Two more days to get your Woodstock #pawpawty mug. Profits from the sale of this mug go directly to The Emergency Animal Rescue Service (TEARS) in Birmington, AL.
The beautiful Woodstock cat design is by @Javathecat.
Friday, September 4, 2009
pawpawty Mug
Two more days to get your Woodstock #pawpawty mug. Profits from the sale of this mug go directly to The Emergency Animal Rescue Service (TEARS) in Birmington, AL.
The beautiful Woodstock cat design is by @Javathecat.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
How We Make our People Human
One of the lady's favorite books is Paul Shepard's eye-opener, "The Others: How Animals Made Us Human." Dr. Shepard was a Professor of Natural Philosophy and Human Ecology and wrote a number of books on the human species' complex relationships with the earth and her other inhabitants.
In "The Others," Dr. Shepard's focus is on the topic of domesticating animals. Originally humans relationship with other species was simple. Either they ate that species, or they were eaten by it. Simplistic as it sounds, that has a profound impact on the human central nervous systems, specifically the limbic system.
As an aside, domestication changed some species into status symbols, and in some cultures it is possible to determine the social status of extended family members by whether they sleep nearer or farther than the livestock.
I'm sure that the lady's protohominid ancestors were eaten by all manner of frightening creatures. Sisfurcat Bugs Bunny tells me that our distant relatives the sabre-toothed tigers
used to sneak up on the lady's tiny Australopithecine ancestors, grab them by the head, and drag them home for the kittens to play with. Lower teeth puncture the back of the head, unwieldy canine teeth pierce the eyes. Physical anthropologists have found quite a few Australopithecus skulls with these puncture marks, as shown in the wonderful photo at right. This early hominid skull was found in a cave at Swarkrans in the late 1930s. It wasn't for another 30-some years that someone paused to reflect on the odd indentations in the skulls. We'll leave the question about the other skulls, the ones with scratches resembling the marks of early hominid stone tools, for another time. This pausing to reflect takes a lot of effort!
"The Others" is worth reading if only for the chapter on teddy bears as psychological bridges between the wild and the civilized. (I think we cats serve that purpose adequately.)
In "The Others," Dr. Shepard's focus is on the topic of domesticating animals. Originally humans relationship with other species was simple. Either they ate that species, or they were eaten by it. Simplistic as it sounds, that has a profound impact on the human central nervous systems, specifically the limbic system.
As an aside, domestication changed some species into status symbols, and in some cultures it is possible to determine the social status of extended family members by whether they sleep nearer or farther than the livestock.
I'm sure that the lady's protohominid ancestors were eaten by all manner of frightening creatures. Sisfurcat Bugs Bunny tells me that our distant relatives the sabre-toothed tigers
used to sneak up on the lady's tiny Australopithecine ancestors, grab them by the head, and drag them home for the kittens to play with. Lower teeth puncture the back of the head, unwieldy canine teeth pierce the eyes. Physical anthropologists have found quite a few Australopithecus skulls with these puncture marks, as shown in the wonderful photo at right. This early hominid skull was found in a cave at Swarkrans in the late 1930s. It wasn't for another 30-some years that someone paused to reflect on the odd indentations in the skulls. We'll leave the question about the other skulls, the ones with scratches resembling the marks of early hominid stone tools, for another time. This pausing to reflect takes a lot of effort!"The Others" is worth reading if only for the chapter on teddy bears as psychological bridges between the wild and the civilized. (I think we cats serve that purpose adequately.)
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
ASPCA Speaks Out Against Michael Vick
ASPCA Blog | Ed Sayres: The Road Ahead for Michael Vick
A big thumbs up to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) for daring to speak out against Michael Vick.
On the other hand, the Humane Society is taking money from the Vick public relations machine and in return are telling the world that 18 months in prison taught him to love animals.
After careful consideration, we have decided to speak out now about Michael Vick because of the special circumstances involving the ASPCA. Several months ago, Mr. Vick's PR representatives approached the ASPCA to help educate America about the heinous act of dog fighting following his release from prison. We were the first animal welfare organization given the opportunity to work with Mr. Vick but immediately turned him down due to the unique knowledge we had of his indescribable and barbaric acts of animal cruelty where he and his associates savagely electrocuted and beat dogs to death after they lost their brutal fights.
A big thumbs up to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) for daring to speak out against Michael Vick.
On the other hand, the Humane Society is taking money from the Vick public relations machine and in return are telling the world that 18 months in prison taught him to love animals.
Monday, August 24, 2009
PuztheCat Rainbow Bridge
© 2009 Leslie Ellis
@PuztheCat went to the Rainbow Bridge yesterday. @Chattemuse and other anipals are there to play with him.
For those who believe in an exclusionary Heaven that rejects animals, the Rainbow Bridge is where our faithful companions go after they die. There our pets are restored to health; they make new friends with whom they play happily in field and forest; and they wait until the day their human joins them.
Yesterday a cat named Puz had to be euthanized due to advanced cancer of the jaw. This was a sad situation that many cat (and dog) owners will have to face due to the relatively short lifespan of their pets. The difference is that Puz was one of the Cats Who Tweet. Puz was @PuztheCat on Twitter.
PuztheCat had many virtual friends on Twitter, including my own cat, Mr. Breeze. The pets - and the humans who "help" them type - rallied around Puz, regaling him with tales of the Rainbow Bridge. Butterfles to chase, drinks such as the tunatini, and endless supplies of noms.
A previously deceased cat named @Chattemuse who has been tweeting from the other side waited patiently for Puz to cross and promised to show him around.
As Puz's last Veterinary appointment approached, the pets made a virtual #pawcircle and emitted comforting #purrs4puz. It was a very moving experience even for a heartless old thing like me.
If you have any doubt as to why one could possibly want to text 140-character status reports (Tweets) to a Social Media site, you've missed the point. Web 2.0 is about interacting with other people (or pets).
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
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