWAYS SOME RISK AND DANGER WITH, ONE, JUST THE NEW FLIGHT OF ANY VEHICLE. YOU KNOW, WITH DANGER THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AND FUN AND THAT'S WHAT MOTIVATES THE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE.

JEFFREY KAYE>> DESPITE THE DANGER, RUTAN AND HIS COLLEAGUES AREN'T ALONE IN THEIR QUEST TO BUILD THE WORLD'S FIRST PRIVATELY-MANNED SPACECRAFT. THEY ARE BUT ONE TEAM IN A GLOBAL COMPETITION, A NEW KIND OF SPACE RACE CALLED THE X PRIZE. AROUND THE WORLD, TEAMS OF ENGINEERS, PILOTS AND DREAMERS ARE WORKING TO BUILD AND LAUNCH THEIR OWN MANNED SPACESHIP FIRST. THE MAN BEHIND THE COMPETITION IS X PRIZE FOUNDER, PETER DIAMANDIS.

PETER DIAMANDIS>> WE PUT TOGETHER A $10 MILLION DOLLAR CASH PURSE AND IT'S GOING TO BE OFFERED TO THE FIRST PRIVATE TEAM WHO CAN BUILD A SPACESHIP THAT CAN CARRY THREE ADULTS, FLY A HUNDRED KILOMETERS, SIXTY-TWO MILES, UP INTO SPACE, COME BACK DOWN AND, THE IMPORTANT PART, MAKE THE TRIP AGAIN WITHIN TWO WEEKS. WE NOW HAVE ABOUT TWENTY-FOUR TEAMS FROM SEVEN COUNTRIES COMPETING.

JEFFREY KAYE>> ORIGINALLY FINANCED BY A GROUP OF ST. LOUIS BUSINESS PEOPLE, THE X PRIZE WAS INSPIRED BY THE AVIATION CONTESTS OF THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY, COMPETITIONS WHICH ENCOURAGED PILOTS AND ENGINEERS TO PUSH THE TECHNOLOGICAL ENVELOPE. CHARLES LINDBERGH'S FLIGHT ACROSS THE ATLANTIC WAS A SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO WIN SUCH A CONTEST, THE $25,000 ORTEIG PRIZE. X PRIZE BOOSTERS HOPE THEIR COMPETITION, WHICH HAS RECEIVED THE BLESSINGS OF NASA, WILL NOT ONLY REKINDLE THE PUBLIC'S ENTHUSIASM FOR SPACE FLIGHT, BUT ALSO LAUNCH A LUCRATIVE NEW INDUSTRY, SPACE TOURISM.

PETER DIAMANDIS>> THERE'S A HUGE MARKETPLACE. THERE'S AT LEAST 10,000 TO 20,000 PEOPLE WHO WOULD SPEND $50,000 OR MORE FOR A TICKET INTO SPACE. THAT'S A BILLION DOLLAR-PLUS MARKETPLACE.

JEFFREY KAYE>> BESIDES MAKING SOME ENTREPRENEURS RICH, DIAMANDIS SAYS SPACE TOURISM WILL HELP REDUCE THE COST AND INCREASE THE SAFETY FOR ALL MANNED SPACE TRAVEL.

PETER DIAMANDIS>> YOU LEARN SAFETY WHEN YOU FLY NOT HUNDREDS OF TIMES, BUT THOUSANDS OF TIMES. YOU LEARN HOW TO MAKE THINGS ROBUST. AND THE ONLY MARKET THAT CAN GET US THAT KIND OF A SAFE AND THAT KIND OF A LARGE VOLUME IS PEOPLE, TOURISTS, SELF-LOADING CARBON PAYLOADS LIKE YOU AND ME THAT COME WITH THE MONEY AND WANT TO GO AND FLY.

JEFFREY KAYE>> BUT AEROSPACE HISTORY IS REPLETE WITH FAILED PRIVATE SPACE PROJECTS, SUCH AS THIS UNUSUAL HELICOPTER ROCKET HYBRID CALLED THE ROTARY ROCKET. LIKE SO MANY OTHER DESIGNS, IT FAILED TO REACH SPACE BECAUSE OF A WELTER OF TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL CHALLENGES. RUTAN, WHO'S BEING FINANCED BY AN ANONYMOUS BACKER, SAYS THE IDEA OF A PRIVATELY-BUILT SPACESHIP MIGHT SEEM FOOLHARDY NOW, BUT HE DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM THOSE BRASH MAVERICKS OF EARLY AVIATION.

BURT RUTAN>> A LOT OF THEM CRASHED. A LOT OF THEM DIDN'T EVEN GET OFF THE GROUND. BY NATURAL SELECTION, THE AIRPLANE WAS DEVELOPED AND MOST OF IT WAS NONSENSE. BUT THE ONES THAT BECAME BREAKTHROUGHS ARE THE AIRPLANES OF TODAY.

JEFFREY KAYE>> AS BURT RUTAN AND X PRIZE CONTESTANTS RACE TO PUT A PRIVATE MANNED VEHICLE INTO SPACE, ONE BUSINESS CONSORTIUM AT THIS DOCK IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, HAS ALREADY CREATED THE WORLD'S ONLY COMPLETELY PRIVATE UNMANNED SPACE PROGRAM. IT'S CALLED SEA LAUNCH, A U.S., RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN CONSORTIUM THAT STARTED IN 1995. ITS AMERICAN PARTNER IS THE BOEING COMPANY WHICH OWNS FORTY PERCENT OF THE FIRM. JIM MASER IS PRESIDENT OF SEA LAUNCH.

JIM MASER>> ALL THE OTHER LAUNCH PROVIDERS ARE USUALLY GOVERNMENT-SUPPORTED AND HAVE SOME GOVERNMENT BASE, IF NOT A LARGE GOVERNMENT BASE, BUT WE'RE PURELY A COMMERCIAL VENTURE.

JEFFREY KAYE>> SINCE 1999, SEA LAUNCH'S TWO GIANT VESSELS, ONE A COMMAND SHIP, THE OTHER AN OLD OIL RIG CONVERTED INTO A LAUNCH PLATFORM, HAVE SET SAIL TO THE EQUATORIAL PACIFIC WHERE IT'S CHEAPER TO LAUNCH SATELLITES INTO ORBIT. SEA LAUNCH CHARGES CUSTOMERS, WHICH HAVE INCLUDED DIRECTV AND XM SATELLITE RADIO, BETWEEN $60 MILLION AND $70 MILLION DOLLARS A LAUNCH. KEEPING LAUNCH COSTS LOW IS VITAL TO SEA LAUNCH'S FUTURE. THAT'S BECAUSE TIMES ARE TOUGH IN THE SATELLITE LAUNCH MARKET. IN THE MID-1990'S, MANY AEROSPACE COMPANIES POSITIONED THEMSELVES FOR A BOOM IN THE BUSINESS BECAUSE OF THE EXPECTED GROWTH IN THE TELECOM INDUSTRY, BUT THAT BOOM HAS GONE BUST AND NOW THERE ARE TOO MANY COMMERCIAL ROCKETS AND TOO FEW CUSTOMERS.

JIM MASER>> WHEN THIS PROJECT WAS ORIGINALLY ENVISIONED, WE WERE PREDICTING THAT THERE WOULD BE A DEMAND FOR LAUNCHES ON THE ORDER OF EIGHTY A YEAR, FIFTY TO EIGHTY A YEAR. WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS A DEMAND FOR LAUNCHES OF FIFTEEN TO TWENTY A YEAR AMONG A LARGE GROUP OF COMPETITORS, SO THERE'S A BIG EXCESS OF CAPACITY IN LAUNCHING VERSUS A DEMAND, SO WE'RE IN A VERY TOUGH PRICE COMPETITION RIGHT NOW.

JEFFREY KAYE>> AFTER FOUR YEARS OF OPERATION, SEA LAUNCH HAS HAD ONLY EIGHT SUCCESSFUL LAUNCHES AND THE COMPANY HAS YET TO TURN A PROFIT, BUT SEA LAUNCH EXECUTIVES ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE, NOTING AGING SATELLITES HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEY ALSO HOPE EVEN NASA MIGHT ONE DAY BE A CUSTOMER, PAYING SEA LAUNCH TO RE-SUPPLY THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. AS FOR THE X PRIZE, ORGANIZERS HOPE A TEAM WILL MAKE A SUCCESSFUL MANNED SPACE LAUNCH SOMETIME THIS YEAR, THE CENTENNIAL OF THE WRIGHT BROTHERS' FLIGHT AT KITTY HAWK.

VAL>> BURT RUTAN FACES A POSSIBLE BUREAUCRATIC HURDLE WITH THE GOVERNMENT IF HIS NEW VEHICLE IS CLASSIFIED AS A SPACE LAUNCHER INSTEAD OF A COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT. IT WOULD SUBJECT HIM TO MORE FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS AND COULD HURT RUTAN'S EFFORTS TO WIN THE X PRIZE.

KCET.ORG IS THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR THE VERY LATEST ON LIFE AND TIMES. YOU'LL FIND PREVIEWS OF UPCOMING STORIES, TRANSCRIPTS AND AUDIO OF PAST EPISODES AND LINKS TO SOME OF OUR MOST INTERESTING FEATURES. JUST GO TO KCET.ORG AND CLICK ON "LIFE AND TIMES".

VAL>> A FEW YEARS BACK, WE INTRODUCED YOU TO A GROUP OF KIND-HEARTED BIRD LOVERS IN ORANGE COUNTY. THEY'RE MAINLY IN THE BUSINESS OF SAVING INJURED AND SICK BROWN PELICANS. WE SAW THEM RESCUE THOUSANDS OF BIRDS WHO HAD EATEN TAINTED FISH FROM THE SALTON SEA, BUT NOW THE PACIFIC WILDLIFE PROJECT IS ON THE VERGE OF BEING EVICTED FROM ITS HEADQUARTERS AT THE IRVINE ANIMAL SHELTER. PHILIP BRUCE TALKS WITH LINDA EVANS AS SHE TRIES TO SAVE THE BIRDS AND THE PROJECT SHE CO-FOUNDED.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SO, LINDA, YOU'VE BEEN DOING BUSINESS WITH THE PELICANS AND THE OTHER ENDANGERED ANIMALS FOR HOW LONG NOW?

LINDA EVANS>> TWENTY-FIVE YEARS. THIS YEAR WILL BE THE TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE EXISTENCE OF THE PACIFIC WILDLIFE PROJECT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> AND ALL THAT COULD COME TO AN END VERY ABRUPTLY?

LINDA EVANS>> UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S LOOKING PRETTY DISMAL FOR US NOW.

PHILIP BRUCE>> TELL ME WHAT YOUR SITUATION IS? YOU'RE DOWN AT THE IRVINE ANIMAL SHELTER AND YOU'VE BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE.

LINDA EVANS>> RIGHT. A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, WE OUTGREW OUR FORMER LOCATION WHICH WAS MY HOME WHERE WE SERVED THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND RESCUE ANIMALS ALL OF THAT TIME. ABOUT SEVEN YEARS WHEN OUR PROGRAM INCREASED, WE MOVED OVER TO THE IRVINE ANIMAL SHELTER COMPLEX AND BEGAN USING ONE OF THEIR BUILDINGS THERE AND HOPED WE'D BE ABLE TO STAY FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT THEY'RE TELLING YOU YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE?

LINDA EVANS>> RIGHT, RIGHT. AND IN TRUTH, THE FACILITY THERE REALLY ISN'T SUITABLE FOR WILDLIFE, BUT WE'VE MADE DO WITH WHAT WE HAVE AND WE'VE MADE IT WORK AND WE'VE CARED FOR THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS IN ALL THE YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN THERE AND SERVED THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE THING I REMEMBER ABOUT THE OPERATION COMING THERE A FEW YEARS BACK WAS THE PELICANS YOU'D RESCUED FROM THE SALTON SEA.

LINDA EVANS>> RIGHT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE KIND OF FLAGSHIP THING YOU'VE BEEN DOING THERE FOR A LONG TIME.

PHILIP BRUCE>> "PANCAKES". THAT'S WHAT THEY CALL THE ONES THAT JUST LIE THERE, THOSE THAT ARE ALL BUT PARALYZED BY THE TIME THEY'RE RESCUED, AND THEY COME HERE BY THE TRUCKLOAD. IF A BIRD CAN FEEL TERROR, THIS IS WHAT IT MUST LOOK LIKE.

>> OH, I WAKE UP AT NIGHT CRYING. I SEEM TO BE THE ONLY ONE THAT FINDS THE DEAD BIRDS. I KNOW I'M NOT, BUT IT ALWAYS THROWS ME.

LINDA EVANS>> ODDLY ENOUGH, FOR A LITTLE TINY ORGANIZATION LIKE OURS, WE'VE ACTUALLY HANDLED NEARLY FIVE THOUSAND ENDANGERED BROWN PELICANS MORE THAN ANYBODY WORLDWIDE, WHICH IS AMAZING TO ME, BUT WE'RE BEST KNOWN FOR THAT WORK WITH PELICANS. ALTHOUGH WE RESCUE A LOT OF PELICANS ALONG THE COASTLINE WHICH IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE DOES THAT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SO YOU PHYSICALLY GO OUT AND LOOK FOR THEM?

LINDA EVANS>> WE PHYSICALLY GO OUT AND DO THAT. OUR VOLUNTEERS GO OUT WITH BOATS, THEY BRING BOATS, THEY RENT BOATS, THEY SWIM IN THE WATER, THEY JUMP IN THE WATER, THEY STAY ON THE DOCKS. THEY FIND THE BIRDS THAT ARE INJURED. NOT ONLY PELICANS, BUT ANY BIRDS THAT THEY FIND THERE, AND FIND THE ONES THAT ARE INJURED, NEED HELP AND BRING THEM IN FOR CARE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SO NOW, EVERYTHING YOU DO IS FOCUSED RIGHT THERE IN THE IRVINE ANIMAL SHELTER. IF YOU'RE NOT THERE, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ORGANIZATION?

LINDA EVANS>> WELL, THE ORGANIZATION WOULD BE SHUT DOWN. WITHOUT AN ALTERNATE LOCATION, WE'D HAVE TO CLOSE OUR PROGRAM NOT ONLY FOR THE ANIMALS THAT WE TAKE FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, BUT THE CASELOAD OF SALTON SEA BOTULISM PELICANS AND THEN THE RESCUE WHERE MAYBE WE RESCUE THREE HUNDRED TO FIVE HUNDREDS BIRDS EVERY YEAR.

PHILIP BRUCE>> NOW I RECALL YOU TELLING ME THAT YOU TAKE ALL KINDS OF ANIMALS. I MEAN, WE'VE SEEN THE PELICANS AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ALL OF US REMEMBER. YOU TAKE ALL KINDS OF BIRDS AND ANIMALS, DON'T YOU?

LINDA EVANS>> WE DON'T DIFFERENTIATE, THAT'S CORRECT. WE DON'T DIFFERENTIATE ONE SPECIE FROM ANOTHER. WE TAKE EVERYTHING THAT'S IN NEED. WE TAKE COMMON AND UNCOMMON, BIG AND SMALL. WE'VE EVEN TAKEN LITTLE MICE THAT PEOPLE BRING TO US. IF IT'S IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO SOME MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY TO GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO RESCUE, WE DON'T FEEL IT'S OUR PLACE TO MAKE A JUDGMENT AND WILL CARE FOR IT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WELL, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, AND I KNOW THAT THE CITY OF IRVINE HAS HAD GOOD THINGS TO SAY ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, WHY ARE YOU FACING A POSSIBLE EVICTION?

LINDA EVANS>> THEY HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SORT OF A SURPRISE TO US THAT WE'RE NOW BEING ASKED TO LEAVE. WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE WHAT IT IS. WE'RE ASSUMING THAT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO LEAVE IN FAVOR OF ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR PROGRAMS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WHICH IS RESCUING ANIMALS. THEY GO OUT AND THEY TAKE --

LINDA EVANS>> -- WHICH IS RESCUING COMPANION ANIMALS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> DOGS AND CATS.

LINDA EVANS>> WHICH IS A WONDERFUL THING TO DO, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE OTHER ANIMALS OF THE WILDLIFE BECAUSE THEY'LL HAVE NO PLACE TO GO. AND IN A PARTICULAR CONCERN, WE ALWAYS HAVE SOME ANIMALS THAT ARE NOT RELEASABLE AND THESE ARE ENDANGERED BIRDS. NORMALLY WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PLACE THESE ANIMALS IN ZOO FACILITIES OR FACILITIES THAT ARE SET UP FOR THEIR CARE. IF WE CLOSE, THEY'LL HAVE NO PLACE TO GO AND, BECAUSE OF THE NEWCASTLE QUARANTINE, WE WON'T BE ALLOWED TO SEND THEM OUT OF THE STATE WHERE THEY MIGHT LIVE A HAPPY LIFE, SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEM.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SO THESE BIRDS ARE PERHAPS INFECTED WITH NEWCASTLE DISEASE AND, AS A RESULT, YOU CAN'T SHIP THEM OUTSIDE THE STATE, RIGHT?

LINDA EVANS>> WELL, THE STATE IS UNDER QUARANTINE FOR THE DISEASE. ALL OF OUR BIRDS HAVE BEEN TESTED FOR THE VIRUS AND THEY'RE ALL NEGATIVE, BUT BECAUSE THE QUARANTINE IS IN PLACE, NO BIRDS CAN BE SHIPPED OVER STATE LINES. SO THESE ENDANGERED BIRDS ARE CAUGHT IN A BUREAUCRATIC CROSSFIRE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> NOW I KNOW FROM TALKING TO YOU OVER THE YEARS THAT YOU'RE NOT A BIG-MONEY OPERATION.

LINDA EVANS>> WE ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT A BIG-MONEY OPERATION.

PHILIP BRUCE>> YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS. IT'S PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY IS DOWN THERE FROM THE GOODNESS OF THEIR HEART.

LINDA EVANS>> EXACTLY, YEAH.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WELL, HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT TO BAIL YOU OUT? HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU SPEND A YEAR TO KEEP THIS OPERATION GOING?

LINDA EVANS>> OUR AVERAGE ANNUAL BUDGET IS ABOUT $60,000, A FRACTION OF WHAT OTHER FACILITIES WOULD USE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SO $60,000 A YEAR?

LINDA EVANS>> A YEAR, A YEAR.

PHILIP BRUCE>> AND FOR THAT, YOU'RE ABLE TO DO WHAT?

LINDA EVANS>> WE TAKE IN A COUPLE THOUSAND ADMISSIONS EVERY YEAR AND WE DO VERY WELL ON THAT. WITH THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY, WE COULD REPAIR OR ADD TO OUR CAGING, MEDICAL SUPPLIES. FOOD IS OUR BIGGEST EXPENSE. FOOD AND MEDICATIONS ARE REALLY OUR BIGGEST EXPENSE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SO WHAT ARE YOU ANTICIPATING IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, FEW WEEKS? HOW LONG CAN YOU GO AS IT IS NOW AND WHAT'S THE HORIZON LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

LINDA EVANS>> WELL, THE CITY HAS LET US KNOW THAT THEY WOULD LIKE FOR US TO MOVE OUT IN A FEW SHORT WEEKS, SOMETIME IN THE BEGINNING OR POSSIBLY SOMETIME IN SEPTEMBER, SO THAT MEANS THAT THE END IS DRAWING NEAR. SO WHAT WE'RE HOPING IS TO FIND AN ANGEL, FIND A BENEFACTOR, FIND SOMEONE, SOME JURISDICTION, SOME INDIVIDUAL, SOME ENTITY THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO DONATE THE USE OR LEASE OF SOME PARCEL OF LAND WHERE WE COULD BUILD A VERY MODEST -- BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE ARE -- ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY FACILITY WHERE ANIMALS COULD BE KEPT IN NATURAL KINDS OF SETTINGS WHILE THEY RECOVER.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT AN ANGEL, YOU MEAN A CITY, A COUNTY, AN INDIVIDUAL, ANYBODY?

LINDA EVANS>> A WATER DISTRICT, ANYBODY, A UTILITY COMPANY, ANYONE. THESE BIRDS, MOST ASSUREDLY, NEED AN ANGEL. THEY NEED SOMEONE THAT CARES ABOUT THEM AND SOMEONE THAT'S WILLING TO COME FORWARD AND HELP. WE'RE ALL WILLING TO MAKE THE SACRIFICE OR TO CONTINUE MAKING THE SACRIFICE THAT WE'VE BEEN MAKING BY OPERATING ON THE SHOESTRING THAT WE DO, BUT WE REALLY NEED PEOPLE TO COME FORWARD. WE NEED THE COMMUNITY TO COME FORWARD TO LET JURISDICTIONS KNOW THAT THEY SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM AND THAT THEY WANT IT TO EXIST AND WE CERTAINLY NEED AN ANGEL TO HELP US FINANCE AND BUILD IT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WELL, WE CERTAINLY WISH YOU WELL. LINDA EVANS, AS ALWAYS, A PLEASURE TALKING TO YOU. THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE ON LIFE AND TIMES.

LINDA EVANS>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> FOR YEARS, BROWN PELICANS HAVE BEEN GETTING SICK AFTER EATING CONTAMINATED FISH FROM THE SALTON SEA, BUT LINDA EVANS TELLS US RECENTLY THAT THE PROBLEM HAS DIMINISHED MAINLY BECAUSE MOST OF THE FISH FROM THE SALTON SEA HAVE DIED BECAUSE OF THE INCREASING SALT LEVELS IN THE WATER.

TO SEND A COMMENT OR A QUESTION TO OUR PROGRAM, YOU CAN REACH US BY MAIL AT THIS ADDRESS:

LIFE AND TIMES
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90027

YOU CAN ALSO CALL OUR VIEWER COMMENT LINE (323) 953-5555) OR CONTACT US THE FAST WAY BY E-MAIL AT KCET.ORG.

VAL>> WE'VE TOLD YOU ABOUT SOLAR PANELS THAT RUN BUSINESSES AND SOLAR TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN POWER A HOME, BUT HOW ABOUT AN ECO-MUSICIAN? IF YOU VISIT THE FARMER'S MARKET IN GLENDALE, YOU'RE BOUND TO MEET HIM AND, AS TONI GUINYARD TELLS US, HE HITS ALL THE RIGHT NOTES EVEN IF HIS METHODS ARE A LITTLE UNUSUAL.

TONI GUINYARD>> LISTEN. YOU HEAR THE MUSIC LONG BEFORE YOU PINPOINT ITS SOURCE. FOLLOW THE MELODY AND YOU'LL FIND A MUSICIAN PERFORMING. HIS STAGE? A BUS STOP TUCKED IN BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK PRODUCE STANDS AT THE GLENDALE FARMER'S MARKET.

[FILM CLIP]

TONI GUINYARD>> THIS IS JON SHERMAN. HIS MUSIC PROVIDES SHOPPERS A BREAK FROM THE NORMAL EVERYDAY SOUNDS OF THE CITY. HE IS THE ECOLOGY-MINDED PIED PIPER OF BRAND BOULEVARD. EACH NOTE SEEMS TO DRAW THE CURIOUS A LITTLE BIT CLOSER AND THAT'S WHEN YOU NOTICE THAT THE MUSIC IS BEING AMPLIFIED BY A PORTABLE SOLAR-POWERED GENERATOR.

JON SHERMAN>> IT'S ON RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU DON'T HEAR IT. YOU HEAR THE TRAFFIC. YOU DON'T HEAR THIS GENERATOR, BUT IT'S GENERATING RIGHT NOW. I'M PLUGGED IN TO IT. MY SOUND SYSTEM IS POWERED BY IT. SO IT'S QUIET, NON-POLLUTING AND IT'S A RENEWABLE SOURCE OF ENERGY FROM THAT YELLOW STAR IN THE SKY.

[FILM CLIP]

JON SHERMAN>> SO EVEN IF THIS WERE A CLOUDY DAY, I COULD POWER ALL DAY ON JUST THE STORED ENERGY IN THE BATTERIES.

TONI GUINYARD>> SHERMAN SAYS IT ONLY MAKES SENSE THAT HE SET UP SHOP HERE AT A FARMER'S MARKET. HE CONSIDERS HIMSELF TO BE AN ECO-MUSICIAN PUTTING EQUAL EMPHASIS ON THE ECOLOGY AND ON HIS MUSIC.

JON SHERMAN>> WHAT I SELL ON THE STREET HERE IS A HOMEGROWN CD. I'M DOING EVERYTHING MYSELF AS AN INDEPENDENT ARTIST GROWING THIS PRODUCT WITH SOLAR POWER, WITH THE SUN, JUST AS ALL THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES HAVE BEEN GROWN. SO I THINK I FIT IN TO THE CONCEPT OF THE FARMER'S MARKET IN THE SENSE THAT I'M GROWING MY MUSIC AND SELLING IT HERE ON THE STREET.

TONI GUINYARD>> INSPIRED BY NATURE, SHERMAN WRITES HIS OWN MUSIC, PRODUCES HIS OWN CD'S AND, USING SOLAR POWER, RECORDS, DUPLICATES AND PRINTS THEM AT HIS HOME STUDIO. HIS MANTRA IS "ENERGY INDEPENDENCE" AND, IF YOU ASK ABOUT HIS INSTRUMENTS --

JON SHERMAN>> THIS IS A BASS RECORDER.

TONI GUINYARD>> OR THE SOLAR-POWERED GENERATORS, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE HE'LL STOP PERFORMING LONG ENOUGH TO EXPLAIN HOW IT ALL WORKS.

JON SHERMAN>> THE CONCEPT OF A SOLAR GENERATOR IS BASICALLY VERY SIMPLE. YOU'VE GOT THE PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS SOAKING UP THE LIGHT OF THE SUN AND STORING THAT AS ELECTRICITY IN THESE DEEP SOCKET BATTERIES. THE TWELVE-VOLT SYSTEM, THESE INVERTORS CONVERT THE TWELVE VOLTS TO REGULAR HOUSE VOLTAGE THAT YOU CAN PLUG INTO FOR USABLE ENERGY. WHAT I'VE DISCOVERED WORKS WITH A BATTERY SYSTEM IS CAR AUDIO, SO THESE ARE CAR AMPS. THEY'RE WIRED DIRECTLY TO THE BATTERIES. I THINK I'M THE ONLY SOLAR-POWERED SOUND IN TOWN. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF COMPETITION. I'M HOPING TO MAKE IT SO THAT EVERYONE IS ON TO IT.

TONI GUINYARD>> SO IT'S NOT SUCH A NOVELTY?

JON SHERMAN>> YEAH. AS AN ENVIRONMENTALIST, THAT'S MY OBJECTIVE TO MAKE SOLAR POWER MORE POPULAR AND I DO THAT DEMONSTRATING IT THROUGH THE MUSIC.

RICARDO GUIMET>> BEAUTIFUL. VERY TOUCHING. I'M FROM SOUTH AMERICA, SO I KNOW ALL THE SOUNDS OF THE FLUTES AND THAT TOUCHES ME A LOT.

JON SHERMAN>> SOMETIMES JUST PLAYING A FEW NOTES ON THE FLUTE TOUCHES PEOPLE AND IT'S WHAT THEY NEED TO HEAR THAT DAY.

BUNK GARDNER>> OH, WHAT I HEARD, EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT. YOU DON'T SEE THOSE KIND OF INSTRUMENTS TO BEGIN WITH. YOU VERY SELDOM SEE A BASS RECORDER OR EVEN A TENOR RECORDER. YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE VOICES IN A CHORUS WHERE YOU HAVE A SOPRANO, ALTO, TENOR AND NORMALLY YOU WOULDN'T SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT'S VERY EARTHY. I'M AN EARTH SIGN, SO IT GETS TO ME RIGHT AWAY.

JON SHERMAN>> SOMETIMES WALKING BY AND THEY SEE, OH, SOLAR POWER, WOW. IT'S POWERING THE MUSIC. THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED TO SEE.

RICARDO GUIMET>> NOT MANY PEOPLE LIKE HIM, YOU KNOW, THAT SEEMS PROMOTED TO SAVE THE NATURE OF THE OAKS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, SO I'M PROUD TO HELP SOMEBODY LIKE THAT AND ALSO I ENJOY IT.

TONI GUINYARD>> ENJOY IT EVEN THOUGH EACH NOTE FROM THIS SELF-TAUGHT MUSICIAN COMPETES WITH THE NOISE FROM THE STREET.

RICARDO GUIMET>> THIS IS GREAT. A DIFFERENT KIND OF SONG (LAUGHTER), BUT LISTEN TO THAT. JUST LISTEN AND THAT WILL SPEAK FOR ME.

JON SHERMAN>> AND I THINK THAT YOU'VE GOT TO GET OUT HERE AND DEMONSTRATE THE DIFFERENCE, SHOW PEOPLE WHAT WORKS AS OPPOSED TO WHAT REALLY ISN'T WORKING, WHAT'S POLLUTING THE ENVIRONMENT. IT'S NOT THE IDEAL PLACE FOR ME TO PLAY TO BE HEARD FOR MY MUSIC, BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO SHOW OFF SOLAR POWER BECAUSE IT'S WORKING.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> FOR YEARS, JON SHERMAN HAS BEEN A FAMILIAR FACE AT DESCANSO GARDENS IN LA CANADA. HE RECENTLY MOVED HIS ACT TO THE GLENDALE FARMER'S MARKET AND WE'RE TOLD THAT HE ALREADY HAS A STRONG FOLLOWING THERE.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM. I'M VAL ZAVALA. FOR EVERYONE HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

LIFE AND TIMES WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

VAL>> MONDAY ON LIFE AND TIMES, ARE CHINESE IMPORTERS KILLING AN AMERICAN INDUSTRY? WE FIND OUT HOW CHEAP FURNITURE MAY BE COSTING US MORE THAN WE THINK.

>> THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF 2002 AND THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF 2003, IMPORTS OF WOOD BEDROOMS FROM CHINA HAS GONE UP SIXTY-SEVEN PERCENT.

VAL>> THAT'S MONDAY ON LIFE AND TIMES.