Blogs and Stories
Bubbles Speaks
If you think that's silly, consider this: CNN's Anderson Cooper was invited into the preserve last week and his crew filmed Bubbles in his enclosure. Up popped freebubbles.org, with a CNN screen-shot of Bubbles with the message: MICHAEL JACKSON'S CHIMPANZEE IS IN MONKEY JAIL, Y'ALL! WE NEED TO GET HIM OUT!! Ragan has walked a fine line since Jackson's death. She has become Bubbles' publicist, knocking down rumors that he committed suicide or is cryogenically frozen. She appreciates the spike in the center's Web traffic that has resulted in a few donations, but she must protect her big boy from the prying and exploitative world outside. That's why it feels so odd asking the question: Does Bubbles know?
Ragan obliges.
Anderson Cooper was invited into the preserve last week and his crew filmed Bubbles in his enclosure. Up popped freebubbles.org, with a CNN screen-shot of Bubbles with the message: MICHAEL JACKSON'S CHIMPANZEE IS IN MONKEY JAIL, Y'ALL! WE NEED TO GET HIM OUT!!
Chimps can understand English, she explains. Some even sign. When Ragan approaches a young female, Noel, and asks her what she had for breakfast, the chimp signs “banana” and “apple” and then suggests she wants some berries.
And they do mourn their dead comrades.
"But the concept of saying to him, 'He's gone. He's dead.' They just don't know that word. So there's no point in saying that to him," she says. "We join the world in being sad and mourning the death of Michael Jackson. We all enjoyed his music ... What we can do is give Bubbles the best long-term future we can."
Good health. Space. Enrichment.
Protection.
She sometimes shows the apes videos from their pasts. Sammy the orangutan has watched himself in Dunston Checks In, and he seemed to be interested.
Ragan has not shown Bubbles the clips of himself moonwalking or wearing tiny tailored clothes or making goofy lips at the cameras.
She thinks she will, someday, but she won't tell a soul.
To donate to Bubbles or any of the other apes, visit the Center for Great Apes online at www.centerforgreatapes.org.
Ben Montgomery is a reporter for the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times. He can be reached at bmontgomery@sptimes.com.
John Talks Joe
Lloyd Grove is editor at large for The Daily Beast. He is also a frequent contributor to New York magazine and was a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio. He wrote a gossip column for the New York Daily News from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, he wrote the Reliable Source column for the Washington Post, where he spent 23 years covering politics, the media, and other subjects.
Obama, the Un-decider
Lee Siegel has written about culture and politics and is the author of three books: Falling Upwards: Essays in Defense of the Imagination; Not Remotely Controlled: Notes on Television; and, most recently, Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob. In 2002, he received a National Magazine Award for reviews and criticism.
Why did Michael give bubbles up in the first place? You never said.
He got too big and unmanageable. This sanctuary in Florida is "filled" with chimps and orangs that were once either pets or in entertainment. Remember the movie "Dunston checks In"? That orang is now at this sanctuary. It is really a shame that people don't know how many "large" animals get discarded after they get too large for their human homes, movies and commercials.
This article failed to mention that Bubbles received $14,000,000 from Mr Jackson to drop "Inappropriate behavior with a minor monkey" charges. Bubbles is a very wealth monkey and rumor has it that Mr. Jackson's father has claimed paternity of Bubbles and that there might be a nasty custody battle brewing!
The last part is very interesting. The speculation of the chimp's demise. What a riot. Seems like some things never change.
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July/06/2009
From:
octavio,
To:
"downriver" and to everybody,
downriver's comments are
completely correct!.
Very good downriver!keep it up!.
octavio,
END!
P.S.
Thank you for telling averyone not to fool around
with monkeys.
I'm glad that Bubbles did not undergo
any surgical operation from Michael Jackson's plastic
surgeons!
=============================================
Chimps and young boys. For this he's getting a hero's send off. What a country we live in.
It seems like Bubbles had a lucky escape.
Interesting article. I think far to often we focus on the death of a celebrity or major icon and cover that angle 24/7 in the same way. We rarely look at the point of view from those left behind, let alone the animals. I'm happy to hear Bubbles is not being exploited and is living happily in a sanctuary.
In light of the woman who was brutally attacked
by a chimp, and had here face chewed off,
maybe Michael Jackson was telling the truth.
Maybe he only a had couple of
cosmetic "adjustments" to his face.
Perhaps it was "Bubbles" The Chimp who
chewed Jackson's nose off ?
Sounds like Bubbles was having a better life than Michael. It is so sad.
im glad to hear that bubble is living the good life. he deserves too.i think that michaels farther should leave bubles right where he is to live out the rest of his days,he is happy there.a custody battle for bubbles or even finding out that michael is dead would be to much for bubbles to handle right now after all you say that bubbles is up there in age and any added stress would or could kill him,let buubles remeber michael thje way he was to him alive and happy. and one day he will see him again and be reunited with michael in a better place, god bless you bubbles AND MICHAEL BOTH.
Thank you.
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