SYMBIOSIS

The Egyption Plover Bird, or otherwise known as the "Crocodile Bird" is a bird that performs dentistry on the mouths of crocodiles in Sub Saharan Africa. The crocodile doesn't eat the bird but rather opens it's mouth so the bird can climb in and eat leaches or other parasites from the croc's teeth.

Apparently, this has gone on for centuries and is recorded in historical records. I just have to wonder what happened to the first bird that tried this.

Crocodiles have brains the size of a golfball. The only reason I know this is I considered shooting one and looked in the Perfect Shot manual. It's a primordial brain that most reptiles have used primarily for survival. So, I think it's unlikely the croc saw a bird feeding on leeches and reasoned to open its mouth and invite the bird in.

On the other hand, the birds brain is small..... well a bird brain. The Plover lays it's eggs in the sand and actually incubates the eggs there as opposed to nesting on them. And when there is danger, the bird buries its young hatchlings in the sand as well.

And then there are Remoras attached to Sharks, the sharks let them hitch a ride but dont eat them. When the sharks feed, the Remoras get the pieces.

So what started the symbiosis with the bird and the croc. I suspect the first successful opportunistic bird was sitting on a branch when a croc opened its mouth, revealing a bunch of leaches. The bird swooped down and snatched the parasite and the croc 's brain sensed the good feeling. The bird then realized it hadn't been eaten and went back for seconds. Thus, a relationship was established. From there, the behavior was imprinted in the two animals and their offspring carried on the tradition.

But I suspect along the line, someone got chomped, somewhere. Had to happen.

Tone and Temperament

Resonance = vibration. In terms of an stringed instrument, the stimulus of plucking a string or the stroke of a bow creates a vibration on the string. It's not the string that creates the sound rather the vibration excites the wood surface of the instrument and gives the tone.

The resonance of the wood is complex. This is why one instrument sounds different than the others. Bracing within the body of the instrument can control the tone. The type of wood also makes a difference controlling the tone.

Last, the musician must use his/her temperament to hear, control and blend the tones to create the final product.

Musicians are by nature temperamental beings.

Ethical Dilemma - Circular Logic

Vegetarians. They don't eat meat. Probably some for reasons of health but others and probably the majority because they don't think killing animals for food is ethical. For moral reasons. You know, cows have big eyes and so on.

So what if there was a scientific breakthrough and it was discovered that plants had feelings. That carrot that got pulled out of the ground had silently screamed. Vegetarians would have a dilemma on thier hands. Puzzled, would they choose to starve?

There is another choice, scavenge and eat what was allready dead and not by their own hands. Like buzzards and vermin do.

Ironically, the creatures that we think are nature's most disgusting just might be the most morally ethical, well, at least to vegetarians.

Words

Words can lift and support,

Words can bite and mar,

Words spontaneous can puzzle,

Words thought out make clear.

Words as weapons, words as love.


copywrite dkboyd 2010

Thought Again

Forward Ever, Backward Never.

Can Make or Mar.

Narcissism

Ok sports fans, so re reading the Thoughts post. It seems a bit narcisstic to me. But I like it anyway.

Hunters Poem

May the Rain Cleanse You,


May the Fire Temper,


May the Wind Whisper The Way,


May the Earth Nourish,


And May the Report of a Rifle Echo Your Heartbeat Across the Canyon.






copywrite dkboyd 2010