Santa Fe College, Teaching Zoo, Gainesville, FL

Santa Fe, Teaching Zoo
Today was a little underwhelming. The Santa Fe Teaching Zoo wasn’t anything special. It’s basically a technical school where students earn an associate degree in the zoo keeping.

Butterfly Rainforest, Gainesville, FL

Butterfly Rainforest
Butterfly Rainforest was fun, but I’ve been to better butterfly exhibits in Manhattan, which were a lot smaller. The largest of this facility detracted from the intensity of hanging with butterflies in a much smaller space.  

Big Cat Rescue

 

Big Cat Rescue
Not really sure how I felt about this place. The facility specializes in rescuing exotic cats from abusive owners, but then they housed the displaced cats in cages for the rest of their life. But how is being confined for the rest of your life in a cage a “rescue”? The alternative would be to be euthanized the cats. Is living the rest of your life in a cage, better than death?

In the wild, many of these cats would die naturally at a relatively age. They weaken and are normally killed by a predator. In the cage, at the sanctuary, they live beyond this natural age of death, even though they maybe sick and suffering.   

Manatees

The intro to video is a bit awkward, but give it a minute. Hopefully, they won't take it down either, because of the advertising by the Dive Shop.

The beginning of the snorkel/dive was incredible. Well, it took a little time, at first I didn't encounter any manatees and started to think what the faq... it this trip a scam?  But then they appeared.  I was off by myself snorkeling and this huge manatee approached me and just hung out. I scratched it. It turned around on it's belly, wanting it's belly to be scratched. When I stopped, it turned around staring directly in my face. It is truly was a weird and curious animals.

I still can't get over how big they are.... and weird!

Manatees Pics

Developed the underwater pictures from my underwater camera.

Manatee Snorkeling, Crystal River FL

After snorkeling for twenty minutes and not seeing a manatee, I started have suspicions.  Then out of nowhere a 1000 lbs manatee - the size of a large cow – appeared in front of me. I started scratching its back and it rolled over.  I scratched its belly. Then it turned to look directly at me. They are very curious and seemingly playful animals. After about ten minutes of playing, it swam away.

It was the first of about ten encounters; all of them very playful. 

FOUR MORE YEARS!!

Electoral College

Odds of Obama winning are now 4-5 or 85.1%. As Election Day comes near there is less of a chance the Romney Camp can more the polls. The only way Romney can win is if ALL the polls are skewed. If you don't believe in statistics and science, and believe in God then Romney still has a chance.

Don't Let Mitt Turn Back Time On Women