So many heated tails, so little time
This week's online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that California ground squirrels have learned to intimidate rattlesnakes by heating their tails and shaking them aggressively. As do many strippers, as I've found in my own extensive studies.
Scientists say they aren't quite sure how the squirrels heat their tails. There are no hot plates or electric socks involved. Their best guess is that the squirrels may shunt warm blood from the body core into the tail. But it scares the bejabbers out of the rattlers.
More research is needed. I know that the folks at the National Academy of Sciences are really busy with all the squirrel stuff. But if they need a hand with the stripper research, they can just give me a call.
Scientists say they aren't quite sure how the squirrels heat their tails. There are no hot plates or electric socks involved. Their best guess is that the squirrels may shunt warm blood from the body core into the tail. But it scares the bejabbers out of the rattlers.
More research is needed. I know that the folks at the National Academy of Sciences are really busy with all the squirrel stuff. But if they need a hand with the stripper research, they can just give me a call.
posted by Michael Riley at 8:43 AM
32 Comments:
There you go again!!
Does your wife read these blogs??
I don't read them all the time, but I do occasionally check in.
SJR
So glad that you do, Mrs. R.
Margaret
Didn't Jesus say that if you look at a woman lustfully, you have already committed adultery with her in your heart?
Jesus never said anything. There is no Jesus;it is just a myth.
Hey! This guy's good!
anonymous wrote:
"Didn't Jesus say that if you look at a woman lustfully, you have already committed adultery with her in your heart?"
Isn't it interesting that Jesus said nothing against slavery but said it was a sin if you look at another woman?
Ray, with the scriptures, we do look for answers, and though jesus was not quoted in specific, saying "do not have slaves", he did say, "we must love our neighbor, as we would ourselves". That is all encompassing. Obviously having a slave does not fit in with that teaching. So many people were, and still are, hypocrites, in that vein.
After reading a couple of the posts above, I am reminded of just how grateful I am for the gift of faith. I couldn't imagine just how empty, unfulfilling and utterly hopeless my life would be were it not for my faith in God and in His Son, Our Savior, Jesus Christ.
My prayers today are with those who lack the faith that I have been so blessed to receive.
Amen.
Squirrels don't heat their tails, that is just the outcome of global warming.Al Gore told me.
Margaret wrote:
"...jesus was not quoted in specific, saying "do not have slaves", he did say, "we must love our neighbor, as we would ourselves". That is all encompassing. Obviously having a slave does not fit in with that teaching."
Spin it any way you like.
anonymous wrote:
"After reading a couple of the posts above, I am reminded of just how grateful I am for the gift of faith."
I'm grateful that our founding fathers understood that people have the right to freedom of conscience and that no one has the right to impose their beliefs on anyone else -- even if they're in the minority. We're all lucky that these men were students of history and liberal enough oppose the forces of dogma and bigotry.
"I couldn't imagine just how empty, unfulfilling and utterly hopeless my life would be were it not for my faith in God.."
I'm very happy living without faith. My life is good and I'm not out killing or torturing people for disagreeing with me.
Neither are we, Ray(killing and torturing people for disagreeing with us). You throw the same old bitter stuff into the ring. Why do you do that?
No one is trying to convert you here. But you sure react to comments like someone is.
The founding fathers also wished for freedom of religion in this country. Yes, religion. God. The "G" word.
And in my opinion, whoever the anonymous blogger at 1129am on August 15th was, brought up Jesus to the APP writer and Baptist minister, to appeal to his Christian sensibilities, in terms of this particular strand.
We tend to forget these things...
Margaret wrote:
"Neither are we, Ray(killing and torturing people for disagreeing with us). You throw the same old bitter stuff into the ring. Why do you do that?"
Geez, Margaret, lighten up. That remark was made with my toungue firmly planted in my cheek. I actually giggled a little bit when I wrote that.
"No one is trying to convert you here. But you sure react to comments like someone is."
You haven't been reading ol' Spooky's posts then. Well, honestly, neither have I.
"The founding fathers also wished for freedom of religion in this country. Yes, religion. God. The "G" word."
Well, religion doesn't always have anything to do with "God", no matter what your imposed belief system tells you. Some have no gods, some have many.
And the founding fathers ackowledged more than just our freedom of religion. As I wrote, they acknowledged our freedom of conscience. That means we have freedom FROM religion, if we choose. That would seem to elevate personal freedom over religion, eh?
Yes, it would seem to raise or lower the bar, in terms of personal freedom, or license, as it were, Ray.
Freedom of conscience? I don't think I ever read THAT one before. Freedom of conscience from what/whom? Oneself?
I'll lighten up when the said "tongue in cheek joke" is especially funny. I always tell my children it's only a joke when the butt of it can easily laugh. Otherwise it's just malicious.
Do you think Pat is trying to convert you? If so, take it as a compliment, because probably from his vantage point, your soul needs saving, and him trying (if that is what he is doing) means he thinks you're worth the time :).
BTW, do you believe in a soul? Not being facetious AT ALL. Again, you do not have to answer this. Curiosity is getting the better of me.
M
"Do you think Pat is trying to convert you? If so, take it as a compliment, because probably from his vantage point, your soul needs saving, and him trying (if that is what he is doing) means he thinks you're worth the time :)." -- Margaret
Thanks for the kind words, Margaret.
Ray, a child of God that he does not believe in, is certainly "worth the time," whatever that may mean. Christ teaches us that one individual soul is worth far more than all the material possessions that can be found in this entire world. (cf Mark 8:36) As I have said previously, I often pray for Ray and the others that frequent this blog site. Moreover, I hope to see all of you in Heaven someday, and that most certainly includes Ray.
Margaret wrote:
"Freedom of conscience? I don't think I ever read THAT one before. Freedom of conscience from what/whom? Oneself?"
You've never heard of freedom of conscience? Really? Then I suggest that you don't understand the principles upon which our nation was created and you need to start reading what the founding fathers wrote. Freedom of conscience is the basis upon which all of our freedoms are built.
Try this:
Freedom of Conscience
and this:
Thomas Jefferson
"I'll lighten up when the said "tongue in cheek joke" is especially funny. I always tell my children it's only a joke when the butt of it can easily laugh. Otherwise it's just malicious."
Given the conversations we've already had I would have thought I wouldn't have to explain it. But then again, some people have to be told when to laugh. Conservatives are like that.
"BTW, do you believe in a soul? Not being facetious AT ALL. Again, you do not have to answer this. Curiosity is getting the better of me."
I do not believe in a soul. I don't believe in gods, angels, demons, devils or fairies. For future reference, an atheist doesn't believe in the supernatural or anything that smells like it.
Spooky wrote:
"As I have said previously, I often pray for Ray and the others that frequent this blog site."
Spare us the smarmy BS, okay? And save your emotional masturbation for the pews.
"Moreover, I hope to see all of you in Heaven someday, and that most certainly includes Ray."
If I see you after I die I'll ask to go the the other place. As a matter of fact, if I see you after I die it WILL be the other place.
Always a class act, Ray.
Ray, you must laugh at dogfights too...I don't get your brand of humor.
But, thank you for telling me what you don't believe. It helps me very much.
M
Spooky wrote:
"Always a class act, Ray."
Right. As if you would know a class act when you see one.
Margaret wrote:
"Ray, you must laugh at dogfights too..."
I LOVE dogfights! Tell me, who do you think would win between a P51D Mustang and an ME-109?
"I don't get your brand of humor."
No, you don't.
"As if you would know a class act when you see one." - Ray
Yes, he would.
M
See Ray, I noticed something. You are either neutral in your approach, or just plain nasty. Occasionally there is some dry wit that can be appreciated. But that's about it.
So your humor, as it were, is definitely lost on me.
I think you're a lawyer. :)
M
Or a boiler room operator at some NJ plant that works rotating shifts and is bored at work so he shoots off mean spirited junk in blogs.
Thanks, M(argaret). :-)
Margaret wrote:
"I think you're a lawyer."
Now you've gone too far.
anonymous wrote:
"Or a boiler room operator at some NJ plant that works rotating shifts and is bored at work so he shoots off mean spirited junk in blogs."
A bit heavy on the psycho-babble, don't you think?
Probably pretty close to the truth though.
Well, there you have it. Psycho-babble is now a path to the truth.
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