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This Week's Meaningless Topic (#205)(August 7)


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Hi all. I grew up in a rural farm area and consequently spent much time with cows. Both ends. Working for a farm veterinarian, I also spent time with pigs, horses, goats, and sheep. As a result of those early years, I've always loved animals and still treasure the chance to be with them (yes, I'm a sucker for petting zoos). And that leads to this week's topic.

 

THIS WEEK'S MEANINGLESS TOPIC: Besides cats and dogs, what animals have you enjoyed being with?

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Well, I was kissed by Edna the Cow once.  It took forever to get the chlorophyll out of my shirt.

 

During my full time career in a living history/ farm museum I spent a lot of time with farm animals. I did. bit of everything, from assisting with chicken blood tests to plowing fields with oxen and horses.  When I reached a supervisor ranking I was put in charge of any program that involved horses; my superiors wanted nothing to do with them.  I enjoyed it.  I like horses and horse people.

 

Pigs are smart and expressive.  Years ago we had we a winter school program where the kids spent a couple of hours experiencing a 19th century day on the farm.  The girls cooked on an open hearth, while the boys did typical farm chores.  One was feeding and watering the pigs.  Since we had three groups of kids each day, each group gave the pigs 1/3 of their morning feed.  The pigs were not amused.  They also gave the pigs water, which we dumped out between groups.  Not only were the pigs not amused, but they were very confused.  And they showed it!

 

And then there are the sheep and the geese and guinea fowl.  All a joy in their own way.

 

Now semi-retired and working part time I don't work on the farm at all any more.  But i see the animals every work day, and they. are still a part of my life, and I love them. 

 

Ken

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Ken Q
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Cows and pigs after seeing the sheer terror in there eyes and there bodies shaking trying to escape when they are about to be processed in videos. 😥  All in all I like all animals. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Yeah I like most animals to, though I am not keen on a snake or stuff....watched a program yesterday about a guy in OZ that rescues orphaned Roo's, was really interesting and the guy literally acts as though he's the mother and lives totally for that cause...I hate all cruelty to animals, circus etc....I have actually been bitten on 4 occasions by 4 different dog so they obviously like me, well the taste at least, so I am quite nervous around them...I have a soft spot for elephants, lovely caring creatures...

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11 hours ago, adambar said:

Cows and pigs after seeing the sheer terror in there eyes and there bodies shaking trying to escape when they are about to be processed in videos. 😥  All in all I like all animals. 

 

 

 

 

 

Ada, my wife and I just watched these wonderful videos and will spend the rest of the day with warm hearts. Thank you!

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1 hour ago, Rodger Pettichord said:

Ada, my wife and I just watched these wonderful videos and will spend the rest of the day with warm hearts. Thank you!

Brightens your day for sure, nothing brings my wife and 

I back like an animal with all that's going on today.

 

 

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I've never had any extended time with your typical farm animals. When growing up in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe we did have a pet Crow. It was an injured bird from a neighbour who moved away. It became part of our family, it couldn't fly and was a crafty bugger. It was never allowed inside but would hassle us on the windowsill to feed her. She was dependent on our family for food and it was amazing how a crow was eventually allowed inside by my parents to watch Happy Days with the family :)

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2 hours ago, boetie said:

I've never had any extended time with your typical farm animals. When growing up in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe we did have a pet Crow. It was an injured bird from a neighbour who moved away. It became part of our family, it couldn't fly and was a crafty bugger. It was never allowed inside but would hassle us on the windowsill to feed her. She was dependent on our family for food and it was amazing how a crow was eventually allowed inside by my parents to watch Happy Days with the family :)

What a great story, Graeme. My wife went "Awww." So did I. 🤤

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2 hours ago, boetie said:

I've never had any extended time with your typical farm animals. When growing up in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe we did have a pet Crow. It was an injured bird from a neighbour who moved away. It became part of our family, it couldn't fly and was a crafty bugger. It was never allowed inside but would hassle us on the windowsill to feed her. She was dependent on our family for food and it was amazing how a crow was eventually allowed inside by my parents to watch Happy Days with the family :)

great story, on a similar line we have a 36ft static caravan just an hour away, I have been feeding the birds when there anyway last weekend I was sat on the decking and a few crows came and perched on the birdbath, and then perched near me on the decking, one was even tapping the handrail as it to get my attention, I fed them and they went away after but were back the next morning...I have never seen crows this close before they normally fly off. it was weird...

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Crows and ravens have the intelligence of a 7 year old human. 

 

What's the  difference between a crow and a raven.

A crow has 7 pinion feathers

A raven has 8 pinion feathers 

It's a difference of a pinion

 

😁

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6 hours ago, Rob Abernathy said:

Interesting!  I've found that around here the crows make more of a caw, caw sound, whereas the Ravens sound more like a frog crooking.

First time I ever saw a raven was on a visit to the Tower of London 34 years ago.  Here, at home on Long Island, New York we've always had lots of crows, but recently, in the last year or so, there have been quite a few ravens too.  The ravens have a number of different vocalizations; the croak the Rob mentions, and sort of a "knocking" sound.  Think of "The Raven" of Edgar Allen Poe.  Other sounds as well, but always unmistakable. Majestic birds, great to watch.

 

A blast from the past, almost another incarnation:  long before fate placed me in a 19th century history museum, I was a Medievalist.  Among my studies was an interesting Middle High German poem "Meier Helmbrecht."  Briefly, the poem is about a peasant boy who aspires to be a knight.  He comes to a bad end, but it echoes the story of Odin.  Odin has his eyes plucked out by his companion ravens, Hugin and Mugin.  But Helmbrecht eyes are attacked by common crows.  Noble birds (a god) vs. ordinary farmer's pests (a peasant farmer).

 

Oh, so long ago!  I delivered a paper on this poem at a medieval conference at Binghamton University NY back in 1978.

 

Ken

 

 

Edited by Ken Q
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Interesting Ken.  I always stop to admire these birds whenever I see them.    Lucky you to have a history museum job.  btw, I gave the book "Once They Were Hats" to my granddaughter and she loved it.  She finished a degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Washington last year and is working on habitat restoration projects right now.

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