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June 06, 2005 6:00 PM- yesterday's news

Have you ever posted for the sole purpose of replacing the existing post?

Oh good. Then you'll understand completely when I tell you I have absolutely nothing to say here. Rather, I have an intense desire to take the newsprint from last Thursday and line the birdcage with it.

Not that I have a birdcage. Or, if I did that it would have actual live birds in it.

A month or so ago, my cousins came to visit from France. There were some kids in the group so I took them to an outdoor Science Center. It's a pretty cool place even if you are someone like me who hates the zoo. You walk through these different areas where native animals are set up in their habitat. And, the animals that I can't bear to see caged (birds in particular) are all rescued animals who have been wounded or damaged and could never survive in the wild. So, I'm okay with it. Plus, they have fabulous "learning centers" dotted throughout where they explain all kinds of cool science/nature stuff.

I hadn't been there in many years, but that will be the last time I go. Because? The mountain lions.

They had two mountain lions in a cage. Why does this ravage me so? (And, no you would be wrong if you thought I was exaggerating with the word ravage--) I'll tell you why.

A) These aren't native. Once upon a time, maybe. But these two? They had to import them. Mountain Lions were wiped out from this area at the end of the 19th century.

B) On the plaque next to their cage it explained how mountain lions need miles and MILES or area to survive and so as human beings started encroaching they kept moving on out.

Feel the hurt? They need miles. And they are so beautiful. And they have to pace around 1,000 square feet over and over and over forever.

And there you go-- the vagaries of my mind.

Mention the word cage. And in pops my two mountain lions. Which I still carry with me. I do. They are with me. I feel so badly for them.

Isn't this absolutely bizarre? Because there are so many other things to have a heartache over. Why this?

Anyway. This is why I should never post just to cover up an annoying post because now tomorrow I will have to cover this one up cause it's already starting to annoy me.



got 2 cents?



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meg says:
LOL! I did that this morning. It just seemed too long since my last post. I can always come up with some kind of shit. You did really good!
posted on: June 06

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Kari says:
I used to loath zoo's until I worked at one - and now I consider a GOOD zoo like a natural resource. I found that the zoo keepers hated zoo's more than most people - they just have to let people in to fund their research and the care for the animals. And yes, I have had to post to cover up an entry... in fact, I HAVE to post something today and I have two other entries to go right on top of it. KInda bury it you know? That way maybe the person it is intended for will be the only one who really pays attention to it.
posted on: June 07

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wendy says:
Dear, dear, dear sweet girl...er, I mean mountain lion. It's not bizarre to me in the least that you are identifying with the mountain lions...grieving for their crushed spirits..their encapsulated existences. Stop the madness already and FLY! (ok, so that might be a bit bizarre..a mountain lird. But knowing us, well, me really..I don't know any of these other people. But I'd be willing to bet we'd all pay to see it if you put it out there.)
posted on: June 07

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megs says:
I'm all too familiar with that feeling, BP, and I avoid the zoo for that very reason. I've got something to trump your mountain lions. Seneca Park Zoo-Three skinny reindeer, laying on a patch of hard packed dirt, in the middle of summer, without antlers or a sense of purpose. I can't stand to see things caged up... unless you count criminals.
posted on: June 07

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Chanelbaby says:
You are not annoying me BP. I know how you feel, although I don't ache perhaps as much as you do. But I feel the absolute injustice and ABSURDITY of the practice of caging up tigers in the National Zoo (for instance). When I see those proud, lean creatures pacing up and down, it makes me angry for their wild beauty, pent up by arrogant humans. What a farce. Anyway. Missed you at BEA! Your publishers gave me a copy of your/your niece's book though. Very cool. :)
posted on: June 07

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lizardek says:
I don't think ravage was too strong a word at all.
posted on: June 07

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bp says:
Excellent Chanelbaby!! Glad you got a copy. I'm gonna put the info out here one of these days when I can figure how AND keep my anonymity . . .
posted on: June 07

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river selkie says:
put the book info under a locked entry. then it's here but only for people you want to have it. ----------- and i feel your pain about zoos. i have very mixed, mostly bad, feelings about the zoos. on the one hand they promote familiarity with the animals. when people learn about them, they tend to lose a little of the ignorance and fear that allows them to easily destroy the poor creatures. people get a chance to care about them from experiencing them. and sometimes, zoos save their lives. such as when a baby is found without parents, or if the species is going extinct for some reason (which is undoubtably our fault too). and they do do research about the animals, scientifically, and that knowledge could benefit them somehow..............but on the other hand, those poor animals are not able to live in their natural environment. they are not free. and i daresay they are not truly happy. plus, i believe their individual rights are more important than trying to save their species...which is mostly for our benefit anyway. cause if i was one of the last female humans i would just want to be free and able live my own life. i would not want to be locked up in an attempt to save my species, though sad as that might be. i especially would not want to be locked up by the very beings that potentially killed off the rest of my species by destroying the planet. yeah, so, mostly, i am against zoos.
posted on: June 07

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stephanie says:
Animals in cages make me so sad. Some zoos are good, like some animals would be hunted down and killed in the wild, but others need to roam free. It's an interesting juxtoposition with humans and cubicles, non?
posted on: June 07

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Ani says:
I was randomly looking at some blogs and I came across yours. I just love you. Not in a stalker way, but in a fellow lover-of-animals way. You are a beautiful creature.... We need more people like you.
posted on: August 31

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