A Bully or Not? You Decide.

Big Bully? 

A young rabbit was out one afternoon for a romp with his friends when a new animal pushed into the game. “Give me the stick or I’ll bite you” he said to the rabbit. “If you want to play with us you should say so and we will be glad to have you join” replied the rabbit. Well, that didn’t sit too well with the young nutria, so he pushed the rabbit and bit his tail. “Now GIMMIE THAT STICK YOU DUMB BUNNY!!!” he screamed.

Rabbit didn’t know what to do. His tail was a bit bloody from the bite and he hurt his paw when he fell. His friends were too  surprised  to do anything. The nutria took the game stick and ambled off to play by himself. A friend of the rabbit, a small cotton rat, ran over and said “RABBIT!! Are you hurt badly?” “No, said the rabbit, just my pride. I let that nutria bully me without even saying anything.”

The next time the youngsters were playing, the same thing happened, only this time the cotton rat got pushed and bitten. Nobody did or said anything, and the bully just ambled away, snickering to himself as he went. Just when he was out of sight, they heard a loud growl and a cry for help. What could it be, they all thought. The rabbit was the first to run to see what was going on, followed by his sister, the cotton rat, a young mink, a garter snake and a possum. Soon they found out what was happening: A stray dog had cornered the nutria in a small stump and was digging him out. “HELP!” cried the nutria. “HELP HELP!!”

At first the friends didn’t move,  but then the rabbits’s sister said “HEY DOG!!! BET YOU CAN’T CATCH ME. YAH YAH YA YAH YAH!” and off she ran. Then the other friends all called out to the dog almost at the same time “NO! CATCH ME!!!!” and they all ran off in different directions. The dog started to chase one then another and then another, but got so confused he gave up and, tail between his legs, ran away. He forgot all about the nutria.

When the friends came back to the stump, the nutria was still there, crying. “You nearly got eaten” said the young mink. “Yeah, you big bully. We should have just left you.” Said the garter snake. “Why didn’t you?” asked the nutria. “I was mean to you all and you still came to help me. I don’t understand.” “Well, said the possum, we have been practicing escaping for quite a while. We never tried it before, but IT WORKS!!!” “Hey nutria” said the cotton rat. “Why are you such a big bully?”  The nutria told his story: “I was born in the swamp and was teased by the muskrats until I hid away, and finally ran away. I haven’t had much chance to play or even talk to other kids, so I just acted mean to protect myself from teasing. I am sorry that I pushed and bit you rabbit. And you too cotton rat. I just don’t know what else to do.” And he hung his head, turned and walked away.

The other kids talked for a minute and then the rabbit yelled “WAIT!! We will let you play with us if you promise to follow the rules, and not be a bully anymore.. I know how mean those muskrats can be. They were always pushing me around in school. My family finally moved to get away from them.”  The nutria stopped and looked back to see all the friends agreeing with the rabbit. He turned around and said “I will try my very best to be a good friend.”

And he did. And he was.

Image: http://watershedtexas.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/546px-myocastor_coypus_standing.jpg

The Bible as a Textbook or, The Lord Helps Him who Helps Himself.

Years ago I started a class in zoology as I started most other classes. I told the students that there would be reading assignments in the text, that the text was an important ancillary to the class, and I asked if they all had gotten their book. One student held up a well-worn Bible and said “this is the only book I need.” Ok, I thought, no point in getting into an argument here. I had a brief conversation with the student after class, and he reaffirmed that he didn’t need a textbook because he could find all he needed in his Bible.

He came to class regularly after that and listened to the discussions on various animal groups and the evolutionary processes at work. He didn’t interact much with me or other students. He was home schooled. When I graded the first exam, all essay questions, he failed. His paper was nearly blank. A few snippets remembered from class, but nothing more. I asked him to talk to me after class, and he affirmed that he would not be buying a textbook, and that he would do much better on the next exam.

He failed every quiz and exam, and failed the class. He never lost his faith that he would in the end pass, and his faith in this regard failed him. I have had other very religious students over the years, and they have done as well as others. I had a young man take my Evolution course who started out on the first day by saying to the class “I am a Christian. I don’ believe in Evloution. I believe that God made everything you see as you see it.” He had a Bible with him, and he also had the textbook. He worked hard, did well and passed with an”A”, never believing a thing he learned. But learn he did.

I have no idea what happened to the first student. He disappeared after that term and I never saw him again. The other, though, went on to FSU and graduated with a degree in Biology. He is now a Chiropractor I think. Good student with a good mind. And there is a moral here: The Lord Helps Him who Helps Himself.

I have had hundreds of students tell me before an exam “I prayed that I will do well on this test.” Some did and some didn’t. My answer was always the same: “I hope you studied too.”

Images: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK99RMJxPce6IfKtsB8ROpWOQyEGW-qc_v2xe_f_xCmVJC18U2BSeFodym4rBxFfk-3PuB-YtkIyqR4qWwGur61cIIwiDqI6Yn0uQpJEx7L4upUAeoNRHfMTIQnHqwKfiW11s4UrOEfmeK/s1600/bibletextbutton2.jpg

http://iloveyoubutyouregoingtohell.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/kanawha-county-i-have-my-bible.jpg

A Tale of Bravery and Compassion

Unlikely Friends

One day a young rabbit was playing near the woods when he noticed a rustling in the bushes nearby. He went to investigate and found a baby hawk, weak from struggling, caught in the branches. The rabbit ran home and found Grandpa Rabbit and asked him to go with him to help the baby. Grandpa said “Boy, hawks are the enemy of all Rabbits. They are PREDATORS who kill and eat our kind. We do not help them. Go away.” and he promptly fell asleep.

The young rabbit was really upset and confused by his Grandpa’s response, and went to find his mother. When he told his story, his mother said the same thing that his Grandpa had said. “Hawks are the enemy. Stay far away from that baby.” “But mother, the baby hawk isn’t an enemy. And if we help it, couldn’t it become our Friend?”  “No”, said Mother. “It is the hawk’s nature to kill and eat rabbits. They cannot change that. Best leave the baby to its fate.”

Well, thought the young rabbit, nuts to that. So he ran back to the woods and found the baby hawk, weaker still, and heard a high keening sound. He looked around and found a young Mother Hawk sitting on a rock, crying. He crept up and said “Why are you so sad?” Well, the young hawk was at first startled then angry at the nerve of this young rabbit. “Leave me alone you fur ball. I have lost my only baby and I am very, very upset.” The rabbit said “Lady, I know where your baby is, and I will take you there if you promise not to kill and eat me.” The hawk promised and rabbit led her to the bush, in time for her to save her baby.

Later that week rabbit was again playing near the wood when a shadow slipped over him. As he looked up a hawk flew straight at him, talons out. “I am caught” he thought. But no, the hawk landed next to him and stared for a moment. “You are the rabbit who led me to my baby, are you not?” “Yes” whispered the rabbit is a tremulous voice. “Please don’t kill me?”

“Kill you?” said the hawk. “I have been looking for you for days to thank you for saving my baby. You did a very brave thing. And I realize that although it is the nature of Hawks to kill rabbits, I have decided to become the protector of all the rabbits in my territory, and keep others from hunting you. Maybe we can learn to live in peace.”

The rabbit was so relieved and happy that he actually hugged the hawk. Later, when he told his grandfather what had happened, Grandpa just said “Harumph. Can’t get a hawk to change its feathers”, and went back to sleep. But a funny thing happened. For many years, no rabbits were killed by hawks, and some swore that they saw a rabbit and hawk walking and talking together near the woods.

Image: http://www.birds-wallpapers.com/bird/wild-hawk-rabbit.jpg

Tortoise Gets Helped, and Gets a Lesson

Miz Possum with babies and mushrooms

Tortoise got up one morning and decided to visit his grandmother. She was getting slow in her old age and needed some help getting her burrow ready for winter. On the way to her field, Tortoise stopped to munch on a few fresh mushrooms and thought “Hmm. I bet Granny would like some of these”. The problem was that he didn’t bring a sack to carry them in, and he knew they would never balance on his shell all the way to her place. He fretted for a minute or two and decided that he would never be able to get them to her, so he began to walk away from the patch. Just then, Miz Possum came by with her babies and said “Good morning Tortoise! Isn’t it a FINE DAY!”

Well, Tortoise was not in a very good mood, and Miz Possum’s cheeriness annoyed him. He mumbled “Morning Miz Possum, and no, it isn’t a FINE DAY! I am on the way to Granny’s burrow and can’t bring her any of these fresh mushrooms because I didn't bring a sack.” 

Miz Possum just laughed and climbed on Tortoises shell and said “Oh Tortoise, after all the things you have done for the folks in this valley, surely you wouldn’t mind if I helped you?” Tortoise was puzzled by this. He always helped others when they needed help, but he had never needed help, and didn’t like to ask for help anyway. He said “ Miz Possum, how can you help me?” Miz Possum explained that since her babies were now riding on her back, she could pick some mushrooms, stuff them in her empty pouch, and ride to Granny’s burrow on Tortoise’s shell to keep from crushing the delicate caps. Tortoise said “But Miz Possum, weren’t you on your way to do something? Can you take the time to help me with something as unimportant as a few mushrooms for Grannie?”

“PASH” cried Miz Possum. “Helping a friend isn’t a matter of degree, it is a matter of desire and duty. If you need help getting mushrooms over to your Granny’s burrow, I will take the time to help you. Simple. You are the most unselfish critter hereabouts, and we all love and respect you, so why wouldn’t I help you?”

As Miz Possum went about gathering some mushrooms and putting them in her pouch, Tortoise watched over the tumbling youngsters and thought about that and finally said, “Thank you Miz Possum. You know that I never help folks with reward in mind, don’t you? I just like to see folks safe and happy, and am good at some things. I am not very good at carrying things without a bag, though, so your help is most welcomed” and off they went.

When the got to Granny’s burrow, Granny exclaimed “Why Miz Possum, do you have another pouch full of adorable babies?”  “No” said Miz Possum, “I have a pouch full of delicious mushrooms just for YOU!!” Granny took the mushrooms inside, made a wonderful soup, and they all had a tasty lunch.

Image: https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3631/3636133248_3e939de23e.jpg

A Tale of Nonsense and Friendship, or, Never Give Up.

Old Friends

Rabbit was out for a hop, when a coyote jumped out and grabbed him by the rear leg. He pulled and pulled, and finally pulled free and ran away to a hiding place he knew. When he got there he was bleeding badly and weak from blood loss. He knew he would never see his family again, and moaned softly as he lay dying.

Tortoise was passing by when he heard a moaning sound, and walked into the crevice as far as he could go to see what was going on. At once he saw his friend Rabbit, bloody and unmoving, but he couldn’t reach him. “Rabbit” he called!! “RABBIT!!!!” When he received no answer he knew he had to do something fast because although Rabbit was breathing, he looked like he was dying. So Tortoise picked up a nearby stick and poked Rabbit, all the time calling “Rabbit wake up.” “Rabbit WAKE UP!!” 

Rabbit moaned again and looked up and saw his friend and said “Tortoise, tell my family I love them.” Tortoise said “Tell them yourself! You think I will leave you here to die?” “But Tortoise, I can’t get home and I am dying.” “Nonsense” said Tortoise, “You just have to get on my shell and I will take you home.” “I can’t. I am too weak. The bleeding has stopped and I think I am out of blood.”

Well, Tortoise was really worried, but decided the best thing to do was not to let his friend know, so he just said “Nonsense. If you were out of blood you would be dead, and you are clearly not. Come on, wiggle yourself to the end of the crevice and I will get you home.” Rabbit panted a minute and then tried to move. And he DID move! Not much, but some. Not enough. Tortoise said “Come on Rabbit. I haven’t got all day you know.” So Rabbit tried again and moved again. And he tried again and moved again, and this time he was close enough to Tortoise so Tortoise could grab his tail and pull him out of the crevice.

“WAIT!!” cried Rabbit. "The coyote will get me now that I am not in my hiding place." “Nonsense” said Tortoise, “We will get you on my shell and get you home, and coyote better not mess with me or I’ll bite his paws off.”  Rabbit then tried to climb onto Tortoise's shell but was too weak.
“Hmm,” thought Tortoise,” remembering the time he helped Dove, "I will have to dig a pit next to Rabbit so he can roll onto my shell.” And so he did. And when Rabbit saw what he was doing, for the first time he felt a shiver of hope. When the hole was deep enough, Rabbit rolled onto Tortoise's shell and off they went, slowly but surely to Rabbits house.  When they arrived sometime later, Rabbits wife  screamed when she saw the blood and hugged Rabbit fiercely. “Ow. That hurt.” Said Rabbit. Tortoise and Mrs. Rabbit helped Rabbit into the house, got him on his bed and Mrs. Rabbit started to clean his wounds. Tortoise was forgotten, and slowly walked away.

He didn’t get very far before Mrs. Rabbit and all her children surrounded him, hugging and kissing and saying “THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.  You saved him. We will never forget this act of kindness and courage.” Tortoise said “Nonsense. Rabbit would have done the same for me. I was just helping out a friend from a bit of trouble.” And off he went.

But WE know what a brave and loyal friend tortoise was. Tortoise knew and WE  know the coyote could have killed them both, and WE know that Tortoise was a hero.

 And since then, rabbits and tortoises have always been friends.  

Image: http://www.distractify.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads//2014/08/tortoise-hare-620x.jpg

Kicked in the Balls? Kick Back!

Hiroshima. One bomb did this.

My first real job was at NVCC in Annandale, Va.  My boss was George T. and he was from West (by God) Virginia. We got on really well, peer to peer, and one day he was venting over something that CFO had done. He put it exactly like this: “I don’t mind when they shit on my head, but it really pisses me off when they rub it in.” Old West (by God) Virginia saying, he said.

Well, the terrorists have shit on the heads of the free world a lot lately, and now they have rubbed it in. In fact, they have Kicked America in the BALLS and laughed about it. They have executed a Son of the Country in the most brutal way, and threatened more of the same. And they expect us to bow and scrape and go away.

BALLS TO THAT is my opinion. Mr. President, time to show us your “package” and bomb these bastards into oblivion. If you think the liberals of the country won’t back you on this, all I can say is that I am one liberal who would. Boots on the ground? No, I don’t want that. But if it takes an invasion to wipe these Mothers off the Face of the Earth, then the whole of the rest of the world better pony up some invaders. A Crusade would be nice. And not some half-assed crappy punitive raid either. The Full Monty.

Image: http://www.worldwar2database.com/sites/default/files/wwii1228.jpg

Sly.

Sly: Crafty or cunning; or, short for Sylvia or Sylvester.

"Vicki and Me celebrating her remission."

I always wondered why some people were called “Sly” when the connotations were not often thought of as nice. People would say “he is a sly bastard” and mean cunning or tricky. Sly Stallone, was he a cunning and tricky bastard? Sly Matthews, was she a cunning and tricky bastard. No, to me she was a warm woman with a generous streak a mile wide who loved to read and liked good beer from time to time.

I “met” her in a strange way though Nicola Griffith. I read all of Nicola's novels and commented on her web page and subsequently joined a Yahoo group started by Nicola. I shared a few things and Sly and a few others responded. Sly was always good for a book recommendation or a comment on something I had written. One of the early memories of Sly was her explaining how "Sylvia" became "Sly". She told me people constantly misspelled "Sylvia" so she just gave up and became "Sly".

 It is really interesting how meeting people has migrated to include ethereal contacts over vast distances of every imaginable metric, and how some of those met in the cyber sphere are friends like others met in person. Some, indeed, better.
The plan to share an hour or two with Sly and to share a brew are now history, and the friendship is now memory. Fond memories to be sure.

Thanks to NG and KE for keeping the list alive, and to all my friends on the list. Sal and I raised a glass (or two) last night to Sly.  It would be a pleasure to not only raise a glass “to” you all, but with you as well. Who knows, maybe someday?

Image: Sly’s Facebook album

Watching Again, Eh God?

OR YOU CAN LOSE YOUR HEAD.

Foley’s Pastor says “There are no words to describe this kind of inhumanity.” Yes Pastor, there are words, and those words are simply “Where Was Your God?” The answer is “Watching”.  Who needs a god like that?

You see the problem here is that the God of Foley was also the God of the killer. So having a conflict of interest, I guess he/she decided to sit this one out and watch from the sidelines.

The news is full of horror every day. And people of faith, good people, write it off as if they really don’t believe that their god is willing/able/interested in doing anything. So we hear “pray for the families.” If it didn’t help to pray for the victim , why would it help to ask for relief for the families? So maybe it goes like this:

“God, we beseech thee to spare the life of (name here). He/she is a godly person and a good person who doesn’t deserve to be beheaded.” The beheading goes ahead as planned so:

“God, since in your merciful wisdom you chose to not save (name here) from beheading, we beseech you to bless the family of (name here) and relieve their pain and suffering.” The pain and suffering doesn't stop so:

“God, you son-of-a-bitch, where are you?” No answer, so:

Got any booze or drugs?

Image: http://www.nice2knownisha.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/trust.jpg

Expression of God’s Love or Man’s Love?

A group of well-trained amateurs and a vibrant leader put on a “gospel” type show on a street corner, praising “God’s Love”. Joyful and energetic. Uplifting. Even inspiring. But to mistake this putative outpouring of “Human Love” for “God’s Love” is a long stretch.

If I were to sing praises to a rock, to profess love for a rock and to worship a rock, that would be an indication of my love for the rock. Unless the rock did something to reciprocate, I would have no measure of the rock’s love for me. See? The point is this: when something awful happens, and people assemble, sing, dance and pray, that is not an expression of “God’s Love”. That is an expression of the people’s faith. God is absent from these events. One might ask “where was God when the boy was gunned down?” Probably watching. But loving the boy? Loving the hundreds of people injured as a result? Loving mankind so much that millions of Believers are butchered every year?

No, to me the answer is clear: If God there be, then God be watching. Not helping. Not intervening and certainly not loving. You don’t “love” someone and watch them suffer according to some “perfect plan” without helping. If there be God, then God has a funny way of “loving” his adoring masses. Makes absolutely no sense at all to me.

Image: http://37.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_laq19bkC4g1qcc4zuo1_500.jpg

Beam Me Up Scotty or Pseudoscience Strikes Again.

"Scientists Report Teleportation of Physical Objects From One Location To Another" (1). And here is another perfect example of real science being used to “prove” pseudoscientific claims. In a a nutshell, quantum “teleportation” occurs when the characteristics of one atom are transferred to another not in the proximity of the first thorough “quantum entanglement”. No discussion of that here, but there are lots of experimental examples of this. Note that the characteristics of the atom are moved, not that atom itself, resulting in the putative physical transfer of the object.

Now jump to a claim that a series of experiments conducted in China in 1981 (2) that claim children were able to teleport physical objects such as watches and horseflies by using mind power and a “fourth dimension”.  China? In 1981? Unsubstiated and not reproducible? Never been done under controlled contitions anywhere else? These claims are TODAY being used to show that actual teleportation is real.

Yes, wacko pseudoscience using a relatively new discovery to “prove” a debunked old one. There is no end to the crap the human mind can come up with. Sometimes, though, the crap turns to gold. Not in this case though. Pure CRAP.

1. http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/01/16/scientists-report-teleportation-of-physical-objects-from-one-location-to-another/

2. Ziran Zazhi (Nature Journal) tilted “Some Experiments on the Transfer of Objects Performed by Unusual Abilities of the Human Body” (Shuhuang et al., 1981)

Image: http://www.hayadan.org.il/images/content3/2013/01/ST-TOS-transport-580x411-500x354.jpg