For the Record

By Paul Kvinta, Andrew Tilin, and Kimberly Lisagor (with Maureen Zent)

Unnatural Acts

When 300 endangered California red-legged frogs recently hopped into a toxic waste dump and made themselves at home among its runoff ponds, they had no idea they were taking up residence amid more than four billion pounds of underground toxins, including pesticides, cyanide, and heavy metals. Aside from being a move into an extremely bad neighborhood, their ill-considered migration may also prevent nearby Casmalia (population 150) from ever making the A-list of America's Most Livable Cities. To the dismay of local residents, the federally protected amphibians' presence is now threatening to thwart part of an EPA cleanup project designed to seal off hazardous waste and make the area safe for humans. Though EPA crews are already at work, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, whose mandate includes protecting the frogs, may be forced to halt aspects of the cleanup within the next few months. Until then, residents will be pondering the sort of surreal absurdity that only government can create. As Berkeley environmental science professor Sally Fairfax succinctly puts it, "It's a lousy system."

Say It Ain't So, Leonardo
"There was a lot of trash, but that's been cleaned up, and they've improved the area considerably." So says Cindy Guagenti, Leonardo DiCaprio's publicist, when asked about environmental indiscretions that reportedly occurred during the filming of his latest project, a movie about itinerant backpackers called The Beach that's being filmed partially in Thailand's Hat Noppharat Thara. Problem is, Twentieth Century Fox's "improvements" included bulldozing sand dunes and removing native spider lilies. Though the somewhat exaggerated protests were unsuccessful ù in January, a Thai court dismissed an injunction to halt the filming ù DiCaprio is taking no chances and is busy issuing platitudes such as "I would never be a part of any project that did anything to harm nature." Environmentalists aren't impressed. "When the monsoons come in May," scoffs Bryony Schwan, a backpacking traveler who stumbled upon the situation and flung herself into the protest, "that entire beach is going to erode away!"

Here Sweats the Bride
It was only a matter of time before America's personal-training craze dubiously merged with the information superhighway and brought us Dani, the 29-year-old star of the most, um, innovative approach to exercise we've seen yet. Launched in mid-January, Healthshop (www.Healthshop.com) offers live, round-the-clock coverage of a San Francisco computer saleswoman's transformation from pizza-and-Fritos addict to health-food zealot ù just in time for her wedding on the 17th of this month. Nicknamed "Jennycam Meets Wellness," the site covers the bride-to-be meditating in her living room, choking back wheatgrass juice, and disappearing for the most exciting event of her day: a three-mile run. Though Dani worries that "looking at me might get kind of boring," Web voyeurs pronounce themselves satisfied by the dramatic tension, narrative v‰rit‰, and touching moments of E-mail bonding. "When Dani gives in and eats a brownie, people relate," says the site's editor, Sue Frederick. "It's a modern soap opera."

Spring Fling
"I was cold and wet and finished in the back," recalls U.S. Postal Service rider George Hincapie (above) of his performance in last year's Paris-Roubaix, the most grueling one-day World Cup race on the European circuit. "But now I'm motivated to get to that starting line." Hincapie, 25, hasn't exactly warmed to the April 11 event ù nicknamed "Hell of the North" because of France's blustery spring weather. But he is enjoying his stature as a race favorite. Last summer, he won the U.S. Pro Championships in Philadelphia and held on to second place through the first six stages of the Tour de France. All of which bodes well for Hincapie's notching the first American victory in the 96-year history of the Paris-Roubaix. "War-of-attrition races suit George," says Sean Petty, USA Cycling's director of athlete performance. "As long as he's upright to the end, he could win."

Jim Peters, 1918-1999
"The crowd wept," says running coach Frank Horwill, recalling a hot day at the 1954 Commonwealth Games in Vancouver when a British marathoner named Jim Peters entered Empire Stadium 20 minutes ahead of the competition and then collapsed from dehydration. Though he failed to cross the finish line and promptly retired from the sport, Peters, who died of cancer in January at age 81, understood endurance racing better than anyone of his era. He set three world marathon records and inspired others to view the event not as a survival contest, but as a high-intensity race best won by combining grit with strategy. It was an approach he carried with him long after that defining moment in Vancouver. "Don't you think everybody holds back for too long?" Peters remarked to an acquaintance a few years ago while watching the London Marathon. "Not that I ever got it right, mind you."