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Trained Monkeys Proving Trusty Companions for Those in Need
Der Spiegel ^ | December 29th 2010 | Philip Bethge

Posted on 12/31/2010 6:34:42 AM PST by Cardhu

Specially-trained Capuchin monkeys in the US are helping physically disabled people with the housework by performing tasks such as removing garbage, fetching the telephone or switching on the microwave. The furry companions are also helping paraplegics cope with loneliness.

It's her small hands that make Minnie especially useful. Hairy and slender, with slim fingers and black nails, the Capuchin monkey's hands are just right for twisting open a bottle of juice or fetching the telephone. And when Craig Cook's head itches, Minnie comes and scratches it until he feels better.

"She is more human than you would think," Cook says. The 44-year-old American, who has been paraplegic for more than 14 years, runs his stiff fingers lovingly through Minnie's fur as she cuddles on his lap, observing his guest curiously with her large, brown eyes. Then the monkey jumps up and crosses the kitchen of Cook's bungalow at a wild run, screeching and leaping, a bundle of energy wrapped up in dark brown fur.

"Pretty amazing, isn't it?" Cook says, his eyes shining. He has shared his bungalow here in La Habra, near Los Angeles, with the 30-year-old Capuchin monkey for the past six years. They watch Los Angeles Angels baseball games on TV together, or enjoy the California sun from the patio. And when Cook has "one of those bad days," it's Minnie who manages to make him laugh.

"It's wonderful to have an animal like that at home," Cook says. A former engineer and American football quarterback, he broke his spine in a car accident. He's very lucky to have Minnie -- there are only 45 Capuchin monkeys like her in the entire US, and Minnie is one of the best.

Monkey School

Minnie spent several years in training at the Monkey College,

(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: disabled; help; monkeys
"Trainers drill the monkeys on around 30 commands, including "fetch," for retrieving an object, and "trash," for taking something to the garbage can. "Push" might mean the monkey should shut the refrigerator door, while "open" would achieve the opposite. Motivation for learning tasks is provided with peanut butter and spray can whipped cream."
1 posted on 12/31/2010 6:34:48 AM PST by Cardhu
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To: Cardhu

How cool is that...


2 posted on 12/31/2010 6:57:26 AM PST by goseminoles
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To: goseminoles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eau3RoxGN8E


3 posted on 12/31/2010 7:01:22 AM PST by wally_bert (It's sheer elegance in its simplicity! - The Middleman)
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To: wally_bert

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glGhmqOYqNA

quite a catchy tune...


4 posted on 12/31/2010 7:32:17 AM PST by WOBBLY BOB ( "I don't want the majority if we don't stand for something"- Jim Demint)
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To: Cardhu
Nothing doing. I'm not hiring a liberal, no matter how cute they might be.

/johnny

5 posted on 12/31/2010 7:37:08 AM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Don’t be mean you only need to pay them peanuts.


6 posted on 12/31/2010 7:39:57 AM PST by Cardhu
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To: Cardhu

desperately trying to avoid any of the obvious SEIU jokes that are bursting like firecrackers in my head


7 posted on 12/31/2010 7:58:47 AM PST by muir_redwoods (Obama. Chauncey Gardiner without the homburg.)
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To: Cardhu

I know that they are much smaller than a Chimpanzee would be, but I remember a particularly chilling thread here that detailed what a Chimp will do to you if it goes bad. I’d be reluctant to have *any* monkey around the house. I’ve handled small monkeys, and even they are surprisingly powerful animals.


8 posted on 12/31/2010 8:21:12 AM PST by Riley (The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
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To: Cardhu
Except here!


9 posted on 12/31/2010 8:31:16 AM PST by Young Werther ("Quae cum ita sunt" Since these things are so!)
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To: Cardhu

10 posted on 12/31/2010 8:34:08 AM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet - Visualize)
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To: Cardhu

This is slave labor, Monkeys Unite!


11 posted on 12/31/2010 8:34:52 AM PST by montyspython
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To: montyspython

Planet of the Apes


12 posted on 12/31/2010 8:37:43 AM PST by ak267
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To: Cardhu
Motivation for learning tasks is provided with peanut butter and spray can whipped cream.

Oh...I don't see anything that can possibly go wrong here...

13 posted on 12/31/2010 8:38:15 AM PST by Vigilantcitizen
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To: ak267
"So which one of geniuses is going to spray the f***ing whip cream for this human fat-ass hmmm?"


14 posted on 12/31/2010 8:46:54 AM PST by montyspython
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To: All

In today’s world, media companies are linked by larger investment overseers and conglomerates. One hand helps the other.

A major “tech firm”, say for the sake of argument, GE, owns it’s own media outlets on cable, newspaper, and the internet. They wanna sell their precious Chinese-made wind generators and Indian-made solar cells but how you gonna convince the politicos and unwashed masses? Simple, beat their heads in with propaganda (as well as generous campaign contributions).

The Day After Tomarrow
Puff pieces on the news nets
Articles on magazines
Sponsering college eco groups
Sponser public school with enviro programs and advocacy
Sympathetic support to enviro lawsuits
Offer “alternatives” that seem plausible

and walla, you create an inertia to get something done either by voting, petitioning or consumorism.

Profits galore bitches!!!!

Now, back to our Trained monkey escopades. You have a movie you wanna promote (anyone remember all of the Nazi stuff on certain cable outlets before the “Valkarie” movie) about trained monkeys revolting on their masters and you wanna generate a buzz. Hey boyos, lets start putting little snippits on websites about trained monkeys. Later on, articles on Discovery, History Channel, MSNBC and so on an so forth.

The “news” doesn’t gernate the news, it’s the corporate agenda....and folks are getting sick of it.

And to think these bungholes can’t comprend why the internet and alternative media is eating their lunch!!!!


15 posted on 12/31/2010 9:00:15 AM PST by ak267
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts; CaptainAmiigaf

Don’t let anyone show this article to AGM!


16 posted on 12/31/2010 10:28:14 AM PST by Mrs. B.S. Roberts
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To: Mrs. B.S. Roberts; CaptainAmiigaf
Don’t let anyone show this article to AGM!

At the very mention of the subject from her, I would be the first to put her up against a wall and scream at her, "Are you out of your effin' mind?! You can't even train a dog to pee on a pad."

As an aside, any person that would allow a lower primate to inhabit their home is lacking in critical judgement skills and deserves whatever befalls them. It's like having a time bomb in your home. It may never go off but if/when it does...you're bummin'.

Apologies to any Freepers who do but it's just my personal opinion based on observation and having lived on this planet for a very long time. I love animals but would never put that kind of trust in an ape or monkey. Or any wild animal for that matter.

17 posted on 12/31/2010 12:26:21 PM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Inspiration. The momentary cessation of stupidity.)
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To: ak267

I think you missed a bit to the right and posted on the wrong thread. Just speculatin’.


18 posted on 12/31/2010 12:28:24 PM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Inspiration. The momentary cessation of stupidity.)
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts

trained monkeys and there a new planets of the apes movie coming out....I’m just sayin


19 posted on 12/31/2010 2:05:23 PM PST by ak267
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To: ak267
and there a new planets of the apes movie coming out.

There is...are? The last remake sucked so bad it might be a good idea to try again...but...everyone knows the ending.

20 posted on 01/02/2011 7:53:29 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Inspiration. The momentary cessation of stupidity.)
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