Who Let the Dogs Out? February 16, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Animal Stories, Animal Videos, Dogs and cats, Photography, Videos.Tags: 134th Westminster Kennel Club, Ben Stein, Benny the dog, Kent Jones, Madison Square Park
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It is all about dogs in NYC this week. The 134th Westminster Kennel Club show is in town. As per usual, my dog Benny’s godmother and I attended yesterday’s opening. Despite the massive human crowds we were able to enjoy each and every pooch. We met Rachel Maddow‘s buddy, Kent Jones, as he was gathering footage for a segment on The Rachel Maddow Show for last night. Watch that segment here. We were standing right in front of Mr. Jones when he was speaking with the sweet beagle, Tipper.
– Catch Ben Stein as he professes his love for dogs in a bit called, ‘love, life and four paws‘. Very, very sweet.
– Benny Meets Wegman’s Dogs in Madison Square Park:
Zoos and Bold Faced Names February 15, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Animal Stories, Photography, wildlife, Zoos.Tags: Benny the dog, Central Park Zoo, Daily Kos, Gus and Ida the Polar Bears, Keith Olbermann, Markos Moulitsas, Oakland Zoo
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Zoos are a great place for spotting bold faced names. Having been a volunteer at the Central Park Zoo for over 20 years I can attest to that fact. There is an anonymity about a zoo that works for a celebrity because most of the people are looking at the animals and not at the other zoo visitors.
Anyway, while out walking my dog, Benny around 7PM last night I missed a phone call from my nephew in-law. (Anyone know what you actually call a guy who is married to one’s niece)? It was Mike, excitedly calling from his car on the way home from the Oakland Zoo, that he just e-mailed me a photo of someone he met at the zoo. I immediately opened my trusty MacBook Pro to find the above photo of Mike smiling along with Markos Moulitsas, founder of the Daily Kos.
MIke told me when I phoned that the family, after completing their Zoo visit, was taking advantage of the kiddy rides directly adjacent to the zoo, when he spotted what he thought was someone he knew. After a closer inspection he realized in was Markos Moulitsas and uncharacteristically approached him. He acknowledged the fact that it, indeed, was the Daily Kos guy, and Mike’s sister, Jen took this photo. Mike, his sister Jen and I are big fans of Markos. Very, very cool.
FYI – Markos used to be a Republican but changed his allegiance after a stint in the army.
My own favorite Zoo happenstance was a few years ago when I spotted a scruffy looking Keith Olbermann and his lady friend by the polar bear habitat. I took a photo through the glass at the other side of the exhibit and then approached them. We had a long chit chat about our polar bears, Gus and ida, and then I told him I was a BIG fan and thanked him for his work.
Snow Day in the Big Apple February 10, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Animal Stories, Animal Videos, Dogs and cats, Photography, Politics, Videos, wildlife, Zoos.Tags: 50 Richest Members of Congress, Benny the dog, Carolyn Maloney, Central Park Zoo, Madison Square Park, snow leopard
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It is a snow day in the Big Apple. School’s are closed, all of the City Zoo’s are closed and the streets are very quiet. It has been snowing for about eight hours and so far, it is not a big to do. The photo above is of my dog Benny as art critic. He sniffed the half built snowman and then chose to pee right on it. Good job!
– Now that corporations can buy any politician they might want to own, here is a list of the 50 Richest Members of Congress. Why does that matter? It will be interesting to see if the 50 richest are effected from this latest Un-Supreme decision. Check out Rollcall.com‘s list. Just click column headers to resort the chart; click Members’ names to see descriptions of their assets. FYI – My Rep., Carolyn Maloney is #20.
Here are some photos of a really BIG snow storm in 2006.
Last year, during one of our major snow storms I took photos of some of the gargoyle’s, creatures and beasties around the neighborhood. Let’s revisit these spooky guys.
Lost and Found January 30, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Animal Stories, Dogs and cats, Photography.Tags: Brussels Griffon, Lost Dog
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It’s always something, isn’t it? At 6AM this morning, on my way out of my building to walk my dog, Benny, the doorman tells me he saw a loose dog in the adjacent courtyard overnight. “What kind of dog”, I say – “a pit bull?” He said “it looked like a boxer puppy”. I sighed and said “keep me informed.”
At 6:45AM my phone rings. “We see the dog – do you have a crate?” the doorman says.
Like a woman possessed I run to the lobby with my cat carrying crate. The doorman, two building porters and I try to capture one very frightened small dog. It took about 15 minutes but we managed to capture her and put her in the carrying case.
I recognized her immediately as the ‘LOST DOG’ I had seen on many lamp posts in the neighborhood for the past several days. We ran to the dog park to get one of the posters. Her name is ‘GIA’ and she had been missing for five days. We phoned the number on the ‘LOST DOG’ poster but only got a voice mail. We also phoned the microchip number on the poster to no avail.
She was shivering and frightened. It has been brutally cold in NYC these past few days and nights. I brought her some of Benny’s food and water. She wolfed everything down. I gave her one of Benny’s toys and she immediately put her head on it and began to fall asleep.
I brought GIA up to my apartment and fell in love in about three minutes. She ate two bowls of Benny’s food, and managed to scare my cat (which is not easy to do). She spotted Benny’s overflowing toy box and went crazy for all of the half eaten bones.
I phoned the number on the poster once again and finally got her Dad, Sacha. He was thrilled and started to cry. He was working in LA but assured me that his team of friends were in the neighborhood putting up more ‘LOST DOG’ posters and would be at my apartment momentarily.
More photos were taken, lots of dog kisses were received and before you know it, little GIA was retrieved and nestled into the arms of a good friend of her Dads.
It’s always something. This time – it was a good something.
Newest Kid on the Block January 24, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Animal Stories, Animal Videos, Photography, Videos, wildlife, Zoos.Tags: Central Park Zoo, mini-Nubian goats
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The Central Park Zoo welcomed its newest addition on January 12th. Little Abe is a cross between a Nigerian dwarf goat and a Nubian goat and joins the other four mini-Nubian goats, Ace, the male, and females Angel (Abe’s mother), Monique, and Spirit. They live in the Tisch Children’s Zoo alongside the pygmy goats and Newman, the zoo’s famous full-sized Nubian.
Watch little Abe as he romps around his new home.
Hanukkah Shmanukkah 5770 -PostScript December 14, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Animal Stories, Dogs and cats, Jewish Stuff, Links, Photography, Religion.Tags: anti-semitic, Benny and Madison, Empire State Building, Hanukkah Miracle, Jewish Calendar, mary schwalm, Members of the Tribe, Sevion
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In years gone by, the Empire State Building was lit up blue and white only for the first night of Hanukkah. Guess what? Another Hanukkah Miracle has occurred. The Empire State Building will be lit up blue and white for the entire eight nights. Check out this site.
It turns out that my Hanukkah Shmanukkah 5770 post of last Friday was quite a hit. As you already know from my own loud horn tooting, WordPress has featured that particular post on its home page for the past four days. Do I think they will keep it on through the entire eight days of Hanukkah? Absolutely not – there are Hanukkah Miracles and there are Hanukkah Miracles. But it has been fun. In the past three days I have had over 4000 visitors to this post. Is this figure somewhat intimidating? You bet it is. Will it make me waver in what I post in the future? Absolutely not.
In no particular order I answer some of the comments and questions I have received:
1. My dog Benny and cat Madison allow me to put silly costumes on them. The outfits were not Photoshopped onto their adorableness. Benny the dog is much more cooperative, in general, since he understands the concept of treats. Madison the cat, could not care less (about anything). My friend Carol is sure that Benny sometimes snaps at people because I dress him in silly outfits. I do not agree.
2. I’ve gotten lots of mail and only one disgusting anti-semitic comment that I quickly deleted from the ‘comments’ section of the blog.
3. The Jewish Calendar is on a lunar cycle. Therefore, as we say, the holidays are either early or they are late – but they are never on time.
4. Lots of people seem to have ‘Jewish’ as one of their Google alerts.
5. Many people comment in order to promote their own blogs. And why not, I say?
6. I have been renamed Wendy WordPress by a loyal friend.
7. One longtime political pal told me his autistic student sang the dreidel song. He was psyched.
8. I am not the only one that stores their menorah in the freezer.
9. Hard to believe but a few people asked me for permission to forward my post along to their friends.
10. For those that have asked – my Hanukkah candles last about an hour and I clean out the wax each night with an ice pick.
11. Someone said ‘What about some more music’? So – here it is – a hard rock remix of the Hanukkah song, Sevivon.
12. And more Members of the Tribe here.
13. Finally, my friend Mary (not Jewish) has decorated her Christmas tree in a unique way this year.
Smile – It’s Thanksgiving November 26, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Animal Stories, Animal Videos, art, Dogs and cats, Links, Photo Archives, Photography, Videos, wildlife, Zoos.Tags: smiles, Thanksgiving
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A very Happy Thanksgiving from my house to your house. Nothing political today. Just some fun. Everyone needs a break. Click here. And Here.
For those that like games – try to guess whose claws, paws, fingers and toes are whose (answers below the montage).
Claws, Paws, Fingers and Toes –
Left to right:
Row 1: Black bear foot, Lace Monitor hand(?), Capybara foot
Row 2: Puma feet, Monkey hands, Chimpanzee hand
Row 3: Tapir feet, Malaysian Flying Fox, Meerkat hands
Row 4: Cotton-top Tamarin feet, Baboon feet
Row 5: Eagle Talons, Elephant foot
Row 6: Saki MOnkey fot, Turtle Foot, Snow Monkey Hand and Foo
Crime and Punishment November 17, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Animal Stories, Photography, Politics, wildlife, Zoos.Tags: Central Park Zoo, Dostoyevsky, House of the Dead, Jon Stewart, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Lou Dobbs, Metropolitan Opera, Rudy Giuliani, Snow monkeys, Stephen Colbert
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I went to see House of the Dead at the Metropolitan Opera last night. Yes, the opera. I like to fill my life with a bit of highbrow culture to balance out the lowbrow stuff that fills my life. To clarify, an opera loving friend (yes, one of those Ring Nuts you hear about) chooses the operas for me each year. She knows I only like operas that are dark, depressing where lots of people suffer and/or die. No fluffy stuff for me. The House of the Dead is based on the writings of Dostoyevsky, a guy who knew a lot about crime and punishment.
There is much ado about bringing the masterminds of the 9/11 attacks to the Big Apple to stand trial. For a change, I scratch my heard at the fuss. Has our Constitution been so shredded that people do not think that the legal system can stand on its own and mete out justice according to our laws?
As soon as motor mouth Rudy Giuliani starts banging the drum I know it is time to see what’s going on. Rudy still lives with a 2001 calendar. He is one annoying dude who refuses to move along. He has made a fortune off his moments of 9/11 fame and sounds the drum of ‘Danger, Will Robinson, Danger’ whenever someone will listen.
I am going to watch this trial (which might take two years to get to court) closely. I only hope that it is not my turn to serve on the Jury. Or then again, maybe that would be a good thing.
He will not wake up and see that the country is trying to move along. His disastrous run for Repugnant nominee in the last round should be proof enough. But, alas, he just cannot help himself. He forgets that in 2009 we have video of his double speak.
Watch Jon Stewart skewers Rudy here. “We’ve all heard that 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed will be tried in New York. Would you believe that Rudy Giuliani expressed conflicting opinions about trying terrorists on American soil before and after he learned he would never be president”?
Speaking of loudmouths – Stephen Colbert says ‘adios’ to Lou Dobbs: http://rawstory.com/rawreplay/?p=4294
If you missed my Sunday photo montage, check out the Central Park Zoo snow monkeys. They were given a mirror as part of the Zoo’s ongoing enrichment program. I happened to be at the habitat when they discovered this new addition to their home and watched their reactions.
Sprint or Marathon? November 1, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Animal Stories, Animal Videos, Dogs and cats, Photography, Politics, Videos, wildlife, Zoos.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:
To Shoot a Hummingbird September 22, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Animal Stories, Dogs and cats, Photography, wildlife.Tags: cats, hummingbirds, NYC
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It 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.
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