Good News

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Lobster · #1 Post by **Lobster** » Tue 24 Jun 2008, 20:27

. . . when a duck came up and grabbed him by the pant leg. Then it started waddling around him and quacking.
http://uhoh.org/vancouver_sun_ducks.htm

What are your good news stories?

cthisbear · #2 Post by **cthisbear** » Tue 24 Jun 2008, 22:14

Good one.

Chris

oktinkerbell · #3 Post by **oktinkerbell** » Wed 25 Jun 2008, 02:12

What a great story, thanks for posting this. Animal instinct is awesome.

prehistoric · #4 Post by **prehistoric** » Wed 25 Jun 2008, 12:13

oktinkerbell wrote:...Animal instinct is awesome.

This comment puzzled me, because wild mallards instinctively view humans as predators, (with good reason.) It was reasoning overcoming fear for a definite purpose which impressed me.

From my own experience, fully domesticated animals like chickens and cattle, (don't even mention sheep or turkeys,) tend to be closer to mindless automata than their wild cousins. I propose we accept any exceptions, including (semi-domesticated) humans, as good news.

(Let's see, I can discard the politics, sports and celebrity news sections, plus advertising...)

Aitch · #5 Post by **Aitch** » Wed 25 Jun 2008, 12:25

I propose we accept any exceptions, including (semi-domesticated) humans, as good news.

I'll accept oktinkerbell's avatar as a semi-domesticated human,

- she can come round and hoover up, or something!!

Let's see, I can discard the politics, sports and celebrity news sections, plus advertising...

Oh, OK then, er, what time should I expect her?

Animal instinct is awesome.

Yep!!

Aitch

oktinkerbell · #6 Post by **oktinkerbell** » Wed 25 Jun 2008, 14:26

My comment comes from years of growing up on a farm, yes, most domesticated animals are generally brainless,,however there are the exceptions to the rule and obviously this duck had the instinct that this human would help. Regardless of the fact that humans are a danger to thier well being. Call it what you want I found this story heart warming, but then again what do I know I am just a hick from OKlahoma, it is the simple things in life that amaze me. Be it is it may I liked this story great post Lobster.

prehistoric · #7 Post by **prehistoric** » Thu 26 Jun 2008, 01:50

@Aitch,

I suspect your suggestion she show up to "hoover up", is the result of "animal instinct", with limited reason. I stopped myself from quoting an Italian proverb about brains and good legs, because I knew there would be low-lifes who would assume I was implying an insult, (which I have no reason to do,) not that you would know anyone of that sort.

@oktinkerbell,

I share a small part of your experience, but enough so when I call something "chickenshit" I know whereof I speak. Urban dwellers have improverished conceptual basis for profanity. (If you don't believe me, listen to rap.)

Instinct was operating here, in the form of a mother protecting her offspring, even at personal risk. This could all too easily have resulted in tragedy, as on a highway. The extraordinary thing is that a "mere animal" used human-like reasoning to actually achieve realistic goals set by instinct. I would argue the only thing lacking about the reasoning here was a verbal explanation. And it involved another species in a relationship without predator or prey. This is something beyond "nature red in tooth and claw". I even wonder if it was accident she accosted a policeman. Very likely, an urban duck would have experience with policemen driving off people who harrass ducks. If this is not learning and reasoning, what would be?

I still remember the shock I felt when I first examined the feathers forming the white ring around a mallard drake's neck, thinking, "surely, this must have been the result of deliberate breeding." While mallards are extremely familiar and tolerate humans well, the original species is wild and quite probably the ancestral species of all domesticated ducks. Perhaps they are in an intermediate state sometimes called "self-domesticated". Ask a cat if this places a species under any obligation.

There are lessons here on several levels. I've already forwarded the link and received responses. Good one, Lobster!

puppyluvr · #8 Post by **puppyluvr** » Thu 26 Jun 2008, 03:46

@ Although we think it is "cute", the ancestral hunter killer instincts never left the cat. Domesticated my butt.

I think we don`t give animals enough credit. They are a lot smarter and a lot more "aware" of their environment than we think. Watch the videos of birds using the motion detectors to open the doors of supermarkets. Or watching the traffic lights to see when its safe to swoop down and eat in the crosswalk. Coyotes live in big city`s, even the occasional deer or bear gets too far in town and gets in trouble. They are just adapting to their environment, of which we are a part. Soon they will be begging on corners.

@ Aitch,
As for OKTinkerbell, she`d really rather mow the lawn than do any "Hoovering".

prehistoric · #9 Post by **prehistoric** » Thu 26 Jun 2008, 14:51

puppyluvr wrote:...They are just adapting to their environment, of which we are a part. Soon they will be begging on corners...

A dominant part of the environment. I'm not so sure that begging is the limit. One Florida surprise has been the emergence of urban egrets. Watching these slouch around, ignoring traffic and looking for easy prey, has me wondering when I'll start seeing them in black leather jackets, with cigarettes dangling from their bills. I've already seen urban squirrels raiding vending machines.

Bad news doesn't belong in this thread. Anyone have more good examples? I feel there have to be others.

Lobster · #10 Post by **Lobster** » Sat 28 Jun 2008, 03:55

What a catch
http://todaysbigthing.com/2008/06/24

puppyluvr · #11 Post by **puppyluvr** » Sun 29 Jun 2008, 00:54

http://todaysbigthing.com/2008/06/18

Looks like I am out of a job again!!!

Great site Lobster..

Lobster · #12 Post by **Lobster** » Fri 11 Jul 2008, 06:34

The link to the Cluster Channelwing site is gone
http://www.pilotfriend.com/photo_albums/potty/17.htm

but its time may have come - here is one of the developments
http://www.stavatti.com/SM74_OVERVIEW.html

capoverde · #13 Post by **capoverde** » Fri 11 Jul 2008, 08:01

All media thrive on bad news, and we're engulfed in them -- that's the main reason why there's no TV nor newspapers in my home. Thanks Lobster for... going the other way!

An afterthought: Slackware offers a randomly-chosen funny/savvy story or sentence at boot, and it's cool: how about Puppy having a randomly-chosen good-news story panel in the Fun menu, "PupNews" or something, to raise spirits in critical moments?

Aitch · #14 Post by **Aitch** » Fri 11 Jul 2008, 08:02

Nice find, Lobster

Great little bird!

Aitch

added:

that's the main reason why there's no TV nor newspapers in my home

snap!!

Lobster · #15 Post by **Lobster** » Mon 21 Jul 2008, 16:15

http://faiththedog.info/

Lobster · #16 Post by **Lobster** » Mon 11 Aug 2008, 03:55

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... d=93396868

Lobster · #17 Post by **Lobster** » Sun 24 Aug 2008, 03:57

Air-purifying church windows early nanotechnology - finally - good Windows
http://www.nanitenews.com/research/Air- ... nology.asp

Lobster · #18 Post by **Lobster** » Wed 27 Aug 2008, 16:07

How to rescue a chipmunk . . .
http://web.me.com/syl/Sylweb/Chip.html

Lobster · #19 Post by **Lobster** » Tue 16 Sep 2008, 06:23

Dog calls emergency services
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/1 ... 26339.html

Lobster · #20 Post by **Lobster** » Sat 11 Oct 2008, 14:37

WARNING: This page contains scenes of violence and may not be suitable for young audiences.

These explicit photos of a polar bear attack are not for the faint of heart.

http://www.clevelandseniors.com/forever/polarbear.htm

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