Crows like walnuts...

[thistlechaser]

Last winter I started putting nuts out for the squirrels. I love watching them, I'm happy to help feed them, but the main reason was I was hoping it'd be entertainment for my cat. Unfortunately she was too blind, too deaf, or too both to spot them outside the window, but I kept on feeding them anyway.

Ellie New Cat loves sleeping in the window, watching things beyond the glass, so I started putting nuts out again. They were vanishing awfully fast, and without the clatter that the squirrels usually make. And today I spotted why: The crows are carrying them off!

Plus side: Crows seem to be even better cat entertainment than squirrels.

I had no idea that crows ate nuts. Meat, yep, but nuts? Though hmm, right now I'm using walnut meat (I bought it for myself, then didn't want it). I suppose when I go back to using nuts in shells, they might be less interested.

Edit: This amuses me so. :D



Rick Perry's commercial: "You know there's something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military..."

I can't put into words how much that commercial scares me.

Comments

[wow-hazmat.livejournal.com]

Percentage-wise, people on YouTube hate Rick Perry's commercial more than "Friday" by Rebecca Black. Even one of his staff is not happy with it.

I think the man just committed political suicide.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Good. To all of that. Not that he was in the running anymore as far as I understand it, but still.

[awhisperofdusk.livejournal.com]

I watched that video, paused, watched it again, and blinked. I knew Perry was kinda strange and well, a right-wing Christian no longer in the same reality as the rest of us, but while it's one thing to have that acknowledged, it's another thing to /advertise/ it.

I'm reassured by the dislikes, but then I doubt Perry's supporters crowd on youtube anyway. I'm just going to O____o and go back to drinking my orange pop.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Mmm, orange soda. I had some the other day (I loved it as a kid, but hadn't had any since then) and it was SO GOOD. /totally off the subject

Anyway, yes, this was just... insane. "no longer in the same reality as the rest of us" about sums it up. It only worries me that there are some people out there who would agree with him.

[aenleros.livejournal.com]

Chalk one up to my family. My dad thought it was a great commercial. >_< I'm just going to go die now.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Aaaacccckkk. Holidays must be a lot of fun for you. :}

[aenleros.livejournal.com]

Oh loads. I haven't mentioned the fact that I'm not Christian yet. Somehow I think that conversation wouldn't go over well.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Good luck! That'll be a rough conversation. Maybe wait until your last day there?

[aenleros.livejournal.com]

Ha! I'm kinda stuck here atm. Long story involving messed up school loans and no decent paying jobs.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Oooh, that's more complicated, yeah. Well, I hope the peace lasts for as long as possible then!

[gmth.livejournal.com]

Perry doesn't scare me anymore, but for a while there I was freaking out. I can't imagine why this country would ever consider electing another white, male, conservative, Christian governor of freaking Texas, after the faaaaaaabulous experience we had the last time that happened.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I know. I'm SOOOO with you on that, but the Right scares me so much. Arg, this darned election needs to get here, I'm already a nervous wreck!

[fealubryne.livejournal.com]

Percentage-wise, people on YouTube hate Rick Perry's commercial more than "Friday" by Rebecca Black.

This made me laugh. I cannot imagine something worse than that song. But I have absolutely no desire to watch the commercial, I have a feeling it will only make me angry. So I'll avoid it and just be amused/horrified that there's something worse than "Friday" out there.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

It's much, much worse than Friday. You're smart to avoid it. (TV news is starting to play it around here though, so you might get hit with it by mistake.)

[veloxe.livejournal.com]

All at once American politics are hilarious and terrify to me as an outsider. Hilarious because of the things people say. But terrifying that one of them will probably end up with access to the button o.O

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

They're pretty terrify from the inside, too! We can only hope that this one will have access to no buttons, not even the Easy Button.

[wow-hazmat.livejournal.com]

My parents are Southern Baptists. So, I feel ya. Thank god I have awesome inlaws, 'cause then I wouldn't have parents at all, 'cause I can't deal with mine. :|

[zombiewitch.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. Squirrels actually come to the window to take the stuff? That sounds like the cutest thing ever. *_*

And take comfort in that he'll never get elected! Between his many blunders, starting from "what's the third one" and this, he's done for.

[mel-redcap.livejournal.com]

Ravens/crows in Japan have learned to put nuts on pedestrian crossings - car runs over nut and cracks it, light changes, birdy has a safe couple of minutes to go get its food. :)

[halogin.livejournal.com]

Ergh. My grandparents probably like the commercial too. At holidays my family tries to delicately step around political talk because my grandparents are right-wing listen-to-Rush watch-Bill'o types, and my mom (their oldest of 5) is the opposite. Of course, she's gotten a little more 'fighty' over the past few years, so who knows. XD

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

That "what's the third one" was the worst. I actually felt a little sorry for him. That's the type of mistake I would make. Difference is, *I'm* not running for president.

And yes, it is! I love watching squirrels.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, that's so smart of them! I love these birds. :D

[mel-redcap.livejournal.com]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5_DuZ8WuMM&feature=fvwrel

XD

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Amazing! I'll be interested to see if they make off with in the shell walnuts, once I run out of the shelled kind.

[mel-redcap.livejournal.com]

If one of the crows in your area has worked out how to shell nuts, soon all of them will know how - they learn very quickly from each other. Bright birds, some of them even make and use simple tools. :D

[aenleros.livejournal.com]

I don't get how in the world he actually thought making that commercial would be a good idea. I'm sorry, but with bullets flying at your head, there is really no time for soldiers of any sexuality to date, so who they like really shouldn't matter.

On the other hand, I really have no idea what he's talking about with Christmas, because MY high school teachers always had trees and stuff up for Christmas. They didn't do much more than decorate, because let's face it, it was two weeks till exams and we had LOTS to cover. No TIME to "celebrate Christmas" more thoroughly.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I saw a really funny tweet yesterday about the Christmas thing. I wish I had saved the exact wording. It went something like this:

Some people (named Rick Perry) are worried about kids not being able to celebrate Christmas in school. It's true, kids can't. Schools are closed on Christmas.

Our local news has started covering the ad, "fact checking" it (ha). They point out that all you have to do is check youtube and you see tons of Christmas specials being done at schools.

And of course totally agreed on the gay part. If someone wants to risk his or her life to protect me? No way would I even ask what gender they'd like to sleep with!

[aenleros.livejournal.com]

Tons of Christmas specials ARE being done at schools. My string orchestra had a Christmas concert EVERY YEAR. As long as kids that don't want to participate are given other work that they can do (and we did have a kid in the class that usually worked on some other solo music while we practiced Christmas carols) it's fine with the government.

Just like politicians saying you can't teach the Bible in school. It CAN be done, as long as it's being taught for its literary and historical significance, and not for any religious reason. Again, kids that don't want to participate for whatever reason need to be given an alternate assignment.

As for the gay thing? I completely disapprove of anyone bashing anyone who wants to get married and raise kids together, regardless of who they're getting married to. Or even if they just want to sleep together. I don't really care. It's none of my business who you like to date, really. Telling people who want to get married and be a family that they can't because they're the same sex, then going and complaining that marriages are at an all-time low is just plain stupid.

[kaelash.livejournal.com]

Randomly, while I know what he's trying to say and I agree the double standard is irritating... That was THE worst possible way he could have brought it up. Dude, compare -holidays-. Like... celebrating Halloween and not daring to mention Christmas. Good freaking lord. *facepalm*

[kaelash.livejournal.com]

Also: Dude, religion isn't what people care about right now, nor is it the government's place to promote one over another (otherwise we're a theocracy and even I don't want that). Talk economy and how you're going to fix it or gtfo. I'd vote for someone that completely didn't conform to my religious beliefs if they could legitimately get the budget balanced and the country back on financial stability. Social issues are stupid to fight over if the country's failing at its most basic, financial level.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

While I disagree with "not daring to mention Christmas" (it's mentioned no more or less than any other winter holiday... or should be, as it is, it gets way more attention than the others), I understand your point!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

"We may be going to hell in a handbag in every other aspect, but if you elect me, everyone will believe in X religion!"

That's what all this comes off as to me.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I remember when people used to think that tool-use was a sign of something being a human. It amuses me how often the standard of "human" has to be redefined.

Edit: Timing! Just as I hit post on this, the crows landed to get the new (shelled) walnuts. Kitty is going crazy!

[wowclectic.livejournal.com]

It seems to be along the same lines of people claiming students are banned from praying in school. Uh, last I saw-- which mind you, I graduated HS in 1997, but still!-- students were more than welcome to pray in school, and organize prayer circles before class, as some did. It's just not cool to have official school-led prayer (though plenty of schools do that anyway, at least in the South).

Exaggeration or flat-out lying to try to support their point, generally. :| But seriously, all through elementary school we had Christmas productions, ffs. Including carols and all.

[kaelash.livejournal.com]

It's also the only national winter holiday, I believe. Thus the more attention! It's still not something you should use in a presidential campaign. Oi. (But you're right, he was pretty much dead in the water before this, now he's blasted a hole in his boat.)

[mel-redcap.livejournal.com]

Cat TV! XD

My kitties love looking out at the back yard watching wattlebirds take baths in the fishpond. :)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Hmm, that's a good idea. Maybe I need a birdbath!

[aenleros.livejournal.com]

Yeah, prayer in school isn't banned, it just isn't funded. See, for example, this thing that I was told, back in 2004, that I HAD to attend or I wouldn't get my diploma. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2004/05/24/met_416595.shtml

I did not like that service. At all.

[zombiewitch.livejournal.com]

That, so much. If you're running for president please know what you're talking about. D:

[zombiewitch.livejournal.com]

Running... for presidency*...

Brain, y u dumb.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Exactly. If you want to be president, a requirement is that you at least be smarter than me. :P

[achika-soladia.livejournal.com]

Want to make that video even funnier than it is with that jacket?

The song playing was composed by a gay American Jew that supported the Communist party. (http://thedailywh.at/2011/12/10/fun-fact-of-the-day-10/)

[voidmagus.livejournal.com]

Southerner here. During morning announcements in public school, there was a mandated 'moment of silence.' Maybe 15 seconds. People who wanted to pray could, people who wanted to meditate could, etc. Most of us just held our breath (don't know why -- kids are weird).

There were prayer circles that gathered at the flag pole in front of the school every morning. I was relatively friendly with the girl who organized them, and we'd engaged in a variety of religious debates over the course of high school. A couple of times, I'd join their prayer circle, and blatantly pray to a different entity. One of the times I decided to get really creative, when they were going around their circle sharing their individual prayers. I added "a'r mummmu tiamat, muwallidat gimrishun! a'r tiamat, a'r mummu tiamat!" The members of that prayer circle wouldn't come near me for a month, with the exception of the leader. She would ask me about it later, and roll her eyes when I'd explain that the prayer was in sumerian (maybe akkadian? my dialects are rusty). Pretty sure she had a crush on me, though. The rest of her group tried to get the principal involved, and he told them it was a free country -- if they wanted the benefit of praying there, everyone else had the same right.

[voidmagus.livejournal.com]

Same case here. My wife is kind of universalist, and I'm...well, generally, its better just to discourage people from asking my affiliation. My father is SouthernBaptist. My mom is lutheran, so she tends to be relaxed around us and doesn't bring religion up except in broad terms. Unfortunately, mom's new boyfriend is Church of God. He tore into us at Thanksgiving, and I had to rip him a new one (i may not agree with his views, but i'll happily engage in a theological debate). So my family just got pushed away until they learn 'don't shove religion down our throats unless you're willing to have it turned on you.'

My in-laws are Catholic, but don't give a crap what anyone else is as long as you keep it to yourself, with the exception of my sister-in-law. She's Taoist, and a blast to hang out with.

[blightheart.livejournal.com]

What's to understand?

[achika-soladia.livejournal.com]

Also have a parody. (http://youtu.be/BbrI3F7p6-o)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Ha! :D

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Ha! That's great.