PBS has had some interesting shows on the intelligence of animals, including one on apes and monkeys recently. They've found that chimps are not totally honest. They are not above engaging in deceiving one another to get what they want. (I understand that squirrels, by the way, are known to pretend to hide food to deceive other squirrels, and that they rob each others' stashes with no apparent pangs of remorse.

As for passing new ideas from generation to generation, the recent show pointed out that what one chimp figures out can, indeed, be shared with his local group, but the ideas don't seem to go beyond that. Further, they don't seem to have any interest in sharing what they know. You can teach an ape sign language, but that ape won't teach it to another ape. Finally, it was pointed out that, although bonobos, chimps, monkeys and their cousins are arguably smarter than dogs, they're harder to teach tricks to. The reason, they noted, was that, while a dog wants to please you, a chimp couldn't care less whether you're pleased or not. I think cats are similar in that respect.

Sandi

I love the use of the term "their home."

Cracked me up.

Cats are often less liked by humans than dogs because they don't give us as much 'love' and may be thus seen as more selfish. However dogs aren't any less selfish - it's just that they are apparently much more needy socially than cats. With humans themselves, people appear to be drawn (at least physically) more to those who are cat like rather than dog like. I would say that I used to be a dog, but am now a cat, emotionally speaking.

I am still emotionally needy though, but that need seems mainly constrained to one human, which makes me more of a cool cat in the eyes of others.

Bella plays her games all the time, but then again, I do the same, so I cut her some slack

"

janekane (imported) wrote: Sat Sep 24, 2011 5:02 am to preserve their used food and water removal"

"They do what they do, and what they do is always what they do

"

I love this use of language - I find it funny.

Bella definitely has her ways of attempted deception, but her actions after she has done bad are so obvious that the honesty is able to shine through - not sure if that makes sense, but I can't be bothered thinking too much (bad head cold)!

But the honesty in these creatures who simply do what they do can (should) be further analysed on this thread as an interesting point of discussion.

The guilt story about Havana Brown shows that some cats are like some dogs? Possibly.

Hope I get to reply more later.

Having one of both the dog is always ready for attention, the cat when he is ready you best be ready also. The cat will demand more total time then the dog, as he expects to be given more attention then the dog, its a jealousy thing. Also I can give the cat treats and the dog is OK with that, however if I give the dog a treat, the CAT damn well better get some too.

Right now the are both asleep, a wonderful time of the day.

River

"Animal" is simply a Latin word that distinguishes the inanimate from the animate. I'm quite animate myself mostly. I do have to admit to being a couch poatato at times but for the most part I'm an animal too just like you.

The Geelong cats will win the AFL Grand Final this Saturday because they just do. They will say to those birds (magpies) "to hell with it!"

Everybody wants their team to win, it does not matter what sport or which country. The world loves sports its one thing that separates us from the rest of the animals or at least most of them (thinking of my cat and a mouse).

Rvier

Riverwind (imported) wrote: Mon Sep 26, 2011 2:37 pm Everybody wants their team to win, it does not matter what sport or which country. The world loves sports its one thing that separates us from the rest of the animals or at least most of them (thinking of my cat and a mouse).

Rvier

Cats trailing by 3 points at halftime of great game. Last night and this morning I was a bit down, but I'm quite happy just now, and admittedly a little under the influence of the bottle

Just something about my dog Bella. She seems to often want my attention when I don't really want hers (like when I sit at the computer), but refuses it in the opposite circumstances - yeah she breaks my heart lol. But I think this shows a similar trait to humans; we don't like needy people. It's kind of like there is something inside us that says, "that is pathetic" or something. But in anycase Bella is a bigger fan of the warm heater lately than me, so I'm no longer the favourite! Oh my goodness, she JUST came in here RIGHT on cue for some attention Wanted her tummy rubbed and then when I craddled her she gave me some kisses, before quickly buggering off again She's a pretty cool cat...I mean dog.

There is something about Bella's behaviour which I like to take as a metaphor for how I want to live; sexually. She is always either flat out (on the go, jumping around, playing) or dead to the world (she snoozes heaps). And she can flick either 'Bella' with a switch. She can be snoozing for thirty minutes, but a second later is up and about. It's as if she always has energy just waiting to be used, for when there is worthwhile excitement (which doesn't seem to require much!) happening.

Bella ignores the socially acceptable in-between ways of living. She is extreme all the way. She is honest.

If she were human she would probably be placed on numerous medications, which would invariably result in numerous sigh defects.

My exploration into my own sex drive, and of its place in society, has often been based on in-betweens and extremes. Society wants a straight male to accept and behave in an in-between manner in regards to his sex drive, despite the fact that his sex drive is actually quite extreme. His sex drive desires to be active all the time. It also desires to be involved with numerous partners.

Perhaps not too disimilar to Bella desiring to sit on many laps.

So the most important thing with a males sex drive, I feel, is how much does society want your sex drive to live up to its real desires? And then it is a matter of personally weighing up, the trouble and potential negativity of living with that, vs the freedom but possible lonesome situation of being without it.

Right now I am leaning towards removal of sex drive, but I am also in no rush. If I am still in my current relationship at years end then we will probably go on a weeks long holiday or so. This would be nice. I doubt I will try to chemically castrate myself before then, even if I have the chance too. But I want the chance too. I hope that my next doctor visit gives me prescriptions to anti-depressants (which help me last longer in the sack) and depressants (which can make me totally non functional in the sack). In short, no in-betweens.

There is a fairly major risk I feel with taking Androcur. It's not that I will become overly tired. It's not that I may lose my relationship. The risk I feel is any long term effect that removes it permanently, or much worse still, gives me a functional penis again, but one that is significantly smaller. Personally I am not perturbed by that, but I am aware of my neediness to be with someone at (hopefully) most times of my life, and all the women who have been with me have been with me - at least in part - because I have been able to satisfy them sexually. I may very well be far more proud of my interactions with women in other ways, but nevertheless these haven't been able to satisfy the woman from within; not physically anyway.

My risk however, is clearly - at least to me - worthwhile taking. I do not know if it is ethical, for it would probably effect most people I know negatively, at least as far as they are aware. So what I will basically be doing, is using people (or already used) to get to my goal, if in fact I do reach the ascent of my Zoncolan. The potential rewards exceed the potential pitfalls, and it seems that I am lucky enough to still have a chance to go for the top. There are many instances where my potential 'freedom' should/could have been closed off. And how many people get into such a position (it has taken a lot of different events/decisions/mistakes) as I am now, where they are at least emotionally willing to give it a shot?

Not too many I would think.

Bella on the otherhand, has very limited freedom. She has already been de-sexed, against her will, and of course she can't go anywhere without the consent of a human adult. Nevertheless she seems quite happy, and she doesn't seem to have many worries.

But in actual fact she also doesn't appear to have been negatively effected by her de-sexing at all

Pathetic behaviour from me last night, but afterwards, when feeling quite low, Bella was immediately running up to me. She helped me to feel a lot better, and I think that getting a pet dog was a great move.

That said, I hope that I can get my act together. Maybe I will actually do some real writing tonight?! I have plenty of good ideas

The ideas don't seem to stop; just my motivation to put it together.

Which is quite pathetic...really.

Anyway, at least last nights 'action' forced me to put some clothes in the washing machine this morning

In some actual Bella news, the other day was classic. I went into my bedroom to turn off my phone charger, and to do this I have to move the curtains slightly. Anyway, there she was, innocently standing on the window sill and watching the world go by. Kind of like a cat!

My family loves her - she is such a character.

Bella went all koala on me yesterday morning, sneaking into my bedroom, onto my bed (well actually she often likes to go there in the morning so this is my bad) and tucking into half a packet of eucalyptus soothers. Unfortunately she discovered the hard way that she isn't a koala (though still just as much of an Aussie!), spending much of the latter part of the day spewing the lozenges back up. Yet she still had the energy for her walks!

And this morning she is still clammoring to get back into my room; only now I have the door shut