Animal Slaughter in Zanesville, Ohio

Damn, this one gives me a lot of heartburn. I really question the need to kill the animals. First off, they list among the animal they “had to put down” 6 black bears. Black bears? They are native to North America – and I dare say that in a rural area like Zanesville there is a native population of black bears living in the woods. It also wouldn’t surprise me, that if you had someone who knew where (and how) to look – that there aren’t at least a few Mountain Lion…which the cops also killed. I’ve seen Mountain Lion in the mountains and forests of West Virginia and Kentucky, and a heck of a lot of black bear – one or two not very far from the big city. I’ve also seen wolves in Wyoming and Montana, along with Grizzly. And while it can be a heart thumping experience – I have never heard of wolves attacking humans except in adventure and horror stories – although a Grizzly does consider you a nice between meal snack if he is in the mood.

So I don’t see any need to have killed the black bear, mountain lion, or wolves as “threats to the population”. Wolves will kill sheep, I don’t know why, but sheep apparently look like filet mignon coming off the grill to a wolf. However, my family raised pedigree Boxer dogs – and one of the things you never wanted to do was get them in sight of a sheep. Apparently they share the same mental wiring as wolves. And for the truly stupid out there, yes wolves are gorgeous big cuddly looking dogs… And they can be successfully domesticated if you start from puppies…But sticking your hand out to pet a wild wolf is a really bad idea.

So…That leaves the Lions, Tigers, and Monkey. You can’t convince me that in an age of night vision goggles, thermal imagers, and helicopters that there was any threat of these animals going too far. Further, in 4 hours or less – that sheriff could have had a team of 50 or more Animal Welfare, and Zoo professionals onsite armed to the teeth with tranquilizer guns. The story about the guy with the tranquilizer gun having to get 10 feet away from the lion to zap it is utter bullshit.

So is the story about having to kill the animals. This was really an unnecessary, and tragic slaughter.

Add this one to “Domestic Terrorism”.

Green Party Candidate Killed By Gas Hog…

You really got to wonder why in the middle of a recession, and with gas prices the way they are – people are still driving these damn things.

Bushit era excess. Couple of folks down the road from me have Hummers – Every time I see them I root for a tree to  jump out in front of them.

Beautiful sister, killed by a pig.

Maryland Green Party Senate candidate killed by SUV while cycling

Natasha Pettigrew, a Maryland Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate, died late Monday, two days after a Cadillac Escalade hit her while she was bicycling. The 30-year-old was training for a triathlon about an hour before sunrise, the Washington Post reports:

In a statement, Maryland Green Party co-chairman Brian Bittner said that Pettigrew had “incredible potential as a future leader for this party and this state” and that the Green Party had “never experienced a loss like this.”

“We all looked forward to working with Natasha for years to come,” Bittner said.

Pettigrew was hit by a sport-utility vehicle traveling near the intersection of Campus Way. State police said the driver apparently thought she had hit a deer or another animal and realized what had happened only when she arrived home and found Pettigrew’s bicycle trapped under her car. Pettigrew was not dragged by the vehicle but suffered severe injuries, police said.

10 – 20 Dead as Israeli Defense Forces Storm Aid Ships

This one makes no sense. These activists are being treated worse than Somali Pirates.

Israel is going to spin the hell out of this – but the simple fact is, a bunch of folks armed with clubs is no match for Israeli Special Forces armed to the teeth.

What the heck ever happened to firing a shot across the bow – or the liberal use of water cannons?

And this was in International waters, which makes it an act of piracy.

Israeli soldiers kill at least 10 protesters on boat carrying supplies to Gaza

Israeli naval ships seized control of a protest flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip on Monday, killing at least 10 people and sparking widespread international condemnation.

Israeli television, citing foreign media reports, said the death toll could be as high as 16.

“The images are certainly not pleasant. I can only voice regret at all the fatalities,” Trade and Industry Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer told Israel’s Army Radio.

The raid set off a storm of international protest and drew condemnations from leaders of Spain, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.N., the European Union and Arab League.