Effects of Captivity on the Orca Mind

The Documentary Blackfish (available on Netflix at the time I’m writing this) posits alot of things, and is based off the book I reviewed yesterday called Death at Seaworld. There’s a lot going on, and I’m not sure I completely understand all of the complexities of all of the details of the situation, but I’m not sure I’m a captivity supporter for these animals…

Review: Death at SeaWorld

Death at SeaWorld: Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in CaptivityDeath at SeaWorld: Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity by David Kirby

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In the end, I took a long time to read this book. But it’s heavy, and kind of depressing. But it is a topic that was well worth reading more about and making my way through the book. I felt like it was well researched and covered the subject of Orcas at Seaworld well. I have yet to read a counterpoint work, so at this time I can’t speak to if the book is biased in an unfair way or not. The anti-capitivity point of view of the book is prevalent, but I have to do some further reading before I’ll know what was fair and what wasn’t. (a single book from a specific point of view shouldn’t make up a person’s entire view on a subject).

I do know one thing from this book: Tilikum is emotionally damaged. He needs help, and the captive situation for him at Seaworld isn’t healthy. There is little reason to continue keeping him in captivity (he brings nothing to the breeding program any longer, after all) and the time has come to examine a retirement situation for him. Seaworld should prove that conversation and animal wellbeing are on the agenda beside creating entertaining shows.

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Taiji Cove Roundup Includes Rare Albino

A rare albino dolphin calf was captured in the Taiji roundup. The family (and bloodline) of this rare dolphin stands to be decimated in the coming slaughter. This is the very cove in which the documentary by the same name recorded the brutality that happens there. I’m willing to stand up for traditional hunting, but the animals collected in Taiji Cove are not being traditionally hunted, they’re being hunted using modern means and equipment.

Status of Net Neutrality?

I decided to make an extra post so that I could get this out as quickly as possible. Confusing issues always need clarification, and if it’s science or tech related, DNews will usually give a quality rundown.

The short version is that ISPs need to be declassed as common carriers. I suggest everyone sign this petition with the white house to show that we consider ISPs Common Carriers and that the government should, too.

Equine Problem Solving Skills

Can Horses Think Through Problems?

By Sue McDonnell, PhD, Certified AAB Jan 09, 2014 Topics:

Q. I am writing a paper in my agricultural ethics class on the treatment of horses, and one of my discussions deals with the equality of horses to humans. My roommate and I were debating whether horses have the capability to think through a problem–something like unlatching a gate. I’m having trouble finding research on this specific problem. Do you know of any research that has been done in this area?

See the Answer

10 Mil. $ Big Foot Bounty: Episode 1 – Bigfoot’s Blood

Check this out! Standard post with actual original content! How cool is that? I haven’t reviewed anything since I did a few comics awhile back (though I have another limited series I should do up a review for, actually…). A few days ago I watched the 10 Million Dollar Bigfoot Bounty on Spike TV. I rather enjoyed it, and decided that some commentary on the show was deserved.

As they introduced the teams, I was pleased to see that it wasn’t 100% Squatchers. It was good to see wildlife photographs and the like be included in the lineup. As for the experts… Well… It was amazing to see Dr. Todd Disotell, who is one of my favorite scientists. He has long given Bigfoot a (skeptical) attention that many other scientist skip. Even Dean Cain has better credentials to judge than I’d expected!

I love the concept of skills tests as they’re run on the show. They make people prove they have the skills to even have a chance at putting forth proof. Though I must admit, there is some disparity in the woodcraft of some of the groups. It was good to see actual animal tracking happen, which isn’t something you see on other bigfoot shows very often.

And finally, the scene I’ve been waiting for. I’d seen a clip of Justin claiming he’d killed 2 already, and wanted to know what that was all about. Dr. Disotell called it exactly as I did. He’s either talking out of his ass, or he’s a freakin’ murderer. There isn’t any way around the matter. The man is nuts, no matter how you slice it. I’d be terrified to be out in the woods in a remote cabin with him.

I went into the “hunt” portion of the show just hoping that none of them would preform any bigfoot screams and drive every ounce of wildlife out of the woods. No team found anything significant, and some teams seemed to just be pulling ideas out of there ass (I doubt that cave is home to more than a squirrel or porcupine. I have no idea what evidence they were using to indicate it was bigfoot.). And I wasn’t surprised when a team broke out a toy lightsaber in an attempt to attract what is commonly considered a shy and elusive creature by believers (though in the same breath believers will also claim it’s curious and will investigate such things. Though if it was that stupid, I’d like to assume we’d have noticed by now.). I’m not sure what to make of the noises, but I suspect it could have been a timid coyote testing the waters to see if it was safe to really call to his pack. I’m just pissed that people screamed back at it before they’d gotten any sort of visual. Way to drive away the target, people!

Going into the elimination, I was torn. I wasn’t sure if no evidence would be deemed worse than mistaking moss for hair. Want to know what got a team eliminated? Well, you’ll have to watch the show or catch my next review, in which I’ll talk about the next episode!