What is wrong with people?

Rare mountain gorilla shot dead in DR Congo reserve

Sun Jun 10, 12:14 PM

KINSHASA (AFP) - A rare protected mountain gorilla has been found shot dead in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Virunga nature reserve, fuelling fears that rebels are targeting endangered species, conservationists said Sunday.


"The body of Rubiga, an adult female, was found yesterday by guards. A two-month old baby was clinging to the mother and was tranferred for treatment to Goma," said Paulin Ngobobo of the Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN).

"We think she was killed Friday, after residents reported hearing gunfire. We set up patrols and the guards found her Saturday," Ngobobo told AFP.

The central African country is home to three of the world's four great ape species: gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos -- pygmy chimps whose population has been decimated over the past 15 years.

Conservationists say endangered gorillas are increasingly under threat from Tutsi and Hutu rebels who have taken refuge in the huge eastern nature reserve. Two silverback gorillas were killed and eaten by rebels in January, they said.

Park rangers have also been targeted. Mai Mai rebels last month killed a park ranger and critically injured three in an attack on the reserve.

"Rubiga was part of a group of 32 individuals, the biggest of the five groups in the sector which over the years have grown accustomed to humans," Ngobobo told AFP.

He added that the sector of the park where she was found is home to 84 of the some 700 gorillas living in the reserve, near the mountainous border with Rwanda and Uganda.

"It was an act of sabotage, against tourism, against research," he added, dismissing the involvement of poachers who would not have left the body in the forest with an infant, given their value on the black market.

"The guards have found traces of blood in the forest and we hope no other gorillas have been wounded or killed. We are looking for the group which has completely dispersed after the attack," he said.

Virunga, Africa's biggest national park and classed as a World Heritage Site by UNSECO, is sometimes used as a refuge by rebel groups to evade patrols by the regular army.

This makes me sick... this was the first thing I saw when I woke up this morning.

Poachers kill one of last two white rhinos in Zambia
Tue Jun 12, 9:57 AM
LUSAKA (AFP) - Poachers have shot the last two white rhinos in Zambia, killing one and wounding the other, in a night operation at the Mosi-Oa-Tunya national park in Livingstone, an official said Tuesday.The shooting of the two endangered animals in a heavily-guarded zoological park near Victoria Falls in Zambia's tourist resort town of Livingstone took place last week.
"I can confirm that one of the white rhinos was shot dead by suspected poachers. The other one was wounded and is undergoing treatment," said Maureen Mwape, spokesperson of the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), which would be investigating the shooting.
The dead female rhino's horn was apparently removed.
Zambia's white rhinos were all killed by poachers but the government managed to acquire six from South Africa in 1993, of which the injured male is the last to survive.

Hi I'm a Marvel superhero... and I'm a DC superhero

Hi I'm a Marvel superhero... and I'm a DC superhero

Stevie Nicks shares 'Visions' with Chris Isaak

Oh my god! I am so happy that Stevie is making a stop close to us! I have always wanted to see her!!!!Stevie Nicks shares 'Visions' with Chris Isaak

Eddie Vedder comes through for me once again!!

Today I went to check the mail and finally received my LP Single from Pearl Jam's fan club Ten Club. www.tenclub.com I am so excited but now have to figure out a way to play since technology has moved on to the cd and mp3's!! It contain's "Love, Reign O'er Me" from the motion picture Reign Over Me www.sonypictures.com/movies/reignoverme/ starring Adam Sandler. On the b side but hardly a B song is "Rockin' in the free World" which was recorded with Bono of U2 fame in Australia, 2006.

Raptors

Went to the Toronto Raptors game last night which they won 92-85 against Orlando Magic. It was a good time and the $9.25 beer went down smoothy!! I still think I enjoy the mascots a little too much though, "Raptor" is very distracting to a girl like me when the game is on!!

Twinkie Sushi

What a great idea! For the sweet tooth and non sushi lover!! Hostess Cakes

Congratulations to Me!!!

I just arrived home from passing my G2 Driving Exam!!!!!!
I was so absolutely nervous and thought I did horribly but the lady still passed me! So I am on my way to more transportation freedom now and maybe will drive to see the California Coast one day! Thanks to all of my friends who drove my drunk ass (never had to be the DD!)around all these years and also to those who drove me when I just was not able to drive!!!

Winston's So Suave!

Who says he can't pull off a pink bandana that reads "Red Hot"?! 
 

Making the world a safer place... I hope so

N. Korea agrees to nuclear disarmament
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070213/ap_on_re_as/koreas_nuclear

Na Pali Coast sadly takes a life...

Photographer and Naturalist David Boynton Dies in Kauai Fall
Superb photographer and naturalist David Boynton died on Saturday in a fall along Kauai's Na Pali Coast. The Honolulu Advertiser reports that Boynton's body was found at the foot of a 300-foot cliff on the north face of the Miloli'i Valley. Apparently Boynton had been enroute to photograph sea turtles on Miloli'i Beach.

While Boynton was best known for his superb photography which is featured in such books as The Kaua'i Movie Book, Flowers: Images from Hawaii’s Gardens, and Kaua`i Days, he also heavily involved in educational outreach through the Hawaii Department of Education.

Boynton's death brings to attention the fact that danger is never too far away in Hawaii's natural wonderlands and that even the most experienced hiker can encounter life-threatening dangers. Kauai's Na Pali Trail is both one of Hawaii's most beautiful nature experiences, but also one of the most dangerous, especially in winter conditions.

Our sympathies and prayers go out to David's wife Sue and their family. David will be greatly missed by all of us who have enjoyed and treasured his work and talent. You can view some of David's work on his website at www.davidboyntonphotography.com
From John Fischer,
Your Guide to Hawaii / South Pacific for Visitors.

All Hail the Crab King!!!

Please click here to view! Budweiser: Beer-Stealing Crabs
http://www.ifilm.com/video/2819747
My kind of ad!!

Lukas Rossi

Massey Hall

Dilana

Dave Navarro of The Panic Channel

Supernova goes Platinum in Canada

The concert was great on Wednesday night and here are some highlights!!

Rockstar Supernova went platinum in Canada and the guys from BMG were there to hand out the records

Dilana opened the show and was amazing!!! Everyone sounded just they way they did on the TV show which was nice. I was torn between Dilana and Lukas as the winner so it was great to see her there!! She also had her guitarist from L.A. with her.

Toby Rand was also there which pleased the ladies in the crowd! I was never really a huge fan of Toby's but his band Juke Kartel (from Australia) sounded great. Crowd at the front of the stage and screaming ensued... I did like the comment that Lukas made "You think Canadians can drink, try drinking with an Aussie" or something to that avail!

The ladies love Dave Navarro and Dave loves the ladies!!!!!!!! I did enjoy Dave very much as well!!!

People on the floor level were encouraged by the bands to rush the stage... which made it easier for Dave to lean over and plant one on some lucky girl!! Dave also lifted a young girl up onto the stage who could not have been more than seven!! Very cute!

Dave is physically sexier than Tommy- I thought it might be close but Dave won! Also surprised that Dave is so buff, Tommy is just very tall and thin. Both have charisma though!!

I was blinded by the lights catching Dave's right nipple ring!!!!

Was pretty sure that Tommy's boardshorts were going to fall off at some point... then he would only be wearing a tie!!!! Tommy was full of charm and personality and the screams were deafening everytime he got up from behind his drum kit!!!

Who knew Tommy could also play the keyboard?

Screaming for what seemed like forever ( was probably about 2 minutes) when Tommy introduced Lukas Rossi back to his hometown crowd!!!! He said on ET Canada that that was a point where it was very hard not to cry... I was surprised that he didn't.

I was happy to hear him refer to his old job at Hooters that he still had in Toronto a year ago. Good publicity, ha,ha!

A female quartet was brought in for their rendition of The Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony" and also an original "Can't bring myself to light this fuse"

Could not see Johnny Colt very much but he sounded great.

Gilby Clark was great and has a set of guns on him!!!

Tickertape!!!!!!!!!!! I have always wanted to see tickertape fall live!!!! Cheesy I know, but I have watched too many american parades on tv!!!!

Tommy threw a drumstick that was caught by someone in the first row of the top level! Our level but too far over...

Strange audience... People aged 7 to 60? I am used to a loud ACC crowd and this was not it. At one point Tommy gave the crowd hell for sitting down. And Lukas was like " We can see you!" You sort of had to stand as the seats were very small and you could not sit with you legs in front of you. they had to be out to the side if you have legs like me.

No booze... Maybe that was the problem. You were not allowed drinks up in the stands and the bar was jammed at intermission. I am used to drinking $9- beers at a concert!!

Overall, great venue though, you feel very close to the stage from any seat and the sound was awesome!!!!!!


Great night!!! Great concert!!! Lots of fun!!!

Just what we need... a dog stumbling around the house asking for another beer!!!

Yummy: Pet shop owner creates beer for dogs from beef extract and malt - Yahoo! Canada News
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/070122/koddities/oddity_doggie_beer

Tommy Lee does Toronto!! ( Via Supernova)

Tonight we are going to see Rockstar Supernova ( http://rockstar.msn.com/) here in Toronto at Massey Hall http://www.toronto.com/arts/listing/000-100-075 ! We bought the tickets way back in the summer before they even announced the winner but we were sure Lukas Rossi was a shoe in! Dilana would have worked for us too. The venue holds less than 3000 people so it is quite intimate for a concert.

The Panic Channel will also be there and I am looking forward to seeing Dave Navarro!! There is so much music history between these guys... Nirvana, Jane's Addiction, Motley Crue, Gun's and Rose's, Metallica...

We will miss Jason Newsted who will be replaced by Johnny Colt from The Black Crowes. Here's to a quick recovery Jason!

Should be a pretty emotional show for Lukas as Toronto is his hometown... will tell you all about it in the morning!!!