On the road again… November 4, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Photography, Travel, Videos.1 comment so far
Where are you going this time, Mom? That’s what my dog Benny and cat Madison seem to be saying as they look at me with that ‘doesn’t this make you feel guilty’ look again.
Raise your hand if beach vacations are on the top of your list? Hmm – I see lots and lots of hands. I too, used to long for an empty beach, a good book and a drink with an umbrella in it. So, what happened to that fun in the sun babe? I am guessin’ the ravages of time and tide have altered my longing to be seen on a beach. Anyhow – I am off for a week – for a fine beach vacation with good friends. Now where did I put that old lady bathing suit?
I am not taking my computer. My goal is to not listen to much of the post-election poppycock and blathering. I plan to unplug, de-rant, enjoy my good buddies and maybe even use their boogie board again. Gasp.
So I once again will suffer the indignities of being poked, sniffed and prodded at airports, gag at the awful smells and be forced to breathe the foul air on the plane and generally try to steer clear of anyone who is coughing, sneezing or wheezing. Alas, no matter how many times I leave for an airport the same nagging questions come to mind.
- Is the dog sitter available? - Is the cat sitter available? - Should I pay my bills before I go away or wait until I come home? – Did I stop the newspaper from being delivered? - What book should I take? What if I don’t like the one book I brought? – Should I leave my windows open? - How much cash should I take? - Did I forget my passport? (you now need a passport to go to the Virgin Islands) - What time should I call to have the car service pick me up? - Is the weather going to be good for the flight? - Will there be turbulence? - Will we make the connecting flight? – What about swine flu? - Will some rat bastard diseased carrier be sitting next to me on the flight? - How many pairs of socks should I take? – Underwear? - Will everything fit in my carry-on luggage? - Do I need a winter coat for when I come home? – Did I pack my Xanax? - Should I set an alarm clock? I never need an alarm clock but I always set one before a trip. I do not even know if the alarm clock works. I am always up before it goes off. Now I have to worry about that too. These are just a few of the things that are running through my brain. Mwah!
See you soon.
I Love the Smell of Voting Booths in the Morning November 3, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Photography, Politics, Videos.Tags: Bill Clinton, Nixon - McGovern, Reagan, Robert F. Kennedy, White House
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I love election day. I have always loved politics and was raised in a very vocal, politically active family. I guess you could say I was genetically built with ranting in my veins. The photo on the left is of my father, my sister and little pudge-ball me standing in front of the White House, circa 1956. Notice how close you could get to the White House in those very innocent days where the only thing to fear was nuclear bombs dropping in your back yard. Apparently, if you ducked for cover under your school desk – you would be all right. Election days bubble with the hope of change, upsets and the possibility that everyone in the city (state or country) suddenly thinks like me. (oh, that was just a dream).
So, I grab the front section of the New York Times and head out the door at 7:01AM to vote. I anticipate long lines like last year (what was I thinking?) I enter the school where I vote and there it is – an empty gym. I look around and what do I see? An overweight NYPD cop busily looking at his Blackberry and two tables of smiling election workers. They greet me with hearty “hellos” and a loud “welcome.” I said “Where is everybody?” They laughed and said – “Maybe later.”
I vote straight party line – ALL DEMOCRATS and the head to the gym wondering if this is the year that apathy reigns. It is too early to tell.
I have never missed an election. Go out and vote. It is your civic responsibility. It feels good.
- While lumbering on the treadmill at the gym thoughts of election days past flowed through my head. Here are some standouts:
- My first vote was as an absentee in 1964. I had just turned 21 (which was the age to vote back then) and I got to vote for Robert F. Kennedy to be the next Senator for New York State. It was thrilling as my friends stood around our kitchen table in Providence RI and watched me mark my ‘X’ very proudly. My first vote was memorable and we won. I thought that this was going to be the way it would be always — that we would win. Oy vey – how wrong I was.
- In 1972, my former husband and I were living in North West NJ and were poll watchers for the Nixon – McGovern Presidential race. We stood for hours, working for the Democrats, making sure the voters were not denied their right to vote. As the day wore on we realized that we were probably the only two that had voted for McGovern. I remember turning to my husband and saying ‘Let’s move.’
- In 1980, we were living in California. I had not even gotten to vote when the media had declared Reagan the winner. I believe that was the first time I actually saw flames shooting out of my head. I went to vote anyway. Nothing has ever been the same since that disastrous election day.
- In 1992, living back in NYC, I met a group of like minded thinkers at the Central Park Zoo. We were all Bill Clinton backers. I am the only one that is still working at the Zoo but we still are all friends and meet periodically to discuss the politics of the day. I can thank Mark, Linc and Sarah for helping me sort my thoughts which eventually turned itself into the LOBO RANT.
Keep the faith – I have.
Sprint or Marathon? November 1, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Animal Stories, Animal Videos, Dogs and cats, Photography, Politics, Videos, Zoos, wildlife.Tags: Boo at the Zoo, Central Park Zoo, gibbons, Halloween, Jon Stewart, Marathon, orangutans, Philadelphia Zoo
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Talk about strange overlaps. While walking my dog Benny (who does not yet acknowledge the fact that we turned the clock back an hour last night), I noticed the Halloween revelers were still walking home while the NYC Marathon buses filled with anxious runners, were headed to Staten Island to await the start later this morning. I guess that there are both party marathoners and running marathoners, right?
- Since people are taking part in both activities at the same time I decided I can write about the Marathon and still be celebrating Halloween. So, the above photo of Benny is my little Halloween greeting to you and yours.
- The medals featured on the left are all about my Marathon days.
- The New York Times had a front page story this rainy Marathon morning about cheating while Marathoning. I know from my five NYC Marathons that it is uber-tempting to cheat. When you enter Manhattan at mile 17 you can practically smell Central Park but you still have to lumber north on first Avenue through the Bronx, turn around and then head south to the finish line. Shame, shame, shame on the cheaters.
- My memories of those five Marathon are some of the sweetest in this addled brain. After hanging up my running shoes six years ago, I hung up my five medals and look at them almost every day (especially when these old bones begin to ache). Completing a marathon is like nothing else. It is a feeling of accomplishment and empowerment. The down side are blisters and black toes. Those things go away – but the sweet memories linger. Benny and I waved to all of those anxious Marathoners this morning and I will be watching and cheering for them both a the gym this morning and form my couch.
- To the Halloween revelers that are stumbling home, I say – do not forget to turn your clocks back an hour.
- Speaking of Marathons, the seemingly never ending November elections slog on.
- Jon Stewart joins in the chat about NYC Mayoral race. It is all about term limits. Must watch.
- Jon Stewart also looks at how the Fox opinion shows influence Fox “news” reporting. “See the Fox opinion guy’s outrage becomes the ’some say’ source for the newsside. It’s a perpetual rerevulsion machine,” explained Stewart.
- Last week’s visit to the Philadelphia provided some great images and this funny 33 second video I shot of an orangutan playing doctor with a gibbon.
-Boo at the Central Park Zoo for you:
The Rise and Thud of Bernie Kerik October 27, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Photography, Politics, Videos, Zoos.Tags: Bernie Kerik, Wonder Woman
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Yes, I have been obsessed with the Bernie Kerik scandal since it started to unravel before our very eyes. Schadenfreude always works when we discuss old Bernie. Jeff VanDam, of New York Magazine did a nice short chronological piece on the Rise and Thud of Bernie Kerik.
“Bernard Kerik used to run the city jails (1998–2000) and then the whole NYPD (2000–2001) and then, almost, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. But last week, he went to jail himself for leaking sealed information from his corruption trial, which begins this week. His fall has been drawn-out, and very public”.
9/11/01: As police commissioner, Kerik shares the credit with his boss Mayor Giuliani for resolute action on the day of the attacks. The two team up the next year to help form Giuliani Partners, a consulting firm.
2/28/02: Kerik pays a $2,500 fine for having two police officers travel to Ohio to research his autobiography, The Lost Son.
3/16/02: Newsday reports that an aide requested 30 seven-pound busts of Kerik from the nonprofit Police Foundation at a cost of $3,000.
2/9/03: The Daily News reports that Kerik oversaw a prison foundation that received nearly $1 million from tobacco companies that sold cigarettes to inmates; the Kerik aide in charge of the foundation’s finances later pleaded guilty to defrauding the fund of $142,733, partly to pay phone bills accrued when inmates called him collect to have phone sex. Much of the rest of the money is unaccounted for.
12/2/04: Kerik, apparently with Giuliani’s backing, is President Bush’s reported choice to run Homeland Security.
12/8/04: Nine former employees allege in the Washington Post that Kerik illicitly spied on women in relationships with his supervisor as investigation chief at a Saudi hospital twenty years earlier.
12/10/04: Kerik withdraws his nomination, citing a nanny with questionable immigration status. Newsweek reports that a warrant for Kerik’s arrest was issued in 1998 during a New Jersey civil dispute over $5,000 in condominium fees. Kerik said he’d paid the fees and the warrant had been withdrawn.
12/12/04: The Daily News reports that Kerik failed to disclose thousands of dollars in gifts, including a jewel-covered Tiffany badge, when he headed the NYPD and Correction Department. Some were given to him by a friend with ties to Interstate Industrial Corporation, a construction company suspected of mob ties that happens to have hired Kerik’s best man and brother; Kerik spoke to the city’s Trade Waste Commission on the friend’s behalf while Correction commissioner.
12/13/04: The Daily News reveals that Kerik had an extramarital affair with The Lost Son publisher Judith Regan, using a Battery Park City apartment—originally provided to ground-zero cleanup workers—for “passionate liaisons.”
12/16/04: The Bronx D.A. begins looking into the 1999 renovation of Kerik’s Riverdale apartment by Interstate.
12/22/04: Kerik quits Giuliani Partners.
6/30/06: Kerik pleads guilty to two misdemeanors, admitting he accepted the renovations from Interstate, spoke to city officials about the company, and failed to report a $28,000 loan from a real-estate developer. He pays $221,000 in fines but serves no jail time.
9/27/06: News of a new federal investigation involving Kerik emerges, this time about his alleged role in a 2005 plan to secretly record the husband of attorney-general candidate Jeanine Pirro, whom Pirro suspected of having an affair.
10/22/07: A Houston law firm sues Kerik for more than $200,000 in unpaid legal fees.
11/9/07: Kerik is indicted on sixteen federal counts that lead to two separate trials, one for tax fraud and one for corruption; he pleads not guilty.
12/2/08: The indictment against Kerik is expanded and now includes failure to pay taxes on a free luxury sedan given to him in 2004 by an armored-car company. He pleads not guilty to the new charges.
4/7/09: Kerik is seen training a dog in the background of a Real Housewives of New Jersey scene.
5/26/09: Kerik is indicted again, this time in Washington for making false statements to White House vetters; he pleads not guilty.
10/20/09: Kerik is jailed by the judge in his New York corruption trial, who believes he helped leak e-mails containing information from sealed court papers to the Washington Times.
- On a completely different note: A good friend (Ann) asked me to help out a friend of hers who wanted to promote the upcoming return of Wonder Woman, the play. We had 10 seconds to spin, like Wonder Woman. Guess what? I made the cut. It is grainy and only a second or two, but if you look closely, at the 43rd second of the clip you can see me spinning. Fun.
For those Still in Search of a Religion October 25, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Animal Videos, Dogs and cats, Photography, Politics, Religion, Videos, Zoos, wildlife.Tags: gibbon, Orangutan, Philadelphia Zoo, Religion, service dog
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I found this chart ‘How to Choose a Religion’ on Mock, Paper, Scissors who found it on The Friendly Atheist.
- We took a drive to visit the Philadelphia Zoo hoping to see the newborn orangutan. Sadly the baby was not out for the public to adore just yet, but we did encounter a wonderful meeting between a service dog and an adult male orangutan among other fabulous sights.
- I was able to video some of the encounter between the Orangutan and the very well behaved service dog seen at the Philadelphia Zoo. The orangutan was dressed as a ghost for Halloween.
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may… October 23, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Photography, This 'n That, Videos.Tags: Birthdays
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Today is my birthday. It is a very LARGE numbered birthday (in my hometown of Brooklyn we would say it was YOOGE). I normally do not give a hoot about age but this one hit me like an asteroid. Why is that? Because I am now, by all of the accepted standards, officially old.
After dwelling on this BIG number I have decided there are good things and bad things about being 65. Here are a few of those things.
- The Government thinks I am old and gave me a Medicare card. The good thing is that my health insurance dropped from a whopping $900 per month to about $400 a month. I do not know if the supplemental coverage that I had to buy includes an appointment with the death panel. I will keep you posted on that one. The funniest thing about getting all of the literature from Medicare is that it is printed in a very LARGE font so instead of a brochure that would normally be 12 pages – it is actually about 24 pages.
- The MTA also considers me old and now have one of those half fare cards. This is good thing. Instead of $2.25 per ride on the subway – it is now about $1.10.
- Most actuarial tables for numbers of years left consider me on the very right side of the chart. That is bad.
- The TV stations do not include me in that all important ‘buying’ age demographic. That is neither here nor there since I haven’t shopped much in the last 20 years.
- I am lucky to have a number of younger friends. Some, due to their alternate lifestyles can go to the movies with me during the day. Some of my young pals actually ask my opinion on stuff. One young friend, in particular, goes on whirlwind cross country Zoo trips with me (and I am referred to, by her, as her ’senior’ friend). There a bunch of very cool thirty-something friends who think it is not uncool to hang around with someone who is much older. These are all very good things.
- The funny thing about aging, as all oldsters know, is that you seem to become more invisible with each passing year. I sometimes think I have gained the knowledge of the Klingon Cloaking Device because unless I am walking Benny the dog, I am totally invisible. This is a good thing because you really do not need to worry about what you wear in the street since no one is looking at you.
I know, I know – they say the alternative to getting older is not desired. Very true.
I share my birthday with my lovely niece, Becca and these other astrological cuspees: Ang Lee (director) , Weird Al Yankovic (comic), Dwight Yoakam (songwriter, singer) Michael Crichton (writer), Pele (Brazil’s soccer star), Charlie Foxx (singer), Diana Dors (actress) and Johnny Carson (comedian).
So, I heartily accept all good wishes and hope that my Lobo ranting, raving and table pounding will keep the old noggin in great working order for some time to come.
Ding Dong – the Thug is Jailed October 21, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Photography, Politics, Videos.Tags: Bernard Kerik
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I was out all day yesterday and it was not until about 6 PM that I heard the news that the former NYC Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik (under Chief of the Thugs, Rudy Giuliani) was jailed when a federal judge revoked his bail a week before his trial on conspiracy and fraud charges was due to begin. Schadenfreude is an apt word for this story.
A federal judge granted the prosecutors’ request to revoke bail because of new accusations of criminal contempt for disclosing nonpublic case information in order to influence the upcoming jury and to garner public sympathy before the trial. Kerik had been allowed to remain free under a $500,000 bail package after he pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and fraud charges in November 2007. He also faces other charges — including other fraud and tax charges as well as lying to White House officials during their background checks on him — that will be prosecuted separately at a later date. Judge Stephen C. Robinson of Federal District Court in White Plains described Mt Kerik as a “toxic combination of self-minded focus and arrogance.” Whoa!
Kerik is accused of receiving apartment renovations from a construction firm that had been suspected of organized crime ties in exchange for helping the company win city contracts, according to his indictment. He tried to convince city regulators the contractors were free of mob ties and should be approved to do business requiring city permits, the indictment alleges. His career began to unravel upon being subjected to background checks when President George W. Bush nominated him in 2004 to become Homeland Security secretary.
Here is the story with one of those funny verbal slips (‘top cock’) on Local News Channel 7:
Schadenfreude:
Vile vs Bile October 19, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Links, Photography, Politics, Videos, Zoos, wildlife.3 comments
It is hard to say who makes me more nauseous – Al Sharpton or Rush Limbaugh.
Whenever I see Al Sharpton’s head pop up like Zelig I immediately change the channel or think negatively about whatever he is protesting for or against. It is a Pavlovian knee jerk reaction that began in 1987 with the Tawana Brawley debacle.
My favorite NYC Police Detective, Matt, used to tell me that ‘Reverend Al was a cop’s favorite overtime pal.’ Translation – whenever Al Sharpton was around you could guarantee there would be a need for additional police presence.
Now it seems that an equally vile individual, Rush Limbaugh, is embroiled in a brouhaha with Al Sharpton. It is hard to decide who to root for in this mud-fest. I find myself essentially snickering at the entire windbag-fest. It seems that when Limbaugh wanted to buy the St. Louis Rams, Sharpton sent a note to Commissioner Roger Goodell urging officials to reject Rush’s bid because of racist comments that he had made in the past. Then, Limbaugh, in a Wall Street Journal op-ed piece, Limbaugh said Sharpton “played a leading role in the 1991 Crown Heights riot (he called neighborhood Jews ‘diamond merchants’) and 1995 Freddie’s Fashion Mart riot.”
Oh boy, oh boy – now Sharpton is threatening a defamation lawsuit against Rush. Can this get much better? This is one of those stupid situations that gives these two blowhards even more allotted air time. Argh!
- Speaking of blowhards – Rudy Guiliani is back in the news. Gasp! He struck an all too familiar fear mongering tone on the campaign trail Sunday, saying the city is still “at great risk.” Without mentioning Bloomberg’s Democratic opponent, Giuliani warned that crime in New York City, which declined under him and has continued to fall under Bloomberg, is also a gamble.“This city could very easily be taken back in a very different direction,” Giuliani said. “It could very easily be taken back to the way it was with the wrong political leadership.” Why can’t this guy just go quietly into the night. Blech.
- And then there is the balloon boy and his family. Maybe we should all treat this episode like a bad Halloween trick and let them all float quietly into the night.
- For a much needed smile, check out this terrific short video about a Repugnant App:
For the record… October 16, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Videos.Tags: balloon boy
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I did not, for one second, believe that little boy was in the runaway balloon. As soon as I heard the parents were ’storm chasers’ and had been on the TV reality show ‘Wife Swap’ I said to myself – it is time to bring in child services and rescue those kids – not from a balloon- but from their parents. Gasp!
- Millions of Americans Waste Entire Fucking Afternoon (from the incomparable Andy Borowitz) – Balloon Boy to America: Punk’d!
COLORADO (The Borowitz Report) – Moments after a little boy who was believed to be in his parents’ homemade helium balloon was found safe and sound, millions of Americans came to the realization that they had flushed the entire fucking afternoon down the fucking toilet.
“I watched the entire drama unfold and then it turned out that no drama had unfolded,” said Carol Foyler, 32, of Missoula, Montana. “I can’t tell you how pissed I am at that fucking kid.”
At their Colorado home, the parents of six-year-old Falcon Heene said that they were relieved that their son was all right and that they were pushing forward with their plans to build a giant child-operated flame-throwing robot.
Eyes on the Prize October 11, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Photography, Politics, Videos, Zoos, wildlife.Tags: Keith Olbermann, Al Gore, Rachel Maddow, Maureen Dowd, Nobel Peace Prize, Alan Grayson, Andrew Sullivan, polar bear
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What is wrong with so many people? Why can’t we all be proud (even for just a short while) that our young President won the biggest prize of all – the Nobel Peace Prize. I did not expect the virulent Right to say anything positive about this honor (although I never can figure out what crazy shit will actually come out of their collective mouths). However, I was a bit taken aback by the Left side of the spectrum. The man has been in office for only eight months. Did you think he was going to give you everything you wanted in those first few days? Weeks? Months? Or even years? Were you listening to his campaign speeches? Or were you simply so excited that we were finally getting rid of the Bush thugs that your thoughts were clouded.
True, I have been horrified by some of the previous Nobel Peace Prize winners. Often the committee awards the Prize as encouragement for positive steps even if the end goal has yet to be reached. For instance, Yassir Arafat’s prize made my blood boil and no one was surprised to see that he proceeded to back out of the Middle East Peace ideas, take all the money and run. My ire still enrages at the Peace Prize award that was given to Henry (top of my war criminal list) Kissinger, during the Vietnam War. President Obama has created a new international climate, the committee declared, and the world cheers that effort. Insulated Americans, have no idea how horrified most of the rest of the civilized world has been by the thuggish, brutal, go it alone approach of the Bush Administration. Obama’s international efforts to start speaking through diplomatic channels to undo those wrongs cannot be taken lightly. Or, maybe they awarded the prize to Obama simply because he can pronounce the word ‘nuclear’ correctly.
Here is an alphabetical listing of all previous Nobel Peace Prize winners. Check out who you hate on this list.
Andrew Sullivan chimes in with some interesting thoughts about the prize. “I don’t think Americans fully absorbed the depths to which this country’s reputation had sunk under the Cheney era. That’s understandable. And so they also haven’t fully absorbed the turn-around in the world’s view of America that Obama and the American people have accomplished. Of course, this has yet to bear real fruit. But you can begin to see how it could; and I hope more see both the peaceful intentions and the steely resolve of this man to persevere. This president has done a huge amount to bring race relations in this country to a different place, which is why the far right has become so vicious in attacking him and lying about him. They know he threatens their politics of division and rule. He has also directly addressed the Muslim world, telling some hard truths, and played a small role in evoking a similar movement of hope and change in Iran, and finally told the Israelis to stop cutting their nose off to spite their face.”
I must say when I heard the news early on Friday morning that Obama had won the prize, an audible gasp could be heard throughout Casa Lobo. Little Benny the dog, came over to see if my gasp involved a treat for him. Madison, the cat – yawned. I was torn between racing thoughts about the prize and watching NASATV as we were about to bomb the moon in our search for water moon sources. I thought that the decision by the Olympic Committee to choose Rio over Chicago now probably seemed like a ‘who cares.’ I thought that Bill Clinton is probably blowing a fuse about not being chosen for the Nobel Peace prize. In fact, Maureen Dowd has one of her funny columns today about a fictional conversation between ‘W’ and Bubba. A fun read.
So, I say, bravo to President Obama. Perhaps this Prize will elevate his goals even higher. Nuclear disarmament is a fine goal, as is peace between arch enemies. Did anyone ever think that Northern Ireland would get over ‘the troubles?’ This President was handed a fine mess on every front. It couldn’t hurt to try to support his International efforts, could it? How about let us all sit back and congratulate the President on this encouraging award. We can always go back to criticizing him next week.
- If you want to follow Keith Olbermann’s lead and donate to the National Association of Free Clinics here is the website. I have donated, how about you?
You can make your tax deductible online donation to the National Association of Free Clinics by mailing a check directly to them at:
The National Association of Free Clinics
1800 Diagonal Road Suite 600
Alexandria VA 22314
- Rachel Maddow Goes After Idiot Republican Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert
- My new favorite Congressman of the week is Alan ‘I’m not apoligizing’ Grayson:
- Former vice president and Nobel Laureate Al Gore is calling President Barack Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize win extremely well deserved and an honor for the country. He shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his work on global warming.
- And you must watch this:
