Two gems here and here. I think the octopus wins though.
Author: Steve Bodio
A Dissent on Voting
I voted– always do– but here is an articulate essay on NOT voting. It reminds me a bit of Evelyn Waugh’s assertion that it was only necessary to vote when you are opposing a great evil– and that is rare. “…I disagree that being one of 120 million voters means I have stood up and …
Quote of the Week
From Tam: “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” -Theodore Roosevelt
Links
At Atomic Nerds, LabRat has a fascinating post on dogs and the sense of “self” : “We used to assume no animal but humans had a sense of humor, until we thought to thoroughly test that assumption, and we found otherwise. We used to think no other animal used tools, until we looked and found …
Response
Peculiar, Chas, and Dr Hypercube respond to my Superior Scribbler nomination.
Links
Does stress produce stronger offspring in birds? (Scroll down.) A researcher thinks so. HT Walter Hingley. That Japanese blog of bio- art has a spread on sperm whales that is comprehensible even if you have no Japanese. Another gem from Engrish Funny. And what’s with the skull on a spring? Unlike green Almaty, Ulaan Bataar …
Elk Shanks
Yesterday, I thawed a package of elk that Rudy the butcher had marked “stew and bones”, figuring on meat for Rio and bones for the dogs. To my surprise it disclosed six perfect round elk shanks with marrowbones in the center, rather like the veal shanks used in osso bucco. I looked at various shank …
Hunting with Rio
From a bird who “snarled” at all dogs (you have to hear a Harris to believe the noise they make), Rio has progressed to a hunting partnership with Ataika. He is sitting on top of the cholla cactus above the bank beside Taik– apologies for photo quality. He usually rides on a T- perch walking …
Thanks– but to whom?
Some friend has just sent two books from my wish list– thanks! But the name and most of the address did not print– all I can see is Casa Grande Arizona and a zip. I’m grateful anyway!
Superior Scribblers
The Atomic Nerds have given us a Superior Scribbler award. We are touched and honored. LabRat said of us, in part: “A fascinating variety of experience, and if they have a common thread it’s rampant individualism and a curiosity in and respect for nature and those who live with it, as opposed to those who …