Short Takes ...

Bio-fuelish? ... Some scientists and advocates for the hungry are crossing social justice swords with environmentalists over the issue of biofuels. They've recommended halting the use of the food-based biofuels, such as ethanol, saying it would cut corn and other grain prices by 20 percent during the international food crisis. It's not the first time biofuels -- of the production of them -- have come under fire. But as grains and other crops have grown more scarce -- and expensive -- worldwide, the question is: food or fuel? If nothing else, it shows that the "going green" movement is about much more than unplugging our cellphone chargers and recycling our soda cans. ... Barner barbecue ... Saturday, May 17, is the date for a very worthwhile fundraiser -- the Thomas W. Barner Memorial Fund Barbecue. With a special appearance by The Refrigerators, the fundraiser will raise money to fight melanoma. It's scheduled from noon to 4 pm at the Shaker Road-Loudonville Fire Department on Old Niskayuna Road in Loudonville. The cost is $6 for adults and $5 for kids (5-13). The music is scheduled to go from 12:45-1:30. ... Happy, happy, happy ... Try out Parisi's (11 North Broadway) new Friday Happy Hour. It's from 5-8 p.m., with drink specials and a free buffet that most people would pay for. Lisa Parisi is a class act and runs one of the best eating establishments in the Capital District. ... Must see TV ... Thanks to the wonders of "On Demand" television, I recently caught up with HBO's original series, "John Adams." TV Guide called it "as sumptuous and satisfying as television gets" and that's an understatement. "Adams" -- produced by Tom Hanks -- is a terrific adaption of historian David McCullough's biography of a few years ago and can rightly boast about extraordinary performances from Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney. Among the many highlights pf the 7-part series is the depiction of the partnership of equals between John and Abigail Adams. A revolutionary Bill and Hillary, perhaps?