What do you actually know about them lol they’re literally an animal rescue

They do, quite often actually. It’s a great way to educate the public about animals- particularly those who wouldn’t otherwise go to a zoo. When I worked in a preschool we had a reptile keeper come in and do a show for the kids, it really helped dissuade them from being scared of snakes and tarantulas for no reason. At GCC they had Animal Adventures visit a few years ago. They have a mobile zoo program as well

Would you like to read the paper I wrote last semester about why zoos are a net positive for conservation? Or maybe you can go to the website I linked and see all the good that they do in using animal ambassadors- to educate the public and raise funds for conservation efforts- who would never be able to survive in the wild (because they were injured or bred in captivity or seized as illegal pets)? I keep snakes that I’ve rescued, should I release them into the New England winter?

Also, when I was at GCC, they had Animal Adventures come with a baby bobcat, pale fox, alligator, and crested gecko. You can reach out to them too, it was fun! Pics

I believe Lupa Zoo has a capybara, you may also try Forest Park Zoo. And for the record (for those opposed) a capybara that’s been raised in a zoo is going to be plenty social and happy to receive human attention, I promise you. Look into their temperament and behaviors, they’re like giant chill Guinea pigs.

My brother is a Burlington resident and has the Vermont equivalent of MassHealth. I am a MassHealth recipient. My brother has had significantly less issues with VT healthcare than I have had with MassHealth, has received top quality care and had a very fast turnaround with seeing specialists and tbh I’m jealous of his overall experience. If you can secure healthcare there I would say 100% go for it

Thank you

I totally understand how this doesn’t benefit those making above minimum wage and actually is decreasing their annual earnings by eliminating Sunday and Holiday pay. That’s part of the reason why they called the bill the “Great Bargain,” it’s a balancing act and they’re hoping that the wage increases will trickle up and be reflected across the board over time.

This is all disregarding taxes & other withholdings-

If you worked every Sunday in a year at 1.5* premium, you would earn $9,360 when making $15/hr. Now, you earn 1* on Sundays, equaling $6,240 per year, with a diffence of $3,120.

If you worked every Holiday in a year at 1.5* premium (with 9 Holidays) you would earn $1,620 when making $15/hr. Now, you earn 1* on Holidays, equaling $1,080 per year, with a difference of $540.

Together, this is a loss of $3,660.

Minimum wage in 2018 was $11/hr.

Minimum wage in 2023 is $15/hr.

Annually, income was $25,564 in 2018 if you worked every Sunday and every Holiday.

Annually, income is $31,200 in 2023 across the board.

Even if you subtract the $3,660 “loss” from the minimum annual earnings in 2023, the difference is still a gain of $1,976 for all minimum wage earners.

Furthermore, when taking inflation into account, $1 in 2018 is equivalent to $1.19 in 2023. In 2018, $25,564 would be equal to $30,324.12 today, meaning that an annual minimum income of $31,200 is more than keeping up with inflation.

Bow down to your God

I agree, but ultimately it’s a balancing act of placating fiscally conservative politicians while still increasing wages for most.

I mean, they’re not really losing it. When MA approved the minimum wage increase, this was the compromise they made in phasing out Sunday pay while increasing minimum wage incrementally over the last 5 or so years. So the thought is that people are compensated for the lost Sunday pay in the form of increased wages overall.

I don’t cook! I’m a scary and powerful fire demon!