Tag Archives: animals

A slip up

If a recipe or menu says ‘banana,’ I’m there.  But the banana peel?

bananaskin

I’ve always treated like compost.

Well, it turns out the peel contains more potassium and soluble fiber than the fruit.  Plus, it can put you in a better mood because it reacts with the serotonin in your brain.

But if you just can’t get past the flavor of the peel, rub it on your skin.  The peel is a near-miracle drug; it can reduce skin inflammation, stop itching, remove warts, smooth out wrinkles, and even get rid of acne!

Who’s the monkey now?  Me for not knowing this years ago!

Square meal

The holidays are here.

squaresWhat a great excuse to enjoy a yummy chocolate and peanut butter brownie.

Wait…don’t.

This isn’t chocolate. It isn’t even food.  It’s, um…well –

Wombat poopies.

wombatWombats are, in fact, the only creatures that poop cubes.  The shape helps the wombat mark its territory and recognize potential mates, because the flat sides help the poops stay in place.

I still think they look like little mini-desserts.  Put them on a Christmas doily, and I bet you’d fool a few folks.

That is, if the wombat didn’t get there first.

Sit. Stay. Good boy.

Welcome to Fun Fact Friday!

I just invented it because I ran across a fun fact on Google that I wanted to share.  It is, in fact, a fun fact about Google…which makes it even more fun.

Well, at least, to me.

Anyhoo, here is your promised fun fact

Google has a pet dinosaur. His name is Stan.  He is a T-Rex.

His skeleton was unearthed near their headquarters, authenticated and later adopted by Google.  Now Stan is kept on a fairly short leash outside Building 43.

Are these Stan’s real bones or a scale model?  This fact I do not know.  But having a dinosaur as a pet?

Very cool.  And very Google.

Flight of fancy

Rory and I had company on our walk today.

And it wasn’t the first time, either.

We were meandering down one of our usual paths in Central Park when, about halfway down, I saw a sparrow waiting.

He turned when I drew near and hopped forward slowing, as if escorting us up the lane.  At a break in the fencing, he hopped through and flew upward to a nearby tree branch.

Standard bird behavior, right?

Except this is the third time that a sparrow has met us halfway down that path.  The third time he’s turned and led us forward.  The third time we’ve parted company at that same break in the fence.

Is he trying to tell me something?  Trying to get me to go to that tree?  To see something in or near it?  You’d think at very least he would chirp loudly to signal the alarm.

Hasn’t he ever watched Lassie?

Giddy off

Many of my childhood beliefs have been shaken, but there’s one that holds firm:

If you suffer a bruise, you show the bruise.

On this Conan and I agree.

O’Brien fell off a water buffalo — of all things — while rehearsing a bit for a visit from animal expert David Mizejewski Tuesday night. Conan hit the stage floor hard…and the bit didn’t make the live show.

But the bruise on his thigh sure did.

Wednesday night Conan dropped trou and displayed the enormous purple souvenir of his not-so-smart ride for all to see. The studio audience. The band. Andy Richter. And oh yeah…

All the folks at home watching on TV.

At first glance you might think, “Geez, Conan — will you stop at nothing to get a laugh?” But I understand that, in this case, it goes beyond comedy –

He suffered the bruise. He shows the bruise.

It’s as simple and as complicated as that.

Hear ye

On the surface, Hit and Run doesn’t look like a message movie.

But then again, I didn’t really go to learn anything.

I like the story of how this little movie, written and directed by Dax Shephard — who also stars in the film with his girlfriend Kristen Bell and a lot of his friends — was made for a song and then got picked up by a major distributor and is now in theaters.

The little engine that could.

So while the plot isn’t my normal cup of tea, I went to see it to support indie film making…and actors that I enjoy watching.  And then this tiny sub-plot pops up half-way through the movie –

A message for dog owners, no less.

How you shouldn’t tie up your pets outside stores and restaurants where they could easily be stolen.  And the big difference the type of food you feed your dog makes, both in their health and happiness.

And who taught these lessons in the movie?

The “bad guy”…in a really funny way.  It’s worth the price of the film just to see this short segment.  I applaud Dax for finding a way to make those points in such an entertaining fashion.

Here’s hoping folks get the message.

Look both ways

I’m en route to New York City from Boston — Rory, I’ll be home soon — and we just passed the ubiquitous…

Deer crossing sign

Goodness knows they are a legitimate safety reminder.  Deer certainly seem to be attracted to roadways.

But it got me thinking (because I’m bored) –

Are there no other animals that cross the road?

Of course there is the ‘chicken who crossed the road’ joke…but what about other wildlife who might mosey across the highways and byways?  Don’t they deserve their own bright yellow sign?

Turns out they do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funny — suddenly I’m a lot less bored.

Never forget

Today is World Elephant Day.

Asian and African elephants are on the verge of extinction, threatened by poaching, loss of habitat, mistreatment in captivity and other human conflict.

Please visit WorldElephantDay.org today to learn more about these beautiful creatures, and how you can support solutions for better care of captive and wild elephants alike.

You can also watch the film, “Return to the Forest,” which premieres today.

Hey every bunny!

Did you hear? It’s National Rabbit Week.

I know this because my Kansas City vet sent me an email alert.

They are having a special on bunny vet care this week — 15 percent off! All those Easter bunny owners, take note.

I am clearly entertained by this. A bunny alert? Seems like a hare-brain idea to me.

Misspelling intended.

Banana bats

Is it time for another blog post on Craig Ferguson?

I think so, yes.

CraigyFerg (as he is known on Twitter) was chatting it up with his followers yesterday when Spellchek corrected his Latin entry to read “primate nocturnal”…which led Craig to the inevitable inspiration –

Vampire Monkeys

People suggested names.  (Orangutangula and VanHelchimp were Craig’s favs.)  He even chatted it up in his monologue last night.   And today?

It. Is. Risen.

And strangely enough, looks a lot like Craig.

It’s a great day for America, everybody.