Ringling Bros: No More Elephants

Via the Associated Press:

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is ending its iconic elephant acts. The circus' parent company, Feld Entertainment, told The Associated Press exclusively that the acts will be phased out by 2018. Growing public concern about how the animals are treated led to the decision. The circus plans to phase out elephant acts by 2018. Feld's 43 elephants will live at the company's 200-acre Center for Elephant Conservation in central Florida. Twenty-nine animals are already there, and the other 14 will arrive as they are phased out from the circus. Elephant acts have been showcased by Ringling for more than a century and have often been featured in its posters. The decision is being announced Thursday.

UPDATE: PETA president Ingrid Newkirk reacts.

HomoQuotable - NY Sen. Thomas Duane

"I am very optimistic -- I probably should say I’m cautiously optimistic -- but I’m very optimistic that same-sex marriage will be a reality in this state. I believe it’s absolutely doable by the end of this session. I don’t think anyone has changed their hearts on the issue of marriage at all. It’s certainly my strong position, the governor’s strong position, my conference’s position, and I believe that there’s support within the Republican conference as well to bring it to the floor. Every time we talk we get closer, so talking is always good. Negotiating is always good and that’s continuing." - NY Sen. Thomas Duane (D), telling the Advocate that he's still confident that the state Senate will approve marriage equality.

During a special session yesterday, both parties gaveled in and immediately gaveled out as the ridiculous circus continued. Gov. Paterson has threatened to withhold the Senators' pay, but some question whether he can legally do that.

NY Senate Dems LOCKED In Chamber

All we need now is a couple of bears on unicycles and a lady fired from a cannon. NY Daily News reports:

Power-sharing talks have broken down and Senate Democrats have locked themselves into the chamber - the first time they've been in since the June 8 coup - beating their GOP counterparts to the punch in an effort to establish control over the gavel. It appears there are at least 20 senators inside the chamber, including all the so-called amigos, with the exception, of course, of Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. The Democrats went into the chamber just moments ago - around 12:30 p.m. - about an hour-and-a-half before the Senate GOP and Espada were scheduled to hold yet another faux session and two-and-a-half hours before the 3 p.m. special session called by Gov. David Paterson. Just before they entered, Sen. Eric Schneiderman told reporters that power-sharing talks had "collapsed."

Marriage Equality New York requests that you contact Gov. Paterson and demand that he include a vote on marriage equality in the special Senate session he has called for.