Curtis, same here; one of the things that I've always enjoyed about solo backpacking is the occasional interaction with non-domesticated animals. Sometime ago I posted an encounter with three bears at the end of a 4-day hike in the Marble Mountains a few years ago; one of my favorite trips for just that reason. (Message # 128281)
One of the things I'm digging about surfing is hanging with the seals and the dolphins. What a world. Marek ** --- In [email protected], "curtisdeltablues" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Excellent book Marek! I just put both of them on hold at the library. > I am a big fan of human animal communication. (evidenced by my desire > to post here!) > > > > --- In [email protected], "Marek Reavis" <reavismarek@> > wrote: > > > > Comment and recommendation below: > > > > ** > > > > --- In [email protected], Duveyoung <no_reply@> wrote: > > > > **snip** > > > > > To tell you the truth, if you want real aliens to talk to, why > > > consider that famous parrot that died a few days ago. That bird did > > > more to me than any cropcircle -- that bird made me believe in > > animal > > > minds being, as if, whole alien worlds that need traveling to, need > > > understanding. Even with the astounding evidence of animal minds > > that > > > are very sophisticated -- apes, birds, dogs, elephants, dolphins, > > > etc., the tabloids are trying to invent these whacky goofyass foci > > of > > > attention for the purpose of selling newspapers. To hell with, you > > > know, anything real. > > > > > > Where's the billions put into animal research? What could we learn > > > about the alien worlds of dolphin cultures that would impact our own > > > cultural sensibilities? What if the dolphins are actually speaking > > a > > > language that is as rich as our own? What if dolphins create > > artistic > > > masterpieces of holographic sound that on the other side of the > > world > > > a group of whales pause to appreciate? These opportunities are left > > > unexplored, but, hey, we'd better try to contact aliens we've never > > > contacted yet to date. > > > > > > I say, better for us to try to understand the species we already > > have > > > at our doorsteps -- try to understand what's right here, right now. > > > > > > > **snip to end** > > > > Edg, there's a couple of books by a guy, Eugene Linden, that my son > > turned me on to, one of which is titled "The Octopus and the > > Orangutan" and the other "The Parrot's Lament". Excellent material > > culled from interviews and visits with both the scientists and other > > hands-on/eyes-on zookeepers who work closely with animals and have > > concluded that animal intelligence is actual factual and not far > > distant from our own in many ways. Basically, it's all anecdotal > > stuff that isn't publishable as science but to these individuals > > there is no doubt that the animals they're working with are highly > > sentient and lucid. > > > > For instance, on the simian side you've got a zoo orang who > > manipulates a found wire into a lockpicking device, conceals it under > > his bottom lip when not needed, and uses it to visit others at night > > and to look for food that not locked up. In the cephalopod corner > > there are stories of octopi who break out of their own tank during > > the night and make the harrowing and frequently unsuccessful journey > > across bare linoleum to another tank in which either food or a > > possible mating opportunity exists. Lots more and all absolutely > > great stuff and a fine read. Recommended. > > > > Marek > > >
