James Joyce's _Ulysses_ Episode 1 Telemachus
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-- He was raving all night about a black panther, Stephen said.
We don't have any official pets at our place, as we don't need them. We get regular visits from native possums, herons, brush turkeys, kookaburras, cockatoos, lorikeets, king parrots, currawongs and a resident family of magpies. We also get fruit bats, which give me the heebejeebies late at night when I'm out with my telescope. But my favourites are the countless geckos (apparently an invading species of Asian house gecko) which live in our walls and eaves. They live a good life at our place, getting fat off the juicy moths attracted nightly to our lighted windows, and they chirp loudly in delight. Here's a little fella I spotted tonight:
Needless to say, I am jealous of your cohabitation with lizards and especially geckos, even if they are invasive. Who are we to call other animals invasive, anyway?
Just call me "geck" because "zilla" is like a last name.
geckzilla wrote:... Who are we to call other animals invasive, anyway?
This particular use of the word "invasive" is as a scientific term applied to a species that was moved by humans, accidentally or otherwise, to an area where they are not kept in check by their natural predators. It's descriptive and not pejorative.
I'm well aware of its use, Rob. But it is used pejoratively on occasion and even when it's not it's important to remember that we are the ultimate invasive species. We're not only good at claiming every last bit of land for ourselves but we bring the other invasive critters along. This is the same line of thought about our constant insistence that we manage wildlife populations while simultaneously declaring our own above reproach.
Just call me "geck" because "zilla" is like a last name.
We just brought home a new dog, a very big (185 pound, 84 kg) 8-year-old Great Dane. He's a bit of a hardship case, having lived his whole life with a guy who was mostly homeless, and who died a couple of weeks ago. He seems to like it up here in the mountains already, and so far he and Maia (our female Dane) are getting on just fine.
I normally name all our dogs after stars, but this guy is already called Brutus, and I think eight is a little old to be changing names. So Brutus he remains.
Chris
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Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory https://www.cloudbait.com
Sassy lost her battle today; I'll miss her very much! She had some type of red cell destroying disease. For a while it looked as though she had the problem licked; as she went into temporary remission.
orin stepanek wrote:Sassy lost her battle today; I'll miss her very much! She had some type of red cell destroying disease. For a while it looked as though she had the problem licked; as she went into temporary remission.
So sorry, Orin. I know how rough that is. I think she was a lucky dog, though.
Chris
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Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory https://www.cloudbait.com