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Disney: Gino, an original Animal Kingdom inhabitant, has died

Disney: Gino, an original Animal Kingdom inhabitant, has died

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Gino, a western lowland gorilla and longtime resident of Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, has died, Walt Disney World announced Wednesday.  He was 44.

“For nearly 30 years, Gino touched countless lives at Disney’s Animal Kingdom with playful spirit, gentle humor and steady presence as a devoted father and troop leader,” Disney World posted on social media accounts.

He was an original inhabitant of Animal Kingdom, which opened in 1998. And, at 400 pounds, became an imposing presence on the park’s Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail. He occasionally would stand and dramatically clap his chest.

“Everybody takes notice — his family, our guests, our cast and it’s really quite spectacular,” Dr. Scott Terrell, director of animal and science operations at Walt Disney Co., told the Orlando Sentinel in 2021. “It’s a natural gorilla behavior. He’s just very good at it.”

 

Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at... Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, watches over 11-month-old Lilly at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in their habitat on the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, in the park, Jan. 11, 2011. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino, the patriarch western lowland gorilla at Disney’s Animal Kingdom,... Gino, the patriarch western lowland gorilla at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, enjoys a bouquet of lettuce in his habitat at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail on the eve of his 41st birthday, Dec. 29, 2021. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest of the troop at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino enjoys some solitude, Dec. 29, 2021, at the Gorilla... Gino enjoys some solitude, Dec. 29, 2021, at the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino enjoys some solitude after a rambunctious start to his... Gino enjoys some solitude after a rambunctious start to his day with the younger gorillas, Dec. 29, 2021, at the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at... Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, forages in the habitat at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in Bay Lake, Fla., Sept. 23, 2019. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino enjoys some solitude after a rambunctious start to his... Gino enjoys some solitude after a rambunctious start to his day with the younger gorillas, Dec. 29, 2021, at the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino tolerates some insubordination from younger gorillas during a family... Gino tolerates some insubordination from younger gorillas during a family meeting,, Dec. 29, 2021, at the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest of the troop at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino, the patriarch western lowland gorilla at Disney’s Animal Kingdom,... Gino, the patriarch western lowland gorilla at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, enjoys a bouquet of lettuce in his habitat at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail on the eve of his 41st birthday, Dec. 29, 2021. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest of the troop at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at... Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, watches over 11-month-old Lilly at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in their habitat on the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, in the park, Jan. 11, 2011. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at... Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail keeps an eye on visitors at the habitat at Disney?s Animal Kingdom, in Bay Lake, Fla., Sept. 23, 2019. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Dirt flies as Gino deals with rambunctious younger gorillas,, Dec.... Dirt flies as Gino deals with rambunctious younger gorillas,, Dec. 29, 2021, at the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at... Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail munches on a snack at the habitat at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in Bay Lake, Fla.,, Sept. 23, 2019. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino, the patriarch western lowland gorilla at Disney’s Animal Kingdom,... Gino, the patriarch western lowland gorilla at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, enjoys a bouquet of lettuce in his habitat at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail on the eve of his 41st birthday, Dec. 29, 2021. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest of the troop at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at... Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, watches over 11-month-old Lilly at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in their habitat on the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, in the park, Jan. 11, 2011. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at... Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail munches on a snack at the habitat at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in Bay Lake, Fla.,, Sept. 23, 2019. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino enjoys some solitude after a rambunctious start to his... Gino enjoys some solitude after a rambunctious start to his day with the younger gorillas, Dec. 29, 2021, at the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at... Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, sits with his family at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in Bay Lake, Fla., Sept. 23, 2019. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at... Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail keeps an eye on visitors at the habitat at Disney?s Animal Kingdom, in Bay Lake, Fla., Sept. 23, 2019. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino, the patriarch western lowland gorilla at Disney’s Animal Kingdom,... Gino, the patriarch western lowland gorilla at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, enjoys a bouquet of lettuce in his habitat at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail on the eve of his 41st birthday, Dec. 29, 2021. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest of the troop at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at... Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, munches on a snack at the habitat at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in Bay Lake, Fla.,, Sept. 23, 2019. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at... Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, forages in the habitat at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in Bay Lake, Fla., Sept. 23, 2019. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at... Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, forages in the habitat at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in Bay Lake, Fla., Sept. 23, 2019. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Gino, the 42-year-old elder statesman of the western lowland gorillas... Gino, the 42-year-old elder statesman of the western lowland gorillas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom enjoys an afternoon nap at the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail habitat, May 17, 2024. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

1 of 23 Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, watches over 11-month-old Lilly at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in their habitat on the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, in the park, Jan. 11, 2011. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

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Gino, the oldest animal of the Animal Kingdom troop, fathered 14 offspring, some of which have lived at the park. He was part of a Disney-developed program where animals helped with their own medical care by posing in ways that they could be examined without being sedated. That included backstage sonograms and blood-pressure checks. read more

Is DoorDash eating into your retirement?

Is DoorDash eating into your retirement?

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By Tommy Tindall, NerdWallet

It’s lunchtime and you work from home. There’s only a few things in the fridge, and you just can’t bring yourself to cook eggs again.

Time to tap that delivery app and order something. What do you have to lose?

“Well, how long do you want to be working?” asks Valerie A. Rivera, a certified financial planner in Chicago and founder of FirstGen Wealth.

She’s not shy about letting her clients know how small financial choices, like doing delivery several times a week, compound over time. And it’s not the good kind of compounding.

The cost of convenience can derail your money goals, she says. Once you run the numbers, you might just decide to break the habit.

Ordering delivery is what we do now

The price of food away from home has risen 3.9% over the last year and is still on the rise. In August, it ticked up 0.3%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Yet we continue to use services like DoorDash, Grubhub and Uber Eats on the regular even though it makes already-pricey food pricier. read more

Federal Reserve cuts key rate for first time this year

Federal Reserve cuts key rate for first time this year

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By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, AP Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point Wednesday and projected it would do so twice more this year as concern grows at the central bank about the health of the nation’s labor market.

The move is the Fed’s first cut since December and lowered its short-term rate to about 4.1%, down from 4.3%. Fed officials, led by Chair Jerome Powell, had kept their rate unchanged this year as they evaluated the impact of tariffs, tighter immigration enforcement, and other Trump administration policies on inflation and the economy.

Yet the central bank’s focus has shifted quickly from inflation, which remains modestly above its 2% target, to jobs, as hiring has grounded nearly to a halt in recent months and the unemployment rate has ticked higher. Lower interest rates could reduce borrowing costs for mortgages, car loans, and business loans, and boost growth and hiring.

“In this less dynamic and somewhat softer labor market, the downside risks to employment appear to have risen,” Powell said at a press conference following the Fed’s two-day meeting. read more

Congressman says TikTok serves as Chinese ‘weapon’ sowing discord among young Americans

Congressman says TikTok serves as Chinese ‘weapon’ sowing discord among young Americans

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TikTok is not the benign source of entertainment and information that its audience of young fans believe they’re getting, Congressman Jared Moskowitz warns. Rather, he warns, it is a dangerous propaganda weapon that China is using to manipulate public opinion and divide Americans.

The intention and impact are so great, Moskowitz said, that TikTok amounts to a large-scale psychological operations effort by China. “I want to be clear: I don’t want to ban TikTok. But you have to recognize it’s a psyops weapon.”

How the U.S. deals with it — changes could be announced imminently — is a “huge” part of “how we’re going to control how propaganda gets fed to the American people,” Moskowitz said.

The Broward-Palm Beach county Democrat discussed TikTok and other implications of social media on an episode of “The Chuck Toddcast” podcast that dropped earlier this month. His comments came before this week’s developments, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant suggesting a TikTok deal is in the offing. read more

Latest Disney World deal: 3 theme parks, 3 days, $210

Latest Disney World deal: 3 theme parks, 3 days, $210

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Walt Disney World has rolled out a new three-day ticket offer to Florida residents that’s valid almost through the end of 2025.

The three-day, three-park ticket, is now on sale for $210. It’s good for visits between Oct. 5 and Dec. 23. It’s valid only at Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme parks — not at Magic Kingdom. Visitors can go to one of those three parks more than once under this plan, and the visits do not have to be on consecutive days.

Theme park reservations are required, and they are subject to availability. With Florida resident tickets, adults must show proof of Florida residency at a Walt Disney World park ticket window before the first use.

There are upgrade options, including park-hopping between the trio on a single day (additional $40 per ticket) and one that includes water park visits (for $35).

Disney: What it costs to eat entire menu of Epcot food fest

The time period of the offer includes the remainder of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, which ends Nov. 22, and the beginning of the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, which begins Nov. 28. read more