Bad Karma at the Coast

Did kind of a bad thing this past weekend. I was fishing in Port Aransas(the white trash Riviera, for those outside Texas) when I caught a hardhead catfish(that's a throwback fish, for those of you who haven't sailed the Spanish Main. Couldn't throw him back because the hook was too far embedded in his mouth- he was already a dead man. I decided to cut him up and feed him to the pelicans as I'll eat 'em but I don't want them to die in vain. My friend JB correctly told me to be careful not to let anything eat the part w/ the hook. I began cutting at the back. I threw a piece to the pelican who was standing about two feet away from me. Fortunately, the cat died quickly, I think. The second piece missed the pelican's beak, and he was too good to stoop and pick it up, so I had to pick it up as I can't just leave dead fish on the pier. While I bent down, another pelican swooped and picked up the head, hook still in it. Now, hopefully he gave up on eating it 'cause it was large and it was really hard(hence the name) or because it was mostly bone and pelicans have to kind of flip large fish into their gullets and often they miss and the fish goes back to the water. Otherwise, I sincerely the process by which they pass fish bones enables him to get the hook through. I sincerely hope he and Neptune forgive me. I'm but a clumsy savanna monkey.

The year of Darwin

Over at National Geographic's web site they have an interactive feature showing stages of evolution such as land dweller to whale and dinosaur to turkey.

Finally a cure for toe fungus

A couple of friends had mercy on me and took me out for my aaargh 45th birthday. I can see the reaper on the hill as we speak. I got to eat crawfish and went to Fado's, a nice Irish bar here in Austin where the nice waiter gave me a free shot!

A historic milestone

My platonic friend the Yankee Terror is taking me out to eat for my shudder 45th birthday. Halfway to 90, and yes, you can feel the Grim Reaper's hand on your shoulder.

Nature's beauty

Slate, linked to at the left, has an article about one of my favorite birds, the vulture. Seriously, the sight of a bunch of them wind surfing out at Enchanted Rock is quite a sight. They may be carrion eaters, but you've got to love someone who does that.

Pro death and proud of it

Bipartisanship is when we do what I want. Partisanship is when we do what you want.