Human zoo

Eight volunteers have agreed to put themselves on display as part of the London Zoo's primate exhibit. From the Associated Press article:

The exhibit, which opened Friday, puts the three male and five female Homo sapiens side by side with their primate relatives — though separated from them by an electric fence. While their neighbors might enjoy bananas and a good scratch, these eight — chosen from 30 applicants who entered an online contest — have diverse interests, from a chemist hoping to raise awareness about apes to a self-described actor/model and fitness enthusiast.

Chemist Tom Mahoney, 26, decided to participate after his friend sent him an e-mail about the contest as a joke. Anything that draws attention to apes, he said, has his support.

"A lot of people think humans are above other animals," he said. "When they see humans as animals, here, it kind of reminds us that we're not that special."

In other words, creationists: go fuck yourselves.

Because Yellowstone needs a Starbucks?

Paul Hoffman, a lap dog of Dick Cheney's has proposed several changes to the laws protecting national parks. To sum up the LA Times article: the neocons are chomping at the bit to spoil the wilderness.