June 12, 2004

• Sorry, two in one day - I thought it was after midnight. Damn you, British Summer Time...
• Rough, rough, rough! Aye, collies are wise.
• A guy has a talking dog. He brings it to a talent scout. "This dog can speak English," he claims to the unimpressed agent. "Okay, Sport," the guys says to the dog, "what’s on the top of a house?" "Roof!" the dog replies. "Oh, come on..." the talent agent responds. "All dogs go ‘roof’." "No, wait," the guy says. He asks the dog "what does sandpaper feel like?" "Rough!" the dog answers. The talent agent gives a condescending blank stare. He is losing his patience. "No, hang on," the guy says. "This one will amaze you." He turns and asks the dog: "Who, in your opinion, was the greatest baseball player of all time?" "Ruth!" goes the dog. And the talent scout, having seen enough, boots them out of his office onto the street. And the dog turns to the guy and says "Maybe I shoulda said DiMaggio?"
• Here's what makes me angry: animal lovers have been saying this for years, and zoologists/biologists/animal behaviourists have scoffed "oh no it's just your imagination, you're transferring to the dog.. you're giving it cues.. you're mental.." etc. Wankers. This is no surprise to any of us who actually *pay attention* to our little furry friends, and I've no doubt that this oh-so utterly earthshattering discovery of intelligence in non-humans doesn't end with dogs. Cats, horses, pigs, even chickens have consciousness and varying levels of intelligent, active thought that can be remarkably sentient. Like humans, however, this has to be encouraged. Classic joke, zeb.
• And now sheep seem to understand things too. Incluiding facial expressions of their flock. Facial expressions? Sheep? I'm going wanderin' in the country today! (Sorry it's from 'The Sun': didn't have time to find a more reliable or eloquent source)
• Nostril, you have been talking to the wrong zoologists/biologists/animal behaviourists. At least for the past 30 years or so. What you see here is just scientific validation of what they probably already suspected in the first place. But science is all about confirmation. Not gut feelings.
• "Nostril, you have been talking to the wrong zoologists/biologists/animal behaviourists." I hope so, but the truth is, if you are leaning towards animal sentience, in academic circles you are pretty much regarded as a kook. Yes, there has been a movement towards accepting advanced thought in animals, particularly in the last 5 years or so, but it's very slow going.
• My dog does calculus. LandofGreenGinger: Please, don't tell us you're wandering the country making sheep happy. Certain things we DON'T want to know.
• Don't worry Bluehorse: the sheep are safe. Could not find any sheep in suburbia and I did not dare venture into the countryside. There are wolves there. And they play the banjo. *shudder*
• Pigs are smarter than dogs. Maybe we should ask them how do they feel about the recent develpments.
• developments, developments...