jump to navigation

Sprint or Marathon? November 1, 2009

Posted by judylobo in Animal Stories, Animal Videos, Dogs and cats, Photography, Politics, Videos, Zoos, wildlife.
Tags: , , , , , , ,
add a comment

Halloween09Talk 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?

medals-  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:

BooBlog09

Why I am not voting for Mike Bloomberg October 28, 2009

Posted by judylobo in Photography, Politics, Zoos, wildlife.
Tags: , , ,
11 comments

not5‘I know, I know — but’ - is the response I have been getting from all of my friends when I tell them that I am not voting for Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Some friends look away with a momentary guilty look.  Some hang their heads down and say ‘but I don’t like the other guy (Bill Thompson).’ Some just say ‘ well, he cannot be bought.’  To all of them, I say, as Rachel Maddow always says, ‘Bull Hockey.’

Here is why I am not voting for Mayor Mike.

1. I am still angry that Bloomberg brought the RNC to NYC in 2004 and even more angry at the illegal arrest and detention of over 1800 individuals by the authorities during the Republican Nation Convention. The 1800 arrests and detentions were a record for a political convention in the U.S. Many people were detained longer than 24 hours on relatively trivial charges. However, 90% of those charges were eventually dropped. I have ranted about these arrests before and also ranted about the fact that I can never GET arrested while demonstrating.  I definitely will have to try harder next time. There are a slew of details here.

2. I hated his trying to shove the West Side Stadium down our throats in 2005. Luckily, he lost that battle.

not33. However, it is his overturning of term limits that put me over the top. Long story short, in the fall of 2008, Bloomberg successfully campaigned for an amendment to New York City’s term limits law, in order to allow him to run for a third term in 2009.  There was plenty of time for him to pay for (about $40 million) a special election so that the people, who had already voted twice on this issue, could decide if Bloomberg could run for another term.  He decided not to go that way – and essentially bought the City Council and overturned the law.  He thought we would forget.  Well, most have – or just do not care.  I have not. (For the record – I voted NO to term limits two times but that is beside the point. It was the LAW).

Clyde Haberman, says that Bloomberg Is Betting on Voters With an Elastic Approach to the Law. “The mayor used to believe fervently in a two-term limit — until it became inconvenient for him. His “complete and utter disregard for the democratic process,” Mr. Thompson said, “was a defining moment for all of us.” “Does the richest man in New York City get to live by one set of rules while the rest of us live by another?”

not44.  Obscene amounts of his own money have been spent on his campaign. Bloomberg, the richest man in New York City, has spent $85 million on his current re-election campaign — a U.S. record for most personal money spent in a campaign for public office. The election is less than a week away and Bloomberg may wind up spending up to $140 million. This is plain wrong.  I do not care if it is his own money.  It is offensive.

5.  He can’t be bought, some say.  When a man has billions of dollars, he doesn’t need to be bought.  He can do all of the buying and that is just what has happened in the last eight years. New York Magazine, in a lengthy piece. details how and why Bloomberg has become as successful as he has, in this uncontrollable City. ‘A remarkable number of dominoes have fallen Bloomberg’s way. The city’s ethnic politics are at a transition point: Black activists trained in the civil-rights model are fading, and though the city’s Latino and Asian communities have rising population numbers, they have yet to coalesce around any leaders, though the primary victory of John Liu is perhaps a sign of things to come. The speaker of the City Council is usually a mayoral antagonist. But the current speaker, Christine Quinn, decided that the best way to be elected mayor herself was to ingratiate herself with Bloomberg. Then Quinn was further neutered by the council’s slush-fund scandal’.

not26. He brought Rudy Giuliani in to campaign for him. Did he really need to do that?  There is no one who is more divisive than Rudy.  He still makes most of us shudder whenever his punim shows up on TV or in the press.  Rudy then did what he does best – he pulls the fear factor out of his ass and goes for broke. He invokes those code words and we all get nauseous.  Yesterday, the New York Times’ Michael Powell revisited the Dinkins years that Rudy was brewing and stewing about. The record gets straightened out and Dinkins gets some of the credit he deserves.

-  As Rudy Giuliani comes to town to campaign for Mayor Bloomberg, remember that Republicans stick together.

7.  And why oh why is it that Bloomberg cannot decide whether he is a Democrat, Republican or an Independent. Is that such a hard thing to do?

not1-  Did Mayor Bloomberg do a good job as Mayor for the past eight years?  Yes. He did some fine things – but you know what?  That is what we elect people to do – their job.  And when it is time to go — it is time to go.  As far as I am concerned, the best thing about Mayor Mike was his bringing The Gates Project to Central Park in 2005.

Will Mike Bloomberg win a third term? I would be crazy to bet against him.  The only thing Bill Thompson has going for him is the fact that many people will not go to the polls.  Only 7% of eligible voters turned out for the run-off two weeks ago.

-  Mayor Michael Bloomberg was bitten by groundhog, Staten Island Chuck during the Staten island Zoo’s annual Groundhog Day event.

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: , , , ,
1 comment so far

I found this  chart ‘How to Choose a Religion’ on Mock, Paper, Scissors who found it on The Friendly Atheist.

Religion-Flowchart_1

-  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.

PhilZoo10.09

-  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.

Vile vs Bile October 19, 2009

Posted by judylobo in Links, Photography, Politics, Videos, Zoos, wildlife.
3 comments

bilevileIt 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:

Eyes on the Prize October 11, 2009

Posted by judylobo in Photography, Politics, Videos, Zoos, wildlife.
Tags: , , , , , , ,
4 comments

the prizeWhat 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.

prize

-  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:

To the disappointed, disenchanted and disengaged… October 6, 2009

Posted by judylobo in Animal Videos, Links, Photography, Politics, Videos, Zoos, wildlife.
Tags: , , , ,
2 comments

kinkajooFor those that are woebegone, disappointed, disenchanted and generally becoming disengaged with the ‘Yes, We Can’ gang I decided it was time to be a cheerleader and turn those frowns upside down.  I too, have been a sad sack over the ‘do nothing’ crowd that has a majority in both chambers of power and occupies the big old White House. Yet suddenly, last Friday, after reading conservative New York Times columnist David Brooks‘ column – I felt better.  Why you say? His column, entitled, The Wizard of Beck‘ (I encourage you to read the article) postulates that the Screaming Mimi’s who occupy the Repugnant media on TV, radio and the Internet have the microphone but lack the power to get their minions to the polls. ‘It is a story of remarkable volume and utter weakness. It is the story of media mavens who claim to represent a hidden majority but who in fact represent a mere niche — even in the Republican Party. It is a story as old as “The Wizard of Oz,” of grand illusions and small men behind the curtain.  Over the years, I have asked many politicians what happens when Limbaugh and his colleagues attack. The story is always the same. Hundreds of calls come in. The receptionists are miserable. But the numbers back home do not move. There is no effect on the favorability rating or the re-election prospects. In the media world, he is a giant. In the real world, he’s not. But this is not merely a story of weakness. It is a story of resilience. For no matter how often their hollowness is exposed, the jocks still reweave the myth of their own power. They still ride the airwaves claiming to speak for millions. They still confuse listeners with voters. And they are aided in this endeavor by their enablers. They are enabled by cynical Democrats, who love to claim that Rush Limbaugh controls the G.O.P. They are enabled by lazy pundits who find it easier to argue with showmen than with people whose opinions are based on knowledge. They are enabled by the slightly educated snobs who believe that Glenn Beck really is the voice of Middle America. They pre-emptively surrender to armies that don’t exist’.

-  So does this mean I am happy with the Obama Administration’s handling of the larger issues that take over the headlines?  Absolutely not.  But it does mean I feel better about the power of the opposition. They are looking for someone or something to define themselves and win back the power in 2010.  I even heard someone suggest that Glenn Beck is considering a run as a third party.  One can only hope.  How about a Palin/Beck campaign? Gasp.

-  It is time for a reality check on Obama’s campaign promises.  I took a look at Politifact this morning and they claim he has kept 47 promises, Compromised on 12 things, Broken seven promises, Stalled on 12 items, 107 items are in the works and a whopping 330 items that have NO ACTION attached.

-  The larger picture shows that there are other issues being dealt with by the two houses of Congress, but unless you are a policy wonk nerd, you are only going to listen to the screamers and read the headlines.  I guarantee that you will feel better if you lower the volume and read between the lines.

- Try to remember that just last year at this time the campaign was in full swing.  We have only just begun. Keep the faith.

-  For some needed laughs, check out our encounter with an ostrich last week. That is me, giggling in the car.

To Shoot a Hummingbird September 22, 2009

Posted by judylobo in Animal Stories, Dogs and cats, Photography, wildlife.
Tags: , ,
11 comments

maddy7It would have been quite a coup for me to spy a hummingbird in the New York City.  It would have even been a better coup had she been on my balcony, dining on some luscious plants of mine. And it would have been even better if I had gotten my camera out and been able to shoot this rare occurrence.  And I did.

Special mention has to be given to my cat, Madison (also pictured), for it was her twitching tail and mesmerized gaze, as she sat by the balcony doors watching the hummingbird, that caught my attention.

hummingbirdss

Silence of the Blog September 20, 2009

Posted by judylobo in Jewish Stuff, Links, Photography, Politics, Zoos, wildlife.
Tags: , , ,
add a comment

silenceWhy so silent these days, you ask? Yes, there are surely things that are driving me nuts every day. And yes, I have been screaming at the TV, newspapers and websites that I read.  I have been blogging in my head (can’t you hear the voices?) However, the dialogue is so crazy that It is hard to write about the lunacy.  I have always said to all who will listen that ‘I don’t do crazy.’  It is difficult to think like a crazy person. I find that analyzing this kind of behavior is a waste of my time. I have decided that this wackiness will pass – most likely replaced by other annoying, distracting wackiness.

-  These are the things that are bothering me this morning.  The delegitimizing of the Obama Presidency by the right, Glen Beck (read Frank Rich today), the healthcare debacle, the financial meltdown, Acorn, Obama interfering now in the New York State Governor’s race just like the Dems interfered in the upcoming New York State senatorial race (Gillibrand), Joe ‘you lie’ Wilson, ‘Values’ voters, the Mideast peace negotiations breakdown, the New York Mayoral contest and why can’t I DVR two shows while watching a live third one?

More details on some of these annoying above items at another time.  Today is too lovely a day to sit and gripe.  I am outta here.  Oh yes, and a very happy new year to all of my Jewish friends.  L’Shanah Tovah.

Meanwhile enjoy these photos from this week’s trip to the Bronx Zoo.

BRONX9.09blog

Monsters, Madness and the Public Option September 13, 2009

Posted by judylobo in Animal Stories, Animal Videos, Links, Photography, Politics, Videos, Zoos, wildlife.
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
3 comments

nessieThe debate rages on. While I am still confident some form of reform will get through Congress this year I get enraged by the distractions that the Repugnants excel at creating.  The ‘birthers’, ‘deathers’, Fox Noise and now the ‘tenthers’ are fine fodder for the non-stop chatter of the talking heads shows. Aurgh.

The above photo is ‘Nessie’ the Loch Ness Monster that I was lucky enough to see on last week’s trip to Scotland. Check out more photos below. By the way, everything I knew about Scottish history I learned from the movies. And guess what? It is all wrong. Double aurgh.

-  Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich explains what a public option for health care coverage really means for working people. Pass it on to everyone you know.  We can’t let the insurance companies decide who gets care and who doesn’t.

-  Well spoken Congressman Anthony Weiner (I wanted him to run for NYC Mayor or NY Senator) was on Bill Maher’s show Friday night.  Here is his simple take on the single payer debate (or non-debate).

-  New Rules from Bill Maher.

-  Here’s a little ditty called We’re # 37:

-  Our recent visit to Scotland was terrific.  Along with all of the beautiful castles, breathtaking landscape and rich artistic heritage we included visits to two Royal Zoological Society of Scotland venues.

-  The first is the all inclusive Edinburgh Zoo.

-  The second is located in the Highlands and is both a drive thru and walk thru venue.  The cat that looks like a house cat is actually one of only 400 pure-bred Scottish wildcats.

-  A bonus montage includes wildlife that we saw as we toured the countryside.  And yes, that is the Loch Ness monster, lovingly referred to as ‘Nessie.’

-  A visit to the Edinburgh Zoo is not complete without watching the daily (2:15) March of the Penguins. The zoo has about 200 penguins in three connected pool areas. The keepers open the gate at 2:15 and whichever penguins choose to take a stroll leave voluntarily and march around a large oval surrounded by adoring zoo visitors. The day we visited just three Kings and one Gentoo took advantage of the march.  Check out my short video for the results.  I left the sound intact so you can hear the narrator and the clicking of penguin feet on the ground.

Here’s To Our Health September 10, 2009

Posted by judylobo in Animal Stories, Animal Videos, Links, Photo Archives, Photography, Politics, Videos, Zoos, wildlife.
Tags: , , ,
add a comment

morningI am back, rested and refreshed.  (The photo above was taken this morning.  Oh what a beautiful morning). I have rebooted my entire system and am ready to take on the Repugnants.  Last night’s Presidential address to a joint session of Congress was all I needed to kick in my new outlook.  I thought Obama was…  well – Presidential. He found his summer silenced voice and explained his plan, which appears to be organic, and most likely stirred the Democratic base while at the same time alienated the Repugnant base (if they were watching).  Fox was the only major network that chose NOT to air the speech.  They went for ‘So you Think You Can Dance.’ South Carolina Congressman, Joe Wilson, in a wacky outburst, calling President Obama a ‘liar,’ stood in for all of the crazy ‘birthers’ and deathers’ that we have watched all summer at these town hall scream-a-thons. He later apologized for his outburst, but the damage was done.  When I heard him scream, something deep inside of me wanted him taken out to the public square and be drawn and quartered (Okay, I overreacted, a bit) Did you see Nancy Pelosi’s reaction?  I think she wanted to do to he same thing to him too.

Here is the outburst:

So what’s going to happen?  As I said way back in early summer, the Democrats will pass some major health care reform.  Will it be what we all imagine it to be?  No.  But it will be a start.  Will there be any Repugnant support?  Highly doubtful.  But there will be a handful of Repugnants who will step up to the plate and do the right thing. There is lots to be done as the NY Times states today in it’s editorial.

-  Gail Collins joins in on the subject.

-  Click on this link and you can actually see a photo of Congressman Joe Wilson.  He is the one pointing his finger.

Crooks and Liars has a link to the guy who is challenging Joe Wilson for his Congressional seat.  Check it out if you wold like to donate to his opponent’s campaign.  (Ya gotta love democracy, right?)

-  If you missed the full speech last night, click on this link for the text and the video.

-  If you feel the need to contact Congressman Joe Wilson to express your thoughts, here is his contact information.

Address in DC:
The Honorable Joe Wilson
United States House of Representatives
212 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4002

DC Phone: 202-225-2452
DC Fax:    202-225-2455

Email Address:    http://www.house.gov/formwilson/IMA/issue.htm

District Offices:
903 Port Republic Street
Beaufort, SC 29902
Voice: 843-521-2530
FAX: 843-521-2535

1700 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 1
West Columbia, SC 29169
Voice: 803-939-0041
FAX: 803-939-0078

-  Meanwhile, down the street, the Supremes are about to knock holes in our already wobbly campaign financing system. Aurgh.

-  A salute to our two year old walrus, Akituusaq, (check out my photos here)  who lived at the New York Aquarium and died this week.  The walrus died due to complications from pneumonia. During the past few days, Akituusaq had been under special care by Wildlife Conservation Society veterinarians and received round-the-clock attention. Working tirelessly, WCS staff closely monitored his status and provided dedicated medical care’. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved walrus Akituusaq and are proud of the exemplary care that our entire staff provided during this critical time,” said Jon Forrest Dohlin, New York Aquarium Director. “We know Brooklyn was proud of Akituusaq and many loved him. This is a loss to the whole community.”

Akituusaq was the first Pacific walrus baby born in the Aquarium’s 113 year history. This past spring he celebrated his second birthday.  He was born June 12, 2007. Walrus births in aquariums are very rare with only 5 surviving to one year of age.

I took this video in September of 2007.