"Going ape over animals" by Yvonne Abraham, Globe Columnist | August 2, 2009
The furry animals’ keepers who bested him....
All of this, though the pay-up-or-Bambi-gets-it threat turned out to be bogus.
Some of the other folks whose funding got slashed in this year’s budget bloodbath wish they had dreamed up a strategy like that.
How many times I gotta put 'em up?
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Couldn't find a few million in there for the animals, huh?
For example, Gary Blumenthal, who heads a group called the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers, has been breaking his back trying to undo the damage budget cuts have inflicted on his clients, who lost $45 million in this budget. That means 600 people with mental disabilities who used to have jobs will not have them. And 6,000 families who used to get a break from caring for their disabled children for a few hours a week no longer have any prospect of an affordable respite.
I know where you can get that $$$.
Now he is kicking himself for failing to incorporate animals into his pitch.
I'm kind sick of the insults, folks.
“It makes you wonder how can you suddenly find money for the zoo, but not for people with disabilities,’’ Blumenthal says. “It’s hard not to feel discouraged.’’
Or borrow a billion for biotech, or shovel millions to Hollywood, or pay out millions a month to UBS, etc, etc, etc. Discouraged is the right word.
There are scores of other advocates out there, who begged the governor and legislators to undo cuts that would hurt battered women, immigrants, social workers, and others. They were all told there was no money, that, as awful as it is, everybody would have to share the pain. The bogus deathwatch put the zoos ahead of those who made their cases honestly, on the merits.
Now, I love animals as much as the next person. And I agree that zoos are wonderful....
BUT!!!
Who would want to go to their zoo anyway?
Where did all that money go over all these years? Not into the facility!
"Patrick cuts zoos’ budget again; Urges ‘greater self-sufficiency’" by Matt Viser, Globe Staff | August 8, 2009
The zoo saga continues.
Governor Deval Patrick yesterday cut $1.5 million from a $5 million appropriation approved by the Legislature last week for Zoo New England, which operates Franklin Park Zoo in Boston and Stone Zoo in Stoneham.
Patrick’s veto brought the total state funding for the zoos this fiscal year to $3.5 million.
“I am confident that this level of public funding, together with increased private funding and needed reductions, will result in a manageable short-term solution,’’ Patrick wrote in a letter to the Legislature.
Patrick also noted that, as a condition of releasing the money, he was directing top administration officials to work with the zoos in developing a plan “to move toward greater self-sufficiency.’’
But zoo officials decried the latest cut, saying it jeopardizes their operations.
“The action by the governor today is disappointing in that it represents almost a 50 percent cut to Zoo New England in one year,’’ John Linehan, the president and CEO of Zoo New England, said in a prepared statement.
“This reduced level of funding also jeopardizes private sector funding opportunities [Zoo New England] needs and is striving to increase.
The Legislature initially provided $6.5 million to the zoos in its budget, but Patrick vetoed $4 million in the budget he signed, prompting a political fight among the governor, lawmakers, and zoo officials.
The zoos had argued that Patrick’s cut would require them to close their two zoos, and that some animals might have to be euthanized. House and Senate lawmakers, in a supplemental budget, then increased their funding to $5 million.
Lawmakers could decide to override Patrick’s latest veto, but they would need a two-thirds majority to do so.
Patrick yesterday also vetoed $33.3 million in other spending items approved by the Legislature.
As expected, the governor signed a $40 million appropriation that will go toward healthcare coverage for 30,000 legal immigrants, though he lamented that legislators did not approve a higher level of funding that he had initially requested.
“The failure to provide the requested level of funding imposes significant constraints on our capacity to fund health services for this population,’’ Patrick wrote.
Yeah those are all the war refugees from all the conflicts we have started around the planet -- but no single payer plan for you, America.
Here's a much better zoo:
"Panda at San Diego Zoo is pregnant" by Los Angeles Times | July 30, 2009
Bai Yun (right) is pregnant again. The 17-year-old panda has given birth to four cubs since arriving at the San Diego Zoo. (Associated Press/ File 2007)
SAN DIEGO - Bai Yun, the adult female panda at the San Diego Zoo, is pregnant - again.
That whore! :-)
Ultrasound tests have shown that Bai Yun is carrying one, maybe two, fetuses, zoo officials said yesterday. The 17-year-old panda has given birth to four cubs since coming to the zoo as part of a scientific exchange with China. Based on previous pregnancies, keepers expect the birth to occur next month. Bai Yun is off exhibit at the zoo as she begins the “denning’’ process."
Hey, WE LOVE LIFE here at MSM Monitor -- no matter WHAT SPECIES!!!!
Watch: Polar bears and dogs playing
ORIGINAL Elephant Painting
And how about this?
"Pen pals: Giraffe and goat form unlikely friendship when kept in same enclosure
by Daily Mail Reporter
August 1, 2009
They'll always have a very different outlook on life.
But even though Gerald the giraffe is rather lofty and Eddie the goat is more down to earth, they are the perfect pairing.
They have formed an unlikely bond after Eddie was placed with 15ft Gerald as a short-term solution to keep the giraffe company at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm in Bristol.
Four-legged friends: Gerald the giraffe and Eddie the goat became inseperable after keepers placed them in the same enclosure at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm in Bristol three years ago
Three years on the pair are as close as ever. Keeper Sammi Luxa said: 'They hit it off straight away, and Eddie has proved to be a great companion for Gerald.
'They bonded from day one and you can always see them running around the enclosure chasing each other.
'They are a real hit with our visitors - outside of the zoo nobody has ever seen anything like this before. We just thought it was normal for a giraffe and a goat to get along so well.
'Although Gerald eats off a raised platform and Eddie grazes from the floor, they like to be close to each other when they eat.
'Gerald even lets Eddie get his nose in the trough first.
Affectionate: The unlikely friends bonded instantly and share bedding, play together, and even cuddle
'They are always together and they really are best mates despite the obvious height difference.
'One of the zebras they live with called Zebedee can be a bit of a bully sometimes and often chases Eddie.
'But he soon turns tail when Gerald steps in a shoos him away - he is a very loyal giraffe to Eddie.'
Gerald arrived at the zoo as a two-year-old in 2006 and was expected to be quickly matched with a female.
But when the zoo found it difficult to find him a mate, they put Eddie in his enclosure to prevent him becoming lonely.
Table manners: Gerald and Eddie like to be close to each other when they eat. The giraffe even lets his friend get his nose in the trough first
Ms Luxa told how the pair are often affectionate with each other, particularly during the Summer months.
She said: 'When it is warmer Gerald often bends down and licks Eddie on the head.
'Eddie then climbs onto Gerald's neck and gives him a cuddle.
'Whenever the public come and visit the animals, the pair always go to see them together.
'It would be good if we can get a female giraffe for Gerald but there can be a lot of red tape to get through.
'I think Eddie will be ok if Gerald gets a mate moved into the enclosure. He isn't really the jealous type, but you never know.'
--MORE--"
Why can't we be more like them, readers?
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