Elephant Sanctuary update

Probably you don't think about elephants very often but I regularly follow the lives of several at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Today the August eTrunklines included a final report of the tragic accident that happened there last month. Perhaps you too will find it interesting.
Joanna Burke was the primary caregiver for the elephants over the last eight years. It was her dream come true. Sadly this July, in a single tragic moment, Winkie the elephant knocked her down and crushed her. Joanna died instantly.

After an investigation it was determined that the incident was accidental and that the Sanctuary's standards continue to be impeccable. Winkie will not be put down (yeah!), a decision also fully supported by Joanna's family. It was also Joanna's often expressed desire that no harm should come to any elephant no matter what their action. What a terrible loss for everyone that such a fine person died so young.

eTrunkLines also carried the happy news that Misty just completed her year long treatment for tuberculosis and enjoyed a special party which included her favorite treats and plenty of playful silliness.

Also good news, Delhi is enjoying the custom elephant shoes Teva donated to the Sanctuary for Tina who was suffering from osteomyelitis (acquired during her bad old days at a zoo). It's nice to see the shoes are finally getting some use. Unfortunately Tina died suddenly of undetected heart disease before she could use them.


So that's it. The news of the day here at the Language Barrier. At least it's not disheartening like news about Bush & Co. I don't know about you but I need to hear stories of love and compassion, even sad ones.

Joanne and Tina

elephant sanctuary animals Joanna Burke

Pic of the day - Geese float

Going backwards

As Saturday has passed and gone I have to post something just to release the Roxy to the backward flow. I'm home from Oregon and at the moment eating soy bologna stuffed in a pita pocket and seasoned with soy mayo, salt and pepper. I'm not a full-blown vegan but after watching the video narrated by Alex Baldwin I moved a couple of ticks further along that continuum ... meaning I'm trying out new things ... rice cream, vegan "butter" and "mayo". I'll let you know how it goes. So far, the mayo gets two spoons up but the rice cream sandwiches are in the trash. Tasty but too sweet and too many calories. I should have bought the plain rice dream or soy ice "cream". All I wanted was something ice something or other, not a cold cookie. Besides they are minuscule for 100 calories. Bah!



We had a good and quick visit in Oregon. I didn't try to do everything which is the great secret for a short trip. But the big news is that I did a full revolution on the recumbent at the gym today! I know that's not mind-boggling like Brent and Eivind's adventure riding through Canada on a homemade recumbent attached an old couch but it was a breakthrough for me. I'm delighted even though, so far, I can only do it going backwards.



Also, if anyone knows which poem the quote below is from I'd really appreciate hearing from you. Thanks.

"On clear days such as these..."

Saturday at the Roxy 12.08

As David Letterman was one of the topics this week here at the language barrier, it only seemed right to include something from the Late Show on the marquee so to kick things off sit back and enjoy Napoleon Dynamite as he presents the day's Top Ten List...

Ten signs
you're not the most popular guy
in your high school

The next clip is from David Attenborough. It's a fantastic ... bird video. Consider it an amend to those of you who have suffered through the Bird Park thrillers. I hope you trust me enough to give it a play. I guarantee, it's well worth your time.

The Lyre Bird

Theatre isn't really complete without music so here's William Shatner (he's actually pretty good) doing

Common People

I didn't intend to make this "Bird Saturday" but the next amazing real life adventure is also about a crow ... and a kitten.



If you want extra points check out this final video. It's not just a science lesson. It's mind boggling. If you think you're up for it, try wrapping your head around

The Tenth Dimension

This link is now fixed. Sorry for the confusion.

Trip report

Mr. Lee is shutting down the house, blinds, doors, windows and I'm here pounding out a blog post. What is it with this thing? Don't get started is my best advice. Anyway, we're on our way to Oregon for the weekend. This is my big week. I've hardly been out of the house since summer solstice and now.. an all day adventure in Reno, now Oregon until Sunday. Not looking forward to the ride. My knee will surely stiffen up but gotta go. I just have to put some goodies out for the birds. I already have the videos picked out so be sure and come back for Saturday at the Roxy!

Message in a bottle #10,001

F.T. Wuck recently left me this fuming comment: "I type in "ashabot" and all I get is "Yahoo News, Rabid Edition", but all I really want is comix, dammit! Jeez, even static films of feathery shitbirds is welcome at this point...how about a fucking poem or little story even?" Although the rants aren't going away (sorry F.T.) I get damn few visitors around here and even fewer comments so when someone makes a fuss I do pay attention.

Sadly, I only have excuses for why I don't post more fabrication. Certainly politics is fabrication of the grossest order but F.T.'s right. I am pretty stingy about posting my own poetry, comix, even feathery shitbird movies. I guarantee you, it bothers me a whole lot more than it bothers anyone else. I know, while it's true that I'm very disturbed by the advancing shadow of the corporate police state and, however marginally, have to participate in this maddening political debate, I am also profoundly lazy and spend far too much time mucking in the muck when I could otherwise be working on my own, creative projects. So no promises but, rest assured, the matter is under consideration. So, okay. Stories is it? Here's a short one I just heard, a true story as a matter of fact. It will have to do for moment.

My son and his wife ran into David Letterman the other day. They were just starting out on the South Fork trail of Montana's Bob Marshall Wilderness for a five day backpacking trip when a guy wearing chaps and a "Late Show" tshirt, came walking down the trail leading his horse and a small group of riders who were following behind. Naturally J. and A. moved out of the way to let the horse party pass. As the guide got closer they exchanged the usual, "Hi. Thanks. No problem. How are you? Fine. Thanks. How are you"s. It was then they noticed that the guy was none other than CBS Late Show host David Letterman. Now J. and A. are low key people, students at the U of M in Missoula, and not the kind to stop a stranger for a photo op, even David Letterman roughin' it behind a goatee. The next person to pass was a kid about eighteen. J. said to him, "Hey was that David Letterman?" The kid said, "Yes." Then J. asked where they'd been to which he replied, "Oh I don't know. Somewhere out in the Bob".

Yesterday, I promised W.T. "feathery goodness" but my doctor's appointment in Reno turned into a grueling all day errand quest so today, for you W.T. and Roy, I posted an all new, exciting adventure from the Bird Park.

The Waffle and the Crow
01:29

david letterman late show bob marshall wilderness montana backpacking

Lamont wins. Lieberman switches affiliation

Yes, I'm encouraged that Lamont won the Democratic primary in Connecticut tonight. And I think that Lieberman is a dirty bastard for switching to "Independent" when actually he is just another twit sucking on the neocon tit but, all things in perspective. A lot more Republicans are sweating under the collar and looking for "graceful" ways to jump their ship. I'm certainly willing to do what I can from my little corner to help restore some balance to the world but I can't help thinking how all this looks in a more comprehensive perspective.











lamont lieberman primary

Truth or squirm

Ass-kissing shills and craven hate mongers run interception for Bush Co. & Amerika Inc. I wish we had real journalists in this country like the BBC's John Snow.

UK Journalist confronts Israeli Ambassador

israel lebanon journalism

Saturday at the Roxy - 05.06

Just a quick note about the feature of the day, "Night Life in Reno". However tame and cliched it looks now, it shocked and outraged a lot of people in it's day. They felt it glamourized "modern behavior" and in reaction pushed for the Motion Picture Production Code of 1930, aka the Hays Code, which started being enforced in 1934. It's a simple plot but almost an hour long so when I played it, I diminished the window to the size of the viewer and half watched it as I surfed other sites.

Get ready to take the
Boob Test


Feature Film
Night Life in Reno
1931 - run time 57:33


The Show, by ZeFrank
Yes, I'm shamelessly grinding the birthday theme
into the dirt but still I think you'll enjoy this epidsode
which he claims is Run out of Underwear and Contemplate
how far you can get on an Empty Tank of Gas Day.

Alex Baldwin does the voice over for the last clip of the day.
It's the video the meat industry doesn't want you to watch
so I won't blame you if you chicken out
but I hope you have the heart to open your heart and
take the plunge.

alex baldwin zefrank boobs reno nights roxy

Overview

Long day. I accidentally deleted half of my blog template this afternoon. A moment's inattention. I hate it when I do that. I've have a positively lovely afternoon reconstructing things just so they look halfway the same. Another check in the "Why Bother" column but the encouraging comments from yesterday kept me going and I got through the worst of it without pulling the plug. I'd only regret it anyway.

It's evening now, the worst of that is over and it looks like rain may be on the way but you can never be sure in the desert. I watch weather moving towards me from miles away, rain trailing below the clouds like a long gray veil that never touches the earth. But the wind is up and whistling around corners, rattling the trees and sunflowers in the Bird Park and the light is yellow bouncing back from an increasingly gray sky fringed with dusty rose. And thunder overhead. It's kind of nice.