All you non-TV-watchers can skip this one. Very lowbrow, no possible int'rest, eh?

Now for us survival-in-the-wilderness watchers, gather round. So the NYT breaks the story of

To watch Bear Grylls on his program “Man vs. Wild” is to be in a constant state of disbelief —

to note that, shock! disbelief is entirely justified. Dude's been faking half the shit he supposedly does all singlehanded and all. The commentors--this is one of NYT's "bloggy" things you see--respond extensively. A shame we cannot similarly comment on the Gonzales hearings.

But back to the Important Stuff of Breaking News Importance: Corrente brings you exclusive news that Mr. Grylls' major competitor, and predecessor in the TV Survivalist biz, "Survivorman" Les Stroud (an infintely superior show anyway imho) has been caught with his knickers in a prairie-dog trap too. From yesterday's NPS Morning Report:

On July 16th, park resource management specialist Mike Tetreau, currently an intermittent employee working with a private firm conducting follow-up studies related to the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill along the park coastline, found an apparent commercial filming production in Taroka Arm, a seldom-visited area along the park's southern coast. In addition to the campsite "set" itself, a nearby support crew camp was located near a sensitive archaeological site. Ranger Sean Brennan, currently on detail as a criminal investigator assignment with the NPS Investigative Services Branch, flew to the site by chartered float plane the following day with Tetreau and contacted Les Stroud, also known as the "Survivorman", who has a show by the same name currently running on the Discovery Channel.

Stroud, with a crew of four at the nearby camp, was apparently filming an upcoming episode of the show in the park, with a driftwood shelter constructed on the beach and multiple cameras surrounding it. Stroud was cited for commercial filming without a permit, and given the opportunity to obtain a permit. Stroud paid the required application, location and monitoring fees, totaling approximately $2,800, which will allow the park to recover most of the cost of the investigation. [Submitted by Jim Ireland, Chief of Interpretation & Visitor Services/Chief Ranger]

Tsk, we say. Tsk. Not the sort of fakery that Grylls character is accused of, but still naughty. He did pay up though, and the NPS gains some needed revenue that it hopefully will not have to share with Jack Abramoff, and life goes on.

We do have to wonder though, when the "Yukon Adventure" episode is aired, if we'll see the rangers arrive on camera and tickets be issued. Full disclosure is a good thing, remember.