I recall seeing videos of cats that are quite sneaky, performing ninja-gymnastics to operate doors. They wait until no humans are around and go and do something the owner doesn’t like. In some cases owners took care to ensure a cat could not access whatever area was banned only to discover after installing surveillance videos that the cat can pull off some amazing feats when no one is around – and close the door to conceal their mischief.
A small amount of intelligence goes a long way. If you have the intelligence of a plant, you’ll have a hard time getting compassion. If I end up as a vegetable with no brain activity or chance of recovery, pull my life support plug please.
The BBC article titled “Cow astonishes scientists” said “However, despite about 10,000 years of humans living alongside cattle, this is the first time scientists have documented a cow using a tool.”
It’s evidence that supports vegan causes. A tool for the vegan activist’s toolbox. In particular, environmental vegans benefit when the highest climate footprint animal (cows) are shown to have intelligence. Intelligence is a factor in assessing animal welfare and suffering. That is why it is posted in c/vegan.
(edit) note as well that when dealing with vegan-hostile meat eaters, this is the kind of story that you can present without attaching politics to it. Just show them and say “isn’t it cool that this cow figured out how to scratch her back”, and leave it there. There’s nothing controversial about that. It just drops it into their mind that there is some intelligence they did not know about. Let them realise for themselves what it implies.
OTA = over the air
I’m not sure it’s solid info that other cows used sticks. It was quickly mentioned… I think he said something like “i think other cows have used twigs”… or something that I vaguely thought sounded uncertain. Unfortunately I cannot hit rewind on my radio tuner. And I don’t have a good enough connection to grab online streams.
I heard it OTA, but this is probably it:
It was mentioned in a BBC coverage of this that other cows have been seen using tree branches to do the same.
I did, but I may be wrong. Wikipedia says tea trees are used.
Indeed. We also have to consider that it has become popular¹ to boycott the US over Trump’s tariffs and US support for Israel. These boycotts would discourage the use of US tech giants, in principle.
¹ for example: !buyeuropean@feddit.uk
I struggle to believe water pooled up enough to carry stuff. Condensation is possible perhaps to the extent of having some invisible amount of sweat. Unless there were puddles that formed and evaporated before I saw it. Though it’s a short fridge. The top of it is at eye level so I see the top every day.
Here’s another pic:
It does not wipe off with a rag. I have some proprietary rust stain removal liquid, which I think is intended for when rust gets on fabric. But I guess I’ll try it on these spots. Otherwise I’m left with some kind of abrasive approach.
Might want to crosspost to !scicomm@mander.xyz, just to inject some life into that community.
And support Russia like a muppet? Fuck off you muppet.
I wonder if that’s a boiling frog scenario. I’m always tempted to keep increasing the heat in hot tubs after adjusting to temp. I wonder if your sister gradually moved closer as she got acclaimated to the temp.
i don’t have a microwave oven but I appreciate the suggestion.
I’m considering that as well and got some tips from here:
https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2024/12/how-to-build-an-electrically-heated-table/
So far my lower body is fine but in case it gets colder I have been keeping an eye out for excess waste roofing insulation in my area, which I would use for an under desk rig.
When you say your clothing becomes the chimney, that makes me wonder if I should surround myself in a insulated structure, unlike the link above where they seem to let heat escape around the legs.
Thanks for the suggestion. That seems ideal because it’s directional. I could probably mount it to heat the keyboard area without adding any heat to the laptop. I’ll try to find a smaller 250 watt one so I can just heat the keyboard area.
I appreciate the tip. It’s probably around 7°C in my office where I have so far this winter fended off the urge to turn on the heat. I can see vapor when exhaling. I am bundled up except the fingers (which I leave naked to operate a keyboard). Presumably it’s normal to have cold fingers in this situation. It’s tolerable as well but I was looking for a comfort upgrade without heating the room.
(edit) I think drinking a beer helps. They call it a “beer jacket” (the effect of alcohol making you /feel/ warmer despite the fact that alcohol technically lowers the core body temp). It’s like putting on an imaginary jacket. Some drinkers go to the bar without a jacket because they plan to eventually wear a beer jacket.
For £3 that’s certainly worth trying. I guess I would not find those locally but they look simple enough to make.
Sounds like marking, which I think only happens if the cat is in competition with another animal for territory.