She's exercising her reproductive rights, just as she would be if she had an abortion or gave birth. I don't understand why this is newsworthy in any way.

There are plenty of happily childfree types out there, including me. I'm now 42 and I regret nothing--but I must admit I'm still, after all this time, baffled by th outright hostility some people think they have a right to display about my life and choices.

Heh...My Anglo-Saxon lit prof used to get the kiddies' attention with this one.

That has got to be the world's most miserable dog.

Aieee! That's WHOSE head. The man WHOSE head was twisted by a robot.

Jeebus, it's like nails on a blackboard!

I was a vet assistant for awhile. The method of "lizard hynotism" I was taught for iguanids was to press or rub gently-gently behind their eyes. But don't try this at home, Folks.

My tiny black raisin heart...just...melted. Damn you.

Agreed. I don't go to circuses, and I don't know what value the field of animal behavior could possibly find in answering questions like "What happens if I pick this thing up by the tail and holler 'Crikey!' at it?"

As for other scientists not daring to do this experiment, is tracking big dangerous reptiles not part of what herpetologists do? Speaking as a grad student, I'd rather collar a croc than teach another English 101 course containing 45 hostile students who've never written anything more complicated than a five-paragraph essay. The animal behaviorists get to use tranquilizer guns. ;-)

A Henry Lizardlover disciple maybe?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Lizardlover

Agreed, fluff. As far as I can see the only thing Irwin taught us about wild animals is that it's fun to mess with them for no reason at all. Not to tag them for tracking, not to learn anything about them, but for the sheer hell of it. (And it's even more fun to dangle your infant in front of their noses.) Everyone I know who actually works with animals (veterinary assistants, trainers, zookeepers) always hated the guy.