This summer I went to the Kansas City Zoo. They have an Australian section and they have kangaroos just wandering around. It's a big open field, and when we were there they were all just lying around, but there wasn't any kind of barrier between them and the path.

They have a chimp pen, part of the viewing area is outside and part of it is inside with information books and stuff. The chimps were all gathered on the side closest to the outside area, so that was where all the people were watching them. I got bored and went into the building and stood by the viewing glass. An older chimp broke off of the group and made his way down to where I was. He had clearly been in a few fights, he had scars and bald patches and a limp. He came down and sat right next to the glass where I was standing. I sat down on the ledge and we just stared at each other for the longest time. I put my hand up on the glass and so did he and it was a moment I'll never forget.

At any rate I decided I hated zoos, because I have too much empathy for the animals. They spend their entire lives walking around a confined space with absolutely nothing to do, people look at them, and then they die. What fun.