Too much evolution and philosophizing makes Jack a dull boy, and so we’ll finish the work week with a few fun animals. This video, sent by reader Ronaldo, show the remarkable psychological similarity between humans and raccoons (Procyon lotor).
‘Fess up: you like to pop the bubbles in bubble wrap, don’t you? I know I do—often to the detriment of my packing. This little guy clearly enjoys it, too. Much as I tried to interpret his actions as looking for food, in the end I concluded he’s just having fun.
h/t: Ronaldo
Since it seems likely that he’s a pet and presumably well-fed, I don’t think hunger can account for it. I vote for play.
b&
If humans perish, raccoons are on my top ten list to take over.
If raccoons can thrive on cockroaches ….
Baylisascaris procyonis is the roundworm of this delightful raccoon, which deposits many tens of thousands of eggs every time it shits. In the wild, they often dump in the same place. They can last there for many years. We have no cure for them. They infect your brains, lungs, and other things. Kids get them and last about 10 months. They never recover. These worms can only reproduce in raccoons. They infect hundreds of other organisms, who die quicker than humans. I raised about 20 raccoons before discovering this without ever getting my two boys infected. Please, be careful about raising raccoons in your house.
Wikipedia has an interesting article, it’s quite alarming. They are definitely not animals to be encouraged around the house if you have children or pets.
That video is under the “ignoramusky” youtube account, which has the best cat stuff out there. It’s the person who writes orchestral soundtracks to kittens playing, e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-1F-CokXNU
That kitteh wasn’t playing, that kitteh was in full attack mode, look at his ears.
Ignoramusky has also done a compilation of cats showing off their mad athletic skillz – not! Just a reminder that our feline lords and masters are not always as infallible as they would like to be http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyuYGnGzMKI
I was actually surprised at the inathleticism displayed by a number of those cats — especially the inability to do a pullup. Many of those situations Baihu wouldn’t have gotten himself into in the first place; and, if he had, he wouldn’t have had any trouble getting himself out of trouble.
Also, with respect to the first video Sidd posted: ignoramusky didn’t compose the music; it’s from the soundtrack of one of the Alien movies. Aside from the credits at the end, the closing flute “cuckoo” motif is most unmistrakable. And, yes, that franchise features some of the best orchestral music of the modern era, most of it composed for the films. No, I don’t care that Goldsmith and Horner stole an awful lot from Stravinsky and Khachaturian and others; they did so in brilliant ways that the composers they stole from would very much have appreciated and enjoyed.
Too bad they only made the two films. Would have been interesting had they made more sequels….
Cheers,
b&
In the good old days it was considered a compliment if other composers used your work. One of my favorite pieces is Rachmaninovs variations on a theme by Paganini.
One of the variations is used in the movie Groundhog Day when Phil is playing the piano at the party near the end of the movie; his last day in the cycle.
There are net forums that discuss how long he would have been stuck based on how long it would taken to be able to learn the piano that well and to learn to ice sculpt.
If he had even more time, he could have done something really interesting.
b&
Someone teach it to use 4 paws.
I wonder why the racoon is nervously looking around. Maybe there is another racoon/human who likes popping bubble wrap & he/she is afraid this other will still it from him!
Raccoons are awesome. I still remember reading Frosty as one of the signature books of my childhood…then passing it on to my mom, and watching her belly laugh with delight through the whole book.
If I had the training and housing location, I would love to have one as a pet…that is, until I read William’s post. Oh well, I guess there’s no harm in letting a daydream stay a daydream.
It’s obvious that the raccoon has just seen a picture of a very cute animal and was frustrated that it couldn’t touch and cuddle it …
For lovers of animal videos, this one’s gone viral:
I don’t know what it says about me, but I don’t ever get the urge to pop bubble wrap when it’s available.
I once stepped on bubble wrap while walking across the floor & I thought I was going to have a heart attack!
I get the urge, but then I restrain myself. But then, I keep old bubble wrap (if it’s in good condition) for re-use. Not sure what that says about me… 🙁
Is there a particular type of gas they use in the bubbles?
The raccoon spends most of the time with his snout near the bursting bubbles. Maybe it’s nitrous oxide. Heh heh.
Get me some bubble wrap.
Oh no, the disease has spread to the animals. We will have to replace bubble wrap with inferior grade foam tablets to contain the situation.