Life In The Ted Lane
Ted and his sister Lindsay talk about Ted's adventures, plus entertainment news, Muppet news, and autism news. Copyright Harris Productions and 6630 Productions.
Life In The Ted Lane
Look For The Helpers: Endangered Zoo Babies, Arts for Autism Benefit, and a Health & Human Services Announcement
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The animal kingdom delivers a profound lesson in resilience at the Philadelphia Zoo, where we witnessed history in the making. Four critically endangered Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise hatchlings—the first in the zoo's 150-year existence—represent an extraordinary conservation breakthrough. The parents, century-old "Mommy" and "Abrazo," demonstrate that it's never too late to contribute to species survival. These tiny miracles, initially weighing no more than chicken eggs, embody hope for a threatened species. Learn more about the Galapagos Tortoise Hatchlings at the Philadelphia Zoo.
Beyond the conservation triumph, we explored the zoo's sensory-friendly spaces that make wildlife encounters accessible for everyone. The Treehouse area provides a peaceful retreat for autistic members needing respite from stimulation. We share practical strategies for creating an enjoyable zoo experience: visit early on weekdays, utilize quiet zones for breaks, consider noise-canceling headphones, and embrace a relaxed pace rather than rushing through exhibits. The "Zootopiaries" – plant sculptures shaped as animals – offer a unique perspective on environmental stewardship and our relationship with nature.
Meanwhile, Broadway stars will gather for the Arts for Autism benefit concert at New Amsterdam Theatre on June 16th, with proceeds supporting autism organizations. Learn more at Arts for Autism.
The Muppets celebrate their 70th anniversary this May, with Disney preserving Jim Henson's final project, Muppet Vision 3D, for the archives. We recorded this before May 9, but you can celebrate every day. Learn more: Disney Filming MuppetVision 3D for Archival Ahead of Closure, Digital Future Possible
On a more concerning note, the Department of Health and Human Services plans to create a database using Medicare and Medicaid patient data to study autism causes, raising serious privacy concerns among experts and advocates. During challenging times, we find wisdom in Mr. Rogers' advice to "look for the helpers" – those dedicated individuals working to create a more inclusive world. Source: HHS plan to use Medicare and Medicaid data to study autism alarms experts, by Berkeley Lovelace Jr., Erika Edwards and Akshay Syal, M.D. for NBC News
Have you encountered someone making positive changes for the autistic community? Share their story with us for an upcoming episode!
Written and edited by Ted Harris.
Writing and editing assistance by Lindsay Harris Friel.
Music by Vincent Friel.
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May your life be filled with magic!
Hello, welcome to Life in Ted Lane. I'm your host, Ted Harris, and with me is my co-host, the Marilyn to my Eddie Monster Lindsay.
Speaker 2:Harris-Friel, I'm the Marilyn to your Eddie Monster. Didn't she used to go around saying that she was the ugly one in the family?
Speaker 1:No, um, she was the ugly one in the family. No, um, she was the pretty one well, subjectively speaking, personally, I think the.
Speaker 2:I think lily was the prettiest, yeah, but that's me.
Speaker 1:This is a podcast where we talk about my adventures broadway and highwood news, muppet news what's like the autistic. So we have a great show to entertain you, don't you agree?
Speaker 2:Yep, absolutely. And in this nugget of brilliance, what are our headlines for today, Ted?
Speaker 1:The Philadelphia Zoo, what's new for 2025, autism news, Muppet's anniversary, Muppet archives and stuff like that.
Speaker 2:And what about the Broadway news or Hollywood news?
Speaker 1:Arts for Autism and June 16th concert Work Reef for Day Night at Muppet's 70th this year's following Muppets for Muppet 3D for Archives, department of Health and Human Services, to say plans, to say autism alarms experts.
Speaker 2:Sounds good, let's get started.
Speaker 1:Oh good, we went to the zoo to see birds of the world. Last year the bird exhibit was closed due to the avian bird flu, so now it's open and more safer for the birds. We saw wings of the world. We saw various birds, we saw peacocks and golden pheasants. We fed them worms and all that.
Speaker 2:We fed them little tiny weevils in the Wings of the World exhibit.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah so basically, it's more safer for the birds because of the avian bird flu.
Speaker 2:Ted, do you know what a redundancy is?
Speaker 1:I know.
Speaker 2:You can either say avian flu or bird flu, but if you say both, it's like saying I don't know never mind it doesn't matter.
Speaker 1:So we had interesting time. We also saw the tree house, which is great for autism as a good place to relax.
Speaker 2:We saw various it's a nice quiet space, isn't it?
Speaker 1:yes, it's all. So. First exhibits it's great to take children to. It's great to see some things. We saw various things. We saw birds.
Speaker 2:What about the tortoises?
Speaker 1:Oh, we saw the tortoises. We saw the baby tortoises, they just got born.
Speaker 2:Yep, there are tortoise hatchlings, three of them, four of them, I think.
Speaker 1:They're quite amazing. They were like little big about perfect for the size of my hand. They were little amazing. They were like like little things about perfect for the sense of my head they were little, and they were.
Speaker 2:They were probably smaller than that. We saw them in their habitat yeah and the galapagos island. Tortoises were outside stretching their legs yep how old are the galapagos island tortoises ted they.
Speaker 1:They're old.
Speaker 2:Like about 100 years old.
Speaker 1:Yeah, 100 years old.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but they're still having babies.
Speaker 1:Yep.
Speaker 2:That's true.
Speaker 1:Lonesome Jake is one of the most famous of those Galapagos tortoises. I think he just found a new mate and all that he's starting a family.
Speaker 2:How about this?
Speaker 1:start a family. How about this? Philadelphia Zoo is overjoyed to know that the hatchlings of four critically endangered West Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises for the first time in the zoo's over 50 year old history.
Speaker 2:Okay, let's try that again. Four critically endangered Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises. How about this?
Speaker 1:Lindsay, I'm having trouble with this. Can you read the story?
Speaker 2:You want me to read the headline?
Speaker 1:Yes, please.
Speaker 2:Okay. So, according to the Philadelphia Zoo's website, the Philadelphia Zoo is overjoyed to announce the hatching of four critically endangered Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises for the first time in the zoo's 150-year history. So the parents are Mommy and Abrazo. They're the zoo's two oldest residents. Each of them are around 100 years old, and Mommy is considered one of the most genetically valuable Galapagos tortoises in the Association of Zoos and Aquarium Species Survival Plan, and she's also the oldest first-time mom of her species. So the new hatchlings are eating and they're growing. They weigh about as much as a chicken egg when they're first born and they are living in a habitat in the reptile house, and they seem to be doing pretty well. Yep, so what did you think when you saw them, ted?
Speaker 1:I thought they were cute yeah I thought this is history of the making, all that it is.
Speaker 2:It's pretty amazing that they're able to help these endangered species continue living right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we also saw the orangutan. He was covered with a sheet.
Speaker 2:She had just had babies and all that and yeah, there's a new baby orangutan at the zoo yeah and the mom was sitting outside in her habitat holding the baby with a sheet over her, because she liked it, I guess she was kind of shy. Mm-hmm.
Speaker 1:So that was our zoo adventure. So we also had the zootopiaries. It was garden season, mm-hmm, and basically zootopiaries are like statues, look like animals and looks like animals and various creatures, except they're made out of what, ted, they're made out of plants and all that Mm-hmm. So we learned about climate change and man's impact on the environment. We learned about birds with tree foil, learned about living with the land and cultivating that's a $2 word and how to help the earth and how to live with the land and with each other. The earth and man can be good friends. So we learned how to plant a garden. Learn with the land and with each other. The Earth and man can be good friends. So we learned how to plant a garden, learned about how, about nature?
Speaker 2:This is what people should know if they go.
Speaker 1:Go early, go on a weekday go. If you have a membership, you get free parking, take time for breaks, visit the tree house and have time and have plenty of snacks. You may need headphones or earplugs.
Speaker 2:It does get a little noisy there, doesn't it?
Speaker 1:No, it gets a little crazy at times. Take time for photos.
Speaker 2:Yep and take breaks.
Speaker 1:Take breaks. So Broadway and Hollywood News. Broadway and Hollywood News. Broadway and Hollywood News. Broadway and Hollywood News. Broadway and Hollywood.
Speaker 2:News Broadway and Hollywood News Michael James Scott, caroline Bauman and more to join Arts for Autism. The event will be held at the New Amsterdam Theatre on June 16th. So this is from BroadwayWorldcom. On June 16th 2025, arts for Autism will arrive at the New Amsterdam Theatre, home of the blockbuster Aladdin, for a one-night-only concert featuring a constellation of the biggest names on Broadway, performing alongside the Stars of Tomorrow, student and community groups from across the nation. The event seeks to inspire compassion, kindness and understanding. 100% of the proceeds are granted to organizations that support the autistic community that's what for the books we can find out more about that.
Speaker 2:You can find out, and it looks like it'll be a lot of fun. And again, that is on Monday, june 16th, at seven o'clock in New York City.
Speaker 1:So Muppets 70th anniversary Dumb that's one for the books and when they're trying people to wear green or something Muppety for Muppets on May 9th, this is a great way to celebrate the Muppets and to, if you don't have something green, wear something Muppety. Also, have time for a Muppet party and all that, and take time to sing your favorite Muppet songs and all that. Do your favorite Muppet skits and all that. A good Muppet show would help with all that.
Speaker 2:You know, Ted, if nothing else, they can always sing Manamana.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, you can sing Manamana or sing the Rainbow Connection.
Speaker 2:If I say Manamana, I wonder what pops into people's heads right away yeah. What pops into your head, Ted, if I say Manamana?
Speaker 1:Do-do-do-do-do.
Speaker 2:Manamana.
Speaker 1:Do-do-do-do Manamana, do-do do, do, do, do, do, do do so that's interesting.
Speaker 2:What else do we have ted?
Speaker 1:disney is filming the muppets 3d for their archives. All that they're actually getting cameras in there and they're going to film the muppet 3 vision 3d for their archives is to preserve muppet vision jim henson's legacy for his future generations.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:They're actually going to go to the studio before it closes and they're going to film the whole show and all that and they're going to preserve it for the archives. Maybe they'll put it on Disney Plus or something like that. This is important because it's preserved, the last film that Jim Henson's legacy see, and for future generations. Future generations will know. I think it's very important because this preserves the legacy of Jim Henson.
Speaker 2:One of the things that's also exciting about Muppet Vision 3D is that I'm sure you remember that it connected the audience to the content or it connected the audience to what was happening on the screen in really interesting and innovative ways. There was an orchestra in the audience and there were puppets in the audience and there were all kinds of things going on in the theater around you.
Speaker 1:Yep.
Speaker 2:At the same time as the movie's happening.
Speaker 1:Yep, yeah, so that's happening.
Speaker 2:Yep, yeah. So that's our Muppet news. And finally, Autism news.
Speaker 1:Autism news. Autism news.
Speaker 2:Well, unfortunately, we don't really have great news today. We have creepy news from. We have creepy news from. We have creepy news from. I'm reading an article here from NBCNewscom, the department.
Speaker 1:Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da.
Speaker 2:Excellent choice. The Department of Health and Human Services has a plan to use Medicare and Medicaid data to study autism, and that alarms experts. Boo, boo is right. Autism experts and advocates expressed alarm after the Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday that it intends to create a database of enrolled Medicare and Medicaid patients to support a study aimed at identifying the root causes of autism. Boo, a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson, declined a request to make an agency official available to discuss the project, including how it will be implemented, how it will define autism and how the data will be able to identify its cause.
Speaker 2:So, basically, they're gathering a whole lot of information, which is not protecting people's privacy. Actually, alison Singer, president of the Autism Science Foundation, a nonprofit group that helps to fund evidence-based autism research, said there's a lack of clarity around how the data will be collected, how it will be shared, maintained and how we know it's going to be accurate. And they're really into the idea of using wearable technology like Fitbits or smartwatches to collect data, which I don't see how that's fair. I don't see how that helps, because all it does is show how much you exercise Boy. It's sort of Well. It could also include medication reminders.
Speaker 1:We will keep you up to date as we go on. Anyway, hope for the best, pray for Cartridge and pray for the Muppets.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I don't think I'll be sleeping well tonight.
Speaker 2:Well, there are still lots of good people in the world, right, ted, uh-huh, yeah what? Remember what mr rogers said?
Speaker 1:mr rogers said, when I see crisis, look to the helpers exactly so we need to.
Speaker 2:If you know people who are helping to make the world a better place for autistic people, you can click on the link in our show notes to send us a message and we will check it out and research it and, if it's important and helpful information, we will use it in the next episode.
Speaker 1:Yeah, mr Rogers once said whenever you see scary events in the news or scary news, always look to the helpers, because you always find people who are helping.
Speaker 2:That's true.
Speaker 1:I'm going to lie down for a few days. We'll think of something good next time. I'm really, really going to lie down for a few days. I'm going to have to think about what we said today.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a good idea, but don't meditate for so long that you're stewing and you know you don't want to stew. You want to get up, stand up, stand up for your rights, ted I know, get up, stand, up, stand up for your rights.
Speaker 1:Stand up, stand up, don't give up the fight, yeah that's fun.
Speaker 2:I I like that yeah.
Speaker 1:It's like what the Terminators said Never stop fighting, we never will. Okay, the battle has just begun. Last hour of the show. If you want to learn more about us, you can find my videos on YouTube. At youtubecom, slash 10 Hair Puppets. You can search for Hair Puppets. You can also learn more about us at 663productionscom and write to us at info at 663productionscom. You can also go to buzzbobcom and write us a review If you have something you want to share. Life in the Ted Lane is written and hosted by me, ted Harris. My co-host is Lindsay Harris-Friel, edited by Ted Harris. Music and post-production by Vincent Friel. No-transcript.
