Week of October 1st, 2004

    First up, from Jolly Ol' England, it has been announed that Tom and Jerry top the list of favourite cartoon characters of adults in the United Kingdom. ... It's kinda hard to think of what to say to this. Also filled by the other top spots were Scooby Doo at number 2... God...you just can't get away from Scooby. Number three was Dangermouse, the only UK cartoon on the list. Number four was TopCat, five was the Flintstones, six was Bugs Bunny and seventh was Popeye. First off, it's kinda cool that five of the top spots are all held by anthomorphic animals. Secondly it's just cool that UK adults watch cartoons. I was kinda saddened by Bugs's poor showing, but then, maybe I just have a thing for rabbits... =>.>= =<.<=

    Alright, moving on...in Hagerstown, Maryland, the first bear hunt in 51 years is sparking a lawsuit to try and get it blocked. Animal rights activists are seeking to block the hunt which they say is based on flawed science. The DNR, Department of Natural Resources, want to stage a 2 week hunt with a limit of 30 bears (total). The plan to allow 200 hunters to find and kill the bears, which they believe are becoming a nuisance. The hunt is planned to help contain the bears in the mountains. According to activists however, the DNR has already missed two deadlines required for the hunt to be legal. ... I just want to ask how long bears have been considered a natural resource? Okay, that was stupid. But really, this seems stupid to me. I think you let 200 guys into woods for 2 weeks, and you'll end up with more than 30 dead bears EVEN IF they're trying to follow the rules. And how exactly are these bears causing a nuisance? I mean, if they're anything like the bear in my next story, I can understand it. Speaking of which...

    *giggles* Bear ransacks kitchen, steals chocolate! Denver, Colorado..."It's a tale of man against nature. A paralyzed man in Aspen, Colorado, lay helplessly in bed for two hours while a black bear known as "Fat Albert" went through his kitchen breaking dishes and looking for a tasty snack." "I had 4 pounds (2 kg) of chocolate from a ski trip. He ate it all -- it's war," Tom Isaac said. "I could hear him breaking things for two hours." This is the time of year, usually when bears are going out, and basically trying to become huge fat asses so they can hibernate all winter. Which isn't really a bad idea, as anyone who's ever been awake through winter can relate... Tom said this wasn't the first time the bear had broken into his house, and that authorities had once found it asleep on the kitchen table. Although Tom had been afraid the bear would attack him, he said he does not want to see the bear shot, but is worried about how the needs of mankind and wildlife can be balanced. ... You know it just occurred to me that maybe better locks on your door will help man. Anyway, I think this is kinda cool, he still doesn't want to see the bear shot. Personally, I think the bear should be relocated, to like...middle of nowhere. Then he can go off, be a bear, kick his choclate habit, and just enjoy life... And hopefully not get this breaking and entering on his criminal record... 'Cause you know, it would suck going to bear prison...be made somebody's "Boo Boo".

    Moving on...past the prison jokes... A lonely and confused male flamingo has caused a stir at a Gloucestershire nature reserve by trying to incubate a pebble. Andy, a 40 year old Andean flamingo, has spent the past two weeks trying to incubate...unsucessfully...a pebble. Nigel Jarrett, a bird nesting expert, said: "The birds are very attentive and do make excellent fathers, but this is above and beyond the call of duty." *Snerk* I don't know...he might hatch a new species of rock bird. Anyway, the staff has replaced the pebble with a replica egg. They're letting him go on incubating it in case they need a surrogate father for an orphaned egg. Mr. Jarret believes that Andy's moodiness is due to the end of the breeding season, and a body full of hormones. There is some speculation that Andy may have had a mate, but the egg was lost, and the female up and left. *smiles* Okay, I gotta say, birds are nutty. Still, that's some serious devotion there. Even from a slightly dysfunctional single parent... If he drinks, then we got a case of Jerry Springer going here.

    Our final story today, a Mexican town is advertising for an army of cats to help get rid of a rat plague. In a plan that would feel right at home in a Looney Tunes cartoon, authorities in Atascaderos have posted ads asking for people to donate their cats. They prefer spayed and neutered cats so that they don't end up with a cat plague next. I get the feeling that's what's going to happen anyway. I'd have some people standing by with some dogs... Town officials say the tried poison and traps, but only succeeded in killing the town's cats. ... What the hell did they bait the traps with?! Cat chow? Actually...I'm not going to make fun, they probably used yogurt, which rats DO like...but on the flip side, so do cats... And when it comes to the animal kingdom, the animal with more mass has the right to go first. And boy did they go. Well, if possible, I'd like to watch this one and see how it turns out. Could be good...could end up with a cat plague. We'll see. Anyway...that's all for this week, on the Furry News Network!

This site is the intellectual property of Jarylan Blackwell, aka, Joseph Nicholas Garbo. Images are used without permission, but are usually to the benefit of those that provide them, since I advertise and give credit. News stories are skimmed from various sources, whom I credit when I post. If you have a problem with how your image/story is displayed, you may contact me a TheFox77@comcast.net.