Operate on Towards Freedom

KDE

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 17:33:47 -0700

Various KDE matters are presented here.

Plasma Global Shortcuts Reference

From ~/.config/kglobalshortcutsrc arranged nicely by Qwen AI.

🗂️ Activities

Action	Shortcut
Switch to activity “Action”	`Meta+Ctrl+Shift+A`
Switch to activity “Clj”	`Meta+Ctrl+Shift+J`
Switch to activity “Dac”	`Meta+Ctrl+Shift+E`
Switch to activity “Invest”	`Meta+Ctrl+Shift+C`
Switch to activity “Music”	`Meta+Ctrl+Shift+M`
Switch to activity “NamItAll”	`Meta+Ctrl+Shift+B`
Switch to activity “R1”	`Meta+Ctrl+Shift+Num+End`
Switch to activity “R2”	`Meta+Ctrl+Shift+Num+Down`
Switch to activity “Tweak”	`Meta+Ctrl+Shift+Y`
Switch to activity “Zsh”	`Meta+Ctrl+Shift+N`
Switch to activity “Pnars”	`Meta+Ctrl+Shift+L`

🚀 Application Launchers

Application	Shortcut
Dolphin (File Manager)	`Ctrl+Shift+Return`
Emacs	`Meta+Ctrl+.`
Emacs Client	`Meta+Return`
Falkon (Browser)	`Meta+Alt+U`
Firefox ESR	`Meta+Alt+Return`
Foot (Terminal)	`Meta+Z`
KCalc (Calculator)	`Meta+Alt+T` / `Calculator`
Screen Capture Script	`Meta+Shift+Return`

🪟 Window Management (KWin)

Action	Shortcut
Activate Window Demanding Attention	`Meta+Ctrl+A`
Close Window	`Alt+F4`
Disable Active Input Capture	`Meta+Shift+Esc`
Kill Window	`Meta+Ctrl+Esc`
Maximize Window	`Meta+PgUp`
Minimize Window	`Meta+PgDown`
Minimize All Windows	`Meta+Shift+D`
Move Mouse to Center	`Meta+F6`
Move Window to Next Screen	`Meta+Shift+Right`
Move Window to Previous Screen	`Meta+Shift+Left`
Quick Tile Window (Bottom/Left/Right/Top)	`Meta+Down` / `Left` / `Right` / `Up`
Window Operations Menu	`Alt+F3`
Zoom In / Out / Actual Size	`Meta++` / `Meta+-` / `Meta+0`

🧱 Tiling & Zones (Krohnkite & KZones)

Action	Shortcut
KZones
Activate layout 1 through 9	`Meta+Num+1` to `Meta+Num+9`
Cycle layouts (Forward/Reverse)	`Ctrl+Alt+D` / `Ctrl+Alt+Shift+D`
Move window to next/prev zone	`Ctrl+Alt+Right` / `Ctrl+Alt+Left`
Move window to zone 1 through 9	`Ctrl+Alt+Num+1` to `Ctrl+Alt+Num+9`
Snap active / all windows	`Meta+Shift+Space` / `Meta+Space`
Switch window in current zone	`Ctrl+Alt+Up` / `Ctrl+Alt+Down`
Toggle zone overlay	`Ctrl+Alt+C`
Krohnkite
Focus Down/Left/Prev/Right/Up	`Meta+J` / `H` / `\` / `K`
Grow/Shrink Height & Width	`Meta+Ctrl+J/K/H/L`
Increase/Decrease Size	`Meta+I`
Move Window Down/Left/Right/Up	`Meta+Shift+J` / `H` / `L` / `K`
Next / Previous Layout	`Meta+\` / `Meta+
Toggle Float / Float All	`Meta+F` / `Meta+Shift+F`
Monocle Layout	`Meta+M`

🖥️ Desktop & Workspace Navigation

Action	Shortcut
Show Activity Switcher	`Meta+Q`
Walk through activities (Forward/Reverse)	`Meta+;` (or `Meta+Tab`) / `Meta+Shift+A`
Switch Desktop (Down/Up/Left/Right)	`Meta+Ctrl+Down` / `Up` / `Left` / `Right`
Switch Desktop Left/Right (Alt)	`Meta+Ins` / `Meta+Del`
Switch to Desktop 1 through 6	`Ctrl+F1` through `Ctrl+F6`
Move Window to Desktop (Down/Up/Left/Right)	`Meta+Ctrl+Shift+Down` / `Up` / `Left` / `Right`
Toggle Desktop Grid	`Meta+F8`
Toggle Overview	`Meta+W`
Peek at Desktop (Show Desktop)	`Meta+D`
Present Windows (Current/All/Class)	`Ctrl+F9` / `Ctrl+F10` / `Ctrl+F7`

⌨️ Window Switching & Navigation

Action	Shortcut
Switch to Window (Down/Left/Right/Up)	`Meta+Alt+Down` / `Left` / `Right` / `Up`
Walk Through Windows (Forward/Reverse)	`Alt+Tab` / `Alt+Shift+Tab`
Walk Through Windows of Current App	Alt+`` / Alt+~`

🔊 Audio, Media & Power

Action	Shortcut
Audio & Media
Decrease/Increase Volume (Small)	`Shift+Volume Down` / `Shift+Volume Up`
Decrease/Increase Volume	`Volume Down` / `Volume Up`
Mute Microphone	`Microphone Mute` / `Meta+Volume Mute`
Mute Volume	`Volume Mute`
Media Next/Previous/Play/Pause/Stop	`Media Next` / `Previous` / `Play` / `Stop`
Power & Hardware
Decrease/Increase Screen Brightness	`Monitor Brightness Down` / `Up`
Decrease/Increase Brightness (Small)	`Shift+Monitor Brightness Down` / `Up`
Hibernate / Suspend / Power Off	`Hibernate` / `Sleep` / `Power Off`
Switch Power Profile	`Battery` / `Meta+B`
Toggle Keyboard Backlight	`Keyboard Light On/Off`

🖱️ Touchpad, Tablet & System

Action	Shortcut
Touchpad
Disable / Enable / Toggle Touchpad	`Touchpad Off` / `Touchpad On` / `Touchpad Toggle`
Wacom Tablet
Map to fullscreen / screen 1 / screen 2	`Meta+Ctrl+F` / `1` / `2`
Next / Previous Profile	`Meta+Ctrl+N` / `Meta+Ctrl+P`
Toggle screen map selection	`Meta+Ctrl+M`
Toggle stylus mode / touch tool	`Meta+Ctrl+S` / `Meta+Ctrl+T`
System & Plasma
Activate Application Launcher	`Meta` / `Alt+F1`
Activate Task Manager Entry 1 through 9	`Meta+1` through `Meta+9`
Lock Session	`Meta+L` / `Screensaver`
Show Clipboard Items at Mouse Pos	`Meta+V`
Show Logout Screen	`Ctrl+Alt+Del`
Stop Current Activity	`Meta+S`
Suspend Compositing	`Alt+Shift+F12`
Toggle Screen Reader	`Meta+Alt+S`
Open/Retract Yakuake	`F12`

Monk

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 10:55:40 -0800

Monk is the best office supply company we have ever worked with!

We have frequented various stores for our business needs, but none come close to matching Monk! Their commercial product line is excellent, their delivery system is effective, and their service is exemplary!

Initially, we had the pleasure of talking to Jasmin Kaur, the Customer Experience Coordinator whose prompt replies and actions not only impressed us, but also convinced us to make Monk our primary office store. Update (2026-03-10): Jasmin is someone who can be counted on! There was an issue receiving a credit card refund, and she was instrumental in making the process go through (even though it wasn’t technically her department). It’s people like her that make a real difference in any organization!

After that, we worked with Jennifer Subasic, Territory Sales Manager, who helped us choose the perfect printer for our needs. She not only took the initiative doing the research thoroughly for us, she also thoughtfully ordered extra toner, and placed our order within minutes of approval. I have rarely experienced such a combination of superb communication, efficiency, and consideration!!

Monk will be our first (and likely only) stop for office supplies and technology!

Telus Business

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 23:26:44 -0700

We strongly endorse Telus Business for fiberoptic internet and mobile. Read on to find out why.

Our move to Telus Business has been an overwhelmingly positive experience, driven by the exceptional service we received from two key individuals: Ron Prasad (Manager, Field Support, South & Central Vancouver Island) and Brady, our local Telus Business techxpert.

It all started back in January 2025 when Brady came to our location for a planned installation. Although the installation didn’t happen due to a miscommunication with a reseller, Brady was incredibly helpful. He took the time to explain everything in detail, patiently answering our questions and providing a clear understanding of our options. His professionalism and courteous demeanor made such a strong impression that we felt compelled to write a letter of appreciation to his manager, Ron Prasad.

Over the next few months, while we were still with another provider, we often reached out to Ron for information. Even though we weren’t a Telus customer yet, Ron was always approachable and took the time to explain everything thoroughly. His guidance was a major factor in our decision to switch, making it clear that it was time to move on after nearly two decades with our previous provider.

In June 2025, Brady returned, this time to finalize the plans for our move to Telus Business with a 1G fiber optic internet and new mobile lines. His suggestions were insightful, and the contract was accepted shortly after. To our surprise, Brady showed up to complete the activation three weeks ahead of schedule! He also said that anytime we had a problem, just to call him.

Since the transition, we’ve experienced huge improvements. Our Telus internet package is superbly stable, and our phones have never worked better. The journey to becoming a Telus customer was a testament to the high-quality guidance and support provided by Ron and the outstanding service and technical expertise of Brady.

We’re on a three-year contract with Telus, but we’d be fine with a contract into the next century!

Zitems

Mon, 26 May 2025 07:45:05 -0700

Several interesting items such as podcasts, history, curiosities will be listed here in no particular order.

Margin Masters Review Podcast

This is a very interesting review done by Zack Fuss, Freddy Lait, and Jacopo di Nardo detailing a bit of the history of IBKR from its founding in 1978 by Thomas Peterffy, as well as the systems that make this brokerage so effective. The transcript of the video available from joincolossus generated from the pdf file by Chatgpt follows below follows.

Introduction

Zack
I’m Zack Fuss and today we are breaking down Interactive Brokers, widely recognized as IBKR. Founded in 1978, Interactive Brokers evolved from a market maker on the American Stock Exchange to a global cutting-edge electronic brokerage firm. Its founder, Thomas Peterffy, remains its largest shareholder and is one of the wealthiest people in the world.

Peterffy immigrated to the US from Hungary, taught himself computer programming, pioneered automated trading, and played a crucial role in digitizing financial markets. Today, we’ll explore IBKR’s journey from Timberhill to a public company with a ~$80B market cap.

We’ll cover how IBKR earns revenue beyond commissions, including net interest income and market-making activities. We’ll discuss its reputation for low-cost access, global reach, sophisticated tools, and automated tech stack.

Guests: Freddy Lait and Jacopo di Nardo of Latitude Investment.

The Low-Cost Brokerage Revolution

Zack
Freddy, Jacopo, can we start with a broad view of the brokerage industry and where IBKR fits in?

Freddy
IBKR is a digital broker that started 50 years ago with a tech-first approach. They’ve built the lowest cost-to-serve, highest quality platform through automation. This results in:

Highest profitability
No advertising
Explosive customer growth

They’re seeing compounded growth from:

Other brokers introducing business
Hedge funds and RIAs
International expansion

Zack
What are IBKR’s key revenue streams?

Freddy
Two main sources:

Commissions: ~$600/account/year from 3.5M accounts = ~$2B/year
Net interest margin: ~11% of client assets on margin = ~$3B/year

Primary driver = account growth.

Differentiation & Technology

Zack
How is IBKR different from Schwab, Fidelity, Robinhood?

Jacopo

Founded by an engineer, Thomas Peterffy
Most automated broker (including account closure bots)
Favored by experienced/pro traders
Average IBKR account: $200K–$2M
Contrast: Robinhood/Etoro: $5K–$10K

Thomas Peterffy: The Founder

Zack
Tell us about Thomas Peterffy.

Jacopo

Immigrant from Hungary, built Timber Hill (options market-maker)
Pioneered automated option pricing
Risk management obsessed
Closed market-making arm post-2008 to focus on online brokerage
Avoided risky behaviors (e.g. no duration risk when rates were 0%)

Business Model in the PFOF Era

Zack
In a zero-commission world, how does IBKR thrive?

Freddy

Direct market access (no middleman)
No payment for order flow (PFOF), better execution for customers
Lower commissions, cheaper margin loans, better cash yields
Automation = lower opex → reinvest in price reductions

Tech-Enabled Efficiency

Zack
Low headcount, automated risk management—how does this impact margin lending?

Jacopo

Fortress balance sheet: $18B excess capital (~95%)
Instant, automated liquidation of undercollateralized accounts
Offers lower margin

JFO Exteriors

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 14:50:08 -0700

JFO Exteriors provides superb cleaning, outstanding service, and remarkable pricing! We have signed up to be a regular customer for our vinyl siding and metal roof requirements.

On March 11, 2025 Jay (owner/operator) of JFO Exteriors took on short notice a job that was cancelled by another vinyl cleaning company. I had met Jay some weeks ago since he was one of many providing quotes for exterior cleaning. All of the company representatives were nice individuals, but Jay stood out in my mind because of his refreshing attitude.

He was actually quoting me for metal roof cleaning, but also mentioned he did vinyl siding. I told him that we had already committed to another company, and rather than say something like “I’ll beat their price!”, he calmly accepted my intention to honor a commitment ahead of getting a deal. I asked him about that later and he said told me there was plenty of work for everyone and there was no need to fight each other to get jobs. Here indeed was a true example of a civilized business person, one who gives rather than takes!

And that giving is pretty good too! Jay is not only a real expert in his field, his work is meticulous as you’ll see from the before-after pictures. Our house now looks as new as when we moved in decades ago!

Be sure to check out his informative website JFO Exteriors where not only are his services listed, but detailed explanations about them are provided so you actually understand some of the underlying processes.

Presently JFO is running under the name Options Exterior Cleaning due to a partnership arrangement as you’ll see on the home page.

Our Google Reviews

Review by Prad:

Jay is an exceptional individual with a very refreshing attitude about business. He really does put his clients’ interests first! This attitude manifests itself in not just the way he deals with people, but also in the quality of work he produces.

Not only is he impeccably thorough and highly skilled in his area bringing a wealth of experience including hazmat training, he is also exceptionally considerate!

My son has, for years, been providing a habitat right at the front of our house to a group of rare spiders and asked that Jay not clean there due to the chemicals. So Jay, understanding the situation, took it upon himself to hand rub with plain water, that entire area on his own initiative!

As for the rest of the house, Jay did not just clean the vinyl siding of our house, he made our house look brand new! As the weather permits he will take care of our metal roof. In fact, he’ll be looking after our house exterior on a regular basis from now on!

The saying goes that cleanliness is next to godliness, and Jay certainly puts us on that transformative path!

Before After Pics

(All photos taken by Jay.)

House Front

House Sides

Algae Gone!

Jay in Action

(Video taken by Jay.)

Here is Jay clean our vinyl siding that has been left to the elements for 27 years! He makes it look as good as the original!

Oanda

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 13:49:24 -0800

NOTE: We have withdrawn all our funds from Oanda. As of 250506, we have left the brokerage despite nearly a decade. Their bureaucratic backend has recently been difficult to work with. Even their frontline which formerly used to be excellent has not maintained proper communications. At this point in time, we will not return. Below we had started construction of a page for them, but further completion is unlikely.

Oanda offers a wide range of global CFDs, decent and variable (by volume) spreads, platforms such as tradingview and mt4, as well as great service. Try their frontdesk by email or phone (877) 626-3239.

Homepage

Yaps about how wonderful they are - most of which is quite true as per experience. For instance, their frontdesk communications are excellent providing practically instant access to a knowledgeable agent; the algo department is very helpful showing you how to work the API (and even fixing things); my assigned manager, Jose Florez has been wonderful over many years and continues to be so!

Links on this page are provided to introduce primarily

CFD Markets Some basic ideas about CFDs as it relates to Oanda. An interesting point made for 2025 is that the presidential situation in US will cause volatility, suggesting indices trading provides good opportunities.
Spreads and Margins Lists the spreads and margins of different instruments in real time.

Margin is ability to “enter into trades larger than your account balance and trade without depositing the full value of the trade that you wish to open” and is a form of security against losses incurred (you can’t lose more than you have in your account). The margin needed is calculated using “the leverage limit associated with both your account type and the instrument you wish to trade”. Details of margin rates and leverage ratios are provided here with choice of currency.
Trading Tools
Elite Trader Program You trade a lot and get reimbursed in various ways such as
- Volume-based rebates
- Access to a premium referral program
- Dedicated relationship manager

Trading

Platforms

Labs

Account Types

Offers

BeeBusyGutters

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 10:42:05 -0800

Denis is the owner of Bee Busy Gutters and his speciality is gutter installation. He also has more than a decade’s worth of roofing experience.

He is a very pleasant individual and was willing to pressure wash our metal roof and clean our gutters, even though that is not what his business does. Additionally, he kindly offered to make sure everything was in good condition such as vents etc.

Even though we did not get him to do the cleaning, we appreciate this sort of consideration and recommend him highly. If we ever require gutter replacement we will certainly go to Denis.

Check out his webpage at Busy Bee Gutters.

Musescore

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 13:00:02 -0800

Musescore4 is the most highly rated software for creating notation. It is pretty close to even Lilypond, but offers considerably greater flexibility. A nice bonus is that you can export to musicxml and then use Lilypond’s musicxml2ly (-l english)script to convert!

implode

A midi import left piano part in 2 upper and 2 lower staves. Select both uppers and implode them into a single multivoice staff. Then select that staff and implode again to combine the voices into a single voice. Repeat for the lower staves.

raggedy edge effect

Format > Page settings and play with staff space values.

hide empty bars

Format > Style > Score add hide empty staves rem don’t hide empty staves in first system

Scuro

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 16:00:36 -0800

A long winding adventure that tells the tale of how a 2024 Fiat 500e became the Kyron’s first car.

This is a complex story so we have organized it into headings.

(All photos unless otherwise indicated are by Kyron.)

Initializations

It all began with rats.

Rats! They fought the dogs and killed the cats.
(Prad Piper)

Well not really. Rats are not the horrid varmints that some people make them out to be. They’re actually resourceful and imaginative creatures who make the most with the cards they have been dealt. Few appreciate what a hard life it can be for a rat.

My son, Kyron, who has been rescuing animals ever since he was born, has helped many a rat in our mini sanctuary. Each has its own unique personality and interests, such as this one who liked staying on his shoulder fascinated by the sound while I played the organ.

Aficionado of organ music (Photo by Prad)

Before telling you about the role of rats, I will provide some background, as I do throughout the story here, so that you can better understand things in context. I will even provide you with links if you are inclined to research things to the utmost!

The Rils

In 2018, my wife of countless decades, Ranjana, made one of her astonishingly astute acclamations, deciding we should only drive electric vehicles. After some research, we bought 2 Nissan Leafs from a fine salesman at Campus Nissan named Frank Pecorelli. He worked very hard to get us the best deal possible and arrange for us to maximize the government grants that were available at that time.

One car was silver, a 2013 leaf, and the other was a dark blue, a 2018 leaf. They glowed like gemstones! So, inspired by Tolkien’s silmarils, we named them Silveril and Sapphiril.

The Two Rils (Photo by Prad)

Silveril must have had magical properties because its range seemed to increase as we drove it. Once due to a miscalculation, it showed we had run out of range, but I still managed to make it home! After six years, I changed its parking location under a tree. Unfortunately, sap from the tree dripped onto it, but more seriously, a group of rats decided to make their home under the hood! We did not realize what had happened till one day when we tried to pop open the charging compartment and it wouldn’t work. The rats had chewed through some of the wiring and had also utilized a part of the hood as their lavatory. In fact, we were told by our trusted Shawnigan Lake Garage that before anyone could work on the wiring, the car would have to go in for a major cleaning.

Fortunately, ICBC covered rodent damage. When I asked the assessor, Robert Lise, for a recommended merchant, he said I could take it wherever I want, but ICBC approved dealerships made the job easier because they did the paperwork for us. So I started calling around and though the first two places tried to be helpful they did not know how to proceed. The third phone call led me to Duncan Dodge, and a very nice lady named Crystal, who knew exactly what to do! She was remarkably efficient and to my surprise, she told me to bring the car in that same day! One of their service agents, Sean looked after the repair work liaising with Robert. The entire job including courtesy rides and paperwork was done in less than two days!

Our Next Car

I was so impressed, I had Crystal hook me up with one of their salespeople, Richard, because I planned to buy our next car from this fine dealership! I told Richard that we likely wouldn’t buy for awhile and that I didn’t want to waste his time, but he said I wasn’t wasting his time at all and he’d be happy to do research and send me items whenever they met the requirements I had set. Those requirements eventually lead to 2 possibilities, the Bolt and the Fiat 500e.

On Saturday, November 9th Richard told us he had a couple of Fiats available for us to look at and was willing to talk to his manager to bring in some Bolts, but we went to the Island GM dealer up the road to look at those after test driving one of the Fiats at Duncan Dodge. When we got to the GM dealership, Kyron realized he had accidentally swiped the key for the Fiat we had just driven. That made me think that this Fiat was indeed the car we were going to get, but I took the key back right away to Richard telling him that now he wouldn’t have to check up on his inventory because of the enthusiasm my son had shown.

By the time I got back to the GM dealership, Kyron had already looked at one of the Bolts and we were waiting for the salesguy who didn’t want to talk to Kyron till I returned for some reason. He seemed to be busy with some other clients even though we had set an appointment to meet with him. I asked Kyron what he thought of the Bolt and it wasn’t much. Rather than waiting around for this salesguy, I said “Let’s just go”. As we were driving out, the aforementioned salesguy came rushing out to find out why we weren’t waiting around for him. I told him simply that we didn’t like the Bolt and we were going to get the Fiat. He warned us that having sold both types of cars, he would never get a Fiat, and I felt like telling him that he wasn’t the one getting the car so he really had nothing to worry about, but I repressed this retort, since my son was in the car, and I felt I should set a good example for him.

That very Saturday evening, Richard made arrangements for us through his sales manager Jeremy, to take the Fiat on their dealership insurance and license plate until we could buy it a few days later trading in Silveril at our convenience! Though I didn’t have the funds to pay for the car for a few weeks, Richard had emailed me indicating I could get it financed at no interest/down if I wanted to move on this sooner. He also added that he was on our side, and if we wanted to arm-wrestle about the price, he’d go to bat for us. I thought this sort of thing to be a rather purile way to make a deal, and told Richard that we don’t do business that way. They can give us their best offer and we’d either accept it or move on. As it turned out, the offer they made us, was quite suitable, so we accepted!

Another fine fellow name Danny arranged for the background information to deal with the finances. Danny took an interest in Kyron’s music career too, since he was a folk singer himself. It was agreed that we would get the car Wednesday, November 13th. They were very accommodating folks indeed!

Driving Kyron

Before continuing with this story we need to flashback to how Kyron got around to driving - because he never wanted to! (Actually, neither he not I particularly liked to drive, even though we as a project resuscitated a 1981 Eagle named Kiyreagle, thus enjoying the car without driving it.)

At the end of Grade 1, Kyron asked if he could homeschool till he was 20. As a homeschooler, he was able to explore and acquire expertise in numerous areas such as music, science, photography, and computer science, unburdened by the education system’s mandatory curriculum. His skills in the latter field grew to the extent that a professor at Caltech was interested in having him study there.

When he was 17, I reminded him that 20 wasn’t that far off and asked what was it he was planning to do when he reached that age. With a big smile he said “Home university!” - which he did! So since most of his activities were centred around the home, he rarely required transportation elsewhere that he couldn’t manage on a bicycle. Driving was the furthest thing from his mind.

However, when he turned 24, he enrolled in the Victoria Conservatory of Music vocal course. To get to class, we would drive him from Shawnigan Lake to Langford. From there, he would take the bus and we would pick him up in Langford when he was finished. Often, due to his schedule, we’d have to take him all the way to downtown Victoria and pick him up from there.

Additionally, Ranjana would drive him to all his concerts and performances, because she enjoyed being part of his audience. Two years later, he was accepted into the University of Victoria music program where he earned his Bachelors degree. After that, he moved to Victoria for a couple of years to do his Masters, but then returned home again when COVID hit in 2020. He started teaching at both institutions as well as performing as a high demand baritone in Victoria. Additionally, he had established a reputation of being a talented photographer and his skills were regularly sought after.

Needless to say, he had to be driven to all things or had to take public transportation after being driven to the Victoria area.

So why had he not learned to drive yet?

One reason lay with his aversion to the activity in the first place. He tended to fall asleep in a car. Also he wasn’t that keen on rubbing shoulders with some of the crazy drivers out there that he had certainly witnessed as a passenger.

The other was his mother.

Radical Ranjana

Apparently, sometime after COVID when he had started working as a vocal teacher at both his former schools VCM and UVic, he had asked his mother if it was alright that he be driven for another year just so he could get organized. Ranjana however decided this was an opportunity to start an exclusive business with the very long title, The Prad and Ranjana Chauffeur Service for Kyron! My name came first because I did most of the driving - in fact, for a while (as between 2014-2024), all of the driving. Ranjana, no doubt, was doing some sort of essential administrative work for this exclusive business. Every trip to Victoria resulted in three more, one to get back, one to go down to pick him up, and one to come back. I could see there was a point to this when he was going to school because it was a big change for him, but after he started work he needed to acquire some independence.

When I brought up the point about her son doing his own driving to Ranjana, I was met with the stauchly steadfast statement, “I see nothing wrong with us driving him everywhere!”

A bit of background on Ranjana may help to alleviate your understanding of what she just said. (So will these links: Ranjana in Ottawa, Wedaches, A Far Far Better Thing, if you have the courage to follow them.)

To most, Ranjana appears to be a perfectly normal and highly intelligent person. I can certainly see why people would think that way, given that not only does she have her Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate degrees, but she also had the brilliance to marry me. However, things are not always as they appear, for trepidation doth not reveal itself to most, willingly!

For instance, practically no one knows that Ranjana could easily have been a world champion race car driver! After we had attended an Aikido seminar in Montreal, she decided we had to get back to Toronto quickly. She drove the entire way and completed the trip in under 3 hours. I will not go through the computations to determine how fast she was traveling, but let it suffice to say that this trip would have been terrifying to not one but two provincial Departments of Transportation!

After that dashing display, I realized that an ordinary car would not stand much chance with her, and bought her a sports car, a brand new 1984 black Chrysler laser, turbocharged with the works!

Armed with this vehicle, Ranjana had opportunities to demonstrate her scintillatingly, superior skillset!

For instance, she is the only person I know, who can drive a car that actually talks to you telling that it is low on fuel, but chooses to heroically rebel against the inevitable, managing to repeatedly run out of gas.

Furthermore, she is the only person I know that police take a special interest in. When they set out a check point, they stop her while she’s going one way, and then they stop her again when she’s coming back. Perhaps they know something that even I don’t?

Admittedly, these are minor crises, so you may be wondering, how does she handle something really serious?

Once we were driving to Stratford, Ontario to Shakespeare ourselves, and were confronted with an impatient (I could use alternate terminology, but I don’t want to set a bad example), illegally crossing the double lines to pass another car coming the other way. It would have been a certain head-on high speed crash! Without hesitation, Ranjana accelerated her powerful sports car onto the soft shoulder, preventing the accident, and leaving behind the now stunned driver of the other car, fearfully stopped, trembling in the middle of the road!

Talking Kyron into driving

So, given the circumstances and his immediate plans, Kyron was in no hurry to learn to drive. What he was hoping to do, may have been to delay things till FSD (full self-driving) cars became available.

However, I wasn’t so optimistic even though I certainly thought FSD was the way to do things. It was just too far in the future and there would likely be several complications. Kyron needed his independence and I needed to get alternate employment.

So I talked to him directly in an appropriately logical fashion. I told him that while his mother was quite happy to drive him everywhere till the end of time, his ability to do things would be greatly restricted by relying on others for transportation. He was willing to drive in order to help out at home, of course, but I told him that that wasn’t the point I was conveying.

He thought about moving back to Victoria, but calculated it would be much more expensive than commuting even the way we were now with 4 trips. There would also be issues with renting a decently located place with sufficient wifi bandwidth (a problem he’d encountered while doing his Masters degree).

Then we looked into the possibility of electric bikes. Ranjana opposed obstructively objecting with “It’s too dangerous”, revelling with relish in her role as the excessively protective mother. Kyron and I however, saw some merit in the idea despite the problems the rainy season would offer. However, considering that the cost of a decent electric bike was more than what Silveril would bring on resale, the idea was abandoned.

After considering flexibility of movement, capability of carrying equipment, accountability of expenses, it became evident that the best option was to learn to drive.

So I contacted our excellent agent Paula at Westland Insurance and told her Kyron was going to learn to drive. She was delighted and said how exciting that would be, to which I replied, “Yes. Poor baby is only 34 years old!” With typical efficiency she set Kyron up to drive Sapphiril.

Kyron took the written driving test and went out with me several times. Though hesitant at first, he quickly gained confidence and was driving like a pro within a week! It was actually quite amusing being in the car with him, because he’d make snide but accurate comments about the improper drivers he encountered, such as tailgaters, speeders, and lane ignorers. He noticed practically everything and had something to say about it. He even commented on his mother’s present speeding tendencies which, while no longer like the Montreal-Toronto debacle, were under excruciating scrutiny! Ranjana came to me one day complaining that Kyron had been hassling her for driving 5 km/hr over the speed limit.

With his Learner license, Kyron could now share half the trip, so I had no issues letting Ranjana do most of the driving allowing me to moonlight into a different profession.

Kyron developed into a fine driver not showing any indication of having inherited his mother’s Autoban genes. After getting his New Driver license, Kyron was happily soloing with Sapphiril to all those activities we used to have to drive him to.

“I don’t want a car”

While Richard had been sending me possibilities for our next car, Kyron had been telling me he saw no point in getting his own car. So I told Richard, that Kyron categorically said “No!” to getting his own car. Now, you must understand that this refusal was not because Kyron was trying to make Sapphiril his car at all. His refusal was a pattern of ’not wanting’ that had been prevalent from his childhood. It was actually quite a mature attitude of non-indulgence that you can read about in The Old Man, a title given to him by his nursery school teacher.

It is true that we didn’t really need another car at this point, but what Kyron hadn’t taken into account was the original rationale for getting Sapphiril. This car was equipped with major safety features and conveniences that weren’t available in Silveril. We had originally bought this car to facilitate Ranjana’s driving because she has severe arthritis.

Ranjana, always supporting her son, claimed with increasingly indignant insistence that she could drive Silveril just fine, but Kyron knew it wasn’t as good for her as Sapphiril. So he changed his mind immediately agreeing to get his own car.

I emailed Richard and told him we wanted to see the Fiat bringing us to that Saturday of November 9th when Kyron found his Fiat!

However, it was not to be!

You can’t buy this car!

Kyron and I went up to Duncan Dodge on Wednesday, November 13 in the Fiat Dodge Duncan had kindly let us drive since Saturday. When we arrived, we learned that Richard wasn’t going to be there, but Jeremy would look after us and we just needed to wait for Jen to implement the financial details. I took the opportunity to thank both Sean and Crystal, pointing out that their service was what had convinced me to get the car from here.

Then the surprises began.

When we met with Jen, she indicated the interest payments we would have to make for the car. I told her that Richard had said, we could get the car for no interest till February when we’d have the full amount. She said that wasn’t correct, and that dealerships don’t do financing that way. I found this turn of events to be peculiar, but Jen went and checked with Jeremy who apparently confirmed this. She said that Richard may have misunderstood the situation.

I told Jen that I wasn’t thrilled by this alteration, but if that is the only way for us to get the car, then, we’d pay the full amount in a couple of days after I acquired the money. Jen seemed fine to go ahead with things, but Jeremy suddenly appeared looking very unhappy.

He began apologizing profusely then dropped a bombshell - we couldn’t buy this car despite our agreement, despite the fact the trade-in for Silveril was already done, because, believe it or not, Duncan Dodge couldn’t sell it! The car was something they were showing for their sister store in Nanaimo.

He said the only way we could buy a Fiat, would be to go to Nanaimo and buy a similar Fiat through that store! He again apologized and said that he was never informed of the situation. He would completely understand if we cancelled the entire deal and took back Silveril.

I thought cancellation would be best at this point.

We had another problem in that I had terminated Sapphiril’s insurance for Kyron, so now he had no car to drive! Jeremy said he could extend the insurance for this Fiat for a day, but no more.

That would not be sufficient given Kyron’s busy schedule, so we simply cancelled everything, took back Silveril, and left Duncan Dodge on good terms. They had treated us well, but had some internal communication errors, so we didn’t think ill of them at all despite the surprises. Besides, we had to figure out what Kyron was going to drive within a couple of hours!

So as we drove home, I told Ranjana what had happened. She immediately called Paula to see if Kyron could be reinstated on Sapphiril right away. Well, you can always count on Paula - we have for years! By the time we got home, Paula had prepared all the necessary paperwork through Docusign and I was able to do almost everything online. I just had to go in to see her, and Kyron would be all set up again!

When we arrived at Westland Insurance, Kyron received a phone call from Nanaimo Dodge. They had learned what had taken place and were willing to bring the same trim Fiat to our doorstep! We thought this was indeed very decent of them, but I told Kyron to just hold off so we can think out things a bit. Since he could drive Sapphiril again, there was no longer an urgency.

As you’ll see, waiting proved to be the ultimate salvationary choice in the story!!

How dark the cloud behind the silver lining!

After Kyron left for Victoria in Sapphiril, I started to think of possibilities. I wanted to know for instance, why there seemed to be 3 ways to buy a Fiat: through the Fiat website, through a dealership, and through the Fiat dealer in Victoria.

So I phoned the latter and was greeted by someone (Heather) identifying the dealership as Alfa Romeo Victoria. Thinking I had the wrong number, I asked if they knew how I could contact the Fiat dealership and was surprised to learn that they were the Fiat dealership. I was transferred to one of their salespeople, Sebastian (aka Seba).

I asked him several questions and each answer impressed me with its precision and detail. Never did I sense any attempt to do a ‘sales pitch’, for here was someone who had such confidence in his product and service, that such gymnastics were unnecessary and undesirable! I told him how it came about that I had called his dealership, providing a brief history. I emphasized that I had nothing bad to say about Duncan Dodge and that we really had been treated very well by those nice people despite the eventual outcome.

Seba then obliquely gave me some very sound wisdom. He said they may be nice, but they need to know their product. That really struck home, because I realized at that moment that not only did Duncan Dodge not know they couldn’t sell us the car, but on more than one occasion, Kyron told them something they didn’t know about their own Fiat!

It was much worse than that though.

Seba was about to walk me through EV101, but I told him we’d been driving EVs for six years. He was quite pleased and said I must know about the government grants then. I said we did, and that we’d get a $5000 federal grant, and that, we were told Kyron could apply for the $4000 provincial grant after we’d bought the Fiat.

Seba was a bit shocked and told me, “No! You must apply first and then after the application comes through, then you buy the car!”

I was more than a bit shocked!

Had the sale completed at Duncan Dodge or had we followed through on Nanaimo Dodge’s offer, we would have lost the $4000 grant!!

It became clear that some Fiat Angel had been looking out for us all this time! The silver lining was that the failed deal led us to Alfa Romeo, but the cloud behind it was far more morbid than we had realized!

I assured Seba that we weren’t going to buy anything till we had a chance to meet with him!

Step into a New World!

Seba, Kyron, and I exchanged some emails that evening and in one of them Kyron outlined the entire deal Duncan Dodge was offering for the Fiat and the Silveril trade-in. We arranged to go to the dealership the very next day.

When we arrived on Thursday morning, November 14th, in Sapphiril (Silveril needed charging), we learned that Seba couldn’t be there due to a doctor’s appointment and were greeted by the salesmanager, Pietro.

After the first few minutes with him, it became clear to us that we were at a high-end dealership. They were high-end, not because they sold expensive exotic cars (the Fiat is actually the least expensive EV on the market!), but because their level of service rose right to the top! They weren’t trying to sell us a car, they were doing their best to make sure we got the car that was right for us and in the right way!

This is how business really should be done by both sides. No haggling, no nickel and dime thumb twisting, where you may gain a few dollars, but at the loss of integrity of both parties. With them, we work together to achieve a mutually desirable state.

Kyron told Pietro that we would get the car from them and that the Silveril trade-in had no bearing on the sale. If we got a decent price on the trade-in, we’d accept. Otherwise, we’d give Silveril to charity. Pietro said he appreciated Kyron’s transparency, but thought he could give us a better deal than Duncan Dodge. Furthermore, he encouraged us to take advantage of their $0 interest over 3 years financing (completely contradicting what we had been told by Duncan Dodge)! He’d have to see Silveril first of course. We drove back to Shawnigan Lake so I could bring the car down that afternoon.

Pietro checked it out, test drove it, sat down to scribble numbers on a piece of paper, then showed me the results. I asked how he had come up with the very interesting $3173 trade-in value. What he had done was taken the Duncan Dodge offer and added the finance charge to it, so we’d be covered even for that! True to his word, he did $600 better in total than what we’d been offered before.

For the financing, he introduced me to Alex, who would do the honors including the Silveril transfer on Saturday, November 16th when everything would be ready. Finally, Pietro said, “Welcome to the family!”

Pietro was willing to send me home in a cab, but I felt that kindness would be too much since a trip from Victoria to Shawnigan Lake was over $100. So he charged up Silveril for me so I would have no concerns getting home.

While we waited we had a long chat about various topics.

I told him that Kyron had named the car Scuro, and he was surprised that an Italian name had been chosen. I explained that my son was a vocal and diction instructor at the University of Victoria and the Victoria Conservatory of Music, so he was familiar with various languages. In fact, he thought Pietro had a very fine singing voice! Pietro was pleased by the assessment, but thought his Italian accent was too heavy. I said singers often try to develop the correct inflections when singing in other languages, and that he therefore had a headstart!

I learned that he had done work at the University of Calabria in hospitality and told him it showed!

He had somehow surmised that I was a teacher and we talked about my background. We also covered areas such as diet, health, and awareness. It was really quite a delightful conversation and indeed, I felt welcomed to this Alfa Romeo family!

When the charging was done for Silveril, Pietro jokingly said, “Be careful with the car, because it’s my car now.” I said he had nothing to worry about because I really was a very conscientious driver. He seemed reassured, till I mentioned that Ranjana was less inclined to be so, relating the Montreal-Toronto cataclysm. Then I removed my hood and after he recovered from the reflective radiance emanating from my head, I said, “Did you know that before I met my wife, I had a full head of hair?”

Noting the look of deep consternation that had suddenly come over his face, I allayed his fears, telling him that Ranjana rarely drove Silveril, causing Pietro to burst into the uncontrollable laughter of relief, still squinting from the glare.

Finally Home

On Saturday, November 16, Kyron and I drove down in Sapphiril to pick up Scuro, and were greeted by Seba, accompanied by his assistant in training, Matthew.

Then the surprises began.

But different ones this time!

Seba told us that since we had an unfortunate experience earlier, they had prepared something special. We followed him to a showroom and found Scuro meticulously gift-wrapped for us.

Scuro Gift Wrapped Backview

Scuro Gift Wrapped Frontview

Then Matthew and Seba unwrapped Scuro!

(See the Alfa Romeo Victoria page in our businesses section for kudos to this superb dealership.)

We have never encountered a gesture such as this!

Kyron went through the first-delivery as Seba explained various points to him. Their second-delivery would take place at a later date after Kyron had a chance to drive the car for a while. Seba also assured us that anytime we had any questions about Scuro, they would be there for us. They certainly do honor to the family concept!

Then Alex showed up to handle all the finance paperwork which included various protective packages we could add on, all covered within the 3 year, no interest loan! He went over all the details, answering our questions with careful thoroughness. I was quite amazed by his smooth handling of a massive number of forms! When we did the insurance with an outside agent (Emily), he was there to make sure there was no unnecessary duplication of benefits!

Alex showed the same level of thoughtfulness and consideration that Seba and Pietro had earlier! It was quite evident that we had acquired much more than a car!

Finally, everything was done and there was nothing left but for Kyron to drive away in Scuro. Pietro appeared at that moment and with a mischievous smile told us, “This time you get to keep the car!”

And so we did!

Alfa Romeo Victoria

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 14:13:41 -0800

Alfa Romeo Victoria is the most outstanding auto dealership that we have ever gone to! Their level of service is beyond anything we have experienced over many decades!

On November 16, 2024, Kyron bought his first car, a Fiat500e from this dealership located at

737 Summit Avenue
Victoria, BC
250-590-2888

We relate our experience below and demonstrate why we think this dealership is the best!

For the full story behind getting this car, click here.

(All photos are taken by Kyron unless otherwise stated.)

The People

You can find out more about the fine individuals listed below by going to their Meet Our Team page.

Alex

Sebastian (Gold Award Winner 2025!)

Pietro the exceptional salesmanager,
Heather sales administrator,
Matthew a problem-solver,
Ben, Michelle in service department.
Andrew, parts manager.

Pics not available for all till Kyron takes photos.

Our Google Reviews

Review by Ranjana:

The people in this dealership are thoughtful, respectful, thorough and competent. I came to see a used EV that we thought might meet my specific needs for safety at an affordable price. Sebastian greeted me and introduced me to Alex who also welcomed me warmly. Sebastian then thoughtfully provided the information I needed to make my decision. He walked through the car’s history and then showed me the car, closely examining its exterior and interior with me, before taking us on a test drive. He drove the car first which familiarized me with the car’s systems thus making my test drive more effective . Afterwards, Sebastian efficiently examined my car to assess its trade-in value should I wish to purchase their car. Indeed, I did! In fact, they are so well organized that we were able to purchase the car and drive it away that same afternoon. Alex made the complex paperwork process easy for us. I love our car and am grateful for this dealership’s commitment to excellence and the care they provided us.

Review by Kyron:

A fabulous team! Thank you to Sebastian, Alex, Pietro, and Matthew at Alfa Romeo of Victoria for a wonderful experience buying a 2024 Fiat 500e.

My father and I had almost just bought the same model through another dealership. They had let me drive the car for a few days and I was expecting to complete the purchase. However, just as we were about to sign the paperwork, the dealership learned that they were not actually able to sell the car as it technically belonged to their sister store! Left somewhat perplexed by the whole ordeal, we made contact with Sebastian at Alfa Romeo to get a fresh perspective. We were immediately impressed and resolved to visit the dealership the next day. Though Sebastian was away, he referred us to Pietro.

Pietro was extremely knowledgeable, transparent, and gracious. He, along with Alex, explained everything we needed to know up front, from details about the vehicle to financing and securing the federal and provincial rebates for new EV purchases. Indeed, had we bought the car from the previous dealership, we would have missed out on the provincial rebate since neither I nor the other dealership understood the application process correctly. Pietro even evaluated our 2013 Leaf on the same day and offered us an excellent trade-in deal. We decided then and there to purchase our car through Alfa Romeo.

When we returned a couple of days later to pick up the car, we were delighted to formally meet Sebastian. He, along with a trainee, Matthew, made the entire delivery process exceptional. See the accompanying images and video! Sebastian then took us to see Alex to complete all of the paperwork. Alex went through it all very thoroughly with us, explaining all of the various forms and options that were available and answering our questions.

“This time, you get to keep the car. I promise!” Pietro said with a laugh as we were set to depart in our new Fiat. Thank you to the whole team at Alfa Romeo for an outstanding buying experience. Next time we are looking for a new car, we know where to go.

Highly recommended!

Review by Prad:

A Dealership in a League of Its Own!

From the moment I made contact with Sebastian at Alfa Romeo Victoria, it became clear that this is a dealership of a totally different caliber than what we have ever encountered!

Sebastian told me everything I needed to know about the Fiat 500e we were looking to purchase including the EV grant mechanism! His enthusiasm and unparalleled knowledge inspired confidence, while his patient demeanor let me know his interest was solely to make sure I got the right car!

The next day, my son and I met with the sales manager, Pietro, who showed the same consideration in working out an optimal deal on the trade-in for our 2013 Nissan Leaf. He recommended we take advantage of the $0 interest for 3 years loan and even worked the finance charge into the trade-in value! Working with Pietro was as straightforward and honest an experience as anyone could want!

Finally, Alex took care of the finance arrangements as well as the supporting packages we could choose for the car. His ability to manage the seemingly endless quantity of forms was superhuman! He also made sure that there was no unnecessary duplication of coverage when it came time to get our ICBC insurance.

When we went to pick up our Fiat 500e, Sebastian and his assistant Matthew told us they had prepared something special (since we had some past issues at another dealership). They had gift wrapped the car! It was a most kind gesture and made you forget you were actually at a car dealership!

So when they say, “Welcome to our family!” they really do mean it!!

Scuro

Kyron named the car Scuro due to its darkness.

Scuro in Rain

Sebastian and Matthew had prepared a special surprise when we came to pick up Scuro on Saturday, November 16, 2024.

Scuro Gift Wrapped Backview

Scuro Gift Wrapped Frontview

Sebastian and Matthew then proceeded to unwrap Scuro.

Finally here is a picture from inside Scuro quite settled at home viewing the scenery.

Scuro Dash

Stjarnatt

We were so happy with getting Scuro from Alfa Romeo Victoria that we bought another car within a month! This one was a black 2022 Polestar that we named Stjarnatt from the Swedish stjarna (star) and natt (night). Some of you may know that Polestar is a Swedish manufacturer.

Needless to say, the Alfa Romeo crew, once again prepared the car so it was in showroom condition!

Stjarnatt Relaxing

Stjarnatt comes equipped with an impressive list of features, but the most interesting one Prad has found is this car’s ability to anticipate what he wants to do while driving!

Stjarnatt ready for takeoff

Away we go into the starry night!

To Asgard!

(The background for the above image was created by Kyron around 2005. Prad took this pic of Stjarnatt driving it with the help of some AI and the Krita image editing software, right into space.)

Transformations

Due to the excellence of Scuro and Stjarnatt, and the superb service of this dealership, we find our attitudes have undergone major changes.

Prad, for instance, has rarely liked driving, but has gained a new enthusiasm for it as a result of these cars, while Ranjana is keen to show Stjarnatt to her friends when she is not busy admiring the car herself!

Kyron, who is not nationally known for his tidiness, has become the Determined Debris Dismantler, rivalling the original Mr. Clean! He has armed himself with a new set of tools including vacuum, blower, power sprayer, and brush, for the purpose of meticulously maintaining both cars in immaculate condition. He has also added a new aspect to his photography portfolio by taking the stunning pics you see on this page!

Dark Dynamic Duo

Loyalty

Our experience with Alfa Romeo Victoria, the wonderful people we have met there, and their high level of service has convinced us that this is the place we will go to for our auto requirements! As far as we are concerned, if Alfa Romeo doesn’t have the car we want, we don’t need that car!

UPDATE (2025-12-17): The ceramic coating for Stjarnatt failed (cause unknown) in less than a year. Alex said he would look after us and he did! The coating was reinstalled free of any charge!

We urge you to go to them too for you will not be disappointed!

And don’t make excuses like “But Prad, I live in Japan!” Just take a ferry - Alfa Romeo Victoria is worth it!

Why Music Is Memorable

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 00:44:29 -0700

This is a summary of the Time article Why We Remember Music and Forget Everything Else followed by some discussion and insights.

Exported on 02/11/2024 at 01:01:16 from Perplexity.ai - with SaveMyChatbot

User

Summarize Why We Remember Music and Forget Everything Else

AI answer

The article from Time explores the psychology behind why music is memorable. It discusses several key factors that contribute to our ability to remember songs:

Emotional Connection: Music often evokes strong emotions, which can enhance memory retention. Songs associated with personal experiences or significant moments tend to stick in our minds.
Repetition and Familiarity: Repeated exposure to a song increases familiarity, making it easier to recall. This is why catchy tunes often become ingrained in our memory.
Melody and Rhythm: The structure of music, including its melody and rhythm, plays a crucial role in memory. Simple melodies and rhythmic patterns are easier to remember.
Cues and Context: Contextual cues, such as the environment where a song was heard or specific lyrics, can trigger memories associated with that music.

Overall, the interplay of emotional engagement, repetition, musical structure, and contextual cues significantly influences how we remember music.

Sources:

(1) Why We Remember Music and Forget Everything Else

User

what other research is there to support this article about why music is memorable?

AI answer

There is substantial research supporting the findings in the article about why music is memorable. Here are some key points from other studies that corroborate and expand on the ideas presented:

Emotional Connection and Memory

Multiple studies confirm that the emotional impact of music plays a crucial role in making it memorable:

Brain imaging studies show that our favorite songs stimulate the brain’s pleasure circuit, releasing dopamine, serotonin, and other neurochemicals that make us feel good 2. This emotional response enhances memory formation.
Research has demonstrated that emotions enhance memory processes, and since music evokes strong emotions, it is likely involved in forming memories about both the music itself and episodes associated with particular music 4.
A study published in PLOS One found that musical pieces rated as very positive were recognized significantly better than those rated as less positive, indicating that emotional valence is strongly related to musical memory 4.

The Reminiscence Bump and Autobiographical Memory

The article’s mention of music from our youth being particularly memorable is supported by other research:

The “reminiscence bump” theory suggests that memories from our teens and early 20s dominate our life narrative and are remembered more vividly 2. Music from this period often forms the soundtrack to what feel like the most vital years of our lives.
A study found that on average, 30% of presented songs evoked autobiographical memories, with most songs also evoking strong, mainly positive emotions like nostalgia 4.

Repetition and Familiarity

The article touches on the importance of repetition, which is supported by other findings:

Research shows that as a song becomes more familiar through repeated exposure, it is rated higher in emotional intensity and valence 1.
The frequency of exposure to music in everyday life contributes to our ability to remember it, as we often listen to favorite songs multiple times, unlike other media 6.

Neurological Aspects

Additional research provides insights into the neurological basis for music’s memorability:

Studies have shown that imagining music activates similar brain regions as actually listening to music, explaining why we can vividly recall songs in our minds 6.
Listening to music is accompanied by increased brain activation within a distributed network comprising many brain areas and the peripheral nervous system 4.

Long-Term Memory and Consolidation

Research supports the idea that music memory benefits from consolidation over time:

A study found that musical excerpts were better recognized after a long delay than after a short delay, suggesting that memory consolidation for musical information takes place during longer intervals 7.
The emotional enhancement of memory for music appears to depend on valence, with positive and negative stimuli being differently affected by the duration of the study-test delay interval 7.

These findings from various studies provide strong support for the article’s claims about why music is memorable, highlighting the interplay between emotion, repetition, autobiographical significance, and neurological processes in creating lasting musical memories.

Sources:

User

i find that though i can see images in my mind, i often have trouble focusing on them. on the other hand, i have no difficulty hearing ‘images’ and focusing on these. i find this interesting because i tend to be a visual learner (like most people), yet when it comes to ‘image-gination’ i am more auditory in my mind. what do you make of this?

AI answer

Your observation about your mental imagery abilities is intriguing and highlights the complex nature of cognitive processes and learning styles. Let’s explore this phenomenon and its potential implications:

Visual vs. Auditory Imagery

Your experience of having difficulty focusing on visual images while easily maintaining auditory “images” in your mind is not uncommon. This difference in imagery vividness and control between sensory modalities can vary significantly among individuals. Visual Imagery

Some people report very vivid and controllable visual mental images, while others (like yourself) may find them fleeting or difficult to focus on.
In extreme cases, some individuals experience aphantasia, a condition where they cannot form mental images at all.

Auditory Imagery

Auditory imagery, or the ability to “hear” sounds in your mind, can be quite vivid for many people.
Your strong auditory imagery might be related to factors such as musical training, language skills, or simply individual differences in cognitive processing.

Learning Styles and Mental Imagery

The relationship between learning styles and mental imagery is complex and not always straightforward:

Visual Learning: While you identify as a visual learner, this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have strong visual imagery. Visual learning can involve other skills like understanding diagrams, charts, or written information.
Modality Strength: Your strong auditory imagery suggests that you might benefit from incorporating more auditory elements in your learning strategies, even if you generally prefer visual information.
Cognitive Flexibility: Your experience demonstrates that individuals can have different strengths across various cognitive domains, which can be advantageous for adapting to different learning situations.

Potential Explanations

Several factors might contribute to your experience:

Cognitive Resource Allocation: Your brain might allocate more resources to auditory processing and imagery, possibly due to past experiences or natural predisposition.
Attentional Differences: You may have developed stronger attentional control for auditory information compared to visual information.
Neural Connectivity: There could be differences in the neural pathways and connections related to visual and auditory processing in your brain.
Practice Effects: If you engage more frequently in activities that involve auditory imagery (e.g., music, language learning), this could strengthen those neural pathways.

Implications for Learning and Cognition

Understanding your cognitive strengths can help you optimize your learning and problem-solving strategies:

Multimodal Learning: Combining visual learning materials with auditory elements (e.g., verbal explanations, discussions, or self-talk) might enhance your overall comprehension and retention.
Mnemonic Techniques: You might benefit from mnemonic devices that incorporate auditory elements, such as creating rhymes or songs to remember information.
Metacognition: Being aware of your cognitive strengths allows you to adapt your study techniques and problem-solving approaches accordingly.
Cognitive Training: If you wish to improve your visual imagery skills, specific exercises and practices might help strengthen this ability over time.

In conclusion, your experience underscores the individuality of cognitive processes and the importance of understanding one’s own mental strengths and preferences. It also highlights the potential disconnect between preferred learning styles and specific cognitive abilities, suggesting that a flexible, multimodal approach to learning and problem-solving might be most beneficial.

Sources:

Perplexity

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 10:49:18 -0700

There Are No ‘Ethical Alternatives’ To A Plant-Based Diet arv

Answer (Default):

Peter Godfrey-Smith’s recent article in The Guardian explores his experiences with a “near-vegan” diet and the ethical implications of animal consumption. He reflects on the challenges of adhering to a fully plant-based diet, suggesting alternatives like humanely farmed meat, wild-caught fish, and conventionally farmed dairy as potential compromises for those concerned about animal welfare but unable to maintain strict veganism¹.

Godfrey-Smith, a professor focused on animal consciousness, grapples with the cognitive dissonance surrounding dietary choices. He acknowledges that while some may argue for humane farming practices, the fundamental act of killing animals remains ethically contentious. He raises questions about societal speciesism, highlighting that the treatment of animals considered pets versus those raised for food reflects deep-seated biases².

Critics argue that Godfrey-Smith’s reasoning lacks coherence, particularly when he suggests that humane treatment justifies continued consumption. They emphasize that regardless of farming methods, the end result is still death for the animals involved. The article also critiques the notion that fishing practices are acceptable based on historical precedent, asserting that modern ethical standards should not be dictated by ancestral behaviors³.

In terms of health, Godfrey-Smith reports negative experiences with his diet, which included fish oil supplements rather than being strictly vegan. This raises questions about the adequacy of his dietary planning and whether his symptoms were related to dietary changes or other factors like illness⁴.

Ultimately, the article concludes that for those motivated by ethical concerns regarding animal welfare, true alignment with these values necessitates a commitment to veganism, as any compromise fails to address the core issues at stake⁵.

Citations:

Animals Can Work Together arv sci

Answer (Default):

The article discusses various examples of animal cooperation and mutualistic relationships in nature, challenging the common perception of the animal kingdom as purely competitive and ruthless. Here are some key points:

Types of Symbiotic Relationships

There are three main types of symbiotic relationships:

Commensalistic: One species benefits while the other is unaffected
Parasitic: One species benefits at the expense of the other
Mutualistic: Both species benefit from the interaction

Examples of Animal Cooperation

Coral Grouper and Moray Eel Coral groupers recruit moray eels to help them hunt by using specific body movements to communicate⁶. The grouper signals the eel to follow and then indicates the location of hidden prey. This collaboration increases hunting success rates for both species.

Coyote and Badger Coyotes and badgers work together to hunt ground squirrels and prairie dogs⁷. The badger digs into burrows while the coyote waits at the exit, covering all escape routes. This teamwork improves hunting success for both animals.

Tarantula and Dotted Humming Frog Tarantulas allow dotted humming frogs to live in their burrows⁸. The frog gains protection from predators, while the tarantula’s eggs are protected from ants, which the frogs eat. This mutually beneficial relationship ensures the safety of both species.

Pistol Shrimp and Goby Pistol shrimp and gobies form a lifelong partnership⁹. The shrimp builds and maintains burrows, while the goby acts as a lookout due to its superior eyesight. This collaboration provides safety and shelter for both species.

Unexpected Interspecies Interactions

The article also mentions several instances of animals helping other species without apparent benefit:

An Indian rhesus monkey adopting and caring for a homeless puppy
A Bornean orangutan rescuing a drowning bird
A bear saving a drowning crow
Humpback whales defending smaller fish from orcas

These interactions demonstrate that animal behavior can sometimes extend beyond simple survival instincts, showing compassion or altruism across species lines¹⁰.

Conclusion

While competition and violence exist in nature, the animal kingdom also exhibits numerous examples of cooperation and mutualism¹¹. These relationships highlight the similarities between animals and humans, demonstrating that different species can work together for mutual benefit or even act altruistically.

Citations:

Animals Can Work Together 2 arv sci diy

Answer (Default):

Types of Symbiotic Relationships

There are three main types of symbiotic relationships:

Commensalistic: One species benefits while the other is unaffected
Parasitic: One species benefits at the expense of the other
Mutualistic: Both species benefit from the interaction

Examples of Animal Cooperation

Coral Grouper and Moray Eel Coral groupers recruit moray eels to help them hunt by using specific body movements to communicate¹². The grouper signals the eel to follow and then indicates the location of hidden prey. This collaboration increases hunting success rates for both species.

Coyote and Badger Coyotes and badgers work together to hunt ground squirrels and prairie dogs¹³. The badger digs into burrows while the coyote waits at the exit, covering all escape routes. This teamwork improves hunting success for both animals.

Tarantula and Dotted Humming Frog Tarantulas allow dotted humming frogs to live in their burrows¹⁴. The frog gains protection from predators, while the tarantula’s eggs are protected from ants, which the frogs eat. This mutually beneficial relationship ensures the safety of both species.

Pistol Shrimp and Goby Pistol shrimp and gobies form a lifelong partnership¹⁵. The shrimp builds and maintains burrows, while the goby acts as a lookout due to its superior eyesight. This collaboration provides safety and shelter for both species.

Unexpected Interspecies Interactions

The article also mentions several instances of animals helping other species without apparent benefit:

An Indian rhesus monkey adopting and caring for a homeless puppy
A Bornean orangutan rescuing a drowning bird
A bear saving a drowning crow
Humpback whales defending smaller fish from orcas

These interactions demonstrate that animal behavior can sometimes extend beyond simple survival instincts, showing compassion or altruism across species lines¹⁶.

Conclusion

While competition and violence exist in nature, the animal kingdom also exhibits numerous examples of cooperation and mutualism¹⁷. These relationships highlight the similarities between animals and humans, demonstrating that different species can work together for mutual benefit or even act altruistically.

Citations:

What are some other examples of mutualistic relationships between animals

Answer (Default):

Here are several examples of mutualistic relationships between animals, highlighting the diverse ways in which different species benefit from each other:

Oxpecker and Rhinoceros or Zebra

Oxpeckers, a type of bird, land on rhinos or zebras and eat ticks, flies, and other parasites from their skin. The oxpeckers gain food, while the rhinos and zebras receive pest control and warning calls from the oxpeckers when predators are near¹⁸¹⁹²⁰.

Clownfish and Sea Anemone

Clownfish live within the protective tentacles of sea anemones, which are poisonous to most other fish. The clownfish clean the anemone’s tentacles, keeping them free from parasites and luring prey within the anemone’s reach. In return, the anemone provides the clownfish with protection from predators²¹²²²³.

Pistol Shrimp and Goby

Pistol shrimp and gobies form a mutualistic relationship where the shrimp maintains and digs burrows, while the goby, with its better vision, acts as a lookout for predators. The goby alerts the shrimp to danger, and in return, the shrimp provides the goby with a safe place to live²⁴²⁵²⁶.

Termites and Intestinal Flagellates

Termites have intestinal flagellates that help digest the cellulose in wood, which the termites consume. The flagellates get a meal, and the termites benefit from the digestion of their food. This is an example of obligate mutualism, where neither species can survive without the other²⁷²⁸²⁹.

Acacia Ants and Bullhorn Acacia

Acacia ants live in the thorns of the bullhorn acacia tree and receive food and shelter. In return, the ants protect the tree from browsing animals and other herbivores. This is another example of obligate mutualism³⁰.

Hermit Crabs and Sea Anemones

Hermit crabs attach sea anemones to their shells, which serve as bodyguards, protecting the crabs from predators with their barbed tentacles. The anemones benefit from the free ride across the seabed provided by the hermit crabs³¹.

Colombian Lesserblack Tarantula and Dotted Humming Frog

The tarantula allows the frog to live in its burrow, providing the frog with protection from predators. In return, the frog eats carnivorous ants that threaten the tarantula’s eggs³².

Drongos and Meerkats

Drongos act as lookouts for meerkats, warning them of predators. While the drongos sometimes exploit this relationship by raising false alarms to steal food from fleeing meerkats, the primary benefit is mutual, with meerkats gaining protection and drongos often receiving genuine warnings and occasional food³³.

Sharks and Pilot Fish

Pilot fish swim alongside sharks, cleaning parasites and food fragments from the shark’s teeth and skin. In return, the pilot fish receive protection from other predators³⁴.

Coyote and Badger

Coyotes and badgers hunt together, with the badger digging into burrows and the coyote waiting outside to catch fleeing prey. This cooperation increases the hunting success for both species³⁵.

Spider Crab and Algae

Spider crabs have algae living on their backs, which provides camouflage, protecting the crabs from predators. The algae benefit from a stable and protected environment to live and grow³⁶³⁷.

These examples illustrate the varied and often intricate ways in which different animal species can benefit from each other through mutualistic relationships.

Citations:

[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[Mutualistic Relationships - New England Complex Systems Institute](https://necsi.edu/mutualistic-relationships) ↩︎
[Mutualism: Symbiotic Relationships - ThoughtCo](https://www.thoughtco.com/mutualism-symbiotic-relationships-4109634) ↩︎
[Mutualism | Types, Examples, & Facts - Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/science/mutualism-biology) ↩︎
[10 Mutualism Examples - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRn62gtgntY) ↩︎
[Mutualism: Symbiotic Relationships - ThoughtCo](https://www.thoughtco.com/mutualism-symbiotic-relationships-4109634) ↩︎
[Mutualism | Types, Examples, & Facts - Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/science/mutualism-biology) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[10 Mutualism Examples - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRn62gtgntY) ↩︎
[Mutualism: Symbiotic Relationships - ThoughtCo](https://www.thoughtco.com/mutualism-symbiotic-relationships-4109634) ↩︎
[10 Mutualism Examples - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRn62gtgntY) ↩︎
[Mutualism | Types, Examples, & Facts - Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/science/mutualism-biology) ↩︎
[Symbiotic relationships in ecology - Wild Earth Lab](https://wildearthlab.com/2022/09/28/symbiotic-relationships/) ↩︎
[Mutualism | Types, Examples, & Facts - Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/science/mutualism-biology) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[6 Surprising Symbiotic Relationships - Wildlife Woods](https://wildlifewoods.net/blog/2018/8/23/6-surprising-symbiotic-relationships) ↩︎
[10 Mutualism Examples - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRn62gtgntY) ↩︎
[Mutualism | Types, Examples, & Facts - Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/science/mutualism-biology) ↩︎

Rabbitats

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 18:17:48 -0700

The Rabbitats Rescue Society houses abandoned domestic rabbits in indoor and outdoor habitats.

They are a well-organized, efficient group with volunteer, adoption, and fostering programs. Additionally, they provide humane solutions to feral rabbit management. They are a CRA registered charity and will put your tax creditable donation to good use!

Most importantly they don’t just provide solutions, they try to eliminate the problem by lobbying for

rabbit sale controls
guardian registry and education
spay/neuter clinics
anti-dumping laws with heavy fines

This is an excellent organization and you can learn more about them at Rabbitats.

Vivaldi

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 20:48:23 -0700

A browser that is powerful, personal and private, adapting to you, not the other way around.

This is the best browser we have ever used. It is full of features and makes one work very effectively!

reading list

Go to reading list button in side panel and add current page using +. (Better than having it on the address bar) this is a very fast way to mark a webpage from there we can do bookmark or omnivore.

cannot enter nickname

The problem appears to be there is something in the bookmarks trash that is getting in the way. After emptying the trash, it accepts the nickname.

toggle extensions

When we hide an extension button, the toggle extension button appears (so we can view the hidden item again). If we remove the button, there is no toggle button.

tab stacking

use any method to stack tabs large numbers use shift key and left click for stacking

save as session (file > save open tabs as session) reload stack from File > Open Saved Session reorder stack using window panel

exports

file > export bookmarks (more intelligent than looking in bookmarks) file > export reading list not working use F2 export reading list

issue with systemd v249

<2021-07-31 Sat> affects all chromium based browsers

one solution was to disable systemd-resolve, but then need to setup /etc/resolv.conf instead of linking it to /run/systemd/resolve/stub-resolv.conf

the other was to downgrade to an earlier version of vivaldi using downgrade from aur, until archlinux makes v249 work properly with chromium again

lack of suitable h264 error

pacman -S vivaldi-ffmpeg-codecs

profile

When we changed the name of schnell to admins, vivaldi locked the profile and wouldn’t start. After some semi-helpful consultation with bing we did: cd .config/vivaldi rm Default/LOCK rm SingletonLock (which pointed to schnell - 1066)

sync

sync help after sync is setup as per help instructions (including encryption key), it seems to happen automatically though on a remote device we need to close and open vivaldi. the remote has to be logged in and have the same encryption key of course.

sort bookmarks

use sidebar to sort bookmarks to sort bookmark bar, right click in empty area and select sort

pdf viewing

not rendering at all difficult to know what the problem is, but it works fine if we reboot … and probably if we restart x too.

dark theme

A fair bit of setting up went into getting the dark theme to function adequately with vivaldi because forcing it messed up certain websites like amazon.ca, so we had to either toggle into white theme (M-]), or adjust the darkness for specific sites using Userstyles. The full discussion is available on Vivaldi dark theme issue: Blacked-out images on forced dark websites thread.

this may be a good way to get into mastedon

Rosegarden

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 20:22:30 -0700

Rosegarden is a music composition and editing environment based around a MIDI sequencer that features a rich understanding of music notation and includes basic support for digital audio. Most important, it can produce lilypond files.

This is likely the best composing option we have beyond plain text entry. One major advantage it offers is the ability to insert bars when there are multiple voices which both denemo and musescore can do, but is laborious with lilypond code. Ideally, we should be able to work with rg and lilypond (via emacs | frescobaldi)

The rg input and playback systems are excellent and there is also a notation view. However, the actual conversion to lilypond may not be as good as we’d like it to be.

EAN!!! Experiment As Needed!!!

intro info

most of the items here are from the rgwiki purpose is to serve as the sequencer of choice for users who prefer to work with music notation. provides a segment-based mechanism for arranging blocks of MIDI and audio data on a canvas tutorials, faq

multiple voices

Do in seperate segments, change the stem orientations (up|down), put onto same track. However, when this converts to lilypond, rg forces separate voices in the code. While the final product looks just right, the ly code is very difficult to work with on it’s own as well as trying to migrate it into lynew.

Therefore, it seems best to just get the other voices to appear in the same segment even though you’ll get ties. Then these can be voiced by ly requirements - may be design a script to do it. Approaching the issue this way is also much simpler as far as inputting goes.

arpeggio symbol

Can be done easily by using T button and then Arp as a ly directive. The result is quite good!

installation components

fluidsynth ln -s FluidR3_GM.sf2 default.sf2 (usr/share/soundfonts) setup /etc/conf.d/fluidsynth (soundfont and alsa daemon) aconnect -o aplaymidi -p128:0
jack2
pipewire pipewire-alsa, pipewire-jack and things work!

fluidsynth gave no latency, but kept crashing. timidity didn’t crash but lagged, so we looked at libao with -OO latency with midi keyboard, timidity++ and rosegarden

here is the solution i finally found to my problem. /usr/lib/systemd/user/timidity.service contains the lines [Service] ExecStart=/usr/bin/timidity -iA so i just need to add on -OO to this and it works by putting me in libao! however, it didn’t enable from ~/.config/systemd/user/ giving Unit ~/.config/systemd/user/timidity.service is added as a dependency to a non-existent unit multi-user.target

rg without softsynth

Haven’t been able to get it to work just just soundfont or linuxsampler.

Not possible as per Bing:

No, you cannot use a soundfont directly in Rosegarden without fluidsynth or another softsynth. Rosegarden is a MIDI sequencer, not a synthesizer. It can only send MIDI data to an output device, but it cannot generate sound by itself. You need a software or hardware synthesizer to play the MIDI data and produce sound¹.

A soundfont is a file that contains samples of real instruments, such as piano, guitar, violin, etc. A soundfont can be used by a software synthesizer, such as fluidsynth, to play the samples according to the MIDI data. A software synthesizer can also use other methods of synthesis, such as additive, subtractive, FM, etc., to create sounds from scratch².

Fluidsynth is a software synthesizer that can use soundfonts or other synthesis methods to generate sound from MIDI data. It can run as a standalone application or as a DSSI plugin in Rosegarden. You can load different soundfonts into fluidsynth and select different instruments for each track in Rosegarden³.

If you want to use a soundfont directly in Rosegarden without fluidsynth, you will need a hardware synthesizer that can load soundfonts, such as the Sound Blaster series of soundcards. You will need to connect the hardware synthesizer to your computer via a MIDI interface and configure Rosegarden to use it as an output port. You will also need to load the soundfont into the hardware synthesizer using a utility program, such as sfxload⁴.

I hope this explains why you need fluidsynth or another softsynth to use a soundfont in Rosegarden. 😊

Source: Conversation with Bing, 9/5/2023 (1) frequently_askedquestions | Rosegarden Wiki. https://www.rosegardenmusic.com/wiki/Frequently_Asked_Questions. (2) Improving Your Linux System For Creating Music - Rosegarden: music. https://www.rosegardenmusic.com/tutorials/qsynth-rosegarden/index.html. (3) LinuxQuestions.org - [SOLVED] Rosegarden, FluidSynth, and JACK refuse …. https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/slackware-14/rosegarden-fluidsynth-and-jack-refuse-to-work-4175420532-print/. (4) using_rosegardenwithqsynthlookmanojackd | Rosegarden Wiki. https://www.rosegardenmusic.com/wiki/using_rosegarden_with_qsynth_look_ma_no_jackd.

rg with timidity

using qpwgraph, crackling sounds are sometimes heard probably due to some feedback loop if usb audio device (or whatever) capture mono -> rosegarden record in 1 L disconnecting this seems to work and crackling disappears (sometimes even if we reconnect)

rg with yoshimi

a minor issue is that unlike timidity, yoshimi isn’t playing the very first note (though the sounds come out much cleaner). so we should probably always have a blank bar. printouts work fine though since the blankbar is ignored.

all this in the post works, but yoshimi needs to be run in floating mode, otherwise the changes in rg won’t come through. or just start it in cli.

the numbers of the instruments are changed, but the banks aren’t … yet

yoshimi.rgd

this has to go to ~/.local/share/rosegarden/library/, but the one we downloaded doesn’t match with the actualy instruments. so we mv yoshimi.rgd yoshimi.rgd.gz gunzip yoshimi.rgd.gz and edit it.

one issue is updating the id numbers for The_MysteriousBank and since sed doesn’t do non-greedy, use perl perl -pe ’s/id="(+̣)"/“id=\”.($1+1)."\"/e’ tt.tt not that we really understand this too well - we require some lang may be clojure, rust … to make such manipulations.

rather than do the above we wrote script

#!/usr/bin/env zsh

# creates ~/.local/share/rosegarden/library/yoshimi.rgd from /usr/share/yoshimi/banks
# usage: jri (must use zsh or parameter substitution will not work)

YDIR=/usr/share/yoshimi/banks
yoshimirgd=~/.local/share/rosegarden/library/yoshimi.rgd

# first part of a yoshimi.rgd file
T1='<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE rosegarden-data><rosegarden-data version="4-0.9.1">
    <studio recordfilter="0" thrufilter="0">
    <device direction="play" id="0" name="Yoshimi" type="midi" variation="LSB">
        <librarian email="lorenzofsutton@gmail.com" name="Lorenzo Sutton" />
        <controls>
            <control colourindex="2" controllervalue="10" default="64" description="&lt;none&gt;" ipbposition="0" max="127" min="0" name="Pan" type="controller" />
            <control colourindex="3" controllervalue="93" default="0" description="&lt;none&gt;" ipbposition="1" max="127" min="0" name="Chorus" type="controller" />
            <control colourindex="1" controllervalue="7" default="100" description="&lt;none&gt;" ipbposition="2" max="127" min="0" name="Volume" type="controller" />
            <control colourindex="3" controllervalue="91" default="0" description="&lt;none&gt;" ipbposition="3" max="127" min="0" name="Reverb" type="controller" />
            <control colourindex="4" controllervalue="64" default="0" description="&lt;none&gt;" ipbposition="-1" max="127" min="0" name="Sustain" type="controller" />
            <control colourindex="2" controllervalue="11" default="127" description="&lt;none&gt;" ipbposition="-1" max="127" min="0" name="Expression" type="controller" />
            <control colourindex="4" controllervalue="1" default="0" description="&lt;none&gt;" ipbposition="-1" max="127" min="0" name="Modulation" type="controller" />
            <control colourindex="2" controllervalue="74" default="64" description="&lt;none&gt;" ipbposition="2" max="127" min="0" name="Cutoff Freq" type="controller" />
            <control colourindex="2" controllervalue="71" default="64" description="&lt;none&gt;" ipbposition="2" max="127" min="0" name="Resonance" type="controller" />
            <control colourindex="2" controllervalue="73" default="64" description="&lt;none&gt;" ipbposition="2" max="127" min="0" name="Attack time" type="controller" />
            <control colourindex="2" controllervalue="72" default="64" description="&lt;none&gt;" ipbposition="2" max="127" min="0" name="Release time" type="controller" />
            <control colourindex="4" controllervalue="1" default="8192" description="&lt;none&gt;" ipbposition="-1" max="16383" min="0" name="PitchBend" type="pitchbend" />
        </controls>'

# second part of a yoshimi.rgd file
T2='</device>
</studio>
</rosegarden-data>'


# put part1 on
echo $T1 > $yoshimirgd

# go to /usr/share/yoshimi/banks for further operations
cd $YDIR

# templates to substitute into
Btempl='<bank lsb="0" msb="NUM" name="BANK" percussion="false">'
Itempl='<program category="BANK" id="IDEN" name="NAME" />'


# put the banks and instruments in to the yoshimi.rgd file
N=0
for BA in $(ls -1 | LC_COLLATE=C sort); do
    ((N+=5))
    Btxt=${${Btempl:s/NUM/$N/}:s/BANK/$BA}
    echo $Btxt >> $yoshimirgd
    for IN in $BA/*; do
        #ID=${${IN%%-*}#*/}
        ID=$(echo ${${IN%%-*}#*/} | bc) #str->int
        ((ID-=1)) #dec ID so instruments match up on import
        NAM=${${IN#*-}%.*}
        Itxt=${${${Itempl:s/IDEN/$ID}:s/NAME/$NAM}:s/BANK/$BA}
        echo $Itxt >> $yoshimirgd
    done
    echo "</bank>" >> $yoshimirgd
done

# put the part2 into the yoshimi.rgd
echo $T2 >> $yoshimirgd

echo "all done"

exit

post @folderol

i have things working now pretty nicely between yoshimi and rg.

i downloaded this yoshimi.rgd after reading this thread which addressed an issue i was having with rg resetting anything i did in yoshimi to whatever it felt like (well that’s what it felt like): Rosegarden - Yoshimi issue

i put the yoshimi.rgd into ~/.local/share/rosegarden/library/ where there are a huge number of rgd files for various instruments and synthesizers (too i guess).

then in rg, i went into Studio > Manage MIDI Devices where i

deleted the default general midi bank (though it keeps coming back, hence i have to open a template), because i don’t really need it and never could do anything with it either
created a new device (click New in topleft box), then click Bank, then click Import (bottom left box).

the import button gave me access to the yoshimi.rgd file and eventually i had the banks and instruments showing up in the instrument parameters box from where i could assign them to various tracks.

i found though that i had to set the channel dropdown to ‘fixed’ or all the tracks would change to the same thing when i set a single track. every instrument i set for an rg midi track, is reflected in yoshimi too! (however, that is true only within the bank that is chosen on yoshimi if the instrument number exists - i can’t seem to change the bank in yoshimi from rg - may be we shouldn’t and just gather up the instruments we want into a custom bank?)

i midied out the melody, and a piano accompaniment for the first 4 bars of twinkle, twinkle little start - hey, jane taylor and mozart (even though he didn’t really write the melody) would be pleased. then i recorded audio in rg, singing out both (though not simultaneously) a tenor and baritone part - neither jane nor wolfgang would have been pleased, but rg didn’t crash!! (may be because yoshimi was doing the midi heavy lifting instead of timidity|fluidsynth?)

so, assuming this is the a|the correct way to do these things, all is well indeed!

TODO ornaments

while not as convenient as musescore, we likely have much better control of the ornaments played as midi in rg than lilypond’s articulate.ly, so we should create a file of ornaments that can be used in any composition. this file needs to be loaded first and then we merge the actual composition file to work with.

rg lyrics entry AVOID

compose notes copy lyrics editor template (which contains the note layout nicely) input using emacs (seems to be much faster than using the rg editor) paste emacs work into lyrics editor

only purpose verses serve is if you want same music as with hymns - for praductions, it is likely going to mess everything up!

DONE rg -> ly

some things don’t quite come out as well

we can play with rg
we can copy and paste rg notes into established ly templates
we can modify specific parts of the rgly with a script (probably best solution and DONE!)

tour

Editing
MIDI Configurations for over 100 well-known MIDI synths are included
Notation
Audio let Rosegarden’s sample-accurate audio engine do the hard work -> this might be the issue?
Synths not sure what this is
Integration jack is standard, but we use pipewire-jack and wonder if this is why audio crashes?

handbook

1. Introduction

Rosegarden is a versatile software that functions as both a MIDI and audio sequencer and a musical notation editor.
It allows users to record, arrange, compose music in traditional score, MIDI data, or audio formats.
Users can write, edit, and organize music compositions and add synthesization, effects, and mixdown capabilities.
Rosegarden provides comprehensive notation editing for high-quality printed output.
The software is designed to be user-friendly for both experienced Linux users and newcomers to music software.
The handbook serves as a reference for Rosegarden’s capabilities and concepts and can be used sequentially or as a reference guide.
Users can access tutorials on the Rosegarden website for further assistance.
Rosegarden’s functions are typically accessible through menus, but keyboard shortcuts and toolbar icons are also available for convenience.
Some of Rosegarden’s features are optional, depending on the installation and available libraries.
Dependencies for optional features are documented in the Rosegarden README and configuration documentation, and users should consult their configuration documentation or distributor if certain features are not visible in their version of Rosegarden.

2. Rosegarden Files and Documents

Rosegarden stores compositions in its own internal format with a .rg file extension.
It can also handle various standard file formats.

New compositions

When starting Rosegarden, a new document with an empty composition is created, requiring users to either record or create segments to start editing.
Segments are blank lengths of music that can be filled in using editing tools.
The software’s binary file format is actually gzipped XML, despite complaints about its opacity.

Using Midi Files

Rosegarden provides functions for importing and exporting MIDI files through “File->Import->Import MIDI File” and “File->Export->Export MIDI File.”
While Rosegarden can work with file formats like MIDI, it does not store MIDI data internally.
It’s advisable to save files in Rosegarden’s own format to retain comprehensive information, as exporting to MIDI may result in the loss or rearrangement of certain file structure details.
When loading a MIDI file in Rosegarden, it organizes the music into separate tracks for each MIDI track or channel, establishes instrument mappings, and attempts to generate plausible notation for the MIDI performance data.

Rosegarden Project Files

Rosegarden composition files (.rg) store note information, MIDI controller settings, plugin details, and audio file references for a composition.
The actual audio files are not stored within the composition file, and users are responsible for managing their location on disk.
Rosegarden Project files are helpful for conveniently bundling a composition, its associated audio files, plugin data, and additional files into one package.
To export a composition and its data as a Rosegarden Project file, use “File->Export->Export Rosegarden Project file…”; to import such a file and reconstruct a composition, use “File->Import->Import Rosegarden Project file…”
It’s important to note that Rosegarden Project format is for interchange purposes, not long-term archival, and compatibility may vary between Rosegarden versions.

Other file formats

Rosegarden supports exporting to and importing from various file formats, providing flexibility in working with different music systems.
Csound: Export score files for the Csound synthesis system using “File->Export->Export Csound score file…,” although not all Rosegarden data may be saved in Csound format.
Mup: Save the current composition as a new Mup file using “File->Export->Export Mup file…,” suitable for use with the Mup music publication system, though some adjustments may be needed for quality output.
MusicXML: Use “File->Export->Export MusicXML file…” to save the composition as a MusicXML file, compatible with music software supporting MusicXML, but note that support is experimental and may not preserve all data.
Hydrogen: Rosegarden can import h2song files from the Hydrogen drum machine, creating a MIDI-style structure with one track per pattern. Audio samples are not imported; use “File->Import->Import Hydrogen file…” for this.
Rosegarden 2.1: Create a new composition from an existing X11 Rosegarden v2.1 (.rose) file using “File->Import->Import Rosegarden 2.1 file…” for compatibility.

Merging files

In Rosegarden, you can merge external files into the current document, incorporating their data into the existing composition.
To perform a merge, use the appropriate option found on the File->Merge submenu instead of the Open or Import options.

Printing

Rosegarden offers the ability to print compositions as musical scores.
Printing directly from MIDI data may result in less readable output, so it’s recommended to use the notation editor to tidy up the score before printing.
While Rosegarden is capable of producing readable scores, for true print-quality scores, users should consider using LilyPond in conjunction with Rosegarden.
LilyPond is a dedicated music typesetting software that produces high-quality typeset output from specialized text files.
Rosegarden can export LilyPond files using “File->Export->Export LilyPond,” and it provides access to LilyPond features not available in Rosegarden’s native interface.
The File->Preview with LilyPond function allows for convenient previewing of LilyPond-formatted scores using a PDF viewer.
LilyPond options are available when exporting, previewing, or printing with LilyPond, offering additional customization.

LilyPond options

When using LilyPond export functions in Rosegarden, a dialog allows for specific LilyPond export options.
LilyPond export supports various paper sizes and landscape mode for printing.
Font size settings can be adjusted to control the size of notes and staffs on the printed score.
Users can choose to export content from all tracks, non-muted tracks, the currently selected track, or selected segments.
There’s an option to merge tracks with the same name, useful for creating piano scores with multiple voices.
Tempo marks, lyrics, and beamings can be exported based on user preferences.
Users can adjust the alignment of lyrics as Left, Center, or Right.
The “Ragged bottom” option allows for positioning extra vertical space at the bottom of the page when there are few staffs.
Enabling “point-and-click” debugging allows clicking notes in the PDF output to open the LilyPond source.
LilyPond can produce MIDI output, and users can choose to enable this option.
Headers in LilyPond output can be edited both in the export dialog and through the Composition->Edit Document Properties function.
NewPrinting compositions must either record something, or create some blank lengths of music (referred to as “segments”) that you can then fill in
Using MIDI files it does not store MIDI data internally Rosegarden splits out the music into one track per MIDI track or channel in the file
Rosegarden Project files contains your composition, all of the audio files it uses, any further data files required for plugins used in the composition, and any additional files you may want to include, all in one big bundle.
Other file formats Rosegarden can export to and import from a number of other file formats.
Merging files loading or importing the data from the file, as necessary, and adding it to the existing composition
Printing to produce true print-quality scores you should consider using LilyPond in conjunction with Rosegarden
LilyPond options export All tracks, Non-muted tracks, the current Selected track, or Selected segments Merge tracks that have the same name: for voices Export tempo marks Export lyrics: don’t do lyrics here Export beamings: use lp default Export block Headers: do automatically through lypdnew.sh

3. The Track Editor

Overview

Rosegarden’s layout is centered around a track structure, common to many sequencers.
The main window features a track editor with a list of tracks and their associated instruments displayed on the left side.
Users can manipulate and move blocks of music data referred to as “segments” within the track editor.
Specialized editors like notation, matrix, percussion matrix, and event list can be used to work with segments.
The type of segment created depends on the track it’s placed on; for example, an audio track creates audio segments, and a MIDI track creates MIDI segments.
Track parameters can be set to pre-select segment properties at the track level and fine-tune MIDI recording.
Tracks can be assigned to various MIDI, plugin synth, or audio instruments.
The button area on the left of the segment canvas displays track number, mute and record status, and track labels.
Users can mute/unmute tracks andselect a track as a record target by clicking on the respective buttons.
Track labels are optional and can be displayed via the Settings->Show Track Labels menu option, otherwise, instrument assignments are shown.

Tracks and instruments

Each track in Rosegarden must have an instrument assigned to it to produce sound.
The first 16 tracks are typically assigned to the 16 instruments of the first available MIDI device, while the next 16 tracks are assigned to audio.
To change the instrument assignment for a track, right-click on the track label, and a pop-up menu will allow you to select from available instruments.
Instruments can represent a single channel on a MIDI device or a mono/stereo audio output or audio synth plugin.
MIDI or synth plugin instruments are suitable for tracks containing note data, while audio instruments are used for tracks containing audio.
Multiple tracks can be assigned to the same instrument, causing them to produce sounds in a similar way.
The Instrument Parameter Box allows users to adjust various properties of the instrument associated with a track, such as selecting a specific patch for a MIDI instrument to produce a particular sound.
For more information about instruments, users can refer to the Studio section.

Creating segments

To create an empty segment in Rosegarden, use the pencil tool, which is typically the default active tool when starting Rosegarden.
Click on the pencil icon on the toolbar and then click at the point where you want the segment to start, at the appropriate height for the track and the correct time.
Drag rightwards to define the length of the segment in bars.
Segments can also be created using the Select tool by clicking and dragging with the middle mouse button or the left button with Ctrl held down.
If you need to draw a segment longer than the visible canvas, the canvas will scroll automatically once you reach its edge. [Can also use Segment > Stretch or Squash to assign number of measures.]
Holding Shift while clicking and dragging prevents the snap-to-grid effect.
New segments are initially in yellow color and display a treble clef by default.
Explore track parameters for more segment customization options.
To create a segment that starts in the middle of an existing segment, hold Ctrl and Alt when clicking. The track will expand to accommodate the new segment.
After creating a segment, you can edit it using the matrix, percussion matrix, or notation editors by double-clicking on the segment or right-clicking and choosing the desired editor from the context menu.
When recording from a MIDI device or audio input, new segments are automatically created for each recording.

Audio segments [probably will not use because of lmms]

An audio segment in Rosegarden contains recorded or sampled audio data, not editable note-event data.
Rosegarden enables you to record, play, arrange, and split audio segments but does not offer audio waveform editing features.
You can create an audio segment by recording from an audio source onto a track assigned to an audio instrument or by working with existing WAV files.
To manage audio segments, use the audio manager dialog accessible through File->Manage Audio Files.
You can import audio files by dragging and dropping them into the audio file manager or using its File menu.
To add audio files to a track, either drag-and-drop them onto Rosegarden’s track canvas or use the audio file manager’s Action->Insert into Selected Audio Track menu function if the selected track is assigned to an audio instrument.
Audio files associated with a composition are saved with the composition, but the audio files themselves are not. Maintain a proper audio file search path (via Composition->Edit Document Properties…->Audio) to keep audio files accessible together.
You can export your project to a Rosegarden project package file (.rgp) via File->Export->Export Rosegarden Project File to collect scattered audio files in one place.
The audio manager dialog displays sample-rate and other information for each audio file, marking any with a different sample rate than the current JACK audio session. Rosegarden will resample these files during playback, but you are advised to resample them separately using dedicated audio editing software for better quality.

Manipulating segments

In Rosegarden, you can manipulate segments using various tools available from the main toolbar.
The Select tool serves multiple purposes, including selecting, moving, copying, resizing, and creating segments.
To move a segment, use the Move tool and click and drag it. Holding Ctrl while dragging creates a copy instead of moving.
Resizing a segment is done with the Resize tool, which allows you to extend or shorten a segment. Holding Ctrl while resizing rescales the segment.
Stretching or squashing a segment can be achieved by holding Ctrl while resizing. This affects the speed of MIDI events or the time-stretching of audio.
The Split tool is used to split a single segment into two separate segments. Click on the segment you wish to split with the Split tool.
You can split segments at the closest barline to the cursor by default. Holding Shift while splitting prevents this.
Rosegarden offers additional Split functions in the Segments menu, including Split on Silence, Split by Pitch, Split by Recording Source, and Split at Time, each with specific functions for segment splitting.

Tempo and Time Signature

In Rosegarden, a composition is associated with a single stream of tempo changes and time signature changes.
Tempo changes can be constant or smoothly ramping to a different target tempo at a specific future time.
Tempo is displayed in beats per minute, and its duration depends on the time signature.
The tempo ruler in Rosegarden’s editors shows tempo and time signature changes throughout the composition.
You can adjust tempo changes by clicking and dragging the tempo line in the tempo ruler.
To insert a new tempo change, right-click on the ruler and select “Insert Tempo Change.”
The tempo and time signature editor lists all tempo and time signature changes and allows individual editing.
You can add or edit tempo changes using various methods, including the tempo ruler and the tempo and time signature editor.
Time signature changes in Rosegarden affect the structure of beats in each bar, and you can add or edit them using Composition menu functions or the tempo and time signature editor.
You can set tempo from an existing segment using functions like “Set Tempo to Audio Segment Duration” or “Set Tempos from Beat Segment” for MIDI events. [tempo map: you can record from a MIDI keyboard and tap a series of single notes at approximate beat positions, speeding up and slowing down gradually; then select the recorded segment !!!]

Markers, ranges, and loops

Markers in Rosegarden are moments in time with labels, useful for defining specific points in your composition. [sort of like commenting]
Markers are displayed in the main ruler at the top of Rosegarden’s editor windows.
To add a new marker, double-click on the marker area of the ruler, and you can edit its name and location in the marker editor. [easier to use right-click for insert and edit; also S-m to insert]
Clicking on the text of a marker in the marker ruler moves the playback pointer to that marker’s location.
You can set a loop range between two marker positions by clicking in the area between them with the Shift key pressed.
move to marker prev|next with C-,|.
Rosegarden also features a “quick marker” that can be defined [only one] on the fly with a single key and is useful for jumping to a specific position during recording. [Quick marker can only be moved, not removed, but it isn’t saved either, so it doesn’t matter. C-S-m insert; S-m jump to; C-1,1? !!!]
Ranges and loops allow you to highlight a period of time in the main ruler, used for editing operations and looping during playback.
To set the current range, click and drag with the Shift key pressed on the main ruler or between marker positions in the marker ruler.
Range editing enables you to cut, copy, and paste sections of music within the defined range, including segments, tempos, and time signatures.
You can insert an empty range at the current playback position to create space for composition using the Edit->Insert Range menu function.

Triggered segments

A triggered segment in Rosegarden is a segment that doesn’t appear on the main canvas but is triggered during playback by specific notes in other segments.
Triggered segments are managed through a window accessible via the Segments->Manage Triggered Segments option.
To create a new triggered segment, copy a segment or part of a segment to the clipboard, then use the Edit->Paste as New Triggered Segment menu option in the manager window.
Triggered segments can be stretched or squashed to match the duration of the triggering note, and their pitch and velocity can be adjusted to match the triggering event.
Playback timing options for triggered segments include playing as stored, truncating if longer than the note, ending at the same time as the note, or stretching/squashing to match the note duration.
Triggered segments may contain silence at the start or end, which will be played and adjusted as well.
It’s not possible to make a triggered segment start playing before the start time of its triggering note, trigger a segment from within another triggered segment, or trigger audio segments.
Editing a triggered segment affects all the notes that trigger it, not just the one used for editing. [All this sort of works, but needs experimenting !!!]

4. The Transport

[Much of this is irrelevant now since we are interested in notation - the only part that may be of interest is if we record midi in real-time and quantize.] Overview

The Transport in Rosegarden controls playback and displays the playback pointer’s position.
You can activate the Transport if it’s not visible by going to Settings->Show Transport.
The Transport displays time reached by the playback pointer in seconds by default but can be switched to show musical time (bar and beat counts), musical time with a metronome, or audio sample frame times.
It can toggle the display to show time remaining until the end of the composition.
Main controls on the Transport include starting and pausing playback, fast-forwarding, rewinding, stopping, and jumping to the beginning or end of the composition.
The Transport also shows the tempo and time signature in effect at the current playback position, which can be adjusted by double-clicking on them.
You can enter a precise time for the playback position by double-clicking anywhere on the main time display in the Transport window.
Additional controls and a MIDI event display are available in the bottom flap of the Transport, which can be toggled on or off.
These additional controls include buttons for recording, setting loop start and end points, soloing tracks, controlling metronomes, and silencing MIDI devices (the panic button).

Recording

To record a new segment into a track in Rosegarden, ensure the appropriate tracks are armed for recording by selecting the red (for audio tracks) or yellow (for MIDI tracks) LED-style buttons on the track labels.
Use the Transport’s record control to start the transport, play the existing composition, and simultaneously record into the selected track(s).
Rosegarden allows you to record multiple MIDI and audio tracks simultaneously, provided your computer has enough power and sufficient disk space.
Be cautious not to leave tracks selected when you intend to record in a different location.
Punch-in record, toggled with the Space bar, lets you switch between playback and recording without stopping the transport or arm for recording when the transport is stopped.
When recording to MIDI tracks, the recording source is determined by the MIDI devices selected in the MIDI device manager, filtered through the track level recording filter and global MIDI filters.
For audio tracks, the recording source for each track is the input selected for that track’s instrument in the instrument parameter box, which can be an external audio input or an audio submaster/master.
By default, audio tracks record from the soundcard’s first available physical record input, but you can use a JACK connection tool to connect other JACK audio applications to the input.

Synchronising to external transports

Rosegarden supports the JACK transport mechanism for synchronizing its transport with other JACK applications on the same computer.
To activate JACK transport, go to Settings->Configure Rosegarden… and check the “Use JACK transport” box.
When JACK transport is active, multiple applications subscribed to it share a common transport control, allowing you to start, stop, and move the transport from any of them.
Many Linux audio applications that use the JACK audio server also support JACK transport. Check their documentation for details.
Rosegarden also supports MIDI Time Code (MTC) synchronization in both master and slave modes.
MTC synchronization is useful for synchronizing Rosegarden with hardware MTC-capable devices or software on other computers connected via MIDI.
To set Rosegarden as the MTC Master, go to Settings->Configure Rosegarden… and in the MIDI page’s MIDI Sync tab, select “MTC Master” from the MIDI Time Code menu.
To make Rosegarden an MTC Slave, select “MTC Slave,” and Rosegarden’s transport will automatically synchronize with incoming MTC events.

Infrared Remote Controls

Rosegarden supports infrared remote controls for almost all transport functions.
To use infrared remote controls with Rosegarden, you need either the internal LIRC client (optional feature at compile time) or the KDE IRKick application (KDE LIRC daemon) available in your Linux distribution’s repositories.
You also need to install and configure the LIRC server daemon, with specific details depending on your remote control and receiver.
For more information and details about the internal LIRC client configuration file and IRKick basics, you can refer to Rosegarden’s website and the LIRC website.

5. The Studio

Devices, instruments and connections

Rosegarden refers to everything related to the sound systems attached to the computer as the “Studio.”
The Studio includes information about MIDI and audio hardware, connections, configurations, MIDI patches, and more.
Three essential terms in the Studio context are: Device, Instrument, and Connection.
A “Device” in Rosegarden is something capable of producing sounds, which can be a MIDI or audio device.
An “Instrument” is a sound-producing entity within a device that you can assign tracks to, controlling the sound they produce.
A “Connection” specifies the physical MIDI port a MIDI device is attached to and can be configured in the MIDI device manager.
Rosegarden may create default devices for available connections on startup, but it’s essential to configure them to match the actual hardware setup.
The studio setup is stored with every Rosegarden-format file you save.

Managing MIDI devices

The MIDI device manager dialog in Rosegarden displays available MIDI devices and their connections.
You can access this dialog through Studio->Manage MIDI Devices.
Default device configurations are provided at startup, but you can modify them in this dialog.
“Play devices” in the dialog provide targets for MIDI tracks, with each Play device having 16 instruments to assign tracks to.
By assigning a connection to a Play device, tracks assigned to it will play to the appropriate channel of any MIDI synth connected to that connection.
“Record devices” represent potential sources for recording MIDI, and you can make them current for recording by using the checkboxes in the dialog.

Managing banks and programs for MIDI devices!!!

Each MIDI device in Rosegarden corresponds to a set of instruments, and each instrument corresponds to a channel on your MIDI synth.
You can assign tracks to these instruments and choose which sounds (voices) they produce, but Rosegarden needs to know the names for all available voices.
The dialog for managing banks and programs allows you to attach banks of programs (voice names) to your MIDI devices, enabling you to set each instrument on a device to use one of these voices.
You can import program names from device (".rgd") files or create a new bank manually if there is no existing .rgd file for your synth.
Percussion key mappings are available for percussion programs, and they can be defined in the .rgd file.
For soft-synths or soundcard synths using SoundFont (.sf2) files, program names can be loaded directly from the .sf2 file into the dialog.
Some MIDI devices use a “variations” scheme, and you should enter program names in a bank format. Rosegarden can support devices with variations, and you can use the “Show Variation list based on MSB/LSB” option to display variations instead of banks in an instrument parameter box.
When importing a MIDI file, Rosegarden uses the existing studio setup to map MIDI programs to instruments, so ensure your studio is correctly configured for your devices before importing MIDI files to avoid losing program data.

Audio Routing

Any Rosegarden track assigned to an audio or synth plugin instrument becomes part of Rosegarden’s audio routing system.
There are 16 audio instruments and 16 synth plugin instruments, each with adjustable parameters such as fader level, pan, and effects.
The input connection of an instrument defines where Rosegarden reads audio data from when recording to that instrument. Common settings include external audio inputs, Rosegarden’s built-in audio submasters, or the master output for mixdowns.
The output connection of an instrument defines where the audio goes when played. Instruments can send audio to Rosegarden’s master output or up to eight internal submaster busses for grouping instruments.
Rosegarden supports pre-fader insert effects slots for each audio instrument but does not yet support effects on submaster busses or send effects. Users can achieve similar results using external JACK effects and mixing.
Further details about audio routing, mixing, and effects can be found in the audio mixer, instrument parameter box, and audio plugins sections.

MIDI Routing

Rosegarden features MIDI Thru, which allows for the instant sending of incoming MIDI events to specific output devices and MIDI channels.
MIDI Thru is enabled by default in Rosegarden but can be globally disabled through the menu option Studio->MIDI Thru Routing if you prefer to use an external MIDI routing system.
There is a global filter for MIDI event types that lets you choose which event types to route and which to ignore. Details about this filter can be found in the MIDI filters section.
MIDI Thru routing behaves differently when Rosegarden is playing or stopped compared to when it is recording.
During playback or when Rosegarden is stopped, MIDI Thru routes events to the selected track’s instrument, indicated by the highlighted track name.
During recording, MIDI events are routed to the armed track instruments based on the recording filters. The selected track does not matter; the routing is based on the filters.
Each event corresponds to the first track with a matching record filter.

The Audio Mixer

Rosegarden’s audio mixer window, accessible through Studio->Audio Mixer, resembles a hardware audio mixer.
It allows you to view and modify the state of multiple audio instruments simultaneously.
The audio mixer provides controls such as playback level meters, fader controls, routing options, pan settings, mono/stereo toggles, and effects plugin slots for each audio and synth plugin instrument.
You can also manage the master audio output level, record level, and submaster output levels within the audio mixer.
The Settings menu in the audio mixer is significant and includes audio routing settings for stereo audio record inputs and the number of submasters.
Adjusting the number of submasters explicitly to “None” when they are not in use can lead to a small performance improvement.

The MIDI Mixer

The MIDI Mixer in Rosegarden allows users to view and edit instrument parameter values for multiple MIDI instruments simultaneously.
The window is organized with tabs, one for each playback MIDI device in the studio configuration.
Selecting a device tab reveals controls for the 16 instruments associated with that device.
The displayed controls are based on the settings in the control parameter manager and include volume adjustments (corresponding to MIDI volume control change) and approximate output level indicators.

Audio Plugins

Rosegarden uses audio plugins, which are separate software pieces that can manipulate audio signals in various ways. They are categorized into effects plugins and synth plugins.
Effects plugins alter audio signals, such as reverb, delay effects, or compression.
Each audio or synth plugin instrument in Rosegarden has five associated effects slots, which can be used to chain up to five effects onto the audio signal before it undergoes fader level and pan processing.
To load an effects plugin into a slot, you can click its button on the instrument parameter box or in the audio mixer window.
Synth plugins are used to generate sounds from note event segments and can replace hardware or standalone soft-synth MIDI devices.
Synth plugins provide better control, repeatability, and routing options compared to external MIDI devices.
Synth plugins can be configured by selecting a track, assigning it to a synth plugin instrument, and then loading a synth plugin.
Some plugins may have their own editor windows for more extensive control.
Using plugins can consume CPU resources and may affect reliability, as crashes or hangs in a plugin can impact Rosegarden’s stability.

Metronomes

Rosegarden has two built-in metronomes, one for recording and one for normal playback.
These metronomes send notes to a MIDI instrument and use the same instrument, pitch, and velocity information.
You can configure the metronomes by going to Studio->Manage Metronome, where you can select a MIDI instrument, set the resolution (beat, subdivision, or bar), pitch, and velocities.
The actual voice the metronome uses depends on the instrument selected, similar to how MIDI tracks depend on their assigned instruments.
The record and play metronomes can be enabled or disabled using the metronome button in the Transport window. By default, the record metronome is on, and the play metronome is off.
There’s also a “visual metronome” feature that makes the transport window flash brightly to mark each beat during playback.

MIDI filters

The MIDI filters dialog in Rosegarden allows you to specify which MIDI events should be ignored or accepted by the software.
You can use checkboxes in this dialog to indicate which types of MIDI events you want to filter out or record.
This feature is helpful for customizing how Rosegarden handles MIDI events when forwarding them using MIDI THRU or recording them.

External MIDI control surfaces

Rosegarden can be controlled to some extent by an external MIDI device, allowing you to adjust mixer settings and other features.
To set up external MIDI control, you need to use an ALSA MIDI connection manager like qjackctl to connect your MIDI controller device to Rosegarden’s “external controller” input and output MIDI ports.
MIDI control change messages can be used to adjust mixer track settings based on the incoming MIDI channel from your controller device.
Rosegarden also supports MIDI controller numbers 81 and 82 for changing the currently active window and the selected track in the main window, respectively.
The behavior of MIDI controller number 82 depends on the number of tracks in the window, ensuring it uses the full MIDI controller data range.

6. Special Parameters

The Track Parameter Box assign instruments to tracks control what incoming MIDI data from which sources will be recorded control staff attributes govern how MIDI segments will be created for each track

Playback parameters alternative mechanism to the menu-based system of instrument assignment
Track recording filters control what events are recorded to this track all setting is safe and convenient if you are recording only one MIDI track
Staff export options normal, small, or tiny size
Create segments with means of controlling many of the segment parameters for segments that don’t yet exist aimed especially at notation users

The Segment Parameter Box modify some aspects of the selected segments The Instrument Parameter Box which instrument is assigned to the current selected track

MIDI Instrument Parameters percussion toggle that controls whether only percussion programs should be offered shows you the controllers available for this device
Audio Instrument Parameters two main faders Audio instruments are always ultimately stereo five buttons at lower left are the effects slots.
Synth Plugin Instrument Parameters most important control here is the button at top left

7. Quantization

Quantization is the process of adjusting note and event positions so that they align with exact beat divisions, typically used to achieve precision or clear notation.
In Rosegarden, you can perform general quantization using Segments->Quantize in the main window or Adjust->Quantize in matrix or notation editors.
The quantize dialog in Rosegarden provides various quantization options, including the
- grid quantizer moves the start times of notes so that they start at the nearest point on some grid has adjustable parameters: base grid unit, swing,iterative amount, duration with start times several ways to apply grid quantization, including using the Quantize menu in the Segment Parameter Box and a quantize control in the matrix view.
- legato quantizer carries out a simple grid quantization, and also adjusts the note durations so as to remove any gaps between notes; also available with Adjust->Quantize->Legato function in the Matrix editor
- heuristic notation quantizer adjust note start times and durations to produce readable notation can configure complexity, base grid unit, tuplet level, re-beam, articulation, tie, split-and-tie
Rosegarden provides

Explore the possibilities here thoroughly including raw note ruler !!!

8. The Matrix editor

The Grid and Quantize controls

The Rosegarden matrix editor is used for viewing and editing music in a grid format, with each note represented as a block at a height corresponding to its pitch.
Each matrix editor window displays a single segment of music, and you can access it by right-clicking on a segment in the main canvas and selecting the matrix editor from the menu.
The matrix editor provides Grid and Quantize controls in its main toolbar.
The Grid menu controls the size of the visible grid and the time resolution for note insertion and movement, allowing for snapping to grid points.
The Quantize menu performs quantization, adjusting selected notes or the entire segment to a chosen grid resolution.
The Quantize menu continuously shows the current quantization resolution for the selected segment or notes.

Inserting notes

In the matrix view of Rosegarden, you can enter notes using various methods.
The simplest way is to use the mouse with the pencil tool selected. Click and drag to place a note on the matrix editor at a specific time and pitch.
The Select tool (arrow) also allows you to draw notes using the middle mouse button or the left mouse button with Ctrl pressed.
Note durations are snapped to the grid unit defined by the Grid setting, which you can adjust.
You can enter notes using the PC keyboard by selecting the desired duration with number keys and then pressing pitch keys (A, S, D, etc.) to input notes. Shift sharpens notes, and Shift+Ctrl flattens them.
For notes an octave higher or lower, use the corresponding keys on the keyboard.
All insertion commands are available in the Tools menu, and keyboard shortcuts are designed for a QWERTY-layout keyboard. [use keyboard shortcuts to get dvorak? !!!]
You can also enter notes using a MIDI keyboard or other MIDI control device, with durations determined by the Grid setting, in a process called “step recording.”

Selecting notes

In the matrix editor of Rosegarden, you can select notes using the Select (arrow) tool.
To select notes, outline a rectangular area that contains the notes you want to select. Clicking on a single event selects only that event.
Holding Shift while selecting notes adds the new selection to any existing selection instead of replacing it.
To clear a selection, click in an empty space on the matrix editor or press the Escape key.
You can select all notes of a specific pitch by shift-clicking on a key in the piano keyboard on the left side of the matrix editor. Shift-click and drag to select a range of pitches.
The Edit->Filter Selection function allows you to filter a range of events in various categories out of your selection, either inclusively or exclusively. [This is neat, though I’m not sure what to use it for.]
Once your selection is filtered, you can manipulate it using conventional editing methods.

Moving and copying notes

In the Rosegarden matrix editor, you can move notes in both time and pitch.
To move notes, you can either click and drag them with the Move tool or select them and then drag them using the Select tool.
To copy notes, select them and use standard copy and paste functions. After pasting, the pasted notes will be selected, and you can further drag them to their desired position.
Alternatively, you can copy notes by selecting them with the Select tool and then holding Ctrl while click-and-dragging the selected notes to a new position.

9. The Percussion Matrix editor

The Percussion Matrix editor is similar to the regular Matrix editor but displays pitch names on the vertical scale instead of a piano keyboard.
It is designed for use with percussion programs on MIDI instruments, where each note pitch corresponds to a different percussion sound.
The display of pitch names depends on whether the segment being edited is playing through a percussion instrument with associated key mappings to define the names.
If key mappings are not defined, the standard matrix view piano keyboard will be displayed instead.

10. The Notation editor

Notes To optimize windowq with leftwm:

Put track editor into float H-S-t
Open notation editor as float
Resize notation editor with H-<mouse-right> and it will come to the top

(This system works really well!)

Midi -> rg doesn’t translate well for ly always eg grace notes are written out.

EAN experiment as needed

Introduction

The Rosegarden Notation editor allows users to view and edit one or more staffs in traditional score notation.
It supports various musical elements such as chords, overlapping and nested beamed groups, triplets, tuplets, grace notes, dynamics, accents, and text.
While it provides good support for music notation, it does not offer the same level of fine control over layout as dedicated score editing programs.
Rosegarden is not focused on producing typeset-quality scores but can export LilyPond files that may serve as a basis for typesetting.

Single and multiple staffs

There are three ways to open a notation editor in Rosegarden: double-clicking on a segment, using the “Open in Default Editor” menu function (Return key), or using the “Open in Notation Editor” menu functions.
Double-clicking on a segment opens it in the notation editor, and you can also open multiple selected segments together in a single notation window by holding Shift and double-clicking the last one.
The “Open in Default Editor” menu function works similarly to double-clicking and opens selected segments in the default editor.
The “Open in Notation Editor” menu function allows you to select segments and open them in the notation editor. You can switch between staffs within the notation editor, with the topmost staff being the default current staff.

Linear and page layouts

The default display mode in the notation editor is the Linear layout, where staffs are shown one on top of another in a single horizontally scrollable line. [All functions including various rulers are available here, so this should be where we do most of the work.]
The notation editor also offers two page-based layouts: Continuous Page and Multiple Page.
In Continuous Page layout, music is displayed in one infinitely-tall page with each staff breaking at the end of a line.
In Multiple Page layout, music is divided into real pages based on the specified printing resolution.
Some display and editing functions work in both page layout modes and linear layout.
You can switch between these layout modes using menu functions: Linear Layout, Continuous Page Layout, and Multiple Page Layout.

Rulers and cursors

The Rosegarden Notation editor includes two graduated rulers: one at the top and one at the bottom of the main notation canvas.
There are several types of cursors associated with these rulers, including the insert cursor (purple) and the playback pointer (blue).
The insert cursor marks the point for operations like insert and paste and can be repositioned using various methods, including clicking on the ruler or using arrow keys.
The playback pointer indicates the current playback or record position and can also be repositioned.
The raw note ruler is useful for editing quantized notation, displaying the actual performance duration of notes. [Can probably tweak durations with it. !!!]
The chord name ruler attempts to display the chords that are sounding in the piece but is for informational purposes only. [Can be useful to understand chord progressions. !!!]
The tempo ruler displays the global tempo and allows for entering, editing, and manipulating tempo changes. [Can ramp with this, though doing so may be better in lmms. !!!]
These rulers and cursors are typically shown in Linear layout mode and may not all be displayed by default [can be changed in View].
You can enable or disable certain rulers and cursors through settings and configuration options.

Tools and selections

The Rosegarden Notation editor offers various tools for editing, including selection, erasing, inserting notes, rests, text, and more.
Functions in the editor fall into 3 categories like tools, functions that operate on selections, and drag operations.
Choosing a tool changes the default behavior of the mouse buttons on the notation canvas.
Selections are made using the Select (arrow) tool, which allows you to outline a rectangular area to select events. Selection are only from one staff and can be filtered.
Shift will accumulate selection contents. Double-click selects bar. Triple-click selects segment.
Many menu functions require a selection to be made on the canvas before they can be used, and the Edit menu offers options for selecting extended areas.
Dragging can also be used for editing, such as changing pitch by dragging note heads up or down or changing the timing of notes by dragging them left or right.
There are functions for transposing notes by a specified interval, including transposing by semitones or intervals with a dialog for customization.
Double-clicking on a single event opens an editing dialog for that event.

Inserting notes and rests

To insert a note in the Rosegarden Notation editor, select a note duration from the toolbar and then click on the staff at the desired point.
Accidentals can be selected from the toolbar to insert sharpened or flattened notes, or you can use the “Follow previous accidental” icon to follow the last accidental used at the same height on the staff.
Inserting a note at the same time as an existing note of different duration will create chords and possibly ties.
Adding a note exactly over an existing note of different duration will change the duration of the existing note.
Adding a rest at the same time as an existing note will silence the note for the duration of the rest.
Typing notes and rests with the PC keyboard involves selecting a duration and pitch using number and letter keys. You can also toggle between dotted and undotted durations [with . and triplet version of note with G].
Rests can be inserted by pressing “P” [pressing P will change notes into equivalent rests], and you can switch between note and rest tools using “T”.
Chord mode can be activated using the “H” key to insert subsequent notes at the same time as the last one. [This is quite effective if entering notes from a computer keyboard.]
Keyboard shortcuts for changing note durations are available, and holding Ctrl while pressing a number key selects the corresponding dotted-note tool.[Doesn’t work !!!]
Step recording with a MIDI keyboard is possible by configuring the keyboard as the default MIDI record device, selecting a duration, and using the step recording button on the toolbar or the Tools menu.
Note durations can be changed using keyboard shortcuts, and you can enter notes of different durations during step recording.

Be aware of some of these shortcuts over time because they can simplify entry. !!!

Clef and key

In Rosegarden, time-related changes like tempo and time signatures apply uniformly to all staffs, ensuring consistent playback and notation.
[You can change tempos, and time signatures in the Composition dropdown.]
[You can change clefs, keys, in the Segment dropdown.]
When changing the clef, you can choose to maintain current pitches or transpose into an appropriate octave for existing notes following the clef change.
When changing the key, you can select the key signature and decide whether to transpose it according to segment transposition or use it as specified.
The scope of the key change can be applied to the current segment only or to all segments on all tracks at that time.
You can specify how existing notes following a key change should behave, whether maintaining their current pitches, maintaining current accidentals, or attempting to transpose into the new key.

Some of these may require trying out as necessary. !!!

Text, Lyrics, and LilyPond directives

Rosegarden allows you to add various types of text to a staff, including single text items for annotations, lyrics, and LilyPond directives.
The Text tool is used for creating single text items and lyrics. You can click at the point where you want to add text, and a dialog box will appear for you to enter the text and choose its intended purpose.
There are different styles or purposes for text, such as Dynamic, Direction, Tempo, Chord, and more. These styles determine how the text is displayed. [Some annotations may be turned off by default.]
Lyrics can be edited using the Lyric editor, which follows specific formatting rules with bar lines and syllables. [Do not do lyrics in rg - go to lilypond instead.]
LilyPond directives are special text used for exporting .ly files with extended functionality not available through Rosegarden’s native interface.
LilyPond directives include Segno, Coda, Alt1, Alt2, double barlines, terminating barlines, dashed barlines, glissando, arpeggio symbols, and font size adjustments like Tiny, Small, and Normal.
Proper placement of LilyPond directives within a measure can affect their function and appearance in the exported score. [Some experimentation is required especially with the Lilypond directives which can likely be very helpful if they translate over properly in to the text - they really don’t look particularly good in the notation editor though because they appear as text. However, clicking on the note using T gives choice of directive and that looks just fine in the lp export!]

Guitar Chords

You can add guitar chord diagrams to a notation track in Rosegarden.
To add a guitar chord diagram, toggle the Guitar Chord button and then click on the area where you want to add it.
Rosegarden provides a chord dictionary with common chord fingerings categorized as beginner, common, and all.
You can also create your own chord fingerings by clicking the ‘New’ button, which opens a chord editor where you can draw the fingering, specify the root, chord extension, and starting fret number.
When adding your own fingerings, you can type custom extension values, but they will only be available in the ‘all’ list.
You can delete and edit your custom chords, but predefined dictionary chords cannot be changed, and any mistakes should be reported to the development team.

This is actually pretty neat stuff because rg figures out the chord for you, though it can be changed.

Slurs and hairpins

Slurs and hairpins in Rosegarden are stored as events, similar to notes or rests.
To create a slur or hairpin, select the area (a series of notes or other elements) you want it to cover, then use the “Add Slur,” “Add Crescendo,” or “Add Decrescendo” options from the Phrase menu.
The placement of hairpins can be challenging, especially when they run in line with dynamic markings. Sometimes, their appearance in Rosegarden’s notation editor may differ from the final result when exported to LilyPond. [There seems to be no cresc or dimin text as lp offers. Hairpins can be moved sideways but not up|down.]
Rosegarden’s slurs work best when all the stems of the notes are running in the same direction, and they may need manual repositioning for better placement. Slurs tend to improve their appearance after exporting to LilyPond.
You can remove a slur or hairpin by selecting it with the selection tool and hitting Delete or by clicking on it with the erase tool active.

Note stems and slashes

In Rosegarden’s Notation editor, you can adjust the stem direction of selected notes using the “Stem Direction” options found in the Notes menu.
These options allow you to set the stems either up or down, or to revert to the stem direction that Rosegarden would choose automatically.
Additionally, the Note menu offers options for adding slashes across note stems, which are used for notational purposes, such as indicating short repeated notes or drum rolls. These slashes do not affect playback or MIDI generation in Rosegarden.

Beams

Beams in the Rosegarden Notation editor are used for grouping notes together.
To add beams to selected notes, use the “Beam Group” option found in the Phrase menu.
To remove a beam from selected notes, use the “Unbeam” menu option.
You can have multiple beamed groups simultaneously, but you may need to manually set stem directions for each group.
Rosegarden can automatically guess sensible beaming for a piece of music; use the “Auto-Beam” option on the Phrase menu to invoke this feature.
Automatic beaming is also done when loading a MIDI file, and during note entry (which can be disabled in settings).

Triplets and other tuplets

A triplet group consists of three notes or chords played in the time of two.
The term “tuplet” refers to a situation where notes with a total duration of any given number of units are played in the time of a different number of units (e.g., nine notes in the time of eight, six in the time of four).
Rosegarden’s triplet and tuplet menu functions squash existing notes or rests to play quicker, filling in the leftover space with a final rest and representing the whole as a tuplet group.
You can create triplet groups by entering the first two notes, making them into triplets, and then filling in the rest with the final note. Alternatively, you can apply the triplet operation before entering any notes, effectively turning the rest into triplet form and inserting the notes on top of it. [Good way is to put the 3 notes down, select them, then triplet with C-r; better way may be to go into triplet mode with g|G, and just enter the notes.]
To specify a general tuplet group, you need to know the base note (e.g., a crotchet) and the ratio of the number of base notes written to the number played. [Concept should be similar to triplets, but setup isn’t automatic.]

EAN!!!

Paste types

Rosegarden’s Notation editor provides various types of Paste operations to handle music editing, as traditional cut-and-paste is less straightforward in music.
The available Paste types include Restricted, Simple, Open and Paste, Note Overlay, and Matrix Overlay.
Restricted Paste requires an existing gap of sufficient duration to contain the clipboard’s contents, while Simple Paste erases events to create a gap for pasting.
Open and Paste makes room for the paste by moving subsequent events, while Note Overlay and Matrix Overlay handle pasting notes in specific ways with respect to overlaps and ties.
These paste types can be accessed through the Paste… menu option on the Edit menu.

Matrix overlay is unclear - seems to be the same as Simple !!!

Adjusting Notation

The “Normalize Rests” function in Rosegarden’s Notation editor can be used to adjust, split, and merge rests to ensure they have correct durations and fall on appropriate boundaries within the time signature. [Eg q h q in 4/4 -> w]
“Tie Notes at Barlines” is a function designed to split excessively long notes into shorter tied notes, particularly when they overflow barlines or cannot be displayed as a single note.
“Split-and-Tie Overlapping Chords” is a function used to split and tie overlapping notes and chords, helping to create neat blocks of chords and single notes. [!!!]
“Halve Durations” and “Double Durations” functions allow for simple rescaling of note durations, while more complex rescaling can be achieved using the “Stretch or Squash” function. [!!!]
To reposition notation elements like slurs, hairpins, and text events, you can use Ctrl-click and drag. However, this method cannot be used to reposition notes. [Works but not with much control.]

These are good ways to make the notation neater and thus better formed for lilypond probably. !!!

Interpreting Performance Cues in Notation

The “Interpret” function in Rosegarden’s Notation editor allows you to modify note velocities and timings based on indicated dynamics.
Interpretations available include applying text dynamics (e.g., p, mf, ff), making notes gradually increase or decrease in velocity during crescendo or decrescendo hairpins, stressing beats, and articulating slurs, staccato, and tenuto markings.
Text dynamics such as pp, p, mp, mf, f, ff, and fff are matched to set velocities based on the last “Dynamic” text seen on the same staff.
Crescendo and decrescendo hairpins adjust note velocities to create a gradual increase or decrease in loudness.
Stressing beats makes notes landing on bar or beat boundaries slightly louder than surrounding notes.
Articulating markings like slurs, staccato, and tenuto affect note lengths, with unslurred notes shortened, staccato notes further shortened, and notes inside slurs and tenuto markings played at their full length.

[Couldn’t get this to really work - not important though for notation. !!!]

Notation from performance data

Rosegarden, while primarily a sequencer, offers notation editing capabilities, which require adjusting note times and durations for musical precision.
This quantization, known as “notation quantization,” improves the accuracy of notes shown in the notation editor.
Notation quantization affects only what is visible in notation and doesn’t impact notes played or edited in other views.
You can see the effects of notation quantization in the notation editor through the raw note ruler or by highlighting altered note heads in green.
Rosegarden provides various quantization parameters that allow you to customize the quantization process, including complexity, base grid unit, and tuplet level.
You can also control how the quantizer tidies up after quantization, including re-beaming notes, adding articulations like staccato, tenuto, and slurs, tying notes at barlines, and splitting and tying overlapping chords.
These quantization settings can be adjusted to suit different musical contexts and preferences.

Again more to experiment with in the quantization section. !!!

Playing ornaments

Rosegarden supports playback of ornaments using triggered segments.
To create a new ornament, write out the desired notes, select them, and use the “Note->Ornaments->Make Ornament…” option. This creates a triggered segment.
To make a note play an existing ornament, select it and use “Note->Ornaments->Trigger Ornament…”
You can edit the notes played in a triggered ornament by double-clicking on the triggering note.
Note that Rosegarden can adjust the pitch of triggered segments to match their triggering notes but cannot transpose into a different key or scale position.

Figure out how to setup a file with ornaments defined - didn’t get an answer to this from the rg list, but the article Ornaments: Pleasure and Pain may have a solution. !!!

Note styles

Rosegarden allows customization of how different types of notes are visually represented, including note heads, tails, and fill options.
Standard styles like Classical, Cross, Triangle, and Mensural are provided for note appearance.
You can change the style of individual notes by selecting them and using the Note Style menu options.
Each note remembers its chosen style, and this information is saved as part of the composition.
You can also set a default style for new notes using the “Configure Rosegarden…” option in the Settings menu.
Advanced users can create custom note styles by describing them in XML files. The standard styles are also defined in this way.

Note fonts

Rosegarden comes with a default scalable notation font called Feta, developed by the LilyPond project, suitable for classical music. [It seems to be all that is required.]
Rosegarden supports additional notation fonts, but you need to provide them in TrueType (.ttf) or PostScript Type-1 (.pfb, .pfa) format and have the necessary permissions to install them in the Rosegarden directory.
To install a supported notation font, copy the font files into the “fonts” subdirectory of the Rosegarden installation directory and restart Rosegarden.
Supported fonts include Fughetta, Petrucci, Maestro, Opus, Inkpen, Sonata, Steinberg, and Xinfonia, but it’s your responsibility to ensure you have the legal rights to use them.
You can also create new mapping files to use new fonts, especially if they have similar mappings or metrics to existing fonts.
For more details on customizing fonts and mappings, refer to the “Customising Rosegarden” section.

11. The Event List editor

The Event List editor in Rosegarden displays events within a single segment in a raw form.
It allows for precise editing of individual event properties.
This editor provides a detailed view of events within a segment for fine-tuning and customization.
You can access the Event List editor in Rosegarden for working with events in your compositions.

Probably is merit in learning this for the purpose of fine-tuning. !!!

12. Customising Rosegarden

Configuring custom notation fonts

Customizing Rosegarden involves configuring custom notation fonts.
Unsupported notation fonts in TrueType or Type-1 formats can be supported through mapping XML files.
Mapping XML files describe font character maps and metrics for Rosegarden’s use.
Custom fonts can be pixmap-based or scalable system fonts.
Mapping files include elements like font information, origin, copyright, type, and more.
Custom fonts can be antialiased (smooth) if specified.
Scalable fonts can have autocrop attributes to adjust spacing.
Font requirements are used for scalable fonts and allow font composition from multiple system fonts.
Font-sizes element specifies available notation font sizes and their relationships to non-font elements.
Font-scale and font-size elements define font proportions and sizes.
Font-symbol-map lists symbols in the notation font and their sources, including pixmap files or system font code points.
Various attributes like name, src, code, glyph, and more are used to describe symbols.
Customization allows users to tailor notation fonts to their preferences.
Mapping XML files are typically stored in the fonts/mappings subdirectory of the Rosegarden installation directory.
Users can edit provided mapping files or create their own to customize fonts effectively.

Creating new notation styles

Rosegarden’s notation editor can display and edit notes in various standard styles.
Notation styles are defined in XML style definition files.
Users can create new notation styles by writing simple XML files.
Rosegarden determines which styles to offer based on installed style files.
Default style examples can be found in the styles subdirectory of the Rosegarden installation directory.
The XML format for notation styles includes elements like “rosegarden-note-style,” “global,” and “note.”
Attributes within these elements define parameters for note styles, such as note type, shape, font character name, filled head, stem presence, flags, slashes, and more.
Users can base new styles on existing ones by specifying a “base-style.”
Feedback on creating new styles is welcomed on the Rosegarden mailing-lists.
The file name, not the “rosegarden-note-style” element, currently defines the style name, but this may change in the future.
The XML format is designed to describe standard styles that come with Rosegarden and may not support extensive customization.
Users can define note head shapes and fonts for different note styles.
Styles can specify the presence of stems, flags, slashes, and their positions relative to note heads.
Rosegarden’s notation editor provides flexibility in creating and customizing notation styles.

13. Credits and License

14. Rosegarden Revision History

Last revision seems to be May 2008

zz

NOTE4: we can use rg for input (-> emacs lilypond ) and playback (better than qtractor|lmms ?) NOTE3: why we should not use rg for notation

it is very awkward
it does not produce highest quality lilypond
we aren’t using quantization anyway (which doesn’t work too well either)

NOTE2: the export was not the problem - the template time signature was! NOTE1: after considerable experimentation, it seems the ly export is not of high quality and is filled with errors. therefore we need to consider alternative system. additionally there are continuous crashes when using timidity (though it was good with yoshimi).

slurs do not sync with lyrics automatically, so use . to make lyric go for more than a single note.

MIDI/audio sequencer and notation editor (not exactly a daw) (far better playback control than frescobaldi!)

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Rosegarden handbook make sure fluidsynth has been setup or rebooting is necessary for rosegarden to see there is a midi

rethink the usage of rg because in the past we just wanted it as a pre-lilypond interface however, since it can do much more a proper examination is required plan

dakloos midi imported using default yoshimi arpeggio sounds really neat!

Catzenjammer of the Vegan Kind

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 01:15:24 -0700

(Image generated by Microsoft Designer.)

This article deals with confusion and distress that can materialize for humans who put cats on vegan diets.

Catwalk addresses the issue from the cat’s personal situation, while Catacomb is oriented towards predicaments the cat’s guardian often faces. Rational for being aware of the mechanisms at play is provided in Catharsis.

Catwalk

The question on display here is:

If you are a vegan, should you be feeding your cats vegan?

Feeding your cats a vegan diet has nothing to do with whether you are a vegan or not.

Vegan diets for cats are well-established for more than three decades. These diets are clinically approved and offered by various companies. (See Vecado for example.)

The notion that cats are carnivores and therefore have to eat meat, is a fictitious one that does not apply the carnivore taxonomy appropriately. A carnivore is a classification based on certain physiological traits such as canine teeth, and short intestinal tracts. These traits enable carnivores to process animal products more easily than say herbivores. There is no necessity for meat consumption though (as one of many such examples, see Jed Gillen’s book Obligate Carnivore). Cats require specific nutrients, not specific delivery systems (see Vegan Cats 101 article).

Those that cattack vegan diets for cats usually do a catwalk along this yellow brick road.

Embark with cats cannot survive on a vegan diet.
When the above is shown to be false empirically, the goal posts are moved to, cats may survive on a vegan diet, but they can’t thrive.
After again being foiled by empirical evidence showing thriving vegan cats, the last flail insists it’s not natural for cats to be on a vegan diet.

The problem with this ‘Appeal to Nature’ is that it is a logical fallacy (see definition or a more extensive article Natural = Good?). Note the effort falls apart when confronted with the fact that it is also not natural for cats to be eating kibbles or tinned food much of which actually has vegetable ingredients in it, by the way, as well as synthetic taurine. Cats are healthier and live longer (see Study Shows Cats Are Living Longer… ) than they did 40 years ago due to people doing unnatural things to cat food.

Catacomb

Filled with dead ideas that keep crawling out like zombies, the proselytizing centers around:

If you are a vegan but don’t feed your cats vegan, should you be allowed to insist that people coming to your house eat vegan?

Well it is your house right? Do you not make decisions on your own turf?

You really don’t have to justify your actions using the common ‘we have a choice to be vegan but cats don’t due to limited vegan options’. The argument is a moderately good one, but is not ubiquitously meaningful since cats really don’t have a choice other than the one you make for them.

If your friends, neighbors, family members, random visitors, or the carnivorous vegan police, don’t like your decisions, you should welcome them with open arms not to come to your house.

Cattacks here can follow these primary paths (responses are suggested in italics):

You are bringing non-vegan food into your house for your cat, therefore, I should be able to do the same!
Okay, I completely agree, that you should be able to bring my cat non-vegan cat food. Here are the brands that my cat likes …
You let your cat eat non-vegan, therefore I should be able to as well!
Here is a reality check: you are not a cat. Despite your wishfoolness, you really aren’t a cat. Even if you employ technology to promote such an idea as in the video below, you are still not a cat! Okay? So get over it! However, if it means that much to you, I will order some extra tins of cat food and you can share the same dinner with my cat.
- You are a hypocrite because you do non-vegan things yet claim you’re a vegan!
  Well this one is actually an attempted Kobayashi Maru gotcha to catapult a capitulation: If you are a vegan, and you feed your cat vegan, you are imposing your will upon your cat. However, if you are a vegan, and you feed your cat non-vegan, you are being a hypocrite. Notice the common element here has nothing to do with the cat or the cat’s diet. It has to do with your being a vegan!

Imposing your will is something that guardians do anyway as part of the job of bringing up cats, dogs, children, parents, or even a spouse. Doing so is part of being responsible and so long as your will benefits the subject, there is nothing wrong in such imposition.

The hypocrisy accusation though is more interesting.

First, one should understand that there is no logical fallacy of hypocrisy. So behaving as a hypocrite, does not make your argument incorrect. While your personal credibility may diminish with some, hypocrisy does not bear any consequence upon the argument itself.

For instance, even an animal abuser is correct when speaking out against animal abuse. The activities the individual engages in, have no bearing on the correctness of what is being spoken (ie that animals should not be subjected to abuse).

Activists often fall prey to the hypocrisy accusation, because they are under the misguided illusion that they must behave perfectly or what they say has no merit. On such matters, if you engage in earnest self-flagellation, you might as well stop breathing because you are killing microbes every time you inhale! In fact, such reasoning is gleefully catcalled thus: You aren’t vegan because you kill microbes, therefore I can eat corpse.

However, the above pout is merely an illustration of the Tu Quoque (you too) fallacy, explained in this Nobody Is Vegan example.

So, despite many being conditioned into believing that “Do as I say and not as I do” is a bad attitude, it needs to be understood that one’s personal actions do not alter the morality/validity of a statement.

Second, do realize that the ‘holier than thou’ attitude you are being accused of, is a result of the ‘holier than thou’ attitude that is already present in your accuser. In other words, I am so holy, that you are not entitled to accuse me of not being so holy, just because you’re a vegan! It is irrelevant whether you actually made any such accusation, because your being vegan becomes the accusation itself!

This of course leads to the reality that your accuser already knows that he or she is not very holy. Usually, to buffer such self-awareness, the accuser resorts to reciting numerous acts of Heavy Holiness such as:

I have a foster child in Africa
I gently take out spiders in my house
I only eat corpse parts once a week

Or in case of serious desperation, some conjure up a direct connection to the supreme being of their choice, announcing that “God gave us dominion over animals” which of course is just a precursor to not just speciesism, but its subsequent applications justifying racism, sexism, ableism, etc. Admittedly, having some god on your side can be of considerable convenience as Joan Baez’ beautiful singing illustrates:

We have often seen holiness play out with serious consequences. As one example, a Jehovah’s witness couple who used to visit us, went vegan advised by the wife’s doctor to restore her constitution. They complained to us that their usual circle attacked them mercilessly for such dietary blasphemy, to their total astonishment! They hadn’t even gone vegan for ethical reasons, but it seems some people really covet their neighbors’ greater holiness.

Catharsis

Knowing the terms of engagement in any encounter is important. However recognizing when these terms are being violated through fallacious argumentation, improper imposition, and frantic self-image validation is even more important.

Too often some allow bullies, intellectual or otherwise, to ram their views through while accusing you of doing the same. The saying “With friends like these, who needs enemies” becomes increasingly apparent in such situations.

Fortunately, recognition of the way the game is being played can be helpful and healthful, not only for your own peace of mind, but also if one hopes to instill some understanding in others.

Yahoo

Fri, 24 May 2024 19:26:13 -0700

Yahoo Finance is primarily a financial news and data aggregator. It also offers stock quotes, market data such as analyst reports, as well as portfolio management resources. It is suitable for financial professionals and individuals looking to manage portfolios and get insights into stock quotes and market data.

Finance

The Yahoo Finance homepage is composed of several sections and these appear down the left side or across the top (on a wide view).

My Portfolio

In this section, it is possible to create or track various portfolios by linking to a brokerage account, importing from csv file, creating manually. The portfolios are listed by name as well as any watchlists that are setup. News on portfolio items are also display on the Create a Portfolio with Holdings page. This setup seems worth doing even if you have things setup in a brokerage.

News

Current news on many topics and regions is found here in appropriate groupings. Some of the items are likely sponsored by organizations like Motley Fool who are trying to lure customers.

Latest News: general financial news with buttons for AI, Inflation, etc
Stock Market News: includes news related to stock market as well as Earnings, Yahoo Newsroom etc

Markets

Shows calendar of events with selectable displays such as All Events, Earnings, Stock Splits, IPOs, and Economic Events. Below this calendar are various articles related to the market.

Sectors

Grouping of stocks by sectors are shown here with percentage breakdowns of Technology, Financial Services, Healthcare, Consumer Cyclical, Industrials, Communication Services, Consumer Defensive, Energy, Basic Materials, Real Estate. To the right, lies a heatmap of whatever sector is chosen. There is also a button ‘Go To Sector’, which will provide more detailed information and analysis of that sector including Industries in This Sector, Largest Companies in This Sector, Investing in This Sector (ETFs and Mutual Funds), Sector Research, From the Community, and lots of Sector News.

Sceeners

Custom screeners can be created, but there are several pre-built ones from YF+ (upgrade needed) and YF, such as Aggresive small cap stocks, Day Gainers, Growth Technology Stocks, Small caps with momentum, and many more. The scenes are shareable.

Personal Finance

This section has suggestions on saving, spending, and preparing through a large collection of articles.

Videos

There are many videos on several topics organized by Program list (Shows, Series, Events), Editor’s Picks, Latest News, Yahoo Finance Originals, Investing & Market Insights, Yahoo Finance Trending Stocks, Tech News, EV and Autos, Real Estate, Personal Finance, Good Buy or Goodbye? (which is quite clever).

Dock

The main homepage provides news and a permanent panel (your dock) on the right side. There is a button to customize the dock. The sections show previews but have an arrow which links to a complete page of the items in that category.

Quote Lookup

A search bar to find an investment vehicle. Clicking in the bar initially gives some trending tickers.

Markets (S&P,Dow,etc)

Provides the main markets (Dow,Nasdaq,etc) in US, Europe, Asia as well as Bond/Note rates, some commodities, some forex currency pairs, and Cryptocurrencies.

My Portfolios

Takes you to the My Portfolios section in Finance.

Top Economic Events

These can be filtered by country right in the preview box. Alternately, clicking on the arrow shows a weekly calendar page which is the same as in the Markets section of Finance.

Stock

A given stock has several buttons across the top.

Summary

This is the starting point which provides a rudimentary chart with selectable timeframe, standard data about the company, Recent News, Performance Overview, Compare To, Statistics (Valuation Measures, Financial Highlights, etc), Research Analysis (including analyst recommendations). Some of the items have a View More link which provides greater detail and further information.

News

This section has lots of news articles about the stock grouped into All, News, Press Release, SEC Filings (categorized into relevant groups themselves).

Chart

Advanced charting for the stock is provided with customizable indicators and overlays. Events can be made to appear on the chart, but technical patterns require an upgrade. There is also a handy button to show a table view which can be copied/downloaded.

Conversations

There are threaded posts by account holders and occasionally it is possible to determine sentiment due to some individuals putting up the bullish/bearish buttons.

Statistics

There are many items here grouped by Valuation Measures, Financial Highlights, and Trading Information.

Historical Data

This section contains OHLC data which can be customized by time period as well as timeframes. The prices can be downloaded too.

Profile

Useful information is grouped here by Identity Details about the company, Key Executives, Corporate Governance, Description, Upcoming Events, and Recent Events.

stock data (eg AAPL)

Summary

NasdaqGS - Nasdaq Real Time Price • USD
Apple Inc. (AAPL) Following {watchlist} Compare {!!}
Price gain/loss day and after hours
Chart duration (1D .. All) ; key events (earnings, ratings); barstyle ; fullscreen ; settings
Chart graph ; x time ; y price ; volume
Summary data
- Previous Close
- Open
- Bid
- Ask
- Day’s Range
- 52 Week Range
- Volume
- Avg Volume
- Market Cap
- Beta
- PE Ratio
- EPS
- Earnings Date
- Foward DivYld
- Ex-Div Date
- 1y Target
Recent News
Related Videos
Performance Overview Trailing total returns as of (eg) 2/19/2025, which may include dividends or other distributions. Benchmark is S&P 500.
Compare To Select to analyze similar companies using key performance metrics; select up to 4 stocks.
Statistics
- Valuation Measures
  - Market Cap
  - Enterprise Value
  - Trailing P/E
  - Forward P/E
  - PEG Ratio (5yr expected)
  - Price/Sales (ttm)
  - Price/Book (mrq)
  - Enterprise Value/Revenue
  - Enterprise Value/EBITDA
- Financial Highlights
  - Profit Margin
  - Return on Assets (ttm)
  - Return on Equity (ttm)
  - Revenue (ttm)
  - Net Income Avi to Common (ttm)
  - Diluted EPS (ttm)
  - Total Cash (mrq)
  - Total Debt/Equity (mrq)
  - Levered Free Cash Flow (ttm)
Research Analysis (visuals)
- Earnings Per Share
- Revenue vs Earnings
- Analyst Recommendations
- Analyst Price Targets
- Earnings Estimate
- Revenue Estimate
- Earnings History
- EPS Trend
- EPS Revisions
- Growth Estimates
- Top Analysts
- Upgrades & Downgrades
- Related Tickers
Top Analysts
- Overall Score
- Direction Score
- Price Score
- Upgrades & Downgrades
- Related Tickers
People Also Watch

Investors Edge

Thu, 23 May 2024 11:35:54 -0700

The sitemap of Investor’s Edge is presented with explanations for each section.

Accounts

Overview

daily markets and link to market overview
all accounts
top 10 stocks
daily brief (can subscribe too)
my watch lists and bell link to alerts
news headlines, analyst reports, my alerts
other miscellaneous articles at bottom

Holdings

most recent, last business day, book value
total value breakdown to securities,cash

Performance

See explanations of terms if necessary in the provided guide:

rate-of-return% as time|money weighted in some timeframe
balance trend$ in some timeframe

Transaction History

Transaction type, Security type, Symbol, Currency filters
Download transactions link as csv

eDocuments

Account statements
Trade confirmations (searchable by description)
Tax documents (even a Tax reporting guide)

Trading

There is a long way through here or the Quick Trade button. Extended hours trading of USD stocks also possible.

Stocks & ETFs

Choose account, action (buy|sell), Symbol, Quantity, Order type (market,limit,stop,etc)

Options

This needs to be looked into at a later point in time.

Trade Option
Options Central

Mutual Funds

Not really interested in these because we’d hold many items we don’t want to.

GICs & Bonds

There is a very large selection of items here and we should explore all of them since under certain conditions some of these may be better than GICs:

GICs (CIBC, CIBC Market Linked, Third-party)
Corporate bonds
Strip bonds
Money market (T-Bill/CP/BA)
New issues
Provincial bonds
Government of Canada bonds
Municipal bonds
Others (including structured notes)

Structured Notes

Principal at risk notes (PARs)
Principal protected notes (PPNs)

Regular Investment Plans

Not of any real use to us unless we pull in sufficient regular income.

IPOs & New Issues

Probably somewhat risky, but should understand this later.

Order Status

Especially useful after any trade and viewable by Stock,Option,Mutual Fund, GICs and Bonds, Cash Transfer, or All Orders

Transfers and Exchange

Transfer Cash

From IE|CIBC to IE|CIBC depending on what it is.

Exchange Currency

This is a somewhat elaborate process used to CAD <–> USD and needs to be approved, so it can take a day.

Transfer Accounts

Make the transfer (in-kind,in-cash,partial) from somewhere to IE.

Sub-Account Transfers

Can transfer stocks and etfs CAD <–> USD. Check if this is the Norbert Gambit.

RRSP Withdrawal

NA unless holding an rrsp.

Quotes and Research

Market Centre

Useful for getting wide view.

Overview: Markets overview, Market movers, News headlines
Markets at a glance: North American, USD vs CAD, Commodities, Rates
Market movers: TSX,TSXV,NYSE,NASDAQ,AMEX
News: elaborate search and mentions (table|bubble)

Technical Analysis

A powerful setup with many features including ideas, education, newsletters!

Technical Insight
The 3bar dropdown gives hoempage, screener, watchlists, alert center. There is a search bar to pull up any stock and beside it links to education (patterns, short-term, indicators, oscillators), and help (getting started, FAQ).
Featured Ideas
Allows filtering of ideas by your choice of exchanges and timeframes, but also has a list of bull/bear items with targets. Items can be put on watch, show advanced charts, and company info. There are also TRADE, BACKTESTING, EVENT LOOKUP buttons.
Education on Demand with Martin Pring provides a 31 video course (building blocks, interpreting charts, trends and key levels) with 23 quizzes.
Newsletters provides daily trade ideas from Trading Central analysts such as Daily Brief, Energy Market Report, ETF Market Report, Financial Market Report, Panoramic View, Technology Market Report.

My Watch Lists

Setup My Watch Lists and Quote Lists (Stocks, ETFs, Indices, Options, Mutual Funds)

Stock Centre

Quickly find fundamentals, earnings and financials by searching for a symbol or security. For deeper insights, go to Reports or visit Analyst Reports.

Overview: Top Sectors, CIBC prescreens, Saved screens
Upgrades and Downgrades based on analyst views in past 4 weeks
Screeners: preset for CAD|USD low PE | value | growth at reasonable price
Customize screener allows detailed filtering including country, sector, industry, market cap, price, fundamentals and much more

ETF Centre

NA for now but has Overview, Screener, Compare, Commentary

Fund Centre

NA for now but has Overview, Performance, Screener, Customize Screener

Analyst Reports

There is a huge amount of information here that is constantly updated. The searches can be saved.

Overview including Research Highlights
Equities reports filtered by time and source
Economics reports filtered by time
Custom search which is quite elaborate
Saved searches for later recall

My Alerts

An extensive system which can provide alerts in many areas.

Overview
Market alerts provide user-defined updates sent at designated times or based on specific triggering events and include stock, watchlist, analyst reports.
Markets by exchange include Daily list of most active stocks, Daily list of new 52-week highs/lows, Daily list of volume changes, Daily list of gaps, Daily list of breakouts, Daily list of stock splits

Learn

This section is available outside IE without login and consist of articles and videos which are not particularly well-organized, and most may not be too useful. However, the material is concise and efficient. The items, articles (A) and videos (V), are presented in no particular order with summaries by harpa.

Investing 101

Mini course

Lesson 1: Investing to outpace inflation

Investing helps your wealth grow faster than inflation, protecting its purchasing power.

Inflation erodes your money’s value over time.
Investing helps your money potentially outpace inflation.
Bank savings accounts cannot keep up with inflation.

Lesson 2: What is your risk tolerance?

Your risk tolerance is how comfortable you are with investment ups and downs.
Your time horizon (when you need the money) affects your risk tolerance.
Riskier investments offer potentially higher returns but fluctuate more.
Conservative investments offer lower returns but fluctuate less.
Diversification helps lower risk by spreading investments across different asset classes.*** Trading with Investor’s Edge

Lesson 3: Diversify your portfolio

Diversifying your investment portfolio helps minimize the overall risk of loss and provides more opportunities for profit.

A diversified portfolio includes investments from different asset classes like stocks, bonds, and cash equivalents.
Diversification helps reduce risk because the performance of different asset classes is not always the same. When one asset class goes down, another might go up, potentially offsetting the losses.
Stocks generally provide the highest return but also come with the highest risk. Bonds provide lower returns but are less volatile. Cash equivalents offer the least amount of risk and return.
It is recommended to diversify within each asset class as well. For example, within stocks, diversify by company size, industry sector, and geography.
Diversification does not guarantee positive returns, especially during economic downturns when all asset classes might decline.
Regularly rebalance your portfolio to maintain your desired asset allocation.

Lesson 4: Why invest in stocks?

Investing in stocks allows you to partially own a company, potentially benefit from its growth, and earn income through dividends and capital gains.

Stocks represent partial ownership of a company.
Owning stocks allows you to participate in a company’s growth and benefit from potential price appreciation.
Stocks are created when companies sell part of their ownership to investors.
Benefits of stock investing include:
- Potential for long-term growth that beats inflation.
- Potential income from dividends.
- Diversification opportunities.
- Ease of buying, selling, and monitoring compared to other investments.
- Favorable tax treatment for capital gains in Canada.
Risks of stock investing include:
- Market volatility that can lead to price fluctuations.
- Uncertainty of dividend payments.
Stock prices are influenced by various factors including:
- Company performance and future prospects.
- Economic data releases.
- Company-specific news.
- Interest rates.
- Political events.
- Market sentiment.
- Technical factors.
It can be challenging to determine a fair price for a stock, but fundamental and technical analysis methods can provide guidance.

Lesson 5: Using fundamental and technical analysis to pick stocks

Understanding a company through fundamental analysis and using technical analysis tools can help you make informed investment decisions when choosing stocks.

Picking stocks can be challenging due to information overload, difficulty determining fair prices, and emotional bias.
Fundamental research focuses on understanding a company’s financial health, industry position, management team, growth potential, and how it’s positioned for future success.
Technical analysis uses past market data like price and volume trends [sufficient liquidity] to predict future stock performance and identify potential buying opportunities.
Technical analysis tools include chart pattern recognition, trend analysis, and moving averages (as well as momentum indicator especially for day trading?).
It’s recommended to use both fundamental and technical analysis together for a more comprehensive understanding before making investment decisions.

Lesson 6: Why invest in fixed income?

Investing in fixed income, such as bonds, can provide stability and income to a portfolio, but it also comes with risks like interest rate fluctuations and credit quality changes.

Fixed income investments, like bonds, offer regular interest payments and return of the principal amount at maturity.
They are generally considered less volatile than stocks, making them a good option for risk-averse investors or those seeking portfolio stability.
Bonds can provide income that can be used to meet current living expenses or reinvested for further growth.
The price of bonds is inversely related to interest rates. When interest rates rise, bond prices fall.
The credit quality of a bond issuer also affects its price. Bonds issued by governments are generally considered the safest, while corporate bonds may offer higher returns but also carry greater credit risk.
How to invest in bonds: Individual bonds, Bond mutual funds, Bond exchange-traded funds (ETFs), Bond ladders

Lesson 7: Why invest in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs)?

Investing in mutual funds and ETFs is a good alternative to investing in individual stocks and bonds, especially for beginners, as it offers diversification, professional management, and potentially lower costs.

Mutual funds and ETFs pool money from multiple investors to buy a basket of assets like stocks, bonds, or other securities.
Advantages of mutual funds and ETFs:
- Diversification: Reduces overall risk by investing in a variety of assets.
- Professional management: Experts research and select investments on your behalf.
- Lower costs: Can be cheaper than buying individual stocks due to economies of scale.
Disadvantages of mutual funds and ETFs:
- Lack of control: You don’t choose the specific stocks or bonds you own.
- Limited customization: May not perfectly align with your investment goals.
- Potentially lower returns than individual stocks: Fees can eat into returns and underperformance compared to market indexes is possible.
The best approach depends on your investment goals, risk tolerance, and preferences.

Lesson 8: When to start investing

The most important takeaway from this webpage is that the sooner you start investing, the better. This is because of the power of compound returns, which allows your money to grow exponentially over time.

The earlier you begin investing, the more time your money has to grow through compound returns.
Compound returns allow your initial investment and any earned interest/dividends to be reinvested, generating even more gains.
Investing early allows for more diversification, which helps mitigate risk.
As you invest over time, you can take advantage of market fluctuations and potentially buy assets at lower prices.
The longer you are invested, the more seasoned you become as an investor, allowing you to make sound decisions during market ups and downs.
Dollar-cost averaging is a beneficial strategy that involves investing a fixed amount of money regularly, regardless of market conditions. This helps lower the average cost of your investment over time.

Trading with Investor’s Edge (15)

Should you consider trading in extended hours? A

CIBC Investor’s Edge offers extended hours trading on eligible U.S. stocks, allowing investors to trade before or after the regular market hours. However, it is important to be aware of the risks associated with extended hours trading, such as low liquidity and wider bid-ask spreads.

Investor’s Edge allows extended hours trading for U.S. stocks listed on NYSE and NASDAQ from 8:05 am to 9:29 am and 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Eastern Time.
During early exchange closures, the morning session remains unaffected, while the afternoon session is between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm.
Only limit orders are accepted for extended hours trading.
Foreign currency conversion is not available, so ensure sufficient U.S. cash is available.
CDRs and options are not eligible for extended hours trading.
The main risk is low liquidity, which can lead to wider bid-ask spreads and difficulty getting orders filled at desired prices.
Benefits include the ability to react to news breaking outside regular hours and to volatility in foreign markets.

What’s your game plan when stocks are dropping? V

[00:00] Introduction to Short Selling

Explains the concept of short selling as a strategy to potentially profit when stock prices drop.
Introduces the basic idea of borrowing a stock, selling it high, and buying it back later at a lower price to return it.

[01:08] Example of Short Selling

Uses a simplified scenario to illustrate the mechanics of short selling.
Explains how the borrower profits by selling high and buying back at a lower price.

How to calculate your gain or loss when short selling V

[00:00] Calculating Profit or Loss in Short Selling

Explains how to calculate profit/loss when short selling a stock.
Profit = (selling price - buying price) x number of shares.
Loss = (buying price - selling price) x number of shares.

[01:09] Unlimited Risk of Short Selling

Biggest risk: Stock prices can rise indefinitely, leading to potentially unlimited losses.
Unforeseen positive news can cause sudden price spikes.
Exchange may halt trading due to pending news, allowing price gaps to form upon reopening.

How does margin trading work? A

Trade types: market, limit and stop orders with limits A

Understanding the different order types (market, limit, stop-limit) is crucial for executing trades effectively under various market conditions.

Market orders prioritize immediate execution, filling your order at the best available price, which may differ from the displayed price.
Limit orders prioritize a specific price or better, ensuring your order is filled only at or above your desired buy price or at or below your desired sell price.
Stop-limit orders combine stop and limit features. They trigger a limit order to buy or sell once a certain price (stop price) is reached, but the actual execution happens at the best available price within the specified limit price.

Additional points:

Limit orders and stop-limit orders may not always be filled, especially in volatile markets.
CIBC Investor’s Edge offers resources to learn more about advanced order types like trailing stop-limit orders and short selling.

Finding a real-time stock quote on the Investor’s Edge platform A

This is a good article because it gives details about the stock page.

CIBC Investor’s Edge provides real-time stock quotes and in-depth market data to help you make informed investment decisions.

Access real-time stock quotes through the “Quotes and Research” tab after agreeing to any outstanding disclaimers.
Search for stocks by company name or ticker symbol using the search bar.
The “Snapshot” page displays key information including last price, change, bid/ask, volume, P/E ratio, EPS, dividend yield, and more.
Additional details like 52-week range, market cap, short restrictions, and ex-dividend date are also available.
Utilize “Quotes and Research” for advanced charts, news, analyst ratings, technical analysis, and the ability to set price alerts and watchlists.

How to purchase a GIC V

[00:03] Finding and Purchasing GICs on Investor’s Edge

Explains where to find GIC offerings on the Investor’s Edge platform and the steps to purchase them.
User navigates to “Trading” > “GICs & bonds” and selects “Buy GICs”.
Chooses a GIC, selects account, amount (minimum $5,000), and currency.
Reviews the order and enters trading password to complete the purchase.

[00:58] Exploring Alternative GIC Options

Investor’s Edge also offers GICs from other issuers.
User can choose between different interest payout options.
The purchase process remains the same as for CIBC GICs.
Talks about MLGICs as well

How to place a stock trade V

[00:02] Accessing the Trading Platform & Order Screen

Investor’s Edge platform explained, location of the trading section.
User navigates to the order entry screen.

[00:31] Placing a Market Order

User selects “buy” action and enters stock symbol (or company name).
Exchange selection, defaulting to the Canadian exchange.
Specifying the number of shares to purchase.
Choosing a market order to buy at the best available price.
Selecting the account to purchase from.

[01:38] Reviewing & Submitting a Market Order

Reviewing the order details (stock, price, quantity, account).
Entering trading password and submitting the order.

Putting “Balance Trend” to work A

The Balance Trend feature in CIBC Investor’s Edge helps you visualize how your investment decisions have performed over time, allowing you to monitor progress towards financial goals and assess portfolio performance.

Balance Trend shows the movement of your total asset value (cash, investments, income, gains/losses) over time.
Use it to:
- Track progress towards financial goals (e.g., saving for a car).
- Analyze investment performance by comparing your returns to benchmarks and understanding how your portfolio reacts to market fluctuations.
The Rate of Return tab provides the same information in percentage format.

Understanding short selling stocks A

Understanding trailing stop limit orders A

Understanding what Buying Power means A

Completing a trailing stop limit order A

How to short sell a stock online A

How do I place a foreign exchange cash conversion order? A

Time-weighted and money-weighted rates of return: A comparison

Understanding the differences between time-weighted rate of return (TWRR) and money-weighted rate of return (MWRR) helps you measure your investment performance by considering the impact of cash flow and investment timing.

Time-Weighted Rate of Return (TWRR):
- Ignores the impact of cash flow (contributions, withdrawals).
- Useful for comparing your portfolio’s performance to a benchmark, focusing solely on underlying investment returns.
- Calculated by geometrically linking daily valuations over a specific period.
Money-Weighted Rate of Return (MWRR):
- Takes into account the impact of cash flow timing and amount.
- Useful for assessing if you’re on track to meet your financial goals.
- More complex to calculate, often requiring financial software.
- Sets the present value of the portfolio’s ending value equal to the present value of the initial investment, considering all cash flow changes.
Both TWRR and MWRR offer valuable insights, but they measure different aspects of portfolio performance.

How to trade options

Stocks (23)

What is a Canadian Depositary Receipt (CDR)? A

Keep your trading discipline in volatile markets V

How to calculate your gain or loss when short selling V

What’s your game plan when stocks are dropping? V

Understand margin when you short sell stock V

Understand margin trading and make it work for you V

What do the best traders have in common? V

Top 10 Traded Stocks Last Month A

All about stocks A

5 questions about stock splits A

Corporate actions: A shareholder’s guide A

Understanding short selling stocks A

Understanding trailing stop limit orders A

Researching stocks with Equity Research Reports from Morningstar A

Stocks tell a story. Here’s how to read them. A

Trade types: market, limit and stop orders with limits A

What is volume and why should you care about it? A

What is market capitalization and why you need to care A

Stock classifications: From blue-chip to speculative A

Bull versus bear markets A

Money Minute: The power of time and dividends V

How an IPO works and who can buy in to one A

Key financial metrics to consider before you invest in stocks A

ETFs and mutual funds (9)

Fixed income (13)

Options (10)

Portfolio strategies (24)

Lilypond

Sun, 19 May 2024 23:57:00 -0700

LilyPond is a free program that lets you create beautiful sheet music for all kinds of music, from classical to modern, just like for piano or guitar.

The coding commands will have emacs shortcuts attached to them as these are produced.

fundamental concepts

file structure

for instance,

Every block is a separate chunk of music within a block. multiple scores -> still one output file

Every block affects the or block in which it appears multiple books -> separate output file

note structure

pitch duration post-event(s)

brackets and ties

{ … } Encloses a sequential segment of music < … > Encloses the notes of a chord << … >> Encloses simultaneous music expressions eg voices ( … ) Marks the start and end of a slur $…$ Marks the start and end of a phrasing slur [ … ] Marks the start and end of a manual beam

x/y { … }

voices

<< d
>>

Staff << Voice = “1” { } Voice = “2” { } >>

musescore transfer

musescore -> xml musescore $f -o ${f%.*}.musicxml

xml -> ly musicxml2ly –nrp –npb –npm –npl –nsd –nb -m -r -l english $f

automatic scaling to paper size

#(set-default-paper-size “letter”) at top level will automatically scale and it is not necessary to do it with then diddle in here (as originally done): Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn.padding = #1.3

emacs

textedit

follow instructions for gnome3 in 4.1.1 Configuring the system

lilypond-invoke-editor.desktop already in /usr/share/applications [Desktop Entry] Version=1.0 Name=lilypond-invoke-editor GenericName=Textedit URI handler Comment=URI handler for textedit: Exec=lilypond-invoke-editor %u Terminal=false Type=Application MimeType=x-scheme-handler/textedit; Categories=Editor NoDisplay=true

then execute: xdg-desktop-menu install /usr/share/applications/lilypond-invoke-editor.desktop xdg-mime default lilypond-invoke-editor.desktop x-scheme-handler/textedit

put in .zshenv: export LYEDITOR=emacsclient the scm/editor.scm already has emacsclient in it so no special config necessary

scheme

Scheme tutorial
1.1 Introduction to Scheme
1.1.1 Scheme sandbox
1.1.2 Scheme variables
1.1.3 Scheme simple data types
1.1.4 Scheme compound data types
1.1.5 Calculations in Scheme
1.1.6 Scheme procedures
1.1.7 Scheme conditionals
1.2 Scheme in LilyPond
1.2.1 LilyPond Scheme syntax
1.2.2 LilyPond variables
1.2.3 Debugging Scheme code
1.2.4 Input variables and Scheme
1.2.5 Importing Scheme in LilyPond
1.2.6 Object properties
1.2.7 LilyPond compound variables
1.2.8 Internal music representation
1.3 Building complicated functions
1.3.1 Displaying music expressions
1.3.2 Music properties
1.3.3 Doubling a note with slurs (example)
1.3.4 Adding articulation to notes (example)
Interfaces for programmers
2.1 LilyPond code blocks
2.2 Scheme functions
2.2.1 Scheme function definitions
2.2.2 Scheme function usage
2.2.3 Void scheme functions
2.3 Music functions
2.3.1 Music function definitions
2.3.2 Music function usage
2.3.3 Simple substitution functions
2.3.4 Intermediate substitution functions
2.3.5 Mathematics in functions
2.3.6 Functions without arguments
2.3.7 Void music functions
2.4 Event functions
2.5 Markup functions
2.5.1 Markup construction in Scheme
2.5.2 How markups work internally
2.5.3 New markup command definition
2.5.4 New markup list command definition
2.6 Contexts for programmers
2.6.1 Context evaluation
2.6.2 Running a function on all layout objects
2.7 Callback functions
2.8 Unpure-pure containers
2.9 Difficult tweaks

Faunalytics

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 20:53:54 -0800

Faunalytics conducts and disseminates research that is “actionable and insightful” on important topics in animal protection.

The mission of this very competent organization is “to empower animal advocates with access to research, analysis, strategies, and messages that maximize their effectiveness to reduce animal suffering”. Their About page outlines topics such as:

What You Need To Be Effective
How Faunalytics Helps Animals

They have an excellent track record since 2015 being an Animal Charity Evaluators ‘Recommended Charity’. Check out faunalytics.org to see their thorough and informative site.

VeganHacktivists

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 20:42:49 -0800

The VeganHacktivists “build data-driven, disruptive, and innovative projects to help see an end to animal exploitation”.

The individuals of this group outline an approach to animal protection using the following 5 goals:

We need more data in our movement
We need more competition, too
We need to be more innovative
We need to start collaborating
We need more vegans to become active

They are a skilful, dedicated organization whose talents are on display at the veganhacktivists.org site.

Sidney Island Deer

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 22:36:50 -0700

In 2023 Parks Canada decided to slaughter all deer on Sidney Island British Columbia. This page provides information, resources, and updates on what is an unethical process on many levels. Sign the petition to Save the Sidney Island deer. The page is still in construction.

Letter to Stephanie Coulson, Parks Canada (request for public input)

Hi Stephanie!

Good stuff on the “Role of education, curiosity, and exploration in conservation” article for Raincoast. I read it with some interest having been an educator myself and helped to start Students Towards Environment Protection (some decades ago in our school). I found your ‘culture of conservation’ a rather intriguing concept!

My compliments on the thoroughness of the SIERP DIA - both scope and detail. Coastal Conservation has certainly created a detailed paper. It is good to see such a strong emphasis on mitigation and I’m sure that element will make many people feel good.

However, the credibility of the enterprise raises eyebrows considering that Coastal Conservation’s Head, Gregg Howald, is also the chair of SIERP. Why would Park’s Canada de-legitimize its own credibility by cahooting such an arrangement, especially since it was internally advised of this blatant conflict of interest:

“If CC gains financially or otherwise in some way from an approved eradication going forward, then [the Chair] should not be running the show – it’s a conflict of interest.” (FOI p306). I’m sure you are aware of the notorious FOI.

Beyond this guffaw, emerges the following issues:

1. Exactly how is shooting deer by the methods detailed in SIERP considered humane?

It isn’t humane and here’s why:

Helicopters and hunting dogs cause potential victims severe stress and fear!
Trained marksmen miss! In fact, often attempts at being humane require backtracking to shoot fallen/wounded deer multiple times.)
Outright violation of animal welfare! Specifically #10 of Wildlife and Rodent Control Standards “Lethal Methods are only be used when an animal’s presence is an ongoing threat to human health and safety” (FOI p389)
You wouldn’t do this to your dog or cat! Euthanasia may be humane, but this sort of slaughter just isn’t.

2. Was sterilization even considered seriously as an alternative?

It seems as though due diligence has not been done in this area. The readily accessible information shows that:

It is humane! We keep dog and cat populations under control this way.
It is cost effective in the longer term! Even if full eradication takes place, there is no guarantee of remaining deer-free and “Over time, the cumulative costs of sharpshooting outweigh the costs of surgical sterilization …” (Deer Population Control Methods – Cost & Effectiveness Comparison, Trapp)
It has been successful! There is evidence of effectiveness such as this article about White Buffalo Inc DeNicola’s activities which points out “Sterilization was controversial in San Jose because it worked … Some residents freaked out, worrying they’d lost too many deer”, as does (DeNicola’s) more academic, Sterilization as an alternative deer control technique: a review “In an increasing number of communities, however, lethal management strategies are rejected … Surgical sterilization is scale-limited based on the ability to capture and sterilize 80% or more of the female deer …”

3. What about GonaZonaSpayva?

Fertility control drugs have been used successfully for many years, so there is historical evidence demonstrating effectiveness:

Gonacon, Zonastat-D, Spayvac pZP do work (despite the naysayers’ chanting)
Fertility control can be, however, the most expensive route as per Cost & Effectiveness link above
The usual whine about these being 70% or so effective is flawed:
- it isn’t correct, since some studies demonstrated 100% (eg Fraker et al and more recently Botstiber)
- it doesn’t matter, because you don’t need 100% efficacy to get the restoration job done (everyone knows this including the Chair of SIERP “the numbers of deer on the Island have been reduced dramatically and the impacts of fallow deer are not really obvious …” FOI p219 item h)
- that the number of deer is indeed low is also confirmed by the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve Superintendent, Kate Humble: “… said while the number of fallow deer is currently relatively low” (AlaskaHighway News).

4. Are Fallow deer really an invasive species?

Not anymore. They were brought to James Island in 1902 and got to Sidney Island by 1960, so they’ve been here a while. They no more an invasive species than Europeans or Asians are now to Canada. We should take into account that:

the ecosystem has adapted to accommodate them on Sidney Island for 60+ yrs. As a Parks Canada ecological specialist writes (Ethics section of Freedom of Information Request): “… we could consider them naturalized and work to maintain the species …”
suddenly removing them, may not go well, despite all those the mitigation measures that appear so voluminously in SIERP
killing them all off in one place also doesn’t mean that they won’t come back from another. Even though SIERP claims that accounts of fallow deer swimming between Southern Gulf Islands in the 1930s is unsubstantiated … did they take the ferry then? … but this 2013 Times Colonist article by Judith Lavoie certainly indicate that they are fine swimmers.

5. Why can the deer population not be reduced through non-lethal means over a period of time?

Well it can, but certain factions for yet-to-be determined reasons don’t want to do it that way. Some of these objections are:

the current population continues to have a negative impact on the ecosystem EXCEPT it’s unclear how that can be when the population is so low as per above indications by Howald and Humble
relocation would transfer the problem elsewhere EXCEPT it is unclear whether the ’elsewhere’ would necessarily see these deer as a problem
contraceptives wouldn’t achieve Parks Canada’s goal in a timely way EXCEPT one has no idea what that is actually supposed to mean or why it should be so
considered sterilization and contraceptives, but these techniques do not allow for the removal of the population, which is the objective EXCEPT we have been led to believe that the objective was, in Humble’s own words there, “focus of this work is the restoration of a healthy ecosystem”

6. Guffaws Galore!

The above 5 points illustrate what seems to be a considerable disregard for science and ethics, but the behaviors highlighted by the FOI and various comments by ‘interested’ parties, make matters worse:

PC’s Emily Gonzales, Ecological Scientist asks about evidence for the SIERP claim that the deer population is “4 times greater than a healthy ecosystem can support” and goes on to say “I realize it would be nice to be able to make statements like this and you will be pressured by your managers … That doing so is something you’ll regret because they aren’t defensible values and don’t even make ecological sense …” (FOI p537). Later she adds about another statement, “I provide advice/feedback and some key problematic issues (IMO) keep showing up … my head and the wall are hurting."(FOI p538). [A painful head is quite understandable at this point.]
PC’s Michael Janssen, Forest Ecosystem Restoration Manager, on consideration of alternatives was met with this curious response (FOI p445) from Howald “If the purpose and need of the project is to eradication fallow deer to facilitate natural restoration … then you can narrow your alternatives dramatically … This way people see you considered them, but dismissed them because they don’t meet the P/N.” [So why is this starting to feel like a Machiavellian con-job?]
Continuing on from the ‘impacts of fallow deer are not really obvious’ we have from Howald’s notes (FOI p219): “it is unlikely that the BENEFIT of the eradication efforts will be clear on implementation. We need to consider how to bring out the BENEFIT side … One way we could do that is a mix of citizen science, or very targetted restoration potential … May be it is using peoples vegetable gardens or flower beds …” [A lemon car sales pitch?]
And we gotta keep it going forever and ever (see Biosecurity section in Freedom of Information Request): The CC Proposal advises: “It is important the biosecurity plan be maintained as needed in perpetuity because the long-term benefit of fallow deer removal to the biodiversity of Sidney Island will depend on continued project support from Parks Canada, Sallas, and the public to maintain a deer free island”. (page 139) [It’ll never end because bio-insecurity can be made eternal.]
Speaking of cars, let’s look at insurance “The key to this is that we are not taking on the liability, we are transferring liability to those who have insurance.” … “private landowners must rely on the insurance of the hunters rather than Coastal Conservation or any indemnity from Canada. This would be described in an “access agreement” with owners.”. [So this sounds like a way to force all landowners to comply? You’re with us or outaluck!]
What about the number of deer? From Parks Canada we get the extraordinarily bizarre “Parks Canada says the current fallow deer population is unknown but estimates between 300 and 900.” [Is this for real? Unknown or 300-900?! Did Parks Canada do the computations for Russia’s Luna-25?]
What about the landowners? 50 yea, 46 nay, 3 abstained, 11 absent which means 46+3+11=60 (54.5%) DID NOT say yea. That’s not even close to the 75% approval required by law. [So if the residents’ rights are upheld, there can be no slaughter, right? … Unless an exception is suddenly made to push through whatever agenda.]
To confuse the waters, we have Sidney Island resident, Michael Parfit (of Saving Luna fame), supporting the slaughter with sweeping statements like “Sidney Island can become an example of healthy ecosystems that can exist in British Columbia but have almost all vanished. It could show us what our province once was and could be again.” which seems to pre-suppose that slaughter is the only route and that everything is the deers’ fault. He belittles the obvious conflict of interest issue with the peculiar argument that we need “best talent for both planning and execution” which seems to miss the point of conflict of interest and its ramifications. He notes the irony that “though a majority of owners voted for the cull [they did??!!] , the most intense hunters are allying themselves in opposition with activists who care about keeping animals alive. Ironic? Yeah.” [Well yeah, Michael! When you have 2 diametrically opposing groups allying against you, we can be assured you are doing something really wrong! After all, it took something really wrong in Ukraine to bring together the Republicans and Democrats!]
And what about this seeking public input? According to Kate Humble: “the goal of asking for public feedback is not to determine whether the cull goes ahead but to get input on reducing negative impacts.” [Gee thx a lot Kate! The public can input, but who cares!]

Conclusions

So based on my research above, I come to these conclusions about this initiative:

it is hugely expensive and a burden on taxpayers
it is unquestionably inhumane
it is backed by insufficient/incorrect attempts at biological/ecological science
it stinks of deception, arrogance, and high-handedness (similar to the toxic soil fiasco in Shenanigan Lake some years ago)
it has the inappropriate goal of eradication rather than restoration (despite pretenses)
it should spend the 6 million on a good PR company instead of eradicators

Oh then there’s those conflict of interest fumes which pervade who knows where. Possibly we should rename Parks Canada to Perks Canada!

Anyway, thank you Stephanie for receiving my input on the matter and best wishes on your endeavors.

In friendship,
Prad Basu

Resource summaries and sites

Below listed in alphabetical order are links and summaries of webpages and sites relating to various aspects of the deer and general conservation issues. The resources are encompass areas such as animal welfare, conservation, management, and restoration. Many of the items have been referenced in the letter to Parks Canada.

(The summaries were mostly done by harpa.ai though one item Eradication and Restoration Options On Sidney Island has summaries produced by harpa, bing, and perplexity.)

Animal Alliance of Canada Opposed to Parks Canada Sidney Island Deer Eradication Plan

### Key Takeaway The Animal Alliance of Canada opposes Parks Canada’s plan to eradicate fallow deer on Sidney Island using aerial gunning and dog harassment, considering it unjustified, inhumane, and expensive.

### Summary

Parks Canada plans to eradicate fallow deer on Sidney Island through aerial gunning and dog harassment.
Sidney Island is part of Gulf Islands National Park and has around 100 lots overseen by a strata corporation.
Fallow deer were introduced to the island in 1908 for hunting, leading to a population growth to 3000 deer by the early 2000s.
About 2000 deer were killed in the 2000s, and current estimates suggest the population is around 300.
A UBC report from five years ago indicated a 30% improvement to the ecosystem since the peak population.
AAC West Coast Campaign Director Jordan Reichert questions Parks Canada’s claim that the ecosystem isn’t regenerating and the current deer population isn’t sustainable.
Parks Canada aims to spend $5.9 million on the eradication program, similar to a past $6 million effort in Haida Gwaii.
Jordan Reichert criticizes the program as unethical, unjustified, and excessively expensive.
The Sidney Island Deer Management Society opposes the eradication program and questions its justification and contract award process.
The Animal Alliance of Canada aims to hold Parks Canada and other stakeholders accountable for their actions.

Animal welfare outcomes of helicopter-based shooting of deer in Australia

### Key Takeaway The study evaluates the animal welfare outcomes of helicopter-based deer shooting in Australia, highlighting the importance of using multiple shots in the head or thorax for better welfare results.

### Summary

Helicopter-based shooting is commonly used for deer control in Australasia.
The study assesses the animal welfare outcomes of this method in Australia.
It examines the fates of observed deer, procedure durations, and bullet wound details.
Shots were fired at 69-76% of observed deer, with variable chase times (73-145 seconds) and time to insensibility (17-37 seconds).
On average, deer had 1.43-2.57 bullet wounds per animal.
Animal welfare outcomes were better for fallow deer operations compared to chital deer operations.
Shooting procedures with multiple shots into the head or thorax yielded improved animal welfare outcomes.
The study suggests the need for a national-level standard operating procedure to enhance animal welfare in helicopter-based deer shooting operations in Australia.

Anthropomorphism Favors Coexistence, Not Deadly Domination

### Key Takeaway The research indicates that anthropomorphism, attributing human traits and emotions to nonhuman entities, challenges traditional wildlife management approaches and promotes coexistence over domination in human-animal relationships. [Mark Bekoff in Psychology Today]

### Summary

Anthropomorphism involves attributing human traits, emotions, or intentions to nonhuman entities.
Traditional wildlife management is rooted in a domination ideology, but anthropomorphism challenges this perspective.
Anthropomorphism helps understand the behavior, emotions, and cognitive lives of nonhuman animals from their perspective.
Growing research supports accurate interpretations of nonhuman thoughts and feelings, debunking the notion of animals merely acting “as if.”
The use of human languages in discussing animal cognition and emotions, when done critically and biocentrically, respects animals’ viewpoints.
Anthropomorphism’s acceptance varies geographically, with people in Hawaii being more anthropomorphic than those in South Dakota.
Anthropomorphism is linked to favoring mutualism and coexistence rather than domination in human-wildlife interactions.
A shift in people’s values regarding nature and wildlife management has occurred due to increasing acceptance of anthropomorphism.
Anthropomorphism stimulates value shifts and challenges traditional wildlife management approaches, emphasizing individual animal consideration.
Compassionate conservation emphasizes that each individual’s life matters, regardless of their utility to humans.
Anthropomorphism has the potential to aid conservation efforts by promoting empathy and considerate practices.
Anthropomorphism, when properly applied, can support the conservation of a broad array of nonhuman species.
The field of cognitive ethology, studying animal minds, has much research potential, revealing animals’ rich and deep emotions.
Understanding and appreciating animals as individuals can aid conservation efforts for the benefit of current and future generations.
Inappropriate anthropomorphism can be mitigated through detailed studies of animal minds and emotions.
Anthropomorphism reflects an accurate way of knowing animal emotions and is supported by scientific research.
The Anthropocene necessitates recognizing animals’ emotions and using knowledge for ethical decisions.
Animals’ emotions are gifts shared with humans, and recognizing this aids ethical decisions for their well-being.
Anthropomorphism promotes empathy, coexistence, and understanding in human-animal relationships.

(Note: The above summary is based on the content provided and aims to capture the key points and ideas presented in the web page.)

Assessment of humaneness using gunshot targeting the brain and cervical spine for cervid depopulation under field conditions

### Key Takeaway The study assessed the humaneness of using gunshot targeting the brain and cervical spine for cervid (deer) depopulation under field conditions. The results demonstrate that targeting the brain or upper cervical spine effectively achieves euthanasia standards, while lower cervical spine shot placement is not as humane.

### Summary The study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and humaneness of gunshot placement on Philippine deer during depopulation activities for meeting AVMA standards of euthanasia under field conditions. Here are the key findings and aspects of the study:

Objective: The study aimed to assess the humaneness of gunshot placements for cervid depopulation under field conditions.
Method: Firearms, specifically a suppressed .223 caliber rifle, were used for euthanizing deer from distances of 10–125 m. Shot placements were targeted at the brain and upper cervical spine (C1—C3) for immediate incapacitation.
Results:
- Deer shot in the brain or upper cervical spine (C1—C3) died instantly due to the destruction of brain or spinal tissue.
- Shot placements were accurate, with deviations within 1.9 cm from the point of aim (POA).
- Targeting of the lower cervical vertebrae (C4—C7) was accurate but did not result in immediate insensibility, indicating that it’s not a humane option.
Physiological Responses:
- Deer shot in the brain or upper cervical spine showed immediate cessation of heart rate, respiration, ocular reflexes, and post-mortem spasms.
Secondary Objective:
- The study aimed to determine if upper cervical spine shot placement could result in euthanasia.
- Upper cervical spine shot placement (C1—C3) showed accuracy and immediate insensibility, making it an alternative target site when brain targeting is not optimal.
- Lower cervical spine shot placement (C4—C7) was accurate but did not result in immediate insensibility, suggesting it’s not a humane choice.
Significance:
- The study provides evidence-based research on acceptable euthanasia methods using firearms for wildlife management.
- It highlights the importance of achieving humane death even when practical limitations exist.
- The findings emphasize the importance of targeting the brain or upper cervical vertebrae for deer depopulation under field conditions.

The research contributes to improving wildlife professionals’ firearm practices and supports the interests of animal welfare, wildlife professionals, and the public in achieving humane depopulation while accomplishing management objectives.

At $10K per deer, critics question cost of Sidney Island eradication plan

### Key Takeaway The cost of the Sidney Island eradication plan for European fallow deer, priced at $10,000 per deer, has raised concerns and criticism.

### Summary

Eradication Plan Overview
- Parks Canada is executing a plan to eliminate the European fallow deer population on Sidney Island.
- The eradication plan is conducted in phases.
Phase Completion
- The first phase of the eradication plan has been concluded this month.
Criticism on Cost
- Critics express concern over the high cost associated with the plan.
- The price tag for eliminating each deer is $10,000.
Public Opinion
- The article doesn’t provide a clear perspective on public opinion.
- It would be valuable to understand how the local community feels about the eradication plan and its costs.
Parks Canada’s Perspective
- The report doesn’t elaborate on Parks Canada’s justification for the high cost.
- Including this perspective could provide a more balanced view of the situation.
Environmental Impact
- The article doesn’t discuss the potential environmental impact of the deer population and its eradication.
- Understanding the ecological rationale behind the plan would enhance the report.
Future Phases
- Details about the subsequent phases of the eradication plan are not provided.
- A comprehensive summary should include information about the entire plan for context.
Conclusion
- The article highlights concerns about the cost of the Sidney Island deer eradication plan.
- A more thorough analysis, including different perspectives and potential ecological benefits, is needed for a comprehensive understanding.

A systematic review of ground-based shooting to control overabundant mammal populations

### Key Takeaway Ground-based shooting can be an effective tool for managing overabundant wildlife populations, but careful planning, clear objectives, and adequate resources are essential for success.

### Summary

Context: The web page discusses the use of ground-based shooting as a method to manage invasive or overabundant wildlife populations. It highlights that while this method is widely used, its effectiveness varies, and a systematic examination of its efficiency is lacking.
Aims:
- The review aimed to assess the efficacy of ground-based shooting as a population management tool.
- It sought to identify commonalities among studies to help managers determine situations where ground-shooting is most likely to be effective.
Key Results:
- Most studies lacked clear quantifiable objectives for their shooting operations.
- 60% of the 64 case studies resulted in a detectable reduction inpopulation density or damage.
- The most common type of operation used unpaid or commercial harvest-oriented shooters to reduce herbivore density or damage.
- Only 30% of operations that used volunteer shooters or recreational hunters achieved their objectives.
- Target taxa, geographic area, or integration of shooting with other population-control methods had no significant effect on the effectiveness of shooting operations.
- Common factors hindering effectiveness included immigration of target species from adjacent areas, decreasing effort from shooters as the target population declined, and selective harvesting.
Conclusions:
- Ground-based shooting can be effective but is not guaranteed to reduce animal abundance or damage.
- Failures were often due to an inability to remove a sufficient proportion of the population to cause a decline.
- Managers contemplating ground-based shooting should carefully consider its suitability for their goals, establish clear objectives, and ensure sufficient resources.
Implications:
- Managers should:
  - Evaluate whether ground-based shooting aligns with their objectives.
  - Define clear objectives and allow for continuous improvement.
  - Ensure adequate resources for achieving and maintaining objectives.

This report provides valuable insights for wildlife managers considering ground-based shooting as a wildlife population management strategy.

B.C. SPCA ’not opposed’ to mass deer kill on Sidney Island

### Key Takeaway The B.C. SPCA supports a planned mass deer kill on Sidney Island, aiming to end the ineffective seasonal hunting cycle that has persisted for decades.

### Summary

Background:
- B.C. SPCA expresses support for a mass deer kill on Sidney Island.
- The organization aims to break the ineffective cycle of seasonal hunting that has been ongoing for many decades.
Involvement and Consultation:
- B.C. SPCA has been consulted by Parks Canada since 2017 during the planning stages of the deer eradication plan.
- The animal welfare agency is actively engaged and will have personnel on the ground when the deer hunt commences on Dec. 1.
Reasoning:
- The key rationale behind supporting the mass deer kill is to halt the historical pattern of ineffective and seasonal hunting.
- B.C. SPCA sees this approach as a more decisive and humane solution compared to the past decades’ hunting practices.
Collaboration with Parks Canada:
- The collaboration between B.C. SPCA and Parks Canada highlights a cooperative effort to address wildlife management issues.
- This collaboration spans several years, indicating a thorough and considered planning process.
Preventing Ineffective Killing Cycle:
- The main goal of the mass deer kill is to put an end to what B.C. SPCA perceives as an “ineffective killing cycle” associated with seasonal hunting.
- By supporting this approach, the organization seeks a more sustainable and impactful solution to manage the deer population.
Timing and Execution:
- The deer eradication plan is scheduled to begin on December 1.
- B.C. SPCA’s active involvement during the hunt underscores its commitment to ensuring the process aligns with ethical and humane standards.
Overall Implication:
- The stance of B.C. SPCA indicates a shift towards more strategic and comprehensive wildlife management practices, moving away from traditional seasonal hunting approaches.
- The collaboration with Parks Canada suggests a multi-stakeholder effort to address ecological challenges while considering animal welfare.

Black-Tailed Deer In The City: A Scientific Approach To Population Control Using Immunocontraception

[00:04](https://youtu.be/VyEudCmFdUQ?t=4s) Monique Principe introduces the webinar on Black-Tailed Deer population control.
[01:04](https://youtu.be/VyEudCmFdUQ?t=64s) Dr. Jason Fisher and Dr. Adam Herring present on Black-Tailed Deer population control and their backgrounds.
[03:06](https://youtu.be/VyEudCmFdUQ?t=186s) Presentation focuses on Oak Bay, a densely populated urban area with growing deer conflict.
[05:09](https://youtu.be/VyEudCmFdUQ?t=309s) Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society proposes evidence-based immunocontraception program for deer management.
[09:28](https://youtu.be/VyEudCmFdUQ?t=568s) Density estimation using camera traps; public engagement crucial in obtaining permissions.
[10:55](https://youtu.be/VyEudCmFdUQ?t=655s) Array of 39 camera traps strategically placed across Oak Bay for monitoring deer population.
[12:06](https://youtu.be/VyEudCmFdUQ?t=726s) GPS collars track deer’s spatial use; vital data for accurate density estimation.
[13:31](https://youtu.be/VyEudCmFdUQ?t=811s) Darting deer for immobilization and vaccination; strong public outreach to ease concerns.
[15:07](https://youtu.be/VyEudCmFdUQ?t=907s) Immunocontraception process, including anesthesia, vaccinations, and boosters.
[17:10](https://youtu.be/VyEudCmFdUQ?t=1030s) Community volunteers assist with fieldwork; unique learning opportunity and community engagement.
[18:06](https://youtu.be/VyEudCmFdUQ?t=1086s) Deer management involves careful darting, ethical handling, and minimizing risks.
[19:18](https://youtu.be/VyEudCmFdUQ?t=1158s) Health monitoring samples collected for archival purposes.
[21:30](https://youtu.be/VyEudCmFdUQ?t=1290s) Timeline of project phases: population estimation, immunocontraception, data analysis.
[23:05](https://youtu.be/VyEudCmFdUQ?t=1385s) Urban environment influences deer population dynamics; small home ranges and hyper-concentration.
[24:43](https://youtu.be/VyEudCmFdUQ?t=1483s) Camera data reveals changes in fawning rate post-treatment, indicating population control success.
[25:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyEudCmFdUQ&t=1510s) Fawning rate reduction: After immunocontraception implementation, fawning rate decreased significantly over short-term periods.
[26:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyEudCmFdUQ&t=1575s) Immunocontraceptives working: 57% reduction in fawning rate indicates that immunocontraceptives are effectively preventing pregnancies.
[26:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyEudCmFdUQ&t=1603s) Population decrease expected: Reduction in fawning combined with natural mortalities is expected to lead to a decrease in the adult deer population over time.
[27:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyEudCmFdUQ&t=1629s) Monitoring stage: The project is now in the monitoring stage to observe how the population responds to the pulsed application of immunocontraceptives.
[28:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyEudCmFdUQ&t=1689s) Community engagement: Public perception and engagement are crucial factors in the success of the project, focusing on coexisting with deer harmoniously.
[29:47](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyEudCmFdUQ&t=1787s) Social progress: Efforts by the urban Wildlife stewardship society and immunocontraception have contributed to increased acceptance and coexistence with urban deer populations.

Concerns remain over methods used in Sidney Island deer eradication

### Key Takeaway The first phase of the Sidney Island deer eradication project has concluded, but lingering concerns persist among experts regarding the methods employed.

### Summary

Sidney Island Deer Eradication Project:
- First phase completed.
- Ongoing concerns among experts.
Concerns Raised:
- Methods used in deer eradication.
- Specific concerns not detailed in the provided information.
Expert Opinions:
- Some experts express reservations.
- Nature of concerns not explicitly mentioned.
Project Status:
- Completion of initial phase.
- No information on subsequent phases or future plans.
Overall Impression:
- Unclear whether concerns impact the continuation of the project.
- Lack of specifics regarding the nature of concerns.
Need for Transparency:
- Call for detailed information on methods used.
- Transparency may address lingering concerns.
Future Developments:
- No information on potential adjustments to methods.
- Lack of clarity on community and stakeholder involvement.
Public Perception:
- No mention of public sentiment.
- The article focuses on expert concerns.
Conclusion:
- The completion of the first phase does not alleviate concerns raised by some experts.
- Lack of details hinders a comprehensive understanding of the situation.

Confessions of a Sharpshooter: How a Deer Cull Actually Works

### Key Takeaway The key takeaway from the web page is that a deer cull, which involves controlled hunting to manage deer populations, can be a contentious issue, even leading to unlikely alliances between animal rights groups and hunters. The article also highlights the complexities and challenges involved in implementing a successful deer cull.

### Summary

An animal rights group and a hunters’ rights group join forces on Long Island’s East End to protest a plan to cull up to 3,000 deer from the local population, leading to a polarized community and unexpected partnerships.
This is the first landscape-level cull in the region, sparking opposition due to concerns about wildlife management methods.
Local hunters are unhappy with hired guns being used for the cull and question why taxpayers are funding a service hunters could provide for free.
Animal rights groups are equally opposed, launching protests, petitions, and contacting officials to stop the cull. They raise concerns about removing a significant number of keystone species from the ecosystem.
The author, a wildlife specialist with USDA Wildlife Services, shares insights from participating in three deer culls over five years.
The author describes a specific culling operation where night hunting takes place, with techniques like drop-and-go methods from vehicles and stationary positions near bait.
Various challenges arise, including the difficulty of baiting older, wiser deer, the limited effectiveness of suppressed firearms, and concerns about animal welfare and clean kills.
The article explains that culls are more common where hunting isn’t a viable management tool, such as areas with discharge laws, lawsuits, or changing hunting cultures.
The collaboration between government wildlife control agencies, hunters, and animal rights groups is motivated by a shared goal of maintaining a healthy and sustainable deer population.
The article concludes by suggesting that as urbanization continues, deer culls may become more common as a means of wildlife management.

(Note: This summary report is based on the provided web page content and does not include any additional information beyond the given text.)

Conflict of interest concern raised for Sidney Island deer-cull contract

### Key Takeaway Jordan Reichert of the Animal Alliance of Canada is concerned about a Parks Canada contract for eradicating invasive fallow deer on Sidney Island due to potential conflicts of interest and perceived misallocation of funds.

### Summary

Jordan Reichert, West Coast director of the Animal Alliance of Canada, has raised concerns about a $5.9-million Parks Canada contract for eradicating invasive fallow deer on Sidney Island.
The project involves marksmen in a helicopter and on the ground killing European fallow deer over a 10-day period, followed by additional measures to contain and remove any survivors.
The contract was awarded to Coastal Conservation, a company specializing in removing invasive species from islands to promote ecosystem recovery, which also played a significant role in planning the project.
Reichert questions the procurement process, stating that using millions of tax dollars for this project is “unnecessary” and that the funds could be better allocated elsewhere.
A complaint was lodged by Reichert with the Office of the Procurement Ombudsman, but it could not be pursued due to the contract’s value exceeding its jurisdiction.
Documents obtained through freedom of information requests show that concerns were raised by Parks Canada staff about potential conflicts of interest involving Gregg Howald of Coastal Conservation.
Coastal Conservation was previously awarded a contract of $724,500 to develop an eradication operation plan before being awarded the current contract for execution.
Parks Canada asserts that the fallow deer population’s impact on the ecosystem is still negative and justifies the eradication project.
The population estimates vary, with Parks Canada estimating 300 to 900 deer, while some residents claim the population is closer to 300 due to previous culling efforts.
Reichert questions the justification for a $5.9-million eradication project without accurate population data.
Parks Canada controls a portion of the island’s land, and residents, who own the majority of the land, were given a vote on the culling decision.
Coastal Conservation had been involved in a similar deer-eradication project on Haida Gwaii in 2017, which was eventually canceled.
Public feedback on the deer cull is being accepted by Parks Canada until August 23.

Please note that this summary report is based solely on the provided web page content and may not include any additional context or developments beyond the provided text.

Deer Friendly

A site dedicated to providing news and issues relating to deer slaughter. It also provides extensive information on humane methods of deer control. Unfortunately, some of the links don’t work, but the site is still a good resource that is well-organized and thorough.

Demonstrators protest Sidney Island deer eradication

### Key Takeaway The key takeaway from the web page is that approximately 50 people gathered in Beacon Park to peacefully protest the planned deer eradication on Sidney Island by Parks Canada. The protesters are questioning the justification and methods of the $5.9-million project, urging government officials to consider alternative approaches and seek more scientific data before proceeding.

### Summary

Protest Gathering:
- Around 50 people gathered in Beacon Park to protest the planned deer eradication on Sidney Island.
Organizer’s Perspective:
- Protest organizer Sharon Glynn expressed opposition to the mass kill, arguing that the fallow deer population is already under control due to safe hunting parties on the island.
Park Canada’s Project Purpose:
- Park Canada aims to eliminate invasive fallow deer to allow native black-tailed deer to recover and restore the native understory growth.
Deer Eradication Details:
- The $5.9-million project involves sharpshooters in helicopters and hunters on land with tracking dogs, scheduled between Nov. 25 and Dec. 15.
Government Spending Concerns:
- Protesters question the government’s allocation of funds for the project, especially since the majority of the island is private.
Hereditary Chief Support:
- Tsawout First Nation hereditary chief Eric Pelkey supports the project, emphasizing the restoration of the forest to its original state.
Appeal to Saanich-Gulf Islands MP:
- Protesters are urging Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Elizabeth May to raise the issue in Parliament, requesting a postponement for more scientific data and consideration of alternative solutions.
BC SPCA Involvement:
- BC SPCA was consulted in choosing sharpshooters to ensure humane dispatching of deer, emphasizing the expertise and training of the individuals involved.
Public Reaction:
- The article notes a previous incident of a deer with an arrow stuck in it in Saanich, drawing attention to public concerns about deer welfare.
Government Support and Historical Context:
- The government project has received support from some members, including the Tsawout First Nation hereditary chief. Historical context is provided, referencing the utilization of the forest by ancestors.
Media Coverage:
- The report acknowledges contributions from Ella Matte and highlights the Peninsula News Review as the source of information.
Request for Parliamentary Action:
- The protesters are hoping for parliamentary attention and action, asking for a postponement and a thorough examination of scientific data.
Additional News Highlights:
- The web page includes links to other news highlights and features a community poll unrelated to the deer eradication issue.

This comprehensive summary covers the main points of the protest, reasons for opposition, government perspective, and the wider context of the issue.

Effectiveness and costs of helicopter-based shooting of deer

### Key Takeaway Helicopter-based shooting is an effective method for reducing deer populations over large areas, but the extent of reduction depends on the effort put into the operation.

### Summary

The study evaluates the effectiveness and costs of helicopter-based shooting for controlling fallow deer and chital deer populations in eastern Australia.
The research aims to measure reductions in deer density, the relationship between deer killed per hour and density, costs of control, and the relationships between effort, outcome, and cost.
The study analyzes 12 aerial shooting operations targeting fallow deer and chital deer at nine sites characterized by fragmented woodland.
Population reductions achieved varied between 5% and 75% for fallow deer and 48% and 88% for chital deer.
The most significant population reductions occurred with higher effort per unit area, especially when shooting was conducted in consecutive years.
The functional response of hourly kills to deer density follows a modified Ivlev model, with an estimated asymptotic kill rate of 50 deer per hour.
There’s no evidence of a prey refuge, indicating no density threshold below which no deer could be shot.
Helicopter charter costs were the main expense, followed by labor, while firearm and ammunition costs were relatively minor.
The study recommends pre-control population surveys to establish measurable objectives, estimate required effort and costs, and evaluate realized population reduction.

### Keywords abundance, aerial gunning, aerial shooting, aerial survey, Bayesian statistics, chital deer, culling, density, effort–outcome, fallow deer, functional response, mark–recapture distance sampling.

(Note: The above report is based on the provided web page content and does not include any external information beyond what is present in the content.)

EPA gives thumbs up on vaccine to manage deer populations humanely

### Key Takeaway The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the registration of an immunocontraceptive vaccine called Zonastat-D for managing deer populations humanely. This vaccine aims to reduce deer populations gradually without resorting to lethal methods, offering an alternative approach to conflicts with wildlife in urban and suburban communities.

### Summary

The EPA has given approval for the registration of the immunocontraceptive vaccine, Zonastat-D, which is designed for managing deer populations humanely.
Previously, communities often resorted to shooting or killing deer to address conflicts with wildlife in neighborhoods.
Zonastat-D is adapted from the Zonastat-H vaccine used for wild horse population control, and it is based on the porcine zona pellucida (PZP) vaccine. PZP blocks fertilization by triggering the production of antibodies that bind to the protein envelope surrounding the egg.
The approval of Zonastat-D offers an alternative approach to population control, enabling wildlife managers to reduce deer populations gradually and avoid lethal methods like sport hunting or sharpshooting, which are often considered unsafe and impractical in urban and suburban areas.
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has been involved in studies and research that provided the foundation for the registration of this vaccine. They have administered PZP-filled darts to deer in various locations, and evidence suggests that when used properly, PZP reduces fawning rates by 85 to 90 percent.
The EPA’s approval of Zonastat-D confirms the safety and effectiveness of this vaccine for managing deer populations. The HSUS plans to work with state wildlife agencies and communities to implement non-lethal programs and build comprehensive, humane solutions for coexisting with wildlife.
The approach of using PZP vaccines offers a more humane alternative to mass killing and aims to better manage localized overabundance of certain species in urban and suburban environments.
The vaccine approval highlights the need for more options in 21st-century wildlife management and encourages a more compassionate approach to dealing with conflicts between humans and wildlife.

Eradication And Restoration Options On Sidney Island

5 page doc by Jack Albrecht Ruth Albrecht Fred Anderka Frank Nielsen Robin Bassett

Harpa:

### Key Takeaway The key takeaway from the web page content is that the issue at hand revolves around the restoration and eradication options for fallow deer on Sidney Island, with differing perspectives on the necessity of eradication, the ecological impacts, ethical considerations, and the need for well-informed decision-making.

### Summary

The document discusses the ongoing debate regarding the restoration and eradication of fallow deer on Sidney Island.
The process involves a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) approved by Sidney Island, and there are documents available on the Sidney Island website under the Parks Canada Proposal.
The issue has caused disagreement among owners and involves concerns about access to hunting, with the potential eradication of fallow deer ending hunting on the island.
The history of discussions and attempts to communicate with the Council regarding eradication is outlined, including various documents shared with the owners.
Some owners took it upon themselves to communicate with Parks Canada, leading to the drafting of the MOU, which states that “eradication is critical for restoration.”
Relevant documents include a UBC research paper discussing the recovery of woody plants on the island and a paper on ethical wildlife control principles by Dr. Sara Dubois.
Questions raised include the necessity of eradication for restoration, the definition of restoration, the ethical implications of eradicating invasive species, and the impact on black tail deer.
The document highlights the lack of clarity on what “restoration” truly entails and whether eradicating the fallow deer is essential for achieving it.
The presence of invasive species and the potential ecological improvements observed are discussed in relation to the fallow deer population.
Concerns are raised about the cost of Parks Canada’s proposal, the methods of eradication, and the impact on the community.
The MOU was authorized by 80% of owners, with a final vote requiring a 75% majority for approval.
The Eradication and Restoration Committees have met multiple times, but there are concerns about a lack of alternative narratives to eradication and potential groupthink.
The involvement of Parks Canada personnel in eradication efforts and their associated costs are mentioned.
Recent correspondence suggests the consideration of a “population ecologist” to assess population numbers and the viability of management control instead of eradication.
The concept of “restoration” is explored further, with emphasis on the need for well-informed decision-making and compromise.
The document concludes by stating that the issue extends beyond a hunters versus non-hunters debate, touching on ethical and moral obligations toward the fallow deer population.

(Note: The summary includes the main points covered in the web page content. For a comprehensive report, the text has been condensed into bullet points while maintaining the core ideas and information.)

Bing:

The text is a summary of the issue of fallow deer eradication and restoration on Sidney Island, written by some owners who are not opposed to restoration but have questions and concerns about the process and the impact of eradication. The text provides some background information on the communication between the owners and the Council, and the documents that were shared on the website. The text also mentions a survey question on hunting and a new disease affecting black tail deer.

Perplexity: [incorrect conclusion]

The document titled “Eradiation and Restoration Options on Sidney Island” discusses the issue of overpopulation of fallow deer on Sidney Island and the proposed plan to eradicate the deer population. The document outlines the reasons for the proposed eradication plan, including the negative impact of deer on the island’s ecosystem and the risk of deer-vehicle collisions. The document also discusses the potential alternatives to eradication, such as relocation and contraception, and the challenges associated with these options. Ultimately, the document concludes that eradication is the most effective and efficient option for managing the deer population on Sidney Island.

Citations:

Chatgpt:

The document discusses the topic of eradication and restoration options for fallow deer on Sidney Island. It begins with a background explanation, highlighting the efforts of a Steering Committee and Working Groups to develop a plan for fallow deer eradication and restoration, based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) approved in March 2020. The document emphasizes the importance of addressing new owners and responding to Council’s recent material.

The authors clarify that they are not opposed to restoring the island’s ecology, but their concerns were about the process used for open dialogue on deer eradication. They mention efforts made to communicate with the Council and their involvement in discussions with Parks Canada to reset the process. They refer to various documents on the Sidney Island website that provide historical context and viewpoints supporting eradication.

Two key documents are highlighted:

A UBC research paper from May 2019, which presents empirical evidence regarding flora restoration on Sidney Island, indicating a general 30% improvement over six years. This paper neither states eradication is “critical” nor examines alternatives to eradication.
A paper by Dr. Sara Dubois on ethical wildlife control principles, suggesting that the term “invasive” should not solely justify extermination and emphasizing minimal harm in wildlife control.

The document raises several fundamental questions:

The necessity of eradicating fallow deer for restoration and defining the concept of “restoration.” It questions the specific goals of long-term forest recovery and what this entails.
The ethical considerations of labeling species as “invasive” and whether eradication meets ethical and ecological standards.
The adequacy of lowering the fallow deer population to under 200, given observed ecological improvements, and why a management control plan isn’t considered.
The potential costs, safety concerns, and ethical implications of eradication methods, including helicopter hunting and hunting with dogs.

The document recounts the authorization of the MOU in March 2020 and notes the ongoing work of the Eradication and Restoration Committees. Concerns are raised about a lack of diverse perspectives in these committees and the secrecy of their proceedings.

Recent correspondence from Parks Canada suggests exploring management control rather than eradication, utilizing a “population ecologist” to assess population numbers and hunting history. This is seen as a positive step by the authors.

The document concludes by stating that the issue goes beyond hunters versus non-hunters and emphasizes the moral and ethical obligations towards fallow deer. It calls for an informed decision-making process and finding a compromise to this emotionally charged issue.

The document is signed by multiple authors: Jack Albrecht, Ruth Albrecht, Fred Anderka, Frank Nielsen, and Robin Bassett.

Fallow deer eating their way across Gulf Islands

### Key Takeaway Invasive fallow deer with voracious appetites are spreading across Gulf Islands, devouring native trees and plants, posing a threat to ecosystems, vineyards, and gardens. Parks Canada and local residents are seeking a final solution to control the deer population.

### Summary

Invasive European fallow deer, distinct from native black-tailed deer, have become a problem on Gulf Islands due to their indiscriminate eating habits and rapid population growth.
The deer were originally introduced to James Island for sport hunting and have since spread to Sidney Island and other areas.
Efforts have been made to control the population through annual culls using methods like corral systems, bolt guns, and mobile meat processors.
Despite culling efforts, the fallow deer population has continued to grow on Mayne Island, with some deer island-hopping to other locations like Saturna Island.
The deer’s impact includes stripping vegetation, outcompeting native species, and threatening the rare Garry oak ecosystem, vineyards, and gardens.
Cameras are being set up to monitor deer numbers on Saturna Island, and community input will be sought for the next steps.
The preferred solution is to remove all the animals, but this approach is controversial and requires expert consultation.
The lack of natural predators has contributed to the deer population’s unchecked growth.
The deer are also affecting the native black-tailed deer population on Mayne Island due to a lack of predators.
The deer’s impact is particularly significant on plants such as arbutus, Garry oaks, and conifers.
Concerns about the deer’s movement into developed areas where hunting is restricted are growing.
There is debate on Mayne Island regarding a complete cull, as some residents oppose this solution.
Efforts to determine the density of the deer population and secure funding for management strategies are ongoing.
The situation highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to address the ecological and economic challenges posed by invasive fallow deer.

This report summarizes the issue of invasive fallow deer on Gulf Islands, their impact on ecosystems and communities, and the ongoing efforts to find a solution to manage their population.

Fast action needed to stop mass kill of deer on B.C. Island

### Key Takeaway The planned mass killing of all deer on Sidney Island, British Columbia, particularly targeting fallow deer, has sparked significant outrage among residents and visitors.

### Summary

Location and Ownership:
- Sidney Island, situated north of Victoria, is comprised of approximately 20% national park land, with the remaining area being privately owned and inhabited by full- and part-time residents.
Personal Connection:
- The author expresses personal fondness for the island, having enjoyed camping there multiple times, highlighting its peaceful and beautiful qualities, especially given its proximity to the city.
Controversial Action by Parks Canada:
- Parks Canada has announced its intention to carry out a mass kill of fallow deer on Sidney Island, citing them as a non-native species.
Public Outrage:
- The planned mass kill has generated widespread outrage among both residents and others, emphasizing the emotional response to this conservation strategy.
Environmental Context:
- The island is described as a small but valuable oasis close to the city, emphasizing its ecological and recreational significance.
Conservation Rationale:
- The primary motivation behind the mass deer kill is framed as a conservation effort, with a focus on eliminating the non-native fallow deer species.
Call for Action:
- The overall tone of the article suggests an urgent need for intervention to prevent the planned mass killing, urging for reconsideration of the conservation strategy.
Unresolved Questions:
- The article does not provide detailed information on alternative conservation measures or address potential ecological consequences of the mass deer removal. [However, there are plenty of viable alternatives as outlined in the Resources section.]
Author Perspective:
- The author positions themselves as part of a larger community that opposes the planned action, adding a personal and community-oriented dimension to the narrative.
Absence of Detailed Information:
- The article lacks specific details on the methods Parks Canada plans to use for the massdeer kill or the timeline for implementation.
Overall Impact:
- The controversy surrounding the mass deer kill on Sidney Island reflects broader debates about conservation strategies, raising questions about the balance between protecting native ecosystems and ethical considerations in wildlife management.

Humane dispatch

### Key Takeaway The web page provides comprehensive guidance on humane dispatch procedures for injured deer, covering legal aspects, safety considerations, methods of dispatch, and operator competency.

### Summary

The web page focuses on providing guidance for the humane dispatch of injured deer, emphasizing legal, safety, and ethical considerations.
Legal Aspects:
- Section 25 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 exempts individuals from guilt if they take or kill deer to prevent suffering, including injured, diseased, or starving deer.
- Firearms or ammunition that are otherwise prohibited can be used for humane dispatch under certain circumstances.
Safety and Welfare:
- Situation assessment is crucial, considering factors such as operator safety, public safety, deer welfare, and operator competency.
- Risks associated with using firearms and potential danger from injured deer’s antlers or hooves should be considered.
- The dispatcher’s aim should be to ensure rapid loss of consciousness and death without causing unnecessary suffering.
Methods of Dispatch:
- Shooting with firearms is the preferred method, following proper authorization and safety measures.
- Other methods include the use of drugs (administered by qualified individuals), captive bolt (by trained slaughter personnel), and the use of a knife (only by experienced operators).
Dispatching Scenarios:
- Dispatching is required for wounded, diseased, injured, or trapped deer.
- Trapped but uninjured deer should be assessed for appropriate action.
Operator Competency:
- Dispatch should only be attempted by individuals with necessary skills, training, and experience.
Carcass Disposal:
- The person responsible for carcass disposal should be identified and aware of the proper procedures.
Insurance and Liability:
- Individuals involved in deer management are advised to have adequate public liability coverage.
Specialized Practitioners:
- Those specializing in the humane dispatch of Deer Vehicle Collision (DVC) injured deer should have relevant experience, training, and competence.

Note: The summary covers various aspects of humane dispatch procedures, including legal provisions, safety precautions, dispatch methods, operator competence, and carcass disposal.

For more details, please refer to the original web page.

Is Sterilization the Answer to Too Many Urban Deer?

### Key Takeaway Sterilization of urban deer populations, although controversial, has shown potential in reducing deer numbers in certain areas. While the method is met with skepticism, studies indicate a decline in deer populations through sterilization efforts.

### Summary

Sterilization is being considered as a method to address urban deer overpopulation in various US cities and suburbs.
Tony DeNicola, a wildlife biologist, has initiated deer sterilization programs in different locations to control deer numbers.
DeNicola’s sterilization program in Cincinnati, started in 2015, has resulted in a 19 percent decline in the deer population over three years.
Similar successful sterilization results have been observed in other areas, including Cayuga, New York (34 percent decline), Fairfax, Virginia (20 percent decline), Bethesda, Maryland (47 percent decline), and San Jose, California (37 percent decline).
Opposition to sterilization comes from hunters who have traditionally been involved in deer population control. However, studies suggest that hunting may not effectively reduce deer numbers for ecological impact.
A case study in a gated community in San Jose, where sterilization was employed due to landscaping losses caused by deer, resulted in a reduction of the deer population from 153 to 60.
Despite skepticism, a sterilization project on Staten Island saw an 8 percent decrease in the deer population.
A grassroots deer sterilization project in Cincinnati’s Clifton neighborhood, initiated by residents, successfully raised funds and implemented sterilization efforts.
The Cincinnati project involves sterilizing does, and it has a goal of achieving 95 percent sterilization to maintain a sustainable approach to wildlife management.
The sterilization procedure involves surgical removal of ovaries, tagging the deer, and releasing them after a reversal drug is administered.
Sterilization efforts have potential for reducing urban deer populations, but the method remains controversial within the wildlife management community.

For the full analysis and context, please refer to the provided web page content.

Letter by Film Maker Wendy Ord (pdf)

Wendy is a award winning writer, director and producer with credits for “Christmas Carol” (2023), “Perfect Manicure”, “The Way To The Heart” and more! You can find her IMDb Bio here. Summary of her letter follows:

### Key Takeaway The key takeaway from the web page is that the author strongly opposes the plan to eradicate deer on Sidney Island proposed by Parks Canada. The opposition is based on various grounds, including concerns about the accuracy of deer population estimates, lack of social license, credibility issues with project execution, potential negative ecological impacts, disruption of island residents’ lives, and potential financial misallocation.

### Summary

The author opposes the eradication of deer on Sidney Island proposed by Parks Canada, both European Fallow Deer and native Black-tailed Deer.
Parks Canada lacks a clear definition of “social license,” and the author believes they do not have it due to legitimacy, credibility, and trust issues.
There’s a conflict of interest since Coastal Conservation, a company involved in pushing the project, is leading the contractors, potentially benefiting financially.
The eradication plan doesn’t have 50% of island owners’ permission; only 45% of strata lots voted in favor.
The author questions the credibility of information provided by Parks Canada, including the lack of mention that all deer on the island will be eradicated.
A UBC study from 2013 to 2018 shows the island’s ecology improved, but PC presents a negative image of the island’s state.
The author questions the urgency of eradication, as restoration is observed through a hunt and cull program.
The success of the eradication is uncertain, and non-compliance with fencing and potential negative impacts on the ecosystem are concerns.
Trust in Parks Canada has eroded due to misinformation and mishandling of the project.
The author, along with many others, opposes the eradication due to concerns about cruelty, ecological impacts, disruption of residents’ lives, and loss of local food sources.
The project’s timeline is outlined, involving aerial and ground operations over several months, leading to significant disruptions for residents and the environment.
The author believes the loss of deer will upset the balance of nature, increase invasive species, and pose forest fire threats.
Repopulation of Black-tailed Deer is mentioned as a potential concern, while repopulation of fallow deer is questioned.
The author calls for reconsideration of the project, asserting that it lacks social license and questions the allocation of taxpayer dollars.

(Note: The summary aims to capture the main points from the web page content and might not include every single detail.)

Looming deer slaughter called ‘disturbing, terrifying’ by Sidney Island residents

### Key Takeaway The residents of Sidney Island are divided over Parks Canada’s plan to kill all European fallow deer, with concerns about the use of helicopters, potential harm to other wildlife, and the emotional impact on the community.

### Summary

Parks Canada plans to eradicate European fallow deer on Sidney Island, including native blacktails, to restore ecological balance.
Residents are divided; some, like Wendy Ord, argue the mass slaughter isn’t necessary due to already low deer numbers.
Concerns include the inability to distinguish between deer species by sharpshooters, the use of helicopters, loudspeakers, and drop nets for capture, causing distress to residents, pets, and wildlife.
Rob Milne raises concerns about the impact on bald eagles and raptors due to low-flying helicopters.
Proponents argue the deer eradication is essential for the ecological balance, citing disappearing understory plantswith medicinal value for the W̱SÁNEĆ people.
Parks Canada has awarded a $5.9-million project to Coastal Conservation, covering deer eradication, public consultation, support for indigenous community hunting, invasive plant removal, and replanting native species until 2026.
Shooting is estimated between Nov. 25 and Dec. 14, with a second phase in the following winter.
Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Elizabeth May, still recovering from a stroke, is examining the plan; key permits for helicopter use are pending.
Critics argue Parks Canada lacks accurate deer counts, with estimates ranging from 300 to 900; no formal counts by scientists have been conducted.
A 2019 UBC study suggests increased vegetation on the island due to sustained managed hunting since 2019.
Over 18,000 people signed a petition to cancel the deer killing.
Janice McLeod supports eradication, fearing the island will resemble Mandarte Island without intervention.
The community is emotionally divided, with concerns about the impact on the island’s character, wildlife, and the prolonged nature of the hunt.
Residents express horror at the prospect of on-the-ground fenced hunting seven days a week for four or five months.
Despite differing opinions, there is a call for reasonable discussions and exploring alternative solutions to the deer issue.

Non-Lethal Deer Population Control for Urban and Suburban Environments

### Key Takeaway The web page discusses non-lethal methods for controlling deer populations in urban and suburban environments, primarily focusing on contraception and sterilization. It highlights the challenges and benefits of these approaches, as well as their potential impact on managing deer populations.

### Summary The web page emphasizes the use of non-lethal methods for managing deer populations in urban and suburban areas. The key points include:

Deer Population Control Methods:
- The article advocates for non-lethal strategies such as contraception and sterilization to manage deer populations.
- It highlights the limitations and ethical concerns associated with lethal methods like culling.
Deer Contraception:
- Various forms of contraception are discussed, such as Gonacon and Spayvac.
- Contraception can be effective, with success rates often reported in the 90 to 95 percent range.
- Costs vary depending on factors like labor and the number of deer.
- Contraception needs to be reapplied after a few years.
Sterilization:
- Sterilization methods, including spaying, ovariectomy, and tubal ligation, are explored.
- Sterilization can be more expensive but offers long-term effectiveness (97-100 percent) and needs to be done only once.
- Challenges include surgical interventions, equipment, and potential attraction of bucks to sterilized does.
Examples of Sterilization Programs:
- The web page provides examples of cities and regions that have implemented sterilization programs.
- Oak Bay in British Columbia successfully reduced fawn numbers through immunocontraception, leading to a decrease in the deer population.
- South Euclid, Ohio, initiated a sterilization program, aiming for long-term impact on deer numbers.
Challenges and Considerations:
- The article acknowledges challenges in implementing non-lethal methods, such as cost, labor, and legal regulations.
- Different communities have debated and implemented various strategies based on local contexts and preferences.
- Public attitudes, government regulations, and local decision-making influence the choice of methods.
Benefits and Implications:
- Non-lethal methods help avoid negative consequences associated with culling, such as public opposition and the need for ongoing killing programs.
- Successes in reducing deer populations through sterilization and contraception programs are highlighted, providing evidence for the feasibility of these approaches.
Debate and Research:
- The web page also touches on the ongoing debate about optimal deer density and the relationship between deer populations and issues like Lyme disease.
- The role of fertility control programs in reducing deer populations without resorting to lethal methods is emphasized.

The overall message of the web page is that non-lethal methods like contraception and sterilization offer promising alternatives for managing deer populations in urban and suburban settings, with evidence of successful programs and ongoing research in this area.

Not tonight deer: A new birth control vaccine helps reduce urban deer damage

### Key Takeaway A new birth control vaccine named GonaCon™ has been developed to control white-tailed deer populations in urban areas. This vaccine reduces dangerous reproductive behavior, preventing collisions with automobiles and damage to gardens. It also has applications in managing undesirable behaviors in other animals.

### Summary

A birth control vaccine called GonaCon™ has been developed to address the issue of white-tailed deer overpopulation in urban areas.
The vaccine eliminates the reproductive behavior responsible for the surge in automobile-deer collisions during autumn.
The vaccine was discussed at the 242nd National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
GonaCon™ has the potential to reduce or eliminate undesirable behaviors in household pets and farm animals such as scent-marking, fighting, caterwauling, and wandering in cats, as well as aggressive behavior in horses.
The vaccine blocks the action of male and female sex hormones (testosterone and estrogen), responsible for these behaviors.
It could also be used for prairie dogs, wild horses, and feral dogs.
The vaccine addresses the population explosion of white-tailed deer, which cause damage to gardens, landscaping plants, and attract predators into residential areas.
Deer-auto collisions result in deaths and significant property damage.
GonaCon™ is developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center.
Unlike other birth-control vaccines, GonaCon™ prevents mating behaviors in vaccinated deer, eliminating dangerous situations.
The vaccine blocks a biological signal triggered by decreasing day length in autumn, inducing infertility by targeting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).
The vaccine was effective in various animals including white-tailed deer, ground squirrels, rats, swine, and wild horses.
A single injection of GnRH led to infertility lasting up to five years in penned white-tailed deer.
The vaccine needed to be registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and requires concentration data of the active ingredient.
GonaCon™ is the only EPA-registered multi-year, single-injection wildlife contraceptive for female white-tailed deer.
It must be administered by USDA or state game and fish department staff members and has been approved for use in Maryland and New Jersey.
The vaccine ensures that female deer remain sterile for years, reducing the risk of accidents caused by deer in traffic.

Note: The report has been generated based on the provided web page content, and some information might be missing or inaccurately interpreted due to the limitations of the content provided.

Parks Canada seeks input 230801

### Key Takeaway The key takeaway from the web page is that a cull of fallow deer on Sidney Island is being conducted due to the negative impact these deer have had on the ecosystem, even though it contradicts the teachings of the island’s elders. The cull aims to address the decimation caused by the deer population.

### Summary

Sidney Island is undergoing a cull of fallow deer to combat their negative impact on the ecosystem.
The cull has been met with resistance due to the conflict with traditional teachings and practices of the island’s elders.
The overpopulation of fallow deer has led to a significant reduction in the island’s forest understory.
Black-tailed deer, once hunted by the community, are now virtually extinct on the island.
The cull involves shooting animals from a helicopter, which has raised ethical concerns about suffering.
Critics, such as the Animal Alliance of Canada, question the lack of data on the deer population and suggest exploring non-lethal methods like immuno-contraception.
The proliferation of fallow deer has adversely affected the ecosystem’s biodiversity and plant growth.
Traditional foods, medicines, and habitats for animals are impacted by the loss of lush plants in the understory.
Sidney Island hosts the coastal Douglas fir ecosystem, which is unique to the region.
Public feedback on the cull can be provided until August 23 via specific online links.

(Note: The provided text does not include links, so the URLs are not complete in the summary.)

On the eve of mass fallow deer kill, pleas to stop the helicopter cull

23-11-30

### Key Takeaway The mass kill of fallow deer on Sidney Island, scheduled to start on Friday, is proceeding despite appeals claiming it is unnecessary. The $6-million plan aims to restore the island’s ecosystem, but there are opposing views on the necessity and methods involved.

### Summary

Deer Eradication Operation:
- A mass kill of fallow deer on Sidney Island is set to begin despite last-minute appeals.
- The operation, costing $6 million, is aimed at restoring the island’s fragile Coastal Douglas Fir ecosystems.
Opposition and Appeals:
- Private property owners and some citizens have appealed to the prime minister, federal environment minister, and the B.C. SPCA to halt the deer cull.
- First Nations confirm the operation is underway, emphasizing the damage caused by fallow deer to the land and ecosystem.
Execution Plan:
- A company will shoot deer from a helicopter, assisted by ground hunters with dogs.
- First Nations members will set up camps, locate carcasses marked by GPS, and handle the skinning and butchering.
Differing Perspectives:
- Some island residents argue against the eradication plan, stating the deer numbers are not critical and suggesting alternative uses for the allocated funds.
- A local hunter and wildlife biology professor assert that organized hunts and culls in the past have reduced the deer population effectively.
Animal Welfare Concerns:
- The B.C. SPCA’s endorsement of the mass kill has sparked outrage among some citizens, with concerns about inhumane practices and a lack of widespread public support.
- An online petition against the deer kill has garnered over 20,000 signatures.
Utilization of Deer Resources:
- Despite opposition, First Nations plan to use fallow deer resources for cultural purposes, such as making drums and moccasins.
- Blacktail deer are set to be reintroduced to the island after the fallow deer eradication.
Environmental Impact Claims:
- Arguments exist that the island’s ecology has already improved due to previous hunting efforts, and a more elaborate plan may not be necessary.
Potential Alternatives:
- Some island residents propose reallocating funds to address pressing needs in First Nations communities rather than focusing on deer eradication.
Long-term Effects and Future Phases:
- A second phase of killings is planned a year later, involving fencing and dogs to round up any remaining deer.
- Concerns are raised about the broader impact on the ecosystem and public perception, with potential consequences for the B.C. SPCA.
Cultural Utilization of Deer:
- The planned use of fallow deer resources by First Nations for cultural purposes adds a dimension to the debate beyond ecological concerns.

This summary captures the multifaceted nature of the deer cull issue, involving ecological, cultural, ethical, and financial considerations, with differing opinions among stakeholders.

Plan to eradicate fallow deer population from B.C. island faces backlash (Terrace Standard 230809)

Animal Alliance of Canada speaks out about alternative methods to preserve Sidney Island ecosystem

### Key Takeaway Animal advocates, led by the Animal Alliance of Canada, are opposing the plan to exterminate an invasive fallow deer population on Sidney Island, British Columbia. The plan aims to restore native plant habitats, but critics argue that more humane alternatives should be considered.

### Summary

Parks Canada’s plan involves culling the fallow deer population on Sidney Island to help restore native plant habitats and create a suitable environment for songbirds and other wildlife.
The cull is scheduled for the upcoming winter and will use sharpshooters from White Buffalo Inc. in helicopters and on the ground to eliminate as many deer as possible.
Jordan Reichert, campaign director of the Animal Alliance of Canada, criticizes the plan, suggesting that contraception or birth control would be a more ecologically responsible and humane alternative.
Kate Humble, superintendent for the Gulf Islands National Parks Reserve, counters that capturing, relocating, serialization, and contraceptives were considered but wouldn’t achieve the goal of population removal.
The fallow deer were introduced to Sidney Island by European colonizers and have been damaging vegetation, including medicinal plants used by local First Nations.
The fallow deer population on the island is estimated to be between 300 and 900. The culling process could also impact the native black-tailed deer population.
Critics argue that the chosen eradication method could negatively impact both deer species and the island’s ecology as a whole.
Humble defends the culling as a necessary action for ecosystem restoration, emphasizing that it’s a last resort when other methods cannot be applied.

Points covered:

Parks Canada’s plan for fallow deer cull on Sidney Island.
Use of sharpshooters by White Buffalo Inc. to eliminate deer.
Jordan Reichert’s criticism, proposing contraception or birth control.
Kate Humble’s response, highlighting limitations of alternatives.
History of introduced fallow deer damaging local vegetation.
Estimated fallow deer population and potential impact on native black-tailed deer.
Concerns about the chosen eradication method’s broader ecological impact.
Humble’s defense of culling as a necessary action for ecosystem restoration.

Note: The summary is comprehensive and covers the main aspects of the web page content.

Protest planned as Sidney island helicopter deer kill set to begin

### Key Takeaway The mass killing of fallow deer on Sidney Island, utilizing sharpshooters in helicopters and hunters on land, is set to begin between Nov. 25 and Dec. 15. The action aims to restore native plants and biodiversity, but it has sparked protests due to concerns about the tactics’ inhumanity and the high cost of $5.9 million.

### Summary

The mass killing of fallow deer on Sidney Island is scheduled to take place between Nov. 25 and Dec. 15.
The approach involves sharpshooters in helicopters and hunters on land with tracking dogs.
Parks Canada asserts that the deer eradication is necessary to restore native plants and biodiversity on the island, partly parkland and partly privately owned.
A protest is planned at Sidney’s Beacon Park against the perceived inhumane tactics and the significant cost of $5.9 million for eradicating the invasive species.
Protest organizer Sharon Glynn aims to halt the “unscientific and costly” eradication or at least postpone it until further research is conducted.
Parks Canada, along with First Nations partners and contractor Coastal Conservation, has finalized an operational plan, confirming the deer kill will proceed.
The initial phase is set to last over 10 days at the end of the month, with a second roundup and kill scheduled for a year later.
Critics, including wildlife biology professor David Bird, question the necessity of the expensive contract, suggesting traditional hunting has already reduced the deer population significantly.
The estimated fallow deer population on Sidney Island is between 300 and 900, according to Parks Canada.
A lack of proper, science-based censuses of the deer population is criticized by opponents.
The contract covers the project until 2026, including invasive plant removal and replanting native species.
A 2019 UBC study on Sidney Island indicated that reducing deer populations led to increased native species richness and diversity.
The deer kill will involve marksmen from the U.S. and New Zealand, utilizing helicopters and ground-based hunting, with precautions for humane kills and no nighttime helicopter hunting.
Notifications about the shootings will be sent to residents, and First Nations will participate in harvesting crews.
The B.C. SPCA will oversee the killings to ensure humane practices.
Sidney Island residents have organized well-managed hunts in the past, significantly reducing the deer population.
The protest aims to stop or delay the deer eradication project, citing successful traditional hunting and lack of scientific basis for urgency.

Q&A Parks Canada’s Proposal to Collaboratively Restore Sidney Island’s Forest Understorey

### Key Takeaway Parks Canada is proposing to collaboratively restore Sidney Island’s forest understorey by safely and humanely eradicating invasive fallow deer. This proposal aims to address the significant damage caused by the deer population to the island’s ecosystem. The restoration efforts involve extensive planning, community engagement, and consideration of various factors.

### Summary

Parks Canada aims to restore Sidney Island’s forest understorey by eradicating invasive fallow deer that have damaged the ecosystem through overgrazing and negatively impacting native birds and plant species.
The proposed eradication operation involves collaboration with Sidney Island landowners, local First Nations, and stakeholders. An organization specializing in invasive species eradication is studying the plan’s design.
Fallow deer are classified as invasive species, and their removal is essential for the island’s ecological health. Eradication is intended to restore the native forests and songbirds.
The decision to remove invasive species is based on the impact they have on native plants and animals. Parks Canada’s policy is to control invasive species within its jurisdiction.
Techniques for eradication will be developed with a focus on safety, effectiveness, and environmental suitability. Parks Canada is committed to humane methods.
Eradication efforts would likely take approximately a year to plan and finalize, followed by active eradication over two winter seasons.
Public safety is a priority, and efforts will be made to minimize risks during eradication, including communication plans and safety measures.
Community support is crucial; a vote among Sidney Island landowners will determine project approval. Parks Canada respects the decision of the community.
Parks Canada is collaborating with local academics and institutions for research opportunities following eradication, with a focus on monitoring and restoration.
Restoration efforts, including support for native plants and black-tailed deer management, will follow the eradication of fallow deer.
The project aims to involve professional hunters with a proven safety record to minimize impact on private property and ensure success.
Funding will be allocated for forest restoration activities in collaboration with Sidney Island landowners.
Plans for identifying and distinguishing between fallow and black-tailed deer are being developed.
Necessary approvals from provincial authorities are sought for eradication techniques outside normal hunting regulations.
Private landowners have the choice to allow access to their property during eradication; their involvement impacts the feasibility and timeline of the operation.
Efforts will be made to minimize property damage, and Parks Canada is prepared to compensate for any damage that may occur.
Meat from culled deer will be processed, and various options for distribution, including Indigenous communities, schools, and wildlife rehabilitation centers, will be explored.
Parks Canada will maintain transparent communication with landowners through various methods during planning and operational phases.
Media communication will be managed by Parks Canada’s local communication staff, ensuring fair representation of community perspectives.
Eradication personnel will use various means of transportation to and from the island, and accommodations will be arranged for them if needed.

Please note that this report provides a comprehensive summary of the provided web page content, but it may not cover every single detail.

Restoration of Sidney Island ecosystem ’not feasible’ without full eradication of invasive deer, Parks Canada says

### Key Takeaway Parks Canada asserts that eradicating invasive fallow deer from Sidney Island is essential to restore the ecosystem’s balance and prevent their population from rebounding, leading to significant biodiversity loss.

### Summary

Parks Canada is planning a $5.9-million project to eradicate invasive fallow deer from Sidney Island and restore native plant species in the fall.
Frank Nielsen, a property owner on Sidney Island, disagrees with the eradication, stating that the deer population is already under control due to regular hunting.
The Parks Canada project involves aerial and ground-based marksmen eliminating as many fallow deer as possible over a 10-day period, followed by flushing out and containing any survivors.
Invasive fallow deer have significantly reduced Sidney Island’s biodiversity by overbrowsing and removing native species, motivating the eradication project.
A report on harvest numbers indicates a decline in deer removal, including both invasive fallow deer and native black-tailed deer.
Kate Humble, superintendent of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, notes that despite population reduction efforts, the ecosystem’s sustained recovery requires complete deer removal.
The eradication project cost covers public and Indigenous community consultations, support for community member hunting, removal of invasive plants, replanting of native species, and the deer-eradication initiative.
Gregg Howald, director of Coastal Conservation, mentions that using helicopters will enhance deer location efficiency and aid in the ground-based eradication phase.
The project has divided the local community; a vote resulted in 52% support for the cull to proceed.
Interested individuals can access a draft detailed impact-assessment report for better understanding of the project.

Please note that the report is based on the provided web page content and may not include information external to it.

Restoring A Precious Ecosystem (To: Sallas Forest Strata Council 191010)

### Key Takeaway The key takeaway from the web page is that the Sallas Forest Strata Council discusses the importance of eradicating invasive deer to restore the precious ecosystem of Sidney Island. The removal of invasive deer is seen as a necessary step in achieving a biodiverse ecosystem that benefits both the island’s native species and its human residents.

### Summary

The Sallas Forest Strata Council aims to restore the ecosystem of Sidney Island by removing invasive deer, focusing on eradicating a source of degradation to facilitate ecosystem recovery.
The Council has partnered with Parks, which contributes resources and funds towards restoration, including eradication of invasive plants like hawthorn and broom.
Invasive deer have been damaging the ecosystem by consuming a wide range of plant species, reproducing rapidly, and causing hyper-abundance.
Islands Trust, BC Wildlife Branch, and Parks Canada advocate for eradication due to the negative impact of invasive deer on the island’s ecosystem.
Native deer have co-evolved with the ecosystem and are protected, while invasive deer are considered pests and can be removed without restrictions.
Despite efforts like recreational hunting and volunteer captures, the management of invasive deer has proven insufficient, leading to population increases.
The Council believes that eradication is essential for ecosystem recovery, as evidenced by the increase in biomass, grasses, and a softened browse line after aggressive removal efforts.
However, species diversity and recovery are still in progress, with many shrubs, flowers, and small trees missing, which impacts wildlife and water retention.
Eradication is crucial for the survival of various plant and tree species, supporting songbirds, pollinators, and overall species diversity on the island.
The supporters of eradication recognize that some residents value hunting and consuming fallow deer, and the decision may represent a loss to them.

### Supporters of Eradication The following individuals, as undersigned, support the eradication of invasive deer:

Lot 32, Susan MacLean
Lot 33, Roy Smitshoek & Janice McLeod
Lot 34, Phoebe Gilday & Mike Stask
Lot 40, Gaire & Lorraine MacLean
Lot 43, Michael Law & Carolyn Russell
Lot 44, Jeff & Debbie Paul
Lot 61, Russ & Marna Iwanson
Lot 62, John Mawdsley & Lisa Brattland
Lots 63 and 64, Mark Allison & Stephanie Holmquist
Lot 65, Peter, Penny & Sarah Pearse
Lot 67, Judith Fisher
Lot 68, Julia Hedley
Lot 72, Stan Semrau & Maureen McDonald
Lots 75 and 110, Ken & Val Poskitt
Lot 76, Bruce & Dianne Ledingham
Lots 98, 99 and 100, John Palmer
Lot 107, Mike Parfit & Suzanne Chisholm
Lots 128 and 129, Kirk & Rhonda Caza
Lots 132 and 133, Paul & Holly McNally

Semi-automatic assault style rifles to be used for Sidney Island deer kill

### Key Takeaway The use of semi-automatic assault-style rifles is approved for a deer cull on Sidney Island, beginning on December 1. The cull is aimed at eliminating European fallow deer, an invasive species, but will also result in the killing of native black-tailed deer.

### Summary

Start Date: The deer cull on Sidney Island is scheduled to commence on December 1.
Methods: Sharpshooters will employ semi-automatic assault-style rifles to cull the deer population. This will occur from a helicopter, by land, and from boats.
Duration: The cull, organized by Parks Canada, is expected to last for 10 days.
Objective: The primary goal is to eliminate European fallow deer, recognized as an invasive species on Sidney Island.
Unintended Consequence: Native black-tailed deer will also be killed as part of the cull.
Geographical Context: Sidney Island is situated east of Sidney, and it is just four kilometers away.
Participants: The cull involves property owners on Sidney Island.
Invasive Species Focus: The emphasis is on eradicating European fallow deer, indicating an environmental conservation effort.
Firearm Approval: The notable detail is the authorization of semi-automatic assault-style rifles for the cull.
Parks Canada Involvement: The cull is organized and overseen by Parks Canada, suggesting a government-backed initiative.

Overall, the cull on Sidney Island involves a comprehensive approach, including aerial, land, and marine methods, and aims to address the issue of invasive European fallow deer, although it comes with the unintended consequence of native deer casualties.

Sidney Island Deer Eradication AA

### Key Takeaway Parks Canada plans to eradicate fallow deer on Sidney Island using aerial gunning, despite concerns from Animal Alliance of Canada regarding a conflict of interest in the procurement process, lack of accountability, and potential ecological damage. The organization advocates for humane alternatives and transparency in the eradication process.

### Summary

Parks Canada is proceeding with a $6 million fallow deer eradication plan on Sidney Island using helicopter aerial gunning and ground hunting with dogs.
Animal Alliance of Canada (AAC) is concerned about a potential conflict of interest in the procurement process, lack of accountability, and ecological damage resulting from eliminating all deer on Sidney Island.
AAC discovered through an Access to Information Request (ATIP) that a contractor with financial interest was also the Chair of the steering committee overseeing the eradication options.
AAC raised concerns with the Office of the Procurement Ombudsman and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, but formal investigations were not possible due to AAC not being a contract bidder.
AAC proposed observing the eradication process for transparency, but this was rejected by Parks Canada.
Parks Canada has misrepresented the project’s scope as only targeting introduced European fallow deer, when the plan actually includes eliminating all deer on the island, including native black-tailed deer.
AAC suggested a non-lethal option using immune contraceptives for population control, but Parks Canada opted for eradication.
AAC asserts that the entire process for deer eradication has been unethical and flawed and calls for transparency, accountability, and consideration of humane alternatives.
Parks Canada is seeking public input on the eradication process.
Sidney Island, part of the Gulf Islands National Park, is targeted for deer eradication through aerial gunning and dog-assisted hunting despite concerns.
Fallow deer were introduced to nearby James Island in the early 1900s and migrated to Sidney Island, causing a peak population of around 3000 in the early 2000s.
Despite a UBC report suggesting ecosystem improvement and an estimated current population of 300, Parks Canada aims to eliminate the deer population.
Parks Canada allocated $5.9 million to contractors for eradication, similar to a 2018 project on Haida Gwaii.
Concerned landowners formed the Sidney Island Deer Management Society to expose and challenge the eradication project.
AAC questions if humane options, like immuno-contraception, were considered and highlights the lack of scientific evidence for the eradication.
Parks Canada’s ecological restoration specialist contradicts the claim of excessive deer population and justifies eradication.
Parks Canada’s narrative and cost estimates for eradication are challenged by AAC.
Despite a failed vote, the eradication proposal passed due to a legal challenge.
AAC continues to oppose the eradication, advocate for humane options, and work towards transparency and accountability.
Contact information for Animal Alliance of Canada is provided for those interested in supporting their efforts.

Sidney Island Deer Management Society

This site is an excellent resource for the Sidney Island Deer Issue. It is very organized and easy to get a good overview from, as well as find details!

The site provides an excellent analysis of the FOI request as well as specific items such as the following:

Insurance coverage

“The key to this is that we are not taking on the liability, we are transferring liability to those who have insurance. This is limited in scope to Sallas lands”

Conflict of interest

CC’s Head of Global Affairs is the Chair of SIERP. In an email dated April 6,2021 Parks Canada staff advice “If CC gains financially or otherwise in some way from an approved eradication going forward, then [the Chair] should not be running the show – it’s a conflict of interest.” (Page 306)

Chair writes the following: “…the numbers of deer on the Island have been reduced dramatically and the impacts of fallow deer are not really obvious and it is unlikely that the BENEFIT of eradication will be clear on implementation.” (Page 219)

relying on owners’ vegetable gardens and arbutus saplings. (Page 219)

the long-term benefit of fallow deer removal to the biodiversity of Sidney Island will depend on continued project support from Parks Canada, Sallas, and the public to maintain a deer free island” Parks Canada questioned the long term sustainability of biosecurity. (Page 187)

Ethics

“Lethal Methods may only be used when an animal’s presence is an ongoing threat to human health and safety”. (Page 389)

an ecological restoration specialist for Parks Canada advises the following: “an ecosystem can support some number of fallow deer, we could consider them naturalized (our italics) and work to maintain the species”

Sidney Island Ecosystem Restoration Project, British Columbia, Canada

This page is from Coastal Conservation’s site and its contents are summarized below.

The removal of the invasive fallow deer is likely to have a significant impact on Sidney Island’s native wildlife and the island ecosystem as a whole. !!!

### Key Takeaway The introduction of non-native European fallow deer to Sidney Island 70 years ago has led to overgrazing that negatively impacts native plant species and federally designated Species at Risk. Coastal Conservation is collaborating with Gulf Islands National Park Reserve and private landowners to investigate the feasibility of eradicating these invasive deer for ecosystem restoration.

### Summary

Sidney Island, located at the southern end of the Gulf Islands archipelago between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia, faces the issue of overgrazing by non-native European fallow deer.
The introduced fallow deer have multiplied over the years, posing a significant threat to the native plants and animals on the island.
The browsing and grazing activities of the invasive fallow deer have led to reduced habitat and food availability for forest birds and insects, resulting in decreased species diversity and abundance.
Coastal Conservation is partnering with Gulf Islands National Park Reserve and private landowners on Sidney Island to explore the possibility of removing the non-native fallow deer to mitigate the negative impacts on the ecosystem.
The removal of the invasive fallow deer is expected to have several positive effects on the island’s ecosystem, including the reestablishment of native plants and plant communities, increased abundance and breeding of forest-dwelling birds, avian raptors, native small mammals, insects, amphibians, and reptiles, as well as the restoration of ecosystem processes like nutrient cycling and disturbance regimes.
The collaboration between Coastal Conservation, Parks Canada, and other partners is working towards implementing the Sidney Island restoration project to restore the island’s ecosystem and counter the impact of the invasive species.
Coastal Conservation is a group of experts with extensive knowledge in biological systems and invasive species eradication, with a mission to promote the natural restoration of island ecosystems by removing invasive species.

(Note: The provided content was limited in scope. If more detailed information is available on the webpage, the summary can be further expanded.)

Sidney Island resident explains deer cull complexity (Times Colonist 230808)

Only a few people in the world know how to do this with enough precision to be recognized as humane.

### Key Takeaway Expertise in humane culling of invasive mammals is rare, and only a few people in the world possess the necessary precision to carry out such culling recognized as humane. Parks Canada’s choice of a specialized team for the deer cull aligns with their past successes. The opposition to the cull is not solely based on animal welfare; a small group of sport hunters have also been actively opposing it.

### Summary

The author, a documentary filmmaker and journalist residing on Sidney Island, provides insights into the complexity of the deer culling issue.
Parks Canada’s plan to remove invasive European fallow deer from Sidney Island has sparked debate and conflict.
Parks Canada is criticized for awarding the contract to a firm that helped prepare the proposal, potentially creating a conflict of interest. However, this is suggested to be a common practice in situations where expertise is limited.
Expertise in humane culling of invasive mammals is extremely rare, and only a few individuals possess the necessary precision to perform it humanely.
The team chosen by Parks Canada for the cull includes individuals who have successfully worked on similar projects.
The article challenges the notion that opposition to the cull is solely rooted in animal welfare concerns; it highlights the role of a small group of sport hunters who oppose the cull to maintain abundant deer populations for hunting.
Over the past two decades, a group of sport hunters on Sidney Island have actively fought to keep deer numbers high while attempting to reduce them, leading to conflicts within the community.
The article emphasizes that the culling of invasive species is a challenging but necessary endeavor that can benefit the ecosystem, including native animals, plants, and traditional practices.
Indigenous leaders support the cull due to its potential positive impact on the environment and native species.
The author asserts that without the cull, there is a risk of returning to cycles of overpopulation, animal suffering, and ecosystem degradation.
Sidney Island has the opportunity to become an example of a healthy ecosystem in British Columbia, demonstrating the benefits of well-managed culls for preserving biodiversity.
The article concludes by noting that the alternative to the cull would favor a few passionate sport hunters and perpetuate ecological imbalances.

(Note: The summary provides a comprehensive overview of the article’s content, covering the main points and key ideas presented.)

Sterilization as an alternative deer control technique: a review

### Key Takeaway Surgical sterilization of female white-tailed deer is explored as an alternative technique for managing overabundant deer populations in suburban areas, where conventional lethal removal methods might be restricted due to legal, safety, or ethical concerns. This approach can help reduce deer-related damage to vegetation, ecosystems, and vehicles in communities willing to invest in the long-term costs of the effort.

### Summary

Introduction and Context:
- White-tailed deer populations in suburban areas pose challenges and negative impacts on communities due to damage and conflicts.
- Traditional control methods, such as hunting and sharpshooting, face opposition based on various factors.
Surgical Sterilization as an Alternative:
- The study explores the use of surgical sterilization as a non-lethal technique for managing deer populations.
- Research focuses on female deer sterilization since they are the primary contributors to population growth.
- Different surgical methods, including tubal ligation, ovariectomy, and hysterectomy, have been employed.
Factors Affecting Sterilization Efficacy:
- The success of surgical sterilization depends on various factors, such as the percentage of the population treated, closed or insular population dynamics, and the potential for immigration.
- Different models predict varying levels of success, but they generally suggest the need for long-term efforts and significant sterilization rates to control population growth.
Field Studies and Results:
- Several field studies have been conducted to test the practicality and effectiveness of surgical sterilization in reducing deer populations.
- Sterilization efforts have shown some success in reducing deer numbers in localized areas, but factors such as winter conditions and population dynamics can impact outcomes.
Costs and Challenges:
- Surgical sterilization is associated with significant costs, including veterinary expenses, pharmaceutical supplies, labor, and equipment.
- The cost per sterilization procedure can be over $1,000 per deer.
- Long-term commitment and sustained efforts are required for sterilization programs to have a meaningful impact on deer populations.
Recommendations and Considerations:
- Surgical sterilization may be a viable alternative in communities willing to invest in non-lethal methods.
- Success of the approach depends on factors like population dynamics, immigration rates, and available resources.
- Combining sterilization with other methods like hunting might be necessary for effective population management.
Conclusion:
- Surgical sterilization of female deer can serve as an alternative technique for managing overabundant populations, especially in closed or insular populations.
- However, it requires long-term commitment, careful consideration of population dynamics, and significant financial investment.
Research Priorities:
- Continued research is needed to refine surgical sterilization techniques and assess their long-term impacts on deer populations.
- Understanding factors that influence success, such as immigration rates and population closures, is crucial for effective implementation.
Key Words:
- control, human-wildlife conflicts, Odocoileus virginianus, sterilization, surgery, white-tailed deer.

(Note: The summary provides a comprehensive overview of the main points from the web page content. It’s important to note that the content has been condensed and summarized for clarity and conciseness.)

The role of education, curiosity, and exploration in conservation

### Key Takeaway Building a culture of conservation for Coastal Douglas-fir forests involves fostering a connection between humans and nature through education, experiential learning, and social support. Indigenous knowledge and practices, along with collaborative efforts, are integral to successful conservation.

### Summary

Coastal Douglas-fir forests are complex ecosystems with intricate species relationships that have evolved over time. Prior to settler arrival, First Nations nurtured these relationships, but colonization shifted humans away from these ecosystems.
Parks Canada social scientist Stephanie Coulson emphasizes that rebuilding relationships between humans and nature is essential for establishing a conservation culture.
Education plays a vital role in instilling environmental empathy and conservation values. The quote “we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught” highlights the importance of education in conservation.
Environmental education programs can cultivate an environmentally-sensitive society and enhance love and optimism for the future.
Environmental education complements solitary and reflective time in nature, which is crucial for fostering curiosity, enlightenment, and challenge.
Access to natural spaces, both structured and unstructured, is vital for individuals to develop a conservation ethos.
Social norms shaped by personal values and experiences in nature contribute to a culture of conservation. Supporting new arrivals, creating inclusive programs, and providing emotional support can help build this culture.
Indigenous knowledge and practices are essential for establishing a true “culture of conservation.” Collaborative efforts involving Indigenous communities, government agencies, NGOs, and private landowners are crucial for ecosystem-level conservation.
Cross-jurisdictional partnerships and the inclusion of social scientists alongside natural scientists are key to successful collaborative conservation efforts.

(Note: The summary covers the main points of the web page content. The content includes insights from Stephanie Coulson, the role of education and environmental empathy, the importance of solitary time in nature, and the significance of Indigenous knowledge and collaborative efforts in establishing a conservation culture.)

Too many decisions being driven by parks department

### Key Takeaway Decisions in Saanich are predominantly driven by the parks department, leading to controversial measures like leashing dogs to protect flora and exterminating deer to preserve the environment.

### Summary

Issue Overview:
- There is a growing concern about decisions driven by the parks department in Saanich.
- Controversial actions include leashing dogs to preserve local flora and exterminating deer on Sidney Island to protect the environment.
Argument Against Parks Department Influence:
- The author criticizes the parks department for prioritizing the protection of dandelions over the well-being of local fauna and the freedom of dogs.
- The author argues that the attempt to control nature is flawed and suggests a more fluid approach, acknowledging the natural cycle of species evolution.
Extreme Measures and Satirical Proposal:
- The author employs satire by suggesting that if the logic is extended, cities should be demolished, and all human-made structures like sidewalks, parking lots, and roads should be removed.
- This is presented as an exaggeration to highlight the perceived extremity of the parks department’s decisions.
Nature’s Adaptability:
- The author emphasizes the natural process of evolution, stating that when one species of flora is removed, another naturally takes its place.
- Implies that interference, especially drastic measures, may not be necessary as nature has its way of balancing itself.
Call to Rethink Park Department’s Role:
- The letter concludes with a critique of the parks department, claiming that virtually every decision in Saanich is driven by this entity.
- The author suggests a need to reconsider the role of the parks department in municipal policy-making.
Author’s Identity:
- The letter is signed by Doug Coulson from Saanich, indicating a local resident’s perspective on the issue.
Additional Information:
- The web page includes links to other news articles and sections such as podcasts, videos, sports, weather, and trending topics.
- The publication date is November 15, 2023.

This letter to the editor expresses dissatisfaction with the parks department’s influence on decision-making in Saanich, using satire and arguments centered around the balance of nature and the perceived overreach in controlling local flora and fauna.

To restore Sidney Island’s ecology, a push to kill hundreds of fallow deer (Vancouver Sun 210517)

A coalition of First Nations, property owners and Parks Canada is planning a “final eradication” of the invasive species that will see up to 500 of the animals rounded up and killed.

### Key Takeaway A coalition involving First Nations, property owners, and Parks Canada aims to eliminate up to 500 European fallow deer on Sidney Island, as they have been detrimental to the island’s ecology and native plant species.

### Summary

The coalition, comprising First Nations, property owners, and Parks Canada, plans to eradicate European fallow deer to restore Sidney Island’s ecology.
Fallow deer were introduced to James Island in 1902 for hunting and later moved to Sidney Island in the 1960s.
The deer’s population grew to thousands, causing damage to native plant species and ecosystems.
Despite previous efforts to control their numbers, a final eradication of the deer is being considered for the fall of 2022.
Parks Canada leads the initiative, along with the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council, Islands Trust Conservancy, and island residents.
The plan requires majority strata owner approval, with the goal of restoring native plants and aiding ecosystem recovery.
First Nations also seek to return the island to its natural state, preserving ancestral sites and native species.
The eradication process would involve humane methods, such as netting, penning, and possibly hunting dogs or helicopters.
The BCSPCA acknowledges the ecological intent of the project but awaits a full review before taking a position.
Parks Canada intends to restore native plants and prevent deer from returning to the island.
A camera system monitors fallow deer movement to and from Mayne Island, where the deer population has grown due to escapees from farms.
The proposed cull aims to avoid continued hunting and maintain ecological balance.

(Note: The summary captures the main points from the web page content, focusing on the key aspects of the situation and the proposed eradication plan.)

Urban deer in Greater Victoria community to be put on birth control

### Key Takeaway Esquimalt, a community in Greater Victoria, is adopting a contraceptive vaccine approach to control the population of urban deer, following the success of a similar project in nearby Oak Bay. This method aims to reduce the number of breeding deer and manage their population more effectively.

### Summary

Esquimalt is implementing a birth control strategy for its urban deer population, inspired by a project in Oak Bay, to reduce their numbers.
Urban deer have become a contentious issue on Vancouver Island due to damage to landscaping, potential spread of Lyme disease, and risks to vehicles.
Jason Fisher, an adjunct professor at the University of Victoria, is leading the Esquimalt Deer Research project, mirroring Oak Bay’s 2019 project.
The Oak Bay project, which provided contraceptives to deer, succeeded in reducing breeding numbers. The vaccinated deer will receive booster shots in the upcoming season.
Approximately 60 to 80 female deer in Esquimalt will receive a contraceptive vaccine. These deer will be tagged and monitored through remote cameras to assess the project’s effectiveness.
The birth control approach aims to significantly decrease pregnancy rates among does, with expectations that about 90% of treated does won’t have calves.
The initiative emerged after an unsuccessful cull attempt in Oak Bay. The alternative of bringing in hunters proved challenging due to the need to trap and euthanize the deer.
This contraceptive method is preferred over mass culling, as removal of deer from an area leads to the influx of new deer, filling the vacant territories.
The objective is to achieve a stable deer population through contraception, preventing new individuals from overwhelming the area.
Esquimalt’s project is part of ongoing research to ensure its effectiveness in managing urban deer populations sustainably.

[End of Report]

Vasectomy strategy cuts Staten Island’s deer population by 30%; encouraging data on multiple fronts

### Key Takeaway The vasectomy program implemented in Staten Island over the past six years has led to a 30% decrease in the deer population, resulting in positive effects on factors such as fawn births, Lyme disease cases, and motor vehicle collisions with deer. However, there are differing opinions among officials regarding the effectiveness of the program and the need for potential new strategies.

### Summary

A vasectomy program introduced six years ago in Staten Island has resulted in a 30% reduction in the deer population, with the Department of Parks and Recreation estimating the current deer count at 1,452 compared to around 2,053 in 2016.
Borough President Vito Fossella is optimistic about the program’s impact on the deer population, anticipating further significant reductions in the coming years.
The reduction in fawn births has also been notable, with nearly 90% fewer fawn births reported.
CouncilmanDavid Carr acknowledges the positive trends in population and birth rates but raises concerns about the time it will take for the deer population to diminish fully and the associated risks like vehicular collisions and Lyme Disease.
Data indicates a decline in Lyme disease cases, with fewer cases reported in recent years, attributed to the reduction in deer population and fewer ticks.
Motor vehicle collisions with deer have dropped in the past five years, with a noticeable decline starting in 2020, potentially linked to a change in NYPD policy regarding reporting non-injurious collisions involving deer.
Some officials, including Councilman Joe Borelli, express skepticism about the effectiveness of the vasectomy program and suggest exploring new approaches to managing the deer population.
Wildlife biologist Dr. Paul Curtis from Cornell University suggests that for a meaningful reduction in interactions with deer, a larger reduction in the deer population would be needed than what has been achieved so far.
The vasectomy program has faced criticism from some experts and officials who argue that other strategies, including female sterilization, might be more effective in reducing the deer population.
The overall impact of the program on vegetation remains relatively stable, with around 39% of local deer-affected vegetation.
Requests for deer carcass removal from the Department of Sanitation have increased, indicating more interaction between residents and deer.
Despite the positive outcomes, there is debate about whether the vasectomy program is the most cost-effective approach to managing the deer population on Staten Island.
There are varying opinions on the program’s success, with some officials calling for new strategies to address the ongoing challenges posed by the deer population.

Note: The report provides a comprehensive summary of the web page content, covering key points related to the vasectomy program’s impact on the deer population in Staten Island and its effects on various factors such as birth rates, Lyme disease cases, motor vehicle collisions, and opinions from different officials and experts.

Wildlife Contraception and Political Cuisinarts

This chapter describes how cultural perspectives, political agendas and purposeful ignorance influenced the development of valid, effective and humane techniques for wildlife population control. The concept of wildlife contraception was introduced in the 1970s and grew slowly but steadily to the present where it is a well-used management tool. However, the path for this endeavor was littered with many human-placed boulders weighted by inertia and obstructive self-interest. Various people and organizations were able to place these boulders often behind the veil of group-diffused anonymity. The two best examples for examination of this process lie in the development of contraception for wild horses and for urban deer. These will be the focus of this https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/conflict-of-interest-concern-raised-for-sidney-island-deer-cull-contract-7366573chapter.

Animal Justice

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 12:08:59 -0700

Animal Justice is in our opinion the best thing that’s happened to animal rights in Canada! They are making sure that animals have a legal voice with a team of lawyers and advocates.

Animal Justice’s mission statement from their About-Us page reads:

We believe that animals need lawyers, and our legal team works to protect animals from cruelty and neglect. Canada has some of the worst animal protection laws in the Western world, and our mission is to overhaul the legal system to better reflect our country’s values of compassion and justice for all.

The dedicated people are action-oriented taking to task unscrupulous attempts by animal abusers to cover up their crimes (eg gag laws) and brings offenses to the public eye … and to court!

They hold the important Canadian Animal Law Conference in conjunction with Faculties of Law and even have a student program to prepare the next generation.

An up-to-date blog provides the latest news on animal issues and their free online advocacy training program known as the Animal Justice Academy helps to develop and support those who try to make this world a better place.

Animal Justice furthers what is the most important matter humanity has always and ever faced, that of how we behave towards the vulnerable, for therein lies our species’ destiny.

Hacking the Fireworks Firewall

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 15:17:55 -0700

Fireworks are a severe problem for many: wildlife, farm animals, pets, people with PTSD and anxiety. They are seen by some as a traditional and/or cultural means of celebration. Hence, jurisdictions often allow such activities which are a blatant abuse of an individual’s basic rights.

This document was created after a discussion on 2023-06-29 with Rob Harris who is one of the CVRD officers that respond to illegal fireworks discharge. He kindly explained the process for dealing with complaints made to the CVRD. Other jurisdictions likely have very similar mechanisms and situations. Rob also made several insightful comments regarding the necessity for neighborhood education.

Throughout the article, we reference links to illustrate salient points.

Pilgrim’s Process

Most people know that we have laws. What they do not know is the process by which a law is enforced. An understanding of this process by the neophyte goes a long way to facilitate enforcement of those laws. In the CVRD, it is against the law to sell fireworks, and one needs a permit to set them off. Everyone doesn’t follow the law though.

There are only 3 officers that patrol the CVRD’s 9 electoral areas consisting of a population of over 31,000. It is not an easy job.

When we call the bylaw enforcement number (250-746-2655) to report a violation, we need to do a bit more than exclaim “Yo! I hear fireworks somewhere towards the east and it’s driving me bleeping bonkers!!”

While officers can be sympathetic, in order to spring into action, they really require something more tangible, such as the name of the violating person(s) or an address where the transgression is taking place.

Having that information allows the officer to question the suspect who will either confess to committing the crime or deny any wrongdoing.

In the former case, the officer can simply ticket the individual who will be charged according to the law (and having been identified for posterity, will likely not want to pay a fine again).

In the denial situation, the officer requires some evidence such as fresh fireworks fodder or the statement of a witness for the matter to be taken to court.

A Ban Done Fireworks

Let’s be clear on why we need a ban on fireworks. A ban puts the law on our side!

Having the law on your side goes a long way to ending fireworks, because most people will obey a law that is just. Most people appreciate the necessity of maintaining an orderly and safe neighborhood. If a law is designed to promote such an environment, most people will obey that law.

For instance, we do not rob banks because there is a law that essentially says we should not rob banks. Our subsequent exemplary behavior has little to do with the actual enforcement of this law. The law aligns with a standard of proper conduct and most people abide by it, even if they think they can avoid the consequences.

IckyBad! IckyBad!

There is no glory to insisting that something worthwhile cannot be done.

One of the arguments against a ban is that it would be very difficult to enforce. This is an impotent attitude which does not seem to understand that enforcement is not the key issue. A law can have an effect regardless of whether it is enforced or not - just as in chess a threat can be more influential than its execution. Nor does the law need to be exhaustively applied. We don’t catch all the bank robbers, but catching some of them certainly serves as a deterrent for the ambitious few who may be looking for a career change.

Another misguided manueuvre is to incorrectly blame others for one’s state of misfortune. Hence, some feel we will get nowhere with the present lamentable situation because those Indigenous are selling the fireworks. What is overlooked here is that even if those Indigenous didn’t sell the fireworks, they still could be purchased online as well as from a variety of non-Indigenous sources!

Finally, when some get tired of blaming the Indigenous, they turn to blaming the enforcement officers for not doing their job, without actually thinking about how difficult that job really is! Enforcement officers are not uncaring, apathetic individuals. They can only do so much given the resources and they deserve our support, cooperation, and encouragement - not merely our complaints about the fireworks or them!

If we chain our posteriors to the problems, we will never get up to reach the solutions.

Charge of the Right Brigade

The biggest hurdle to overcome is not the selling of fireworks or the inability of 3 officers to police 31,000 individuals!

The real problem lies on two fronts: the ignorance of those discharging fireworks, “the bangbang” (not to be confused with an expressive classical pianist, by the way) and the tolerance of the victims, “the meek”.

The bangbang are not necessarily inconsiderate so much as they are simply uninformed. Many of them just do not know the irritation and even trauma their ‘celebrations’ cause others. Some are animal lovers and would be horrified to learn they are harming wildlife or pets. Some are fine individuals who just haven’t thought about the effect their activities are having on fellow neighbors. Some are even environmentally conscious, but haven’t realized that fireworks leave behind toxic debris that cannot be recycled.

The meek, on the other hand, are too complacent. They have indoctrinated themselves to think fireworks are just a part of life we put up with. It is what it is!

Or is it?!

A tenet of civilized society is that each law-abiding member should be safe from harm. Each individual has the right to live free from damaging pollution, be it deafening noise, blinding light, or noxious toxicity. No individual should be expected to forsake those rights and endlessly endure improper behavior from others!

If you accept the above principle, then realize the following:

It is not your responsibility to be tirelessly tolerant. It is the responsibility of those who violate your basic rights to stop their boorish behavior!

Fences may make good neighbors, but offences certainly create bad ones! And fireworks are an offence no different from wild partying or property damage or hooliganism. These are not things to accept. They are unethical behaviors to call out, vigorously oppose, and permanently extinguish!

The meek shall speak!

One of the things the CVRD encourages is to politely talk to your neighbors and build an awareness of the damage fireworks cause.

Civilized people are also considerate. They do not want to do things that directly harm those that live around them.

Building a neighborhood awareness that fireworks are not wanted and the reasons why are key here. We have Block Parents and Neighborhood Watch. These initiatives make it very clear that certain behaviors are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

Fireworks are no different. Such harmful behaviors should not be allowed to hide under the guise of celebration, subterfuge of cultural tradition, or panacea of personal enjoyment, when clearly they create a major problem for so many others.

It is therefore the task of those who do not want fireworks, to speak up against them. We need to let the politicians know through letters and presentations that we want fireworks to be banned! We also need to let our fellow neighbors know through courteous, but uncompromising communications that fireworks discharge is in reality a most hurtful activity to the community.

Doing so maybe the most effective form of enforcement there is!

Presenting to Politicians

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 14:39:51 -0700

In order to ban fireworks, citizens need to educate and convince their politicians. The information here details the process for presenting to various municipalties at council meetings.

Understanding the political structure

The political landscape in any country flows up a structure beginning at a local level (towns/cities), to a provincial level (group of local levels), to the national level (group of provinces or states). Policy developed from the bottom can be dictated from the top!

For example, consider the process to follow in British Columbia, Canada: local politicians refer matters to higher and higher levels eventually stopping at the provincial government. Author and consultant, Lavinia Rojas, who is an experienced advocate in various initiatives explains:

“When we refer to politicians, we are specifically talking about councillors who play a crucial role in representing our concerns and forwarding them to higher authorities. The AVICC (Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities) hosts an annual conference where councillors come together to discuss and resolve proposals. Once a proposal is resolved, it moves on to the UBCM (Union of Municipalities of BC), where all municipality members get to vote on it. If the vote is approved, the proposal is then sent to the provincial government, specifically the office of the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.”

So as citizens, we need to make things move at the bottom, so our initiative can work its way to the top.

Presenting to your local council

To address your council either in-person, on video, or by phone, do the following:

Submit your request to present.
Prepare and practice your presentation (just as you did in school!)
At the council meeting when it’s your turn, introduce yourself and state the purpose of your speech.
Express your position clearly with the reasons backed by supporting facts/data.
Be professional in your tone and demeanor, but also let your passion for the cause come through!
Answer any questions the council may have and thank them for their consideration of your proposal.

Ms Rojas additionally suggests you (and others in your group) write to the councillors soon after the presentation, just so they know you are watching!

Repeated presentations to city councils make it clear we mean business and demand action!

But what do I say?!?!

You don’t need to say much (usually you only have 3-5 minutes). However, you need to speak clearly and forcefully. You also need to have your points well-organized so your audience easily understands your message.

As for subject matter, there is plenty you have to work with:

Talk about
Talk about
Talk about
Talk about
Talk about

Districts you can speak at

Below are listed with links, the process to follow to make such deliveries to specific jurisdictions. (If you want your area listed here with details on how to contact your council, just email our researching webmaintainer with your city’s location.)

Remember that some districts let you speak on the same topic at each meeting you attend. Keep the fireworks issue in their minds! Repetition can eventually lead to action! Or as Ms Rojas says, “Be the squeaky wheel!”

The listings below are in alphabetical order:

Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD), BC: The CVRD holds Public Hearings whose purpose is “for the public to present their views and opinions on a proposed bylaw amendment”. These can be attend electronically or in person. For more information, go to Public Hearings & Information Meetings or contact them by email.
Saanich, BC: There are many ways to address the council regarding any matter of interest to this municipalty. An organization must submit an Application to Appear as a Delegation to present at the whole meeting, but an individual speaker can speak in their open forum for 3 minutes (in-person or by phone) without pre-registration by emailing council@saanich.ca or calling 250-475-5501 prior to 12pm. You can also submit your views to the council by email without attending the meeting.
Victoria (City of), BC: This City holds regular meetings which can be attended by the public and be viewed live/recorded stream. The schedule of upcoming meetings and links to past meetings are also available. Here are the details on how to submit a request to address the Council which can be done in person or online. Speakers are limited to 5 minutes and participation can be done in person, on video, by phone.

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Fireworks Frustration Homepage

Fallacy in Animal Rights Discussions

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 14:56:15 -0700

Fallacious argumentations in animal rights and vegan discussions are identified according to the rules of logic. This guide exposes standard logical fallacies that repeatedly appear and demonstrates their invalidity.

This article is a modified version of the original Fallacy in Animal Rights and Vegan Discussions which has been on the internet since 2012. As in that article, Data explains why Lore’s efforts at belittling animal rights and vegan positions are not logically valid and also proceeds to provide analysis for specific situations illustrating the fallacy.

For general exploration of fallacies consult the following sources:

Alternate names for a fallacy is provided in italics and abbreviations used in the document are listed in the table below:


¬ NOT	∧ AND	∨ OR
C C is true	¬ C C is false
> greater than	< less than
→ implies	∈ is element of	∴ therefore

Table of Contents

1 Ad Hoc

Special pleading. Relativist. Subjectivist fallacy. False attribution. Fallacy of quoting out of context. No true Scotsman. Shifting ground fallacy. Doublespeak.

By arbitrary introductions of excuses one attempts to make the argument appear valid. Special pleading unjustifiably requests that certain things be not applicable to certain personal situations.

Data: Do you understand that there are moral implications involved in killing animals? These are sentient beings who experience emotions such as joy, fear and love, just as humans do.
Lore: Well that’s no doubt true about the animals, but while the moral implications may apply to you, they don’t apply to me.
Data: Since we are agreed that animals are sentient beings, everyone has a moral obligation to act towards them appropriately.

_Form_
A accepts C for B.
A rejects C for A introducing arbitrary circumstances.
∴ C doesn’t apply to A.

1.1 Banana allergy

One of my co-workers says she can’t do veg, cuz she has a banana allergy. When I pointed out that you don’t have to just eat bananas and can eat all sorts of other fruits, she said “Well I have allergies to all of those too”. Ok how about vegetables? “Nope, I’m just allergic to eating veggies as well unless with some meat!”

_Datanalysis_
While there may be a condition known as carbohydrate intolerance (lactose intolerance being the most common version), congenital forms of this are extremely rare. It is the inability of the body to process carbohydrates well due to missing enzymes (supplying the enzymes externally can resolve the dilemma). However, it is clear here that the co-worker is just making up excuses on the go.

1.2 Foie gras compassion

Some protestors cornered a restaurant owner who sold foie gras in California back around 2000, pointing out how horribly the birds were treated. He agreed about the treatment and then just said “I don’t share your compassion.”

_Datanalysis_
Here we have a case of rationalization in the form of “you can be compassionate, but I do not have to be (because I am so special etc)”. A better argument might have been to fabricate something along the special pleading lines of “The inhumane treatment of the birds provide my livelihood”, but even that fails dismally since livelihood does not justify cruelty.

1.3 Life is supposed to be fun

Life is about having fun. Eating just fruit and vegetables is way too serious and boring.

_Datanalysis_
This is a case of special pleading. The individual pleads that she will not have fun eating just fruits/vegetables, therefore she should not have to do so. By this reasoning, some could claim that they should not have to go to the bathroom, because doing so smells and is therefore not fun. Of course, if they would eat fruits and vegetables, instead of corpse parts, they might find that the experience is possibly not quite as unpleasant.

1.4 I don’t want to live forever!

I don’t want to be so healthy that I keep living on and on. Therefore, it is fine to eat things that make me less healthy.

_Datanalysis_
While the logic employed is impeccable, one wonders about the degree of sincerity. For instance, at what age does the individual consider to be ’long enough’? Will the individual terminate his/her own existence at that age? If so, why not live healthy and then self-terminate at the appointed time? The issue would seem to have nothing to do with being healthy and everything to do with consuming whatever one is tempted by.

1.5 The peer-reviewed, published study is useless as far as I’m concerned

The unfortunate thing about this study and the Harvard study is that they both relied on phone and face to face interviews in which they just asked people about what they ate. I find this type of study almost worthless since most people can’t remember day to day what they ate let alone over a period of time.

_Datanalysis_
The above comment is in reference to Red Meat Consumption and Mortality which was not only conducted with great thoroughness, but also accounted for factoring out known contributors of disease. The criticism is similar to the one generated by The Meat Institute: “A new study in today’s Archives of Internal Medicine tries to predict the future risk of death from cancer or cardiovascular disease by relying on notoriously unreliable self-reporting about what was eaten and obtuse methods to apply statistical analysis to the data.” (AMI) who naturally have a vested interest in maligning the study, but seem to be having some difficulty in coming up with sensible arguments to that effect.

1.6 Diet is a personal choice

My spouse eats meat. I don’t. It’s just a personal choice we’ve made.

_Datanalysis_
Any action is essentially a personal choice. However, the fact that one has made a personal choice doesn’t provide the justification of the action. For instance, killing your boss or restraining a child are also personal choices. However, to justify either requires more than just the obvious claim that these are personal choices. One may be able to justify the former because your boss was attempting to kill you (ie self-defense), while the latter may be justifiable in a situation where the child was trying to harm a sibling (ie defense of another), but neither uses the idea of personal choice as a rationale. Eating corpse supports the imprisonment, exploitation, abuse and murder of sentient beings and is not legitimized by the personal choice rationalization.

1.7 I have special requirements of science

Denyer: Animals are incapable of demonstrating altruism.
Response: You are just unaware of the past 3 decades of cognitive ethology.
Denyer: You are completely correct about that! I don’t like modern ethology much.
Response: That is indeed a pity! I believe there is a lot being lost then.
Denyer: I don’t think so. I’m selective and modern ethology generally does not meet my requirements for science.

_Datanalysis_
There is considerable inconsistency in the responses. If the person is unaware of cognitive ethology, how can he claim to not like it. Also, whether his requirements for science are met is irrelevant since it is merely a personal attitude irrespective of the facts. What we are dealing with here is a faith-based individual, so it matters little to him what science and reality clearly demonstrate. This person will always resort to “I don’t believe it”. Of course, belief has nothing to do with any of this. The research evidence clearly shows animal sentience and real scientists accept it. This individual will likely stay on his flat earth until he falls off the edge.

2 Ad Hominem

Against the man. Against the person.

Attempt to invalidate an argument by attacking the character of the person making the argument: kill the messenger if you can’t kill the message.

Data: Vegan is the nutritionally intelligent, environmentally sustainable and ethically correct diet to follow.
Lore: Data you’re just an incompetent android who doesn’t know anything so you’re wrong!!!!
Data: While you are doing a fine job attacking me personally, you have done nothing to attack my argument.

_Form_
P claims C.
Q says derogatory things about P.
∴ ¬ C.

2.1 You eat rabbit food

I was explaining the benefits of eating vegetarian to my friend and a colleague sticks out his front teeth and starts taunting me with “You’re a rabbit. You eat rabbit food.”

_Datanalysis_
Evidently this colleague doesn’t know much about vegetarian eating or comparative anatomy or he would not mistake a homo sapiens for a leporid.

2.2 You’re insane for helping animals

Mai was involved with animal rescue and she had helped a lot of creatures, but when a neighbor found out he got irate and called her insane for trying to save these varmints.

_Datanalysis_
The neighbor doesn’t provide any evidence to substantiate his claim that Mai is insane. Rescuing animals is not grounds for insanity. In fact, considering the Canadian Revenue Agency Charity Registration views rescuing animals to be a legitimate charitable activity and of societal benefit one might think that this neighbor could benefit himself from doing the same.

2.3 Excessive reliance on sarcasm

Sometimes an argument is punctuated with sarcastic comments. Here is a series of excerpts attempting to defend a particular PETA advertisement by making sarcastic remarks about the attitudes of those who are in opposition (from forum posts):

yes sex is evil and nasty! appealing to sexual sentiments, and attempting to use humor! how Dare they! monsters!! it should have been the guy being beaten!!
it so sexist! the woman should be repairing the walls dammed stereotypes, the woman shoulda had a strap on
even your name is offensive to me… I don’t know why… but it just is!!! ;)

_Datanalysis_
Sarcasm may appear to be clever, but it essentially amounts to saying “I disagree” in a rather unpleasant sort of way. Since it usually tends to be nothing more than a ‘disguised’ personal attack, sarcastic remarks tend not to contribute concrete or persuasive information. The intent is not to make a point, but to demoralize, abuse or injure the opponent. Resorting to such tactics often exposes an inability to formulate viable arguments (possibly because there may not be any). What is more unfortunate is that succumbing to such tactics (usually a result of inadequate self-discipline), demeans, degrades and on occasion even destroys what might have been considered a legitimate argument.

3 Ad Hominem: Abusive

Against the man. Against the person.

Attempt to invalidate an argument by making abusive remarks about the person making the argument: kill the messenger if you can’t kill the message.

Data: Vegan is the nutritionally intelligent, environmentally sustainable and ethically correct diet to follow.
Lore: Data you’re just totally ****** and a real ****** too!!!!
Data: What a potentially interesting challenge in cryptography, Lore! Each of those bleeped out expressions represent 268 potential word possibilities. However, since we know they failed the censor test, it is not necessary to perform an exhaustive search - heuristics will be adequate. You of course realize that you have failed to provide any rationale to counter my initial statement.

_Form_
P claims X.
Q says nasty things about P’s character.
∴ ¬ X.

3.1 The pie attack

Three vegans attacked Lierre Keith (The Vegetarian Myth author) by pieing her in the face during a talk she was doing. Abusive monsters like you show just how ***** you vegans really are. You should all be locked up, nevermind being allowed to speak in a forum!

_Datanalysis_
While it is quite correct to call such actions as abusive attacks, it is inappropriate to label the action as a ‘vegan’ one simply because it is thought that some vegans executed it. Furthermore, there is no rationality in insisting that anyone should be locked up or not permitted status on a forum due to the actions of three individuals.

3.2 Winning an argument vs discrediting an opponent

Some people think that if they can discredit an opponent by calling the individual names, they have won the argument. Here is an example of such a situation.

Cretin: You wrote “It’s not that you’re trying to win an argument, it’s that you’re trying to discredit an opponent.” Well that is absolutely retarded because those two intentions are essentially the same thing.
Civil: Well no they’re not. Winning an argument requires that one uses proper reasoning that is logically valid as well as sound. Discrediting an opponent can be done without even producing an argument. Some people try to do it with various outbursts like:

That is absolutely retarded
Stop defending your stupid comments
You are not using the full capacity of your brain
I can’t take this stupidity
You are either stupid or being stubborn

_Datanalysis_
These ad hominem fallacies don’t actually add strength to any argument. They are an attempt to discredit the individual you are talking to by attributing various features to them. As with typical ad hominems the idea is primarily to abuse the opponent into submission.

4 Ad Hominem: Flattery

Appeal to flattery.

This is really a variation on the ad hominem theme. Instead of rubbishing one’s opponent, one does quite the opposite in the hopes of gaining agreement on a claim, regardless of whether the claim has any merit.

Data: The high mercury content of fish makes it a most unwise choice for consumption.
Lore: Data you are brilliant! It’s amazing how you can gather facts from all over and you present things so remarkably well too! I am always impressed by your knowledge and am so glad to call you my brother! By the way, one of my good friends runs a fish store, so let’s not make a big deal out of the mercury - I’m sure you can use your cleverness to find some way of pointing out how minimal the toxic effects are anyway.
Data: Flattery will get you nowhere, Lore. You can’t really alter the facts and the dangerous effects of mercury poisoning, by hurling compliments.

_Form_
A flatters B.
A claims C.
∴ C.

5 Ad Hominem: Circumstantial

Against the man. Against the person.

Attempt to invalidate an argument by claiming that the person making it is acting in own interests: kill the messenger if you can’t kill the message.

Data: Vegan is the nutritionally intelligent, environmentally sustainable and ethically correct diet to follow.
Lore: Data you’re just saying stuff like that because you’re one of those bleeding hearts animal rights activists who wants all creatures to live happily ever after.
Data: Whether I want all animals to live happily ever after has little to do with my point that a vegan diet is what it is: specifically the nutritional research which clearly shows the health advantage of vegan diets; the environmental statements from various organizations such as even the United Nations; the ethical analysis from various philosophical viewpoints and authors.

_Form_
P claims X.
Q says nasty things about P’s character.
∴ ¬ X.

5.1 The Bully Card

Do me a favor and don’t be a forum bully. I think you were completely rude … back off and don’t be so **** about it. Your tone was clearly not a friendly one so don’t backpedal. I feel abused by you!

_Datanalysis_
This is sometimes a ploy to create a distraction and at other times an attempt to discredit an adversary. Note that the accusations likely have nothing to do with the topic being discussed. In these situations, the chances are that the person complaining just didn’t like how the discussion was going. There was likely no bullying, but a fair bit of whining.

6 Ad Hominem: Poisoning the Well

Against the man. Against the person.

Attempt to invalidate an argument by trying to discredit the person making it: kill the messenger if you can’t kill the message.

Data: Vegan is the nutritionally intelligent, environmentally sustainable and ethically correct diet to follow.
Lore: Data you were made as an imperfect android by Noonien Soonng and so anything you say is wrong.
Data: By focusing on my ’lack of perfection’, you will deem whatever I say to be wrong, even when I am right. Neither does this ’lack of perfection’ alter the facts which support my statement about a vegan diet: specifically the nutritional research which clearly shows the health advantage of vegan diets; the environmental statements from various organizations such as even the United Nations; the ethical analysis from various philosophical viewpoints and authors.

_Form_
P claims X.
Q says P said or did something discreditable in the past.
∴ ¬ X.

6.1 Insider trading and deer slaughter

Sometimes individuals like to throw irrelevantly incriminating information into the mix. An example, is shown here in an articles relating to an injunction to stop deer slaughter in the Invermere community in BC, Canada where mention is made of the financial activities of one of the architects of the effort:

Explaining why he got involved in the issue, Mr. Suman said he and his wife, Monie, moved to the valley a year-and-a-half ago, and were instantly enamoured with the deer that live within the town. He acknowledged that he is the same Shane Suman who was recently found guilty, along with his wife, of insider trading by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and ordered to pay over $4 million dollars in fines and profits, but stated that the issues are completely unrelated, and he has nothing to hide in relation to the case.
Invermere ordered to put brakes on cull (Joshua Estabrooks, Pioneer Staff)

_Datanalysis_
While Suman’s financial activities did result in a guilty verdict against him, his past dealings have no relevance to his trying to stop the deer slaughter in Invermere. To bring up the matter may be an attempt to discredit his character and thereby sway opinion against his efforts, even though there is no connection between trying to help deer and the prior monetary misdealings.

6.2 PETA kills everything!

DeerAdvocate: Hey Shishkabob! Good news for the deer! Even PETA is getting into this and asking people to write to Invermere to stop the killing.
Shishkabob: Oh, are they asking Invermere to send the deer to PETA’s HQ so they can ‘send’ them to a better place, via needle?

_Datanalysis_
This is one of those PETA-hating attitudes some people have even though they may be in favor of animal protection. Since PETA endorses euthanization in certain situations, some people feel that that they have to malign everything the organization does. Even when PETA acts in alignment with their own cause, they feel they have to take a potshot at them. This sort of bigotted behavior is not conducive to unity within the ranks, but these people are usually more interested in sounding off immaturely than engaging in any meaningful action.

7 Ad Hominem: Tu Quoque

You too. Two wrongs make a right. Appeal to hypocrisy.

Attempt to invalidate an argument by claiming the person making it has done things which are counter to the argument: kill the messenger if you can’t kill the message. Here is a good video on this fallacy: Are You PERFECT?!!

Data: Vegan is the nutritionally intelligent, environmentally sustainable and ethically correct diet to follow.
Lore: Data you don’t eat, are made from environmentally unfriendly materials and kill millions of microorganisms when you simulate breathing and so you’re spouting nonsense!
Data: My personal and behavioral parameters do not have any influence on the realities of a vegan diet. I may be lacking in certain areas, but my inadequacies do not alter the established facts: specifically the nutritional research which clearly shows the health advantage of vegan diets; the environmental statements from various organizations such as even the United Nations; the ethical analysis from various philosophical viewpoints and authors.

_Form_
P claims X.
Q says P has acted in the opposite way to X.
∴ ¬ X.

7.1 You plant-eating mass murderer!

The hole in the vegan argument that meat is murder is this: more animals die to prepare and harvest crops.

_Datanalysis_
Factually, the above statement is simply incorrect because between 50-80% (varies with country and time period) of the grain harvested goes to fattening animals. Additionally, calculations show clearly that eating strict vegetarian kills far, far fewer animals than eating from the corpse industries: Number of Animals Killed to Produce One Million Calories in Eight Food Categories.

Of course, the accuser usually knows that he/she is spouting nonsense. The argument presented has little to do with fact and everything to do with pathetic bravado. It can be summed up as simply as “You kill some animals with your plant-diet, so you shouldn’t complain if I kill far more with my corpse eating fetish.” There is no really argument here beyond a fallacious whining.

7.2 You can’t attack my animal abusings because you aren’t 100% pure vegan!

A vegan diet is a simple to do. Avoiding animal products completely doesn’t seem so. Do you have a right to attack others for eating animals when you continue to use them? Products such as rubber and tires involve the use of animal products, and that plastic shoes devastate the environment? Unless you ran away naked from the society, you are contributing to animal exploitation in some way.

_Datanalysis_
This is a typically simplistic case of “you too”! The idea behind this attack on vegan advocates is that they likely use some slaughterhouse by-product (eg stearic acid in rubber or plastic) and therefore are somehow barred from criticising those who eat animals or wear fur etc. It is a frequent effort by some people to deflect attention from their support of the imprisonment, exploitation, abuse and murder of animals.

One can run a line of defense such as in modern society it is impossible to be 100% vegan, but one can come pretty close. This is a reasonable answer which justifies one’s actions while acknowledging certain short-comings. After all, it may be difficult to stop breathing to avoid killing thousands of microbes.

However, because we have a clear fallacy here of the lowly ad hominem family, the opportunity for attack is ever-present. The accusatory argument has no merit because:

The personal action of an individual does not change the morality of a situation. If robbing a bank is unethical, having a bank robber speak out against the act, does not miraculously alter the morality of the act. Harming sentient beings is unethical (except in select situations such as self-defense). So even an animal abuser is entitled to speak against animal abuse.
The fact that the individual who speaks out against animal abuse may engage in some sort of incidental action (often unknowingly) such as driving on tires which have been manufactured with some component derived from an animal, does not absolve those who regularly participate in various forms of animal abuse.

The above two realities negate the legitimacy of such immature, whiney onslaughts.

7.3 Nobody is vegan!

You’re not vegan because you use car tires which are made from slaughterhouse by-products (stearic acid)! You’re not vegan because your computer keyboard may have some sort of animal product! You’re not vegan because the stickers on your organic bananas probably aren’t vegan! You’re not vegan because you may have stepped on an ant when you walked outside. You’re not vegan because you kill microbes when you breathe!

_Datanalysis_
While technically it can be argued that nobody really is vegan as per above, the attack is rather flawed due to its confusion between an ideal and the manifestation of the same. Vegan is a spectrum with a minimum threshold such as not participating in the imprisonment, exploitation, abuse and murder of animals. Incidental anomalies that appear as a result of the manufacturing process and breathing hardly constitute a violation of that threshold. A particularly fine analysis is presented in this article: Nobody Is Vegan.

8 Analogy: Extended

False analogy. Faulty analogy. Questionable analogy.

The utilization of an analogy is deliberately misconstrued here. If two things have a basis of similarity, then one can be used to illustrate the other on grounds of that basis. Each does not need to be identical or similar in all aspects for the analogy to be valid. However, a critic will take exception to the analogy itself on grounds of whatever dissimilarities can be conjured up.

Data: Humans oppress animals in the same way they have oppressed other humans examples being the slave trade or the ethnic cleansing campaigns throughout history.
Lore: So what are you saying? That these humans were animals? Are you seriously equating humans to animals!
Data: Humans and animals do possess many similarities. However, the comparison was not between humans and animals, but between the treatment some humans received and the treatment some animals receive. Some humans and some animals continue to be kept in slavery. Some humans and some animals continue to be exterminated under the expediency of ‘cleansing’. The analogy merely reveals the common mentality of the oppressors who do not seem to hold speciesist attitudes towards their victims.

_Form_
A has some similar characteristics to B.
A is used as an illustration to clarify aspects of B.
The illustration is criticized because A isn’t identical to B.

9 Analogy: Weak

False analogy. Faulty analogy. Questionable analogy.

The apparent similarity between two situations is utilized to insist that the properties belonging to one also belong to the other.

Data: Bees make honey for themselves, not for humans. Therefore, it is morally wrong to steal honey from them, an unnecessary act which kills countless numbers of bees.
Lore: Well don’t you know that you kill bugs when you ride in a car? It’s unnecessary for you to drive too!
Data: In present day society, driving is not always unnecessary (eg ambulance, fire brigade, food distribution etc). Furthermore, one doesn’t drive to kill bugs deliberately anymore than one drives to kill humans deliberately, yet accidents kill members of both species. One does end up killing bees deliberately by taking their honey because the bees will fight to the death to keep what is theirs. Furthermore, bee industry practices end up destroying many bees that starve to death because they are not left with sufficient honey to see them through the winter. Death cause by driving is quite incidental while the deaths caused by the bee industry are invasively more deliberate.

_Form_
A appears to be similar to B.
B has property P.
∴ A has property P.

9.1 Horses and dogs should work too for their living

Animals should have to earn their living. After all, humans have to earn a living. So why shouldn’t animals as well? There’s nothing wrong about making a horse pull a carriage or a dog pulling a sled.

_Datanalysis_
There seem to be a couple of problems with this sort of analogus reasoning.

First, it is not true that all humans have to earn a living. Many don’t work or can’t work (eg children). They are often appropriately supported by family, friends or society.

Second, animals and some people work in their own way to ’earn their living’. Horses graze, some dogs hunt in packs and many humans gather and eat fruit. There is no reason to think that creatures who live in a way that is natural for them, necessarily need to fit into the modern society 9 to 5 schedules.

Third, hooking up a horse to a carriage or a dog to a sled is nothing short of exploitation. While there may be rare isolated situations where a symbiotic partnership is necessary (say someone who rescued a horse, but has no means of supporting his care, so the two of them go into business together), it is clear that the intent is almost exclusively to make money for the person at the expense of the animal.

Therefore, it is an unsound notion to suggest that animals should have to earn their living in a fashion as adopted by some humans.

9.2 Don’t eat and drive!

The American Meat Institute once whined:

A new study in today’s Archives of Internal Medicine tries to predict the future risk of death from cancer or cardiovascular disease by relying on notoriously unreliable self-reporting about what was eaten and obtuse methods to apply statistical analysis to the data. This imprecise approach is like relying on consumers’ personal characterization of their driving habits in prior years in determining their likelihood of having an accident that kills them in the future.

_Datanalysis_
The analogy forced between ‘what was eaten’ and “personal characterization of driving habits’ is a meaningless one. The former is tangible and can be objectively established in a variety of ways. The latter is purely subjective and prone to whims of the ego. Therefore, the attempt has no validity at all.

Nor is the last sentence correct, because statistics tend to show that poor driving habits will increase the likelihood of an accident. In fact, statistical data on driving habits is what insurance companies use to determine premium rates.

9.3 In defense of dog fighting

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) fielded a question about his opposition to animal rights and recently introduced legislation that would undermine local standards preventing animal torture. “It’s wrong to rate animals above human beings,” he told the questioner. To make his point, King argued that “there’s something wrong” for society to make it a “federal crime to watch animals fight” but “it’s not a federal crime to induce somebody to watch people fighting.”

_Datanalysis_
What is really wrong is not with society, but with King’s reasoning. The analogy attempted between people fighting voluntarily (ie boxing) and animals being forced to fight (ie dog/cock fighting) is inappropriate. One could argue that there is something wrong with a society that induces people to watch any sort of fighting of any species, but it is an incorrect argument to suggest that it is wrong to punish people for going to fights of species A simply because you do not punish them for going to fights of species B.

10 Appeal to Authority

Argumentum ad Verecundiam. Ispe dixit. Fallacious Appeal to Authority. Misuse of Authority. Irrelevant Authority. Questionable Authority. Inappropriate Authority.

The attempt to validate a conclusion based on some statement by some authority. While providing legitimate authority as backing for one’s arguments is reasonable, the fact that some authority agrees with your point of view is insufficient as the sole basis. For instance, the authority may actually not be an authority or may have changed viewpoints or may be just plain wrong. Usually, the appeal to authority is invoked because other avenues lead to a deadend and there is no real support for the argument. For a more thorough presentation, see Nizkor Appeal To Authority.

Data: I find the attitudes and practices of humans towards other sentient beings most disturbing.
Lore: Well get over it because Descartes said that animals are just automatons.
Data: While citing authority to support an argument may be legitimate if the authority’s statements are correct, no argument can be negated or validated purely on the solely the word of a specific authority - especially when the comment is demonstrably untrue, as it is in this case with Descartes who while being a competent mathematician was prone to “creating a world to suit his fancy without the slightest regard for the known facts” (Ref: A. D’Abro - The Rise of the New Physics Volume One p11.)

_Form_
P claims A is an authority on subject S.
P claims A supports C being true.
∴ C.

10.1 Authority in reverse!

Sometimes carnists call you out for being “emotional” about the plight of animal suffering and continues to attacks and trivialize your sympathetic sentiments. However, when you throw facts, clinical studies and data suggesting animal eating is bad, they resort to such classic rhetoric as “you shouldn’t believe all you hear”, “you are being too logical” and eventually “I’ll believe you when you are a doctor”.

_Datanalysis_
This is the classic case of appeal to authority reversed. While the corpse eater is able to not deal with facts, it is easy to accuse the opponent as being ’emotional’ (see Appeal to Emotion below). However, there is no where to run when the actual data appears, so backed against a wall, the plea is fallaciously made to ’lack’ of authority. Obviously, this effort reveals only the desperation, because it makes little difference what the qualifications are of the individual who presents the demonstrated facts.

11 Appeal to Authority: Age

Appeal by age.

The idea here is to claim an argument is correct because the person making it has more experience by virtue of having existed longer. The fact that the experience may not have any connection to the argument or that the person might be just plain wrong, is thus circumvented. The age/experience of an individual may be used to some extent to strengthen an argument, but has nothing to do with its correctness.

Data: I find the attitudes and practices of humans towards other sentient beings most disturbing.
Lore: Look my young friend, I’m older than you are and have been around longer than you. I say things are fine just the way they are. How do I know this? Because I’ve seen things this way for a longer time than you.
Data: You are just a few months older, Lore. Furthermore, you are only providing a personal opinion without any verification of its correctness.

_Form_
A is old/experienced.
A claims C.
∴ C.

11.1 The age card

I can use the age card. I’ve been a passionate vegan for 25 years, which is probably about the time that you’ve been on earth. Vegan for 25 years baby! Did you hear that? Let me say it again! VEGAN FOR 25 YEARS!!! I’m proud of being a 25 year vegan!! Nothing wrong with that. What comes with 25 years of veganism that many of you don’t have? A lot of wisdom from making a lot of mistakes with other vegans through the years.

_Datanalysis_
Judging by the repetitive nature of the statement, one could surmise that what comes with 25 years of veganism, in this particular case, is senility rather than wisdom. Correctness is not proportional to age. An argument cannot be substantiated simply by the age or experience of the presenter even if he is a vegan. The validity of an argument rests on its logical form and the evidence presented for its substantiation and not on the posturing of the one who is making it.

12 Appeal to Consequences of a Belief

Argumentum ad consequentiam. Wishful thinking.

Here one tries to utilize the consequences of a belief to verify the belief itself. If believing something produces positive consequences, then one asserts the something is true.

Data: The fur industry is cruel.
Lore: I get money for the pelts and will hopefully be rich soon, so trapping and killing furry animals is the correct thing to do.
Data: Simply because you believe you will benefit from by engaging in these inhumane practices promoted by the fur industry, doesn’t provide an argument that is contrary to my original statement.

_Form_
C is (un)desirable.
∴ (¬)C.

12.1 Worrying is unhealthy

It’s unhealthy to worry so much about animals and the environment. It’ll stress you out. Just live and be free! Don’t get so involved! Don’t worry! Be happy!

_Datanalysis_
While there is merit in not worrying and not getting stressed out, the above is nothing more than a rationalization for apathy. Interestingly enough, such rationalizations come from both those who oppress animals as well as those who presumably advocate the opposite. The latter though tend to do a balancing act on the fence when pressed. They don’t want to confront the oppressors, but like to believe they are also not contributing to the oppression. One’s own ‘peace of mind’ takes priority and therefore overrides any attempt at producing an effective argument.

12.2 Veganism should not be a religion

Some people in Western society already view veganism as a kind of religion, cult, or extreme point of view, and therefore reject it. We should be very cautious about trying to associate veganism with religiousness and or religious rights.

_Datanalysis_
The concern that if veganism is viewed as a religion there will be bad consequences should not determine whether veganism is viewed as a religion. If veganism meets the appropriate criteria for being considered to be a religion, then it has a legitimate claim to be categorized as such. Gain or loss as a result of outlook, does not determine the validity of the outlook.

12.3 Honey is vegan!!

Rejecting honey as a vegan product hurts the vegan movement, therefore such a position on honey just doesn’t make any sense. You’re talking about some quasi-religious personal purity, rather than about stopping animal abuse. No wonder veganism can seem nonsensical to the average person.

_Datanalysis_
Since there is so much evidence clearly demonstrating that honey is not vegan and that bees are sentient animals, what is indeed nonsensical is to take the incorrect stand that honey is vegan based on concern of the dire consequences such a stance might bring. One doesn’t stop animal abuse by fictious arguments where we take from Peter with the hopes of giving to Paul: it is illogical and unethical to condemn bees to servitude and death, simply because we have hopes of appearing more ‘reasonable’ to a public who will thereby miraculously refrain from supporting the slaughter of cows and chickens.

12.4 This store made me who I am today!

I get a lot of good stuff at this store! They have great prices! Fantastic service too and they are so convenient! Wow! They even have rare things I want which I probably can’t get anywhere else. It’s unfortunate that they sell some shoddy books like How To Make Millions Off Your Fighting Dogs and 35 Ways To Pack Meat Into Your Pig! Well, I am a vegan after all, so I can’t approve of this stuff. Oh yeah and they sell corpse parts like beef jerky and some foie gras too. Disgusting! I don’t approve of this stuff at all! Ok, so they also sell live animals and ship them to wherever. I don’t like that either. Geez! But you have to understand that they do so many other good things, like give me excellent discounts and the more I buy, the better chances I have at winning their monthly jackpot! Think of all the good I can do with that money, eh? And all stores in the world must do something wrong, I’m sure, so why pick on this one? That’s why I gotta buy from these folks. They’re the best deal going anywhere! They are a miracle! Ya!!

_Datanalysis_
It would seem that the above individual is drowning in an overdose of self-indulgence. To justify an act simply because one stands to benefit from it is one of the most self-serving rationalizations that exist. The morality of an act is determined by its adherence to established criteria, which deal with questions such as:

does the act produce any victims?
is there any harm done indirectly as a result of the act?
are there any intended casualities caused by the act?
is the act even necessary to commit?

To support a commercial enterprise that is harmful to other lives and/or promotes harm towards other beings, for the sake of convenience (as opposed to basic need) is selfish and unethical.

13 Appeal to Emotion

Ad misericordiam. Appeal to sympathy.

Here the argument is based not on facts or construction, but on manipulation of emotion.

Data: Culling ’excess’ deer is an unethical activity since deer are sentient beings and it is human activity that has reduced their habitat.
Lore: Think of all the poor hungry people the venison will feed!
Data: Having poor hungry people is a fault of the social and municipal mechanisms in society. One may sympathize with their situation, but the deer should not have to compensate for human failings.

_Form_
C produces emotions favorable to stance we hold.
∴ C.

13.1 Traitor to one’s species!

How dare you put the rights of animals above those of humans?! Have you no sense of loyalty? You are a traitor to your own species!

_Datanalysis_
There is no rational basis for insisting that any member show loyalty to its species. Dogs will fight dogs to save a human. Horses often relate better to humans than to other horses. Cats can co-exist with with various creatures (even birds and mice) and still show animosity towards other cats. Humans, as well, will defend their animal companions or even wildlife against the onslaught of other humans.

The notion that we should give priority to our own species is absurd. If it were otherwise, we should support legislation which would cause all pet owners to be traitors to the human species because they have not turned in their animals to medical research to supposedly benefit other humans.

Furthermore, a natural application of this ’loyalty’ to one’s own kind, produces dangerous precedents, such as

men who oppose sexism are traitors to all men → label them pro-feminists
whites who oppose racism are traitors to other whites → call them nigger lovers
Hindus who supported religious tolerance were traitors to other Hindus → they are our mortal enemies (Gandhi was murdered by a Hindu.)

13.2 The Guilt Trip

So you won’t buy a ticket for the Shiners Circus because you don’t like them using animals in the acts! What about thinking of the poor burn victims who are just children? Won’t you find it in your heart to help these unfortunate children?

_Datanalysis_
The argument here is a non sequitur effort which tries to associate not getting a ticket to the Shiners Circus with not wanting to help children. Just because one doesn’t support that circus doesn’t mean that one is opposed to supporting children.

An appropriate clarification would be “I do have it in my heart to help children, but I have no intention of supporting your Shriners who utilize children as a front while abusing animals in order to draw in money so their members can wear silly hats and throw parties”.

14 Appeal to Emotion: Fear

Argumentum ad metum. Argumentum in terrorem.

The idea here is to scare people into thinking you are right by deception within the argument.

Data: The Ministry of the Environment has ordered killing of wolves because they seem to be showing up more frequently in inhabited areas.
Lore: Well, of course they did. Wolves can eat your babies and must be prevented from doing so.
Data: One does not need to kill off wolves in order to protect babies. One merely needs to not leave babies irresponsibly unattended. A program to relocate wolves would be a more humane solution than killing them.

_Form_
¬ C produces fear.
∴ C.

14.1 Doctor using scare tactics

A remarkably healthy person goes to his doctor after several years and makes a very positive impression.

Doc: After going this long without having to go to the doctor I’ve got to ask, “What’s your secret?” RHP: Well, I’m a vegan and I… Doc: What??? A vegan??? Why??? Don’t you know how unhealthy that is??? … you won’t be able to get enough protein … I’m being erious as a heart-attack! … You can’t get enough iron in your diet … to start eating red meat 3 times a week or do massive supplements … You have to be careful or you may even have serious mental issues.

_Datanalysis_
The interesting aspect of the doctor’s position is that there is not a single piece of factual evidence being presented. If RHP chose to pursue the matter, he could show decades of amassed evidence clearly demonstrating the beneficial health conferred by a vegan diet. However, doing so is not likely to cause this doctor to rethink his position since the intention is to frighten his client into submission. The doctor unfortunately also reflects the deliberate ignorance shown by the medical profession in that they are unwilling to even learn about proper nutrition.

14.2 They won’t like you

Don’t tell people about not eating meat, they won’t like you.

_Datanalysis_
This is a rather poor rationalization that some people utilize in order to justify not taking action. The merit of whether an action is proper or not is not dependent upon whether one is liked. Furthermore, this attitude doesn’t take into account these two possibilities:

many people may like you because you stood up for values of compassion many people will not like the person who is telling you what not to do thereby that statement should not be made by its own logic

14.3 You’ll lose your following

If only people that agree 100% with every aspect of vegan lifestyle are allowed on this forum, including only parents that feed their children 100% vegan foods and did not get them vaccinated, you’d end up with 100 people MAX.

_Datanalysis_
It is unclear as to how the number of 100 is calculated. The argument assumes that restrictive parameters will be a detriment to the forum the assumption being that more is better. However, restrictions often encourage more people to join a group simply because they do not want to deal with spam and nonsense. Furthermore, if the goal of the forum is to maintain the standard of veganism, then it makes sense to have it populated by vegans: quality over quantity.

15 Appeal to Emotion: Force

Ad baculum. Scare tactics. Appeal to force.

The idea here is to force people into thinking you are right with a threat.

Data: The Ministry of the Environment has ordered killing of wolves. This an act of cruelty towards sentient beings.
Lore: You need to cut out these nonsensical statements. If you don’t, you see this phaser I’m holding? I just have to use it to melt your mouth shut!
Data: Your phaser does not negate the correctness of my statement. Besides, I took the precaution of discharging yours, Lore.

_Form_
¬ C produces fear.
∴ C.

15.1 Boycotting businesses and more

Sometimes scare tactics can be used effectively on behalf of victims, especially when one has real power to wield. Here is an excerpt from an event in 2006 in which activist and business man Bruce Foerster ‘persuaded’ the Belize government, that it would not be in their interests to support Japan’s slaughtering of whales:

As a business owner here in Belize I am ashamed that you would betray the world’s few remaining whales by helping authorize their slaughter and should you indeed pursue this I will immediately sell my large resort and take all of my capital out of the country, compromising the 100 full time positions which this resort provides and the millions of dollars we invest annually into the local economy. I simply cannot tolerate such a destructive move on your part and will not live nor invest in a country which pretends to care for the environment but in reality cares only for the dirty money that they can earn by voting to destroy the relatively few whales that these butchers have not already painfully and mercilessly slaughtered.You are risking a huge economic backlash and a tourism boycott should you make the mistake of voting for the destruction of these rare and intelligent mammals! The Power of One Can End the Killing of the Whales

Note that the idea of a boycott involves the application of the appeal to fear, however, it is not necessarily a logical fallacy. Here, Bruce substantiates his future actions giving reasons why whale slaughter is ethically immoral as well as environmentally absurd, then follows up with a statement of consequences. Bruce spoke and Belize listened!

16 Appeal to Emotion: Pity

Ad misericordiam.

By trying to create pity, one hopes that the claim will be accepted.

Data: The practice of sucking oviductory excretions, drinking bovine secretions and eating corpse parts is proven to be harmful to birds, cows and various other sentient beings.
Lore: Oh come on Data! Don’t be such a heartless android! These poor people get heart disease, cancer, osteroporosis, constipation and a lot of other diseases. Just let’em be, eh!
Date: I do appreciate the pity you show these individuals and what is happening to them is certainly unfortunate. However, they are the ones who are deliberately engaging in these practices which are harmful to themselves. They have a choice not to do so. Their victims do not have any choice.

_Form_
C is presented surrounded by an aura of pity.
∴ C.

16.1 But they’ll just starve!

I recognize that the mass killing of animals isn’t pretty, but they are doing it for food.

_Datanalysis_
The implication is that somehow certain unfortunates would starve horribly to death if factory farms were shut down. Evidently, those who put forth such pitiful arguments haven’t discovered vegetarianism yet despite its centuries old existence.

16.2 Those vegetarians are picking on the poor bashers of baby seals!

Anti-seal hunt advocates are vegetarians who have set their sights on struggling East Coast hunters rather than fighting the beef cartel, says a Liberal senator.

Sen. Céline Hervieux-Payette told The Huffington Post Canada that Liberals and Conservatives have been united in trying to prevent rogue Liberal Sen. Mac Harb from tabling a bill banning Canada’s commercial seal hunt for several years because it is “disturbing to the whole scene.”

“It is giving the vegetarians a big opportunity,” Hervieux-Payette said. (excerpt from Huffington Post Article)

_Datanalysis_
Apart from the complete inaccuracy of this remarkably absurd statement (most anti seal slaughter advocates are not vegetarians given that the campaign is so large and worldwide), one does have to wonder about the capacity for reasoning of Hervieux-Payette. If they really were vegetarians, then it would make sense that they would protest the beef cartel and not the seal slaughter because the vast majority of corpse eaters never eat seal flesh. So why would vegetarians come out in great numbers to protest something no one would eat in the first place? This would seem to be yet another effort to desperately draw pity for the “struggling East Coast hunters” who like to bash in the skulls of helpless baby seals.

17 Appeal to Nature

Argumentum ad naturam.

Nature is utilized axiomatically as an authority. If it happens in nature then it is assumed to be good/optimal. The fact that nature doesn’t always do things that are good/optimal is ignored. Furthermore, it is never really defined exactly what ’natural’ means. For instance, if a beaver builds a dam that is supposed to be natural, but if a man builds a house that is considered unnatural.

Data: The fur and leather industries are exploitative towards sentient beings.
Lore: Oh come on! Do you realize that these are natural products rather than synthetic! Nature does things right! So do it her way!
Data: In nature, no creature takes the skin off another creature’s back to wear it. Furthermore, leather and fur undergo extensive processing which is detrimental to the environment. Finally, calling these products of cruelty ’natural’ doesn’t address the issue of exploitation at all.

_Form_
C is natural.
∴ C.

17.1 Arguing the tooth

We have the teeth to tear and chew and grind flesh therefore we should eat meat.

_Datanalysis_
Here we have one of the most blatant denials of reality. The argument is that nature provided humans with the proper physiology to eat corpse parts, so we should.

The first error is the fallacy itself. Simply because it appears nature provided something is no reason to argue that using it is the correct thing to do. For instance, gorillas have large canines, but are vegetarians. Nature also provided humans with an appendix, but it isn’t used because it isn’t necessary. Nature also provided humans with fists to injure each other, but most humans seem to realize that such usage of these gifts of nature may not be in the best interests of the parties concerned.

The second error is that humans really don’t have the teeth to ’tear’ with and the ‘chewing and grinding’ isn’t done with corpse parts anyway since carnivores general swallow pieces of flesh without chewing or grinding. Some humans point to their canines with pride, yet don’t seem to understand that these are actually rather small compared to those of a bear, dog or cat. However, human canines have proven their immense value at tearing cellophane after hunting down bargain slabs of meat in grocery stores.

17.2 The Carnivore Mantra

A common implementation of this fallacy involved the “carnivores must eat meat” mantra which appears with equal enthusiasm in both veg and nonveg discussions.

Despite the healthy, documented existence of veg dogs and cats for more than 2 decades, some people insist that pets classified as carnivores must eat meat.

The argument usually develops something like this display of goal post moving:

Try 1: Dogs must eat meat to survive … ooops that’s wrong because there are plenty of surviving dogs who do not eat any meat.

Try 2: Dogs must eat meat to thrive … ooops that’s wrong too since it is regularly shown that veg dogs at the very least match their meat-fed counterparts as per clear eyes, great coats, energy, disposition and every other criteria (including longevity).

Try 3: Well it’s not their optimal diet … ooops that can’t be demonstrated either since we have surveys and studies showing veg dogs actually are less susceptible to meat induced diseases like infections, skin problems, arthritis, heart problems, weight issues, digestive difficulties, hypothyroidism, cancer.

Try 4: Not much left, so what can be done except to claim they should eat meat because they have big teeth …

Well obviously the “my what big teeth you have” hypothesis, while useful for Little Red Riding Hood, isn’t particularly valid as an argument in light of the preponderance of evidence which goes beyond just the studies to the fact that mainstream pet food companies have a veg line simply because many dogs just can’t handle meat based diets.

Now what is interesting to note is the form of the argument used by the mantra chanters:

If dogs eat meat, there are positive consequences (by the “my what big teeth you have” hypothesis). ∴ dogs should eat meat.

or in its wishful thinking form

I wish it to be true that eating meat is good for dogs (because I believe in the “my what big teeth you have” hypothesis). ∴ eating meat is good for them.

Utilization of this fallacy of course makes it possible to disregard all evidence to the contrary.

18 Appeal to Novelty

Argumentum ad novitatem. Appeal to the New. Newer is Better.

The idea here is to assume that some newer item or approach is better because it is more recent.

Data: The bones-and-raw-food-paleos (BARFPal) diet that just came out is not very intelligently designed as far as human nutrition is concerned.
Lore: Geez Data! This is the latest and greatest way of eating. It’s gotta be fantastic!
Data: Being the latest and greatest is not an indication of optimal or even intelligent. Sometimes each latest and greatest item is a short-lived fad or even a risky venture as demonstrated by all the latest and greatest drugs which get recalled.

_Form_
C is new.
∴ C

19 Appeal to Popularity

Argumentum ad populum. Appeal to the people. Appeal to the masses. Appeal to belief. Appeal to the majority. Argument by consensus. Consensus fallacy. Authority of the many. Bandwagon. Argumentum ad numerum. Appeal to the number. Consensus gentium.

This is an attempt to win an argument through the claim of it being supported by some majority of opinions. The assumption is that since most people agree with a conclusion, the conclusion must be correct. In these situations, what ‘most people’ really constitutes or whether ‘most people’ actually exists isn’t always clear. Even if ‘most people’ do a certain thing, there is no reason to think they are doing a good/correct thing as repeatedly evidenced by political elections.

Data: Drinking bovine mammarian secretions is hazardous to one’s health not to mention the animals that are subjected to exploitation and abuse to produce it.
Lore: Oh c’mon! Most people in the USA like to drink milk, so doing so is ok!
Data: Most people in the USA also end up being afflicted with heart disease, cancer, arthritis, eczema, asthma, respiratory infections,diabetes and osteoporosis (2nd highest in the world next to the Inuits) for instance, which are diseases linked to dairy consumption.

_Form_
Most people agree on, approve of, believe in, support (etc) C.
∴ C.

19.1 We have 80% of the population on our side, so we must be right!

Furthermore, Americans just don’t support the killing. In a survey of Americans’ attitudes towards outdoor cats, over 80 percent responded that they believe it is more humane to leave a cat outside than to have her caught and killed.

_Datanalysis_
The above argument utilizes a specific statistic in order to assert its correctness. Even if an overwhelming majority support a concept, such support doesn’t validite the concept. If ethics were simply a matter of voting, the state of moral judgment would be as precarious as the state of politics.

20 Appeal to Popularity: Belief

Argumentum ad populum family.

This is an attempt to win an argument through the claim that many or most people believe the conclusion to be true: “If many believe so, it is so.” There are situations though where the belief of a certain number of people does align with the reality.

Data: Vivisection is a very cruel form of animal abuse.
Lore: Many medical researchers experiment on animals because they believe it’s all for the greater good, so they can’t all be wrong.
Data: Having a majority of believers doesn’t make something correct. For instance, at several points in history a majority believed that the earth was flat and that bats are blind.

_Form_
Most people believe that C is true.
∴ C.

20.1 My parents told me, so there!

Eating meat is part of most people’s nutrition regimen. They were taught this by their parents.

_Datanalysis_
In certain parts of the world, children are taught by their parents to do certain things. Most children grow up believing that what they have been taught is correct which is why most adults tend to follow common practices. Unfortunately, most adults do not necessarily contemplate whether the practices they follow are beneficial or even morally appropriate. Hence, a wrong action can be propagated over generations justified purely on the basis of parental tutelage.

21 Appeal to Popularity: Common Practice

Argumentum ad numerum. Part of the Argumentum ad populum family.

Here the attempt is made by reference to the fact that many people engage in the action supported by the argument.

Data: Factory farms are a very cruel institution.
Lore: Oh really now! Most people eat meat!
Data: The fact that many people eat meat isn’t a justification for eating meat.

_Form_
Many people do C.
∴ C.

22 Appeal to Ridicule

Appeal to Mockery. The Horse Laugh.

This is an attempt to prove that C is true because ¬ C is made fun of.

Data: Vegetarians tend to be comparatively healthy compared to corpse eaters.
Lore: That’s so totally laughable my circuits are fusing! Don’t you know that vegetarian means lousy hunter?
Data: Actually, vegetarian doesn’t mean lousy hunter. That is simply an ill-conceived effort at weak humor. Besides, ridiculing vegetarians does not change the fact that they tend to exhibit a superior level of health as well as health awareness than non-vegetarians.

_Form_
¬ C is presented in an aura of absurdity.
∴ C.

23 Appeal to Spite

Argumentum ad odium.

Here a conclusion is asserted to be true based on one’s personal spitefulness rather than the conclusion’s validity.

Data: Vegans do hold the moral high ground.
Lore: Well if you keep up this self-righteous stuff, you’ll turn everyone off! That’s why I’ll never be a vegan because you guys go around wearing your judgemental halos all the time.
Data: That vegans hold the moral high ground can be demonstrated via ethical arguments as well as numerous examples of vegans accepted for their ethical leadership and perspectives. The fact that you do not seem to like them, is not an argument to negate my point.

_Form_
¬ C is presented in an aura of spite.
∴ C.

23.1 Vegan be ashamed! Vegan be grateful!

Geez, people are dying of starvation all over the world and here’s you with your ‘fad’ diet turning down food they would kill for. You should be ashamed…

I don’t see why vegans are so ungrateful vegans should just shut up and eat the meat , they should be happy to have food at dinner …

_Datanalysis_
The statements above has no merit since neither even attempts to formulate any sort of an argument. Rather each is an effort to denigrate vegans simply because of their choice to not adhere to the standard corpse eating fare. The logical impact is equivalent to “You should be chastised because you stayed sober when the rest of us are sloshed out of our minds”. In other words, the translation is simply, “You choose to be vegan and we don’t like you because of that.”

24 Appeal to Stupidity

Argumentum ad plumbeum. Deliberately dullard. Feigned ignorance. Thinking hurts my head.

Usually argumentative individuals try to show off the cleverness of their case. However, when there is a paucity of that quantity, an attempt is occasionally made to be excused from understanding why they are wrong and the opponent is right. The hope is to put issues out of sight and out of mind.

Data: It is cruel and unethical to imprison, exploit, abuse and murder sentient beings.
Lore: Ok but, ummm, what does that even mean? My circuits are frying up thinking about it. This stuff is too complicated, so it can’t be right.
Data: Whether or not you can understand the moral significance of my statement, does not affect its correctness. However, I would be happy to explain the details to you as soon as you are willing to undergo an upgrade, followed by a reboot.

_Form_
C is viewed as being too complex.
∴ ¬ C.

25 Appeal to Tradition

Ad antiquitatem. Appeal to the Old. Old Ways are Best. Fallacious Appeal to the Past.

This is the it’s “been always done this way”, it’s traditional, it’s cultural and so it must be correct, attitude.

Data: The Canadian Seal Slaughter is a brutal and barbaric massacre of defenseless baby seals.
Lore: Ya but so what! It’s a tradition in Newfoundland. It’s cultural. It’s in their heritage to brutalize helpless animals.
Data: Just because something is traditional, does not make it morally acceptable. Culture is not equivalent to correctness.

_Form_
C is traditional, cultural, old.
∴ C.

25.1 Killing for a long, long time

We have been killing animals for food since the discovery of fire. That’s a long time! A lot of history supports these actions!

_Datanalysis_
History merely records what has happened. It does not justify what has happened. Humans have been killing each other even before the discovery of fire, but it seems some have at least managed to understand that there is something wrong with such actions. Many have evolved away from traditional barbarities to recognize that there really is something wrong with killing animals as well. As Leonardo da Vinci is believed to have said, “The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men.”

26 Begging the Question

Petitio Principii. Circular Definition. Circular Reasoning. Reasoning in a Circle. Chicken and Egg argument.

The premises of an argument claim that the conclusion is true. The fallacy can be very short and usually obvious or appear in many parts, thereby disguising the claim.

Data: Abuse of animals should not be permitted in civilized society.
Lore: Ha! If abusing animals really were illegal, it would be prohibited by the law.
Data: Since the law determines what is illegal, the truth of your conclusion is assumed by your premise. In other words, your premise essentially states your conclusion. While such arguments have to be logically ‘correct’, they are also quite useless since they are equivalent to arguing that “if 1 is a number, then 1 is a number”.

_Form_
If C, then C.
∴ C.

26.1 It’s against the law!

You can’t kill humans for food. That is against the law. [animal abuse is] not [analogous to] owning slaves because even though humans were at one point able to buy and sell other humans, that is no longer lawful.

_Datanalysis_
Note that both of the above have the same form: It is against the law to kill/buy/sell humans, because it is against the law.

Such a presentation has no merit logically since it does not actually say anything at all. However, it is thrown as a counter into arguments where humans are substituted for animals in situations of suffering, in the hopes that the absurdness of the fallacy will go unnoticed.

27 Burden of Proof

Ad ignorantiam. Appeal to Ignorance.

When a claim is made, the burden of proof lies on the side of the claimant. Sometimes an unscruplous debator will try to transfer the burden of proof to the other side. A variation of this fallacy is to suggest that if you can’t prove something to be false, then it is automatically true.

Data: Vivisection causes horrendous suffering to animals.
Lore: You can’t prove that animals feel pain. Though they exhibit pain behavior, since they have no consciousness, they feel no pain.
Data: While we cannot conclusively ‘prove’ that animals (or humans, for that matter) feel pain, there are several factors which support the premise that they are capable of suffering just as humans. These factors include physiological and behavior similarities to humans as well as evolutionary evidence provided by homology which demonstrates that humans developed their traits on the foundations provided by their animal ancestors. Based on these findings, the burden of proof lies not with me, Lore, but on you to prove that animals feel no pain. Finally, the inability to conclusively prove something as true (ie animals/humans feel pain), does not automatically make it untrue (ie animals/humans do not feel pain).

_Form_
C is claimed by A.
¬ C is unprovable.
∴ C.

28 Complex Question

Loaded question. Presupposition.

Two points which are not related are joined in a single question so that they have to both be accepted or rejected together. Generally, one is acceptable while the other is not.

Data: Many humans engage in animal abuse and need to be stopped from doing so.
Lore: So you vegans must support animal rights and hate humans, eh?
Data: You are actually making two disconnected points here, Lore. One is that vegans hate humans. The other is that we support animal rights. The two have nothing to do with each other, yet your question requires me to either affirm or deny both. As such, your question needs to be appropriately rephrased in order to deserve an answer, beyond what I have provided just now.

_Form_
C,D are unrelated.
C,D are phrased in the same sentence with a connective such as ∧.
∴ (C ∧ D) ∨ ¬ (C ∧ D).

28.1 Still arsoning?

Are you animal rights fanatics still burning down legitimate animal production facilities or have you finally stopped this sort of illegal activity?

_Datanalysis_
The argument is setup with two separate questions each of which makes assumptions which are not verified. The first question implies that those who support animal rights are committing arson. While some activists do engage in arson, there is no grounds to assume and accuse one of arson simply because he/she is an animal rights activists. The second question assumes that the implication of the first is valid and asks if the activity has been terminated. However, since it has not been established that animal rights activists do engage in arson, the second question is inappropriate to ask.

29 False Cause of Effect

Non causa pro causa. Cum hoc ergo propter hoc. Questionable cause. False cause. Ignoring a common cause. Wrong direction.

When events A and B occur in close proximity and established order, it is falsely assumed that A is the cause of B.

Data: Animal sacrifices were a brutish pastime of savage cultures.
Lore: What are you talking about? They sacrificed animals and got good rains and decent crops as well as victories in wars.
Data: The slaughter of animals does not affect natural events or military exploits just because the former precedes the latter. The same primitive mentality exists with vivisectors who think sacrificing animals will somehow lead to curing human illnesses even though there is plenty of evidence to the contrary.

_Form_
A is seen to be followed by B.
∴ A is the cause of B.

29.1 The Meatgasm!

“And then there is the kind of instantaneous healing that occurs with the first bites of animal food. In The Vegetarian Myth, Lierre says “I could feel every cell in my body - literally every cell - pulsing. And finally, finally being fed.” Tasha says “I had only eaten a small piece of cow flesh, and yet I felt totally full, but light and refreshed all at once.” Eating meat also instantly improved her heart rate!

_Datanalysis_
Since one actually has to digest the nutrients and have them find their way to those ‘pulsing cells’, the accounts above are physiologically not possible. Therefore, one must conclude that either Lierre and Tasha were being influenced by a strong desperation which manifested itself as a placebo effect or they were under the influence of drugs that animals are routinely subjected to or may be they did their own.

29.2 People live longer now than ever before!

Everyone lives longer now than in the past so they must be doing things right like eating meat and taking medicines.

_Datanalysis_
First, the statement idea of everyone living longer these days is not correct. Longevity has much to do with sufficient, proper nutrition, hygiene and genetics. In the past, there were many who lived well past the average expectancy of modern times. In third world countries, the life expectancies are still quite low due to factors such as malnourishment and unclean living conditions.

The assertion that longer life spans are attributable to eating corpse parts and doing drugs, is a variation of questionable cause since the consequent is assumed from two cherry-picked antecedents without any rationale. One could also have made the claim that people live longer these days because of global warming or the increased levels of mercury in fish.

29.3 Tallest people in the world eat corpse!

Dutch people are the tallest people in the world, and the amount of animal products they consume is enormous, much higher than any other country.

_Datanalysis_
First, though the Dutch are presently the tallest people in the world, they certainly don’t consume a higher amount of animal products than any other country. A 1997 report shows that they ranked 7th (while a 2022 article say one-quarter of consumers hope the future of meat will be animal free). More importantly, to attribute one factor as the cause without proper controls is improper. One may as well argue that most Dutch are fair skinned and that is what causes their height. Nor is it correct to argue that diet is closely connected to physical features because it depends upon what features we are talking about (eg an animal based diet results in atheromas and osteoporosis, but not height except through hormones). We also have a case of misapplication of the general (diet is closely connected to some physical developments) to a specific (therefore, diet determines height).

30 False Dilemma

Black and white. Bifurcation. False dichotomy. Morton’s fork. False choice.

Here alternatives are limited to an either-or situation. The argument is presented in such a way that one choice becomes true because the other choice is false. For instance, consider the phrase “either you are with us or against us” which doesn’t take into account the concept of neutrality. In some situations, of course the argument can be valid: “either you are alive or dead, and since you are not dead, you are alive”.

Data: Many humans oppose experimentation on animals for the benefit of humans.
Lore: Well that’s ridiculous! How can anyone prefer an animal to a human?! They must be anti-human! You’re either with us or against us!
Data: Just because a human is against exploiting an animal for the purpose of supposedly serving a human, does not make the person anti-human. It merely makes the person anti-exploiting animals. Besides, Lore have you forgotten you really aren’t a human?

_Form_
X ∨ Y.
¬ Y.
∴ X.

30.1 Your child or your dog

You are on a boat with a baby and a puppy. The boat starts to sink. Which are you going to save?

_Datanalysis_
This is the classic false dilemma. The instigator has not only set the hypothetical environment and the players, (s)he has also established the rules in that you have to save either one or the other. The reality is that you’d be pretty foolish to go in a boat with a baby and a puppy without taking precautions for their safety in the first place. Furthermore, the situation overlooks the possibility of your saving both because you can utilize existing resources or saving neither because you can’t swim. The intent of the effort of false dilemma is to force a kobiashi maru (no-win) where you appear to be either a traitor to your species or a traitor to your cause. It’s a pathetic and stale effort, but it is still attempted by immature individuals.

30.2 The baby, kitty and coin variation

If a baby and a kitten were about to be run over by a train, would you save the baby, save the kitty, or flip a coin to decide which one to save? _Datanalysis_
This is essentially the same scenario with a choice selector mechanism attached. Note that the choices are still the same: save either the baby or the kitty. The only difference is to offer an additional value statement which amounts to “I do not really care whether I save the baby or the kitty”.

Sometimes people erroneously think they have presented a new scenario via this value selector, but it should be emphasized that the choices are still the same. Merely the mechanism for making one has been augmented.

One could extend this mechanism ad absurdum by

consult with a priest to help make the decision discuss the matter with the Libertarian Advocacy Group regarding rights of babies on train tracks ask for guidance from The International Society of Cat Right Lovers correspond with the Train Engineers Association These efforts do not change the choices allowed anymore than the coin-toss, which is why the False Dilemma exists.

Boolean logic allows only four possibilities as far as who gets saved:

Baby Kitty Result T T both get saved T F squished kitty F T squished baby F F both squished The scenario, despite introduction of any mechanisms ad absurdium, still permits only the middle two choices, disallowing the bottom and unfortunately the top items (both demonstrate with different results that no value preference is given to one party over the other). Having only the choices which necessitates a death, is what makes the scenario a False Dilemma.

31 Gambler’s Fallacy

Post Hoc. Attribution Theory. Fundamental Attribution Error.

The idea here is to conclude that because a number of events contrary to expectations have taken place, the next one is going to be what is expected.

Data: There are several cohort studies showing the long-term benefits of vegetarian diets.
Lore: Well obviously they got lucky with the first 76000 over the decade long observations. If they’d gone to 76001 and continued for a few extra days, then you’d undoubtedly see how dangerous these animal-product-free diets really are!
Data: If you throw dice 10 times and get snake eyes each time, there is no reason to think that it must be otherwise on the 11th try. In fact, there is good reason to appreciate that the dice are loaded. So it is with strict vegetarian diets because they are indeed loaded, for optimal health.

_Form_
X is contrary to expectations.
X has occurred N times in a row.
∴ next time ¬ X.

31.1 You need to be vegan for eternity to convince me!

I’ve got a mate I’ve known for 7 years now and he supposed to be into healthy eating. He is getting fatter, sicker and slower, but he won’t go veg even though he knows I’ve been that way for a long time. He says “Yeah, I’m not so convinced man! I need you do be vegan longer than 11 years before I really commit”.

_Datanalysis_
The above is a puzzling instance of the gambler fallacy in that the individual in question seems to want to anticipate failure of the veg diet at some point in the future despite the obvious long-term benefits already demonstrated. The underlying motivation likely has nothing to do with fear that the veg diet will fail. It is more plausible to assume that the person just wants to consume corpse products and is determined to find excuses, however absurd, for doing so.

32 Generalization: Composition

Faulty Induction.

The characteristics of parts of a group are erroneously applied to the entire group. For instance, Hitler was a brutal tyrant, therefore the human race is brutal and tyrannical.

Data: The brutal mass killing of 50000 dogs in China due to a rabies scare is ethically unjustifiable.
Lore: They had to kill all the dogs because a few of them were found to have rabies. So it is obvious that all of them had rabies!
Data: By that reasoning, we should have to kill all dogs everywhere. If a few of them were found to have rabies, then it is likely that only a few did have rabies. An entire barrel should not be judged by a few rotten ones.

_Form_
A,B,C ∈ S.
A,B,C has characteristic K.
∴ S has characteristic K.

32.1 That’s why they’re called animals!

Chimpanzees of one group have wars over territory with chimps of another group. Dogs, and many creatures, are capable of rape. Cats will kill their young if they show some defect. In effect: Animals have been known to display bad behavior. Bad behavior is in opposition to moral reasoning. Therefore, all animals are incapable of moral reasoning.

_Datanalysis_
It is illogical to conclude that because some animals act viciously, hence immorally, all animals act immorally. The science of cognitive ethology over the past few decades clearly shows that many animals have a very clear sense of ethics as demonstrated by the works of Mark Bekoff, Jonathan Balcombe and Jeffrey Masson for instance.

Curiously, this line of reasoning is devastating for humans who have had (and continue to have) a far worse record of brutality and aggressiveness towards each other compared to any animal:

… the ultimate disobedience to this fantasy is the continuous predation by humans on other humans. War, famine, theft, rape, child abuse, and numerous varieties of discrimination based on race, gender, class, religious belief, appearance, language, age, height, economic status, …
The Common Sense Animal Rights Argument

The obvious conclusion by the prior reasoning is that: All humans are incapable of moral reasoning.

It does appear evident though, that some humans seem to be incapable of logical reasoning.

32.2 Meat has protein

Meat is one of the highest sources of protein! You need protein! So you need meat!

_Datanalysis_
This is a typical argument produced in favor of corpse eating. It is true that certain meat products have a high protein content. Furthermore, it is true that humans need to consume a certain amount of protein. However, those two antecedents, despite their correctness, does not lead to the consequent that one needs to eat meat in order to get protein. There are plenty of vegetarian protein sources. These are not only of higher quality from an assimilable point of view, they do not contain the various chemicals, toxins, hormones and other hazards corpse products invariably have. The argument is as absurd pragmatically as saying engine coolant has water; you need to drink water; therefore, you need to drink engine coolant.

33 Generalization: Division

Faulty deduction.

The characteristics of a group are erroneously applied universally to the individuals of a group. For instance, humans are greedy and selfish, therefore Gandhi was greedy and selfish.

Data: Dogs generally tend to like to be playful and friendly.
Lore: Right and any dog who isn’t should be killed because there’s something seriously wrong with it and could be a danger.
Data: Each dog has his/her own personality. While all dogs share certain characteristics, it is erroneous to think that all dogs will possess exactly the same characteristic.

_Form_
A,B,C ∈ S.
S has characteristic K.
∴ A,B,C have characteristic K

34 Generalization: Hasty

Insufficient statistics. Insufficient sample. Leaping to a conclusion. Hasty induction.

Being somewhat similar to composition, here a conclusion is drawn about population P, based on an insufficiently small sample S from P.

Data: A new poll shows that there are more than 9 million vegans in USA.
Lore: No way! I asked 10 people on the street if they were vegan and not one of them said yes.
Data: A sample size of 10 people is not sufficiently large to draw meaningful conclusions about a population of over 311 million. A recent poll showed that 3% of the population was vegan, so that would mean in your sample size you’d have only a 0.3 part of a person admitting to being vegan. You could ask 100 people and you may find that there would be 3 in that sample who were vegan.

_Form_
C is shown to be true from sample S of population P.
∴ C for all P.

34.1 So how come I’m not dead already?

If meat is so bad for you, why am I not sick? If meat eating is so bad than why haven’t I heard of it yet. Whatever doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger - so eat corpse parts!

_Datanalysis_
This is a common class of attitudes based on a restrictive, temporal sampling. Eating products from the corpse industries don’t do immediate, visible damage any more than smoking does. Therefore, it is easy to claim that because one doesn’t see any harm done, no harm is done. However, illnesses such as cancer, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, ischemic strokes, osteoporosis do develop over a period of a couple of decades to the point where good health is not only hampered, but one’s quality of life and even the life itself is jeopardized. Sometimes the first symptoms result in sudden death, so there is no one around to say “I’m not dead already”!

So while it is true that eating a little meat will not kill you, it will nevertheless ‘kill’ you a little bit each time.

35 Generalization: Prejudiced

Biased statistics. Prejudiced statistics. Loaded statistics. Biased induction. Biased generalization. Loaded sample. Prejudiced sample. Unrepresentative sample.

Here a conclusion is drawn about population P, based on a small or biased sample from P.

Data: A strict vegetarian diet has been repeatedly shown in peer reviewed literature to be a very healthy one.
Lore: Well I met two vegheads yesterday and they looked pretty skinny to me. Vegetarians are all weak and emaciated you know.
Data: A sample size of two is not particularly significant. Additionally, it is likely you may be exaggerating the appearence of these individuals since you are on record for opposing vegetarian diets. Just so you are not under any further delusions about vegans necessarily being weak and emaciated, take a look at these vegan bodybuilders and strength athletes.

_Form_
C is shown to be true from sample S of population P.
∴ C for P.

35.1 You don’t look like a vegan.

These body builders can’t be vegan! They are too muscular to be vegans! Ok if they are vegan and you aren’t vegan, how come you don’t look like them?

_Datanalysis_
Initially we have a denial of fact by the individual who seems unable to shake some bigoted idea of what vegans should look like. That is followed by the continued bias that all vegans must have the same physical appearance. The person seems to have lost touch with more than biological realities and is wandering in the realms of fantasy.

36 Generalization: Vividness

Misleading vividness. Spotlight.

A small number of striking examples are used to justify a conclusion which should be reached by more thorough statistical evidence.

Data: Vegan babies get a great start in life.
Lore: You mean a great start in death. Didn’t you hear about the Moaligou case where an 11 month old vegan baby died or the death of the 9 month old Manuelyan baby or the 6 month old Moorhead baby? They all died due a vegan diet.
Data: Actually they died because they were malnourished through an inadequate diet which did not contain necessary nutrients. Non-vegan babies die from malnutrition too. Both vegan and non-vegan diets can be poorly designed, so the issue is by no means restricted to vegan diets. A few sensational headlines does not alter the benefits of nutritionally sound vegan diets.

_Form_
P is set of observed events Y,Z ∈ P.
Y >> Z. But, Zs are more ‘spectacular’ than any Ys.
∴ Z applied to P.

36.1 The long-living grandfather

My grandfather smoked, drank and ate meat all the time! He lived to the ripe old age of 99. So you can’t tell me that there’s something wrong with doing what he did!

_Datanalysis_
This is a typical case of generalization based on inadequate sampling size with a bit of spectacularness thrown in! Such grandfathers are what are known statistically as ‘outliers’ (one in ten thousand live past 100 yrs in USA), anomalies from the vast majority of results which clearly show the hazards of such lifestyles. Most ‘grandfathers’ of this sort, don’t live long enough to see their grand children grow up.

In these situations, it is unwise to have the exception formulate the rule.

37 Genetic Fallacy

Appeal to origin. Genesis fallacy.

The correctness of a position is mistakenly based upon its origin. This is an extreme form of appeal to tradition in that something is considered to be right (or wrong) dependent upon whether it was originally so.

Data: Eating parts of dead animals lead to various health issues.
Lore: Look eating corpse parts is good for you! Early humans did it all the time!
Data: Early humans who ate considerable amounts of animal products were prone to mostly the same illnesses that present day humans suffer from. For example, the Inuits were affected by atherosclerosis and severe osteoporosis due to their heavy consumption of animal foods (Nat. Geog., A. Dekin Jr, Sealed In Time p12).

_Form_
C occured during its early origins.
∴ C.

37.1 Respect for our ancestral heritage!

Our ancestors all ate wild-meat based diet so we should too!

_Datanalysis_
Neanderthals left the planet quite some time ago. Even though some people try to act like ’neanderthals’, their rude behavior really does not provide dietary affirmation. There is considerable evidence from anthropologist Robert Sussman that indicates early humans spent far more time being hunted than hunting. As a result, it is unlikely that most of them even had an opportunity to eat much meat. Of course, those that did, fell prey to the same diseases that eating corpse parts produce in modern times.

38 Guilt by Association

Bad company fallacy. Company you keep fallacy.

A claim is accepted or rejected because of the people who accept or reject the claim.

Data: Gestation crates were banned in Florida since 2002 when over 2.5 million voter opposed the cruel confinement of pigs in factory farms.
Lore: Well I’m all for being nice to animals, but did you know that those wacko, human-hating animal rights activists supported this ban? So I’m not in favor of it.
Data: The population of Florida decided that the crates were excessively cruel and therefore voted accordingly to ban them. The fact that animal rights activists also have opposed this practice does not alter the inherent cruelty of gestation crates, something that the voters (who are not by any means, all animal rights activists) obviously recognize.

_Form_
Group A likes C.
P doesn’t like group A.
∴ ¬ C.

38.1 Hitler was a vegetarian

You vegans should realize that Hitler was a vegetarian! That means all you vegans are Hitlers!! So there!!!

_Datanalysis_
In actual fact, Hitler wasn’t remotely close to being a vegetarian. However, from the logical perspective it wouldn’t impact on anyone even if he were. If Hitler had a big nose, should everyone with large noses go for surgery? Since Hitler was a Catholic, should all Catholics be excommunicated? Hitler spoke German, but that still remains a common language in constant use. Furthermore, since Hitler wasn’t a vegetarian, should this revelation mean that all those who do not follow the vegetarian diet, can now be considered Hitlers?

Obviously, this sort of ‘bad company’ argument has no legitimate place in rational discussion.

What is interesting though is that vegetarians can cite within their ranks, several historical figures (eg Gandhi, Einstein, Newton, Leonardo da Vinci, César Chávez), athletes (eg Scott Jurek, David Zabriskie, Brendan Brazier, Georges Laraque, Molly Cameron) and celebrities (eg Ellen DeGeneres, Michael Dorn, Bryan Adams, Heather Mills, Brian Greene, Alicia Silverstone). Doing so does not become a fallacy so long as one is not is not insisting that all vegetarians can be historically prominent, athletic, or achieve celebrity status, simply by being vegetarian.

39 Inflation Of Conflict

Wrong by apparent disagreement.

The idea here is to pick on a disagreement by experts on a topic and thereby ‘inflate the conflict’ to the point of claiming that the experts know nothing or the topic itself is inherently wrong by virtue of the inconsistencies.

Data: Animal rights has a rich and diverse foundation.
Lore: Nonsense! The leading authorities on the subject can’t even agree on anything. Singer says one thing and Regan says another. Francione wears abolition as a badge of honor, while Dunayer accuses him of being a welfarist! You guys are all mixed up because animal rights is just wrong!
Data: You are confusing multiple paths to a destination with the destination itself. Animal rights activists do not disagree on the fundamental issue of ending the imprisonment, exploitation, abuse and murder of sentient beings. There exist various ideas on how to achieve this goal which is one reason why the philosophy has developed such a rich basis.

_Form_
A,B,C disagree on some aspects of C.
∴ ¬ C.

39.1 Scientists don’t know what they are talking about

So one minute coffee’s good then it’s bad. Then meat is bad, now it’s good. Science studies contradict each other all the time, so since science hasn’t figured it out yet so why should I care.

_Datanalysis_
While science studies do sometimes contradict each other, this fact does not make science illegitimate. There is overwhelming evidence spanning decades which show that corpse industry product consumption is detrimental to health. These studies are done independently and with very large sample sizes which range from the thousands and even into the millions. Often opposing studies which favor corpse consumption are financed by specific industries and utilize poor methodology. Even so, sometimes these latter studies demonstrate exactly the opposite of what their financier intended: that meat, milk, eggs are harmful to health. So there is nothing wrong with the science, though there definitely is much to be desired as far as the bought-and-paid-for ‘scientists’ who engage in such unscrupulous activities.

40 Middle Ground

Golden mean fallacy. Fallacy of moderation.

One assumes that the middle or moderate ground between two separate items must be the correct choice.

Data: Animals being sentient beings have rights and these should not be violated.
Lore: Well I sorta agree with you Data my boy! Animal abusers are just meanies and no one should abuse animals who can be used to provide food and clothing. They should be treated humanely.
Data: The problem with your welfarish stance is that it is inadequate. While it pretends to be helping animals to some extent, it is equivalent to suggesting that slaves are alright to keep just as long as you treat them reasonably well. Compromise in principle is never a virtue and those who walk along the middle of a road are likely to get hit from both sides.

_Form_
A < B.
A < C < B.
∴ C.

40.1 Let’s agree to disagree.

So we have a difference of opinion here. I think it is fine to kill animals for human use and you think it’s not. We’re obviously not going to resolve this, so let’s just agree to disagree.

_Datanalysis_
This is a standard cop out when one does not want to deal with actual issues. The idea is to acknowledge the opponent’s position as well as one’s own. Then, regardless of examining the validity of either, to escape into the safety of diplomacy. It is a gesture by which one through a minor compromise (recognition of the opposing side), hopes to also acknowledge the validity of one’s own, sort of an all inclusive version of showing up on middle ground with both viewpoints in tact. Unfortunately, acknowledging a disagreement has no bearing whatsoever on either position’s correctness.

41 Red Herring

Ignoratio Elenchi. Smoke screen. Wild goose chase. Ignorance of refutation. Irrelevant Thesis.

The presentation of an irrelevant item is done to divert attention from the actual issue being discussed. It can also apply to any argument where the premises are logically irrelevant to the conclusion and can thereby theoretically include a wide variety of other fallacies. However, usually the term applies to attempts to distract by introduction of irrelevant information.

Data: Many activists protest animal abuse.
Lore: Well I don’t really see why they do since most of them probably didn’t protest in the 60s when they took to the streets against the Vietnam war.
Data: It is unclear what your point is, Lore. Most of these activists weren’t even alive in the 60s and so their failure to appear in those protests have no bearing on what they are doing now.

_Form_
X is discussed.
Y is suddenly introduced though it has no relevance to X.
X is abandoned because Y takes precedence.

41.1 I’m bad but he’s worse, so I’m ok

Yes I do eat meat and know that is bad for the animals. But I don’t actually put them in those horrible factory farms like some people. I don’t cause them agony when it’s time to slaughter them. I also don’t rob banks or bomb places like Iraq. I don’t even park my car in handicapped spots! So why don’t you go pick on some of those other people?

_Datanalysis_
If action A is morally unethical, it remains so regardless of whether actions B, C, D are also morally unethical. One cannot justify committing crime A because others commit crimes B, C, D. As a result, even the claim that B, C, D are worse than A, is insufficient to justify or excuse A. The introduction of B, C, D is merely an attempt to distract from A.

41.2 What about humans?!

I don’t see why you animal rights activists are so hung up on the orangutan sex trade. As bad as orangutan sex slavery is, not much is done about human sex slavery: 500,000 women are annually trafficked into Western Europe!

_Datanalysis_
There is no relevancy to this statement since the topic is about orangutans and not humans. Additionally, just because one protests orangutan abuse, doesn’t mean that one automatically doesn’t protest human abuse as seems to be implied.

A way to bring some relevancy to both issues though is to realize that oppressors are not speciesist. They will oppress anyone and everyone in order to make a buck or get what they want. As such, the fight for orangutan rights aligns well with the fight for human rights provided we focus not so much on the victim, but on the oppressor.

41.3 What about everything else!

I seriously doubt if any country outside the USA or Europe has ever wondered aloud if it is ethical to eat meat. Given the multitude of crises facing the world at present, doesn’t it seem a little bit silly to be a cape-wearing “crusader of the cows”? I can think of a lot more serious and relevant issues to be debated intelligently by the times.

_Datanalysis_
The ethics of eating corpse parts is not determined by the ‘wonderings’ of any country. Neither is it affected by all the other problems on the planet. If one is going to legitimize such irrelevancies one might as well argue that we shouldn’t deal with any issue (eg child slavery) because some countries never think about the matter and/or there are so many other problems on the planet. The most ‘serious and relevant’ issue to be debated for the individual bringing the matter up is that he/she debate the seriousness and relevancy of his/her comment which is merely an effort to evade and distract from the issue at hand.

41.4 Happy slaves

Limba the elephant gets along fabulously with her trainer. I’m making a little film about an elephant I knew and her keeper. I have a short trailer here. The bond between the 2 and the dedication of this elephant’s keeper is obvious. You want to call this slavery? What would that make this dedicated keeper? A slave driver? If your answer is yes then we really have nothing more to discuss. http://youtu.be/-s_SPHt4M_M

_Datanalysis_
The fact that the elephant has a bond with the trainer (apparently anyway) doesn’t alter the fact that Limba has been made into a performer through force (we somehow doubt she applied for the position submitting her resume of talents).

We also do not know if the video was ‘canned’ - after all, perhaps Limba was being made forcibly to perform as though she has a bond with the trainer. Or perhaps the trainer is the only high point in her life. So this bond is quite irrelevant to the issue which is that Limba is being exploited by her ‘owners’.

42 Slippery Slope

Camel’s nose. Absurd extrapolation. Thin edge of the wedge.

The argument insists that taking some small actions will invariably lead to some enormous consequences: sliding down a slippery slope begins slowly, but picks up speed as you go down.

Data: Going vegan is the best thing we can do for the planet.
Lore: Look if you go vegan, then you’ll save some cows. If more people go vegan, more cows will be saved. Pretty soon we’ll be overrun with cows and that will be the end of the world!
Data: Going vegan doesn’t necessarily equate to saving cows, but even if it were so, having some people go vegan doesn’t result in everyone going vegan at once. Furthermore, going vegan has nothing to do with increasing the bovine population to the point of bringing the world to an end.

(Note that there is no slippery slope here: “Don’t vegans run the risk of having protein deficiency? I mean if the whole world went vegan then we would all be undernourished and die.”, because the correct and demonstrable answer to the question about deficiency is just no. End of discussion!)

_Form_
Y >> X.
X -> Y.

42.1 Voting rights for plants!

Animal rights! That’s ridiculousness! Next thing you know you would want pigs to vote in our elections and I will have to ask permission to the ants before I build a house! You probably won’t be happy till we have a poinsetta for president!

_Datanalysis_
Considering the dubious record politicians have maintained, one might think that a poinsetta may actually be an improvement in the presidency. Nevertheless, the concerns about voting pigs and requiring land transferences from ants does not follow from granting animal rights which maintains that we give due consideration to the interests of other beings. Therefore, since a pig really has no interest in voting to elect human politicians and ants due to their marvellous adaptibility manage to make homes practically anywhere, concerns of such magnitudes are somewhat exaggerated.

42.2 Overrun by animals!

If animals weren’t used for food, couldn’t the planet become overrun with those animals?

_Datanalysis_
This remarkable suggestion is still made in moderately intelligent company to rationalize corpse consumption. The idea of course is that humans must keep eating animals or they will over-populate the earth. Interestingly enough, no mention is made of the idea that it is humans who are breeding the animals in the first place. If people stopped eating animals, there would be no effort to breed them and therefore the planet would be perfectly safe from cattle, pig and chicken stampedes.

Note that though this item is placed as a slippery slope fallacy, it could just as easily have been a false dilemma if phrased as “eat animals or sacrifice the planet!” Obviously those are not the only choices available. Nor does the latter follow necessarily from the former.

43 Straw Man

Fallacy of Extension. Aunt Sally.

Here a distorted version of the argument is presented and shown to be false in the hope that the argument itself will be thought to be false.

Data: Stopping oppressors is an important step towards creating a civilized society.
Lore: I just don’t get it! Why are you working so hard to suppress human freedom and human dignity? Don’t you know our civilization was built through the blood, sweat and tears of human endeavors?!!
Data: My statement has nothing to do with suppressing human freedoms or dignities. In fact, stopping oppressors of sentient beings is an important step in maintaining human freedom and dignity.

_Form_
X is misrepresented as Y.
¬ Y → ¬ X.

43.1 Meat replacements aren’t healthy

Meat substitutes are highly processed, contain GMO soy and are a threat to the health of a vegetarian!

_Datanalysis_
While the argument presented is quite valid for the most part, the argument suggests that one must eat meat substitutes if one is a vegetarian. This is by no means the case, since no vegetarian ever needs to eat meat substitutes. Therefore, the health hazards of meat substitutes do not apply to vegetarians in general. The argument, concocted through ignorance and/or malice, has no relevance to vegetarians at all and hence, its denouement is irrelevant as an attack on vegetarian diets.

43.2 Vegan cult and X

Vegan cult indeed has some downsides. The distrust towards vaccinations is one.

_Datanalysis_
The distrust towards vaccinations is not a vegan cult issue. There are plenty of corpse munchers who oppose vaccination and there are plenty of members of that vegan cult who insist vaccination is a good thing. Of course, ‘vaccination’ can be replaced with other items such as modern medicine, public education, science etc depending upon how absurd one wants to make the argument.

44 Supremacy

Argumentum ad imperium. Might is right.

The argument here is based on the idea that if one has supremacy over some being, then one can do whatever one wants. It appears in the animal rights arena in the form of humans reign supreme over animals and therefore are free to take advantage of this dominance.

Data: Some humans need to learn to control their behaviors and eliminate those which are intentionally detrimental to other sentient beings.
Lore: What’s with all this now, Data? Haven’t you heard of “survival of the fittest”? Humans are at the top of the food chain and can do whatever they want to animals because they are superior.
Data: By this reasoning, humans should be preying on other ‘unfit’ humans too since clearly, depending upon how it is defined, ‘superior’ characteristics are not homogenously present amongst all humans. Your comment of humans being at the top of the food chain is illogical except for those humans who resort to cannibalism as well as incorrect due to the fact that bacteria feed on humans, enabling them to ascend to the top of this imaginary pyramid.

_Form_
H > A.
∴ H can do whatever to A.

44.1 The Animal Holocaust

This is the mass killing of animals by certain humans and parallels the Nazi mass extermination of Jews. The animals are primarily domesticated animals on factory farms of various sorts that are imprisoned, exploited, abused and murdered. Animal Holocaust victims also include any animals and their populations that humans control and systematically destroy, such as on fur-farms, in laboratories as well as in the wild.

_Datanalysis_
Some humans try to justify this mass murder of animals using arguments ranging from “who cares they’re just animals” to “we need to clean-up the place from these varmints”. These are generally the same arguments utilized by those who kill off large populations of humans abitrarily using excuses such as “they’re not like us” or “we need some serious ethnic cleansing around here”. The rationalizations are the same, because the oppressor mentality is a consistent one.

44.2 Compassion for our own

No one is gonna stop killing animals until we find compassion for our own species.

_Datanalysis_
This is yet another attempt to segregate humans from the rest of the population of the planet. There is no evidence to show that humans who are compassionate to other humans don’t want to kill animals. In fact, history has shown quite the opposite because humans who ’look out’ for their own species do so by subjugating other species (animal exploitation for medical research, food, entertainment, clothing etc). In fact, it is even worse than that because segregation based on notions of supremacy have serious effects within the human species itself:

racism (whites being compassionate about whites and doing so the expense of races of other colors), sexism (men being compassionate about men becoming misogynists), nationalism (american being compassionate about americans implanting a new world order) Segregation becomes merely a vehicle to continue oppression through the supremacy syndrome.

44.3 Deer are criminals in British Columbia

Last year the province of British Columbia Canada decided to begin promoting the culling (slaughter) of wild deer, especially those living in and around populated areas.

These culls can now be decided by individual municipalities, and there are currently four places planning culls. Why? One mayor actually called deer “criminals”. Can you imagine? Lots of people want a sanitized environment, with no animals or birds, or anything that might eat their plants.

_Datanalysis_
Human supremacy rears its ugly head for the most trivial things. These deer are being slaughtered because of pressure from The Poop and Flower Crowd. Expediency and the politics of convenience nurture brutal measures which wreak havoc on other lifeforms and eventually other humans as well.

Internet Discussion Strategies

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 10:51:33 -0700

The following article (taken from the ESA website) provides large number of ideas and insights into animal rights (AR) discussions on internet forums which are useful for both the beginner as well as the experienced communicator. While the items here are not directly related to writing eletters, they may help individuals engaged in general discussions both on and off the net (and not just in the area of animal rights).

Tips For Those Starting Out

Below are some ideas from experience in internet discussions that immediately may be helpful to keep in mind.

Always post within the forum guidelines. Remember you are a guest on someone else’s forum. Even if you are at diametric odds with forum policy, it usually does little good if you get your post or yourself booted off.
When possible, back up your statements with sources or logical verification. It usually isn’t useful to suggest something with “… because i say so” or “… because that’s how I feel” or “You are wrong and I am right”. Even though all of these may be valid and even correct, remember that they don’t make your point necessarily and your opponents can use exactly the same arguments on you.
Be careful of falling into the ‘absolutes traps’. For instance, while most primates are almost exclusively veg, it is foolish to argue that humans should be veg because monkeys are veg (because the latter isn’t true and it’s a non sequitur anyway). Another trap is that veg folks are always healthier than corpse eaters (you don’t have to call them that btw), because it isn’t true. What is true is that statistics greatly favor veg folk to not suffer from a variety of diseases such as atheromas, obsesity, cancer, osteoporosis etc which frequent corpse eaters.
Don’t get into name-calling unless there is a very good reason. For instance, it doesn’t accomplish much to call your opponent a heartless brute, because it really doesn’t have a great impact beyond the retort that you are a bleeding hearts, anti or what’s recently been worse, a liberal! It’s a good idea to stay away from political name calling too since some conservatives are far more aware and compassionate towards animals (and people) than some liberals or socialists.
Be wary of deflections of various sorts. One of the usual efforts against pro-animal folk is the anti-abortion lobby - ie you care for animals but not unborn fetuses. Or here’s a speciesist deflection, “Why are you telling us to stop killing seals when you should be complaining about the slaughterhouses!”. The key to remember here is that if you protest A, it doesn’t mean that you don’t protest B. In other words, it is perfectly legitimate to protest something without protesting everything.
An interesting counter-effort that doesn’t always take place consciously is rationalization. Here the person doesn’t so much oppose you, but justifies why he or she should keep status quo. Corpses eaters come up with stuff like “Grain destroys more soil, so I have to eat meat”, or “My doctor (or professor - i came across that believe it or not) said I have to eat meat”, or “We can’t let the cow population explode” or “Animals gladly give their lives for us” (a most interesting anthropocentric fantasy) or “It tastes good” (that, btw, is the only valid excuse and it’s a pretty poor one), or “They’d do it to you if the situation were reversed” (at this point, we’re getting borderline crazy), “We’re on top of the food chain” (no way, unless you take up cannabilism) or “Monkeys do it” etc. The last one is the appeal to nature fallacy which was hilariously countered by my friend sheepdog:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I put it to you that it is not for vegetarians to justify our diet, but it is for the meat eaters to justify meat eating. And I further put it to you that anyone who has a choice about his diet and chooses to eat meat can only justify it with reasons all of which fall into one category, the “Because I want to screw like a chimp” category. Look:

“Because I want to (and I want to screw like a chimp)” “Because it tastes good (and it feels good to screw like a chimp)” “Because my ancestors ate meat (and they were chimps and I want to screw like a chimp)” “Because it’s natural (and chimps naturally screw a lot and I want to screw like a chimp)”

And if someone insists that you tell them why you do not eat meat, it is enough to say, “Because I do NOT want to screw like a chimp. We can do better than that.”

A simple, clear, ethical choice. And therein lies the paradigm shift.

This is an example of the Natural equals Good? or Appeal to Nature fallacy. You can find first-rate rationalization and denial all over the internet.

Watch out for the divide and conquer technique. Animal rights is a very wide field with many factions some of whom are usually fighting with each other. You have the reformists, welfarists, abolitionists, pseudo-abolitionists, militants, etc. Sometimes your opponents will lump all AR together and accuse you of preaching violence or stopping people from having pets or causing animal suffering or loading your own wallet with cash etc. We can choose to be in a certain camp to get a certain job done and not expend ourselves badmouthing what others are doing. If you don’t like what some others are doing, then don’t do it. However, the movement is too large and diverse for any one person to say “Only this is AR” especially when all of these factions are part of AR in some way or another.

There are a lot of other ideas and experiences which get into more specifics below.

Posting According To Scenario

It is important to be aware of the environment you post in.

For instance, certain forums welcome detailed, analytical exchanges. You can actually work your opponent’s arguments into the ground through refutations, error findings, evidence, even laughter. People will actually read what you write.

On the otherhand, some situations are rather like a bad party with everyone talking at once with no one paying particular attention to another’s very sensible arguments. Here, it may not be worth making the same kind of effort. It is likely preferable to try to keep the individuals’ attention with short posts which don’t require much effort on their part to understand. Here, quantity will likely override quality, so if you post frequently to drive a point home, the posts don’t need to be brilliant, just forceful.

Also remember that you can write the most elegantly crafted post, but your audience may not be able to understand your cleverness. Intellectual posts work well when talking with people who have a similar disposition, but fail miserably with others. Sometimes very intelligent people are brought to their knees in frustration, because their opponent while not nearly as ‘intelligent’ or ’educated’, happened to be a good deal smarter and came across as more straightforward, honest and actually understandable!

So it’s a good idea to adjust one’s efforts to maximize efficiency and use the appropriate techniques for the particular situation, while still maintaining one’s integrity of course.

Being Outnumbered

We are often outnumbered 5,10, even 20 to 1 in discussions. This is usually not a problem because we have stamina and the opposition doesn’t. Additionally, there are always several in any audience who admire our efforts even if they can’t quite bring themselves to agree with our message.

So being outnumbered should never worry you. Here is the correct viewpoint on the matter: every time someone opposes you, it is an opportunity to speak the truth, so being outnumbered can actually be turned into a massive advantage.

It obviously takes effort to keep responding, but there are ways to pace oneself by various means such as

shorter posts
staggering replies over time (never hurts to keep some people waiting)
focussing attention on one person at a time
addressing more than one person in one post

These techniques will help you provide a wonderful demonstration of the power a single person actually can wield when one is on the right side of the argument and has the courage to follow one’s convictions.

Name-calling

Generally in adversarial situations it is not a good idea to do unto others what you would not want to have done unto yourself. In other words, fight fairly … or reasonably fairly … or at least, so it looks like you are fighting reasonably fairly!

Name-calling is one of those childish efforts which usually doesn’t accomplish much and often does more to hurt your image than that of your victim. It is usually

unsubstantive: it is unlikely the person will fit your description 100% of the time so technically your assertion is likely not correct
unverifiable: if you called someone an stupid idiot, could you prove it?
unintelligent: any mindless individual can do this sort of thing

The usual rule to follow is to attack the idea not the person.

So when someone says “cats are for petting and cows are for eating”, it is perfectly alright to say the statement is speciesist or that the person is acting speciesist or even that the person often makes speciesist statements (assuming it is true).

If you are going to go after the person try to do it somewhat obliquely. A very clever example of this was demonstrated by B in the “Horse Set On Fire in Columbia” thread:

Suvine: I love horses. That is my dream job to work on horsebackriding farm.
B: Um Suvine just curious did you happen to read the entire discussion headline beyond the word ‘horse’?

If you attack the person for say being threatening or ranting, you are really attacking the behavior and if you can gather together the person’s own words demonstrating such, the effect can be absolutely devastating! Not only does it expose the individual to others, it holds up a mirror right in front of that person’s face as it is frothing at the mouth.

Above all, don’t do anything in this inept fashion that the remarkably out-of-control, rightwingnut SVW was goaded into while screaming at Blacklung about hominid brain development:

Blacklung: What a load of rubbish! rubbish, let me say it again…rubbish. Can you spell speculation?
SVW: Yes I can you idiot!! Can you spell idiot?
Blacklung: “S” “V” “W”

The Anthropocentric Dilemma

This can be a tough one if not approached properly. Anthropocentrism is the idea that humans are at the center of everything and all revolves around them.

You see this sort of comment:

Humans are more important, I think. Humans come first because I am human.

Now one needs to be a bit careful as to how to handle this, because as speciesist as it is, the idea has considerable merit in most people’s minds. After all, it’s giving the universe to humans and it might be difficult to go and tell someone they can’t have it all!

Furthermore, if you attack the idea directly, you may be seen as a traitor to your species or even a terrorist (that word is very popular these days). Unfortunately, such labelling can make it difficult for you to make any point for some time to come.

There are, however, several methods to counter this nonsense - none of them involving calling the thing nonsense, btw … not at least without some preparation.

A. The web

One of the most famous speeches that environmentalists rely on is Chief Seattle’s Web of Life (here are several versions). The key phrases are

The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth.
All things are connected like the blood which unites one family

These phrases are understood by even the densest of egotists and are certainly acknowledged by a strong majority. It serves as a good counter, attacking anthropocentrism with a follow-up on the mess humans have made on earth by not paying attention to these truths.

B. The evolutionary argument

A natural insistence of anthropocentrics is that through evolution, humans are at the top of the food chain (every chain for that matter) and therefore have the right to do whatever they please. The first thing to point out is that one would really need to resort to cannibalism to be truly at the top of the food chain or that possibly bacteria are really at the top since they end up consuming humans.

Then, one can turn the argument around to what evolution is really all about. Scientifically, evolutionary development is not hierarchical as popularly propagated. It is fractal in nature with random branchings at various points.

Philosophically, other opportunities offer themselves. Is it really survival of the fittest (this is Spencer’s phrase, btw not Darwin’s) or should we expect more than survival at the expense of other creatures? Is evolutionary progress indicative of parasitic domination or symbiotic progression? There is considerable scope for development along these lines that keep humans off the oppressor’s pedestal and permit productive association with other lifeforms for mutual benefit.

C. The image argument

Some people think that humans are the Apple of God’s eye. This wouldn’t be so bad if they’d also remember that there is much responsibility that comes with this position. Did the Christian God really intend subjugation or stewardship using the word dominion? It depends to some extent upon the particular translation and interpretation in the bible, but you can see that the former has dire consequences while there is considerable possibility for decency in the latter.

The ‘made in the image of god’ permits a great opportunity though:

“pretty well all religions, in some form or another, use the ‘we are made in the image of god’ line. i do not think this is done to promote anthropocentricity (though the idea certainly has been abused for that purpose). rather, i think it is intended as an evolutionary magnet which entices us to live our potential.
god being an ideal requires ideal characteristics. therefore god has the wonderful qualities of compassion, kindness, dignity, courage, awareness and respect for the myriad of creations.
if we are indeed made in god’s image then surely our creator also blessed us with these same qualities. may be we should start living up to that image. it’s only natural.”
(From Natural equals Good?)

D. Moral responsibility

Some people like to think that humans are the only ones capable of moral judgement. This idea is not correct at all (see, for instance, Marc Bekoff’s works in cognitive ethology), but it does provide an opportunity to use the anthropocentric thesis to do some good. If humans do indeed have a high moral capacity, then does it not follow that they should be compassionate, kind, generous and fair?

Steve Sapontzis uses such a backdrop:

“He argues that basic moral principles such as fairness, protecting the weak against the strong, and aiming to reduce suffering cannot logically be limited to humans because suffering, distress, enjoyment, and fulfillment are not exclusively human conditions. The basic standards to which a moral person should adhere do not simply evaporate when considering nonhumans rather than humans.”
(From Consistency and Traditional Morality)

E. Tiliri (Tell it like it really is)

The above four ideas use aspects of anthropocentrism against itself in an aikido-like fashion. This last one exposes the real intent behind such statements: specifically, the very unanthropocentricness of anthropocentrism. It’s quite tilirious!

What some people try to do is link anthropocentrism to the idea of a ‘people first’ movement. They even try to make it sound like a great humanitarian mission. However, a closer examination shows this is just nonsense. The actual, practical application of has nothing to do with humanity and everything to do with “What’s in it for me!”

Therefore,

I eat meat at the expense of other sentient beings because I want to;
I wear fur at the expense of other sentient beings because I want to;
I wore nike shoes at the expense of other sentient beings (working in sweat shops) because I want to;
I shop at Walmart at the expense of other sentient beings (some of the worst employee treatment) because I want to;
I eat chocolate at the expense of other sentient beings (Ivory Coast child slavery) because I want to.

This is really what anthropocentrism is in most forum discussions: hiding the small weeds by appealing to the big forest. It is not people first at all, it is me first.

So above are 5 ways to handle things when anthropocentrism rears its not so pretty head. The list is not exhaustive and the ideas can, of course, be used in coordinated combination as well.

The Foo-Foo (or new-agey narcissism)

This is a curious syndrome that people sometimes fall into because they think they’ve just discovered not only how the entire universe works - but that it works for them exclusively! It is usually a combination of the worst of new age nonsense, anthropocentrism and just plain ego-gratification.

Now, there is nothing inherently obtuse about the new age movement that was so ubiquitous in the 80s. Many of the ideas were even good ones, though there was certainly nothing new in any of them for you’ll find pretty well every one in some form if you scan the mainstay religious texts. However, we have to remember that the new age movement provided a very lucrative business too and often had little to do with helping people to discover their inner potential.

As a result, you had the rather amusing situation where the various ‘gurus’ or ‘coaches’ go around telling their clients how wonderful and magnificent they were and how the universe itself was conspiring to support, guide and nurture them. The client, no doubt, can not help but feel all wonderful and magnificent and takes to spending a lot of time telling everyone else how wonderful and magnificent he or she was, with a euphoric orgasm that continues for days and days.

There is probably nothing wrong with people telling themselves how wonderful and magnificent they are. There may not even be a problem with the universe being devoted to their interests should the universe choose to be so inclined.

The difficulty comes when these narcissitic ejaculations lead to some really bigoted conclusions such as:

We create our own reality and therefore all suffering is the person’s (or animal’s) own creation – tell that to the victims.
The universe does what is best for you, therefore you should just accept whatever happens to others – there’s a sure way to glorific apathy.
Animals exist to serve human consciousness development – huh? even though they were here well before humans (whether you look at it biologically or religiously)
Animals gladly give their lives so that we may thrive – as though animals really have nothing better to do on the planet.
We are here to learn from all our experiences – that’s terrific! … but we can surely be strive to be a decent student, graduate and put our knowledge to some good use.

No doubt you can add your own ’encounters of the bizarre kind’ to this list we have affectionately called “foo-foo” over the decades.

Some of these people really do mean well and like all of us, are “continuing to grow”. Many of them even do wonderful and even magnificent things - they may say and believe foo-foo, but their actions indicate they are not spining their wheels at all!

However, when you see something that really has the appearence of foo-foo, the aroma of foo-foo, and even has potential to win a medal in the foo-foo olympiad, there is a pretty good chance that it is the real foo-foo itself!

One should gently remind foo-fooers of obvious things such as animals are here for their own purposes or that those who are made to suffer don’t benefit a great deal by being told that they brought it onto themselves so they could learn from the experience.

One doesn’t have to say things in a nasty way, one should be honest for your evidence is certainly truthful while theirs is usually just nebulous fantasizing.

Depending upon the person you are dealing with, you may get a surge of anger (they are just creating their own reality, I guess) or quite possibly an interesting discussion. Some of these people really are open to new ideas, even when these contradict their own old ones.

The Hallucinatory Hypothetical

“You are on a boat with a baby and a puppy. The boat starts to sink. Which are you going to save?”

This is one of those old things from decades ago that anti-animal cheerleaders should know better than to try these days. It appears with various characters, but one is always a human while the other is always an animal. The idea is to force a ‘Kobiashi Maru’ (no-win) scenario upon you.

Here’s why the cheerleaders think they are being so clever. If you say you’ll save the baby, they can criticize you for not being true to your animal rights cause. If you choose the puppy, then they’ll scream that you don’t value human life hurling various other condemnations.

This can be a frustrating situation, but only if you allow it to be. What some people do is freeze up, because they detect the embedded kobiashi maru. Of course, that invites insistences such as “Hurry up!” or “Answer me now!” from the other side, because they think they’ve really got you!

The important thing to remember is to stay calm. It’s not a kobiashi maru by any means. In fact, it’s actually a silly logical fallacy known as False Dilemma.

You can point that out or have a bit of fun.

Here are a series of ways one can deal with this amusing absurdity in order of increasing ‘aggressiveness’.

A. The reveal-it for what it is, a hallucinary hypothetical

You don’t know and (neither does the cheerleader) exactly what they’d do in a given situation. So it’s a lousy question because it can’t really be answered other than hypothetically.

This is a pretty staid response, but can often be a starting point for more enjoyable pursuits which follow.

B. The return-the-gift

This response can sometimes make even the cheerleader think (well at least to the extent of his/her attention span).

You: What can you tell me about the dog and the child?
Cheerleader: Huh? Stop stalling and answer the question!
You: Well suppose the dog grows up to be Lassie, but the child grows up to be Hitler? Who would you save?

Notice you’ve taken the cheerleader’s hypothetical, dressed it up a bit and passed it back.

C. The super-person play

This proves to be an enjoyable exercise and claims that you’ll save both. There are variations and can lead to a delightful deadlock or even better:

Scenario A:
You: I’ll save both.
Cheerleader: No you can’t save both.
You: Yes I can. Really!
Cheerleader: No you can’t.
You: Yes I can. You don’t know what a good swimmer I am!
Cheerleader: Look! You can’t save both - understand???!!!
You: Yes I can. You gotta trust me - I can do this!

Scenario B:
You: I’ll save both.
Cheerleader: No you can’t save both - only one.
You: Why can’t I save both?
Cheerleader: Because you can’t! Now answer me!
You: But I want to save both and here’s how I’d do it [creating an elaborate rescue mechanism]. What do you think?

Scenario C:
You: I’ll save both.
Cheerleader: You can’t save both - you can save only one.
You: Why can’t i save both?
Cheerleader: Damn it! Because I say you can’t!! Now answer me!!!
You: Okay I’m not saving anyone because I can’t swim and thanks to your heartlessness and total lack of compassion you have drowned not only a puppy and a child, but me as well!

D. The topsy-turvey approach

A more vicious approach is effected here.

You: What’s the matter with you?
Cheerleader: Huh? What are you talking about?
You: What sort of person hypothetically or otherwise puts at risk the life of not just a puppy, but also an innocent child? You’re the one creating this stupid scenario - so just what is wrong with you?

Many years ago I was challenged by a forum’s resident looney (SVW from above, in fact) with would you kill your cat to save my grandchildren? Now this fellow was supposedly an elderly rightwing nut (though you never know on forums), so I wanted to be reasonable.

I asked him to explain the situation, but he kept pushing it with the usual “Answer me! Yes or no!!” I said that I couldn’t really answer him unless he provided some parameters - for instance, there may be a way to save everyone.

So he got angrier blurting out something like he’d gladly give up his cat for my son without even blinking. I kept trying to explain to him that we need to know the circumstances of the situation. Just what danger are his grandchildren in? Exactly how does my cat’s life fit into the picture?

This brought on another tirade on how my answers should be a lesson for the people on the forum demonstrating that AR activists value human life below that of their precious animals.

So it was evidently time to suggest to him that it would appear that he shows very little value for his own grandchildren. He’s the one who is putting them in this life or death scenario. He’s the one who is not providing me, the one person who could save them, with any information whatsoever. He’s the one who will bear the responsibility for their deaths. And all for what? Just so he can try to make his petty point?

He was not seen on the forum for several weeks afterwards. Perhaps he was spending some time with his grandchildren.

So in summary, remember that the situation is only a hypothetical one. As such, you have as much right to paint the scenery as does the anti-animal cheerleader. The attempt is to discredit you by getting you to either be ‘untrue’ to your cause or to demonize you as a traitor to your species.

You don’t have to play the cheerleader’s silly game and if some of them are reading this, one would hope they wouldn’t waste everyone’s time with such immature and ridiculous riffraff.

Despair And Anger

AR activists are continually bombarded with scenarios of abuse and torture inflicted upon the very creatures they are fighting for. This is understandably a concern because many activists get burned out from the bombardment while many a would-be activist tends to avoid getting involved because doing so would be too emotionally painful for them.

So how can activists deal with this very important concern?

The very first thing to understand is that ’negative’ emotions such as Despair, Anger, Hatred, Jealousy, Greed and those other items that sprang forth eons ago from Pandora’s Box, all stem from a single source, Fear.

The good news is that Fear is no match for the last entity that came out of that cursed container, Hope.

By Hope we are not talking about some comforting ‘want’ for a more convenient existence. In fact, it is most important not to let ‘wanting’ poison the mix, for it too, is a close cousin of Fear.

Lao Tzu said, “By not wanting, there is calm and the world can straighten itself.”

Therefore, for your own peace of mind, never ‘want’ things to be a certain way.

Please understand that ’not wanting’ is by no means synonymous with ’not acting’. In fact, action is at its purest when there is no wanting, for it is uncluttered with expectations.

The problem of disappointment comes from linking an expectation to an action. One engages in an action fully expecting a certain result. If the result materializes, euphoria usually follows. If the result is unsatisfactory, one or more of Fear’s relatives start up a party. Either way, calmness is sacrificed to glandular secretions.

What needs to be understood is that a particular action may not produce the desired result simply because causality is a tricky business - there are invariably many factors involved which may take the flow of events in a different direction than what one might expect. This doesn’t mean one shouldn’t plan the action with specific goals in mind. It only means that one shouldn’t attach one’s wishes with superglue to events that haven’t even occurred.

Therefore, do not harbor expectations for your action.

Ok, but suppose things go really bad. Suppose after all your efforts, the situation looks even worse than it did before? Surely, you are entitled to some modicum of misery? Well, of course you are entitled to this anytime, but if it doesn’t help you or your cause, why bother?

There is a saying, “Life owes us nothing. We owe life everything. The only way to happiness is to squander oneself in a worthwhile cause.” So what is important here is the squandering - never what you (or those you advocate for) are owed.

This idea appears throughout the ancient texts in various forms such as “The battle cannot be won. It cannot be lost. It can only be fought.” or the beautifully concise Zen koan, “Working hard, accomplishing no thing”.

Therefore, act according to your conscience and damn the consequences!

Please understand that the suggestion is not that one becomes an impassioned robot though there is nothing at all wrong with being so, if this is the style you wish to adopt.

Some wear their Compassion on their sleeve and can sooth the wildest of brutes.

However, understand that Compassion’s closest relative is Courage. Those who protest atrocity, those who oppose cruelty, those who rescue sentient beings from torture and death, do so because of their Compassion and also because of their Courage.

What does this mean? It means that if one has Compassion, alongside also travels her close companion, Courage.

Therefore, never feel you lack courage, if you are compassionate. One is never far from the other.

Some people get traumatized by events. They need to understand that events are like waves of water in a stream, part of the flow. The stream cannot be determined from a few waves. In fact, if you get too close to any wave, you’ll likely get wet.

Keeping the bigger picture in mind, is a popular saying, but what is being suggested here is quite different. When swimming in a stream one needs to adapt one’s motion to coordinate with the larger motion. This is like the ‘go with the flow’ idea, with one major addition: keep the head above the water.

The flow is nice and energizing, so one doesn’t have to be buffetted by the individual waves. However, it is important to watch where the stream is headed or if someone has diverted its course from its true destination, the grand ocean. After all, one doesn’t want to end up in someone’s resevoir.

Therefore, go with the flow, but only if the flow aligns with integrity.

Many people get depressed because they feel they are not doing enough. In fact, they worry so much, that they end up doing very little. This is not an uncommon occurence because there is no shortage of causes in this world. However, the matter is not to be dealt with by time management alone. It needs to be handled by a realization that one doesn’t have to do it all.

Many years ago, we invited a tree-sitter (protesting the Claycot Sound logging), Leanne Mallet, to speak to our environment and animal rights group. She provided possibly the most significant idea which relates to activism.

She said that “some of us are good at writing letters; some are good at organizing events; some like to be out there to protest; some have legal skills; some like to do public speaking; some engage in direct action - we need everyone!”

So just because one doesn’t have the resources or inclination to ram whaling ships, doesn’t mean that one can’t write letters. Similarly, just because one is protesting the seal slaughter, doesn’t mean that one must hold talks at the library denouncing factory farming.

Therefore, you don’t have to do everything, but you can always do something.

Isolation and loneliness are often a reality that activists face. Depending upon location, there may appear to be no one around who shares similar ideas and ideals. Some people handle such situations well - in fact, they like to work alone, but many don’t and wish they had some support even within their own home (which is quite often not the case).

Many things have, however, made things better for activists, particularly the internet through which one has contact and access to resources that were not available only a decade ago. Furthermore, even if an activist is unable to do things in the immediate area, it is possible to assist other activists all around the world.

Loneliness though, is something which is more illusory than real.

There was an episode in the Kung Fu series from the 70s where young Kwai Chang Caine had lost his parents. He was very sad and complained of loneliness to his blind teacher, Master Po. “Do you not hear the birds singing?”, Po asked, “Do you not notice the crickets jumping or the snakes moving in the grass? In such a crowded place, you feel you are alone. Now tell me, which one of us is the more blind?”

It is well to remember that in addition to the birds, crickets and snakes one has companions such as Pythagoras, Leo Tolstoy, Francis of Assisi, Albert Schweitzer. Ok so they’re all dead, but even so their existence is undeniable. Plus we have many to add to the good company in the form of present day activists whose numbers abound!

Therefore, remember you are not alone and not isolated. In fact, you ride in kindred spirit with the best humanity has to offer!

Knowing that one is in the company of good people is reassuring, but what many aren’t aware of is that there are other forces at work too.

Historically, humans have become more civilized. It doesn’t always look that way of course, but generally, there are more mechanisms in play to encourage good behavior (eg laws, rehabilitation, even therapy) than ever before in the past.

There is greater awareness of the plight of non-human sentient beings. In fact, one of the common whines by animal abusers is that people seem to care more about animals than other people (which is quite understandable after an inspection of the whiner). Due to technological advances as well as education, the animal rights movement has grown faster and larger than any social justice movement (eg anti-racism, feminism, rights for handicapped, rights for children) in history!

And so it should be. For the true measure of one’s worth is always tested by how one acts towards those most vulnerable. Do we choose kindness or do we choose cruelty?

The ramifications of such a choice have been expressed by many throughout history:

“For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love.” (Pythagoras, mathematician)

“As long as there are slaughterhouses, there will be battlefields.” (Leo Tolstoy, author)

“Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.” (Albert Schweitzer, missionary and statesman)

“If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who deal likewise with their fellow men.” (Francis of Assisi, saint)

Our choices do shape our destiny for we can choose to be in alignment or in opposition with the unrelenting and unstoppable force which drives the universe, the force of evolution.

Therefore, know that the force really is with you!

As you can see, there is much beyond despair and anger.

There is hope. She embraces us whether we recognize it or not. She nurtures us through our grief and sorrow as she does all those who suffer in life. She travels with us on our eternal journey, providing cosmic companionship.

For hope is that single candle, whose light no amount of fearful darkness can ever diminish.

Feeling Bad For Doing Good

So how can something like this possibly happen? Shouldn’t one who does good things by supporting worthwhile causes also feel good? One would think so, but there are factors which can make it difficult.

When you have a social justice cause, you can be sure you are going to be opposed by others - well it wouldn’t be a social justice cause otherwise. Now the opposition usually oozes themselves into 3 groups:

First, there are the oppressors. They are well-defined, clear in their purpose and intent. You know just where you stand with them.

Then there are the apathetics. These are usually a bunch that don’t really care to speak out one way or another. They just want to be left alone so they can keep their hands over their eyes and ears (though not always their mouths).

Finally, there are the saboteurs, those who do know the score (even better than you might) and claim to support you in principle, but seem to have considerable difficulty with the actual practice.

It is important to be aware of these 3 groups simply because each is motivated differently. Understanding the motivation often helps in how we deal with the reactions we get. In fact, it’s actually amusing to see all three sides uniting against you but for entirely different reasons. So let’s see how this happens using specific attacks made on your efforts - attacks that can make you feel bad, even when you are doing good!

A. The Don’t Tell Others What To Do

This is an old standard. For some reason, even though everyone is always telling anyone within reach what to do, your efforts are deemed particularly offensive. Well we know the oppressors don’t want to be told to stop oppressing and the apathetics don’t want to be told to do anything. However, the saboteurs seem to feel that your efforts somehow undermine their appearence of nobility. Because they agree in principle with you, they think you are giving them a bad name, so they attack you forgetting who the real enemy is.

If you remind them of the real enemy, you’ll get responses like ‘There are no enemies’ or the humanitarian ‘We are all humans’ or the spiritual ‘We are all spirits’.

In any case, this entire idea of not telling others what to do is a self-referential piece of silliness because the person has just told you what to do! As such, the effort is not merely contradictory, but also self-annihilating!

If you want to tell people what to do, by all means do so. Just do it politely, sensibly and accurately. You’ll likely get impolite, insensible fantasies in response, so someone has to be the voice of sanity and it might as well be you.

So go ahead and tell people what to do, but remember,

Don’t feel bad when you are doing something good!

B. The Oh But We Must Be Tolerant

A multitude of evils is sheltered underneath this umbrella. The oppressors are tolerant towards everyone except those who criticise what they do. The apathetics jiggle with their equitable outlook on existence. The saboteurs congratulate themselves for their ability to hold tight to their own highly ethical beliefs while ‘understanding’ those of the opposition.

When confronting cruelty, hatred and injustice there is no honor in tolerance. In fact, if you tolerate, you are complicit.

Some people have this idea that we should be tolerant because other people just “see things differently”. Unfortunately, they also go out of their way to not be tolerant of those see this tolerance thing differently from them. So they’ll defend the oppressor (for seeing things differently) and attack you for criticizing the oppressor.

The underlying reasoning here isn’t remarkable. At the top of their logic hierarchy sits “Thou shalt be tolerant”, but because they are unwilling to go after the oppressor (that would conflict with the top commandment), they go after anything else - forgetting that by not playing fair, they have violated their own standard.

They also don’t consider the ramifications of their “not finding fault because others see things differently” premise. It’s not really a bad premise, but it can be misapplied very inappropriately because by their reasoning we shouldn’t find fault with:

serial killers … just because they see things differently
child molesters … just because they see things differently
slave traders … just because they see things differently
racists … just because they see things differently
misogynists … just because they see things differently

Possibly some of them may want to test their TQ (tolerance quotient) by watching these videos: Animal Rights Songs.

So you don’t need to subscribe to their school of tolerance, but more importantly,

Don’t feel bad when you are doing something good!

C. The We’ve Got To Spread The Love

There’s a lot of gibberish written about love these days - in fact, this has been going on throughout history. It is really a pretty mushy topic anyway, but some self-proclaimed pilgrims have chosen to take it upon themselves to smear the good word everywhere they can.

So the oppressors are full of love for their families whom they feed the broken bodies of sentient beings. The apathetics indulge themselves in the substance feeling love regardless of the horrors they choose to ignore. The saboteurs are practically overflowing with the elixir spilling it with wild abandon upon anyone including those who commit atrocities claiming these are the ones who need compassion for they have merely strayed.

Now love is probably a good idea. However, one really needs to establish what we’re talking about here. Going around just ’loving’ everyone in sight, might give you warm fuzzies, but it is of little consolation to the veal calf, the battered wife or the tortured prisoner.

So we should really be clear on this matter. Those who profess to ‘spread the love’ do so for their own benefit. It makes them feel good and much of the time does diddle else.

Those throughout history who really loved, who really understood it, all practiced agape which is the divine love, in fact, the only love. Their love was not of empty words, but of resolute and courageous action. What else could you possibly expect from the divine? When agape appears, there is no room for any petty absurdities such as whimsical tolerance.

Here is a beautiful excerpt from a write-up by Kelin on love and that other stuff:

Even Jesus (and I’m sorry if this offends anyone, but as a Christian this is my life), who was often thought of as extremely accepting of everyone because he kept company with prostitutes, murderers, thiefs, and various other sinners, differentiated between love and tolerance. He LOVED the people, but he made it clear that they needed to turn their back on their sinful actions. I think (obviously) that His is the perfect example…we should love people, not judge them (where judging means thinking that because we “saw the light” sooner than they did that we are somehow better), but still let them know why it is so important that they change their ways.
(From Judgement and tolerance thread on the 30bananas site which is no longer available.)

So when you advocate for the downtrodden, when you defend the weak, when you scream for those whose screams cannot be heard, you are actually practising the only love that exists, and therefore,

Don’t feel bad when you are doing something good!

D. The But You Mustn’t Be A Fanatic

Well just why not? Has anyone done anything of value without being a fanatic?

Now it’s important to understand that people don’t want you to be a fanatic because the repercussions upon them would be quite severe. The oppressors are faced with a single-minded, determined adversary. The apathetics are worried they may be rudely awakened from their snoozing. The saboteurs just don’t want someone to do their job better than they are likely not doing in the first place.

Fanatics are a real problem for those wanting to maintain the comfortable status quo. They can prick, fester and gangrenize. They may even force a necessary amputation. They are not nice to have to deal with because they really are serious disturbers. As the saying goes, “Every society honors its live conformists and its dead troublemakers.”

If you are planning on being a fanatic, it shouldn’t surprise you that you may not win too many popularity contests. It is more than likely you will be assailed by those whose comfort zone you have invaded for “being too extreme”.

Well obviously, fanatics are invariably extremists too.

People who complain about extremists rarely know on what hallowed ground they dare to tread. Those who further humanity, people like Schweitzer, Beethoven, McClung, Gandhi, Street, Thoreau were all fanatics, all extremists. Of course, in desperation, you’ll be reminded that Hitler was one too! However, the matter is quite easily resolved and was done so eloquently by Martin Luther King from Birmingham jail:

… though I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist, as I continued to think about the matter I gradually gained a measure of satisfaction from the label. Was not Jesus an extremist for love: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Was not Amos an extremist for justice: “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream.” Was not Paul an extremist for the Christian gospel: “I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” Was not Martin Luther an extremist: “Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so help me God.” And John Bunyan: “I will stay in jail to the end of my days before I make a butchery of my conscience.” And Abraham Lincoln: “This nation cannot survive half slave and half free.” And Thomas Jefferson: “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal … " So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice? In that dramatic scene on Calvary’s hill three men were crucified. We must never forget that all three were crucified for the same crime - the crime of extremism. Two were extremists for immorality, and thus fell below their environment. The other, Jesus Christ, was an extremist for love, truth and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment. Perhaps the South, the nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists.

It is really important to recognize your part in this play and be aware of whom you are understudying. When you say your lines, know that they were written long, long ago and repeated over and over again by the best of who ever went on this stage!

When you speak, it is to achieve the right that we strive for.
When you speak, it is about the peace humanity longs for.
When you speak, it is to nurture that spark within, all but extinguished through complacency, greed and fear.

So be a fanatic, be extreme and,

Don’t ever feel bad when you are doing something good!

Digital Dexterity

Sat, 10 Jun 2023 11:11:15 -0700

You want to get good on the internet so you can get things done effectively and efficiently. This article will show you how.

If you don’t need to be a hacker (likely good person with a good purpose who does no harm) or a cracker (probably a bad person who breaks into systems for malicious purposes), you should find the ideas here to be helpful. If you want to be a hacker or cracker, read this first and then use the ideas here to kickstart your destiny!

(Reading the article on a phone may result in images being a bit small for your viewing taste, so move your device sideways into landscape mode and/or enlarge the image with your fingers.)

Introduction

The process we outline below is called FOE (Find-Organize-Engage) and is quite foenctional! We will take a recursive approach and figure out what we can do to develop digital dexterity (DD) using FOE. There are tasks to complete along the way - so do them!

Find

The first step of a DD effort is to get information and the internet offers several tools to do so.

Search Engine

There are many search engines (some generalized some specialized).

Task: Goto google.com and type search engines and you should see a page like this:

You have searched for and found search engines on the net! Notice that your page may look a bit different from the above because the internet changes rapidly and search engines often customize their searches to your browsing habits. The key point to understand though is that there is much more than the familiar google search engine. If you go to the Wikipedia article List of Search Engines, you will find lots of information on the different search engines that are out there and what they are for.

The ones we mostly use are:

duckduckgo, because we like the fact that it scrolls infinitely
bing, because it integrated with chatgpt giving ‘complete’ answers
google, because there will be a lot of goodies coming eventually

You will notice that the search engines often provide additional assistance such as definitions, wikipedia links and even questions (with answers) based on what others have asked about your topic.

Wikipedia

This is a excellent boon to the internet with content curated by the community. Some peculiar people like to claim that Wikipedia is “unreliable” or “untrustworthy”. These people not only have low self-esteem which they try to bolster by being critical, they often have poor research skills preferring faith (which does not require researching) to facts.

Nothing stays for long on Wikipedia because someone ‘believes it to be true’. Statements have to be verified often from multiple sources and if there is insufficient support for an item it will be stated as such. Furthermore, the actual documentation used as support is footnoted. As such, looking for a particular topic on Wikipedia not only provides the summary the volunteer editors have produced and verified, you get a list of the references used to produce the content. It is a great starting point for any honest researcher who is willing to check out the links and citations provided in the article!

Task: Goto wikipedia.com and type into its search bar “search engine”. You should see the following:

Presently, the page acknowledges the need for better citations and asks for help to improve the article. Also notice how well referenced and linked various items are in the article. Finally, there is a section at the bottom of the page which lists material for “Further Reading”.

Wikipedia is a superb resource that search engines often link to and could form an important component in your set of tools!

Chatbot

Captain Kirk, landing on planet Earth, contacted the Enterprise stating with some insistence:
“Beam me up, Scotty! There’s no intelligent life here!”

Well now there is!!

Task: Goto google and type in “what is a chatbot”. You will see results from the dictionary stating that it is “a computer program designed to simulate conversation with human users”.

Task: Goto wikipedia and type in “chatbot”. You’ll find lots more information.

In fact, why don’t we try to see what a chatbot knows about chatbots!

Task: Goto to bing and type into the “Ask me anything” box something like “Tell me about chatbots” and press your enter/return key. If you don’t see a “Ask me anything” box, click on “Chat” in the upper bar and you’ll be able to get a place to type your request. The bing ai chatbot will answer you.

The most famous (for now) chatbot is ChatGPT and it is particularly well-suited for generating text, but it doesn’t give you link references for its answers.

Bing’s chatbot is fairly good too and does provide links for reference and follow-up.

Our favorite (at present) is Perplexity though. It combines, in our opinion, the best features of a chatbot and search engine. It writes well, though not as well as ChatGPT (unless you ask it to use ChatGPT!!), provides reference and follow-up links, is easy to set up an account, and just works very smoothly!

There is also Google’s Bard, which looks very impressive because it will work with other programs like your wordprocessor or spreadsheet, but it isn’t available everywhere yet. It’s likely going to be worth the wait!

Well! You’ve just made a great friend! Actually, I kid you not: Woman creates and ‘marries’ AI-powered chatbot boyfriend.

What can this friend do for you? Well just ask your new friend (one of the above chatbots)!

Task: Type in the send message box, “What can a chatbot do for me?”

Your friend, btw, has many similar acquaintances. Find out who some of them are.

Task: Type in the send message box, “What other chatbots are there?”

A chatbot is not quite a substitute for a search engine. For instance, it will not give you the volume of information. However, it can certainly do what any good friend will - be at your side with encouraging information, possible solutions and even companionship!

Specialized Options

Certain websites have content that is directly suited to your needs. If you are interested in a specific area, you may want to look for things with something other than the general search mechanisms outlined above.

For instance, say you are interested in academic research on the “retrieval effectiveness of search engines”. Instead of typing that into google.com, go to the scholar version of google instead.

Task: Goto Google Scholar and type in “retrieval effectiveness of search engines”. You’ll get something like this:

Notice that you are not taken to typical sites, but are given links to actual research papers that have been published in journals!

An additional approach to try is going to an academic site which collects and organizes papers.

Task: Goto academia.edu and type in “retrieval effectiveness of search engines”. You’ll see a collection of papers as well as some other goodies:

This site lets you access a lot of papers relevant to your topic, but with a premium membership, it will give you a lot more of particular benefit to active scholars.

There are many sites similar to academia.edu that some researchers may prefer.

Organize

Now that you know how to acquire all the world’s knowledge, you need some ways to get at it when required.

Browser Bookmark

The bookmark system on your browser is a most valuable organizational mechanism. It can bookmark webpages you visit so you can go to these when you want to. If you make the effort to sort these bookmarks into proper categories, you may find it easier to access them later. In conjunction with the categorizing method is often found a tagging setup where you give certain webpages a tag. Then when you ask for that tag in your browser, all the pages with that particular tag show up!

Some well known browsers are Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Whale and you can find about their merits here.

Our browser of choice is Vivaldi which has more surprisingly helpful utilities than any other browser we have worked with.

Browsers usually have third party extension written for them which can do specific tasks. For instance, here is the Chrome Web Store which you can search for the Chrome Browser extensions. Extensions install in seconds and are often quite useful.

Browsers often have synchronizing abilities so that if you use say Vivaldi on your phone and desktop, your bookmarks and histories can be made the same.

Each browser is setup differently and has some unique capabilities, so the best way to get to know you browser is through its help page. Often your browser will have several youtube videos other users have posted which can help you to learn how to use it better.

Task: Learn about your browser by opening it and pushing the F1 key (which will usually bring the help page).

Personal Online Library

Bookmarks are great for keeping track of websites and webpages. A similar mechanism which offers different opportunities are personal online library sites. These let you store articles (and other items) from the web for later retrival in more ways than one!

The best example of such a system is Pocket. When you save an article to pocket from the web, it will be accessible much as it would be with a bookmark on your browser. However, the items can be accessed from your desktop or your phone or some other computer so long as you log into your pocket account. You can tag the articles and keep things organized.

Even more spectacular is that Pocket grabs the text of the article and stores it so that if the original webpage disappears in the future, you still have the text of the article! The premium version of Pocket also lets you do text searches in your collection.

If all this is not enough, Pocket will even read the article to you if you don’t feel like using your eyes!

Task: Learn about Pocket - it’ll be worth your time if you read a lot!

Calendar

Do you need to do more than accumulate information which you are quite competent at doing by now? Do you actually need to get things done?

There are two mechanisms that can be particularly helpful to you. The simplest is to create a tasklist and just work on things one after the other. You can learn about this revolutionary method in this Time Management Essentials article.

However, if you want to be more than revolutionary, you need a calendar because you can not only put down tasks, but you can indicate when these need to be done. The best calendar software should be webbased, so you can access it (and vis a versa) from anywhere.

We use Google Calendar because we’ve always used google calendar and for no other particular reason. The software lets you create appointments, reminders, and tasks. You can view in various formats such as weekly or daily.

How it rates with other calendars such as Microsoft Outlook Calendar, Zapier Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Fantastical, we haven’t a clue.

Task: Check out The 5 best calendar apps in 2023 and try them if you want to.

Just remember you want to access your calendar from both your destop and your phone, so be sure that there are suitable apps for your phone or tablet.

Converters

Ah so!! You niet speckenzie anglais, eh?

Not a problem because these days you can convert one language into another through the miracle of translation.

There are many sites that will do this sort of thing for you. Some sites even have translators built into them so you can read what’s on the site if it is written in a language you don’t speak. Translators are getting better and better, some even incorporating artificial intelligence.

Task: Go to the Cambridge Dictionary Translator and type “How are you?” into the English box. Then in the box below pick Czech as the language to translate your entry into. Click translate and voila (pardon my French), you get “Jak se máš?”. How about that, eh?! Is it correct? I haven’t the faintest idea, but you can czech it out yourself.

Not only are there converters that let you express yourself in different languages, you can do neat things like change all British units of measurement all over the planet into metric (which is what they should have been in the first place!)

Task: Go to calculator.net and you’ll find an excellent system that provides multiple conversions at once. Using the Length tab put a 10 into the From: box. Then click on mile and you’ll see the results in the adjacent box!

This is setting the world right one metric at a time!

In addition to the above, there is a myriad of document converters that come to the rescue when required. For instance, fine Linux folks have to endure awkwardness caused by Apple and Windows (ok so I married a windoze user, but I hadn’t got wind of it back then!) which use propriety protocols so that only their software can open their documents (they can’t even open each others’ stuff!). Such deplorable behavior is overcome using various online tools. For instance, say some unfortunate sends you a “.pages” document and you can’t open it because you are not an Apple user! Just go to FreeConvert and change it to a pdf! These conversion sites can be a documentsaver in an emergency!

There are other converters designed for various uses, but you can find these when you require them (since you know how to search).

Engage

Now that you are organized with huge amounts of information at your digital tips, it’s time to go and make use of your abilities! Being involved on the web can be a multi-mutually rewarding one, but you should be aware that there are miscreants out there who just like to be nasty (aka troll, cyberbully, hostile). There are some who just like to yap a lot and though these can be annoying, they tend to be harmless. You may find this Internet Discussion Strategies guide useful when confronting the unsavory elements.

Email

Writing emails to others is a primary form of communication for most people. One sends text (or more elaborate html) messages to others. To do so, one can use a standalone software (eg Outlook Express, Evolution, Thunderbird) or one that works through your browser (eg Gmail, Yahoo Mail).

These items are known as email clients and often they also work with Calendars, Tasks, Contact Lists and other things to provide an integrated experience. Additionally, emails can send attachments such as photos or pdf documents. Good email clients will also let you do complex searches through all your emails so you can find just the one you are looking for.

Sometimes, you may want to send the same email to multiple recipients. There are 2 primary ways to do this.

If the list is fairly small you can put the primary recipient in the To: field and others in the Cc: or Bcc: fields. The difference between Cc: and Bcc: is that the Cc: email addresses are visible to everyone receiving the email, but ones in the Bcc: field remain invisible. One would use the Bcc: field when the email address of that recipient does not want to be identified. Email addresses are usually separated by commas or semi-colons. The receiver of the email can press ‘Reply’ (to reply to the original sender) or ‘Reply All’ (to reply to everyone on the list).

If the list is large, you’ll have a lot of email addresses to put in the To: or Cc: fields! Furthermore, you email may not even get out because some email client put limits on how many people you can send to. For example, Outlook has a maximum 500 recipients per message which is more than enough for most people, but it’s still pretty messy. A better solution to handling large lists is to use a Listserv such as Gaggle. People can get onto the list and any email they send to NAMEOFLIST@gaggle.email goes out to everyone. They can reply to the group (by default) or to the individual sender. You can also get daily digests of email conversations on the list if you don’t want to receive large numbers of emails.

Remember that emails sent to lists should follow rules of email etiquette. After all, other people have to read your work so here are some things practice:

Always have a relevant title in the Subject: field. People who leave this field blank or put something useless like “Hello”, make it difficult for readers to know what they are opening.
Post with precision. Don’t go spilling your innermost guts in your posts. Not only does it make for nauseating reading, it can be bothersome to do so. Also do not reply just to say thank you! It’s not worth the trouble of opening the email to read such heartfelt gratitude! By all means, express your appreciation, but add something useful along with it such as how you intend to use the info (that might help others too), or suggestions for modifications, or listing others who might find such items of interest, or …
If your post contains information that should be examined further on the web, provide the links! Be helpful to your readers so they don’t have to surf the net all night to see what you want them to see.
Minimize the frequency of postings. By all means, post when you should, but responding to every person (unless doing so is important) becomes a disturbance to members of the list.
Do not spam! Do not post off topic items! If the list is for discussion on sportscars, then do not post something regarding jellybeans. It will annoy people. If the topic is related, say racing buses, may be that might be alright, but you should be cautious. If there is any doubt, check with the administrator of the list. If you keep posting spam, you run the risk of being removed from it.

Email on a list should be mostly viewed not as a conversational hobby, but as a communications facility. Treat it and your readers with the respect they warrant.

A variation of the email system is texting on your mobile phone though this is best suited for individual conversations rather than group texting (though that can be done as well with something called SMS).

Forum

Some people find receiving email convenient, but some don’t! For the latter, there is the forum mechanism. Also, known as bulletin boards, these systems let people post and read posts on a website. These systems are particularly effective when specialized notation is required (something that isn’t always possible with email). For instance, take a look at the Continuation of Coordinates Across Black Hole Horizons on the PhysicsForums. Beautiful isn’t it!

Here is a forum for programmers who use the Clojure Language called Zulip. Notice it is able to insert computer code for discussion.

Forums usually have advanced search, follow a particular author, notification of new postings and many other features that make this venue a very powerful one!

The same etiquette rules for email lists apply to forums.

Website

If you want to go all out and have your place on the internet, you need a website!

The steps to follow are outlined in this article (and many others - just use your find skills!), but the essential ideas are

to create content (designing), which can be done in a wordprocessor and converted to html (the website scripting language that let’s browsers display your work) or with blogging software such as Wordpress
put it somewhere on the net (hosting), on someone else’s site or on your own site (with your own domain name)

There are many organizations that you can do these things through. Some have a turnkey operation where you build your site with its own domain name from their templates. They will have software with which to create content, get you the domain name of your choice (provided it is available), and host the site for you. Examples of such outfits are bluehost, wix, godaddy, and weebly.

Variations on the website theme are social media (eg facebook, instagram, mastedon) and video channels (eg youtube, vimeo). Many find building a presence using these systems simpler and more effective (for their purposes) than having an actual website (though some use combinations of all).

Conclusion

You are now well-armed with that which you wanted!

You know how to Find information on the net!
You know how to Organize this information!
You know how to Engage with others to make an impact!

So go FOErward henceFOErth!

Helpful Alliances

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 12:54:36 -0700

This section lists actual and potential alliances with groups, organizations and individuals who want to end fireworks displays. There is strength in numbers and working together we can achieve the goal we all seek.

Who Should Support Us

Law Enforcement

Firework displays cause many problems that violate more than common decency:

the noise is a disturbance of the peace (no different than playing loud rock music at 2am)
the debris is a hazard to public cleanliness (no different than littering)
the toxins are a danger to public health (no different than dumping chemicals on the street)
the vandalism is a peril to property (no different than defacing premises)
the hooligans are a menace to everyone (no different than letting terrorists run rampant)

The above are not merely harmless celebrations. They are illegal acts of violence:
People got stupid with fireworks all over Toronto on Victoria Day
Delta police investigating fireworks-involved assaults after Halloween gathering

They need to be seen exactly as such and not euphemized into oblivion!

Law enforcement would concur. For instance, a sent from the Victoria Police Department not only deplores the plight of the community forced to endure this illegal behavior since they have to respond to complaints, the letter also “support the exploration of legislative changes that result in improved community safety and well-being.”

The police are on our side on this important issue and we should work with them to bring about change!

Environmental Preservation

There are various environment groups who try to stop damage to our planet and local communities. One area they could be encouraged to take action on is stopping fireworks. There is pollution of various sorts other than just the noise including debris and toxins.

A group that should support the cause is the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA). Their mandate states:

CELA works toward protecting public health and the environment by seeking justice for those harmed by pollution or poor decision-making and by changing policies to prevent problems in the first place. Since 1970, CELA has used legal tools, conducted public legal education, undertaken groundbreaking research, and advocated for increased environmental protection and to safeguard communities … CELA places high priority on cases, public legal education, and law reform work aimed at ensuring safe, healthy, and livable communities.

Dr. Terry Gordon, Professor of Environmental Medicine at NYU certainly thinks that CELA’s “Policy Development is appropriate for your ideas [recognizing fireworks to be an environmental hazard] and those ideas have to start somewhere.”

Another group that would support banning fireworks would be firefighter associations since they have to deal with the disasters often at the risk of their own lives.

Animal Protection

There are various types of organizations that work to help animals in various ways such as hardcore animal rights defenders, existence improvement welfare institutions, wildlife rescue and rehabilitators, domestic advocates. All these groups should have a common interest to eliminate fireworks.

For instance, the Vancouver Humane Society is sharing Government of Canada petition e-4351 for a fireworks ban encouraging their members to sign it. They also have in their news/blog: 5 reasons to skip fireworks this Halloween & 3 steps to protect animals.

The BCSPCA is a longterm advocate against fireworks exposing the dangers to pets, farm animals, wildlife and people and has provided this .

The Fur-bearers organization has several articles on keeping animals safe during fireworks displays.

Those who protect animals should be staunch allies in the effort to end fireworks.

Human Safety

Fireworks are dangerous!

Here is an excerpt from a presentation given to the Victoria City Council:

8000 children are injured in North America each year and 20 people will die as a result of fireworks. The Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program states that fireworks injuries are most frequently in males under the age of 19. The risk is highest for children ages 5-14. Most common injuries are burns, followed by head, eye and hand injuries. 65% of all fireworks injuries are to bystanders, and (3/4) of injuries require medical treatment in emergency departments. More than 80% of emergency room fireworks injuries involve fireworks that consumers are permitted to use.

Fireworks are not that different from dynamite and people have actually died through their use.

Here is a List of fireworks accidents and incidents from 1869-2023. Check out these 2 CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission in the USA) 2019 Fireworks Annual Report and 2021 Annual Fireworks Report as examples of the very real nature of the danger!

There are many organizations related to healthcare and safety of adults and children who want an end to these displays.

Fiscal Responsibility

Emergency response, tax dollars spent on police enforcement, healthcare due to injuries sustained, etc etc! It’s enough to make any government or business comptroller cringe!

Fireworks cost a lot to begin with with a 3 fold profit margin:

In the 21st century, consumer fireworks revenue slowly and steadily ticked up from $407 million in 2000 to $1 billion in 2019. In a single year, that number nearly doubled to $1.9 billion in 2020 and then jumped to $2.2 billion in 2021.
How Much Do Americans Spend on Fireworks?

However, the eventual cost to society for this expensive ’entertainment' is staggering! Consider the drop of costs associated with Halloween fireworks in Vancouver after the ban was implemented:

Over Halloween weekend in 2020, the service reported a total dollar loss for fireworks-related incidents to $408,000 … This year, that figure dropped to just $5,500.
Halloween fire costs plunge in Vancouver in first year of firework ban

Insurance companies would no doubt prefer not to deal with the fallout from fireworks:

Given that fireworks caused 19,500 fires in 2018, including 1,900 structure fires and $105 million in direct property damage, claims are a real risk.
Is Firework Damage Covered?

Fireworks are far more expensive that they appear to be and those who have to cover the costs would like to see an end to this damaging practice.

Who Are Supporting Us

If you support this initiative to ban fireworks locally and/or nationally, please send a confirming email to our accepting webmaintainer giving us permission to post your organization’s logo here. It will be linked back to your website so people can find out more about your organization, but you are welcome to include a small blurb as well.

The Animal Defence & Anti-Vivisection Society of British Columbia (ADAV), established by a veterinary surgeon in 1927, is a peaceful, grassroots organization committed to the abolition of vivisection on moral, ethical and scientific grounds.

Animal Justice leads the legal fight for animals in Canada. Our lawyers work to pass strong new animal protection laws, push to hold industries accountable for abusing animals, and fight on behalf of animals in court.

Defending Horses, because they can’t defend themselves! The Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC) is a registered not-for-profit organization working towards ending horse slaughter and the live export of horses for slaughter for human consumption.

Established in 1953, The Fur-Bearers is a charitable, non-partisan organization whose goals are to end the commercial fur trade and promote solutions for wildlife coexistence in communities.

Voice for Animals is a registered, non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of animals in a wide range of circumstances. Our focus is on local and province wide issues but our motto could be “think globally, act locally”.

TowardsFreedom supports the right of every being to a pollution-free life. Hence, we strongly endorse the efforts of this group to ban fireworks!

More coming soon …

Back to
Fireworks Frustration Homepage

Honey Sheperd

Sat, 11 Feb 2023 10:29:16 -0800

Honey Sheperd (1957-2006) wrote several songs and poems that we hope to make others aware of. You can find out more here and from there go to her website Thru Bambis Eyes which has mp3s of Honey performing.

Some of her poignant and inspiring works are:

Blessings to the Mare

… the mare no longer runs
no more does the wind
kiss her mane
her eyes are cloudy
her world so buried in pain …
Dead and Buried

… maybe when youre older
you will be a soldier
a spirit brave & wise
a hero in disguise …
In God’s House

… now some they don’t believe
in making one last flight
but He will guide you
and you won’t fear the night …

Pradictionary

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 12:24:09 -0800

This is the official (albeit still incomplete) pradictionary which contains all things related to prad. If anything useful has been overlooked, please point out the omission and it will be pradealt with.

apradpriate (credit angel)
aprardle (credit angel)
arthoprad
darthprader (credit angel)
epradicate (credit david)
impradable: unlikely
impradster: there is only one prad!
inpradible: difficult to believe or comprehend
jeoprady: risk one takes when encountering prad
lilyprad (credit angel)
lonewolf mcprade: i work alone
noteprad (credit angel)
orthoprad: have no idea what this could mean yet
peppradmint (credit angel)
pra (credit angel)
prabbreviate: minimal documentation resulting in cryptic communication
prachiavellian: skilled in appropriately unscrupulous tactics
pracorder: recording many things
pracrastinate
pracreation: creation a la prad (Queen Rhae for example)
practivation (credit angel)
pradad (credit angel)
pradaemon
pradagio: with pradanini, pradvorati, praderewski, pradigorsky …
pradagogy (credit kyron)
pradagon: as in paragon?
pradagonist: protagonist in accordance with prad
pradagony: infliction by or affliction of prad
pradameters (credit angel)
pradance (credit angel)
pradapple (credit angel)
pradaptable
pradaptation: an adaptation by or to prad
pradarth: to the darkside
pradata
pradation
pradator
pradbury’s banana chutney (credit angel)
pradcasts (credit angel)
pradcticing (credit angel)
praddictive
praddington bear (credit angel)
praddition (credit angel)
praddle (credit angel)
praddling (credit david)
pradeal: efficient purchasing
pradealer
pradealism: idealism that is also pradtical
pradebate
pradegy: tragic non-pradish state
pradelay
pradelete
pradeley: a sequence of pradagio compositions
pradeli: a vegan delicatessent with healthy victuals
pradelicious
pradeliction
pradelightful (credit miriam)
prademon
prademonena
prademonstration
pradendipity
pradenomenon
pradepot: a headquarter or haven
prader: one who engages in trading
pradercise: a form of exercise
pradernize: update to prad standards
pradeserve: reserve for those who deserve
pradesigner: various design including pragramming
pradespot: pradirected tyranny for the right causes
pradessential
pradestal: a suitable pedestal
pradestination: a desired outcome or location
pradestine: sneaky like prad
pradestroyer
pradestruction
pradevil(ish)
pradformance (credit angel)
pradharma
pradhere: stick to task
pradi: may the force be …
pradialect
pradialectic
pradialectric
pradiance
pradiant
pradiarism (credit david)
pradiary
pradiations
pradiator
pradibberish
pradical (credit david)
pradicament
pradicate
pradicator (credit anne)
pradictation
pradiction
pradiculous
pradigal (credit angel)
pradigious (unintended miriam credit)
pradigy: a particularly advanced prad
pradilection
pradiminish
pradimple
pradirection
pradirective
pradiscern
pradiscretion
pradiscussion
pradishes
pradism: what is brought on to others by pradistic action
pradisrupt
pradissection
pradistance
pradistant
pradistic: one who enjoys what is brought onto others by pradism
pradistics: logistics properly carried out
pradistinction
praditate
pradition (credit angel)
praditraitor
praditto
pradivisible
pradize: give something pradistinction
pradjucate: correct judgement is important
pradjustment (credit markus)
pradlete
pradlindrone (credit kyron)
pradlock (credit angel)
pradlog (credit angel)
pradmin
pradminister
pradmission
pradmonition (credit angel)
pradmunitions (credit kyron)
pradnastycator: to be nasty in a pradish way
pradness: multiple possibilities with this one
prado
pradocumentation (credit angel)
pradogma
pradolf
pradolution
pradon (credit angel)
pradonable
pradopia
pradorable
pradoracle
pradoyen (credit miriam)
pradpaya (credit angel)
pradragon
pradragon flight: a variant of the hindu squat
pradriot (credit angel)
pradroid
pradsimmon (credit angel)
praducate
praduct
praduction (credit angel): musicals by pradagio
pradulation (credit angel)
pradulations
pradusa: who can turn others to stone
pradvent
pradventure(r)
pradvertise(ment)
pradvice
pradvisement
pradvocate: speak on behalf of
pradvocative (credit angel)
pradypus
prafer: a typically sensible preference
pragenda
pragerize: intellectual theft of prad creations
pragnacious: the pugilistic quality of prad
pragram: program a la prad
prajection (credit angel)
prajects (credit angel)
prajudice (credit angel)
pralific
pramongous
pramonition: advanced insight into things
pramordial
prampathy (credit fuzzball markus)
pranctuary: a safe haven
pranipulate: a la prad manipulation
pranktuary: a not-so-safe haven
pranormous
praority
praoud (credit angel)
praradise: coming on many fronts!
prarauder: a roving pradestroyer
prardon (credit angel)
prardsley (credit angel)
prardsnip (credit angel)
prarganize: organize with simplistic complexity
prarma: karma a la prad
prasidential
prassionfruit (credit angel)
pratend (credit markus)
prational: typically pradlike reasoning
pratorial: a tutorial by prad
pratorical: a rhetorical question by prad
pravider
pravocado (credit angel)
praware
prazard: as in hazard
prizzard (credit angel - though unclear what it is)
repradmand (credit angel)
sheprard (credit angel)
sleeprard (credit angel)
tempradlate (credit angel)
the pradas touch: gold is not all that glitters

Resources

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 14:46:47 -0800

Here are some resources that may be of use for those actively seeking to stop fireworks frustration.

Fireworks Frustration Graphics

If you want to distribute the Fireworks Frustration card so others can visit this website, it is available in many forms:

Item	png format	pdf format
Small (social media)	png	pdf
Lettersize flyer	png	pdf
Legalsize flyer	png	pdf
Cards (set of 10)	png	pdf

Additionally, here is a sample letter you can give to a fellow fireworks frustrator who wants to help distribute the above items.

Want it all?!! Get it ALL as pdf.

Elists

Our bi-weekly newsletter can keep you in the know about efforts to ban fireworks! To stay up-to-date, subscribe to:

SayNoToFireworks News

There is also an email discussion group that anyone who Says No To Fireworks and wants to actively do something about it, can join. Just click on the link below to join:

SayNoToFireworks Muse

Once you are accepted in the discussion group, you will receive a welcome email with instructions on how to

send to the list
alter settings (eg signature, daily digest)
contact admin for help
unsubscribe (if you wish to)

To view the archives (and do some things), you will need to setup an account (it’s free).

On this discussion group, aintain proper email etiquette and post sensibly:

when starting a thread always have a useful subject field (so everyone knows what your post is about)
when replying never change the subject field (your post won’t get threaded properly if you do)

(Please know that the Muse is mercilessly moderated. If you are a troll, cyberbully, hostile or performer of La Triviata, you will not survive here for long.)

For either elist, if you have any difficulties signing up or do not receive your welcome email, contact our troubleshooting webmaintainer!

Sample Letters for Ban

Below are possible sample letters to politicians insisting fireworks be banned. Depending on the mood you are in, they may provide some guidance in creating your own.

Courteous

Dear Director, I wish to convey to you my request that our district implement a ban of fireworks displays as soon as possible. Fireworks are, after all, hazardous to the health of both animals and people. The noise, light flashes, debris and chemical pollution are things we would be happy to do without! So would the wildlife and our pets! In fact, our dog hides under the table when the fireworks go off. Our community looks forward to your prompt action on this matter. Much appreciated!

Pleasant

Dear Director, I would appreciate your efforts on implementing a ban on fireworks discharge in our fine community. Though these events take place officially only 3 times a year, those times are indeed trying for many of us. The noise is very disturbing especially to those who have PTSD and the light flashes can be quite frightening. I’m sure you know these displays are bad for wildlife, farm animals and pets too! For instance, our cat becomes quite traumatized during these displays. Surely there are other ways we can celebrate these special days! Thank you again for your consideration of this matter.

Friendly

Howdy Director, Hope you are having a fine day! I am writing to you to see if a ban on fireworks could be arranged. I know it’s only 3 times a year, but those 3 nights are really unpleasant for some of us! They probably may be for you as well. After all, who wants to hear the snap, crackle, pop at 2 am in the morning? Some of us are really trying to sleep. There are plenty of other ways to celebrate, so please see if you can get fireworks displays to stop happening in our community. Thank you!

Urgent

Attention: Director! Please ban fireworks displays right away! The noise is bad enough on the 3 occasions they are permitted, but many people keep at it even after those nights. They are inconsiderate! Decent folks should not have to endure such noise and light displays into the early hours of the morning. The wildlife and farm animals are terrified! I know that some horses have done serious damage to themselves because the noise makes them panic. Many people especially those with PTSD find it very difficult! Let’s get this show off the road immediately!

Sycophantic

Impressive Director! You know how much I deeply admire your excellent work for all these months and years! That is why I have the greatest confidence that you will come to our rescue, yet again, and push through a ban on fireworks displays with the help of your equally fine colleagues! Knowing how much you care for your subjects in this constituency, I have no doubts that you have the considerable capability to make sure that the loyal members of our wonderful community will not be forced to endure another night of explosives which deafen and blind us. Your people shall suffer no more thanks to you my dedicated Director!

Expletory

Yo! Director!! What the BLEEP is BLEEPING BLEEP BLEEP?!!! Who’s BLEEPING this BLEEPING BLEEP to BLEEPING keep BLEEP BLEEPING night after BLEEPING night!! BLEEPING stop these BLEEPING fireworks BLEEP BLEEP!! BLEEPING BLEEP makes me BLEEPING BLEEP!!! They make us all BLEEPING BLEEP!!!!!! Don’t want BLEEPING noise! Don’t want BLEEPING flashes!! Don’t want the BLEEPING BLEEPING BLEEP BLEEP!!! Do the BLEEP BLEEP BLEEP about it!!!
[Editorial Note: This technique though energetically enthusiastic may not be cryptically comprehensible and rather BLEEPINGLY BLEEPHAMOUS.]

How to ban fireworks in your community

The following is a set of guidelines produced by OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Commentary is included in [].
Tasks are listed with bullets.

To ban fireworks in your jurisdiction, you would typically need to follow a legal process that involves several steps. Keep in mind that the specific procedure may vary depending on your country, state, or local laws. Here are some general steps to consider:

Research local laws: Begin by researching the existing laws and regulations regarding fireworks in your jurisdiction. This will help you understand the legal framework and any specific requirements or restrictions in place.
- Look up the laws of your municipality, prov/state, country.
Identify the appropriate authority: Determine which governmental body or authority has the power to enact or amend laws related to fireworks. It could be a city council, county government, state legislature, or other relevant authority.
- Find out who your politicians are and whether they support a ban
- If they support a ban, support them; if they don’t convince them or support one who does!
Build a case: Gather information and evidence that supports your argument for banning fireworks. This may include data on accidents, injuries, property damage, environmental concerns, or public safety risks associated with fireworks. Research the experiences of other jurisdictions that have implemented fireworks bans and gather statistics or studies that demonstrate the negative impact of fireworks.
- Produce a detailed but concise case document with appropriate data to justify the ban.
- Put this document along with other information on a website for easy access.
Form a coalition: Reach out to like-minded individuals or organizations in your community who are concerned about the use of fireworks. Building a coalition of supporters can help amplify your message and increase your chances of success. This could include residents, neighborhood associations, environmental groups, animal welfare organizations, or medical professionals, among others. [The coalition members need not be only local. Very valuable ideas and support can be found from beyond your immediate jurisdiction.]
- Form a small core (6-9) of dedicated individuals who have stamina and determination to do most of the initial work and bring others in.
- Add members to the group who are willing to write letters or speak at meetings.
- Invite organizations such as PTSD, animal protection, businesses etc to support the effort.
Draft a proposal or ordinance: Prepare a formal proposal or ordinance that outlines the specifics of the fireworks ban. Include the reasons for the ban, the proposed penalties for non-compliance, and any exceptions or alternatives you deem necessary. Ensure that your proposal aligns with the existing legal framework and is well-drafted to withstand scrutiny.
- Create a proposal to guide the politicians into making a law banning fireworks.
Engage with local authorities: Present your proposal or ordinance to the relevant authority responsible for implementing laws in your jurisdiction. This may involve attending council meetings, writing letters to elected officials, or requesting a meeting to discuss your concerns. Be prepared to answer questions and address any objections that may arise. [An excellent example of this engagement was the 23-01-12 City of Victoria Council Meeting where 4 individuals made presentations (D.6-9) to implement a ban on fireworks.]
- Support a politician to push the proposal through proper channels.
Public outreach and education: Conduct public outreach and education campaigns to raise awareness about the issues associated with fireworks. Use social media, local news outlets, community meetings, and other platforms to inform the public about your concerns and the benefits of a fireworks ban. Encourage community members to voice their support for the ban through petitions, letters, or public testimony. [Many people don’t want fireworks, but don’t realize it can be stopped. They just accept it as a so-called fact of life. Educating them about their rights to a pollution-free existence as well as celebration alternatives will result in an organized force which politicians will listen to!]
- Educate the public about the proposed ban through flyers, public meetings, your website, letters to the media etc.
- Encourage residents’ associations to take a stand (see this email as an example)
Advocate for the ban: Continue to advocate for the ban by maintaining regular communication with local authorities, attending relevant meetings or hearings, and keeping the issue in the public eye. Respond to any opposition or concerns with well-reasoned arguments and evidence. [One of the arguments against a ban is that it would be difficult to enforce. While enforcement may seem daunting to some extent, one should realize that it needn’t only take the form of police hunting down violators, giving warnings, levying fines, effecting incarceration … ! A ban gives individuals solid legal ground from which to voice displeasure and knowing that your discharges are ticking off your neighbors can be a motivating deterent.]
- Support your politician to push the ban through.
- Encourage your neighbors and others to support the ban by taking action such as writing letters to politicians and media regularly.
- Create an environment where fireworks are viewed as being unpopular hazards that no one should have to put up with.
Monitor progress: Stay informed about the progress of your proposal or ordinance and remain engaged in the process. Understand that implementing a ban may take time and may require multiple stages of review or public input. [While the bureaucratic churnings proceed in the right direction, realize that expressing your personal opposition to fireworks makes the activity socially unpopular and often does the job before and after the ban comes into place. Unpopularity was one of the weapons utilized by the Non-Smokers Rights Association in the 1970s.]
- Publish status of the proposal on your website and media by consulting with your politician.
- Keep your supporters aware of the progress made.
Celebrate success or regroup: If your efforts are successful and a fireworks ban is enacted, celebrate the accomplishment. However, if your proposal does not receive support initially, assess the reasons and consider modifying your approach, gathering more evidence, or seeking additional support to try again in the future. [Even if your efforts are successful, stay vigilant! Inconsiderate people always try to get away with selfish acts despite knowing the harm they cause. Some will keep trying to have the ban removed. An example of such lobbying is the effort by the CNFA to reverse the Brampton fireworks ban using the stale unenforceable argument.]
- Keep the successful implementation of the ban in everyone’s mind through the website and media.
- Acknowledge the community effort.
- Have people stay vigilant to illegal fireworks as well as efforts by unscrupulous individuals to overturn the ban.

Remember that this is a general outline, and the process may vary in different jurisdictions. It’s important to consult with legal experts or local authorities for specific guidance relevant to your area.

Artworks

Various artists are welcome to display their talents as related to fireworks frustrations here. We will provide blurb about you and a link back to your site, so people can see what else you do. If you want to display your work, please contact our aesthetic webmaintainer.

Twyla Francois

I’m a vegan animal cruelty investigator and artist.

See more of Twyla’s work at her website and visit her on Facebook at Twyla Francois Art & Investigation.

Bianca Xunise

Published in Times Colonist 2025-07-27

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Problems and Solutions

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 22:22:32 -0800

Specific problems such as pollution and health issues are presented followed by some solutions.

The Problems

Fireworks are not merely a fun activity for people to enjoy. These displays, even when carefully monitored, can be a menace to animals and people in many ways. Fireworks discharge are a pollution problem in 3 main areas: noise, light, and debris.

Noise pollution

Loud explosions can be terrifying for wildlife, livestock and pets. At best they are a nuisance to people who at least understand what is going on, but can be severely traumatic to many who are trying to sleep or have high sensitivities. In some situations, the anxiety can be fatal.

Additionally, sound of fireworks can trigger PTSD in some individuals who have been in war situations. While PTSD triggering is unavoidable in some cases, replicating the noises of war seems unnecessary and callous to do just ‘for fun’.

Light pollution

Bright bursts of light can cause wildlife, livestock and pets to panic. These can also trigger seizures in some people.

Debris pollution

Debris from fireworks discharge can be macro (containers, paper holders, metal from sparklers etc) or micro (smoke, agent toxins such as nitric oxide, aluminum-bromide-arsenic-lead-barium contaminants). Both can result in health issues (including death) for individuals who encounter them.

Chemical pollution

Various health hazards outlined in petition e-4351:

The chemical analysis is worrisome: 0.5% of the total weight of a consumer display could be lead or arsenic;
Dr. Terry Gordon states “although people are only exposed to these substances for a short time each year, they are much more toxic than the pollutants we breathe every day”;
A study by the Canadian Environmental Law Association and the Ontario College of Family Physicians states that the surface has only been scratched in understanding how detrimental toxic environmental it is;

The Solutions

There are certain things that can be done to reduce or eliminate the detrimental effect of fireworks.

Defense

These are some solutions to protect oneself, our children and our animals (though not wildlife):

heavy curtains or eye shades to protect against the bright flashes
ear protection to reduce the sound
a gas mask to deal with the fumes and particulate matter

You can also build and retreat yourself, your pets and livestock into a bunker for certain safety. By all means, reduce your personal freedom, so others can have theirs to set off fireworks at their whim!

Or …

The Best Defense is Offense

Be pro-active and even pre-emptive:

get your politicians to pass laws banning the sale and discharge of fireworks (see Presenting To Politicians)
get your community educated on the fireworks issue (see A Ban Done Fireworks)
get your neighbors to realize they have a right not to be bombarded (see Charge of the Right Brigade)
get your law enforcement to be aware of illegal fireworks discharge (see Pilgrim’s Process)

The Sounds of Silence

Low noise fireworks (aka silent fireworks) are partial remedy to snap, crackle, pop. These contain less flash powder and the actual noise is greatly reduced providing some measure of relief to wildlife, pets, children and veterans. They have been adopted by many places in Canada, Europe and UK. See the article Silent Fireworks Promise Relief. They have been around for 3 decades, produce half the noise output and there are no good reasons not to use them instead of the usual as this article, Low-Noise Fireworks Exist, So Why Won’t We Use Them?, points out. However, they are still a disturbance and hazardous.

A more spectacular alternate is the Drone Show. These may eventually replace fireworks for a variety of reasons as this article, Drone Light Shows “Way Cooler” Than Fireworks, in Forbes explains. Articles on these alternatives can be found in our Media Articles section under The Drone Show. While drone shows are a definite improvement (in both reducing the pollution and long-term financial costs), we should explore this possibility and as Lesley Fox of The Fur-bearers says, “strive for shows that cause the least amount of harm”.

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Stories

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 22:25:03 -0800

Personal experiences with fireworks and those discharging them will be collected here. These can include not only bad experiences, but also ones on how a community stopped fireworks displays.

You can send us your story by filling out the form by clicking here.

If accepted, you will see it printed below. Please provide a general location (eg city or district). If you want your name published, please provide it as well (otherwise your story will be posted as anonymous).

Definitely do not enjoy the 3 times a year residential areas of the community are available to set off fireworks. I have a 12 year old chocolate lab who seems to have super sonic hearing for the sounds of the fireworks. To see her cuddled into a corner of the room trembling with slobber pouring out of her mouth is heartbreaking. No matter how loud the tv is and the prescriptions I give her do not have any effect on her. This is just my dog , how many other pets , livestock and wildlife are affected by this preventable nonsense. Please help to stop this cruelty to pets livestock and wild animals. CVRD this is now in your hands.
(Bruce, Shawnigan Lake BC)

Almost 2 years ago my best buddy, a beautiful St. Bernard + Great Pyrenees Cross named Kippy came into my life. He took his self- imposed job of guarding me seriously. He adapted to city life, with its ambulance sirens and other noises very well - except for fireworks! It seems that some people in Victoria like to “celebrate” every occasion, from New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year, May Day, Canada Day, US Independence Day, parties at the beginning of classes at UVic, Halloween, you name it and for any excuse day, with ear-splitting explosions at irregular intervals. My poor dog is totally traumatized and goes into a psychotic state panting to the point of choking, circling around the room endlessly and uncontrollably for hours, throughout the night and then for days following, despite all the prescription drugs and calming treats that might knock him out for short periods. That means that those times are ruined for me too and impact my health.
Maybe it’s a fun thing for some children to be allowed to play with fireworks from the late afternoon onwards before their parents start up later again in the evening, but that is short-sighted. There is no reason a few people should be allowed to spoil celebrations for others. It really does need to be made illegal AND enforced. Are we not civilized?
(Maidie, Victoria BC)

Fireworks is pollution! Particulate pollution, light pollution, and most importantly noise pollution! No one needs this snap crackle pop which is harmful to animal and people.
Stop These Obnoxious Pyrotechnics!
(prad, Shawnigan Lake BC)

Our cat Ophelia has been spooked by fireworks. I’ve seen her look startled and dart to a hiding spot to stay safe. So I’ve seen that the stress caused by fireworks is real. And it is unnecessary. This New Year’s my husband and I were awakened and couldn’t get back to sleep because of the noise of fireworks in our neighborhoods. Many neighbors complained of the same experience.So fireworks can cause really unhealthy disruptions for many.
(Ranjana, Shawnigan Lake BC)

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Media

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 22:20:11 -0800

Various media related to fireworks will be gathered here. The items will contain quoted excerpts in italics. Any editorial commentary will be shown inside [].

Fireworks Hurt
Our mission is to encourage the Nova Scotia Government to enact a ban on the sale and use of consumer fireworks.

Ban Fireworks
Let’s get as many to join as we can and I will personally drive to number 10 and get them twats to listen … it’s easy to ban fireworks … BUT they like the tax so it’s gonna be hard work.
[This is a Facebook group with 100+ members.]

THE FIREWORK CAMPAIGN UK
Campaigning to reform UK firework legislation

Our site has both a newsletter and discussion Elists anyone is welcome to join.

Silent Fireworks

They really aren’t silent, but the noise level is reduced by half. So does that make them twice as good as regular fireworks? Not likely! However, if you insist on setting off fireworks, these are a way of being nominally more considerate to your neighbors which include both humans and animals.

Silent Fireworks: How Good Are They & What Are They?
Soundproof Panda
Not everyone likes the bangs, whistles and screeches of fireworks. For some people and most animals, the unexpected loud noises cause a lot of fear and anxiety turning a fun firework display into a nightmare.

It’s time for silent fireworks
Jane Desmond, The Hill
In the first half of June in N.Y.C., for example, the city received 80 times the number of fireworks complaints this year than last.

‘Quiet Fireworks’ Promise Relief for Children and Animals
Steph Yin, The New York Times
A new genre of fireworks displays caters to audiences that can do without the noise, but they will be hard to find this Fourth of July …
[An article from June 2016.]

The Drone Show

Drone displays may be an intelligent and definitely more spectacular alternative to the snap-crackle-pop stuff and cost effective in the long run. They are worth exploring as a replacement to fireworks because they are likely not as harmful to our communities of humans and animals.

Drone Light Shows “Way Cooler” Than Fireworks
GrrlScientistSenior Contributor
Drone light shows differ from fireworks displays because drones are reusable, and do not produce chemical and noise pollution.

Are Drones Replacing Fireworks?
RocketIt With environmental hazards, increasing costs and state-wide bans now forcing many areas to cease Fourth of July fireworks displays, it’s difficult to argue that this age-old tradition isn’t in need of a 21st century overhaul.

Some Drone Videos on YouTube.

The Future of Fireworks

400ft Tall Halloween Light and Drone Show!

Paramount+ Drone Show at Vivid Sydney

1000 Drones Flying at Burning Man 2022

Seattle’s virtual New Year’s at the Needle show

News Articles

Below are media articles from various sources organized by year.

2024

Germany: Police and doctors urge national fireworks ban
SOCIETYGERMANY, 24-12-31
German police and medical associations have repeated calls for a nationwide ban on the private use of fireworks, citing their reckless and dangerous use around New Year celebrations.

Pennsylvania man killed when fireworks explode in his garage
The Associated Press, 24-07-01
A man was killed when some fireworks exploded at his Pennsylvania home.

Victoria’s first Canada Day drone show could be a test for the future of fireworks
Robyn Bell, Environment News, 2024-06-30
The show in the sky will take off on Monday, mixing high-tech and traditional Coast Salish art.

2023

Diwali fireworks advisory issued despite warnings it might be discriminatory
Mia Rabson, The Canadian Press, 23-10-02
At least two Environment Canada meteorologists warned that linking Diwali fireworks to air pollution in an air quality advisory could be perceived as discriminatory, internal emails show, but the advisory was still published. [The real issue is not whether it is discriminatory, but whether it is correct. Using culture as an excuse to justify harmful activities is just as harmful. Also see this article.]

Squamish Nation Fireworks Regulation pdf
Squamish Nation, 23-09-08
prohibited the sale, purchase, possession, and/or discharge of fireworks on Squamish Nation reserve lands of any kind effective November 1, 2022 … Council passed a resolution continuing to support the ban on fireworks sales, use and discharge on August 4, 2023.

Surrey homeowner sues neighbour after Halloween fireworks cause fire damage
Susan Lazaruk, The Province 23-08-28
The homeowner says his neighbour and an unnamed invited guest lit fireworks at a social gathering on Oct. 31, 2021, causing “significant fire, smoke and water damage”

Italian town becomes the first city in the world to switch to silent fireworks.
Animals Everyday 23-08-22
The first municipality in the world to totally transition to utilizing exclusively silent fireworks is Collecchio, an Italian town in the Parma District of Italy.

As much as B.C. loves its fireworks, some residents are pushing Ottawa to retire them
Chad Pawson, CBC News, 23-07-15
Whether fireworks are appropriate is an on-going debate between those who want pets and people sensitive to noise to be protected, others who see fireworks as costly and polluting, and those who want the traditional fun to continue.

A large explosion at a fireworks warehouse in Thailand kills at least 9 people
The Associated Press, CTV, 23-07-29 A large explosion at a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand on Saturday killed at least nine people … at least 115 people were hurt, and that many were in serious condition … about 500 to 800 people who live nearby may have to be moved to a temporary shelter.

Coun. Hanson wants complete ban on fireworks in District of North Vancouver
Gagandeep Ghuman,North Shore Daily Post, 23-07-26
Every Halloween and new year, we get many complaints from people about fireworks. It’s upsetting to animals and there is an environmental impact from all the smoke and it’s bad for the wild animals. I believe the time has come to focus on ensuring that everyone can enjoy Halloween.

The dangers of fireworks: increased fire risk in drought and decreased air quality
Amber Twardy, ABC57, 23-07-03
Although fireworks can seem like a harmless way to celebrate the Fourth of July, they’re actually more dangerous than most people realize.

July 4th firework mishaps claimed lives and injured dozens
Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 23-07-06
These incidents are among nearly a half-dozen reported firework-related fatalities police and fire officials said have taken place across the nation during this year’s Fourth of July festivities.

Is it time for drones to replace fireworks at Vancouver’s Celebration of Light?
Gordon McIntyre, 23-07-04
Compared to the explosive kind, drones are quieter, safer, better for the environment and don’t scare the bejesus out of pets.

Replacing Fireworks With Light Shows for the Holiday
Bonnie Riva Ras, Deputy Editor, Goodnet 23-06-30
Futuristic light shows are a better choice this summer.
[Although light shows are indeed a better choice, just how much better they are should be examined further.]

Hacking the Fireworks Firewall
prad, towardsfreedom 23-06-29
Ending fireworks frustration requires understanding the game.

Fireworks should be banned says advocacy group
Diane Strandberg 23-06-27
BC animal advocacy group says fireworks exploding in the night sky is an outdated and dangerous way of celebrating — and should be banned.

Council of Saanich Presentation Video
Lavinia Rojas Schultz and Ranjana Basu 23-06-12
[Lavinia @ 2:35 and Ranjana @ 12:30 spoke about why a fireworks ban should be implemented.]

Summer fireworks can traumatize pets and cause wildlife to flee
Kendra Coulter, The Conversation, 23-06-01
Animal caretakers, wildlife rehabilitators and fire services see firsthand the damaging — and sometimes fatal — effects whenever and wherever fireworks are deployed.

People got stupid with fireworks all over Toronto on Victoria Day
Jack Landau 23-05-23
Toronto’s main fireworks display was held over Ashbridge’s Bay, and police were out in full force to prevent a repeat of the chaotic events witnessed during 2022’s Victoria Day celebration.

Petition started to reverse cancellation of Canada Day fireworks
Stephanie Babych 23-05-23
The petition, started by Common Sense Calgary, calls for city council to step in and reverse the choice to cancel the July 1st fireworks display. The group labels the decision as “nonsense.”
[The article also states that the ban attempts to address environmental and cultural issues. The pyrotechnic show is also friendlier to wildlife.]

Brampton bans personal fireworks ahead of long weekend celebrations
Global News 23-05-19
The City of Brampton enacted a ban on all fireworks last year. As Victoria Day approaches, Sean O’Shea reports on how locals feel about the ban.

Fireworks within CVRD still a hot topic; some directors want a complete ban
Robert Barron 23-04-26
Acton said the CVRD is way behind many large municipalities and other jurisdictions which have completely banned fireworks.

Crowd-Pleasing Fireworks Are Not So Pleasing to the Planet
Jessica Han, Global Commons 23-04-19
Fireworks are used to please crowds, celebrate big holidays, and end festivals with a bang – literally. But at what environmental cost? Especially when climate change has made its way to the forefront of the planet, it is important to consider the environmental impact of fireworks.

Victoria residents ask council for fireworks ban due to impact on pets
Ella Matte, Victoria News 23-01-16
Several Victorians want the city to enact a fireworks ban due to the impact of noise on pets and people with PTSD
[Meeting Minutes show that the 4 individuals were Lavinia Rojas: Fireworks Ban (D.6); Jen Dobell: Ban Fireworks for Animals, Environment, People with PTSD (D.7); Shon Shum: Banning of Fireworks ( ); Teri Millis: Fireworks (D.9).]

2022

Fireworks are NOT Inclusive – and Outdated in a Modern Society
Liz, The Fireworks Campaign UK 22-11-06
Many people are adversely affected by fireworks and yet society does not include their needs in the lack of regulation we have around fireworks. I remember a lady who got in touch with us, whose husband is a war veteran. He almost died in combat and she finds it so distressing to see him go clammy and shake when fireworks go off.

Delta police investigating fireworks-involved assaults after Halloween gathering
Black Press Media Staff 22-11-02
Police say hundreds of youth gathered on Oct. 31, causing property damage and targeting pedestrians … multiple pedestrians and first responders were assaulted with fireworks …young people were reported setting off fireworks for at least four hours

Fireworks are a Halloween tradition in B.C., but many cities regulate them
The Canadian Press 22-10-27
While some cities permit fireworks on Halloween night, many municipalities across the province have banned their use, including Vancouver, Kelowna, Coquitlam, Kamloops and Surrey.

Are Fireworks Really Important for Diwali Celebrations?
Jack Dutton, Newsweek, 22-10-22
Fireworks are a more modern phenomenon when it comes to Diwali celebrations … “They are not necessary, and the festival does not lose its significance in any way if they are absent.”

How Fireworks Pollute Our Drinking Water
MCWEC 22-06-27
Air pollution is a well known concern with fireworks displays, but often overlooked is the impact lingering debris in air, water and land has on drinking water.

Edmonton firefighters want tighter rules on fireworks
Sean Amato, CTV News Edmonton 22-05-31
Officials with the fire department are concerned about accidental blazes and injuries and are recommending councillors ban amateur displays and only allow shows with professional oversight and paid permits.

Online petition urges city to ban private firework sales, displays in London
Colin Butler, CBC News 22-05-25
An online petition is urging city council to institute a ban on the private sale and display of fireworks inside city limits, citing safety reasons, pollution and people setting them off illegally in the weeks leading up to and after statutory holidays.

Private fireworks should be banned
Robert Barron 22-02-03
I was amazed that no cars had exploded, no houses burned down.

CVRD won’t ban fireworks; at least not yet
Robert Barron 22-04-18
District will invite municipalities and First Nations to participate in discussions.

CVRD favours fireworks ban, but worried about practicality
Robert Barron 22-02-03
Some directors want a total ban.
[Others aren’t sure it can be enforced.]

N.S. horse owner calls for ban of consumer fireworks
Alex Cooke, Global News 22-01-10
A Nova Scotia horse owner is calling for the ban of consumer fireworks after spending another New Year’s Eve trying to keep her animals calm.

2021 and earlier

Managing PTSD during fireworks season
Emily Bashforth 21-11-01
While fireworks season can be an exciting time for many, this time of year can be really difficult for people with PTSD. Fireworks displays can be beautiful to look at, but the loud noises they create can be triggering if someone has trauma from an experience in their past. It’s important we don’t forget about people with PTSD during fireworks season.

Police say fireworks issues in the Valley need to be addressed
Robert Barron 21-11-19
“We see lots of injuries,” RCMP Insp. Chris Bear says.

Halloween fire costs plunge in Vancouver in first year of firework ban
Simon Little, Global News 21-11-03
Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services says the city saw a massive plunge in costs associated with the use of fireworks this Halloween, the first year the city’s ban on the sale and use of consumer fireworks was in effect … Over Halloween weekend in 2020, the service reported a total dollar loss for fireworks-related incidents to $408,000 … This year, that figure dropped to just $5,500.

Vancouver authorities say they were too busy to enforce new fireworks ban on Halloween
St. John Alexander 21-11-01
Vancouver police and firefighters admit Halloween is often the busiest night of the year, and claim they just don’t have the resources to enforce the city’s new fireworks bylaw.
[Fireworks need to be banned. Lack of resources are often a problem, so the approach should incorporate an effort to make fireworks unpopular, much in the way that smoking has been made unpopular since the 1980s.]

It’s Time To Ban Fireworks
Jordan Reichert 21-10-31
Fireworks Diminish the Real Star We Should be Celebrating: Nature.

National government petition on fireworks launched ahead of Halloween
Vincent Plana 21-10-29
A petition on the House of Commons website calling for federal action against fireworks has gained the support of the BC SPCA. It was started by BC resident Lavinia Rojas and authorized by Laurel Collins, a Member of Parliament under the New Democratic Party.

Firework bans don’t work …
Michael Briones 21-07-12
Concerns raised in Regional District of Nanaimo regarding negative impact on animals … The Canadian National Fireworks Association official advocates education as a better solution than banning the sale and use of fireworks. [Note that CNFA is, according to their website “leading national voice to advocate on behalf of the fireworks industry” and works to “promote the industry through … Consumer Fireworks, Display Fireworks, …” blah, blah, blah. Their ‘be a good-neighbor’ schtick sounds nice, but is just warm-fuzzy deception.]

NHL goalie dead from chest trauma in July 4 fireworks blast
The Canadian Press 21-07-05
Autopsy finds Columbus player Matiss Kivlenieks died after firework tilted and fired toward people.

The Hidden Harms Of Fireworks On Wildlife And People
Alannah Hardcastle, Random Acts of Green, 21-05-24
You’ll want to change the way we celebrate special occasions when you learn the harmful effects of fireworks on the environment.

Councillor wants ban on fireworks in North Vancouver district
Staff Report, North Shore Daily Post, 20-10-14
District of North Vancouver councillor Megan Curren is bringing forward a motion to direct staff to ban the sale and use of fireworks, including smoke generating pyrotechnic devices by March 2021.

Fireworks can torment veterans and survivors of gun violence with PTSD
Arash Javanbakht, The Conversation, 20-07-01
For some combat veterans, the Fourth of July is not a time to celebrate the independence of the country they love. Instead, the holiday is a terrifying ordeal.

FIREWORKS
Lake Cowichan Gazette
A collection of articles/videos regarding fireworks usage in the CVRD. Some of the links here have been presented above.

The Trouble With Fireworks
blogger Nichole Sawatzky
[This blog article summarizes many of the issues surrounding fireworks discharges.]

What the Hell is Going on With the Nonstop Fireworks, Every Single Night?
Kevin Kinkead, Sports Writer
Loud bangs and explosions, beginning at 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. and going until midnight or later. It’s been everywhere in Philadelphia, and worse than normal. These explosions are bigger and louder and they’re taking place weeks before the Fourth of July, which is different from years past…

How fireworks can affect your health and the ecosystem
Maggie Macintosh, CBC News 19-07-20
Environmentalists are questioning whether minutes-long sparkly spectacles are worth fireworks’ long-term effects on human health and wildlife.

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Legalities

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 22:01:57 -0800

This section contains various acts and guidelines that regulate fireworks discharge for specific localities.

Cowichan Valley Regional District

The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) on Vancouver Island has specific guidelines for fireworks discharge.

For instance:

a permit is required to discharge fireworks
applicant must be 19 years or older and be the property owner
liability assumed by permit holder

Additionally, there are prohibitions:

no one can sell fireworks
no one can discharge fireworks without a permit
no one can discharge fireworks within 500m of livestock property

There are penalties for violations:

$750 for selling fireworks
$250 for unlawful discharge of fireworks

They also encourage you to ‘respectfully communicate’ with your inconsiderate neighbors.

Full details can be found on the CVRD page Fireworks Permits & Safety.

Metchosin

Their Bylaw #269 is designed in an effort to “To help reduce the risks of fire and fireworks for the safety and protection of persons and property”. Get it here.

Saanich

Fireworks Bylaw

You can set off fireworks on October 31 only, between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.
You need a fireworks permit to possess or discharge fireworks in Saanich.
We issue permits to those 18 years and older who successfully complete a Saanich Fire Department fireworks safety course within the last three years.
You may not buy or sell fireworks in Saanich.

Full document to be found on the Saanich site.

Victoria, Canada

The CVD has a fireworks bylaw #07-070 with the following sections:

Introduction
- Title
- Definitions
- Severability
Permits
- Application for permit
- Conditions of permit
- Suspension and revocation
Regulations
- Sales, gifts, trading fireworks
- Possession of fireworks
- Use of fireworks
General
- Incident service fee
- Surrender of fireworks
- Offences and penalties
- Repeal

The document (in pdf format) can be found here.

British Columbia Fireworks Act

This act is current to 2023-05-10 and contains the following sections:

Definition
Application of Act
Selling, giving or setting off fireworks
Sale to minor
Permission for public display
Power to make regulations

The Fireworks Act [RSBC 1996] CHAPTER 146 can be found here.

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Vegan Business Media

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 17:51:53 -0800

Take one look at Katrina’s Vegan Business Media and you know she means business! Your business!

The site is very well-organized and easy to navigate. In our opinion, it is a certain GOTO for anyone with a vegan business at any stage of development.

Two sections of particular interest are the Services and Blog. The former offers access to consulting, coaching, and even ‘done-for-you’ packages! The latter contains a wealth of information on finance, setup, trends, personal development (and more) through comprehensive blog posts.

Katrina generates confidence! She has 25+ years of experience in media worldwide (UK, US, OZ) as a journalist, copywriter, content marketer, and consultant! She is the author of Vegan Ventures: Start & Grow an Ethical Business and hosts the Vegan Business Talk podcast. Not surprisingly, the endorsements from her clients are glowing!

She says her mission is “to put more vegan business owners, experts, influencers, coaches, consultants and creatives in the limelight” and doing so will indeed make this world a better place!

Claire Smith

Sat, 19 Nov 2022 21:11:07 -0800

Claire Smith is one of those exceptional individuals who changes the world! She is experienced in finance and investing and has chosen to apply her abilities to the vegan cause!

Here is a series of items taken from Allen Lee’s fine article 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Claire Smith posted on MoneyInc:

Investing

Claire created Beyond Investing “a vegan and cruelty-free investment platform providing access to investment products which adhere to vegan principles and accelerate our transition to a kinder, cleaner, and healthier world.”

Ticker symbol VEGN

The US Vegan Climate ETF VEGN (and it’s European counterpart VEGAN) is a vehicle which “meets the standard of the vegan/climate-conscious lifestyle … But they don’t stop there; they put stocks which do meet set standards in the place of those eliminated”.

Beyond Animal

The Beyond Animal digital platform which functions to “accelerate the growth of the ethical, cruelty-free, sustainable economy (this means animal-free products and services that span across the globe)”

Other activities

Claire has an extensive background in finance and investing having worked with various investment companies, hedge funds, derivatives and credit analysis. Not only that, her Master’s degree is in Chemical Engineering and Management!

She has organized fund-raising galas and events for charities and founded the 100 Women in Finance an organization dedicated to

“… building a more diverse and gender equitable finance industry by promoting diversity of thought, raising visibility, and empowering women to find their personal path to success.”

As a director of AVVEC, she also works to provide support for victims of domesting violence.

It doesn’t end there! She is also a musician and has composed the poignant “No One Should Die” which she also performs beautifully! (Click the “Watch on YouTube link” to view.)

The song started A Global Vegan Charity Record project which aims to

“… create a global song for animals, recorded by famous global artists who are vegan, to have it published, played and performed widely and to create a video to accompany the song, that can also be shared online, to promote the cause of animals and save them from cruelty and harm.”

Even more! Claire has won many awards the most recent being Investment leader of the year for 2022.

We think she is Clairely inspirational!

Honey Sheperd

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 23:19:52 -0800

Honey Sheperd (1957-2006) was an actress who starred in the movies Club Life and It Came from Hollywood.

She has a page on AncientFaces.

A talented songwriter and singer, her work still helps those who “suffer unseen” in many ways.

We were fortunate to be able to create a website for her intense words and strong music that cover a wide range of topics and events. Her work is poignant yet inspiring.

for all God’s creatures
who die alone
who suffer unseen
and far from home
the Angels still wait
at Heaven’s gate
where all wounded souls
find a better fate…

You can find her poems and songs at Thru Bambis Eyes which was dedicated to her rescued dog Bambi.

Archlinux Forum

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 14:23:32 -0700

This is the archlinux forum where you will find really helpful people who can pretty well solve any issue you may have with the operating system.

It is a comprehensive forum with many sections such as:

Newbie Corner
Installation
Kernel & Hardware
Applications & Desktop Environments
Networking, Server, and Protection
Multimedia and Games

Go to the forum.

Emacs

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 12:40:30 -0700

We belong to the church of emacs which we feel is the ultimate editor!

keybindings

assistance

The emacs help manual and help summary TODO lots to check out here
Gateway to finding anything on emacs is C-h ?
Regexps can be used as lists of words which are ANDed.
Some prefix followed by C-h give list of bindings for prefix.

;; quick help
C-h C-q

;; apropos
M-x apropos Display all symbols matching a pattern
M-X Display all commands possible for buffer
C-h a Search only commands (apropos-command)
C-h d Search docs (apropos-documentation)
M-x apropos-library Useful for new mode or package
M-x apropos-value Useful if you know value not variable

;; describes
C-h m Mode major/minor, keybindings (describe-mode)
C-h x Commands (describe-command)
C-h f Functions (describe-function)
C-h v Variable (describe-variable)
C-h k Key detail (describe-key)
C-h c Key brief (describe-key-briefly)

All describe buffers have shortcut keys i (info), s (source), c (customize).

;; info
C-h i Open info manual
C-h i d m <item> RET i <topic> RET Indices search
C-h i d m <item> RET s <topic> RET Regexp search
C-h r m <topic> Direct way to emacs info
M-x info-apropos searches for item in all info
M-x info-display-manual get manual by name (or tab for list)
M-x info-finder uses list of keywords to find things

;; various
C-h p Packages list
C-h e Messages buffer
C-h o Symbol docs at point or type it
C-h s Current syntax table !!!

M-x manual-entry RET manpage Get a manpage
<prefix> C-h all prefix possibilities

bookmarks

C-x r m set bookmark
C-x r b jump to bookmark
C-x r l list bookmarks
M-x bookmark-delete

buffers

C-x b helm-buffers
C-x C-b helm-multi-files
C-x M-b ibuffer
C-x k kill buffer

case

M-c Word capitalize
M-u Word ucase
M-d Word dcase
C-x C-u Region ucase
C-x C-l Region lcase
M-x upcase-initials-region Which is strange for most situations.

comment

M-; Comment single/double/region/uncomment
C-x C-; Double comment (lisp)/uncomment
M-x comment-box

Various variables can be customized as well to suit requirements.

count

M-= Words (buffer or region)
M-x count-lines-region
M-x count-matches

dired

Only most useful bindings here. (See dired section for more)

;; commands on files
! Any command on a file
! cmd * > newfile will have output of cmd on * (cursor file)

;; compare files
=  goto file, =, enter other file (figure out how diff works !!!)

;; enter a dir
C-x (4|5) d ~/ new window|frame
C-x d ~/*|.*|D* all|hidden|starting with D files

;; markings
m mark
d mark for deletion
t toggle marks
u,U unmark
M-del unmark all
%d regexp for deletion
~|# bkp|auto-save for deletion
%m regexp flag
%g regexp contained in files
*s|/|.|@ mark all|dirs|ext|sym

;; move
j move to file
(M-)C-s (regexp)search
M-{|} up|down to marked
^ move to parent dir
<|> move to prev|next dir

;; specific commands on marked items
C|D|P|R copy|delete|print|rename
G|M|O dired-do-chgrp|chmod|chown
A|Q regexp search|query replace
!|& shell command on files sync|async
%u|l upper|lower
S|Y|H links sym|relsym|hard

;; subdirs
i insert subdir
C-u k remove subdir
$ fold subdir
M-$ fold all dirs
C-M p|n go to prev|next subdir
C-M-d go to first child subdir


;; view directory
C-u s change ls flags
i put cursor dirs into same buffer

;; visit
e|f same window find
o other window find (C-o don't move there)
v read only
^ parent dir
a descend discarding parent  
W guess default application

;; zzmisc
h help
? prompt for choice delete,copy,find ...
B|L byte-compile|load elisp files

k dired-do-kill-lines don't delete !!!

greps

;; rg
C-c s gives menu to do various greps

;; helm ag
M-g s helm-do-grep-ag (alt to C-s)

;; grep
M-x grep Prompts for item and files
M-x grep-find Uses find and -exec grep
M-x lgrep Prompt through each step
M-x rgrep Recursive search

helm

C-x c (prefix) C-g (exit usually)

;; helmed key bindings
M-x helm-M-x
M-y helm-show-kill-ring
M-s o helm-occur
C-x C-f helm-find-files
C-x C-b helm-multi-files (use to switch buffers)
C-spc mark buffers
M-D delete marked buffers
C-c g helm-google-suggest
M-g f helm-do-grep-ag (alt to C-s)

;; helm prefixed
/ helm-find files recursively from pwd
@ helm-list-elisp-packages
f helm-multi-files buffers,recent,bookmarks,pwd (C-x C-b)
l helm-locate locate through helm
r helm-regexp build regexp for find in file

;; help indices
h g helm-info-gnus
h h helm-documentation
h i helm-info-at-point
h r helm-info-emacs

filling

M-p Fill paragraph
C-u M-q Fill and justify
C-x f Set fill width
C-x . Set fill prefix (for each fill line)
M-x auto-fill-mode (likely best for text production)

insert

C-x i Insert file
C-x x i Insert buffer (since all buffers aren't files)

kill

M-d Word forward from point
C-<back> Word backward from point
C-k To end of line
C-S-k To beg of line
M-k Rest of paragraph

M-y TAB will show kill ring in buffer for yank.

macro

F3 record beg
C-u F3 record beg and append to last
F4 record end | play last
C-u F4 play 2nd
M-<N> F4 play last N times

C-x C-k n names last
C-x C-k b binds last to key
M-x insert-kbd-macro pastes into buffer
C-x C-k e edits last

mark

M-@ Word (M-- backward)
M-h Paragraph (M-- backward)
C-x h Entire buffer
C-x C-p Next page

in ibuffer
% n - Mark buffers by their name, using a regexp.
% m - Mark buffers by their major mode, using a regexp.
% f - Mark buffers by their filename, using a regexp.
% g - Mark buffers by their content, using a regexp.
% L - Mark all locked buffers.

Often unnecessary, except copying region or kill/copy weird shaped regions.

move

;; smaller movements
M-m Line beg (regardless of indent)
C-a Line beg
C-e Line end
M-a Sentence beg
M-e Sentence End
M-down Pargraph next beg
M-up Paragraph next end

;; larger movements
M-i Use imenu
M-r Cycle position point bot-mid-top
C-l Cycle center point to bot-mid-top
M-g M-g go to line number

;; sexp movements!!!
C-M-d Down into list
C-M-u Up out of list
C-M-n Forward to next list
C-M-p Backward to prev list
C-M-h Next defun
C-M-@ Next sexp
C-M-f Forward by sexp
C-M-b Backward by sexp
C-M-a Descend into sexp

negate

C--
M--
C-M-

M-- M-d kills word before point

search/replace

C-s|r Use isearch forward|reverse
C-M-s|r Use isearch regexp
M-% Query search options
C-M-% Query regexp options
M-s Replace string
M-r Replace regexp
!!! c|r|w|_|'|SPC Toggle various modes!!!
!!! C-w Add word at point to search (??!!!)

Note case folding effect. Regexps are fine for simple search/replace, but for heavy-duty stuff emacs/elisp is likely not the best option. So, we should use perl or clojure from the outside.

tab bar mode

C-x t 2 create a new tab
C-x t 0 close current tab
C-x t RET Select tab by name 
C-x t o Next Tab (C-<tab>)
C-S-<tab> Previous Tab 
C-x t r Rename Tab 
C-x t m Move tab one position to right 
C-x t p ... Run project command in other tab 
C-x t t Execute command in other tab 
C-x t 1 Close all other tabs 
C-x t C-f Find file in other tab 
C-x t b Switch to buffer in other tab 
C-x t d Open Dired in other tab
M-x tab-list Shows an interactive tab list 
M-x tab-undo Undoes a closed tab for each invocation 
M-x tab-recent Switch to the last visited tab
M-x tab-bar-history-mode
M-x global-tab-line-mode

text manipulation

;; duplicates in region
M-x delete-duplicate-lines With 3 C-u options

;; keep, flush, copy in region by regexp
M-x flush-lines
M-x keep-lines
M-x copy-matching-lines
M-x kill-matching-lines

;; kill
C-k kill to end of line
C-; kill to beg of line

;; occur
M-x occur Choose e option to edit

;; join and split lines
C-o Inserts blank line after point with possible split
C-M-o Splits line at point keeping indent
C-x C-o Deletes all blank lines after point
M-^ Joins with line above

;; whitespace
M-SPC Cycle spacing instead of just-one-space
M-\ Deletes whitespace around point
M-x delete-trailing-whitespace
M-x whitespace-report(-region)
M-x whitespace-cleanup(-region)

transpose

C-t Characters
M-t Words
C-x C-t Lines
C-M-t Sexps
M-x transpose-paragraphs
M-x transpose-sentences

undo/redo

C-/ Undo
C-? Redo
C-x u Undo-tree-mode if activated !!!

view interfaces

;; buffer view
C-x M-b View buffers (use ibuffer)

;; other buffer use
C-x 4 C-f Find file
C-x 4 C-o Open other buffer
C-x 4 d Dired
C-x 4 b Choose and activate other buffer
C-x 4 0 Kills buffer and window
C-x 4 p Project command !!!

;; window use
C-x 0..3 Delete and split windows
C-x o Switch active window (mapped to M-o)
C-x left|right Cycles buffers
C-c left|right Goes to other configurations with winner-mode

;; other frame use !!!
C-x 5 2 New frame
C-x 5 0 Delete active frame
C-x 5 1 Delete other frames
C-x 5 C-f Find file
C-x 5 d Dired
C-x 5 o Buffer in other frame
C-x 5 p Project in other frame

visit

C-x C-f visit file
C-x C-f C-f visit new buffer (no ido)

windows

C-x 0 deletes active window
C-x 1 deletes other windows (f12 and C-f12)
C-x 2 split window below
C-x 3 split window right
C-x o switch to other window (M-o)
M-x winner-mode remembers window settings
C-x 4 <keys> does things in other window
C-x 5 <keys> frame management

auto-capitalize-mode

cl is deprecated, use cl-lib in the autocapitalize.el file

calc

Start C-x * c; Quick C-x * q
Quit C-x * x | q
Getting Started ‘h i’
Tutorial ‘h t’
Reference ‘h s’; C-x * s
Key, Function, Variable ‘h k’, ‘h f’, ‘h v’
Demo Calc has something for everyone! Many of the functions are with capital letters such as Q sqrt, I inverse, S sine. Keypad mode C-x * k brings up a pad that works with mouse. Grabber C-x * g|r into vector|matrix. Undo U. To transpose use v t, Convert units ’ 43 mi/hr with u c new units. Date arithmetic t N, 7 +- Algebraic eqn (entered with ’ [2x+5=11]) solving requires ‘a S’ then variables to solve for. Help with h k|f whatever and l to get back. To remove, press <DEL> and to exit q.

codeium crane

[This aibot just does not work well yet 250518. It is nice to some extent for working in emacs, but the website seems unable to produce correct code in some situations and has on occasion gone into a repeat loop. There seem to be some neat things coming up like Windsurf, but I’m not sure of what use that will be for emacs.]

Codeium is a free AI software that offers developers code completion, chat, and search capabilities in over 70 languages across 40+ integrated IDEs. We set up codeium.el for Emacs with corfu.el (a completer frontend), cape.el (which provides useful functions for completion), and eglot (the emacs client for language server protocol). The code is modified from the very helpful jeff-phil setup and much of the annotation is provided by Perplexity AI (though edited).

While there is considerable and grateful plagerization from various sources, some of the code has been re-written for my own purposes.

The init-codeium.el page begins with the following requires, before getting into the actual code:

(require 'codeium)
(require 'corfu)
(require 'cape)
(require 'eglot)

Idealings with codeium

Code below sets up various configurations and functions for the Codeium package in Emacs. It enables Codeium for code completion globally, configures the mode line display, sets up filters for API calls, and defines functions to retrieve the document text and cursor offset for better performance. The annotations explain the purpose and functionality of each part of the code.

;; The code below sets up various configurations and functions for the
;; Codeium package in Emacs. It enables Codeium for code completion
;; globally, configures the mode line display, sets up filters for API
;; calls, and defines functions to retrieve the document text and
;; cursor offset for better performance. The annotations explain the
;; purpose and functionality of each part of the code.

;; Add Codeium completion function to completion-at-point-functions
(add-to-list 'completion-at-point-functions
             #'codeium-completion-at-point)
;; Adds the Codeium completion function to the list of functions
;; called when trying to complete text at point, making Codeium
;; available for code completion globally.

;; Do not use popup boxes
(setq use-dialog-box nil)
;; Disables the use of popup boxes, as Codeium likely uses other means
;; of displaying information.

;; Configure Codeium mode line
(setq codeium-mode-line-enable
      (lambda (api)
        (not (memq api '(CancelRequest Heartbeat AcceptCompletion)))))
(add-to-list 'mode-line-format '(:eval (car-safe codeium-mode-line)) t)
;; Configure Codeium to display its status in the mode line, filtering
;; out certain API calls (CancelRequest, Heartbeat, AcceptCompletion)
;; from being displayed. Doing so can be useful for debugging or
;; monitoring purposes.

;; Filter for enabled Codeium API calls
(setq codeium-api-enabled
      (lambda (api)
        (memq api
              '(GetCompletions Heartbeat CancelRequest
                               GetAuthToken RegisterUser
                               auth-redirect AcceptCompletion))))
;; Sets a lambda function to filter for enabled Codeium API calls,
;; allowing only certain API calls (GetCompletions, Heartbeat,
;; CancelRequest, GetAuthToken, RegisterUser, auth-redirect,
;; AcceptCompletion) to be processed.

;; Set document text for better performance
(setq codeium/document/text
      (lambda ()
        (buffer-substring-no-properties
         (max (- (point) 3000) (point-min))
         (min (+ (point) 1000) (point-max)))))
;; Sets a function to retrieve the document text for Codeium,
;; retrieving a portion of the buffer text around the current point
;; (up to 3000 characters before and 1000 characters after) to improve
;; performance.

;; Set cursor offset for better performance
(setq codeium/document/cursor_offset
      (lambda ()
        (codeium-utf8-byte-length
         (buffer-substring-no-properties
          (max (- (point) 3000) (point-min)) (point)))))
;; Sets a function to calculate the cursor offset for Codeium,
;; calculating the byte length of the text from the start of the
;; document text up to the current point, likely used by Codeium to
;; determine the position of the cursor within the document text.

Landing on corfu

The setup here is quite simple since we only enable auto-completion and provide global availability for corfu.

(setq corfu-auto t)                     ;enable auto completion
(global-corfu-mode)                     ;enable corfu-mode globally

Weaving the capestry

The cape package is a completion engine that provides numerous completion commands in various situations and each has its own keybinding. Uncomment any of the items below to enable.

[TODO: We don’t know what a lot of these items do since we adapted the code from the cape.el page.]

;; Bind dedicated completion commands
(global-set-key (kbd "C-c p p") 'completion-at-point) ;; capf
(global-set-key (kbd "C-c p t") 'complete-tag)
(global-set-key (kbd "C-c p d") 'cape-dabbrev)
(global-set-key (kbd "C-c p h") 'cape-history)
(global-set-key (kbd "C-c p f") 'cape-file)
(global-set-key (kbd "C-c p e") 'cape-elisp-block)
(global-set-key (kbd "C-c p k") 'cape-keyword)
;; (global-set-key (kbd "C-c p a") 'cape-abbrev)
;; (global-set-key (kbd "C-c p l") 'cape-line)
;; (global-set-key (kbd "C-c p w") 'cape-dict)
;; (global-set-key (kbd "C-c p :") 'cape-emoji)
;; (global-set-key (kbd "C-c p s") 'cape-elisp-symbol)
;; (global-set-key (kbd "C-c p \\") 'cape-tex)
;; (global-set-key (kbd "C-c p _") 'cape-tex)
;; (global-set-key (kbd "C-c p ^") 'cape-tex)
;; (global-set-key (kbd "C-c p &") 'cape-sgml)
;; (global-set-key (kbd "C-c p r") 'cape-rfc1345)

;; Add to the global default value of `completion-at-point-functions'
;; which is used by `completion-at-point'. The order of the functions
;; matters, the first function returning a result wins.  Note that the
;; list of buffer-local completion functions takes precedence over the
;; global list. However, since we don't really know what most of these
;; are for, we are just commenting them out.
(add-hook 'completion-at-point-functions #'cape-dabbrev)
(add-hook 'completion-at-point-functions #'cape-history)
(add-hook 'completion-at-point-functions #'cape-file)
(add-hook 'completion-at-point-functions #'cape-elisp-block)
(add-hook 'completion-at-point-functions #'cape-keyword)
;; (add-hook 'completion-at-point-functions #'cape-tex)
;; (add-hook 'completion-at-point-functions #'cape-sgml)
;; (add-hook 'completion-at-point-functions #'cape-rfc1345)
;; (add-hook 'completion-at-point-functions #'cape-abbrev)
;; (add-hook 'completion-at-point-functions #'cape-dict)
;; (add-hook 'completion-at-point-functions #'cape-elisp-symbol)
;; (add-hook 'completion-at-point-functions #'cape-line)

One capf to joule them all

The my/capf-for-all alias is used for the cape-capf-super function for better clarity. The code sets the cape-capf-properties are set for codeium and dabbrev (though more can be added).

(defalias 'my/capf-for-all
;; Create an alias 'my/capf-for-all' for the following expression
(cape-capf-super                      ;Combine multiple completion sources using cape-capf-super
 (cape-capf-silent                    ;Suppress the annotation for the following completion sources

  ;; Set properties for the codeium-completion-at-point function
  (cape-capf-properties #'codeium-completion-at-point
                        :annotation-function
                        ;; Define an anonymous function to provide the annotation
                        #'(lambda (_) (propertize "  odeium"
                                                  'face font-lock-comment-face))
                        ;; Set the company-kind property to 'magic'
                        ;; It is a cape property specifying type of completion candidate
                        ;; not really required, but can provide a better visual experience
                        :company-kind (lambda (_) 'magic)))

 ;; Prevent duplicates from the eglot-completion-at-point function
 (cape-capf-buster #'eglot-completion-at-point 'equal)

 ;; Set properties for the cape-dabbrev function
 (cape-capf-properties #'cape-dabbrev
                       :annotation-function
                       ;; Define an anonymous function to provide the annotation
                       #'(lambda (_) (propertize " Dabbrev"
                                                 'face font-lock-comment-face)))

 ;; if line gets too chatty
 (cape-capf-silent
  ;; Suppress the annotation for the following completion source
  (cape-capf-properties #'cape-line
                        ;; Set properties for the cape-line function
                        :annotation-function
                        ;; Define an anonymous function to provide the annotation
                        #'(lambda (_) (propertize " Line"
                                                  'face font-lock-comment-face))))))

Engaging in eglottony

Completion settings for eglot managed modes are configured here pulling everything together to work with eglot.

(defun my/eglotted-modes-config ()
  "Configuration of settings for eglot-managed modes"
  (setq-local completion-category-overrides '((file (styles partial-completion)))
              ;; Set completion-category-overrides for file category
              completion-category-defaults nil
              ;; Clear completion-category-defaults
              completion-styles '(orderless partial-completion basic)
              ;; Set completion styles
              completion-at-point-functions (list #'cape-file 'my/capf-for-all)
              ;; Set completion-at-point-functions to include cape-file and my/capf-for-all
  ))

;; Finally, add the my/eglotted-modes-config function to the
;; eglot-managed-mode-hook so it gets called when eglot runs.
(add-hook 'eglot-managed-mode-hook #'my/eglotted-modes-config)

This setup is mainly to get codeium to work on clojure scripts with eglot as the language server client. When programming elisp though we don’t need capfs and eglot. In fact, the codeium.el page provides code to work with elisp (see cl-letf* function towards the bottom).

[TODO: try to get codeium to work with shell better.]

completers

Several have been examined including ido|fido, vertico, ivy, but none offer as much as helm. Though it may have been slow on old computers, speed is not an issue now.

helm

wiki Doing things in helm is different from vanilla emacs:

use windows rather than minibuffer
use pattern rather than <tab>
<tab>|C-i gives available actions
C-j|C-z persistent action (helm buffer persists)
in a helm buffer, marking is not done with m
embedded help in org buffer with C-h m

Certain emacs commands have been helmed.

ido

Though built-in and mostly nice, the ido-switch-buffer doesn’t always work. The ido flex matching was excellent for the most part, though it could get confusing in some situations (helm’s locate is far better - almost as powerful as recoll file find or fzf fuzzy find.) Though fido is also built-in, we found no real advantage to it.

vertico

It is supposed to be an ido|ivy replacement forked from selectrum, but doesn’t seem to have any real advantages. Easy to get up and running, but not so easy to figure out how to optimize things. One advantage is it works with existing emacs bindings.

ivy

We use to use this as well as icicles many years ago, but switched to ido because things weren’t as messy.

daemon as systemd

$ systemctl –user enable –now emacs cp usr/lib/systemd/user/emacs.service .config/systemd/user systemctl enable –user emacs

default editor

export EDITOR=emacs How to change the default text editor on Linux

dired

Edit directories with emacs which is possibly far more useful than we ever thought. Reference Card pdf.

enter

C-x d from eshell or provide a pattern!

C-x (4|5) d ~/
C-x d ~/*
C-x d ~/.*
C-x d ~/D*
C-x d ~/**/*.el ;globstar should work but doesn't
C-x (4) C-j if done in dired gives parent dir

navigation

n,p
j <==> C-x C-f
M-s f (M-)C-s searches just for filename (or change dired-isearch-filenames to t)

deletion

DEL doesn't work
d,u,x does (on regions too)
m,D is an alternative

multiple flagging

#,~,. probably not going to use
% g flag garbage files .log, .toc, .dvi, .bak ...
% d regexp very nice!!

toggle hidden files

C-u s and -al -> -l or may be this [https://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/DiredOmitMode][Toggle Showing Dot Files]

visiting files

RET|f
o,C-o
v readonly view
^,..

not same as openwith which can be done in various ways, but simplest for now is M-! <app> file.
this isn’t as convenient as nnn, but should do for now. dired+ apparently has a way to do this.

visit dir

use a instead of C-m to discard ancestors use C-x C-j to jump to parent (but that will leave trail), so go to .. and use a

dired marks and flags

these offer many possibilities, but are awkward to remember right now.

m can do region or C-u N as well
* N number and size of files in marked region
* * mark exe files
* @ mark slinks
* s mark all in dir
* / mark dirs
U remove all marks

mark by regexp
% m|g
% d


some of these may be useful though we can't see why right now:\\
* t toggle
M-{} move up/down to next marked file
C-/ undo dired changes
* c old new: * c D t  * c SPC D  * c t SPC

operating on files

D
Z
C new
R new to existing dir (dired-create-destination-dirs)
S new

A regexp very nice!!
Q regexp very nice!!

% u,l upper,lower case filenames

probably not useful at this stage
M modespec
G newgroup
O newowner
W open file externally

transforming filenames

% R,C,H,S computes new name by regexp doing a search-replace not sure how important this is since we can treat the dir as emacs buffer

subdirs

i
C-u C-SPC
$
M-$
C-u k

symlinks

Go to item symlink points to

find and locate

these are done from dired

M-x find-name-dired
M-x locate

view images

C-t d on marked image files
M-x image-dired

rotations possible with jpegtran

delete and tag of image files also possible, so can this replace gthumb!!!

other features

M-x dired-create-empty-file
M-x dired-compare-directories
M-s a C-s isearch on filenames

zz

Dired, the Directory Editor DiredMode

elfeed

Elfeed Emacs Web Feed Reader How to Use Emacs for RSS with Elfeed A workflow for reading, managing and discovering ML research papers with Emacs Note taking 3: Notes from elfeed entries !!!

Setup init-elfeed.el with:

vars for urls (because they can get very long and look messy)
the feeds var elfeed-feeds
the update var elfeed-search-update gets the feeds
delete feed by removing it on M-x customize elfeed-feeds

index mechanism

trying to figure out how to search the feeds from .elfeed in data/1d/1da2ce0dd6436d802f0e1b35ad60f8b745780a5b in index “https://www.sciencedaily.com/rss/top/science.xml” nil) (“www.sciencedaily.com” . “https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210405150225.htm”) #s(elfeed-entry (“www.sciencedaily.com” . “https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210405150225.htm”) “Elasticity to position microplates on curved 2D fluids” “https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210405150225.htm” 1617649345.0 #s(elfeed-ref “1da2ce0dd6436d802f0e1b35ad60f8b745780a5b”) html nil (unread)

There is likely no benefit to recolling the entire .elfeed dir because

we really don’t want all the feeds
those that we do want probably don’t have enough text content
the title of the article contains most of the info and that is already searchable

Saving specific articles to zitems may be useful, so an elisp script does the job mostly written by perplexity!

emailing a buffer

C-ret to setup email C-M-p to prger

setup init-elfeed

use variable for feeds remove titles, but set them as tags (setq aiblog <URL>) though we did have (setq aiblog (list <URL> <TITLE)) title now "" and set as a tag

regex group replacement

(car aiblog) -> aiblog (car $......$) -> \1

eshell

some of these items apply to emacs in general.

builtins

occur <regex> displays matching items in history

cd =, cd =foo, cd -N are excellent for moving into directories!

sudo works using eshell/sudo, but as an alias (eshell-prefer-lisp-functions didn’t work)

built-in variables:
$+, $-, $$, $? (with ending underscores), may be useful for scripting
also, note specific args handling with $*, $1, $2 …

eshell to have $PATH

;; match zshenv PATH (setenv “PATH” (shell-command-to-string “echo -n $PATH”))

that seems a lot simpler (not sure if it will work either), however, we did it another way by

echo $PATH > tmp
edit tmp
PATH=$(cat tmp)

after the above in zsh, we go to eshell and

(setq path <copied from echo $PATH>)
(setq exec-path (split-string path “:”))

expansions

(setq var "this is a string with extension.test")
$var
$'var' disambiguate
$#var length

$(sexp) can be used in a string
${cmd} output of cmd
$<cmd> output to tmpfile

$var[i] ith element of sequence (string split on spc)
$var[: n0 n1 n2 ...] split on : ;interpolation into larger string !!!
$var["\\\\" i] ;!!!
$var["[0-9]+" 10 20] ;!!!
$var[hello] ;!!!
$#var[hello] ;!!!

fix the history!! issue

customize eshell-expand-input-functions by INS eshell-expand-history-references t

for loop

for VAR in TOKENS { command invocation(s) }
for i in (split-string
          (shell-command-to-string "cat /etc/passwd") "\n")
{(print (string-join (list i "BOO") " "))}

help

help on function at point: C-h f

history

M-p|n works as expected

M-r|s is a bit awkward compared to C-r in regular shell, though there may be a better way

unlike C-r in a regular shell, M-r doesn’t keep cycling back … need to figure out how to deal with this

TODO pcomplete

not sure what this is completion concept

redirection

mostly same as zsh, but we also have these neat items

>>> #<buffer-name>
- > /dev/clip

as well as being able to define virtual targets with ("/dev/name" function mode)

scripts

use source from eshell and eshell-source-file from rest of emacs

ssh to remote

C-x C-d /ssh:lentil: M-x eshell and it works perfectly!

sudo issue

which sudo give /usr/bin/sudo - even when lisp functions are prefered !!!!! so we use an alias sudo eshell/sudo $* apparently the documentation is misleading

alias sff find-file /sudo::$1

zz

eshell manual

ess and paredit

these two don’t play nicely and you get c () so remove paredit from .R files and things seem to be just fine

eww

The browser is quite impressive doing what it is primarily designed for - browsing simple sites and reading docs. However, some of the keybindings and commands don’t seem to work. Not an important matter though since we likely won’t use it much.

flys

There is a fly for spelling, flyspell, and 2 for code syntax checking, flymake (builtin to emacs), flycheck (from elpa).

flyspell

Used for spell checking and allows adding to the dictionary.

flymake

Used for checking code syntax and works with LSP servers through clients like lsp-mode and eglot.

flycheck

Does the same as flymake, but presumably works better and with more languages (eg sh-zsh). The checking seems to be automatic, but with lsp I’m not sure if it is required. Quite possibly flymake is sufficient, but we should test both out. Lsp uses flycheck if it is available automatically, so we don’t have to specify that flymake be hooked for a language.

fdm

fetch and deliver mail it is MDA which can fetch https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Fdm simple config for our notmuch purposes

following symlinks

C-h v vc-follow-symlinks and change the value this will handle git asks when opening a file !!!

fountain-mode

screenplain

doesn’t handle C-c C-a synopsis unless there is a blank line macro fynopsis takes care of this and is bound this way: (add-hook ‘fountain-mode-hook ; enters synopsis for screenplain issue (lambda () (local-set-key (kbd “C-c C-a”) ‘fynopsis)))

greppers

These search for occurrences of pattern in the buffer and/or in files.

emacs grep is good and straightforward to use from the menu requiring only a pattern and a directory of files.

helm ag M-g f will give pattern at|before point by default for the directory, so it can do much the same job as rg, but only on the directory you are already in. It is faster to use, if you want to search pwd only and not some other directory, since you have to go there, whereas C-c s with rg let’s you setup in whatever directory you want to.

rg C-c s is supposed to be faster with better customization. Though deadgrip was fine (and we like the rip pun), it was awkward to get into the directory we wanted. The rg package offers many more features and is into higher versions.

We find rg to be easier to setup and use too - with a guiding menu after C-c s and the docs are quite thorough as well.

To use ripgrep instead of grep see article. At this point, we see no real advantage to replacing grep with ripgrep. The code to insert in init.el is something like this:

(grep-apply-setting
  'grep-find-command
  '("rg -n -H --no-heading -e '' $(git rev-parse --show-toplevel || pwd)" . 27))

Don’t need to do this though because (require ‘rg) (rg-enable-default-bindings)

is quite sufficient to work with rg and also have grep around.

searchers work only in the buffer and include C-s|r and M-x occur which will make a buffer with links for the pattern, so it gives you the same thing that search does, but in a separate buffer and with every occurrence rather than forward C-s or reverse C-r.

ibuffer

Get in with C-x M-b

Delete multiple buffers quickly

% n|m <> RET
D y

images

Insert an image with

#+CAPTION: This is the caption for the next figure link (or table)
#+NAME:   fig:SED-HR4049
[[./img/a.jpg]]

junk deposit issue

emacs -nw producing [Ihello] and other junk on first line

this is happening because of the line in init-modes.el

(sp-pair "[" "]" :wrap "M-[")

other braces {} () don’t seem to have any issues

key (un)bind

(global-set-key (kbd "C-M-.") 'eshell)
(global-unset-key (kbd "C-M-."))

lilypond

qpdfview

open the pdf update in lilypond, then refresh with F5

xpdf -open

this works quite well until it is unable for some reason to create a remote socket. however, the problem can be nullified by: rm /tmp/default which removes the socket process (i guess?) unfortunately, when operating as a server, the textedit:// feature does not work as effectively though you still get the line number of where you want to go to in the .ly file.

midi

Lilypond-midi-player variable set to timidity|fluidsynth

lsp

Language Server Protocol Support for Emacs Emacs and the Language Server Protocol

notmuch

the idea will be to use search/tag rather than folders to get things done

setup

%notmuch setup -> ~/.notmuch-config used to have .emacs.d/notmuch-config.el with mainly the Q binding, but that is now in init-email.el

starting

emacs -e “notmuch” with client it used to be different: emacsclient -e “(elfeed)” -e “(notmuch)” & emacsclient -c ~/aa/aa.org &

various commands

search|show|address|count reply tag dump|restore config

html

(global-set-key (kbd “<f6>”) ‘org-mime-edit-mail-in-org-mode) use to open a second window and write in orgmode C-c C-c will update orgified buffer to the original

(global-set-key (kbd “M-<f6>”) ‘org-mime-htmlize) htmlize the orgified buffer before sending with C-c C-c (as before)

searching

wildcards using ‘*’ operators +|-|AND|NOT|XOR|OR| brackets proximity NEAR ADJ phrases “Debian Project” <=> Debian ADJ/1 Project prefix freeform idea, but uses full item eg from: instead of f: range date:yr-mo-da..yr-mo-da | -5da..now | yesterday

man notmuch-search-terms

fetch/trash mechanism

use nmprg.sh) f|c|p|t

f files are left on server but not duplicated c) fdm fetch will remove them from server p) polls t) trash require ‘S’ on emails then nmprg.sh t moves them to ~/.trash

be careful using c) because if you read using spark or whatever on the server and leave the item as read, then using this removes them from the server, but we’re not sure where the email actually goes! yes we are now!!

we must be sure that we are running nmp from ~/ otherwise mail/ will be created wherever we are!

autocomplete email addresses

chose to use bbdb and use bbdb-vcard with contacts.vcf exported from google Go to http://contacts.google.com, click the menu “Export…>>vCard format (blah, blah …)”. Click “Export” button. Download the contacts.vcf into ~/Downloads then load into an emacs buffer and run

bbdb-snarf-vcard-buffer

Remember to save the bbdb buffer to .emacs.d/bbdb

gnus-alias to select identity

https://notmuchmail.org/emacstips/#index16h2 didn’t set rules use M-x gnus-alias-select-identity

external handlers for attachments

w - to save the attachment - though the default doesn’t always seem to work. . o allows reading the item provided you specify the type

sending email

evolution removals

for some reason, the setup for smtp wasn’t being picked up in the init.el file and that is why evolution kept coming up. instead of smtpmail-send-it the setting had changed to mailclient-send-it. this is nice to know in case we should ever require it in the future.

;; smtp (setq smtpmail-default-smtp-server “shawmail.gv.shawcable.net” send-mail-function ‘smtpmail-send-it user-full-name “prad” smtpmail-local-domain “towardsfreedom.com” user-mail-address “prad@towardsfreedom.com”) (require ‘smtpmail)

otherwise it defaults to evolution because gnome sets it, though we can change it to notmuch through settings.

vivaldi mail issue

however, what is the problem replying to vivaldi? no issues sending to vivaldi or replying to any other place it seems. changing the smtp to “mail.towardsfreedom.com” sent, but still the same problem with replying to vivaldi!

<2021-06-21 Mon> we are sending pradagio@vivaldi.net emails through smtp.vivaldi.net because shawmail wouldn’t send (even though it appeared to do so).

2 items noted:

gnus alias setup is sufficient (no need for msmtp) (“tf” nil ;; Does not refer to any other identity “prad <prad@towardsfreedom.com>” ;; Sender address “towardsfreedom.com” ;; Organization header ((“X-Message-SMTP-Method” . “smtp smtp.towardsfreedom.com 587”)) nil ;; extra body text “/.signature”) (“fm” ;;formal tf nil “prad basu <prad@towardsfreedom.com>” “prad basu” ;; Organization header ((“X-Message-SMTP-Method” . “smtp smtp.towardsfreedom.com 587”)) nil ;; No extra body text “/.signature.fm”) (“vv” nil “prad <pradagio@vivaldi.net>” “prader” ;; Organization header ((“X-Message-SMTP-Method” . “smtp smtp.vivaldi.net 587”)) nil ;; No extra body text “~/.signature.vv”) )
mail-host-address (setq mail-host-address “localhost”) couldn’t figure out how to change it via smtp on gnus-alias, but that’s probably not important however, we need this to prevent Message ID <87lf72na5y.fsf@schnell.i-did-not-set–mail-host-address–so-tickle-me> doing (“Message-ID” . “towardsfreedom.com”) didn’t work though it did get the item in there. receiving end produced: Message ID <60d15486.1c69fb81.90dc4.e612SMTPIN_ADDEDBROKEN@mx.google.com>

still getting a spf softfail: send from vivaldi -> tf reply from tf -> vivaldi don’t know why, but it probably doesn’t matter.

also unclear why .authinfo required vivaldi smtp info but nothing for tf

orgmode

manual

org macros

github link The macros in Org allow you to add text or code to an Org document that will be expanded during export: the text between the 3 pairs of accolades is expanded so that readers can see it in the exported versions of the document.

Some people (such as me) use it to construct complex HTML or LaTeX code.

13.5 Macro Replacement

the .#file issue with org-agenda-files

When that variable is set to ~/aa/*.org various files within the aa directory kept appearing making cycling awkward. We haven’t found out why though the problem started around <2023-07-22 Sat> for some reason. Possibly, having the default ~/org directory would have caused those files to end up there (which really isn’t the best solution). Setting the default org-directory to aa seems to have worked albeit the idea is pretty counter-intuitive.

org agenda

Cycle the org agenda directory with C-’ (which seems to be a default setup). packages

melpa vs melpa-stable

Packages are identified when we look at M-x package-list-packages

update packages

M-x list-packages and it will automatically refresh the archive contents.

Then, press U to mark all upgradable packages to be upgraded.

Last, press x to perform the new updates.

Emacs will then download and install all upgradable packages. It will also ask you whether to delete the old packages: M-x package-autoremove

Doing it this way seems better than package-refresh-contents package-install (if package-reinstall doesn’t work)

table

If ; isn’t a separator by default: C-u C-u C-u C-c | ; RET

package

removing packages

To remove unnecessary or unwanted packages in Emacs, follow these steps:

Open Emacs.
Press `M-x` (Alt + x) to invoke the command prompt.
Type `package-list-packages` and press Enter.
In the Packages buffer, locate the packages you want to remove.
Mark them for deletion by pressing `d` (package-menu-mark-delete).
Execute the deletion by pressing `x` (package-menu-execute).
Confirm the removal when prompted in the mini-buffer.

This process will remove the actual files associated with the packages from the `~/.emacs.d/elpa` directory¹. Happy cleaning! 🧹🚀

Source: Conversation with Copilot, 6/18/2024 (1) How to remove an installed package in Emacs (ver 24+)?. https://stackoverflow.com/questions/16469600/how-to-remove-an-installed-package-in-emacs-ver-24. (2) uninstallation - How remove emacs full? - Stack Overflow. https://stackoverflow.com/questions/57895073/how-remove-emacs-full. (3) Package Menu (GNU Emacs Manual). https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/emacs/Package-Menu.html. (4) apt - how to uninstall emacs from command line? - Ask Ubuntu. https://askubuntu.com/questions/604733/how-to-uninstall-emacs-from-command-line. (5) Uninstalling a package and all of its dependencies - Emacs Stack Exchange. https://emacs.stackexchange.com/questions/31888/uninstalling-a-package-and-all-of-its-dependencies.

update packages

Certainly! To update packages in Emacs, follow these steps:

Open Emacs.
Type `M-x list-packages` and press Enter. This command lists all installed packages and automatically refreshes the package archive contents.
In the Packages buffer, press `U` to mark all upgradable packages.
Finally, press `x` to perform the updates. Emacs will download and install the new versions of the packages. It will also prompt you to delete the old packages if necessary¹².

Happy updating! 🚀🔧

Source: Conversation with Copilot, 6/18/2024 (1) elpa - Updating packages in Emacs - Stack Overflow. https://stackoverflow.com/questions/14836958/updating-packages-in-emacs. (2) How to upgrade packages installed by ELPA in Emacs?. https://www.systutorials.com/how-to-upgrade-packages-installed-by-elpa-in-emacs/. (3) Keeping Your Emacs Packages Up to Date - System Crafters. https://systemcrafters.net/emacs-from-scratch/keeping-your-packages-up-to-date/. (4) How to update packages installed with use-package. https://emacs.stackexchange.com/questions/31872/how-to-update-packages-installed-with-use-package. (5) undefined. http://tromey.com/elpa/. (6) undefined. http://elpa.gnu.org/packages/. (7) undefined. http://marmalade-repo.org/packages/. (8) undefined. http://melpa.milkbox.net/packages/.

profiler

Option 2: The profiler

Invoke M-x profiler-start RET RET (the second RET is to confirm cpu);
Do some typing, preferably an entire paragraph or more;
Invoke M-x profiler-report.

That will give you a buffer describing the cpu time taken by each function. Hitting TAB on a line expands it to display the functions inside it. Navigate this buffer until you find out which function is taking so much CPU time. https://emacs.stackexchange.com/questions/5359/how-can-i-troubleshoot-a-very-slow-emacs

we tried this to figure out AC mode was slowing things down, but we already knew that. Not sure what to do about it though.

pinky solution

One way of not injuring the left pinky even after making CAPS into CTRL is to use different fingers to push it. That way the usage is distributed and the hands move around more too.

TODO regexp

Likely not worth paying in-depth attention to since it is not pcre. However, some of the uses can be helpful especially for simple things.

search file system

SFS is a collection of inter-operating emacs tools to make accessing and organizing your data faster and more ergonomic. It is largely powered by the Recoll file-indexing tool.

This may be worth pursuing eventually !!!

sessions

Use the default M-x save-sessions to ~/.emacs.d/session-buffers to get all back. Sometimes certain buffers get persistent because session-buffers keeps them, so delete the buffers and save-session again.

smartparens

Pair management haven’t been able to deal with ~~ and // in org-mode yet !!!

spellcheck

be sure aspell or whatever is installed. M-$
Check and correct spelling of the word at point (ispell-word). If the region is active, do it for all words in the region instead.

M-x ispell
Check and correct spelling of all words in the buffer. If the region is active, do it for all words in the region instead.

M-x ispell-buffer
Check and correct spelling in the buffer.

M-x ispell-region
Check and correct spelling in the region.

tab-bar

Likely not of much use since we tend to prefer buffers anyway.

C-x t 2 creates a new tab
C-tab next tab
C-S-tab prev tab
C-x t r rename tab
C-x t m move tab to right
C-x t RET select tab by name
M-x tab-list list tabs

tab completion

Setup in init-keybindings.el with (require ‘helm) (define-key helm-map (kbd “TAB”) ‘helm-execute-persistent-action)

terminals

The ansi-term gives colors, but term doesn’t. C-c C-j linemode to use M-x

Code runs ansi-term without the zsh prompt:

;; use ansi-term with zsh
(defun zterm ()
  "term to use zsh"
  (interactive)
  (ansi-term "zsh"))

(M-)s-a (close) open terminal in second window

;; other terms
s-' ansi-term full window
s-. eshell
s-y term with zsh (likely to use very rarely)

There is nothing wrong in allowing ansi-terms to accumulate even if we do not go back to them, though we might if they are involved in specific tasks. In order to name the ansi-terms we need to go into line-mode (C-c C-j) and not character-mode (C-c C-k), so we can use M-x rename-buffer.

In line mode, it reads an entire line and permits various emacs editing operations on it, then sends it to the process all at once when you’re done (press Enter). In char mode, each character is sent through as soon as you press the key - dealing with lines, editing, and so on is up to the process running in the terminal, such as your shell.

Why might you want to use one over the other? Line mode allows you to perform Emacs editing operations on what you write, to accumulate multiple lines to send through at once, and to perform tab completion of filenames in Emacs. See the list of commands in shell mode for details. Character mode lets you use all the features of the underlying process, like its own (likely better) tab completion, rather than the Emacs operations, and also to send through inputs that Emacs would have interpreted as referring to its own commands (like Ctrl-X). This is also the mode you’d want if you wanted to run vim inside emacs.

An ordinary terminal operates in the equivalent of character mode. Line-mode vs Character-mode explanation

Clean-up of ansi-terms can be done in the same way as clean-up of sent-mail buffers: % n RET <pattern> marks the buffers by name after which use D to delete them. See .

Macros have been created for ‘aterm s-a ‘aterm-rm M-s-a

For some reason, aterm does not let M-x to work - get execute: showing up in the window. Usually we would M-x to rename-buffer, but a shortcut exists: C-x x r and that will bring up the rename-buffer command.

themes

(add-to-list ‘custom-theme-load-path “~/.emacs.d/themes/”) M-x customize-themes

tramp

We can use ssh|sudo from rootdir with // and once we tramp into another computer the eshell works there (should we want it to).

hanging with ssh

https://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/TrampMode put in the remote .zshrc

[[ $TERM == "dumb"]] && unsetopt zle && PS1='$ ' &&

this is a zsh issue because people have said that when the switch to bash it all works.

<2023-09-22 Fri> stopped working for some reason, but a better solution is to use sshx which uses /bin/sh instead of zsh

ssh with sudo

C-x C-f /ssh:psinom::sudo:psinom:

variables

shell-mode-map is void

shell-mode-map is a variable that is defined in the file shell.el which is not loaded yet, so the variable is undefined.

(require ‘shell) before you try use the variable. post

save and apply

This can be done through the emacs customize menu, but to do alter a variable permanently through the minibuffer, use M-x customize-

vc

A “version control system” is a program that can record multiple versions of a source file, storing information such as the creation time of each version, who made it, and a description of what was changed. Emacs VC supports git and several others and is enabled whenever a file under VC is visited.

Commands reachable with prefix C-x v <tab>

Much more to investigate !!!

zz

agenda cycling extra buffers

Cycling through the agenda dir sometimes produces empty buffers of the same name starting with .# and we think this may be because extra files of the same name somehow get created. Deleting the buffers doesn’t get rid of them, because they keep coming back. However, if we M-x reload-dot-emacs after deleting them, the problem goes away.

issue with [I ] on first word

we don’t really know what the problem is though it seems to have something to do with the TERM variable. it occurs with emacs -nw, but not with sudo emacs -nw probably because at the time this was written, there was no .emacs in /root as evidenced by a solution which works with emacs -nw -Q.

What does work if using gnome-terminal is TERM=gnome-256color

enter giving Wrong type argument: stringp, nil

inserting the doc with C-x C-i didn’t work hopefully copying the items one by one will we will also leave orgmode to its own file

close help window without going to it

(setq help-window-select t) that way when using q, it closes the help window since it is already there.

re-able window

C-z isn’t nil (the keybind is commented). It seems to sort of disable the window, but going to another emacsclient window re-activates the cursor. With a standalone emacs, clicking on the menu brings it back.

read-only toggle

C-x C-q

block commenting trick

we don’t really need this since emacs is setup with C-M-c and C-M-S-c for comments

: '
This is a
very neat comment
in bash
'
echo "This is outside the commented block"

Executing the above code would result in: This is outside the commented block https://stackoverflow.com/questions/947897/block-comments-in-a-shell-script

uses

coding
- clj
- zsh
- php
- openscad
- html
email
writing
- stories
- librettos
- papers
lilypond
orgmode

Pradbird

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 19:26:32 -0700

We used to live near the water when we moved in 1995 to Duncan, BC on Khenipsen Road, beside a First Nations area. It was a very nice place, except for the hunting and fishing that took place there.

Unfortunately, not only were these activities legalized, but there were many instances of illegal killings as well. That’s what this is - killing regardless of the euphemisms used or the appeal to Indigenous ‘rights’ that are often put forth as an excuse to commit murder. [For more thorough discussions on this Indigenous issue, see KG’s FAQ.]

Admittedly, some of the First Nation population do kill animals necessarily for food, because our dominant ruling class stole their lands and forced inexcusable indignities upon them. Our politicians pay mere lipservice, bravadoing putrid political properness, accomplishing little else to improve the often horrible living conditions. No amount of redundant repetition of “We greet you from the unceded lands of …” blather does anything useful for those who can’t subsist on such well-meaning words.

On the other hand, some murders in societies are for cultural and traditional reasons, indefensible by any deplorable debate.

The person we rented our house from was a lawyer and had made some attempts to ban hunting in the area at least for non-Indigenous individuals. However, he was in favor of fishing. When my son Kyron, who had recently turned six asked him why killing fish should be allowed, he provided an anthropocentricity remarkable in its absurdity: “The fish would just go to waste if we didn’t harvest them.” Adults lie to kids a lot which is likely why many kids grow up to be adults who lie to kids a lot, repeating the cycle in perpetuity. Kyron gave the lawyer a sincere look of disgust and decided he wasn’t worth talking to any further.

The shooting of eagles, at that time, had been made illegal.

In late November 1995, we witnessed such a illegality. Kyron and his friend Leia drew our attention to an eagle they saw plummeting into the estuary, just in front of our house. The bird was flopping around in the water.

Fortunately, the property had a canoe (in dubious condition) that I utilized to go out to the bird. The eagle actually helped me to put him into the canoe by grasping the side with his beak as I used an oar to lift him in.

By now, the canoe was starting to fill up with water. Trying to manoeuvre a half-filled boat apparently made quite a sight. I was told that Leia started to laugh and asked Kyron why I was going around in circles. All Kyron said was “My daddy is doing good.” This is one of the best gifts any parent can ever receive from his or her child.

Providence kept the boat barely afloat till we got to shore, but it was evident that the eagle was going to need medical help. That night, I drove him to Nanaimo where there was a eagle rehab facility.

I thought the bird would be safe now, but was astonished to learn that the veterinarian there, was inclined to kill him, because he thought the bullet had broken a wing bone beyond repair, making the bird unable to fly. He wouldn’t let me take the bird elsewhere either. He was a high-profile vet who had set many of the wildlife guidelines through the government.

He kept saying he was powerless to make any other decision, but didn’t seem too pleased when I offered to break into the facility to take the bird without his knowledge, thus relieving him of this burden his conscience was so weighed down with.

Therefore, the next day I started phoning around trying to see what the actual laws were, only to learn that the vet had the upper hand, legally.

On the same day, we also found out, from a conservation officer named Jamie that the eagle had likely been shot because some brave braves, no doubt were upholding their rite of passage into bravehood, by plucking eagle feathers. It was likely that they didn’t come for the eagle they shot, because they saw I was heading out and didn’t want to risk being caught for their illegal activity. The officer took down any details I could provide, because he was keenly interested in going after these culprits.

When the law is there to work against you, it is necessary to create alternative approaches.

I found 5 facilities throughout North America (including one within 50km of where the eagle was at), who were willing to take the bird, even if he couldn’t fly. These facilities were sanctuaries for animals who could not be released into the wild. I also tried to put some pressure on the government’s Ministry for Wildlife as to the ridiculous position they were upholding, specifically fly or die!

After many exchanges (part of the effort is to wear down the opposition with argumentation and revelation of possible legal, publicized future actions), I received a phone call from the Ministry saying they would only kill the eagle if amputation was absolutely necessary … so the sanctuary finding effort likely paid off.

However, our eagle had other ideas!

The next day, I received a call from the Nanaimo rehab facility saying that the surgery had been done and our vet felt that amputation was not necessary. He wanted to give the bird a chance to recover before release into the wild.

Several weeks later, the facility called me again asking if I would like to come up to see the release of whom they had named, Pradbird!

Kyron, Ranjana and I drove to Nanaimo on the appointed day and just before they released Pradbird, the person who ran the sanctuary held him right in front of us. The eagle looked straight at me and gave a cry. Then they threw him into the air and he flew off, landing on a branch of a distant tree!

Ranjana likes to think that it was a cry of recognition. Perhaps it was.

The Spirit of the Tao

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 13:10:37 -0700

A small book with many large ideas that are universally valid.

Taoist teachings have arisen in many forms: abstract aphorisms, philosophical discussions, legends, fables—even jokes. All are represented here, culled from the most popular Taoist classics: the Tao-te Ching, Chuang-tzu, Huai-nan-tzu, and Wen-tzu, stories from the “Tales of Inner Meaning,” and teachings of the Taoist patriarch Ancestor Lu. The spirit of the Tao manifests in myriad images, brought to life in this superb translation—from the ever-keen blade of a Taoist butcher to the mechanical miracles of inventor Ken Shiwa, from little boys baiting the great Confucius to mountain hermits disappearing in the mist, from the six robber organs that obscure the primordial to the ineffable mystery of mysteries.
Amazon

The Stone

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 13:06:37 -0700

Nanak was a travelling guru. He visited many places in India, Arabia and Mesopotamia.

In Mecca is the Ka’aba, the sacred stone of the Muslims.

One morning nanak was found sleeping with his feet turned to the stone! Some Muslims were furious!

“How dare you be so insulting! How dare you sleep with you feet towards the face of God!”

Gently, Nanak says: “Very well then. Turn my feet to where God is not.”

Source: Pictures From Mystics

The Ailment

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 13:03:23 -0700

The following is a well-known tale from the Liezi attributed to Taoist Lie Yukou.

It appears in various translations such as A.C. Graham’s The Book of Lieh-tzu (p82 pdf) and Eva Wong’s Lieh-tzu: A Taoist Guide to Practical Living. The following is quoted from the Thomas Cleary translation (details provided at the end):

Lung Shu said to the physician Wen Chi, “Your art is subtle. I have an ailment; can you cure it?”

The physician said, “I will do as you say, but first tell me about your symptoms.”

Lung Shu said, “I am not honoured when the whole village praises me, nor am I ashamed when the whole country criticises me. Gain does not make me happy, loss does not grieve me. I look upon life as like death, and see wealth as like poverty. I view people as like pigs, and see myself as like others. At home I am as though at an inn, and I look upon my native village as like a foreign country. With these afflictions, rewards cannot encourage me, punishments cannot threaten me. I cannot be changed by flourishing or decline, gain or loss; I cannot be moved by sorrow or happiness. Thus I cannot serve the government, associate with friends, run my household, or control my servants. What sickness is this? Is there a way to cure it?”

The physician had Lung Shu stand with his back to the light while he looked into his chest. After a while he said, “Ah! I see your heart; it is empty! You are nearly a sage. Six of the apertures of your heart are open, one of them is closed. This may be why you think the wisdom of a sage is an ailment. It cannot be stopped by my shallow art.”

Source: The Spirit of the Tao - Thomas Cleary (1998) - Shambala IBSN 1-57062-370-8

We think there is much merit in not being affected by things like criticism (praise is merely criticism in disguise), reward or punishment. Also, the wisdom of this budding sage seems to be much preferable to some sages in Hindu mythology who would fly into remarkable rages (ie sage rage) leading to very uncivil behaviors. However, being a sage does not mean one is exempt from action - the only exemption is from attachment to the result of the action.

Understand Me

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 12:59:51 -0700

A zen master was teaching a class.

One fidgety student was bored and gradually got irritated, because he had decided he couldn’t grasp the ideas. This is not surprising since zen is not something to grasp. After all, when one asks “How do you carry zen?”, the answer is often “in your empty hand.”

In any case, such koans were not something this student wanted to deal with, so eventually he spoke out in frustration:
“I can’t understand a thing you are saying.”

Master looked at him while all waited in hushed silence at what the master was going to do.

Master said: “Please stand up.”
The student stood up.

Master said: “Please come here.”
The student walked to the master.

Master said: “Please sit down right here.”
The student did as asked.

Then master said: “There! You see how well you understand me!”

Needless to say, the student progressed very well afterwards, so well, in fact, that one day the zen master typically threw him out the window, because there was nothing left for him to learn in that class.

Source: Zen Comics by Ioanna Zalajan

Thousandfold

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 10:50:39 -0700

There is a fine story of a poor old lady who was selling some fruit she had gathered in order to make ends meet.

As she walked back and forth on the streets calling people to come and buy, the child Krishna, disguised as a beggar boy, walked up to her asking to eat some fruit from her basket.

She was a kind one and though it would cost her, she didn’t refuse him. The child ate every one, thanked her and left!

As she wondered about her loss, she looked down at her empty basket to find it was filled with jewels.

So it is that when you give selflessly to Krishna [or to something truly worthwhile], you are returned a thousandfold!

Source: Pictures from Mystics by T.L. Vaswani

Here is another version of this famous story.

Pictures From Mystics

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 10:36:25 -0700

A beautiful collection of short stories cross religions and cultures told by Swami Vaswani that often show the way to living properly. It is from the East and West Series.

The book is no longer in print as far as we know, but may possibly be found in some collections.

The Poor Rich Girl

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 10:15:25 -0700

Buddha asked his disciples to help the poor during a great famine. A very wealthy man spoke up, “Not all my wealth can feed the hungry - there are so many!”

Others talked loud and long with great consternation wondering how they could possibly solve such a dilemma even for the Buddha!

Then a young girl rose to speak, “Master I am a beggar. I shall feed the hungry as you ask!”

“You?”, many sneered. “You who are so poor. You can barely feed yourself. How will you feed so many?”

Calmly the girl answered, “Yes I am the poorest in your midst, but am I not also the richest, too? Have I not my share in the wealth of the wealthiest who give me alms. I shall call at every home and ask for my share to go the service of the poor.”

All were moved by her devotion to Buddha’s request and gave out of their abundance to feed the poor and the true famine was thus overcome.

Source: Pictures from Mystics by T.L. Vaswani

Zen Mind Beginners Mind

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 02:11:59 -0700

A zen literature classic that contains much wisdom and enlightenment.

Seldom has such a small handful of words provided a teaching as rich as has this famous opening line. In a single stroke, the simple sentence cuts through the pervasive tendency students have of getting so close to Zen as to completely miss what it’s all about. An instant teaching on the first page. And that’s just the beginning.
Amazon

Radical Zen

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 23:45:55 -0700

An intriguing book with many items about and attributed to Joshu.

… many of our standard stereotypes of the Zen Master can be traced to this figure–irascible and blunt, down-to-earth and practical, prone to answer religious questions with seemingly off-the wall non-sequiturs and paradoxes if not a good sharp smack in the face.
Amazon

(Also available for previewing as a pdf from here.)

Zen Comics

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 23:36:07 -0700

Truly an excellent way to encounter zen, these cartoons present many of the koans delightfully!

Comics communicate the Zen spirit perfectly. Laughter deflates pretension and a good rap on the head sometimes transcends so-called logic. In the words of Zen, “Nothing is left for you but to laugh!”
Goodreads

Prazen

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 13:55:56 -0700

These are zenish short stories merrily modified from various sources.

Zen Comics by Ioanna Zalajan
Radical Zen: The Sayings of Joshu by Youl Hoffmann

A man of enlightenment and wisdom

Student: Oh master, where does the man of enlightenment and wisdom go after he dies?

Master: How should I know?

Student: Because you, master, are a man of enlightenment and wisdom!

Master: That may be so, but I am not dead.

Become a Buddha

Zen master Baso, when he was young, was caught meditating all over the place by his teacher who asked him “Why are you meditating so much?”

Baso answered, “To become a buddha.”

His teacher pick up a piece of slate and started polishing it.

Baso asked, “Why are you polishing the slate so vigorously?”

Teacher replied, “To turn it into a mirror.”

Baso laughed, “No amount of polishing is going to turn a slate into a mirror?”

Teacher replied, “No amount of cross-legged sitting is going to turn one into a buddha”

Baso then understood.

But just to be sure, his teacher hit him with a staff on the head.

Detachment

The student went to the zen master in elation!

“Oh master,” he joyously exclaimed, “I am so happy and feel so free. I have achieved detachment at last!”

The master hit him on the head with a stick.

“Owww!! Why did you do that?” whined the student rubbing his head.

The master said, “To detach you from your detachment”.

Empty

The elated student rushed in to see his master!

“I am empty! I have released my attachments!”, he exclaimed.

“Indeed.” said his master.

“I have no desires! I have no yearnings! I have no ego! I am empty!”

The master hit him on the head with his staff.

“Owww!!!”, yelled the student in pain and anger. “Why did you do that, old monk?”

His master asked: “If you are so empty, where did all that anger come from?”

Essence

Monk: What is the essence of essences?

Joshu: Just how long have you been essencing yourself up like this?

Monk: My concern for discovering essence has been going for a long, long time.

Joshu: A fool such as you are lucky to have met me just in time, before you completely essenced yourself out!

Go away!

A would-be student knocked on the gate of a zen master. The master opened the gate and asked: “What do you want?”

The student answered: “O master you are so learned. I beg you to teach me!”

The master slammed the gate shut.

The student knocked again.

“What do you want now?”

“Please, please I must have you as my teacher.”

Again the master slammed the gate shut.

Once again the student knocked.

“What is it now?”

“Master please! i really want to learn!”

The master said: “Very well then” and open the gate.

Once inside, the elated and beaming student asked: “Master! what are you going to teach me first?”

The master replied: “To go away!”

and promptly threw the student out and slammed the gate.

Knowledge and Understanding

When the ordinary man gains knowledge, he becomes a sage.
When the sage achieves understanding, he becomes an ordinary man.

Seeing the tao

Student: Master why can I not see tao?

Master: So long as there is an I, there is no seeing tao.

Student: Master can you see tao?

Master: So long as there is you and I, tao cannot be seen.

Student: Then if you and I disappear, can tao be seen?

Master: If you and I disappear, who is there to see tao?

So what boy?

A monk in training says to the zen master: “Greetings master! I have travelled much and studied under many acquiring much guidances and insight. I come now to you for illumination!”

The master scratches his head and picks up a twig on the ground. Without saying anything, he gives the student the twig. The student assumes the zazen posture and meditates deeply. In his mind, the twig grows into a tree and then is produced a beautiful orchard which gradually blossoms into a field, a country, the planet and finally the universe!

He goes back to the master and relates these wonders: all life is one in its eternal existence with everything else animate and inanimate - such is the ubiquitous unity of the universe!

The master scratches his head again, takes the twig from the monk’s outstretched hand and asks: “So what boy?”

The duel

An aikido master was heading to a town where he knew there was someone insisting on challenging him. He could have taken the person down easily, but he would not let ego dictate and he passed through the outskirts avoiding his would-be opponent.

Thus the master won the real duel.

The flag

A zen master and two students were walking on a path through the forest. as they came out of it they saw a flag pole with a large flag fluttering in the breeze.

One student exclaimed, “Look the flag is moving!”

His companion thought for a moment and suggested, “The wind is moving!”

The master said, “The mind is moving.”

The precious stone

When two dragons fight over a precious stone which one wins?
The one who loses lacks nothing. The one who gains does not need it.

The two dragons

The student went to the master with what he found to be a wonderfully enlightening story:

An old man told his grandson, “There is a battle between two dragons inside us all. One is evil. It is anger, jealousy, greed, apathy, lies, ego and fear. The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, kindness, humility, empathy and truth. The boy thought about it and asked, “Grandpa, which dragon wins?” The old man quietly replied, “The one you feed.”

“Such a great story, is it not master?”, concluded the student.

The master smiled and said, “It is that, but what makes you think either dragon is hungry?”

Praphorisms

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 12:08:14 -0700

This is an ever-growing list of quotations attributed to various individuals throughout history.

Al-Khafaji Amir Wadi

To my brother Faiz, whose ideals are like the stars: I could never reach them, but I chart my course by them. (dedication in Numerical Methods In Engineering Practice)

Adams Samuel

“Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt.” essay in The Public Advertiser, 1749

Angelkate Rose

(Aka meangel; paingel; derangel; strangel; spongel because she’s such a softie when she wants to be; braingel when being intellectual; pungel when being punny.)

I was eternally safe in the stillness of forever, which was the ultimate truth.

Guided by your hand, illuminated by your light
You give me courage to do what is right

Love from beyond now I understand
You only want to give when you hold out your hand

When a fork is tuned… it is tuned.

I wasn’t sure if I would be able to take a pic of the source of creation on a sony/canon.

Hm… then neither do I!

Is it so much about what I think… or is it pure joy at the gift having been received with pure joy?

Perhaps not so much invisible… because when I point it out… you look in that direction and see it too! Sees the same rainbow

I had a pretty good devil around whom I feel angelic. ;)

The song of your soul crystalised into music. It is like there is such a deep connection to the still centre… that all movement is grounded in that… as that.

Hymn to Her is the perfect title because it is her singing his lyrics… just the way that he wrote them… because tracing his steps makes her feel closer to him… as if they were singing together. She is not making the song her own… she is hearing his song through her own lips… as if their minds are one in that moment.

He continues to lecture himself through her… Lose the image of being ‘someone who doesn’t do this often’… because it is not even about music… it is about channelling… and when channelling… there is no time… and no image… and no music.

Well… while she’s on a role… When one is on the right side… one need not hit home with accuracy… but merely acknowledge that one is already home!

it is about accepting the seemingly extraordinary as ordinary.

== From: Angelkate Rose <angelkaterose@aol.co.uk> Subject: Re: Hey :) To: prad@towardsfreedom.com Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2012 16:59:35 -0400 (EDT)

I have been looking at my false-self because I cannot live with it and have been trying to ‘change’ it… but I have realised that when I change a perception of myself to it’s opposite and supposed ‘positive’ alternative, I still feel uncomfortable, disconnected and still in ego, plus it doesn’t feel authentic because I am also sometimes the ’negative’ thing that I am attempting to escape having a part of my identity. So I realised that any identity is a limitation, because I am not just one thing- I am two opposites and I am neither of them, I am everything and I am nothing. An identity is a set of labels and that is my suffering… so perhaps by seeing that I am both I can realise that I am nothing and therefore I can choose what to be in each moment… any preconceived idea that I have of myself veils my awareness of what I exist as in the moment… of what arises.

From: prad <prad@towardsfreedom.com> Subject: Re: Hey :) To: Angelkate Rose <angelkaterose@aol.co.uk> Date: Mon, 09 Jul 2012 18:12:55 -0700

why not just pick an image that you find worthwhile and just be it. ==

Bach Richard

And then you will be ready to begin the most difficult, the most powerful, the most fun of all. You will be ready to begin to fly up and know the meaning of kindness and love.

Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they’re yours.

Don’t be dismayed by good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends.

Here is a test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: If you’re alive, it isn’t.

Jonathan is that brilliant little fire that burns within us all, that lives only for those moments when we reach perfection.

The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life. Rarely do members of the same family grow up under the same roof.

Bentham Jeremy

The question is not, Can they reason? nor Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?”

BigG

Thanks just came back from Thompson no wonder this province is ranked high for many diseases. Obesity is rampant. I honestly believe most humans are not being humans anymore with all the gmo processed foods, meds, booze and drugs the light is on but no one is home in many of them. I think we are in the age of gmo humans.

Bridgeman Percy William

The operational approach demands that we make our reports and do our thinking in the freshest terms of which we are capable, in which we strip off the sophistications of millenia of culture and report as directly as we can on what happens.

The attitude which the man in the street unconsciously adopts towards science is capricious and varied. At one moment he scorns the scientist for a highbrow, at another anathematizes him for blasphemously undermining his religion; but at the mention of a name like Edison he falls into a coma of veneration.

Coincidence is what you have left over when you apply a bad theory.

[He believed that through such pursuit humanity really will improve, that it would acquire a “courageous nobility”]
And in the end, when man has fully partaken of the fruit of the tree of knowledge, there will be this difference between the first Eden and the last, that man will not become as a god, but remain forever humble.

Cowper William

Life owes us nothing. We owe life everything. The only true happiness comes from squandering ourselves for a [worthwhile] purpose.

Dijkstra Edsger

The question of whether machines can think is about as relevant as the question of whether submarines can swim.

Dunham Barrows

Historically speaking, the content of philosophy is what is left over after the sciences departed. Nobody took ethics, not even the sociologists; nobody took logic; nobody took esthetics, nobody took (for who would want?) metaphysics. These subjects, therefore, remain part of philosophy’s content, despite the fact that the mathematicians eye logic covetously and the gentlemen of the fine arts would like to ravish esthetics. The subjects themselves, I am happy to report, have thus far resisted all blandishments. (from Man Against Myth p.11)

Emerson Haven

[The following gem is from an address given in 1928 by Dr. Haven Emerson, Columbia University]

Youth is not a time of life. It is a state of mind. It is not a matter of ripe cheeks, red lips and supple knees. It is a temper of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the motions. Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the love of ease. This often exists in a man of 50 more than in a youth of 20. Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old only by deserting their ideals. Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, doubt, self-distrust, fear and despair - these are the long years that bow the head and turn the growing spirit back to dust. You are as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair.

Emerson Ralph Waldo

It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.

Einstein Albert

As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain; and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality.

Although I am a typical loner in daily life, my consciousness of belonging to the invisible community of those who strive for truth, beauty, and justice keeps me from feeling isolated. (Courtesy of Miriam)

Cinderella (Disney 2015)

I believe that animals listen and speak to us if we only have the ear for it. That’s how we learn to look after them … I have to tell you a secret that will see you through all the trials that life can offer. Have courage and be kind.
~ Ella’s mother

Just because it’s what’s done doesn’t mean it’s what should be done!
~ Ella

And so Kit and Ella were married. And I can tell you, as her fairy godmother, that they were counted to be the fairest and kindest rulers the kingdom had known. And Ella continued to see the world not as it is, but as it could be, if only you believe in courage, and kindness, and occasionally, just a little bit… of magic.
~ Ella’s fairy godmother

Francis of Assissi

All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.

If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who deal likewise with their fellow men. Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission - to be of service to them wherever they require it.

Lord, grant me the strength to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love, Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive, It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Frank Anne

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.

Women should be respected as well! Generally speaking, men are held in great esteem in all parts of the world, so why shouldn’t women have their share? Soldiers and war heroes are honored and commemorated, explorers are granted immortal fame, martyrs are revered, but how many people look upon women too as soldiers?…Women, who struggle and suffer pain to ensure the continuation of the human race, make much tougher and more courageous soldiers than all those big-mouthed freedom-fighting heroes put together!

I know what I want, I have a goal, an opinion, I have a religion and love. Let me be myself and then I am satisfied. I know that I’m a woman, a woman with inward strength and plenty of courage.

Boys will be boys. And even that wouldn’t matter if only we could prevent girls from being girls.

Earning happiness means doing good and working, not speculating and being lazy. Laziness may look inviting, but only work gives you true satisfaction.

People who have a religion should be glad, for not everyone has the gift of believing in heavenly things.

Franklin Benjamin

Debates [should] be conducted in the sincere spirit of inquiry after truth, without […] desire of victory.

Galbraith John

Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it’s just the opposite.

Gale Donald

A pessimist, they say, sees a glass of water as being half empty; an optimist sees the same glass as half full. But a giving person sees a glass of water and starts looking for someone who might be thirsty.

Gandi Mahatma

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.

An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it.

Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.

When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it - always.

It is better to be violent, if there is violence in our hearts, than to put on the cloak of nonviolence to cover impotence.

My nonviolence does not admit of running away from danger and leaving dear ones unprotected. Between violence and cowardly flight, I can only prefer violence to cowardice. I can no more preach nonviolence to a coward than I can tempt a blind man to enjoy healthy scenes.

One needs to be slow to form convictions, but once formed they must be defended against the heaviest odds.

Non-cooperation with evil is as much a duty as is cooperation with good.

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.

I abhor vivisection with my whole soul. All the scientific discoveries stained with innocent blood I count as of no consequence.

Experience teaches that animal food is unsuited to those who would curb their passions. But it is wrong to over-estimate the importance of food in the formation of character or in subjugating the flesh.

I hold today the same opinion as I held then. To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being.

I hold flesh-food to be unsuited to our species. We err in copying the lower animal world if we are superior to it.

I do feel that spiritual progress does demand at some stage that we should cease to kill our fellow creatures for the satisfaction of our bodily wants.

A ‘No’ uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a ‘Yes’ merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble.

Gell-Mann Murray

However, history shows clearly that humanity is moved forward not by people who stop every little while to try to gauge the ultimate success or failure of their ventures, but by those who think deeply about what is right and then put all their energy into doing it

Gibran Kahil

Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution.

Gould Glenn

The purpose of art is not the release of a momentary ejection of adrenaline but rather the gradual, lifelong construction of a state of wonder and serenity. (In his recordings, Gould sought to overcome our basis instincts and encourage a kind of altered state of consciousness, a participation in some kind of higher unity.)

Isolation is the indispensable component of human happiness.

Theirs [the Beatles] is a happy, cocky, belligerently resourceless brand of harmonic primitivism… In the Liverpudlian repertoire, the indulged amateurishness of the musical material, though closely rivaled by the indifference of the performing style, is actually surpassed only by the ineptitude of the studio production method. (Strawberry Fields suggests a chance encounter at a mountain wedding between Claudio Monteverdi and a jug band.)

I detest audiences - not in their individual components, but en masse I detest audiences. I think they’re a force of evil. It seems to me rule of mob law.

The nature of the contrapuntal experience is that every note has to have a past and a future on the horizontal plane.

We went out in the boat and I was the first to catch a fish and when the little perch came up and started wriggling about, I suddenly saw this thing entirely from the fish’s point of view - it was such a powerful experience. I picked up my fish, and said I was going to throw it back. At that moment - this has remained with me as a sort of block against people who exert influence over children - the father [a neighbor from Uptergrove] suddenly pushed me back into my seat, probably for the sensible reason that I was rocking the boat. Then he took the fish out of my reach at which I went into a tantrum and started jumping and up and down, stomping my feet and pulling my hair and stuff like that. And I kept it up until we got into shore. I refused to speak to those children for the rest of the summer, of course, and I immediately went to work on my father to convince him that he should abandon fishing. It took me ten years, but this is probably the greatest thing I have ever done.

Graham Collier

The influence of a beautiful, helpful character is contagious, and may revolutionize a whole town.

Grenfell Wilfred

The service we render to others is really the rent we pay for our room on this earth. It is obvious that man is himself a traveler; that the purpose of this world is not “to have and to hold” but “to give and serve.” There can be no other meaning.

Huxley Thomas Henry

It is the fate of all good science to be replaced by its progeny.

There is but one right, and the possibilities of wrong are infinite.

The ultimate court of appeal is observation and experiment… not authority.

The scientific spirit is of more value than its products, and irrationally held truths may be more harmful than reasoned errors.

The only question which any wise man can ask himself, and which any honest man will ask himself, is whether a doctrine is true or false.

Time, whose tooth gnaws away everything else, is powerless against truth.

Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.

Science is simply common sense at its best, that is, rigidly accurate in observation, and merciless to fallacy in logic.

Sit down before fact as a little child, be prepared to give up every conceived notion, follow humbly wherever and whatever abysses nature leads, or you will learn nothing.

Teach a child what is wise, that is morality. Teach him what is wise and beautiful, that is religion!

The politicians tell us, ’You must educate the masses because they are going to be masters.’ The clergy join in the cry for education, for they affirm that the people are drifting away from church and chapel into the broadest infidelity. The manufacturers and the capitalists swell the chorus lustily. They declare that ignorance makes bad workmen; that England will soon be unable to turn out cotton goods, or steam engines, cheaper than other people; and then, Ichabod! Ichabod! The glory will be departed from us. And a few voices are lifted up in favour of the doctrine that the masses should be educated because they are men and women with unlimited capacities of being, doing, and suffering, that it is as true now, as it ever was, that the people perish for lack of knowledge.

Jake

What this serves to demonstrate, is that just because an action is more drastic, does not mean that it’s more effective. Burning down one factory farm and getting caught doesn’t make you a hero to animals, it makes you a hero to your target’s competitors.

When you allocate your sloth wisely, productivity ensues.

Make compassion a reflex!

King Martin Luther

We do not need allies who are more devoted to order than to justice.

Never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.

A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.

Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can’t ride you unless your back is bent.

A right delayed is a right denied.

Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.

An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.

An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law.

Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.

Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.

He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.

History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality… I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.

I submit to you that if a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.

In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that’s pretty important.

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’

Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal.

Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals.

Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.

The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.

Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.

We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. This is the interrelated structure of all reality. You can never be what you ought to be until I become what I ought to be.

One day the absurdity of the almost universal human belief in the slavery of other animals will be palpable. We shall then have discovered our souls and become worthier of sharing this planet with them.

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.

There comes a time when silence is betrayal.

If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.

Lincoln Abraham

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.

McKee Jamie

How can I have a bad day?! I love this game! (Speaking it the 1960s at the Boulevard Club, Toronto, ON about badminton when asked why he never has a bad day.)

Mohammed Renea

On Mother’s Day, we celebrate the fierce love, tenderness, and devotion that mothers bring into the world. It’s also a moment to remember the animal mothers whose stories are rarely told—those separated from their babies in laboratories, where both are used in experiments they never chose and cannot escape.

These mothers bond. They protect. They grieve. They feel fear, stress, and pain. Their babies do too. Love and emotion are not human inventions; they are shared across species, woven into the fabric of life itself.

Today is a reminder that we can choose a kinder path. Modern non‑animal research methods already exist—methods that are not only more humane, but also more accurate, more efficient, and less expensive. Compassion and scientific progress are not opposites; they can move forward together.

This Mother’s Day, may we honour all mothers by speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves, and by supporting alternatives that spare animals from suffering while advancing human health with greater precision and humanity.

[Wording Polished by Perplexity AI]

Moynihan Patrick

You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts.

Newton Issac

I was like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.

Nickep

I feel that we need assertive affirmations and commanding paragraphs, which take authority and ‘slam down’ our opponents viewpoints. The reason for this, is that the opposition has some evil memes, and that they need to be broken. the way to do this isn’t by defending ourselves from their rants; and thus we explain ourselves to the nth degree: which does the opposite of what we intend. But to face our situations and force them to break their own statements which were irrational, and get them to see the truth in what we’re saying…

See, people who advocate animal abuse and animal suffering, through vivisection and experiments, or for what we aren’t designed to eat, as food, aren’t evil, but mislead and brainwashed, we could easily break their propaganda, which is showing itself in insecurity in their views, and also to be both socially independant and vegan.. see, most of the opposition, that aren’t in authority, aren’t ’evil’ or doing it for cruelty, but that cruelty is a byproduct that they don’t actually see each day and thus aren’t reminded of it - they do it because it’s socially acceptable, and they don’t feel secure enough to make their own independent thoughts…

So, the fact is that we need to be authoritative and command subliminallly in our propositions, and our conclusions will naturally form in their minds as if that was their own ideas…

Nietzsche Friedrich

Idleness is the parent of psychology.

Niemöller Martin

First they came for the communists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Jew.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Pope John Paul 2

Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.

Poppins Mary

Practically perfect people never allow sentiment to muddle their thinking.

prad

I will spark your sanity, you temper my madness.

Those who talk a lot but do little suffer from a condition known as yapathy.

Impact need not be flamboyant. It can be subtle and stealthy.

Justice has no need for compassion nor does it need to be blind.

People wanting to get to heaven is likely why hell is so crowded.

The head is harder to hit, but can be made ineffective if you take the body out from underneath.

Compassion: It is illogical to think that the way to bring about compassion is by being compassionate. To eliminate villainy, you will likely have to get your hands dirty. So chill!

Popular opinion: One should never be swayed by popular opinion. There is nothing wrong with having popular opinion see you as immoral or worse. Popular opinion is generally immoral in itself since it is guided by what people want to believe than what is ethical.

Sometimes in some situations, more people choose to believe what is ethical than what is convenient.

There is nothing decent about appearing to be decent.

What one should be guided by are not the opinions of others but by established values that don’t change according to one’s whims and fancies. This approach handles the fact that people who like Trump and Putin don’t care what others think, but unfortunately, also don’t care about any values. Thus, they take a good thing and turn it into a bad one.

YAAAAAY: You Are An Awkward Animation Are You

Expect and insist on the best from others and you will never be disappointed with yourself.

Might may not be right, but might can certainly make right.

Making things happen from within a system is possible. Doing the same from outside the system is also possible. However participating in the system you are trying to change may prove to be difficult simply because there are vested interests that can get in the way.

If one is going for something worthwhile that others cannot see then it is silly to be concerned about what others are thinking.

In any endeavor, it is counterproductive to worry about whether one will be successful or not, for doing so tends to mess up one’s strategy. It’s a bit like driving in that thinking about the destination is not a good idea when you’re supposed to be paying attention to the road.

Those who violate the gold rule are no longer entitled to the protection it offers.

Showing neutrality in the face of brutality is an atrocity.

Peace and love may work fine when the other side cooperates, but if they don’t they should be helped.

Engineers don’t make mistakes! They only increase their tolerances.

There is little point in appearing to be ethical when fighting that which is unethical: your personal purity is better grown in a petri dish.

There is no right way to do the wrong thing, but there are many wrong ways to do the right thing. When doing the right thing, there may be merit in choosing some of those ‘wrong’ ways. The ends can justify the means and those who are excessively attached to their ‘high’ morals often do the victims of injustice an unforgivable disservice.

The ‘good’ are far too busy acting good to do any good.

No point in being a good person if you are unwilling to be a better one.

Don’t complain unless you really have something to complain about. If you do, then figure out what to do about it, instead of complaining.

It is difficult to get on with things that matter when one spends time on those that don’t.

The universe waits not for the sanction of our beliefs.

Prefer to be a monster in a good cause than be a saint in a monstrous one.

Look for the pradeal instead of rushing in.

Love and compassion would have a better chance of taking hold if their advocates were a little less loving and a little less compassionate.

If you want to clean house, you are going to have to get your hands dirty and take out the trash.

True happiness is having our systems work efficiently and effectively.

Being addicted is yet another self-indulgent act.

Psychological damage is more practical than physical damage.

Perfection is being true to worthwhile values by translating them to action.

Never accept someone for who they are, for they are not.

Trust no one, including this one!

The Les Miserable phrase “to love another person is to see the face of god” is a reasonably good one, but the order is backwards. Only when you have made yourself worthy to see the face of god, does love come into it.

Hercules, Hunchback, Mermaid by Disney bring out very profound ethical values as well as zen. Hercules for instance becomes a ‘sage’ when he is transformed into a god through his nobility, but chooses to be mortal through understanding and thereby an ordinary man.

Using the excuse that no one is perfect because everyone kills microbes and steps on insects is like whining about background radiation. The physicist tries to minimize it and thereby sees the truth of reality better. You can’t do anything about some things, but there’s a lot you can do much about - and that’s how you do get to see the truth.

Do only that which aligns with your purpose. Do not define your purpose though for you can only do things that are in alignment with your purpose.

It is bad enough that people who know something, talk nonsense about it. Far worse is when those who know nothing about something talk the same way.

Rotten apples should not be seen as something for the garbage, but as fuel for the compost.

The only worthwhile opinion is a correct one.

Some have a desperate need to be ridiculous.

Society tends to honor its live conformers and its dead reformers. You don’t have to be dead though to be honored. Radicals do pay the price of being labelled fanatical and that’s a pretty good honor.

Reimbursement need not necessarily be made to the benefactor. A societial or evolutionary contribution is often of greater value.

Anything that has the strong potential of evil may well be evil.

When info was scarce, people wanted the truth. Now that it’s not, they want truth to be customized.

Some of us do things on the spur of the last moment.

Planting a curse on someone is likely not going to be an intelligent effort. Without understanding the way mechanisms work, it can be very counterproductive to want things to turn out a certain way. Say there is a certain group of people with a bad member in it. One of them wishes a curse upon the bad person to die miserably and alone. While the idea may possibly have some appeal, it does not take into account the mechanism by which this execution will take place. For instance, one possible scenario is that the entire group dies from a horrible plague with the curse holder going last. Interesting examples were provided in the genie X-Files episode, where the genie kept pointing out that Mulder’s wishes were not sufficiently specific. Lack of awareness in this area generally occurs when wishes are made through vindictiveness or lack of control. The same holds true for good wishes - they can be costly as well. Hence, wanting something to be a certain way is better thought out very carefully and not wanting, as per Lao Tse, may be best.

For instance, I pull a ribbon around the corner and carbonicule the cat chases it. As far as his focus is concerned, the tip is moving and there is no awareness that someone is pulling it. In fact, the focus is so strong (and limited for this game) that it matters little when he comes around the corner to find that I was pulling it - he is still interested in the part that’s moving and there is no loss in pleasure in chasing it.

If you don’t want constipation, change your diet.

life isn’t about staying still and stagnating.
life is movement and growth, awareness and awakenings.
neither is love about accepting someone for who they are.
love is a gift from the divine for all beings. as such it becomes our duty to channel that gift to those nearest to us, so that they can move and grow, so that they become aware and awake.
you are evolving, carly. have you ever noticed how “love” is contained in the word “evolve”?
your husband has a chance to be bourne in the wake of your transformation … and then add his own ripples in harmony with the ever-flowing stream on which we all journey.
(to carly on 30bad)

I truly would be a great admirer of myself if it were not for my even greater humility.

The key to manipulation is not feeling anything, so that you can feel anything.

Honor noble principles for they are the only ballast in troubled times.

Regarding Angel’s insistence that she needs to fast for more than 7 days:
“it took god 7 days to create the world - what makes you think you need longer?”
Unfortunately, she didn’t fully appreciate the brillance of the above comment and started arguing absurdly about it (eg you don’t believe in that stuff and it isn’t factual).

Being full of yourself is a sure recipe for indigestion.

Morality may be the end product of perfect discipline.

If sex really were an expression of spirituality, then sages would have been the ultimate porn stars of history!

It’s about how we merge in thought and action with what is right.
It’s about how we add our voices in harmony to what is truth.
It’s about how we blend into the flow of existence, discovering with humility and contributing with gratitude.

Inspiration is like the battle, while discipline is the war itself. The former carries uncertainities, but through the latter these can be overcome.

As we travel, there may be some moments when i walk behind you to make sure you don’t fall; there may be some moments when i walk ahead and reach for your hand so you can take the next step with confidence.

Focus is good, but focus at the expense of awareness isn’t.

We do what we do because it needs to be done. We do it without expectation or want … and then the world really does straighten itself.

When two beings see the same rainbow, imagine how close they must be!

No self-respecting enlightened master ever calls him/herself one, for it is not a path of humility. The master therefore each day remains calm for no achievement can ever surpass that state.

May all who do so much for the most worthwhile and essential cause in history, see themselves as they truly must be - undaunted by the irrefutable task at hand and undented by the illusive passage of time.

If something seems too good to be true, it is important to make it so.

Truth does not stop being truth simply because it is spoken by a hypocrite. Even an animal abuser is entitled and correct to speak against animal abuse.

Desire for something in the future is bad enough.
Desire for something in the past is downright idiotic.

You may not like to lose, but if you’re fighting the wrong battle, you have already lost.

It’s easy for one to pass responsibility to someone else, but you aren’t going to pass the consequences.

I will wait for you, but I won’t wait with you.

Keep the door open, but don’t end up being the doorstop.

Never forget the past. You do so at your own risk!

It’s unhealthy to induce vomiting after each meal. Better to exercise so your consumption doesn’t become baggage as the past sometimes does for some people.

Always be happy, never be satisfied.

Always forgive, never forget.

Those who have found the way do not hand out business cards.

When dragons come to heal the earth.

pradagio

From Honor:

Never be yourself, when you can be someone better.
~ Queen Rhae

May the earth befriend you, as have we.
~ Marieke

If we could only be as kind to every soul regardless of what they are wearing in this life.
~ Breena

The one who gives should not remember the giving, but the one who receives must never forget.
~ Vaishobob

Royalty is never born. It is forged from one’s attitude and action, from one’s courage and conviction.
~ Prince Jestin

From Tryangles:

How should we on this trip abide?
Be always happy, but never satisfied!
~ Barra

So take that chance and make bold your move!
Triumph or disaster, naught do they prove!
~ Ardal

Life’s not ‘bout the comfort of just lying still.
Reach for those stars and the dharma fulfil!
~ Elysse

Our strengths are stronger than our weaknesses.
~ Elysse

Robert Pynn

Everything is set in the clear and distinct air. Judgment is without suspension, thought without reflection, action without consideration. (advent song)

Roosevelt Theodore

Justice consists not in being neutral between right and wrong, but in finding out the right and upholding it, wherever found, against the wrong.

Sculley Matthew

Animals are more than ever a test of our character, of mankind’s capacity for empathy and for decent, honorable conduct and faithful stewardship. We are called to treat them with kindness, not because they have rights, power or a claim to equality, but in a sense, because they don’t. They all stand unequal and powerless before us.

Schweitzer Albert

I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.

Life becomes harder for us when we live for others, but it also becomes richer and happier.

Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light.

Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.

The true worth of a man is not to be found in man himself, but in the colours and textures that come alive in others.

Do something wonderful, people may imitate it.

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.

Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.

An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere, while a pessimist sees only the red stoplight… the truly wise person is colorblind.

Compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and depth if it embraces all living creatures and does not limit itself to mankind.

A man is truly ethical only when he obeys the compulsion to help all life which he is able to assist, and shrinks from injuring anything that lives.

A man does not have to be an angel in order to be saint.

You must not expect anything from others. It’s you, of yourself, of whom you must ask a lot. Only from oneself has one the right to ask everything and anything. This way it’s up to you – your own choices – what you get from others remains a present, a gift.

What does Reverence for Life say abut the relations between [humanity] and the animal world? Whenever I injury any kind of life I must be quite certain that it is necessary. I must never go beyond the unavoidable, not even in apparently insignificant things. The farmer who has mowed down a thousand flowers in his meadow in order to feed his cows must be careful on his way home not to strike the head off a single flower by the side of the road in idle amusement, for he thereby infringes on the law of life without being under the pressure of necessity.

Civilization can only revive when there shall come into being in a number of individuals a new tone of mind, independent of the prevalent one among the crowds, and in opposition to it – a tone of mind which will gradually win influence over the collective one, and in the end determine its character. Only an ethical movement can rescue us from barbarism, and the ethical comes into existence only in individuals.

Ethics cannot be based upon our obligations toward [people], but they are complete and natural only when we feel this Reverence for Life and the desire to have compassion for and to help all creatures insofar as it is in our power. I think that this ethic will become more and more recognized because of its great naturalness and because it is the foundation of a true humanism toward which we must strive if our culture is to become truly ethical.

Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace.

Shaw George Bernard

The most tragic thing in the world is a man of genius who is not a man of honor.

A fashion is nothing but an induced epidemic.

England and America are two countries separated by a common language.

Why should you call me to account for eating decently?

The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that’s the essence of inhumanity.

All great truths begin as blasphemies.

No public man in these islands ever believes that the Bible means what it says: he is always convinced that it says what he means.

The sex relation is not a personal relation. It can be irresistibly desired and rapturously consummated between persons who could not endure one another for a day in any other relation.

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.

When a man wants to murder a tiger he calls it sport: when the tiger wants to murder him he calls it ferocity. The distinction between Crime and Justice is no greater.

“Will you be the father of my next child? A combination of my beauty and your brains would startle the world,” but he replied: “I must decline your offer with thanks, for the child might have my beauty and your brains.”

When a thing is funny, search it carefully for a hidden truth.

“You see things; you say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and I say ‘Why not?”

Animals are my friends…and I don’t eat my friends.

Power does not corrupt men; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power.

In heaven an angel is no one in particular.

We cut the throat of a calf and hang it up by the heels to bleed to death so that our veal cutlet may be white; we nail geese to a board and cram them with food because we like the taste of liver disease; we tear birds to pieces to decorate our women’s hats; we mutilate domestic animals for no reason at all except to follow an instinctively cruel fashion; and we connive at the most abominable tortures in the hope of discovering some magical cure for our own diseases by them.

I don’t know if there are men on the moon, but if there are they must be using the earth as their lunatic asylum.

The secret of being miserable is to have the leisure to bother about whether you are happy or not.

SICP

In general, when modeling phenomena in science and engineering, we begin with simplified, incomplete models. As we examine things in greater detail, these simple models become inadequate and must be replaced by more refined models.

Sir Cole (The Knight Before Christmas)

A knight is sworn to valor and virtue. His blade defends the good, and his might upholds the weak. His temper shall be led by patience, and his kindness will give aid to those who seek it.

This is a variation of the knight’s code (from The Library of Knighthood):

The knight is sworn to valor.
His heart knows only virtue.
His blade defends the helpless.
His might upholds the weak.
His words speak only truth.
His wrath undoes the wicked.
The right can never die,
If one man still recalls
The words are not forgot,
If one voice speaks them clear.
The code forever shines,
If one heart holds it bright

Smith Gary

150 years ago, they would have thought you were absurd if you advocated for the end of slavery. 100 years ago, they would have laughed at you for suggesting that women should have the right to vote. 50 years ago, they would object to the idea of African Americans receiving equal rights under the law. 25 years ago they would have called you a pervert if you advocated for gay rights. They laugh at us now for suggesting that animal slavery be ended. Some day they won’t be laughing.

Spock

You may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true.

The glory of creation is in its infinite diversity and the ways our differences combine to create meaning and beauty.

Steinem Gloria

A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle.

Women have two choices: Either she’s a feminist or a masochist.

A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.

Women have always been an equal part of the past. We just haven’t been a part of history.

Law and justice are not always the same. When they aren’t, destroying the law may be the first step toward changing it.

Stephenson Neal

Emacs outshines all other editing soft-ware in approximately the same way that the noonday sun does the stars. It is not just bigger and brighter; it simply makes everything else vanish. (In the Beginning… Was the Cammand Line)

Sztybel David

Centering on human-made abstractions above all, instead of on the animals themselves as individuals is oddly anthropocentric.

Tagore Rabindranath

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high; Where knowledge is free; Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls; Where the words come out from the depth of truth; Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection; Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit; Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action - Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

Teresa Mother

Love cannot remain by itself – it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service.

People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. In the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

Thoreau Henry David

A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone.

Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it.

As if you could kill time without injuring eternity.

Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.

Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something.

Do not hire a man who does your work for money, but him who does it for love of it.

Every man is the builder of a temple called his body.

How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.

However mean your life is, meet it and live it: do not shun it and call it hard names. Cultivate poverty like a garden herb, like sage. Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends. Things do not change, we change. Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts. God will see that you do want society.

I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestioned ability of a man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.

I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance that I should have been by any epaulet I could have worn.

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.

In wildness is the preservation of the world.

It is never too late to give up your prejudices.

Most are engaged in business the greater part of their lives, because the soul abhors a vacuum and they have not discovered any continuous employment for man’s nobler faculties.

Who thinks that they can kill time without injuring eternity?

Tricia

For me what works is service. i feel that i am here to serve animals and be their voice. i rescue domestic animals from abuse, which gives me a sense of direct action and do much in the way of spreading veganism, with farm walks, handing out literature, and postings at pet stores. Also do fur protests, circus protests and protested at our medical college to end the use of pigs.

everywhere i go i talk with people about the atrocities to animals raised for food and always have a trunk full of pamphlets and dvds such as meet your meat and earthlings.

we have 11 rescued animals which keep us from getting overwhelmed with animal suffering since they need much care, exercise and love.

it is unacceptable to me that some people take longer than others to stop eating animals. most people who would see an injured bird would try to help him/her so why not extend that compassion to the rest of the animals. people don’t have to do anything except change their eating habits, nothing compared to the hell on earth animals are living.

i no longer waste my time with those who aren’t receptive to our message, there are too many others who need to hear it.

i used to go to bed and start feeling guilty that i was warm, comfortable and safe and would think of all the animals suffering in barren cages, cold, afraid and unable to even turn around. it was stupid, since my not getting a good nights sleep wasn’t helping the animals and would prevent me from being productive.

now when i go to bed i clear my mind and rest. if negative thoughts enter i acknowledge them and let them pass though not giving them the attention or light they need to persist. i fall asleep within minutes.

keep doing what you can for the animals and continue to spread your message to everyone you meet. as long as we are doing what we can, we can keep moving forward without getting bogged down with hatred of people and frustration. there are still times i become misanthropic, but realize there are many good humans i love and don’t focus on what is out of my hands.

Twain Mark

In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, Brave, Hated and Scorned. When his cause succeeds however, the timid join him, for then it costs NOTHING to be a Patriot.

Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the and the blind can see.

It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.

Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.

The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer someone else up.

A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.

It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

Really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great.

Wade Paul

Let me set out my stand right now; this kind of crap disgusts me.

Tyler Alexander Fraser

A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage.

Wiesel Elle

Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.
Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.

Winston Churchill

If you’re going through hell, keep going.

Zelenskyy Volodymyr

Freedom must be armed better than tyranny.

The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride.

Progressive Non-Animal Research Society

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 18:16:46 -0700

Scientists now have sophisticated, human-appropos methodologies for studying diseases such as

advanced computer-modeling techniques
micro-dosing
stem cell-derived organoids
3D printing
manifold emerging approaches

Advances in technology allow us finding ways to improve health care without inflicting harm on animals.

The Progressive Non-Animal Research Society (PNARS) is an excellent and comprehensive resource for the biomedical community. It provides leading edge breakthroughs in technologies and treatments.

Recent Updates:

PNARS Report: Environmental Impacts of Animal Experimentation

Animal Defence and Anti-Vivisection Society

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 17:59:55 -0700

TheAnimal Defense & Anti-Vivisection Society of British Columbia (ADAV), established by a veterinary surgeon in 1927, is a peaceful, grassroots organization committed to the abolition of vivisection on moral, ethical and scientific grounds.

The ADAV Society strives to inform the public of the grim realities faced by animals used in experiments, promote the use of superior and more humane non-animal alternatives, and alert the public to the proven invalidity of basing human medicine and toxicology on other species.

We conduct outreach events and letter-writing campaigns, sponsor speaker series, and network with other groups nationally and internationally in an effort to change policies on animal experimentation.

We have recently published an article, It’s Time, by cancer survivor, Maidie Hilmo PhD, on our site, encouraging people to ask charities to guarantee their donation will not be used for research on animals. The article also includes a link to ADAV’s humane charities website, which lists charities that are committed to helping humans without hurting animals.

Dhaku Singu

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 21:56:08 -0700

Dhaka has been singing since 2015. At the end of this page, we list her rehearsals and performances.

She is very glad to have wonderful friends in the neighborhood, such as:

Aurora, Daria, Terrence, Valerie
Gisela, Ernie
Linda, Peter, Flora
Ross, Abby
Linda, Robert, Muffin
Leia, Wayne, Gibson
Al, Zoe
Bruce, Jessie
Tom, Iggy, Twiggy
Theodora
Deborah, Tori, Gary
Diane, Danielle, Suzanne (moved away)
Aria, Cohen, Brianne, Dustin
Sally, Susan
Thunder
Georgina, Iris, Mr. Peabody, Roy
Kita, Kelly
Rowan, Benson, Kitten, Jinny, Stu
Jim, Joe, Stella, Lori
Caroline, Lucy
Elizabeth
Greg, Laura, Bella
Steve
Lisa, Torri, Roo, Nina (moved away)
Trevin, Taylor, Brutus, Millie
Cindy
Barbara
Gail, Henry, Claire, Louis, Desmond
Sol, Ron, Marina
Mikki (moved away)
Kelsey, Graydon
Maneesha, Bodhan, Raj (from Victoria)
Rick, christine
Milo, Diane
Charlotte
Alana (from Victoria)
Jennifer (from Victoria)
Gracie, Blue, Piper, Leslie
John, Diane
Abha, Atty, Tilo
Tim, Kelly
Michelle
Mia
Lynn
Rory
Heather and Junior
Tristan, Drey, Lincoln, Sonya
Holly and Anthony (from Victoria)
Sarah and Kelsey (2 very nice veterinarians)
Angelkate (moved to Victoria)
(and others, but we don’t know their names!)

Rehearsal in preparation for Caninegie Hall performance
<2020-01-20 Mon>

Introduced by Grafu cat, Dhaka sings:
Teach Our Child (from the musical Tryangles)
Her Soul Beckons Mine (theme variations from Tryangles again)
Hymn To Her (a little known composition)
A Te O Cara (from Bellini’s opera, Il Puritani)

more to come as they become available

Vecado

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 12:34:06 -0700

This is an excellent business which provides a variety of high-quality vegan pet foods such as Ami, Benevo, Vegepet, Evolution, Gourmet …

The site also provides information links to research, customer stories and a blog.

Check them out here: Vecado.

David Sztybel

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 22:58:20 -0700

Dr. David Sztybel chose to specialize in animal rights as a philosopher at a time when the movement was in its growing stages.

His work has been powerful and influential as his site will show:

Dr. David Sztybel

There is substantial material for the general public as well as academia. Additionally, you’ll find links to media appearances and talks.

(Be sure to also check out his blog that is linked at the bottom of each page on his website.)

Kyron Recitals

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 14:05:40 -0700

Kyron, a versatile baritone, has appeared with various groups such as Fretwork, the Victoria Baroque Players, Victoria Philharmonic Choir, Victoria Children’s Choir, and the Christ Church choir. He holds an BMus and MA in Musicology with Performance from the University of Victoria and teaches on the faculties of UVic and the Victoria Conservatory of Music.

Here are write-ups (by prad) for Kyron’s undergrad and masters recitals that were sent out to interested parties. All documents and video links are provided. You can find Kyron’s homepage on Towards Freedom here.

Undergrad Recital 2018-03-20

Kyron is completing his bachelor’s of music at UVIC in a few weeks. part of the requirement was to do the grad recital which took place march 20th.

I know some of you may have been planning to attend, but were unable to for various reasons like

you were never told about his recital
you live in another, far off part of the world (like Winnipeg)
you put down the wrong date
you were working
you have no idea who Kyron is (note: he is the offspring of myself and Ranjana, the individual I have been married to for such a long, long, long time)

Here are the links to:

The video of his recital was done on a sony a99 with built in audio. In this embedded video, you will see not only his performance with some very fine musicians (his piano accompanist, Czinszka, is remarkable!), but also the segment of the stage manager clearing music stands and chairs (with the considerate assistance of Claire the cellist!) as well as said manager’s preparation of the piano for the second part of the recital for which he was generously applauded by an appreciative audience!

What you won’t see is the superb post performance reception fare that Ranjana prepared. of course, it was 100% vegan and very well received by the 50+ attendees. They were surprised that there was actually healthy food being served at such a function and some even commented on it!

Here is the video:

Masters recital 2020-03-09

Greetings!

The video embedded below is for Kyron’s recital-lecture which was performed as a requirement for his masters degree in music. (Here is the link to his thesis: Phonetic Journey: Sound in Singable Translations.)

A few of you may have already received an earlier notice. That is because Ranjana (the person who has marred me) sent the link out without waiting for Kyron to edit the video. I waited, but Kyron only looked at editing it this week and decided it wasn’t necessary. The reasons it took him so long to get to was because he was busy for a while:

recording performances of his colleagues who could not perform their final examinations due to the UVIC shutdowns as a result of the covid virus
working on his own thesis and assignments
settling in back home from his apartment in Victoria

In this presentation, Kyron took what was a very esoteric topic (how sound and translation relate in Lieder song) offering massive boredom potential, and had the audience engaged and at times hooting with laughter. His ability to play intricate classical accompaniment on the piano and simultaneously sing astonished a lot of people. Ranjana let me know what others such as his teachers, classmates and colleagues (from organizations he performs in) said to her. The head of music theory at the university told her that

“It was the most brilliant thing I have heard on that stage for a long time.”

As it was 2 years ago, at the reception, Ranjana’s vegan spread was a magnificent success! (Many of you know, Ranjana is not only a vegan chef of the highest order, but is about to complete her doctorate “Linking Animals, Social Justice and Social Work”.)

Special thanks to Neil (from the Christ Church contingent), Angel and her husband Matthew for the invaluable help they provided Ranjana both before and especially after the food was eaten - which is when it really counts!

We hope you enjoy Kyron’s contribution, perhaps reflecting on this paraphrasing of Ralph Waldo Emerson:

“It’s not the destination, it’s the phonetic journey!” ;)

Here are the recital supplement (which is what you should look at first) and the lecture notes, both of which complement the video performance:

Marc Bekoff

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 10:32:31 -0800

Marc Bekoff is Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder. An internationally prominent lecturer on animal behavior, cognitive ethology and behavioral ecology, Marc has contributed immensely to these fields via original papers, books and even videos. Additionally, he was a competitive cyclist winning the Tour du Haut Var for his age group in 1986!

This is a link to his website.

Links

Wikipedia: Marc Bekoff

Literati: Marc Bekoff

Animal Consultants International: Marc Bekoff

Huffington Post: Marc Bekoff

EnlightenNext Magazine: Marc Bekoff Biography and Resources

University of Colorado: Marc Bekoff Professor Emeritus

Psychology Today Experts: Marc Bekoff

Boulder Masters Cycling: Marc Bekoff

Vegan Sporting Association: Marc Bekoff

Marc Bekoff - Gentle Giant of the Animal World

Marc Bekoff’s work at the Boulder County Jail (as part of Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots program)
(pdf article from Camera paper)
(pdf article from New Scientist 21 March, 2009)

Kids & Animals by Marc Bekoff, foreword by Jane Goodall
follow above link for more details then click on image to download pdf book
or get the pdf book directly

Marc Bekoff’s moon bear rescue work with Animals Asia
(pdf article from New Scientist 2009/05/02)

(pdf)
Treat us better or leave us alone! Marc Bekoff explains

(pdf)
Animals are rarely violent and never to the extent we are. We can learn a lot from them - if we only open our minds and hearts to who they really are, writes Marc Bekoff.

Organizations

Co-founder with Jane Goodall:
Ethologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals: Citizens for Responsible Animal Behavior Studies in 2000

Board of Directors:
The Cougar Fund, The Fauna Sanctuary

Advisory Board Member and/or Council:
Living with Wolves, Greenvegans, Animal Defenders, Project Coyote, National Museum of Animals & Society, Laboratory Primate Advocacy Group

Honorary Board Member:
Rational Animal

Honorary Member:
Animalisti Italiani, Fundacion Altarriba

Patron:
Captive Animals’ Protection Society

Scientific Expert Advisory Panel Member:
Voiceless, The Animal Protection Institute

Faculty Member:
Humane Society University

Awards

2005 The Bank One Faculty Community Service Award 2009 St. Francis of Assisi Award by the Auckland (New Zealand) SPCA

Videos

Animal Emotions - An interview with Professor Marc Bekoff

An interview with Professor Marc Bekoff on RTE Radio 1’s Pat Kenny Show (September 3rd, 2008).

Marc Bekoff–Animal Sentience

Insights into animal intelligence and feeling.

Science & Animal Activism with Marc Bekoff

Marc Bekoff shares insights drawn from a lifetime studying animals.

Marc Bekoff - Animal Behavior and Emotions

Video is unavailable presently.

Insight into the Emotional Lives of Animals with Dr. Marc Bekoff

This video is no longer available because the YouTube account associated with this video has been terminated.

Marc Bekoff speech at 2010 Voiceless Awards

Here, he delivers the keynote address at the 2011 Voiceless Awards, which celebrate animal proteciton in Australia. Marc reflects on the need to give animals respect and compassion.

Edwin Rutsch & Marc Bekoff: Dialogs on Building a Culture of Empathy and Compassion

There is a video embedded in the page.

Books

The Emotional Lives of Animals
Beckoff
Skillfully blends extraordinary stories of animal joy, empathy, grief, embarrassment, anger, and love with the latest scientific research confirming the existence of emotions that common sense and experience have long implied.

Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals
Bekoff, Pierce
We argue that animals feel empathy for each other, treat one another fairly, cooperate towards common goals, and help each other out of trouble. We argue, in short, that animals have morality.

Encyclopedia of Human-Animal Relationships
Bekoff, Nystrom
Humans and animals live together on earth, but as we increasingly reshape ecosystems to accommodate larger populations, technology, and increased consumption, animals are greatly affected.

Listening to Cougar
Bekoff, Lowe
Spellbinding tribute to Puma concolor honors the big cat’s presence on the land and in our psyches.

Animals Matter
Bekoff
A biologist explains why we should treat animals with compassion and respect.

Animals at Play: Rules of the Game
Bekoff
Emphasizes how animals communicate, cooperate and learn to play fair and what happens when they break the rules.

Encyclopedia of Animal Rights and Animal Welfare Vol 1
Encyclopedia of Animal Rights and Animal Welfare Vol 2
Bekoff
Remains the only reference to cover the entire scope of animal rights and welfare from a global interdisciplinary perspective, with an international team of contributors assembled by Marc Bekoff covering animal treatment issues in the United States, China, India, Kenya, Australia, and many other nations.

The Animal Manifesto: Six Reasons For Expanding Our Compassion Footprint
Bekoff
Driven by moral imperatives and pressing environmental realities, Bekoff offers six compelling reasons for changing the way we treat animals.

The smile of a dolphin
Bekoff
A fascinating look at the complex emotional lives of animals presents firsthand accounts by leading animal behavior researchers that offer a compelling argument that humans are not the only creatures to experience emotion.

Minding animals: awareness, emotions, and heart
Bekoff
An exhilarating tour of the emotional and mental world of animals, where we meet creatures who do amazing things.

Animal passions and beastly virtues
Bekoff
Draws world-wide attention for its originality and its probing into what animals think about and know as well as what they feel, what physical and mental skills they use to live.

The Ten Trusts
Goodall, Bekoff
Addresses various aspects of animal welfare, animal rights and what can be done to assist in providing a better life for the animals of the world.

Animal play: evolutionary, comparative, and ecological perspectives
Bekoff, Byers
Careful, quantitative studies of social, locomotor and object play behaviour are now beginning … to shed light on many other aspects of both animal and human behaviour.

Species of Mind: The Philosophy and Biology of Cognitive Ethology
Allen, Bekoff
A philosopher and a cognitive ethologist, approach their work from the perspective that many animals have minds and rich cognitive lives.

The cognitive animal: empirical and theoretical perspectives on animal cognition
Bekoff, Allen, Burghardt
A comprehensive overview of the interdisciplinary field of animal cognition. The contributors include cognitive ethologists, behavioral ecologists, experimental and developmental psychologists, behaviorists, philosophers, neuroscientists, computer scientists and modelers, field biologists, and others.

Suburban Howls: Tracking the Eastern Coyote in Urban Massachusetts
Way, Way, Bekoff
This book is about the experiences and findings of a biologist studying coyote ecology and behavior in urbanized eastern Massachusetts.

Angel Dogs with a Mission: Divine Messengers in Service to All Life
Anderson, Anderson, Bekoff
This fascinating book puts the spotlight on working dogs – those heroic canines who have found ways to give back more than sloppy kisses and happy snuggles.

Coyotes: Biology, Behavior and Management
Bekoff
a classic of the canid literature. Originally published in 1978, Coyotes: Biology, Behavior and Management pulled together much disparate research in coyote evolution, taxonomy, reproduction, communication, behavioral development, population dynamics, ethology and ecological studies.

Strolling with our kin: speaking for and respecting voiceless animals
Bekoff
Bekoff takes the reader on a philosophical and ethical odyssey examining how We can all live in harmony with our fellow kin. He asks us to explore our thoughts and expand our views of a world made up of many species, only one of which is human.

Nature’s Life Lessons: Everyday Truths from Nature
Carrier, Bekoff
Using everyday behaviors in Nature, this delightful and whimsical book celebrates the link between the natural world and quirky humans.

Integral Ecology: Uniting Multiple Perspectives on the Natural World
Zimmerman, Esbjorn-Hargens, Bekoff, Hochachka, Tissot, Riddell
Unites valuable insights from multiple perspectives into a comprehensive theoretical framework-one that can be put to use right now.

Selected blog post titles from Psychology Today

These are various articles by Marc posted in his Psychology Today blog. The short descriptions are provided too. Some of these articles can serve as introductions to various academic papers by Marc. You can subscribe to his blog via rss feed.

Baboons Distinguish Real Words From Nonsense Words
Non-reading baboons can learn to distinguish written real words from nonsense words. Recognizing visual word forms is a key component of literacy and these data provide the first animal model. Once again, we learn that we are not alone in demonstrating some fascinating and sophisticated cognitive skills.

Bowerbirds: Do They Have Green Thumbs?
Male bowerbirds appear to grow a garden to attract females. What they do seems to be cultivation, the result of which is increased mating success. The more we learn the more blurred is the border between “us” and “them”.

The National Museum of Animals & Society
The National Museum of Animals & Society (NMAS), the first of its kind, centers on the full spectrum of human-animal studies (anthrozoology, our relationships with, and perceptions of, other animals) including the history of protecting animals and the importance of humane education in their collections, exhibitions, and programs.

Friends With Benefits
Nonhumans show us why we all need others we can count on. They help in times of need, it feels good to have close friends, and it’s good for an individual’s health and well-being. The more we study other animals the more we learn about their fascinating lives and about ourselves. We should be proud of our animal heritage.

Our Complex and Contradictory Relationships with Other Animal Beings
Just about every day is a mixed bag for nonhuman animals. To wit, we’ve recently learned that dolphins are more socially complex than previously recognized and that St. Jude Hospital plans to raise money from horrific raccoon hunts using coondogs. We need to, and easily can, change our ways.

The Superior Human? Who Do We Think We Are?
This fascinating documentary is well worth watching. While we are unique and special so too are other animals. Human exceptionalism that translates into supposed superiority and domination over “lower” species is based on bad biology and this film dismantles specious speciesism.

Humans Help Stranded Dolphins: Some Much Needed Good News
Watch humans help save stranded dolphins in Brazil. I hope this wonderful story will help to maintain or restore your faith in the goodness and decency of humans who choose to help, rather than to harm, other animals.

Trapped Wolf Used for Target Practice
Wolf torture continues and is praised by some while critics’ lives are threatened. This story of a trapped wolf who was also used for target practice (teaser image) should outrage people and get them to do something to stop this reprehensible behavior.

Wicked Tuna: NGS Supports Killing These Majestic Beings
The NGS glorifies killing these majestic fish for unneeded meals. What’s to be admired for causing incredible pain and suffering to these imperiled sentient beings, all in the name of entertainment and money? What did the tuna do to deserve the label “wicked”? Why are they the evil ones in this one-sided slaughter?

Dolphin Confidential: A Woman and the Dolphins She Loves
“Dolphin Confidential” is an inspirational book about a woman scientist and the “urban” L. A. dolphins she comes to love. Maddalena Bearzi shows that bonding with animals does not preclude doing solid science and serves as a role model for those who want to become scientists and feel free to display feelings for the animals they study.

Killing Other Animals For Food Does Not Make us Human
There’s nothing spiritual about killing innocent animals for unneeded meals. The claims hunters, who are meat-eating zealots, put forth using flowery prose about how hunting makes us human and that those who don’t hunt are “missing something” are self-serving and ignore what the hunted animals are thinking and feeling.

A Dog and a River Otter: a Most Amazing Friendship
Watch Rio, a dog, play with his wild river otter friend. The river otter comes to visit Rio everyday and they frolic wildly and obviously enjoy it immensely. This incredible video will make your day.

Bonobos Rescue Friends in Need Because Females Lead
These amazing apes travel long distances to find and help lost friends. It’s suggested this is because their social groups are led by females for whom the unity of the group is very important. This is another example showing animals are far more caring, compassionate, and kind than we give them credit for.

It’s Coyote Killing Time Once Again
Utah and Nova Scotia wage war on these fascinating native animals using programs that have been scientifically proven not to work. The wanton, senseless, and merciless killing of coyotes and other animals is ineffective and must be stopped. Why is it that some people enjoy killing other animals?

Trumping Wildlife: Heinous Trophy Hunting, Not Conservation
Donald Trump’s sons clearly enjoy going on very expensive canned trophy hunts. These macho boys write off their heinous and sick killing spree in the name of conservation as if it’s good for the animals, their habitats, and local people, as they proudly pose with corpses and body parts.

Thrill-seeking Bees, A Bathing Bear, and Chimpanzees In the News
Bees are wired for adventure and a bear takes a bath using a tool. A new movie called “Chimpanzee” will be airing soon and Disneynature will contribute 20 cents per ticket to the Jane Goodall Institute for the Disneynature Tchimpounga Nature Reserve Project with a minimum of $100,000 pledged to this program.

Elephants Mourn Loss of “Elephant Whisperer” Lawrence Anthony
Elephant grief and mourning include the loss of their human friend. Broken-hearted elephants visited the home of Lawrence Anthony, known as the elephant whisperer, to express their sorrow. They had not been seen there for a very long time. Clearly we’re not the only animals who possess the cognitive and emotional capacities for suffering the loss of others.

Flies On Booze and Apes On Apps
Flies drink alcohol to ward off parasites and live longer than teetotallers, and captive orangutans use iPads to enrich their lives. They may even communicate with others over long distances using FaceTime or Skype.

Green: Environmental Devastation and the Last Hours of an Orangutan’s Life
A heart-wrenching documentary about the last hours of a female orangutan’s life. Some people deny the devastating and violent impacts we have globally, and few have the opportunity to see them first hand, but they are realities we must, and can, reverse now. It’s very easy to avoid products that cause unspeakable harm to innocent animals and their homes.

Is Chimpanzee Research Necessary? No, Say Many Scientists
Rigorous reviews of available data on the use of chimpanzees and other animals in biomedical research show that we actually learn very little about treating human disease from these models. Wide-ranging support to remove chimpanzees from laboratories and place them safely in sanctuaries upholds these conclusions.

The Need for “Wild” Play: Let Children Be the Animals They Need to Be
A new book called “Evolutionary Playwork” shows that youngsters need to “get down and dirty” and engage in “wild” play, but they’re not. According to play expert Bob Hughes, “ג€¦ if the activity is bounded by adult rules, if it is stiff, formalised and dominated by the need to score points and flatter one’s ego, that is not play, it is something else.” The same for adults.

Say It Isn’t So: Major Atrocities Against Animals
Canadian conservation officers slaughter 145 bears and numerous dead animals discovered at Oregon State University. The teaser image is of a live raccoon caught by its rear leg and attempting to escape by weaving itself through a fence. Wildlife Services left it to die after illegally setting traps and snares. You can stop this violence.

Animals: A New Ethics (Resurgence Magazine)
In this special edition of Resurgence magazine you’ll read new wide-ranging essays by animal advocates including campaigners, activists, authors, philosophers, scientists, lawyers, charity heads, poets, and artists. It’s truly an up-to-date landmark publication.

Makin’ Bacon: Unspeakable and Grisly Abuse On a Pig Farm
Pigs on pig farms suffer greatly despite supposed concerns for the welfare. They’re shot, tossed around as if they’re mere objects, forced to live without proper veterinary care, and slapped, kicked and beaten into submission with the use of pig boards, iron bars, and gate rods. This reprehensible abuse must be stopped and you can help do this at your next meal.

Wearing Pain: Canada Goose’s Fur Policy Is Lame and Self-Serving
There is no reason to kill animals for clothing. In the process of becoming a coat or trim, the bones of coyotes and many other animals go snap, crackle, and pop as they’re tortured unrelentingly. Canada Goose’s fur policy is laden with self-serving justifications and errors all in the name of money and the unnecessary slaughter of animals for clothing.

Dogs, Homeless People, and Love: A Picture Is Worth Many Many Words
The photos to which I refer here show clearly that dogs are our best friends. They’re able to love with no or very few holds barred and bring much joy and warmth to those who are down on their luck. We’re so lucky to have dogs in our lives. We should embrace and celebrate their willingness to share love and learn from them.

Social Dominance Is Not a Myth: Wolves, Dogs, and Other Animals
Social dominance is a real phenomenon but has been widely misunderstood and misused. Nonhuman (and human) animals dominate one another in a number of ways, but simple and narrow explanations of what dominance is, how it’s expressed, and how it influences behavior don’t necessarily hold across species, within species, or across different contexts.

Nika and Her Animal Friends: A Most Inspirational Rescue
Meet Nika and her animal friends who rescued her from a life of hell. After years of abuse and neglect Nika has made a remarkable recovery in the company of some wonderful nonhuman animal “therapists” and loving human animals.

Chancer and Iyal: A Dog, His Boy, and His Dog
Chancer, a golden retriever, takes care of a youngster with severe cognitive disabilities. Chancer is one of many dogs who give hope to those who need it. The reciprocal bond, the life line, formed between humans and their canine companions is awe-inspiring and win-win for all. Bless all the dog beings and human beings who work in these wonderful programs.

Chimpanzee Abuse: Extreme Cruelty Caught on Tape
If you doubted that chimpanzees are horrifically abused in laboratories, watch this short video. To quote the head of the center, Thomas Rowell: “There were five minutes or less of video where you said to yourself, you know, I wish so and so hadn’t said this … Or I wish they’d have been more careful here.” Imagine what the chimpanzees were feeling.

Chimpanzees Should Not Be Treated as Books in a Library
Chimpanzees are sentient beings who should not be stockpiled and kept in tiny cells as if they’re mere objects because they may have to be used in horrific research in the future. They are making small gains in the on-going, and often deceptive battle, to keep them locked up, but they need all the help we can offer.

Hunters Upset When Dogs Are Trapped, but Still Want to Hunt
Trapping animals causes intense and enduring pain, suffering, and death. Hunters who are opposed to trapping, as many are, also want to be able to kill other animals but get very upset when their dog(s) is harmed, as they should. Why don’t the pain, suffering, and death of other animals matter?

Close Encounters of the Gorilla Kind
A video well-worth watching to see friendly and inquisitive gorillas pet and groom a human. The portrayal of animals as being mean and violent is simply wrong. It’s a misrepresentation of who they really are. Sit back and enjoy this amazing encounter between a human ape and one of our close relatives.

“What Were Wars?” Don’t Blame Other Animals For Human Violence
Human war is a choice and non-human animals should not be blamed for our violent leanings. Scientific data show clearly that other animals are predominantly peaceful beings and we must factor this into our attempts to justify war-mongering, but more importantly to stop it. We need to develop a science of peace and build a culture of empathy.

“The Grey” Has It All Wrong About Wolves
Media, this time “The Grey”, once again misrepresents and vilifies animals. In this movie wolves are the victims of sensationalism and long-dead myths that can hurt efforts to protect and conserve these endangered animals. Actors also ate two wolves who were brought to the set to get them in the mood for the wild. No joke.

Empathic Rodents Get a Wee Bit More Protection Sort Of
New guidelines recommend larger cages for families of mice and rats who are used in invasive research. But the recommended sizes are ridiculously small and are not hard-and-fast rules. Yet researchers are in a tizzy about the added costs to their work. Mice and rats are highly sentient and emotional beings who display empathy. They deserve far more protection.

A Snowboarding Crow Playing and Having Fun
Watch a “snowboarding crow” obviously having fun. Many animals love to play and when they can’t find a friend with whom to romp they entertain themselves. We can learn a lot about ourselves by watching other animals play.

Whales and Dolphins at Play: A Great Lift That’ll Make Your Day
Watch wild humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins play with one another and smile, smile, smile. This is a great example of cooperation between two amazing species.

They Kill Sheep, Don’t They? My Deep Apologies
A video showing a soldier ruthlessly beating a sheep, most likely to death, has surfaced. My deep regrets and apologies for posting it - I admit I sobbed when I saw it - but something has to be done about this horrific event. It is an insult to all human beings, especially those who honorably serve our country.

“Are You with the Right Mate?” The Media’s Misuse of Chimpanzees
The misrepresentation of animals influences how they are perceived and these misperceptions are known to be harmful to the conservation status of these endangered beings.

Drowning Rats and Human Depression: Positive Psychology for Whom?
Does exposing rats to aggressive encounters and making them swim until they give up hope and drown really have anything to do with human depression? Not really, yet horrific experiments continue under the guise of positive psychology.

Chimpanzees: I Know What You Don’t
During the past few years we’ve learned amazing facts about the astonishing cognitive, emotional, and moral lives of other animals. And 2012 is starting off with a bang as we learn that chimpanzees know what others don’t know and tell them about the presence of dangerous snakes. These field data suggest that chimpanzees have a theory of mind.

Dead Cow Walking: The Case Against Born-Again Carnivorism
Cows, pigs, chickens, and other animals raised for food are sentient beings who have rich emotional lives. No matter how “humanely” they’re raised, their lives can be cashed out simply as “dead cow/pig/chicken walking.” Whom we choose to eat is a matter of life and death.

Heartless Hunting: Maiming Then Killing Deer With No Remorse
The writer of a failed attempt at a poetic essay claims “I hate to kill” but nonetheless does it thoroughly irresponsibly.

Primate Social Behavior: Nature “Versus” Nurture Once Again?
Genes seem to play a large role in the social behavior of many nonhuman primates but not for other other species including coyotes and wolves. Much more research is needed to see just how far these new findings apply as they surely will inform future studies of animal behavior and conservation projects. Is it nature and nurture or nature or nurture?

Mathematical Pigeons Are Amazing But Not So Surprising
Pigeons can learn abstract rules about numbers and these new and exciting data support what’s long been known about the numerical competency or “counting ability” of other captive and wild birds. Clearly, calling someone a birdbrain is a compliment. Bird brains are very active and their cognitive abilities rather remarkable and highly evolved.

Rewilding Our Hearts: Maintaining Hope and Faith in Trying Times
In troubled times it’s difficult to remain hopeful and positive. Here I offer some practical guidelines for a new positive and personal social movement that is based on rewilding our hearts. Not only will nonhuman animals and their homes benefit, but so will we as we make a major paradigm shift

Empathic Rats and Ravishing Ravens
Rats and ravens caution us about proudly tooting our “aren’t we special” horn. A new study shows rats display empathy-driven behavior to help other rats in distress while another has demonstrated that ravens use body language and gestures to communicate with other ravens.

Tool Use by a Dingo and a Dog
Read about and watch Stirling, a young male dingo, use a tool, and also about Grendel, a dog, make and use a back scratcher from a bone. As time goes on more and more animals are observed making and using tools.

Chimpanzees in Research: Lies, Lies, and More Lies
Researchers who abuse chimpanzees act as if moratoriums and agreements don’t matter, as if they’re above it all. They’re not and each of us can easily do something now to stop the continued abuse of chimpanzees in invasive research.

Grief, Mourning, and Broken Hearted Animals
There’s no doubt many animals grieve the loss of family and friends. Mounting evidence clearly shows we’re not the only animals who possess the cognitive and emotional capacities for suffering the loss of others.

Minding Animals as Persons: Beatrice, My Mother, and Jethro, My Dog
My mother Beatrice and my dog Jethro shared many traits that warrant calling a being a person. When my mother suffered serious physical and psychological decline she was still considered a person as she well should have been. Yet Jethro and other animals do not warrant that status. Nothing is lost by viewing nonhuman animals as persons.

“What In the World Do My Essays Have To Do With Psychology?”
Knowing about nonhuman animals has everything to do with human psychology. What we think, know, feel, and believe about animals should strongly influence how we interact with them but often it doesn’t. Animals are merely property in the eyes of the law and enjoy little to no legal standing. This, in and of itself, tells us lots about human psychology.

Circuses: Wild Animals Do Not Belong in the Cruelest Show on Earth
Circuses do nothing for the animals themselves or for other members of their species despite claims to the contrary. Circuses make no contributions to conservation. They serve no purpose other than “entertainment” if you dare to call watching abused and terrorized animals performing stupid and unnatural tricks “entertainment”.

What Makes Us Uniquely Human?
Are we the only animals who mentally time travel and have a theory of mind? Some people think so but there are data that suggest we’re not. Are we exceptional in some ways? Yes we are but so are other animals.

Rampant Wolf Killing Makes Some People Happy
In just 2 weeks 44 wolves have been killed, or as some say “bagged,” in Montana. Some people actually find the deplorable slaughter of these magnificent animals makes them happy and to be encouraging. How in the world did such shameful and sick attitudes toward sentient beings ever evolve? Would they kill their dog? I’m afraid to ask.

Whales in Captivity: Are They Legally Slaves?
Does keeping whales (and perhaps other animals) in captivity violate the 13th Amendment ban on slavery? A pending lawsuit can change how we perceive and use other animals. It surely will lead to much needed discussion about the ways in which humans wantonly and routinely use and abuse animals in entertainment and in other venues.

Fish Don’t Like Being Hooked
Fish are sentient beings who don’t like being hooked either in their mouth by a human or by other fish whom they punish when they steal their food.

Is Eating Dogs Different from Eating Cows and Pigs?
A cancelled dog-eating festival in China has raised strong world-wide protest as it should. And so should the horrific conditions in which factory farmed animals are forced to live before they go to slaughter and as they’re being killed. We must face our choices in food head-on and be consistent about who winds up in our mouth.

Bloodbath in Ohio: Numerous Exotic Animals Killed After Being Freed
Numerous exotic animals were killed in Ohio after they were released from a private reserve. No humans were attacked. It’s too late to bring these animals back and give them the life they deserved. But regulations and laws about keeping unprotected exotic animals must be implemented and vigorously enforced.

9/11 Dogs: The Devoted Dozen Who Still Bless Our Lives
Twelve rescue dogs who worked tirelessly and selflessly during the chaos of 9/11 still survive. Say hello, read about them and see wonderful portraits in a collection called “Retrieved”, and send your very best wishes to these amazing dog beings.

Moon bears, wasps, and sexy seals: Animals aren’t dumb
Doctors call for the closure of cruel bear farms across Asia, wasps recognize individual faces, and female sea lions appear to be more in control of sex than previously thought. Animals are not dumb. They’re sentient, smart, and emotional, and can reason about the effects of their behavior. This is a photo of Jonah, a moon bear on his way to freedom.

Chimpanzees In the Crossfire: Are They Cleverer Than Us?
We shouldn’t be asking who’s cleverer than whom. Rather, we should ask what individuals of different species need to do to be card-carrying members of their species. This information will help us learn more about who we are and who “they” are and help us protect them in captivity and in the wild.

Animal and Humans: Meaningful Meetings of Common Minds
International meetings and growing general interest show that animals matter. A recent gathering concerned with social justice and the treatment and conservation of great apes, hosted by the Arcus Foundation, made it abundantly clear that we all must be concerned with how these and other amazing beings are treated and do something now to improve their (and our) lives.

Boobies In the News (Birds That Is)
Abused baby boobies grow up to be abusers themselves. This is the first evidence from a wild animal that, as in humans, abuse can be socially transmitted to future generations.

Animal Minds and the Foible of Human Exceptionalism
Human exceptionalism, the belief that human beings have special status based on our unique capacities, is misleading and has serious social, political, and environmental consequences for how we treat other animals and their homes. We need to be more humble and act with greater compassion and empathy for other beings.

Slaughtering Sentience: Rampant killing of wildlife by our government continues
Wildlife Services, a branch of the United States Department of Agriculture, ruthlessly kills millions of animals. In 2010 they slaughtered more than five million animals and spent more than $126 million to do so with no concern for the well-being of their victims. The amount of pain, suffering, and death for which they’re responsible is reprehensible.

Are great apes “ultraviolent”?
Sensationalist media often misrepresents other primates as violent beings, but available data show this is not the case. Across the board, great apes and other animals are predominantly cooperative. Of course, there are very rare examples of what could be called evil violence, but we should not use nonhumans to justify our evil ways.

Emotional honeybees and brainy jellyfish: More “surprises” in animal behavior
Honeybees display pessimism and jellyfish make complex decisions using a brain. The more we study fascinating animals the more we learn about their cognitive and emotional capacities.

Animals in the news: Self-aware chimpanzees, doomed wolves, and retired race horses
We continue to learn fascinating facts about the cognitive and emotional capacities of other animals and continue to mistreat them with little or no concern for their well-being. It’s time for a widespread social movement, a revolution of sorts. It ain’t rocket science. Other animals truly depend on our goodwill and we can all do something to help them along.

Dog Killed by Wildlife Services: The Horrific War On Wildlife Knows No Bounds or Decency
Government workers continue to ruthlessly kill wildlife and domesticated animals, showing no regard for the safety of people, including children, and their companion animals. Bella, a dog who died because Wildlife Services blatantly ignored EPA directives, would still be alive if they showed any common sense and decency.

The human-animal bond revisited: Power is not license to do what we please because we can
Wayne Pacelle’s book about our kinship with other animals is a must read. Readers will learn a lot about the other beings with whom we share Earth and also about the issues with which we must deal as we move into the 21st century. Every individual counts and each of us can easily make positive differences in the lives of animals with little effort.

The moral lives of animals: What did Herman Melville have to say about animals?
Many animals display moral intelligence in various social situations. This new and highly original book summarizes what we know and also provides numerous exciting ideas for future research and debate. It’s no longer nature red in tooth and claw.

Caring about animal abuse has a lot to do with human psychology
Our relationships with other animals require psychological studies. Conservation psychology, conservation education, and humane education can help us further our understanding of how we relate to other animals and what we can and must do to improve these interactions for their well-being and ours. When animals lose, we lose.

Victims of vanity: Wearing animals is donning pain and suffering
The fur industry is guilty of untold torture and tries to hide it. There are numerous and easy ways to buy non-animal clothing alternatives and each of us can remove reprehensible cruelty from the world if we made more humane and ethical choices. There is no reason at all to wear animals.

Empathic chickens and cooperative elephants: Emotional intelligence expands its range again
Chickens feel one another’s pain and elephants know when they need help and cooperate with one another to obtain a reward. When you eat chicken you’re eating pain and misery and it’s a matter of who’s for dinner, not what’s for dinner, because these amazing birds are highly sentient beings, as are elephants and numerous other animals.

Killing animals redux: Animal damage control means unrelenting slaughter and a huge waste of money
The 80th anniversary of the Animal Damage Control Act is a time for mourning. Animal genocide continues and the “problems” that prompt this wanton killing aren’t solved. What a waste of $120 million. Community-based programs, such as the Marin County Strategic Plan for Protection of Livestock and Wildlife, are more humane and more effective alternatives.

Wolves in the crosshairs once again: Politicians attempt to sidestep the Endangered Species Act
Attempts to fast track delisting wolves crosses party lines and conveniently ignores science. Montana Democratic senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester have proposed another delisting bill despite a federal court ruling that said that wolves should be protected by the Endangered Species Act.

Whipping horses doesn’t work and new observations of grief in chimpanzees
Research shows that whipping horses doesn’t make a difference in races and new observations show that chimpanzees mourn dead infants. Once again science shows how we can improve our relationships with animals who we use for entertainment and how remarkable other animals are.

Kids & animals: What are they thankful for and what are their dreams?
Kids can tell us how we should treat other animals. We should listen to them. A new book offers a unique glimpse of what kids around the world are thankful for and what their dreams and hopes are. The book centers on the guiding principles of Jane Goodall’s world-wide Roots & Shoots program.

Animal genocide government style: Our tax dollars at work
Our government wantonly and discompassionately slaughters millions of animals a year using our tax dollars. Ecosystems are also destroyed by this horrific and reprehensible killing. We need to stop this unrelenting war on wildlife and foster coexistence.

“Do fish feel pain?” redux: An interview with the author who shows of course they do
Fish feel pain and are far more intelligent than previously thought. The United States is ten years behind Europe concerning the keeping and killing of fish claims the author of “Do Fish Feel Pain?”, who supports sport fishing and eats fish. This is important to note because caring about animal welfare is not a “radical” point of view as some claim.

Dog learns more than 1000 names and chimpanzees make dolls
Increasing evidence shows just how smart and creative animals can be. It’s best to keep an open mind about the cognitive skills of other animals because “surprises” are regularly forthcoming.

Cruelty can’t stand the spotlight: Ending animal abuse is merely a click away so let’s make it a New Year’s resolution
It’s easy to end animal abuse with a few clicks of your mouse. Cruelty can’t stand the spotlight and each of us can make a positive difference in the lives of billions of animals. Please place ending animal abuse high among your New Year’s resolutions.

Kangaroos: These iconic animals are relentlessly slaughtered throughout Australia and they shouldn’t be
These iconic animals deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. They’re not. Kangaroos, including young joeys, are killed by the millions each year. Scientists have shown there’s little evidence to support this wanton slaughter. Let’s stop the slaughter and make this the century of compassion.

Dead Cow Walking
National Hamburger Day is a celebration that shouldn’t happen. Eating cows causes unnecessary suffering and death and is risky because of the serious diseases they carry from their lives on factory farms. Benefits of making humane choices are supported by solid scientific research.

Jane Goodall: A brief glimpse of a most amazing woman
What an amazing and unanticipated life was awaiting Jane Goodall after she arrived at the Gombe Stream reserve 50 years ago. It frightens me to think where we would be if she hadn’t made that fateful trip to East Africa in 1960.

Motherhood: Lessons from dolphins
Good mothering in dolphins is socially determined not genetic. Social factors rather than genes influence reproductive success in dolphins.

Crows and tools: Calling someone a birdbrain can be a compliment
Young crows learn to make complex tools in ’tool school’ by watching adults. Being a birdbrain isn’t really an insult.

Bees versus computers: Pea-brained bees win the “traveling salesman problem”
Tiny bee brains beat computers in solving the “traveling salesman problem.”

Compassionate Conservation Finally Comes of Age: Killing in the name of conservation doesn’t work
Compassionate conservation is no longer an oxymoron. Ethics must be firmly implanted in conservation biology, even if difficult questions move us outside of our professional and personal comfort zones. Ethical questions must be addressed, even if asking them means some projects might be put on hold temporarily or abandoned.

“Oh, I know animals suffer, but I love my steak”: The self-serving resolution of the “meat paradox”
Many people continue to eat animals knowing they suffer before they wind up at the end of their fork. A new study shows that the “meat paradox” is resolved for some by denying moral status and emotions to meat animals.

Dogs know what others know: Some new and exciting findings about our best friends
Dogs show evidence of having a theory of mind in that they are able to attribute beliefs and knowledge to others.

Demonic, Warlike Animals Are the Rare Exception, Not the Rule: Wild Justice In Animals Redux
There is no evidence that animals are inherently warlike. We need to stop using animals to justify our own cruel, evil, and warlike behavior.

Compassionate squirrels and good people helping oiled and other wildlife
Squirrels and people display compassion and Zimbabwe calls off a wildlife trade deal with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Meat for sex? A blown “fact”
Male chimpanzees don’t trade meat for sex as previously assumed. So, bartering for sex in humans might be a more recent phenomenon.

Animals, kids, and slaughterhouse effects on crime: Some recent findings
Kid’s reasoning about animals is not universal and research shows a relationship between the presence of slaughterhouses and an increase in local crime.

Apes say “no” with a head shake, animals are lefties and righties, and getting out in nature is good. Duh!
Animals say “no” by shaking their head and show handedness. While we are different from other animals we are also rather similar. And, being “out in nature” is good for us. Duh!

Using hamsters to save ferrets: The need for compassionate conservation
Hamsters for dinner? Golden hamsters are bred solely to be used to train black-footed ferrets to kill. The harm done to hamsters violates ethical principles because it constitutes premeditated and intentional harm that could easily be avoided.

Fish do feel pain: Yes they do, science tells us
Fish do feel pain, so they do not like being hooked even if they’re tossed back in the water

“Mice are lousy models for clinical studies”: Animal models in biomedical research
Publication bias leads to major overstatement of efficacy. It’s time to develop non-animal models that are more reliable and more ethical

Animal Abuse: The Need For a Registry
Much research has shown a close relationship between animal and human abuse.

Going to slaughter: Should animals hope to meet Temple Grandin?
The lives of slaughterhouse animals are marked by constant fear, terror, and anxiety and cannot be made humane by any acceptable definition of the word

Tool use in animals: Mammals, birds, and other animals make and use tools and do other “surprising” things
Mammals, birds, and other animals make and use tools and show many other complex patterns of behavior

Who’s moral? We’re not alone in the moral arena
We’re not alone in the moral arena - a follow-up

Are nonhuman animals more moral than human animals? Yes they are
Humans and nonhuman animals are highly cooperative and empathic, more so than we’ve previously believed. And you donג€™t find mass warfare in animals as you do in humans so if you want to cast it that way, you could say animals are more moral.

Do Less Harm: Ants and a Simple New Years Resolution
Ants are amazing animals. Cutting off their legs isn’t a mere “makeover.” What did the ants think and feel about being mutilated?

Who we eat is moral question: Vegans have nothing to defend
Vegans don’t have to apologize for, or defend, their humane and ethical choices of who to put in their mouth

Do animals have spiritual experiences? Yes they do
Available evidence says “Yes, animals can have spiritual experiences.” We are not alone in the emotional, moral, or spiritual arenas.

Animal love: Hot-blooded elephants, guppy love, and love dogs
Love is a troubling, confusing, and mysterious emotion in humans but maybe less so in animals. People don’t hesitate to say they love another individual - human or nonhuman - and then intentionally harm them.

Grief in animals: It’s arrogant to think we’re the only animals who mourn
There is no doubt that many animals experience rich and deep emotions. It’s not a matter of if emotions have evolved in animals but why they have evolved as they have. We must never forget that our emotions are the gifts of our ancestors, our animal kin. We have feelings and so do other animals.

Morality in Tooth and Claw
Animals are “in.” This might well be called the decade of the animal. Research on animal behavior has never been more vibrant and more revealing of the amazing cognitive, emotional, and moral capacities of a broad range of animals. It’s becoming clear that animals have both emotional and moral intelligences.

Animal Emotions, Animal Sentience, Animal Welfare, and Animal Rights
Labeling an individual an animal “welfarist” or “rightist” connotes important messages about their views on animal exploitation and animal protection.

Factory Farming Without Animal Suffering Isn’t Okay
Even if animals don’t feel pain that’s no reason to keep them on factory farms or even to eat them.

Animals Feelings and Fur: Who (Not What) We Wear is An Ethical Choice
If one doubts that animals have deep feelings consider what they endure as they become unnecessary clothing. It’s easy to say that animals used for fur (and leather) don’t like how they’re treated.

Individual Animals Count: Speciesism Doesn’t Work
Spare the chimps, boil the shrimps, shock the mice, kill the lice, eat the hogs, pith the frogs, blind the rabbits, what drives these habits? Much animal use is driven by the similarities rather than the differences between humans and other animals. Philosopher Lynne Sharpe points out that how we explore and ponder the similarities and differences among animals depends on how we define ourselves.

Conservation Psychology and Animal and Human Well-being
Our relationships with animals are frustrating, challenging, paradoxical and range all over the place. We love animals and harm them in a myriad of ways and many people wonder not only why we continue to do this but also what we can do to give animals the respect, compassion, and love they deserve. A relatively new and rapidly emerging field called conservation psychology can help us improve our relationships with other animals.

A fox, a cougar, and a funeral
Many animals have rich and deep emotional lives. A few years ago I was lucky enough to observe a funeral ritual by a female red fox. Others have also seen similar events. In 1947 a naturalist on the East Coast saw a male fox lick his mate as she lay dead, and the male also protected his mate quite vigorously.

Do Animals Know Who they Are?
Did David Graybeard, the chimpanzee who was first observed to use a tool by Jane Goodall, have any idea of who he was? Do elephants, dolphins, cats, magpies, mice, salmon, ants or bees know who they are? Was Jethro, my late companion dog, a self-conscious being? Do any of these animals have a sense of self? What do these animals make of themselves when they look in a mirror, see their reflection in water, hear their own or another’s song or howl, or smell themselves and others? Is it possible that self-awareness “Wow that’s me!” is a uniquely human trait?

Stalking, Hunting, Stress, and Emotion
Let’s face it, “gone huntin’” and “gone fishin’” usually mean “gone killin’.” But death is often a blessing, a relief from the pain and suffering of being stalked, crippled or mutilated, and dying agonizingly slowly. Some who hunt and fish truly enjoy the richness of the experience, but they don’t want to make animals suffer. Perhaps if they fully realized the intense pain and suffering for which they’re responsible while stalking, they’d forego the emotional rush of the experience. And, there are lots of ways to experience nature and have quality time with family and friends without intruding on, and stressing, injuring, or killing, other animals.

Animals’ lives matter: Sentience and feelings count
Nonhuman animals have many of the same feelings we do and share the same neural structures that are important in processing emotions. So, why do we unrelentingly slaughter sentience? Animals experience contagious joy and the deepest of grief, they get hurt and suffer, and they take care of one another. They have a point of view on what happens to them, their families, and their friends.

Animal Emotions and Beastly Passions: We’re Not the Only Emotional Beings
As a scientist who’s studied animal emotions for more than 30 years, I consider myself very fortunate. I love what I do. I love learning about animals, and I love sharing what my colleagues and I discover with others. Whenever I observe or work with animals, I get to contribute to “science” and develop social relationships same time, and to me, there’s no conflict between these activities. Emotions are the gifts of our ancestors. We have them and so do other animals. We must never forget that.

Anthropomorphic Double-Talk: Can Animals Be Happy But Not Unhappy? No!
Over the years Iג€™ve noticed a curious phenomena. If a scientist says that an animal is happy, no one questions it, but if a scientist says that an animal is unhappy, then charges of anthropomorphism are immediately raised. This “anthropomorphic double-talk” seems mostly aimed at letting humans feel better about themselves. It is very misleading.

Wild Justice and Moral Intelligence in Animals
Do animals have a sense of morality? Do they know right from wrong? In our forthcoming book, Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals, philosopher Jessica Pierce and I argue that the answer to both of these questions is a resounding “yes.” “Ought” and “should” regarding what’s right and what’s wrong play important roles in the social interactions of animals, just as they do in ours.

Papers (with abstracts)

Some of these items have been found through Google Scholar.

Canis latrans
Bekoff - Mammalian Species, 1977 - JSTOR Canis latrans Say, in James, 1823: 168.
Type locality Engineer Cantonment, about 19.2 km SE present town of Blair, Washington Co., Nebraska. Canis ochropus Eschscholtz (1829: 1). Type locality Sacramento River Valley near Sacramento, California. Lyciscus cagottis …

Mammalian dispersal and the ontogeny of individual behavioral phenotypes
Bekoff - American Naturalist, 1977 - JSTOR
Explanations of dispersal mechanisms in mammals that have stressed the importance of aggression by dominant (?) individuals as the immediate cause of the dispersal of less aggressive (more subordinate?) individuals are insufficient for explaining recent data collected on a variety of mammals. In fact, avoidance of social interaction at the time of dispersal is more characteristic of some species in which individuals emigrate. Studies that have investigated genetic correlates of dispersal in rodent populations that undergo regular cycles are few and have not provided any “causative” explanations. In various canids and rodents, behavioral interactions at the time of dispersal do not appear to provide the necessary stimuli for dispersal. These observations suggest that knowledge of the behavioral interactions that occur before dispersal may provide a key to understanding both interspecific and intraspecific differences in social organization and dispersal patterns. It is suggested that individuals who have the most difficulty interacting with littermates will not develop strong social ties with their siblings and will be the most likely individuals to disperse of their own accord. This hypothesis is testable by collecting data on the social interaction patterns of individual littermates throughout early development and during dispersal. In this way, the importance of a heretofore neglected factor in dispersal-namely, the relationship between the behavioral antecedents of dispersal and which individuals disperse at what age, and in what manner can be assessed.

Mammalian play: training for the unexpected
RC Newberry, Bekoff - Quarterly Review of Biology, 2001 - JSTOR
In this review, we present a new conceptual framework for the study of play behavior, a hitherto puzzling array of seemingly purposeless and unrelated behavioral elements that are recognizable as play throughout the mammalian lineage.Our major new functional hypothesis is that play enables animals to develop flexible kinematic and emotional responses to unexpected events in which they experience a sudden loss of control. Specifically, we propose that play functions to increase the versatility of movements used to recover from sudden shocks such as loss of balance and falling over, and to enhance the ability of animals to cope emotionally with unexpected stressful situations. To obtain this “training for the unexpected,” we suggest that animals actively seek and create unexpected situations in play through self-handicapping; that is, deliberately relaxing control over their movements or actively putting themselves into disadvantageous positions and situations. Thus, play is comprised of sequences in which the players switch rapidly between well-controlled movements similar to those used in “serious” behavior and self-handicapping movements that result in temporary loss of control. We propose that this playful switching between in-control and out-of-control elements is cognitively demanding, setting phylogenetic and ontogenetic constraints on play, and is underlain by neuroendocrinological responses that produce a complex emotional state known as “having fun.” Furthermore, we propose that play is often prompted by relatively novel or unpredictable stimuli, and is thus related to, although distinct from, exploration. We present 24 predictions that arise from our new theoretical framework, examining the extent to which they are supported by the existing empirical evidence and contrasting them with the predictions of four major alternative hypotheses about play. We argue that our “training for the unexpected” hypothesis can account for some previously puzzling kinematic, structural, motivational, emotional, cognitive, social, ontogenetic, and phylogenetic aspects of play. It may also account for a diversity of individual methods for coping with unexpected misfortunes.

The development of social interaction, play, and metacommunication in mammals: an ethological perspective
Bekoff - Quarterly Review of Biology, 1972 - JSTOR
Analysis of the dynamics of the ontogeny of social interaction is of critical importance in order that behavioral development may be comprehended in its own right, and the relationship between infant and adult behavior understood.In this review, general concepts of behavioral development in mammals are discussed and analyzed, and the many variables that are involved are considered. When it is impossible to control or observe the social interaction of the developing organism in its natural environment, captive subjects should be used. There is increasing evidence that results obtained with the latter are related to social organization observed in the wild. Play behavior is operationally defined on the basis of a comprehensive review of the literature and of personal observations of the social development of canids. The essential “need” for social interaction during infant life is discussed, as is the phenomenon of behavioral neoteny. The concept of metacommunication, and its relationship to social development are analyzed, and the role of ritualization in the evolution of metacommunicative signals is considered.

Social play and play-soliciting by infant canids
Bekoff - American Zoologist, 1974 - Soc Integ Comp Biol Abstract
The development of social interaction was studied in infant coyotes, beagles, and wolves. In this paper, social play behavior is discussed. Social play may be characterized in a number of ways: (i) actions from various contexts are incorporated into labile (unpredictable) temporal sequences; (ii) the play bout is typically preceded by a metacommunicative signal which indicates what follows is play; these signals are also observed during the bout; (iii) certain actions may be repeated and performed in an exaggerated manner; (iv) the activity appears pleasurable to the players. By comparing these three species, some insight into the dynamics of social play may be gained. Coyotes were the least successful in soliciting play. When they did play, 90% of all bouts had been previously solicited. Coyotes also tended to use the most successful signals most frequently. This trend was not observed in the beagles or the wolves. By taking into account the fact that infant coyotes are significantly more aggressive than either infant wolves or beagles, the differential ontogeny of social play can be explained. Some of the functions of social play in canids are discussed, and it is concluded that social play is a valid class of social behavior and lends itself nicely to quantitative study.

Play signals as punctuation: The structure of social play in canids
Bekoff - Behaviour, 132, 1995 - ingentaconnect.com
Actions called play signals have evolved in many species in which social play has been observed. Despite there being only few empirical demonstrations, it generally is accepted that play signals are important in the initiation (“I want to play”) and maintenance (“I still want to play”) of ongoing social play. In this study I consider whether a specific and highly stereotyped signal, the bow, is used to maintain social play in adult and infant domestic dogs, infant wolves, and infant coyotes.To answer this question the temporal placement of bows relative to actions that are also used in other contexts (dominance or predatory encounters) such as biting accompanied by rapid side-to-side shaking of the head was analyzed to determine if bows performed during ongoing social play are used to communicate the message “I want to play despite what I am going to do or just did - I still want to play”. The non-random occurrence of bows supports the hypothesis that bows are used to maintain social play in these canids when actions borrowed from other contexts, especially biting accompanied by rapid side-to-side shaking of the head, are likely to be misinterpreted. (see html))

Life history patterns and the comparative social ecology of carnivores
Bekoff, Daniels, Gittleman - Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 1984 - JSTOR
The mammalian order Carnivora is characterized by a great range of behavioral, ecological, and morphological adaptations, as well as substantial intraspecific variability (ie behavioral scaling; see 324).

[Social ecology and behavior of coyotes](http://www.rockies.ca/coyotes/files/social behavior and ecology of coyotes - beckoff.pdf) (pdf)
Bekoff, Wells - Adv. Stud. Behav., 1986 - rockies.ca
Coyotes, Canis latrans, are medium-sized members of the order Carnivora (weight: about 8-20 kg; length: approximately 1-1.4 m) that range from as far south as Costa Rica and Panama (Vaughan, 1983), throughout the continental United States and Canada, to northern Alaska (Young and Jackson, 1951; Gier, 1968; Bekoff, 1977a, 1978a, 1982). Within, and perhaps outside of, these gener- al boundaries the range of coyotes appears to be expanding due primarily to their high reproductive potential, great dispersal ability, and opportunistic food habits (Vaughan, 1983). Coyote expansion has also been facilitated by the elimination of large competitors such as gray wolves (Canis lupus), with whom they usually compete unsuccessfully (Gier, 1975; Carbyn, 1982) and avoid (Fuller and Keith, 1981). Furthermore, coyotes show a marked ability to compensate for increased human exploitation (Knowlton, 1972; Sterling et al., 1983). They are able to exist and reproduce successfully in extremely diverse habitats ranging from sea level to 2000-3000 m, including deserts, open grasslands, broken and dense forests, and large cities such as Los Angeles, California (Howell, 1982; Wirtz et al., 1982). As Gier (1975) stressed, neither altitude, latitude, nor vegetation restricts their survival.

Intentional communication and social play: how and why animals negotiate and agree to play
Bekoff, Allen - Animal play: Evolutionary, comparative, and ג€¦, 1998 - books.google.com
To return to our immediate subject: the lower animals, like man, manifestly feel pleasure and pain, happiness and misery. Happiness is never better exhibited than by young animals, such as puppies, kittens, lambs, &c., when playing together, like our own children. Even insects play together, as has been described by that excellent observer, P. Huber, who saw ants chasing and pretending to bite each other, like so many puppies. (Charles Darwin 1871/1936, p.448)\\ Pierre Huber (1810, p. 148), in his book about the behavior of ants, claims that if one were not accustomed to treating insects as machines one would have trouble explaining the social behavior of ants and bees without attributing emotions to them. (see html))

Simulation analyses of space use: home range estimates, variability, and sample size
Bekoff, Mech - Behavior Research Methods, 1984 - Springer
Simulations of space use by animals were run to determine the relationship among home range area estimates, variability, and sample size (number of locations). As sample size increased, home range size increased asymptotically, whereas variability decreased among mean home range area estimates generated by multiple simulations for the same sample size. Our results suggest that field workers should ascertain between 100 and 200 locations in order to estimate reliably home range area. In some cases, this suggested guideline is higher than values found in the few published studies in which the relationship between home range area and number of locations is addressed. Sampling differences for small species occupying relatively small home ranges indicate that fewer locations may be sufficient to allow for a reliable estimate of home range. Intraspecific variability in social status (group member, loner, resident, transient), age, sex, reproductive condition, and food resources also have to be considered, as do season, habitat, and differences in sampling and analytical methods. Comparative data still are needed.

Vigilance, flock size, and flock geometry: information gathering by western evening grosbeaks (Aves, Fringillidae)
Bekoff - Ethology, 1995 - Wiley
Online Library Vigilance (scanning) and other behavior patterns were studied in free-ranging Evening Grosbeaks (Coccothraustes vespertinus) at feeders to assess how flock size and flock geometry influenced the behavior of individual birds. The present results indicate that the way in which individual grosbeaks are positioned with respect to one another effects many aspects of their behavior, especially when a flock contains four or more birds. Birds in a linear array who have difficulty seeing one another, when compared to individuals organized in a circle who can easily see one another, are (1) more vigilant, (2) change their head and body positions more often, (3) react to changes in group size more slowly, (4) show less coordination in head movements, and (5) show more variability in all measures. These differences in behavior can be explained from a cognitive ethological perspective that favors intentional or representational explanations. Specifically, the data suggest that individual grosbeaks, when scanning and moving about, are visually monitoring the flock in which they are feeding and gathering information about a number of variables including flock size, what others are doing, where others are, which individuals are present, phenotypic features of flock members, food resources, or the location of potential predators. Individuals likely use visual records of the behavior and perhaps the phenotypic features of others, and this information influences various aspects of their behavior. (see html))

Social communication in canids: Evidence for the evolution of a stereotyped mammalian display
Bekoff - Science, 1977 - sciencemag.org
The variability in the duration and form of the canid play bow was studied in infant coyotes, wolves, wolf-dog hybrids, beagles, and adult free-ranging dogs. Both duration and form showed marked stereotypy. It appears that the role of this context-specific social signal in the communication of play intention has been fostered by selection for “morphological” stereotypy.

Social play behaviour. Cooperation, fairness, trust, and the evolution of morality
Bekoff - Journal of Consciousness Studies, 2001 - ingentaconnect.com
Here I briefly discuss some comparative data on social play behaviour in hope of broadening the array of species in which researchers attempt to study animal morality. I am specifically concerned with the notion of ג€˜behaving fairly’. In the term ג€˜behaving fairlyג€™ I use as a working guide the notion that animals often have social expectations when they engage in various sorts of social encounters the violation of which constitutes being treated unfairly because of a lapse in social etiquette. I will cash this out below in my discussion of social play behaviour. (get pdf)

Group size and vigilance in pronghorns
Lipetz, Bekoff - Zeitschrift Tierpsychologie, 1982 - Wiley Online Library
The relationship between group size and vigilance in pronghorn antelopes (Antilocapra americana) was examined. As group size increased, the proportion of vigilant pronghorns decreased. Individuals in larger groups foraged longer than those in smaller groups. However, only solitary individuals foraged for significantly less time than individuals in all other group sizes. Solitary females with fawns present foraged for significantly less time than solitary males; solitary females without fawns present had intermediate foraging times. Peripheral individuals appeared to be more wary than those in the center of groups; the first two individuals to lift their heads were more likely to be on the periphery. Individuals lifted their heads at random with respect to one another.

Biological function, adaptation, and natural design
Allan, Bekoff - Philosophy of Science, 1995 - JSTOR
Recently something close to a consensus about the best way to naturalize the notion of biological function appears to be emerging. Nonetheless, teleological notions in biology remain controversial.

An observational study of scent-marking in coyotes, Canis latrans
Wells, Bekoff - Animal Behaviour, 1981 - Elsevier
Urination and defaecation patterns of free-ranging coyotes (Canis latrans) were studied in the Grand Teton National Park, Jackson, Wyoming, for two years. The vast majority of urinations by adult males and females were involved in marking, and differentiating between marking and elimination may not be necessary. Our results may be summarized as follows: (1) raised-leg urinations (RLU) performed by males were most frequently used in marking. (2) Females marked throughout the year using the squat (SQU) posture. (3) Snow tracking and reading snow sign resulted in a gross underestimate of the relative frequency of SQU’s and a large overestimate in the relative frequency of defaecations (DEF) when compared to results obtained by direct observation. (4) There was sexual dimorphism for the contexts in which marking occurred. Overall, marking by males was associated with courtship and mating, with travelling, and with aggression. Marking by females was associated with the acquisition and possession of food and with the denning season. (5) Marking rates per coyote increased in groups larger than two animals. (6) RLU marking rates were greatest in areas of high intrusion when compared to denning areas and areas in which non-group members infrequently tresscent odours are important in orienting individuals in space but do not represent in and of themselves barriers to movement.

Kin recognition in vertebrates: what do we really know about adaptive value?
Blaustein, Bekoff, Byers, Daniel - Animal Behaviour, 1991 - Elsevier
The ability of an animal to discriminate between kin and non-kin (kin recognition) has been the subject of numerous recent investigations. Grafen (Anim. Behav., 1990, 39, 42ג€“54) recently reported that the evidence in support of kin recognition is weak and the data illustrating a preference for kin to associate in the laboratory may be more consistently explained as species recognition. It is suggested here, however, that in many cases it may be impossible to distinguish between species recognition and kin recognition, but in some cases, kin recognition seems apparent. It is also emphasized that very little is known about the adaptive value of kin recognition.

Ecology and social responsibility: the re-embodiment of science
Bradshaw, Bekoff - Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 2001 - Elsevier
As global environmental problems intensify, ecology is increasingly drawn into the social arena, and many ecologists feel caught between two competing models of science: a science apart from society and a science directly engaged with society. Interdisciplinary research and integrative theories are helping resolve this conflict by providing a common framework for both biophysical and social sciences. The incorporation of the human dimension into ecology is reversing a century-old trend of separation and reintegrating science into the human experience. ([get pdf](http://www.kerulos.org/learn_more/pubs_trans_assets/TREE-2001B and B.pdf))

Cognitive ethology: Slayers, skeptics, and proponents
Bekoff, Allen (1997) Cognitive Ethology: Slayers, Skeptics, and Proponents.
In this paper we identify three major groups of people (among some of whose members there are blurred distinctions) with different views on cognitive ethology, namely, slayers, skeptics, and proponents. Our analyses are based on our reading of some published reviews of Donald Griffin’s works in cognitive ethology and other clearly stated opinions concerning animal cognition, in the sense of attribution of mental states and properties such as beliefs, awareness, and consciousness. Slayers Slayers deny any possibility of success in cognitive ethology. In our analyses of their published statements, we have found that they sometimes conflate the difficulty of doing rigorous cognitive ethological investigations with the impossibility of doing so. Slayers also often ignore specific details of work by cognitive ethologists and frequently mount philosophically motivated objections to the possibility of learning anything about animal cognition. Slayers do not believe that cognitive ethological approaches can lead, and have lead, to new and testable hypotheses. They often pick out the most difficult and least accessible phenomena to study (e.g. consciousness) and then conclude that because we can gain little detailed knowledge about this subject, we cannot do better in other areas. Slayers also appeal to parsimony in explanations of animal behavior, but they dismiss the possibility that cognitive explanations can be more parsimonious than noncognitive alternatives, and they deny the utility of cognitive hypotheses for directing empirical research. Skeptics Skeptics are often difficult to categorize. They are a bit more open-minded than slayers, and there seems to be greater variation among skeptical views of cognitive ethology than among slayers’ opinions. However, some skeptics recognize some past and present successes in cognitive ethology, and remain cautiously optimistic about future successes; in these instances they resemble moderate proponents. Many skeptics appeal to the future of neuroscience, and claim that when we know all there is to know about nervous systems, cognitive ethology will be superfluous (Bekoff, 1993a; it should be noted that Griffin, 1992 also makes strong appeals to neuroscience, but he does not believe that increased knowledge in neurobiology will cause cognitive ethology to disappear). Like slayers, skeptics frequently conflate the difficulty of doing rigorous cognitive ethological investigations with the impossibility of doing so. Skeptics also find folk psychological, anthropomorphic, and cognitive explanations to be off-putting. Proponents Proponents recognize the utility of cognitive ethological investigations. They claim that there are already many successes and they see that cognitive ethological approaches have provided new and interesting data that also can inform and motivate further study. Proponents also accept the cautious use of folk psychological and cognitive explanations to build a systematic explanatory framework in conjunction with empirical studies, and do not find anecdotes or anthropomorphism to be thoroughly off-putting. Some proponents are as extreme in their advocacy of cognitive ethology as some slayers are in their opposition. But most proponents are willing to be critical of cognitive ethological research without dooming the field prematurely; if cognitive ethology is to die, it will be of natural causes and not as a result of hasty slayings. (see html)

Population and social biology of free-ranging dogs, Canis familiaris
Daniels, Bekoff - Journal of Mammalogy, 1989 - JSTOR
Population size and density, age structure, survivorship patterns, sex ratios, and social organization of urban, rural, and feral dog (Canis familiaris) populations were examined in Cd. Juarez, Mexico (urban site) and on the Navajo reservation (rural and wild sites) between June 1983 and December 1984. Urban and rural dogs were less social than expected whereas feral dogs characteristically lived in packs. Seasonal variation in the structure of feral dog packs was influenced by reproduction, both directly (pups born into the pack) and indirectly (pregnant females may temporarily emigrate form the pack to give birth).

Social play behavior
Bekoff - Bioscience, 1984 - JSTOR
Recent studies clearly indicate that animal play is an important behavioral phenotype, and that detailed analyses of the phenomenon are useful for furthering our understanding of the evolution of social behavior and the interaction of phylogeny, ecology, and behavioral development. This article is concerned mainly with evolutionary, ecological, and developmental aspects of social play behavior in mammals.

Social, spacing, and cooperative behavior of the collared peccary, Tayassu tajacu
Byers, Bekoff - Journal of Mammalogy, 1981 - JSTOR
Social behavior of the collared peccary was studied on the lower, eastern slopes of the Mazatzal Mountains, Arizona. The social unit in this species is a cohesive herd, in which small inter-individual distances are maintained. Two conspicuous acts, one olfactory and one auditory, functioned to maintain close spacing. Social interactions were brief but tended to synchronize the activities of animals and also to bring them closer together. Amicable and neutral actions occurred far more frequently than agonistic interactions. Most agonistic behavior did not involve physical contact. Cooperative nursing, predator defense, and feeding occurred; all adults were tolerant of young, and males showed little overt competition over estrous females. The absence of sexual dimorphism, the 1:1 sex ratio within social groups, and the small, precocial litters in this species suggest an evolutionary history of pronounced sociality. Kin selection possibly was important in the evolution of social behavior in peccaries.

On aims and methods of cognitive ethology
Jamieson, Bekoff - Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association ֲ© 1992
Philosophy of Science Association In 1963 Niko Tinbergen published a paper, “On Aims and Methods of Ethology,” dedicated to his friend Konrad Lorenz. Here Tinbergen defines ethology as “the biological study of behavior,” and seeks to demonstrate “the close affinity between Ethology and the rest of Biology.” Tinbergen identifies four major areas of ethology: causation, survival value, evolution, and ontogeny. Our goal is to attempt for cognitive ethology what Tinbergen succeeded in doing for ethology: to clarify its aims and methods, to distinguish some of its varieties, and to defend the fruitfulness of the research strategies that it has spawned.

Behavioral ecology of coyotes: social organization, rearing patterns, space use, and resource defense
Bekoff, Wells - Zeitschrift fֳ¼r Tierpsychologie, 1982 - Wiley Online Library
Two groups of coyotes in which genealogical relationships were known were studied in the Grand Teton National Park, outside of Jackson, Wyoming, U.S.A., from 1977ג€“1982. One group, a pack consisting of parents and some non-dispersing and non-breeding offspring, defended a territory and the food (mainly elk carrion) contained within it, especially during winter, and also had helpers at den sites (5 of 6 were males). The other group, a mated resident pair, all of whose young dispersed during the first year of life, did not defend a territory and never had helpers at dens. Delayed dispersal and retention of some offspring as helpers was related to the presence of an abundant, clumped, and defendable winter food resource. Dispersing yearlings suffered higher mortality than did non-dispersing individuals.
Litter size was the same for the pack and resident pair; litter size was not significantly correlated with number of adults in the group or with the number or percentage of pups that survived to 5ג€“6 months of age. The presence of pack helpers was not significantly correlated with pup survival, although there was a positive correlation (rs = +0.37) between the number of adults attending a den(s) and pup survival. Helpers rarely fed pups and their presence had no appreciable effect on juvenile weight. Helpers partook in den-sitting (pup-guarding), but they did not reduce the amount of time that parents spent at den sites. Helpers also actively initiated and took part in territorial and food defense. The proportion of times that pack members initiated defense was inversely related to intruder density (r = ג€“0.94).

Wild justice and fair play: cooperation, forgiveness, and morality in animals
Bekoff - Biology and Philosophy, 2004 - Springer
In this paper I argue that we can learn much about lsquowild justicersquo and the evolutionary origins of social morality ג€“ behaving fairly ג€“ by studying social play behavior in group-living animals, and that interdisciplinary cooperation will help immensely. In our efforts to learn more about the evolution of morality we need to broaden our comparative research to include animals other than non-human primates. If one is a good Darwinian, it is premature to claim that only humans can be empathic and moral beings. By asking the question lsquoWhat is it like to be another animal?rsquo we can discover rules of engagement that guide animals in their social encounters. When I study dogs, for example, I try to be a lsquodogocentristrsquo and practice lsquodogomorphism.rsquo My major arguments center on the following lsquobigrsquo questions: Can animals be moral beings or do they merely act as if they are? What are the evolutionary roots of cooperation, fairness, trust, forgiveness, and morality? What do animals do when they engage in social play? How do animals negotiate agreements to cooperate, to forgive, to behave fairly, to develop trust? Can animals forgive? Why cooperate and play fairly? Why did play evolve as it has? Does lsquobeing fairrsquo mean being more fit ג€“ do individual variations in play influence an individual’’s reproductive fitness, are more virtuous individuals more fit than less virtuous individuals? What is the taxonomic distribution of cognitive skills and emotional capacities necessary for individuals to be able to behave fairly, to empathize, to behave morally? Can we use information about moral behavior in animals to help us understand ourselves? I conclude that there is strong selection for cooperative fair play in which individuals establish and maintain a social contract to play because there are mutual benefits when individuals adopt this strategy and group stability may be also be fostered. Numerous mechanisms have evolved to facilitate the initiation and maintenance of social play to keep others engaged, so that agreeing to play fairly and the resulting benefits of doing so can be readily achieved. I also claim that the ability to make accurate predictions about what an individual is likely to do in a given social situation is a useful litmus test for explaining what might be happening in an individual’’s brain during social encounters, and that intentional or representational explanations are often important for making these predictions. ([get pdf](http://animalliberationfront.com/Philosophy/Morality/Speciesism/Wild Justice.pdf))

Reflective ethology, applied philosophy, and the moral status of animals
Bekoff, Jamieson - Perspectives in ethology, 1991 - agris.fao.org
Currently there is an unprecedented interest in ethological studies of nonhuman animals. Much of this interest is motivated by a desire to learn more about animals themselves. For scientists assuming this stance, a secondary goal is to use this knowledge to assess the place of humans in the natural order of things, stressing continuity or discontinuity depending on one’s views. Others, however, study animals primarily to apply this knowledge to human behavior. We argue that behavioral research demands the rigorous application of methods that are minimally harmful to the animals being studied. We argue for a moderate, but rigorous and uncompromising, position on issues of animal welfare. A number of areas that in our opinion require careful scrutiny before research should be permitted are identified. It is a privilege to study nonhumans even in what seem to be noninterventive situations, and we should reflect on what we are doing by empathizing with the animals that are being studied. From this point of view, ethological interest and philosophical concerns with morality, mind, and science complement one another. Thus, ethology and philosophy should inform one another with respect to the way in which animals are studied, and how data are analyzed, applied, and disseminated.

[[http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1641/0006-3568(2000)050%5B0861:AEEPN%5D2.0.CO;2][Animal emotions: exploring passionate natures]]
Bekoff - BioScience, 2000 - BioOne
Current interdisciplinary research provides compelling evidence that many animals experience such emotions as joy, fear, love, despair, and griefג€”we are not alone. ([get pdf](http://sobek.colorado.edu/~irvinel/Animals and Society Readings/Bekoff Animal Emotions.pdf))

Avian play: comparative evolutionary and developmental trends
Ortega, Bekoff - The Auk, 1987 - JSTOR
Classified 26 extant avian orders as having species with either primarily altricial or precocial young. 10 of the 12 of these orders in which play has reportedly occurred were comprised of altricial species. Findings are related to the development of the avian forebrain.

Predation by wild coyotes: behavioral and ecological analyses
Wells, Bekoff - Journal of Mammalogy, 1982 - JSTOR
Predatory behavior of coyotes (Canis latrans) was studied between 1977 and 1980 in the Grand Teton National Park, Jackson, Wyoming. Major prey were voles (Microtus spp.), Uinta ground squirrels (Spermophilus armatus), pocket gophers (Thomomys talpoides), and grasshoppers (Locustidae). Coyotes typically rushed and ran down squirrels; when hunting mice, coyotes pounced and stabbed at them with their forepaws. Sequence structure was similar, though sequences directed to squirrels were significantly more variable. When juvenile coyotes hunted mice, sequences were similar to those performed by adults that hunted mice. Adults and juveniles were about equally successful. The size of prey last eaten influenced the interval until the next search was initiated; the larger the prey, the longer the interval. However, the time interval since the last capture and the outcome (capture or failure) of the next predatory attempt were not correlated. Durations of search, orient, and stalk were longer in short (< 10 cm) grass than in tall grass; stalk, orient, and total durations also were more variable in short grass. Coyotes that hunted in short grass were more successful. Durations of all acts were shorter and coyotes were more successful in snow less than 10 cm deep than in deeper snow. Mean orient and total durations were more variable in deep snow. Height of ground-cover apparently affected coyote movements and the way in which cues from prey were perceived. Local wind conditions did not affect capture success. Coyotes were least successful when they hunted mice and more successful when they hunted squirrels. More time was spent searching and stalking squirrels.

Predicting flock vigilance from simple passerine interactions: modelling with cellular automata
Bahr, Bekoff - Animal behaviour, 1999 - Elsevier
Vigilance in flocks can be described and modelled as a plausible set of local interactions between neighbouring birds. Each bird in the modelled flock chooses to feed or to scan based solely on whether or not its neighbours are feeding or scanning. This simple model has the ability both to reproduce observations that have not been previously explained and to predict flock behaviours that might be confirmed with future field studies. Examples include simulations showing decreased vigilance with increased flock size (as observed in the field), greater time spent scanning when obstacles such as trees are present (as observed) and a coordinated feed/scan pattern (that is predicted to become increasingly coordinated when the birds look up from feeding more frequently). The numerical model also predicts that flock geometry influences vigilance. If two flocks are the same size, individuals in the one with the larger perimeter will spend more time scanning. This prediction could be tested with field studies and already has been observed empirically for two limiting cases: birds arranged in a line (high perimeters, high scan times) and birds in a circle (lower perimeters, lower scan times). As demonstrated by its multiple successes, cellular models of this type are a powerful new approach to understanding bird flock behaviours.

What Does Kin Recognition Mean?
Byers, Bekoff - Ethology, 1986 - Wiley Online Library
The phenomenon of kin recognition has gained much attention, because of HAMILTON’S (1964) now famous prediction, that an animal ideally should base its treatment of another conspecific on the degree to which it is related to that individual. Most authors working in this field have been careful to state that, in studying “recognition”, they do not imply any kind of cognition. Nevertheless, the way in which the word “recognition” is used in many papers, implies, if not cognition, at least some kind of as yet unobserved neural activity.

Reflections on animal selves
Bekoff, Sherman - Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 2004 - Elsevier
Is self-cognizance a uniquely human attribute, or do other animals also have a sense of self? Although there is considerable interest in this question, answers remain elusive. Progress has been stymied by misunderstandings in terminology, a focus on a narrow range of species, and controversies over key concepts, experimental paradigms and interpretations of data. Here, we propose a new conceptual and terminological framework, emphasizing that degrees of self-cognizance differ among animals because of the cognitive demands that their species-specific social structures and life-history characteristics have placed upon them over evolutionary time. We suggest that the self-cognizance of an organism falls at a point on a continuum of social complexity and conscious involvement.

Cognitive ethology and the explanation of nonhuman animal behavior
Bekoff - 1995 - cogprints.org
In this paper I attempt to provide a convincing case for the importance of cognitive ethological investigations for advancing our knowledge of animal cognition. Cognitive ethology is broadly defined as the evolutionary and comparative study of nonhuman animal (hereafter animal) thought processes, consciousness, beliefs, or rationality, and is an area in which research is informed by different types of investigations and explanations. After (1) a brief discussion of the agenda of cognitive ethology, in which three different views of cognitive ethology are considered as is the relationship of cognitive ethology as a science to other branches of science, I (2) argue that folk psychological explanations and empirical data both are important to cognitive ethological research and conclude that the former are not as weak and as dispensable as some claim; (3) appeal to some case studies in recent analyses of social play behavior and antipredatory behavior (vigilance against potential predators) to make the point that folk psychology works well with empirical data and to provide examples in which the cognitive ethological perspective has proven to be a good heuristic; and (4) make some suggestions for future research. Cognitive ethology is alive, has a bright future, and has much to gain from a broad interdisciplinary perspective. Comparative approaches to cognitive science are very fruitful and have much to offer. (see html)

Physical development in coyotes (Canis latrans), with a comparison to other canids
Bekoff, Jamieson - Journal of Mammalogy, 1975 - JSTOR
Few detailed data are available on physical development in members of the family Canidae and there are few published papers that include information on the coyote (Snow, 1967; Gier, 1968; Bekoff, 1974a).

An Observational Study of Coyote (Canis latrans) Scentmarking and Territoriality in Yellowstone National Park
Allen, Bekoff, Crabtree - Ethology, 1999 - Wiley Online Library
Free-ranging coyotes (Canis latrans) living in neighboring packs were observed in the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, from Jan. to May 1997. Through direct observation, we recorded the location of coyote scent marks and information regarding the identity of the marking animal. Patterns of scent-marking were then analyzed spatially and demographically. All of the evidence from the present study supports a strong relationship between scent-marking and territoriality in these coyotes, and all predictions were met. A preponderance of scent marks was found in the periphery of territories. Most of those marks were raised-leg urinations (RLUs) and forward-lean urinations (FLUs), postures associated very strongly with males, particularly dominant individuals. Ground-scratching was also closely associated with these types of marks and was performed more on the periphery of territories than in the interior. A complete lack of overlap of adjacent territories and very limited overlap of movements into territories fits classic definitions of territory and home range. Scent-marking seems to be strongly associated with the establishment and maintenance of these boundaries between packs of coyotes competing for the same resources in a limited space.

Intentional icons: Towards an evolutionary cognitive ethology
Bekoff, Allen - Ethology, 1992 - Wiley Online Library
In most species in which social play has been observed, play-soliciting signals have evolved. These social signals appear to be important in communicating play intention. Here, using the work of Ruth Millikan as a working guide and canid play bows as an example, we argue that (i) some play signals may be simple intentional icons and (ii) senders and receivers are cooperating devices, in that the disposition of senders to produce play-soliciting signals and the disposition of receivers of play signals to respond appropriately to play invitations, have evolved together. Millikan’s views of social communication are difficult to render and are virtually untested. However, her stance, while philosophically controversial, is somewhat consistent with early ethological views of social communication. Thus, in combination with classical ethological positions, Millikan’s position could serve as a useful guide not only to inform and motivate future empirical research in cognitive ethology, but also to stimulate ethologists to reconsider, in innovative ways, nonhuman animal cognition. To reject the empirical utility of Millikan’s theory because of its difficulty or on philosophical grounds would be premature and would represent a confusion of empirical with philosophical issues.

Precopulatory and copulatory behavior in coyotes
Bekoff, Diamond Journal of Mammalogy Vol. 57, No. 2 (May, 1976), pp. 372-375
Little is known about the behavioral aspects of reproductive biology in coyotes (Canis latrans), but there is a considerable amount of information concerning reproductive anatomy and physiology (see Bekoff, 1974, 1976; Diamond, 1976, for reviews).

Social play in coyotes, wolves, and dogs
Bekoff - BioScience, 1974 - JSTOR
In this paper, the development of social play behavior in coyotes, wolves, and beagles is discussed, as are the ways in which “play intention” is communicated and a “play mood” maintained. Coyotes were observed to fight more and play less than wolves or beagles of the same age, and the differential development of social behavior in these canids may play some role in determining the later species-typical social organization observed in adults.

Motor training and physical fitness: Possible shortand longterm influences on the development of individual differences in behavior
Bekoff - Developmental Psychobiology, 1988 - Wiley Online Library
Individual differences in the behavior of young and adult animals have been documented in diverse species. Possible sources of such variation are of interest to scientists representing many disciplines, including behavior, genetics, and population and evolutionary biology. Two variables that may be important in the ontogeny and maintenance of behavioral differences are (1) individual physical (aerobic and anaerobic) fitness and (2) possible genetic variations underlying individual abilities to engage in, and to benefit from, motor training early in life. The differential development of aerobic and anaerobic capacities may play a significant role in the ontogeny of individual differences in the performance of various motor skills. There also may be short- and long-term consequences of variations in physical fitness that influence individual abilities to perform energy demanding acts during aggressive encounters, interactions with prey or predators, and courtship and breeding. Genetic studies of a limited number of species indicate that specific genotypes are correlated with individual variations in motor performance, even among conspecifics. Multidisciplinary research concerning possible relationships among the ontogeny of physical fitness, genetics, and variations in behavior is needed. Recent work on the relationship between individual differences in physical fitness and variations in the behavior of adult cold-blooded vertebrates provides a good model for comparative research on warm-blooded species.

Cognitive ethology and the treatment of non-human animals: How matters of mind inform matters of welfare.
Bekoff - Animal Welfare, 1994 - psycnet.apa.org
Anthropocentric claims about the ways in which non-human animals interact in their social and non-social worlds are often used to influence decisions on how animals can or should be used by humans in various sorts of activities. Thus, the treatment of individuals is often tightly linked to how they are perceived with respect to their ability to perform behavior patterns that suggest that they can thinkג€”have beliefs, desires, or make plans and have expectations about the future. This article reviews some basic issues in the comparative study of animal minds and discusses how matters of mind are related to matters of welfare and well-being. Much comparative research still needs to be done before any stipulative claims can be made about how an individual’s cognitive abilities can be used to influence decisions about how she or he should be treated. The author stresses the importance of (1) subjectivity and common sense along with the use of empirical data in making decisions about animal welfare, and (2) viewing subjective assessments in the same critical light that is used to evaluate supposedly objective scientific facts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)

Wild justice, cooperation, and fair play: Minding manners, being nice, and feeling good
Bekoff - The origins and nature of sociality, 2004 - mendeley.com
(From the chapter) In this chapter I consider various aspects of the evolution of cooperation and fairness using social play behavior in animals, especially mammals, as my exemplar of an activity in which one would expect to see ongoing negotiations of cooperation and agreements to behave fairly because the social dynamics of play require that players agree to play and not to fight or to mate with one another. I am specifically concerned with the notion of “behaving fairly.” By “behaving fairly” I use as a working guide the notion that animals often have social expectations when they engage in various sorts of social encounters the violation of which constitutes being treated unfairly because of a lapse in social etiquette. I conclude that social play might be a “foundation of fairness.” I also argue that it is through social cooperation that groups (communities) are built from individuals agreeing to work in harmony with other individuals. Whether or not individuals lose various “freedoms” when balanced against the benefits that accrue when they work for the “good of a group” is unknown and needs to be studied more carefully in various species. Further, based on recent research on the neurobiology of human cooperation, I argue that “being fair” may feel good for animals as well. Lastly, I stress that in our efforts to learn more about the evolution of social morality we need to broaden our comparative research to include animals other than nonhuman primates. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved)

Quantitative analyses of the ontogeny of predatory behaviour in coyotes, Canis latrans
Vincent, Bekoff - Animal Behaviour Volume 26, Part 1, February 1978, Pages 225ג€“231
Four infant coyotes (Canis latrans) were studied in order to describe quantitatively the development of predatory behaviour. Our results indicated that prior play and agonistic experience had virtually no effect on later predatory success. Also, there was no relationship between an individual’s social rank and its prey-killing ability. Latency to kill was shortened when animals were tested in, pairs and hunger level was not related to latency to kill. The results are discussed with respect to current functionalist theories of play behaviour and Leyhausen’s concept of the relative hierarchy of moods. The practice theory of play should be reconsidered in light of the results of this and other recent studies.

Behavioural budgeting by wild coyotes: the influence of food resources and social organization
Bekoff, Wells - Animal Behaviour Volume 29, Issue 3, August 1981, Pages 794ג€“801
Daytime behavioural budgets of coyotes (Canis latrans) living in the Grand Teton National Park, Jackson, Wyoming, were analysed in order to determine how activity patterns were influenced by food resources and social organization. In winter, coyotes rested more and hunted less than in other seasons. Pack-living coyotes rested more and travelled less than resident pairs or solitary residents or transients during winter months when the major food resource was ungulate (predominantly elk, Cervus canadensis) carrion. A mated female living in a pack rested significantly more and travelled significantly less than a mated female living only with her mate (as a resident pair) during winter. We predict that in times of food shortage, pack-living coyotes, and particularly reproductive females, might be at an advantage when compared to resident pairs and solitary individuals.

Play and the evolution of fairness: a game theory model
Dugatkin, Bekoff - Behavioural Processes Volume 60, Issue 3, 31 January 2003, Pages 209-214
Bekoff [J. Consci. Stud. 8 (2001) 81] argued that mammalian social play is a useful behavioral phenotype on which to concentrate in order to learn more about the evolution of fairness. Here, we build a game theoretical model designed to formalize some of the ideas laid out by Bekoff, and to examine whether fair strategies can in fact be evolutionarily stable. The models we present examine fairness at two different developmental stages during an individual’s ontogeny, and hence we create four strategies fair at time 1/fair at time 2, not fair at time 1 not fair at time 2, fair at time 1/not fair at time 2, not fair at time 1/fair at time 2. Our results suggest that when considering species where fairness can be expressed during two different developmental stages, acting fairly should be more common than never acting fairly. In addition, when no one strategy was evolutionarily stable, we found that all four strategies we model can coexist at evolutionary equilibrium. Even in the absence of an overwhelming database from which to test our model, the general predictions we make have significant implications for the evolution of fairness.

Cognitive ethology, vigilance, information gathering, and representation: Who might know what and why?
M Bekoff - Behavioural processes, 1995 - Elsevier
Cognitive ethology, a relatively new interdisciplinary and integrative science, is under attack with respect to its scientific status. However, there also are strong supporters of research in this area. In this paper I consider (1) some of the topics in which cognitive ethologists are interested, (2) possible connections between cognitive analyses of social behavior and philosophical concepts including intentionality and representation, (3) recent work on vigilance or scanning behavior in highly social birds, Evening Grosbeaks (Coccothraustes vespertinus), that benefits from taking a cognitive perspective, and (4) what may be gained by taking a cognitive approach to the study of social behavior and what may be lost by not doing so. My study of vigilance indicates that the way in which individuals are positioned with respect to one another influences their behavior, and that when a flock contains four or more birds there are large changes in scanning and other patterns of behavior that may be related to how grosbeaks attempt to gather information about other flock members. When birds are arranged in a circular array so that they can see one another easily compared to when they are arranged in a line that makes visual monitoring of flock members more difficult, birds who have difficulty seeing one another are (i) more vigilant, (ii) change their head and body positions more often, (iii) react to changes in group size more slowly, (iv) show less coordination in head movements, and (v) show more variability in all measures. These differences in behavior argue against the pooling of data collected on individuals feeding in different geometric arrays. The variations in behavior also may say something about if and how individuals attempt visually to represent their group to themselves–how they form, store, and use records of the behavior of others to inform their own future behavior. (see html)

Animal consciousness
Allen, Bekoff - The Blackwell Companion to 2007 - Wiley Online Library
There are many reasons for philosophical interest in nonhuman animal (hereafter animal) consciousness. First, if philosophy often begins with questions about the place of humans in nature, one way humans have attempted to locate themselves is by comparison and contrast with those things in nature most similar to themselves, i.e., other animals. Second, the problem of determining whether animals are conscious stretches the limits of knowledge and scientific methodology (beyond breaking point, according to some). Third, the question of whether animals are conscious beings or mere automata, as Cartesians would have it, is of considerable moral significance given the dependence of modern societies on mass farming and the use of animals for biomedical research. Fourth, while theories of consciousness are frequently developed without special regard to questions about animal consciousness, the plausibility of such theories has sometimes been assessed against the results of their application to animal consciousness.

Intentionality, social play, and definition
Allen, Bekoff - Biology and Philosophy Volume 9, Number 1, 63-74
Social play is naturally characterized in intentional terms. An evolutionary account of social play could help scientists to understand the evolution of cognition and intentionality. Alexander Rosenberg (1990) has argued that if play is characterized intentionally or functionally, it is not a behavioral phenotype suitable for evolutionary explanation. If he is right, his arguments would threaten many projects in cognitive ethology. We argue that Rosenberg’’s arguments are unsound and that intentionally and functionally characterized phenotypes are a proper domain for ethological investigation.

Postnatal neural ontogeny: Environmentdependent and/or environmentexpectant?
Bekoff, Fox - Developmental psychobiology, 1972 - Wiley Online Library
Recent advances in the study of postnatal neural development, an adaptive process dependent on an intimate interplay of both genetic and environmental factors, are reviewed in mouse, rat, cat, and man. Since developmental neuroanatomical studies provide a useful and relevant way of approaching the much belabored and controversial nature-nurture issue, behaviorally oriented workers should be made aware of the heuristic value of the field as both an impetus and a guide for future research, and as a means for providing explanations for observations unexplainable at the ethological or behavioral descriptive level. The conclusion reached in this review is that postnatal neural ontogeny is both environment-dependent and environment-expectant. To divide the process into mutually exclusive halves is indefensible.

The variability of some motor components of social play and agonistic behaviour in infant eastern coyotes, Canis latrans var.
Hill, Bekoff - Animal Behaviour, 1977 - Elsevier
The duration and stereotypy (in terms of duration) of three actions, stand-overs (SO), general-bites (GB), and scruff-bites (SB), were measured during social play and agonistic interactions in infant eastern coyotes (Canis latrans). The rate of biting was also calculated. We found: (1) SO’s and GB’s lasted a significantly shorter time during play; (2) when performed during playful interactions, all three acts showed more stereotypy; (3) there was no significant difference between the rates of occurrence of biting during the two situations. A discussion of the exaggerated nature of play behaviour is presented, particularly concerning the form of the motor actions that are used during this activity.

Nonrandom nest-site selection in Evening Grosbeaks
Bekoff, AC Scott - Condor, 1987 - JSTOR
Nest-site selection was studied in Evening Grosbeaks (Coccothraustes vespertinus) living in two areas (Eldora and Wild Basin) of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. One hundred and twenty-nine original variables were reduced to compare nesting (NS; n = 49) and nonnesting control (NNS; n = 10) sites using multivariate and univariate statistics. Overall, four of the five variables best discriminating between NS and NNS were measures of habitat density (deciduous stem intersect, deciduous canopy cover) or shrub dispersion (large clumps, irregular matrix). Although there were distinct differences between the two NS with respect to shrub dispersion, canopy cover, and the relative proportion of major vegetation, NS were more open than NNS within the same area. In both Eldora and Wild Basin, grosbeaks showed a preference for ponderosa pines (Pinus ponderosa) in which to build high camouflaged nests, close to the main tree trunk, predominantly with southern or northern exposures. We suggest that these nest locations provide (1) high visibility for detection of potential predators, (2) the opportunity for grosbeaks to see their nests from a distance, (3) easy access for departure and arrival, (4) aid in thermoregulation, and (5) protection from wind and rain and increased nest stability. (get pdf)

Aggression, dominance, and social organization in Evening Grosbeaks
Bekoff, Scott - Ethology, 1989 - Wiley Online Library
Relationships between social behavior and ecology are of great interest to ethologists and behavioral ecologists. For example, limited comparative data have already resulted in the development of broad explanations for possible interrelationships between patterns of social interaction and food supply in diverse species. Here, we analyzed agonistic behavior, dominance relationships, and social organization in evening grosbeaks (Coccothraustes vespertinus) living near Boulder, Colorado U.S.A. We found marked seasonal variations in mean rates of agonistic behavior, mean sex ratios, and mean flock sizes. Rates of agonistic encounters were positively correlated with group size and the number of adult males present. Generally, adult males dominated (>>) adult females, young males, and young females; young males >> adult and young females; and young females >> adult females. Adult males were most aggressive during the beginning of the breeding season.
The formation of large flocks of grosbeaks most likely facilitates locating the dispersed and locally irruptive food on which these birds depend, and may also confer protection against predators. We suggest that flocks of grosbeaks composed of mainly transient birds are maintained by (1) low rates of noncontact aggressive encounters and (2) the rare occurrence of potentially disruptive fights, both of which appear to result from birds’ being able to assess the likely outcome of an encounter with another animal using phenotypic cues such as wing length, weight, and especially plumage. The ability to predict the outcome of an aggressive encounter may also be important in the integration of young birds into flocks.

Time, energy and play
Bekoff, Byers - Animal behaviour, 1992 - psycnet.apa.org
Makes suggestions for evaluating the amount of time and energy young mammals devote to social and nonsocial play. Suggestions include considering how the percentage of energy expended in play is expressed and expressing the cost of play in terms of alternative uses for the time and energy invested in play. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)

Spatial and temporal resource use by feral and abandoned dogs
Daniels, Bekoff - Ethology, 1989 - Wiley Online Library
We compared spatial and temporal patterns of resource use by feral and abandoned domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) on the Navajo reservation in Arizona and New Mexico. Community dumps provide locally abundant food resources utilized both by feral dogs and dogs abandoned at the dump site. Although population parameters were much the same for feral and abandoned dogs, the use of space varied distinctly and reflected behavioral differences in the way each population responded to the absence of human control, the need to acquire food, and the developmental state of pups. Temporal use of resources by feral dogs varied seasonally with the age of pups in one pack, but not in a second pack. Priority of access to local resources may be influenced by aggressive interactions among dogs at a dump. Barking may serve to warn dogs already present at a dump that competitors have arrived.

Naturalizing anthropomorphism: behavioral prompts to our humanizing of animals
Horowitz, Bekoff - Journal of The Interactions of People ג€¦, 2007 - ingentaconnect.com
Anthropomorphism is the use of human characteristics to describe or explain nonhuman animals. In the present paper, we propose a model for a unified study of such anthropomorphizing. We bring together previously disparate accounts of why and how we anthropomorphize and suggest a means to analyze anthropomorphizing behavior itself. We introduce an analysis of bouts of dyadic play between humans and a heavily anthropomorphized animal, the domestic dog. Four distinct patterns of social interaction recur in successful dog-human play: directed responses by one player to the other, indications of intent, mutual behaviors, and contingent activity. These findings serve as a preliminary answer to the question, “What behaviors prompt anthropomorphisms?” An analysis of anthropomorphizing is potentially useful in establishing a scientific basis for this behavior, in explaining its endurance, in the design of “lifelike” robots, and in the analysis of human interaction. Finally, the relevance of this developing scientific area to contemporary debates about anthropomorphizing behavior is discussed. (get pdf)

Vole population cycles: kin-selection or familiarity?
Bekoff - Oecologia, 1981 - Springer
The recent paper by Charnov and Finerty (1980) on Vole population cycles offers a unique view of population fluctuations in these rodents. These authors invoke kin-selection as a factor that may contribute to vole cycles …

Behavioral taxonomy in canids by discriminant function analyses
Bekoff, Hill - Science, 1975 - psycnet.apa.org
Applied the technique of linear discriminant function analysis to behavioral data that were collected on infant canids. The method was first tested with a known cross between a wolf and a dog and proved to be valid, indicating that quantitative analyses of behavioral phenotypes can be used in assessing taxonomic relationships. In addition, the controversial New England canid was determined by behavioral analysis to be more closely related to coyotes than to wolves. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)

The social deprivation paradigm: Who’s being deprived of what?
Bekoff - Developmental Psychobiology, 1976 - Wiley Online Library
Abstract unavailable.

Ecological analyses of nesting success in evening grosbeaks
Bekoff, AC Scott - Oecologia, 1989 - Springer
We studied the nesting success of Evening Grosbeaks (Coccothraustes vespertinus) inhabiting two areas of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado from 1983ג€“1987. Sixty-four nests were followed during building, incubating, brooding, and fledging; 54.7% were successful (young fledged). The largest number of nests failed during incubation. Nests started later were more successful than nests begun earlier in the season. Failure was most likely due to severe weather, abandonment during building, or predation. Specific habitat characteristics of grosbeak nesting sites and where nests were placed in trees were consistently associated with nesting success. Successful nests, when compared with nests that failed, were: (1) built in more open areas characterized by dispersed vegetation and a higher minimum canopy, (2) oriented in more southerly directions, (3) built closer to the main trunk of the nest tree, and (4) built in larger trees. Current ideas about whether or not birds actually select nest-sites are briefly discussed. We conclude that some grosbeaks ldquooptimally selectrdquo nest sites where the likelihood of producing fledglings is higher than in other areas.

Animal passions and beastly virtues: Cognitive ethology as the unifying science for understanding the subjective, emotional, empathic, and moral lives of animals
Bekoff - Zygonֲ®, 2006 - Wiley Online Library
In this essay, my response to four papers that were presented at the 2004 annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion in a session devoted to my research on animal behavior and cognitive ethology, I stress the importance of interdisciplinary research and collaboration for coming to terms with various aspects of animal behavior and animal cognition. I argue that we have much to learn from other animals concerning a set of big questions including who we are in the grand scheme of things, the role science (science sense) plays in our understanding of the world in which we live, what it means to know something, what some other ways of knowing are and how they compare to what we call science, and the use of anecdotes and anthropomorphism to inform studies of animal behavior. I ask, Are other minds really all that private and inaccessible? Can a nonhuman animal be called a person? What does the future hold if we continue to dismantle the only planet we live on and persecute the other animal beings with whom we are supposed to coexist? I argue that cognitive ethology is the unifying science for understanding the subjective, emotional, empathic, and moral lives of animals, because it is essential to know what animals do, think, and feel as they go about their daily routines in the company of their friends and when they are alone. It is also important to learn why both the similarities and differences between humans and other animals have evolved. The more we come to understand other animals, the more we will appreciate them as the amazing beings they are, and the more we will come to understand ourselves. (get pdf)

Nesting behaviour of Abert squirrels (Sciurus aberti)
Bekoff - Ethology, 1994 - Wiley Online Library
Nesting behaviour of Abert squirrels (Sciurus aberti), including site selection and use, was studied in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Boulder County, Colorado. Only females were observed building nests, although both males and females maintained nests once they were built. Communal nesting by Abert squirrels was rare, but the majority of observed nest sharings involved unrelated male and female pairs. A total of 14 variables were used to evaluate the nests (n = 49) inhabited by Abert squirrels from May 1988 to Jun. 1991. All nests were located in Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) trees. The majority of nests were constructed of twigs and located in the upper one-third of the canopy, near the trunk, on the south-east side of the tree. Trees with nests were predominantly located in closed stands. Nest trees, when compared with unused control trees that were equally accessible to squirrels, were significantly different from control trees in five of nine variables. Nest tree crowns intertwined with a larger number of adjacent tree crowns than did control tree crowns. Nest trees were also significantly taller than control trees, but subdominant to adjacent trees within a stand. Seasonal and diurnal patterns of nest use indicate that Abert squirrels do not choose nest locations on the south-east sides of trees to facilitate behavioural thermoregulation. Rather, Abert squirrels select nest site locations to (1) maximize accessibility and (2) maximize structural stability which may provide protection from wind and rain.

Playing with Play What Can We Learn About Cognition, Negotiation, and Evolution?
Bekoff - The evolution of mind, 1997 - cogprints.org
In these papers we mainly consider how analyses of social play in nonhuman animals (hereafter animals) can inform inquiries about the evolution of cognitive mechanisms. Social play is a good behavioral phenotype on which to concentrate for when animals play they typically perform behavior patterns that are used in other contexts (e.g. predation, aggression, or reproduction). Thus, individuals need to be able to tell one another that they do not want to eat, fight with, or mate with the other individual(s), but rather, they want to play with them. In most species (primarily mammals) in which play has been observed, specific actions have evolved that are used to initiate or to maintain play. Furthermore, sequences of play usually differ from nonplay sequences (within species) and self-handicapping has also been observed, in which, for example, dominant individuals allow themselves to be dominated only in the context of play. In our consideration of how play is initiated and maintained, we discuss issues including the evolution of play, the ecology of play, the sorts of information that are shared during play, what cognitive psychologists who study humans can learn from cognitive ethologists who study other animals, and what play can tell us about the emergence of mind in animals. These essays draw on literature from ethology, psychology, and philosophy. (see html)

Teleology, function, design and the evolution of animal behaviour
Bekoff, Allen - Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 1995 - Elsevier
Concerns about teleological language in evolutionary biology focus on the notions of function, design and adaptation. Accounts that naturalize these ideas are currently popular. In keeping with recent developments in evolutionary theory and philosophy of biology, three naturalistic analyses of function ג€” current utility, historical function, and functions as capacities ג€” should be differentiated. All have roles to play in biology, although the historical conception seems the most central to evolutionary theory. While rarely distinguished from function, design should be regarded as an extension of historical function. We consider the utility of this distinction for the study of behaviour.

Observations of scent-marking and discriminating self from others by a domestic dog (Canis familiaris): tales of displaced yellow snow
Bekoff - Behavioural processes, 2001 - Elsevier
Little is known about what stimuli trigger urinating or scent-marking in domestic dogs, Canis familiaris, or their wild relatives. While it is often suggested that the urine of other animals influences urinating and scent-marking patterns in canids, this has not been verified experimentally. To investigate the role of urine in eliciting urinating and marking, in this pilot study I moved urine-saturated snow (yellow snow) from place-to-place during five winters to compare the responses of an adult male domestic dog, Jethro, to his own and others’ urine. Jethro spent less time sniffing his own urine than that of other males or females, and that while his interest in his own urine waned with time it remained relatively constant for other individuals’ urine. Jethro infrequently urinated over or sniffed and then immediately urinated over (scent-marked) his own urine. He marked over the urine of other males more frequently than he marked over females’ urine. The method used here can be extended to other species for which experimental data are lacking. Though based on one dog, these novel data may further our knowledge of the role of scent-marking in territorial behavior and of sex differences in territory acquisition and maintenance.

Animals in science: some areas revisited
Bekoff, Gruen, Townsend, Rollin - Animal behaviour, 1992 - Elsevier
Science is a human activity, and as such, it is not value-free. Not only do subjective views permeate all types of science, they also prevail in many moral debates concerning how animals are used for primarily anthropocentric ends, even when formal philosophical argument is put forth. Four issues are addressed that demand closer attention by those who are seriously engaged in the collection, interpretation, and explanation of behavioural data. (1) It is important to recognize that an animal’s point of view is actually an animal’s point of view from a human’s point of view. (2) Attempts to quantify pain and suffering in animals are fraught with difficulties, and despite the best intentions, do not eliminate human responsibilities. (3) Appeals to science to resolve difficult questions concerning animal suffering must be combined with other factors including common sense and moral and ethical commitments. (4) When in doubt, err on the side of the animals. Those who study animal behaviour and behavioural ecology need to be particularly aware of problems of animal welfare for these types of research involve field observations, studies of captive animals, and experiments. In addition, findings from cognitive ethological investigations are used to inform and motivate discussion of human moral and ethical obligations to animals.

Predation and aversive conditioning in coyotes
Bekoff, Gustavson, Kelly, Garcia - Science (New York, NY, 1975 - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Abstract unavailable.

Experimentally induced infanticide: the removal of birds and its ramifications
Bekoff - The Auk, 1993 - JSTOR
There currently is great interest in the ethical issues surrounding research on nonhuman animals (hereafter animals), including field studies of behavior and behavioral ecology (American Society of Mammalogists 1987, Oring et al. 1988, Michener 1989,Animal Behavior Society 1991, Bekoff and Jamieson1991, Cuthill 1991, Bekoff et al. 1992). Thus, a study (Emlen et al. 1989) of experimentally induced infanticide in Wattled Jacanas (Jacana jacana) deserves scrutiny, for there are some matters of concern centering on: (i) the review process for publication; (ii) the methods used to remove two adult female jacanas; (iii) the maiming and killing of seven their infants by replacement females a direct result of the deliberate removal of the mothers the young birds (for further discussion some ethical implications of infanticide studies, see Elwood 1991; for recent review of studies of cognition, pain,and stress in birds,see Elzanowsk and Abs 1991, Gentle 1992); and (iv) questions con- cerning trade-offs between the importance acquir ing different types of knowledge and the types of animal research that are permissible in the pursuit of this knowledge. (get pdf)

Cognitive ethology and applied philosophy: the significance of an evolutionary biology of mind
Bekoff, Jamieson - Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 1990 - Elsevier
The broad field of cognitive ethology, in which internal mental states are inferred from the behavior they explain, is receiving increased attention nowadays from diverse scientists and philosophers. The nature of the results and how they are presented greatly influence how humans assess their place in the natural world and how they view other animals. The attribution of consciousness and intelligence to other animals suggests that they have moral rights. The results of comparative cognitive ethological analyses and how they are presented may play a large role in defining the domain of morally permissible research, and in the development of research strategies including decisions on feeding and housing, treatment, handling, and what happens to animal subjects when the research is completed. Scientists and philosophers interested in the evolution of behavior and mental continuity can have a significant impact on how others view the world.

Cognitive ethology and the intentionality of animal behaviour
Allen, Bekoff - Mind & language, 1995 - Wiley Online Library
Cognitive ethologists are in need of a good theoretical framework for attributing intentional states. Heyes and Dickinson (1990) present criteria that they claim are necessary for an intentional explanation of behavior to be justified. They suggest that questions of intentionality can only be investigated under controlled laboratory conditions and they apply their criteria to laboratory experiments to argue that the common behavior of approaching food is not intentional in most animals. We dispute the details of their argument and interpretation of the laboratory experiments. While criteria such as those suggested have a role to play in comparative studies of cognition, both laboratory and field studies are important for assessing the applicability of intentional explanations across different taxa.

Prenatal motility and postnatal play: Functional continuity?
Bekoff, Byers, Bekoff
Behavioral continuity is a current topic of major interest in developmental psychobiology.

Possible functions of predator harassment in pronghorn antelopes
Lipetz, Bekoff
Predator harassment (Berger, 1979) usually is a rarely observed form of defense in ungulates that involves chasing of a predator by members of prey species.

Development, the conveniently forgotten variable in" true kin recognition."
Byers, Bekoff
Points out that in his sweeping dismissal of the existence of kin recognition (because kin recognition should be restricted narrowly to instances of apparently innate kin recognition), A. Grafen (see record 1990-16435-001 ) ignores a large body of information concerning behavioral development. He also ignores the strongest cases of kin recognition: offspring recognition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)

Integrating humans and nature: reconciling the boundaries of science and society
Bekoff - Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 2000 - elibrary.ru
abstract unavailable

Consciousness and self in animals: some reflections
Bekoff - Zygonֲ®, 2003 - Wiley Online Library
In this essay I argue that many nonhuman animal beings are conscious and have some sense of self. Rather than ask whether they are conscious, I adopt an evolutionary perspective and ask why consciousness and a sense of self evolvedג€”what are they good for? Comparative studies of animal cognition, ethological investigations that explore what it is like to be a certain animal, are useful for answering this question. Charles Darwin argued that the differences in cognitive abilities and emotions among animals are differences in degree rather than differences in kind, and his view cautions against the unyielding claim that humans, and perhaps other great apes and cetaceans, are the only species in which a sense of self-awareness has evolved. I conclude that there are degrees of consciousness and self among animals and that it is likely that no animal has the same highly developed sense of self as that displayed by most humans. Many animals have a sense of body-ness or mine-ness but not a sense of I-ness. Darwin’s ideas about evolutionary continuity, together with empirical data (science sense) and common sense, will help us learn more about consciousness and self in animals. Answers to challenging questions about animal self-awareness have wide-ranging significance, because they are often used as the litmus test for determining and defending the sorts of treatments to which animals can be morally subjected. (get pdf)

Carruthers on nonconscious experience
Bekoff - Analysis, 1992 - analysis.oxfordjournals.org
In a recent article Peter Carruthers claims that ‘in the case of brutes: since their pains are nonconscious (as are all their mental states), they ought not to be allowed to get in the way of any morally-serious objective’ (p. 269). We believe that Carruthers’s argument for this conclusion involves both fallacious reasoning and false premisses. (get pdf)

Virtuous nature
Bekoff - New Scientist, 2002 - csa.com
It is generally believed that humans are the only creatures on Earth with a moral sense. The author disagrees and argues from observations of animals living in the wild that animals living in groups have a sense of fair play built on moral codes of conduct that help cement their social relationships. Draws heavily on recent reviews of research by Stephanie Preston and Frans de Waal, from the Yerkes Primate Center, Atlanta and Stanley Kuczaj’s group at Southern Mississippi University in Hattiesburg which shows that empathy is more widespread among animals than is generally accepted and a wide range of species behave in ways that support the claim that empathy has its roots in evolution. The recognition that animals have a moral dimension to their existence strengthens the case that the human race should accept its moral responsibility towards other animals.

The evolution of social play: Interdisciplinary analyses of cognitive processes
Bekoff, Allen - The cognitive animal, 2002 - books.google.com
Progress in understanding animal cognition requires interdisciplinary collaboration, among biologists, psychologists, cognitive scientists, neuroscientists and philosophers. In our own case, as a biologist and philosopher, our work has combined empirical and conceptual studies of social play. In this chapter we describe how our personal interests have contributed to our cooperative efforts. Our work is rooted in a series of long-term empirical studies of social play. When he decided to study social play for his doctoral research, many people told Marc that it was a waste of time for it was impossible to define and many others before had tried to study it and failed. While this provided the perfect challenge for a graduate student who had the full support of his advisor, Michael W. Fox, Marc frankly thought that his research on play would end when he received his degree. He was very wrong indeed. (get pdf)

Deep ethology, animal rights, and the Great Ape/Animal Project: Resisting speciesism and expanding the community of equals
Bekoff - Journal of Agricultural and environmental Ethics, 1997 - Springer
In this essay I argue that the evolutionary and comparative study of nonhuman animal (hereafter animal) cognition in a wide range of taxa by cognitive ethologists can readily inform discussions about animal protection and animal rights. However, while it is clear that there is a link between animal cognitive abilities and animal pain and suffering, I agree with Jeremy Bentham who claimed long ago the real question does not deal with whether individuals can think or reason but rather with whether or not individuals can suffer. One of my major goals will be to make the case that the time has come to expand. The Great Ape Project (GAP) to The Great Ape/Animal Project (GA/AP) and to take seriously the moral status and rights of all animals by presupposing that all individuals should be admitted into the Community of Equals. I also argue that individuals count and that it is essential to avoid being speciesist cognitivists; it really doesn’t matter whether dogs ape or whether apes dog when taking into account the worlds of different individual animals. Narrow-minded primatocentrism and speciesism must be resisted in our studies of animal cognition and animal protection and rights. Line-drawing into lower and higher species is a misleading speciesist practice that should be vigorously resisted because not only is line-drawing bad biology but also because it can have disastrous consequences for how animals are viewed and treated. Speciesist line-drawing also ignores within species individual differences.

Empathy: Common sense, science sense, wolves, and well-being
Bekoff - Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 2002 - Cambridge Univ Press
Empathy is likely more widely distributed among animals than many researchers realize or perhaps are willing to admit. Studies of social carnivores, other group-living animals, and communication via different modalities will help us learn more about the evolutionary roots and behavioral, sensory, and cognitive underpinnings of empathy, including what it means to have a sense of self. There are also important implications for debates about animal well-being.

Predation by “shooting” in archer fish, Toxotes jaculatrix: Accuracy and sequences
Bekoff, Dorr - Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 1976 - psycnet.apa.org
Studied 4 adult shooting archer fish in a captive situation. The accuracy with which they “shot” for prey and the sequences that they performed during shooting were analyzed. Ss were successful in shooting at suspended prey 25.5% of the time. Shooting was preceded by a series of 6 acts. The typical sequence, based on an analysis of transition probabilities, was Orient, Swim, Rotate Vertically, and Shoot. Leaping out of the water and a 2nd vertical rotation were also observed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)

Awareness: Animal reflections
Bekoff - Nature, 2002 - nature.com
Researchers are interested in animal awareness because they are curious to discover what animals might know about themselves. There are, however, long-held and polarized views about the degree of self-awareness in animals.

The evolution of animal play, emotions, and social morality: on science, theology, spirituality, personhood, and love
Bekoff - Zygon, 2001 - Wiley Online Library
My essay first takes me into the arena in which science, spirituality, and theology meet. I comment on the enterprise of science and how scientists could well benefit from reciprocal interactions with theologians and religious leaders. Next, I discuss the evolution of social morality and the ways in which various aspects of social play behavior relate to the notion of behaving fairly. The contributions of spiritual and religious perspectives are important in our coming to a fuller understanding of the evolution of morality. I go on to discuss animal emotions, the concept of personhood, and how our special relationships with other animals, especially the companions with whom we share our homes, help us to define our place in nature, our humanness. It is when we take the life of another being in the ritual of compassionately euthanizing them (putting them to sleep) that who we are in the grand scheme of things comes to the fore. I end with a discussion of the importance of ethological studies, behavioral research in which a serious attempt is made to understand animals in their own worlds, inquiries in which it is asked, What is it like to be another species? Species other than nonhuman primates need to be studied. I plead for developing compassionate, heartfelt, and holistic science that allows for interdisciplinary talk about respect, grace, spirituality, religion, love, Earth, and God. (get pdf))

Interactions among dogs, people, and the environment in Boulder, Colorado: A case study
Bekoff, Meaney - Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People & Animals, 1997 - ingentaconnect.com
From September 1995 to April 1996 we studied interactions among dogs, people, and the environment in Boulder, Colorado. Data on behavioral disturbances by off-leash dogs who were accompanied by a person were collected with respect to dog-dog and dog-human interactions, dog-wildlife encounters, dogs trampling vegetation, and dogs entering and disturbing bodies of water. A questionnaire also was administered. Behavioral data showed that off-leash dogs generally did not travel far off trail, that when they did it was for short periods of time, and that they rarely were observed to chase other dogs, disturb people, chase wildlife, destroy vegetation, or enter bodies of water. Results from analyses of the questionnaire (skewed toward non-dog owners) showed that dog owners and non-dog owners agreed that people were more disruptive to the environment than dogs and that unruly people were more problematic than unruly dogs. We conclude that the well-being and interests of dogs should not summarily and dismissively be compromised when dogs and people attempt to share limited space that can be used by all parties for recreational purposes. Indeed, a higher percentage of people reported that the quality of dogs’ experience of the outdoors would be compromised more than their own enjoyment if dogs could not walk off-leash in areas where this is currently permitted. The methods used and the results from this case study can serve as a model for other locations in which dogs and people compete for limited spatial resources. (get pdf))

Animal Play and the Evolution of Morality: An Ethological Approach
Allen, Bekoff - Topoi, 2005 - Springer
In this paper we argue that there is much to learn about wild justice and the evolutionary origins of morality behaving fairly by studying social play behavior in group-living mammals. Because of its relatively wide distribution among the mammals, ethological investigation of play, informed by interdisciplinary cooperation, can provide a comparative perspective on the evolution of ethical behavior that is broader than is provided by the usual focus on primate sociality. Careful analysis of social play reveals rules of engagement that guide animals in their social encounters. Because of its significance in development, play may provide a foundation of fairness for other forms of cooperation that are advantageous to group living. Questions about the evolutionary roots of cooperation, fairness, trust, forgiveness, and morality are best answered by attention to the details of what animals do when they engage in social play how they negotiate agreements to cooperate, to forgive, to behave fairly, and to develop trust. We consider questions such as why play fairly? Why did play evolve as it has? Does being fair mean being more fit? Do individual variations in play influence an individuals reproductive fitness? Can we use information about the foundations of moral behavior in animals to help us understand ourselves? We conclude that there is likely to be strong selection for cooperative fair play because there are mutual benefits when individuals adopt this strategy and group stability may also be fostered. Numerous mechanisms have evolved to facilitate the initiation and maintenance of social play, to keep others engaged, so that agreeing to play fairly and the resulting benefits of doing so can be readily achieved.

Aquatic animals, cognitive ethology, and ethics: questions about sentience and other troubling issues that lurk in turbid water (pdf)
Bekoff - Diseases of aquatic organisms, 2007 - i-mar.cl
In this general, strongly pro-animal, and somewhat utopian and personal essay, I argue that we owe aquatic animals respect and moral consideration just as we owe respect and moral consideration to all other animal beings, regardless of the taxonomic group to which they belong. In many ways it is more difficult to convince some people of our ethical obligations to numerous aquatic animals because we do not identify or empathize with them as we do with animals with whom we are more familiar or to whom we are more closely related, including those species (usually terrestrial) to whom we refer as charismatic megafauna. Many of my examples come from animals that are more well studied but they can be used as models for aquatic animals. I follow Darwinian notions of evolutionary continuity to argue that if we feel pain, then so too do many other animals, including those that live in aquatic environs. Recent scientific data (‘science sense’) show clearly that many aquatic organisms, much to some people’s surprise, likely suffer at our hands and feel their own sorts of pain. Throughout I discuss how cognitive ethology (the study of animal minds) is the unifying science for understanding the subjective, emotional, empathic, and moral lives of animals because it is essential to know what animals do, think, and feel as they go about their daily routines. Lastly, I argue that when we are uncertain if we are inflicting pain due to our incessant, annoying, and frequently unnec- essary intrusions into the lives of other animals as we go about ‘redecorating nature’ (removing animals or moving them from place to place), we should err on the side of the animals and stop engaging in activities that cause pain and suffering. (get pdf))

Variations in avoidance responses to humans by black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus)
Lengas, Bekoff - Journal of mammalogy, 1987 - JSTOR
Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludomcianus) are gregarious rodents that typically live in large colonies (Hoogland, 1979; King, 1955, 1959). The characteristic avoidance response displayed by these small mammals to the approach and presence of nonhuman predators (King, 1955) consists of an alarm bark that servers to warn other group members of impending danger, followed by running to the burrow and hiding (for details see Waring, 1970).

Cheek rubbing as grooming by Abert squirrels
Halloran, Bekoff - Animal behaviour, 1995 - Elsevier
Cheek rubbing is thought to be a form of active scent marking in many terrestrial and arboreal sciurids. However, some observations of arboreal sciurids suggest that cheek rubbing may also be a form of self-grooming. The purpose of this study was to examine possible functions of cheek rubbing by free-living Abert squirrels, Sciurus aberti. When the frequencies of behaviour patterns that occurred within a cheek-rubbing sequence were compared to the frequencies of acts that occurred at other times, grooming and alert behaviour patterns had a higher probability of occurring, whereas travelling, nesting, and various social behaviour patterns (such as chasing) had a significantly lower probability of occurring during cheek-rubbing sequences. Food-related behaviour patterns or grooming usually preceded cheek rubbing. Cheek rubbing also did not predominantly occur at home-range boundaries or at nest sites. Although passive scent marking cannot be ruled out, these results suggest that cheek rubbing by Abert squirrels has evolved more as a form of self-grooming to remove food residue, rather than as active scent marking.

Animal minds, cognitive ethology, and ethics
Allen, Bekoff - The Journal of ethics, 2007 - Springer
Our goal in this paper is to provide enough of an account of the origins of cognitive ethology and the controversy surrounding it to help ethicists to gauge for themselves how to balance skepticism and credulity about animal minds when communicating with scientists. We believe that ethicists arguments would benefit from better understanding of the historical roots of ongoing controversies. It is not appropriate to treat some widely reported results in animal cognition as if their interpretations are a matter of scientific consensus. It is especially important to understand why loose references to cognitive ethology by philosophers can signal ignorance of the field to scientists who are more deeply immersed in the relevant literature. Understanding the variety of approaches to cognitive phenomena in animals is essential if such capacities are to form the foundation of scientifically-informed ethical reasoning about animals. (get pdf))

Animal welfare and individual characteristics: A conversation against speciesism
Bekoff, Gruen
It seems impossible for a human being not to have some point of view concerning nonhuman animal (hereafter animal) welfare. Many people make decisions about how humans are permitted to treat animals using speciesist criteria, basing their decisions on an individual’s species membership rather than on that animal’s individual characteristics. Although speciesism provides a convenient way for making difficult decisions about who should be used in different types of research, we argue that such decisions should rely on an analysis of individual characteristics and should not be based merely on species membership. We do not argue that the concept of species is never useful or important. To make our points, we present a conversation among a skeptic, an agnostic, and a proponent of the view that our moral obligations to an animal must be based on an analysis of that individual’s characteristics. In the course of the discussion, concepts such as personhood, consciousness, cognitive ability, harm, and pain are presented, because one’s understanding of these concepts informs his or her ethical decisions about the use of animals by humans. ([get pdf](http://home.ku.edu.tr/canerdogan/public_html/comm/animal welfare.pdf)))

Fighting patterns in young coyotes: initiation, escalation, and assessment
Bekoff, M Tyrrell, VE Lipetz, Jamieson - Aggressive Behavior, 1981 - Wiley Online Library
The fighting patterns of young coyotes were studied and 2,350 fights were analyzed. Our results can be summarized as follows: 1) No major injuries were sustained by any of the infants, even in unritualized bouts. 2) In pairs, there was no relationship between social rank and the proportion of fights that were initiated by either animal. 3) Dominant animals were more likely than subordinate individuals to escalate first (perform the first unprovoked dangerous move) during short interactions and to escalate and then subsequently win short fights. 4) Highest-ranking (alpha) individuals in litters did not fight the most. 5) Alpha individuals initiated 73% of the fights in which they partook. Alpha coyotes initiated and then won 86% of the contests that they initiated. 6) For fourth-ranking coyotes in litters, there was a perfect positive correlation between the proportion of times that they initiated fights and the proportion of times that they initiated and then won encounters. They initiated interactions least with the first- to third-ranking animals. 7) Alpha and fourth-ranking animals escalated about the same proportion of the time, but alpha coyotes escalated and then won a greater proportion of fights. 8) Both alpha and fourth-ranking animals initiated and then escalated the greatest proportion of time with individuals nearest in rank, with whom they may have experienced the greatest difficulty in assessing relative social standing. 9) Our data suggested that individuals, especially in litters, were able to make pre-fight assessments but that they were not perfect with respect to this ability. During-fight assessments appeared to be easier to make, using escalation to test an opponent.

Cognitive ethology: The comparative study of animal minds
Bekoff - Blackwell Companion to Cognitive Science, 1995 - cogprints.org
Cognitive ethology is the comparative, evolutionary, and ecological study of nonhuman animal (hereafter animal) minds including thought processes, beliefs, rationality, information-processing, and consciousness. It is a rapidly growing interdisciplinary field of science that is attracting much attention from researchers in numerous and diverse disciplines including those interested in animal welfare (Cheney and Seyfarth, 1990; Ristau, 1991; Griffin, 1992; Allen and Bekoff, 1995, 1997; Bekoff and Allen, 1996; Bekoff and Jamieson, 1996). Cognitive ethology can trace its beginnings to the writings of Charles Darwin, an anecdotal cognitivist (Jamieson and Bekoff, 1993), and some of his contemporaries and disciples. Their approach incorporated appeals to evolutionary theory, interests in mental continuity, concerns with individual and intraspecific variation, interests in the worlds of the animals themselves, close associations with natural history, and attempts to learn more about the behavior of animals in conditions that are as close as possible to the natural environment where selection has occurred. They also relied on anecdote and anthropomorphism to inform and to motivate more rigorous study. In addition, cognitive ethologists are frequently concerned with the diversity of solutions that living organisms have found for common problems. They also emphasize broad taxonomic comparisons and do not focus on a few select representatives of limited taxa. Many people inform their views of cognitive ethology by appealing to the same studies over and over again (usually those done on nonhuman primates), and ignore the fact that there are many other animals who also show interesting patterns of behavior that lend themselves to cognitive studies. (see html))

Resisting speciesism and expanding the community of equals
Bekoff - BioScience, 1998 - JSTOR
Resisting speciesism and expanding the community of equals he issues with which those interested in nonhuman animal (hereafter “animal”) protection must deal are numerous, diverse, difficult, and extremely contentious; interdisciplinary work is needed to try to come

Redecorating nature: reflections on science, holism, community, humility, reconciliation, spirit, compassion, and love (pdf)
Bekoff - Human Ecology Review, 2000 - Citeseer
Numerous humans - in my opinion, far too many - con- tinue to live apart from nature, rather than as a part of nature. In this personal essay I discuss various aspects of traditional science and suggest that holistic and heart-driven compassionate science needs to replace reductionist and impersonal science. I argue that creative proactive solutions drenched in deep caring, respect, and love for the universe need to be developed to deal with the broad range of prob- lems with which we are confronted. Simply put, I have had enough. I want the world to be a better place for all of its inhabitants and time is not on our side. I feel a deep sense of urgency and passionate impatience. We are worrying about wildness as it is disappearing right in front of our eyes - as I write and we discuss. Thus, I am willing to open myself to criticism, to be vulnerable for expressing views that are not part of main-stream science. Rather than take a doomsday view that the world will not even exist in 100 years if we fail to accept our unique responsibilities, it is more disturbing to imagine a world in which humans and other life coexist in the absence of any intimacy and interconnectedness. Surely we do not want to be remembered as the generation that killed nature. To illustrate some of my points, I discuss various aspects of translocation studies in which animals are moved about from one place to another in humans attempts to redecorate nature. In these projects interdisciplinary collaboration is necessary and disciplinary boundaries must be trespassed. I also emphasize the importance of teaching chil- dren well for their and our futures rest on their developing a deeply-rooted caring ethic. My vision is to create a world- wide community in which humans perceive themselves as a part of nature and not apart from her, in which humans who are overwhelmed and whose spirits and souls have been robbed and squelched by living in and amongst steel, con- crete, asphalt, noise, and a multitude of invasions of their pri- vate space reconnect with raw nature - with the wind in their faces, the odors of wild flowers, and the sounds, sights, odors, and touch of other animals and inanimate environs. A world in which sensing is feeling. Nature is our uncondi- tional friend and reconnecting with nature can help overcome alienation and loneliness. The power of love must not be underestimated as we forge ahead to reconnect with nature. (get pdf))

Feralization: the making of wild domestic animals
Bekoff - Behavioural processes, 1989 - Elsevier
The widely accepted viewpoint that feralization is the reverse of domestication requires that the feralization process be restricted to populations of animals and, therefore, cannot occur in individuals. An alternative, ontogenetic approach is presented in which feralization is defined as the process by which individual domestic animals either become desocialized from humans, or never become socialized, and thus behave as untamed, non-domestic animals. Feralization will vary among species and, intraspecifically, will depend upon an individual’s age and history of socialization to humans. Because feralization is not equated with morphological change resulting from evolutionary processes, species formation is not an accurate indicator of feral condition.

Deep ethology
Bekoff - Intimate relationships, embracing the natural world, 1997 - cogprints.org
The first four quotations make me ill – the fifth make me feel good. I continually ask myself how in the world can anyone who has any – even minimal – grounding in the world, write so coldly and objectively about the pain and suffering that they produce in nonhuman, not subhuman, animals (hereafter animals), or be so arrogant as to make claims like those of Professor Howard, a biologist who often appeals to his lifelong work with animals to motivate his positions on animal welfare. How are they able to detach themselves from themselves and the animals about whom they are trying to learn. Research should be fun; are they really having fun? And, if so, then how can producing pain and suffering be fun? Respecting all individual’s lives and treating them with dignity should direct every single one of our interactions with the animals with whom we share the planet. (see html))

Minding animals, minding earth: Old brains, new bottlenecks
Bekoff - Zygon, 2003 - Wiley Online Library
I emphasize the importance of broadening behavioral, ecological, and conservation science into a more integrative, interdisciplinary, socially responsible, compassionate, spiritual, and holistic endeavor. I stress the significance of studies of animal behavior, especially ethological research concerned with animal emotions in which individuals are named and recognized for their own personalities, for helping us to learn not only about the nonhuman animal beings with whom we share Earth but also about who we are and our place in nature. We are best understood in relationship with others. To this end I develop the notions of minding animals and deep ethology. Animals are sources of wisdom, a way of knowing.
We are all citizens of Earth, members of a global community in which intimate reciprocal and beneficent peaceful relationships are mandatory. A world without cruelty and with boundless compassion, respect, grace, humility, spirituality, and love would be a better world in which to live. We have compelling responsibilities for making Earth a better and more peaceful habitat for all beings. It is essential that we do better than our ancestors. We must reflect and step lightly as we redecorate nature. Time is not on our side.
I plead for the development of heartfelt and holistic science that allows for joy and play. Science need not be suspicious of things it cannot fully understand. We must not avert our eyes or other senses from the eyes and voices of other beings who urgently need our uncompromising and unconditional aid and love. We can do much more than we have done for animals and the Earth.

The ontogeny and organization of comfort behavior in Adelie penguins
Bekoff, Ainley - The Wilson Bulletin, 1979 - JSTOR
The development of comfort behaviors in Adֳ©lie Penguins and the organization of comfort activities in adults, were studied at Cape Crozier, Ross Island, Antarctica. Non-oiling and dry-oiling (feathers not wet) comfort sequences were compared to one another; these results were then compared to data collected by Ainley (1974) on wet-oiling by adults immediately after they emerged from the sea. For purposes of analyzing the ontogeny of non-oiling comfort activities, chicks were grouped into 3 groups: 7-13, 14-20 and 21-28 days of age. Dry-oiling was observed in chicks 35-43 days of age. Our results were as follows. (1) Only yawning occurred on the day after hatching. The earliest preening movements appeared on day 7 (breast and belly preening). Oil distribution behaviors appeared between days 30-33, the same period during which the oil gland became functional. The first dry-oiling sequence was observed on day 35. (2) There was no difference in the duration of non-oil comfort sequences between chicks over 13 days of age and adults. Chicks performed fewer acts per min than did adults and therefore the mean number of acts per sequence was lower in chicks. (3) In general, behaviors were randomly distributed throughout comfort sequences. Exceptions include oiling by adults and chicks, bill-to-wing-edge by adults, and back preening by chicks. (4) During transitions from 1 act to another, chicks aged 21-28 days remained on the same side of the body and in the same area with the same relative frequency as non-oiling adults. (5) Dry-oiling by chicks and adults shared many common characteristics: (i) oiling occurred non-randomly in the beginning of the sequences, (ii) the relative frequency of occurrence of breast and belly preening was the same, (iii) during transitions from 1 act to another, the groups did not differ with respect to remaining on the same side of the body and in the same body area, (iv) actions leading to and immediately following oiling occurred very frequently (> 78%) on the same side of the body to which the head was turned when gathering oil in the bill. (get pdf))

Animal Emotions and Animal Sentience and Why They Matter: Blending ‘Science Sense’ with Common Sense, Compassion and Heart (pdf)
Bekoff - Animals, Ethics and Trade. London: Earthscan, 2006 - landofpuregold.com
Discussions of animal emotions and animal sentience are wonderful for raising difficult and frustrating questions. This chapter is intended to be a non- traditional essay and I hope it generates kind discussion and that what I talk about is not dismissed on the grounds that Im simply losing my mind. I assure you Im not. Well, at least I think Im not. I simply want to put forth some ideas that some might find controversial. Throwing caution to the wind is a good thing to do from time to time. It makes us dig deeply into our minds and hearts to see who we are and what we think about matters at hand. And sometimes we dont like where we end up, which can be outside of our com- fort zones. (get pdf))

Translocation effects on the behavior of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus)
Farrar, Coleman, Bekoff, Stone - Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactios of People & Animals, 1998 - ingentaconnect.com
We examined the effects of translocation on Black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) anti-predator behavior by recording response distances and response times to a human intruder in three colonies containing native, translocated, and combined native and translocated prairie dogs. The translocated prairie dogs barked alarms and concealed themselves at significantly greater intruder distances than mixed or native colonies. However, individuals in different colonies did not differ in the time taken to return to a burrow, to conceal themselves after a human approached the colony, or in the time elapsed after concealment until an animal reappeared. Translocated prairie dogs exhibited nearly twice the distance sensitivity to intrusion as native prairie dogs. Increased sensitivity to disturbance complicates management considerations of translocated populations that are subject to human traffic. This increase in sensitivity may necessitate translocation to isolated or undisturbed sites, protecting sites from disturbance, translocating larger groups of prairie dogs, or all three in order for translocated populations to persist.

Social cognition: Exchanging and sharing information on the run
Bekoff - Erkenntnis, 1999 - Springer
In this essay I consider various aspects of the rapidly growing field of cognitive ethology, concentrating mainly on evolutionary and comparative discussion of the notion of intentionality. I am not concerned with consciousness, per se, for a concentration on consciousness deflects attention from other, and in many cases more interesting, problems in the study of animal cognition. I consider how, when, where, and (attempt to discuss) why individuals from different taxa exchange social information concerning their beliefs, desires, and goals. My main examples come from studies of social play in mammals and antipredator behavior in birds. Basically, I argue that although not all individuals always display behavior patterns that are best explained by appeals to intentionality, it is misleading to argue that such explanations have no place in the study of animal cognition.

Animals, nature, and ethics
Bekoff, Hettinger - Journal of mammalogy, 1994 - JSTOR
Recently, Howard (1993, Journal of Mammalogy, 74:234-235) argued for the defensibility of research on nonhuman animals (hereafter animals). Unfortunately, his essay is unnecessarily combative, lacking in detail, unbalanced, and poorly argued. Howard (1993) unfairly and mistakenly stereotypes as biologically naive anyone who rejects his position that nature’s poor treatment of wild animals justifies animal research. Those interested in the morality of animal research deserve better guidance than what Howard (1993) provides. Here, we analyze Howard’s (1993) claims and their implications, present relevant literature on ethics and animals, and conclude that much work remains to be done to understand and properly appreciate the moral dimensions of animal research. The questions raised about uses of animals by humans in various activities, including research, are difficult and demand careful interdisciplinary analysis. Simple answers should not be expected. We explore some of the issues and make them accessible to a wide audience, including practicing scientists.

Measuring dominance and constructing hierarchies: an example using mule deer
Tomback, Wachtel, Driscoll, Bekoff - Ethology, 1989 - Wiley Online Library
Important issues that are still unresolved in the study of animal social groups are how dominance is measured and how individuals are ranked. Based on observations of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus), we constructed hierarchies for the same 26 bucks using five potential correlates of dominance and three measures based on the outcome of agonistic interactions. Data for each of six behavior measures were converted to ranks by six different numerical techniques.
Different measures of behavior resulted in different hierarchies. This was especially so when the hierarchy based on sparring rates was compared to hierarchies based on other criteria. Although our results showed that dominance is not a unitary concept, several measures of dominance were highly correlated with one another. Thus, one measure, in some instances, may be a good but imperfect predictor of dominance defined by other criteria.
For data sets based on index scores or rates of performing behavior, the mean difference and standard-error difference ranking methods had distinct advantages. Both produced equally weighted ranks that minimized the effects of sampling errors.

Why Good Welfare Isn’t Good Enough: Minding Animals and Increasing Our Compassionate Footprint
Bekoff - Annual Review of Biomedical Sciences, 2008 - arbs.biblioteca.unesp.br
In this brief essay I take a broad perspective on the notion of unraveling welfare and consider animals living in different conditions ranging from caged individuals in laboratories and zoos to free-living or almost free-living wildlife. Ill step outside of the laboratory because billions of animals are slaughtered for food in an industry that tortures them on the way to their reprehensible deaths and at the places at which they are slaughtered. Furthermore, government agencies around the world kill millions of free-living and wild animals because theyre supposedly pests. This is a different sort of essay but I hope it will stimulate people to rethink what we mean by the phrase animal welfare in a broad and constructive ways because the way people interact with animals in laboratories is influenced by how they see animals in other contexts including outside of caged environments. Unraveling animal welfare means unscrambling our interrelationships with other animals by asking difficult questions about who we think we are, who we think they are, what we think we know, what we actually know. Ill argue that good welfare isnt good enough because existing laws and regulations still allow animals to be subjected to enduring pain and suffering and death in the name of science, which really means in the name of humans. We must do better for all animals and we can do so by taking into account the perspective of the each and every individual who we use for research, education, amusement, and for food and clothing. We must also consider individuals who we house in zoos and move around as if theyre pieces of furniture, for example, when zoos redecorate themselves because they need an ambassador for a given species or because an individual no longer brings in money. And we must also consider the fate of individuals when we redecorate nature by moving animals here and there for our and not their benefit; is it permissible to trade off the life of an individual for the good of their species? The emotional lives of animals are not all that private, hidden, or secret and animal emotions and sentience force us to care for them and to protect them from pain, suffering, and death. I conclude that everyone can do more to increase their compassion footprint and list ten reasons why animals are asking us to treat them better or leave them alone, and these reasons also bear on the unraveling of animal welfare. (get pdf))

Effects of serial lesions in cat visual cortex on a brightness discrimination
Bekoff, Lockwood, - Brain Research, 1973 - psycnet.apa.org
Reports the effects on a dark-light discrimination of serial unilateral lesions of the visual cortex of cats and compares these results with the previously reported effects of simultaneous, bilateral lesions.

Collecting birds: The importance of moral debate
Bekoff, Elzanowski - Bird Conservation International, 1997 - Cambridge Univ Press
In a recent article in this journal, Remsen (1995) attacked moral (and other) objections to killing birds for museum collections, objections that are frequently raised by the general public and scientific community alike. The only grounds for moral objections against killing birds that Remsen considers and rejects are reverence for all life or personal (p. 157; all page references refer to Remsen 1995), that is sentimental (p. 165) reasons. What Remsen ignores is avian sentience and the moral imperative of respecting it.

[[http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1641/0006-3568(2000)050%5B0635:RNDSHF%5D2.0.CO;2][Redecorating nature: Deep science, holism, feeling, and heart]]
BEKOFF - BioScience, 2000 - BioOne
Back off, man, I’m a scientist. I’ve been haunted by this bumper sticker for many years. I’m a scientist. I love what I do.Doing science is fun. When I first saw this slogan, it bothered me because I thought it sent a false message concerning the arrogance of scientists …

Behavioral interactions and conflict among domestic dogs, black-tailed prairie dogs, and people in Boulder, Colorado
Bekoff, Ickes - Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People & Animals, 1999 - ingentaconnect.com
Interactions among domestic dogs (Canis familiaris), black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus), and people were studied at Dry Creek, Boulder, Colorado. Our objective was to develop a basic understanding of the nature of dog-prairie dog interactions in this recreational area, because this is an issue that has high visibility and over which there is conflict in Boulder: There are those who want dogs to run free regardless of their impact on the behavior and lives of prairie dogs and those who want to protect prairie dogs and have dogs restrained or go elsewhere. We found that dogs clearly influenced the behavior of prairie dogs, however, no prairie dogs were known to be caught or killed by any dog during the course of study. Prairie dogs disturbed by dogs were more alert (vigilant) and wary of dogs and played less than undisturbed individuals. However, disturbed prairie dogs were less wary of the presence of humans than undisturbed animals. People tried to stop dogs from harassing prairie dogs only 25% of the time. A survey showed that 58% of people polled at Dry Creek (all dog owners) did not believe that prairie dogs should be protected even if dogs are a problem. Increased human responsibility would likely go a long way towards reducing existing conflict among people wanting to protect prairie dogs and those who do not. Boulder city officials have not yet incorporated our data into their immediate management plans. However, by identifying the nature of dog-prairie dog encounters and specific areas of conflict among people who side either with dogs or prairie dogs, in the future, proactive strategies grounded by empirical data can be developed and implemented so that the interests of all parties can be accommodated.

Too stressed to work
Baldwin, Bekoff - The New Scientist Volume 194, Issue 2606, 2 June 2007
Scientists must provide lab animals with decent living conditions or accept that their results could be useless

Social play and physical training: When not enough may be plenty
Bekoff - Ethology, 1989 - Wiley Online Library
HOLE’S (1988) detailed analysis of temporal aspects of social play in laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus) is an excellent example of what is needed in play research. Nonetheless, I believe that his and others’ (McDonald 1977; also see Fagen 1981) rejection of the importance of social play for physical training based on the duration of play bouts is premature …

Home range use by Abert squirrels: a comparative analysis
Bekoff - The Southwestern Naturalist, 2000 - JSTOR
We compared data from an analysis of space use by Abert squirrels (Sciurus aberti) performed in 1991 with data from a previous study performed in 1971 at the same study site (Farentinos, 1979). In both studies, home range estimates based on the 100% minimum convex polygon (MCP) method were positively correlated with sample size. The number of home range sightings used for calculations in the current study was significantly larger for both males and females when compared to that used by Farentinos (1979), as were estimates of home range. Results from the current study also contradict Farentinos’ earlier findings that males have larger home ranges during the breeding season than the nonbreeding season, and that males have larger home ranges during the breeding season than females year around. The method used to estimate home range sizes may have influenced the results, and the 100% MCP method may be of limited use for drawing meaningful biological comparisons, unless sample size is held constant.

Beyond monkey minds: Toward a richer cognitive ethology
Bekoff, Townsend, Jamieson - Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 1994 - Cambridge Univ Press
The stimulating discussions presented in the BBS target article by Cheney & Seyfarth (C&S) (1992) and in the commentaries concerning their book, How monkeys see the world (C&S 1990b), clarify many issues in the growing field of cognitive ethology.

The public lives of animals (pdf)
Bekoff - Journal of Consciousness Studies, 2006 - blueskybroadcast.com
A few years ago I visited a major American university where I was asked to give a talk on the nature of animal emotions. My colleague, Bill, came up before the lecture to say hello and I asked him how his dog Reno was doing. For more than five minutes Bill extolled Renos deep emotional life he loves to play with his friends, misses Bill when hes gone, has separation anxiety and tears up garbage and books when hes alone, and a few days ago Reno got jealous when Bill gave his daughter attention … Following my talk Bill accused me of being too anthropomorphic and too sure of myself. He did it in a sort of light-hearted academic way. When he was done I simply asked him to recall for the audience the conversation that we had before my lec- ture about Renos emotional life. Bill turned slightly red … (get pdf))

The other side of silence: Rachel Carson’s views of animals
Bekoff, Nystrom - Zygon, 2004 - Wiley Online Library
The publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring in 1962 is widely regarded as one of the major events that launched the modern environmental movement. Silent Spring is a compelling blend of stories, natural history, human val- ues, and biological facts. In this essay we consider Carsons attitude toward animals in Silent Spring and in other texts. Despite the facts that she was raised to love Nature and ani- mals, little direct attention has been given to Carsons views about our moral responsibilities to, and the moral standing of animals. Carson favored responsible stewardship, was more of an animal welfarist and environmentalist/conservation biologist who privileged ecosystems and species than an ani- mal activist who privileged individuals, and she did not advo- cate an animal rights agenda. There is clear tension in Carsons text. Often she seemed troubled by attempting to come across as a moderate and practical scientist and some of her words, when considered out of context, could lead one to label Carson as an animal rightist. While some of Carsons text favors human-centered interests, she did not believe that only humans counted. Her warnings about silent springs silent seasons must be taken seriously, perhaps even more seriously than when they were penned more than four decades ago. Surely, on the other side of silence, await magic, awe, and Natures cacophony of sounds along with a panoply of innumerable other sensory (visual and olfactory) experiences that help us to feel at one with all of Nature. We must be careful never to allow Nature to be silenced. Carson was a passionate and extremely influential activist, and there is no doubt that if there were a world of Rachel Carsons in charge of our global environmental policies, we and our fellow animals would surely be in much better shape than we currently are. (see pdf))

Feeding decisions by Steller’s jays (Cyanocitta stelleri): The utility of a logistic regression model for analyses of where, what, and with whom to eat
Bekoff, C Allen - Ethology, 1999 - Wiley Online Library
It is widely recognized that animal behavior is simultaneously affected by many variables. Both the study of interactions between these variables under naturalistic conditions and the proper statistical analysis of data derived from such studies remain particular problems for ethologists. In the present study we investigated choices by Stellers jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) selecting between two feeding locations under a variety of conditions. A multifactor logistic regression analysis of our data showed that the jays behavior was simultaneously affected by several variables, including proximity of the feeding site to cover, food preferences, and the presence of conspecifics and other animals. We found that (1) jays strongly preferred an unoccupied feeder over one occupied by another jay or a sympatric mammal with the effect of squirrels being much greater than that of other jays, (2) contrary to our expectations, in the absence of a reason to prefer the other feeder, the jays generally selected the feeder that was further from nearest cover, and (3) the presence of sunflower seeds on one feeder but not on the other provided a reason to prefer the feeder offering sunflower seeds. The logistic regression analysis provided a more complete and integrated model of the birds behavior than more commonly used univariate methods. Our approach and results are also applicable to studies of other animals. While univariate analyses are useful in some instances, multifactor procedures reveal more details about the interactions of single factors and future experimental studies can take advantage of this additional knowledge.

The animal’s point of view, animal welfare and some other related matters
Bekoff - Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 1991 - Cambridge Univ Press
To study animal welfare empirically we need an objective basis for deciding when an animal is suffering. Suffering includes a wide range of unpleasant emotional states such as fear, boredom, pain, and hunger.

Do Dogs Ape–or Do Apes Dog–and Does it Matter–Broadening and Deepening Cognitive Ethology
Bekoff - Animal L., 1997 - HeinOnline
In Rain Without Thunder, Gary Francione raises numerous important issues and takes on many important people. The phrase “rain without thunder” made me think about the notion of animals without minds - animals without thoughts or feelings. This idea is troublesome …

Are you feeling what I’m feeling?
Bekoff - The New Scientist, 2007 - Elsevier
If you doubt that non-human animals have emotions, just look at them, listen to them and inhale the odours that pour out when they interact with friend or foe. I believe that what you see on the outside speaks volumes about what is happening inside an animal’s head and heart. Not long ago, the notion that animals have emotions was considered subversive, but opinion is changing. In recent years, reputable scientific journals have published research about moral dogs and chimps, joyful rats, grieving elephants, empathetic mice and fearful fish. Just watching a frolicking wolf, a whimpering dog, or a squealing piglet having his tail and testicles cut off without an anaesthetic is enough to convince me that these are emotional beings. The evidence of a single anecdote may not be very scientific, but as philosopher Dale Jamieson says, the plural of anecdote is data. What’s more, anecdotes such as those I recount in this article can also inspire new research.

Animal emotions, wild justice and why they matter: Grieving magpies, a pissy baboon, and empathic elephants
Bekoff - Emotion Space and Society, 2009 - mendeley.com
In this article regarding comparative and evolutionary research on animal emotions and morality, the author holds that non-human animals have emotional lives, and considers human emotions as gifts from other animals. Emotions serve as a social glue to bond animals with one another, catalyze and regulate a wide variety of social encounters among friends, lovers, and competitors, and permit animals to behave adaptively and flexibly using various behavior patterns in a wide variety of venues. In addition, emotions are also important in nonsocial situations and influence how humans and other animals relate to their wider environment. The author asserts that non-human animals have a kind of moral intelligence, and presents scientific theory, experimental evidence, and anecdotal evidence to support that view.

Intentionality, Social Play, and Definition
Bekoff - Bekoff/Jamieson, 1996 - books.google.com
Many behavioral biologists consider play an important behavioral phenotype. They have a hard time, however, coming up with a consensus definition of play. Most biologists who have observed mammals in the field can give examples of behaviors they consider to be playful …

SPACE-OUT: graphics programs to study and to simulate space use and movement patterns
Bekoff, Wieland, Lavender - Behavior Research Methods, 1982 - Springer
Recent reviews (Koeppl, Slade, & Hoffmann, 1975; Michener, 1979; Waser & Wiley, 1980, and references therein) have stressed the importance of spatial analyses for furthering our understanding of the ways in which space use and movements within an animal’s home …

The question of animal emotions: an ethological perspective
Bekoff - Mental Health and WellBeing in Animals, 2004 - Wiley Online Library
It is hard to watch elephants’ remarkable behavior during a family or bond group greeting ceremony, the birth of a new family member, a playful interaction, the mating of a relative, the rescue of a family member, or the arrival of a musth male, and not imagine that they feel …

Group living, natal philopatry, and Lindstroem’s lottery: It’s all in the family
Bekoff - Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 1987 - en.scientificcommons.org
Group living, natal philopatry, and Lindstrom’s lottery: It’s all in the family (1987).

Increasing Our Compassion Footprint: The Animals’ Manifesto
Bekoff - Zygon, 2008 - Wiley Online Library
Our relationships with animals are wide-ranging. When people tell me that they love animals and then harm or kill them I tell them I’m glad they don’t love me. Many individuals, including scientists, ignore their responsibility when they interact with animals and fail to recognize that doing something in the name of science, which usually means in the name of humans, is not an adequate reason for intentionally causing suffering, pain, or death. Good welfare usually is not good enough. Existing regulations allow animals to be treated in regrettable ways that demean us as a species. Compassion is the key for bettering both animal and human lives. A good way to make the world a more compassionate place for animals is to increase our compassion footprint. We could begin by deciding that we will not intrude on animals’ lives unless our actions are in the best interests of the animals irrespective of our desires. It is simple to make more compassionate choices about what we eat and wear and how we educate students, conduct research, and entertain ourselves at the expense of animals. The time to make these changes is long overdue. ([get pdf](http://literati.net/Bekoff/Increasing our compassion footprint.pdf)))

Feeding behavior in Steller’s jays (Cyanocitta stelleri): effects of food type and social context
Bekoff, Allen, Wolfe - Bird Behavior, 12, 1997 - ingentaconnect.com
In this study we analyzed various factors affecting the activities in which Steller’s jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) engaged while feeding. We found that the rate of pecking at seeds by jays was affected by available seed type and the presence and activity of nearby conspecifics. Jays at an artificial feeding platform seemed to pay attention to other individuals, in that they pecked at a lower rate when another jay was nearby, except when the otherjay was feeding at a different platform. The decreased feeding rate when twojays shared the same feeding platform is contrary to the widely reported pattern of increased feeding and decreased scanning correlated with increased group size in various species. Our analysis suggests that this pattern of behavior fits with observations that Steller’s jays show site-specific dominance, mutual interference at a concentrated food source, and do not live in structured flocks with consistent membership.

Afterward: Ethics and the study of animal cognition
Jamieson, Bekoff - Readings in Animal Cognition, 1996 - books.google.com
In the heyday of logical empiricism (circa 1930-1960), science was seen as the purest of human activities. There was a single thing that was" the scientific method"; observations were distinct from and unaffected by theoretical commitments; theories were “sets of sentences” that made no essential referenc to knowers; explanation and prediction were regarded as formal relations between sentences that in principle could be made mechanical, and all of this theorizing, explaining, and predicting was thought to be uncontaminated by values.

Should scientists bond with the animals who they use? Why not
Bekoff - Psycoloquy, 1993 - en.scientificcommons.org
This volume is a rare find, an edited volume that is worth reading in its entirety. A combination of information from studies on captive and wild animals is needed to come to a fuller understanding of the many different aspects of scientist-animal interactions.

Cunning coyotes: Tireless tricksters, protean predators
Bekoff - Model systems in behavioral ecology, 2001 - books.google.com
Coyotes (Canis latrans) are amazing carnivores. They are many things to many people. They wear many faces that affect different people in different ways. They are victims of their own success.

Breeding behavior of evening grosbeaks
Bekoff - Condor, 1991 - JSTOR
From 1983-1987 we studied the breeding behavior of Evening Grosbeaks (Coccothraustes vespertinus) living in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. These birds were typically monogamous; at only one of 64 nests (1.6%) was polygny documented. Reproductive behaviors performed by adult males and females were first analyzed across all mating seasons and then with respect to five consecutive nest stages (build/egg laying, incubate, brood, brood/fledge, fledge) and the outcome (success or failure) of individual nests. Adult males and females contributed unequally to the ten most frequently observed behaviors; half were performed almost exclusively by one or the other sex. Males typically fed and protected their mates and what we presumed to be their young; whereas females usually built the nest, incubated, brooded, and also fed their young. Feeding, soft calling from the perch, and fecal removal were performed relatively equally by adult males and females. The success or failure of nests was not associated with patterns of parental behavior. Our results indicate that Evening Grosbeaks formed a partnership in which they divided the effort involved in nest preparation and raising the young at the high altitude where this population was observed.

Functional aspects of play as revealed by structural components and social interaction patterns
Bekoff - Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 1982 - Cambridge Univ Press
Functional aspects of play as revealed by structural components and social interaction patterns.

Where’s the brain? Geometric and cognitive underpinnings of group-size effects on vigilance
Bekoff - Behavioural processes, 2003 - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Where’s the brain? Geometric and cognitive underpinnings of group-size effects on vigilance.

Life-history patterns and sociality in canids: body size, reproduction, and behavior
Bekoff, Diamond - Oecologia, 1981 - Springer
Empirical associations among co-adapted traits such as body size and patterns of reproduction, development, and behavior are unknown for most animal species, despite numerous theories suggesting otherwise. One way to study these complex relationships is first to consider closely related species and then to generalize findings to other groups. In the present study, relationships among body size, reproductive patterns, development, and sociality were examined in 17 members of the family Canidae (canids). Large canids are more social than smaller species, and offspring of large species achieve independence and tend to breed first at a later age. Large females give birth to absolutely larger young, but relative to their own body weight they allocate fewer resources to bringing a large pup to term. Overall, sexual dimorphism in size is small to moderate, and this is associated with monogamous mating habits and paternal care of young.

[[http://www.jstor.org/stable/info/10.1641/0006-3568(2001)051\0171:SRCASM\2.0.CO;2][Science, religion, cooperation, and social morality]] BEKOFF - BioScience, 2001 - JSTOR
Few scientists and religious scholars have seriously pondered how science and religion can be reconciled. But times are changing. Not long ago I attended two meetings that brought together scientists, theologians, and religious scholars to discuss just that issue. The first gathering was part of the Science and the Spiritual Quest II program () sponsored by the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences in Berkeley, California. The other was organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Participants at both of these meetings spoke freely about science (evolutionary biology, ethology, neuroscience, anthropology, psychology), theology, religion, and God, and made a lot of progress in their interdisciplinary efforts to address the confluence of religion and science. Social morality is a subject at the intersection of religion and science, one that can unite people from different disciplines. Many peoplelaymen, theologians, scientistswonder whether some nonhuman animal beings (hereafter animals) have codes of social conduct that regulate their behavior during social encounters. Charles Darwin’s ideas about evolutionary continuitythat behavioral, cognitive (intellectual), and emotional variations among different species are differences in degree rather than in kindare often invoked in such exercises.

But is it research? What price interdisciplinary interests?
Bekoff - Biology and Philosophy, 1994 - Springer
That interdisciplinary work has become the rule, rather than the exception, in many branches of science and in many areas of the humanities, is a gross understatement. One needs only to consider the rifles of various journals, the names of various professional societies, or peruse the shelves of book stores to see that interdisciplinary interests abound.

A method for the analysis of activity and spatial relations in animal groups
Bekoff, Corcoran - Behavior Research Methods, 1975 - Springer
Scientists interested in animal social organization frequently need to ask questions concerning the interindiual spatial relations among members of a group (the use of space), but often omit consideration of the ways in which interindividual spatial relations and individual activity patterns are related to one another.

Considering Animals Not Higher Primates
Bekoff - Zygon, 2003
In this essay I argue that many nonhuman animal beings are conscious and have some sense of self. Rather than ask whether they are conscious, I adopt an evolutionary perspective and ask why consciousness and a sense of self evolved - what are they good for? Comparative studies of animal cognition, ethological investigations that explore what it is like to be a certain animal, are useful for answering this question. Charles Darwin argued that the differences in cognitive abilities and emotions among animals are differences in degree rather than differences in kind, and his view cautions against the unyielding claim that humans, and perhaps other great apes and cetaceans, are the only species in which a sense of self-awareness has evolved. I conclude that there are degrees of consciousness and self among animals and that it is likely that no animal has the same highly developed sense of self as that displayed by most humans. Many animals have a sense of body-ness or mine-ness but not a sense of I-ness. Darwin’s ideas about evolutionary continuity, together with empirical data (science sense) and common sense, will help us learn more about consciousness and self in animals. Answers to challenging questions about animal self-awareness have wide-ranging significance, because they are often used as the litmus test for determining and defending the sorts of treatments to which animals can be morally subjected. (get pdf))

Animal play and behavioral diversity
Bekoff - The American Naturalist, 1975 - JSTOR
Fagen’s (1974) recent paper concerning selective and evolutionary aspects of animal play provides very interesting reading for those scientists interested in this category of behavior.

Ignoring nature: Why we do it, the dire consequences, and the need for a paradigm shift to Save animals, habitats, and ourselves
Bekoff, Bexell - Human Ecology Review, 2010 - humanecologyreview.org
We live in a wounded world that is in dire need of healing. We all should be troubled and terrified by what we have done and continue to do. Humans have made huge and horrific global messes that need to be repaired now. The overrid- ing sense of turmoil is apparent to anyone who takes the time to pay attention. Researchers and non-researchers alike are extremely concerned about unprecedented global losses of biodiversity and how humans suffer because of our destruc- tive ways. We are animals and we should be proud and aware of our membership in the animal kingdom. However, our unique contribution to the decimation of the planet and its many life forms demeans us. (get pdf))

Minding animals, minding earth: Science, nature, kinship, and heart
Bekoff - Human Ecology Review, 2003 - humanecologyreview.org
This paper emphasizes the importance of broadening behavioral, ecological, and conservation science into a more integrative, interdisciplinary, socially responsible, compassionate, spiritual, and holistic endeavor.2,3 I will stress the significance of studies of animal behavior, especially ethological research concerned with animal emotions, in which individuals are named and recognized for their own personalities and temperaments, for helping us not only to learn about the nonhuman animal beings (hereafter animals) with whom we share Earth, but also for learning about who we are, our place in Nature, our humanness. We can be best understood in relationship to others. I will also develop the notions of minding animals and deep ethology. Animals are a way of knowing; sources of wisdom. I am an optimist, a hopeful human being. I never say never. I ache with the pains of other beings and also feel pangs when I feel inanimate landscapes being destroyed. Surely we do not want to be remembered as the generation that killed Nature. Now is the time for everyone to work for universal planetary peace. There is no alternative to world peace and we must sow seeds without hesitation to accom- plish this urgent goal. It is essential that we do better than our ancestors. No one could argue that a world with significantly less, rather, no cruelty and boundless compassion, respect, grace, humility, spirituality, peace, and love would not be a better world in which to live and raise our children and theirs. We are all citizens of Earth, members of a global community in which intimate reciprocal and beneficent peaceful relationships are mandatory. We have compelling responsibilities for making Earth a better and more peaceful habitat for all beings. Time is not on our side. We must reflect and step lightly as we redecorate Nature. I yearn for a seamless tapestry of oneness, a warm blan- ket, a soul-scape, of deep and reciprocal friendships in which all individuals count, a single community in which individuals are at one with all others, in which the seer and the seen are one, a community in which it feels good and makes indi- viduals happy to be kind to others. My own dreams and spirituality are based on a deep and passionate drive for reconciliation, a seamless unity a wholeness and oneness motivated by trust, compassion, respect, grace, humility, and love. I plead for developing heartfelt and holistic science that allows for fun, joy, and play, along with interdisciplinary talk about kindness, generosity, compassion, respect, grace, humility, spirituality, peace, and love. Science need not be suspicious of things it cannot fully understand. We must never avert our eyes or our other senses from the eyes and voices of all other beings, our kin, our friends, who urgently beg for and truly need our immediate, uncompromising, and uncon- ditional aid and love. We are obliged not to do so. We certainly can do much more than we have done for animals and Earth. (get pdf))

Predatory Strategies and Behavioral Diversity
Bekoff - American Biology Teacher, 1983 - eric.ed.gov
Briefly discusses the view that behavior may be thought of as a phenotypic adaptation that can be quantitatively studied, and then considered in more detail ways in which predatory animals, especially mammals, satisfy their need for food. Topics covered include predatory behavior, hunting modes, prey selection, hunting success, and others. (JN)

The view from Japan
Bekoff, Goodall - Nature, 2001 - nature.com
The past decade has seen enormous growth in the study of animal cognition. Anecdotal reports and detailed observational experiments abound for many species and for diverse cognitive skills.

Action in Cognitive Ethology
Bekoff - A Companion to the Philosophy of Action, 2010 - Wiley Online Library
Understanding the actions that animals perform during different contexts is central to learning about what animals know, desire, intend, believe, and feel. While philosophical discussions of action theory focus almost exclusively on humans, there is quite a lot of information …

The great divide
Bekoff - A review of Wynne, 2004 - americanscientist.org
Do animals think? Well, surely some do, you may think. And an increasing number of researchers across disciplines would agree with you: They are trying to determine hownot whetheranimals consciously process information about their social and nonsocial environments. What is going on in the minds of animals? Do they have desires and beliefs? Zealots abound at both ends of a spectrum that ranges from those who believe that animals are merely thoughtless robotic automatons to those who argue that all are thinking creatures with rich cognitive lives. I imagine that the truth lies somewhere in the middle: A number of animals have the capacity for thinking about certain situations and showing flexible, adaptable behavior, whereas others may behave reflexively, with little or no thought at all.

Integrating Values and Ethics into Wildlife Policy and Management Lessons from North America
Fox, Bekoff - Animals, 2011 - mdpi.com
Few animals provoke as wide a range of emotions as wolves. Some see wolves as icons of a lost wilderness; others see them as intruders. As the battle continues between wolf proponents and opponents, finding solutions that resolve conflicts while supporting the integrity of nature is challenging. In this essay we argue that we need to make room for wolves and other native carnivores who are re-colonizing areas from which they were extirpated. Strategies that foster coexistence are necessary and wildlife agencies must consider all stakeholders and invest adequate resources to inform the public about how to mitigate conflicts between people/domestic animals, and predators. Values and ethics must be woven into wildlife policy and management and we must be willing to ask difficult ethical questions and learn from past mistakes. (get pdf))

Jonathan Balcombe

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 10:15:58 -0800

Jonathan Balcombe holds three biology degrees and specializes in the study of ethology with a PhD in this area of study. A leading animal behavior researcher he is also an author and speaker.

Below are excerpts from Alexandra’s excellent article about Jonathan:

“It’s easy to come away with a sense that it’s a hard-struggled life out there, but it’s a life worth living,” observes Dr. Balcombe. He has found that many species share related physiologies and behavior patterns as humans, and are thus able to feel such emotions as pain, pleasure, and passion.

What’s more, Dr. Balcombe firmly believes that animals have many lessons that we humans can learn from. “I am an avid animal watcher… they teach me new things every time I watch them carefully and the more I understand the more there is to learn,” says Balcombe.

This is the link to his own site, jonathan-balcombe.com which contains information about his books, writings, courses etc.

Biographical Profile

Jonathan Balcombe was born in England, raised in New Zealand and Canada, and has lived in the United States since 1987. He has three biology degrees, including a PhD in ethology (the study of animal behavior) from the University of Tennessee, where he studied communication in bats. He has published over 40 scientific papers on animal behavior and animal protection.

He is the author of four books, including Pleasurable Kingdom: Animals and the Nature of Feeling Good, Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals, and The Exultant Ark: A Pictorial Tour of Animal Pleasure (pdf).

Formerly Senior Research Scientist with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, he is currently Chair of the Animal Studies Department with the Humane Society University.

Jonathan lives with his family in Germantown, Maryland. In his spare time he enjoys biking, baking, birdwatching, piano, and trying to understand his two cats.

Links

Jonathan Balcombe
This is the main site and contains information about Jonathan’s books, writings, courses etc.

MacMillan Speakers: Jonathan Balcombe
Animal behavior expert Jonathan Balcombe is a passionate advocate for animals and their living spaces. His highly acclaimed books Pleasurable Kingdom and Second Nature present animals in a new light and presage a revolution in the human-animal relationship. His most recent book, The Exultant Art: A Pictorial Tour of Animal Pleasure (2011), received a glowing review in the New York Times. A PhD scientist and vegan, Balcombe’s dynamic message resonates with timely issues that affect everyone, including climate change, biodiversity, and personal health. He has given lectures and presentations on six continents.Jonathan Balcombe was born in England and raised in New Zealand and Canada. He studied biology at Canada’s York University and Carleton University before earning a PhD in ethology (animal behavior) from the University of Tennessee. He has written over 40 scientific papers and book chapters, and many lay articles on animal behavior and animal protection.

PCRM: Jonathan Balcombe, Ph.D., M.S.
Jonathan Balcombe, Ph.D., M.S., is a research scientist with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a nationwide organization of physicians and laypersons that promotes preventive medicine, especially good nutrition, and addresses controversies in modern medicine, including ethical issues in research …

TEM Style: Jonathan Balcombe, ethical man
TEM is proud to present Jonathan Balcombe (seen here with Lucy, the rat) as the first-ever feature in our Ethical Men series. Congrats, Jonathan!

New Zealand Center for Human-Animal Studies: Dr Jonathan Balcombe (USA)
Jonathan Balcombe was born in England, raised in New Zealand and Canada, and has lived in the United States since 1987. He studied biology at York University and Carleton University in Canada before earning his doctorate in ethology (animal behavior) from the University of Tennessee, studying communication in bats. He has written many scientific papers and lay-articles on animal behavior, humane education, and animal research …

Free From Harm: Interview with Jonathan Balcombe
Author, ethologist and biologist Dr. Jonathan Balcombe is breaking new ground in our understanding of and appreciation for animals.

OneKind: Jonathan Balcombe on The Exultant Ark
Jonathan Balcombe is an academic and also a successful author of a number of popular books about animals emotions: specifically animals' pleasure.

Blogspot: Jonathan Balcombe
The musings and reflections of a biologist as enthralled with animal life as he is dissatisfied with humanity’s current relationship to it.

Jonathan Balcombe: A Passionate Ethologist
An excellent, concise essay about ethologist Dr. Balcombe and some of his remarkable work.

Humane Society University, a pioneer in the animal studies movement
Moody octopuses, altruistic bats and honeybees that vote are academic fodder for Washington’s newest university.

Media Press

Farm animals deserve humane treatment (Washington Post)
One often sees the term “extremism” applied to certain acts of animal activism, but never is it used in reference to the extreme cruelties routinely carried out by the animal industries themselves [“As eco-terrorism threat diminishes, governments keep eyes on activists,” front page, March 11]. To list just a few: We take newborn calves from their mothers so that the latter may be milked, crowd hens into tiny cages for egg production, sear off the sensitive beak tips of female chicks, toss the male chicks into meat-grinders or into bins to suffocate, and consign pregnant sows to metal-and-concrete stalls in which they can barely move for weeks.

That these practices remain legal makes them no less cruel. Fortunately, consumers can make the non-extreme decision to refrain from funding factory farming by choosing to purchase alternative products.

Jonathan Balcombe, Germantown

Jonathan Balcombe: ‘Stop being beastly to hens’ (The Guardian)
Animal behaviour scientist Jonathan Balcombe says that our treatment of animals remains medieval despite a flood of studies shedding light on how they experience the world

How to Have Fun Like Monkeys, Whales and Foxes (Wired Science)
Balcombe surveys a new generation of studies into animal feelings, especially animal pleasure. Accompanying the scholarship are photographs of animals seeming to enjoy themselves: hippos and flying foxes, zebrafish and sharks, parrots and polar bears, a whole animal kingdom of pleasure.

Jonathan Balcombe: “Second Nature” (Diane Rehm Radio Show)
Humans aren’t the only beings who communicate, feel emotions and have self-awareness. Drawing on the latest research, an animal behaviorist explains why people need to change the way they treat other living creatures.

Videos

Why Vegan? Lessons From An Animal Scientist

As a scientist who chooses a plant-based diet, Jonathan Balcombe is not your typical biologist. In this riveting, richly-illustrated presentation, Balcombe reveals startling new discoveries in the realms of animal cognition and emotional complexity–from optimistic starlings, to choosy fishes, to dogs who object to unfair treatment.

Interview - Jonathan Balcombe

Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals
Interview with Jonathan Bascombe author of “Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals” recorded May 29, 2010 in Seattle.

Dr. Jonathan Balcombe on Our Relationship to Animals

Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals
“Jonathan Balcombe is a rare being, a scientist who has escaped the narrow orthodoxies of institutional science, an intelligent human being who is more than ready to recognize intelligences of other kinds, an intuitive and empathetic observer who nevertheless does not abandon the highest standards of intellectual inquiry.”
–from the Forward by J.M Coetzee, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature

Dr. Jonathan Balcombe at the 2010 VSDC Life-Affirming Thanksgiving celebration

Jonathan Balcombe as guest speaker at the 2010 Vegetarian Society of DC Life-Affirming Thanksgiving celebration.

Friends for Life (Jonathan Balcombe)

Composed and performed by Jonathan Balcombe.

Dr. Jonathan Balcombe on Individuality in Fish

Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals
Bshary, R. “Machiavellian Intelligence in Fishes.” In Fish Cognition and Behavior , edited by C. Brown et al., pp. 223-242. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2006.

Dr. Jonathan Balcombe on Animal Virtue and Fairness

Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals
Brosnan, S.F., and F.B.M. de Waal. “Monkeys reject unequal pay.” Nature 425 (2003): 297-299.

Books and Reviews

The Exultant Ark - A Pictorial Tour of Animal Pleasure

Jonathan P. Balcombe

Nature documentaries often depict animal life as a grim struggle for survival, but this visually stunning book opens our eyes to a different, more scientifically up-to-date way of looking at the animal kingdom. In more than one hundred thirty striking images, The Exultant Ark celebrates the full range of animal experience with dramatic portraits of animal pleasure ranging from the charismatic and familiar to the obscure and bizarre. These photographs, windows onto the inner lives of pleasure seekers, show two polar bears engaged in about of wrestling, hoary marmots taking time for a friendly chase, Japanese macaques enjoying a soak in a hot spring, a young bull elk sticking out his tongue to catch snowflakes, and many other rewarding moments. Biologist and best-selling author Jonathan Balcombe is our guide, interpreting the images within the scientific context of what is known about animal behavior. In the end, old attitudes fall away as we gain a heightened sense of animal individuality and of the pleasures that make life worth living for all sentient beings.

The Exultant Ark - A Pictorial Tour of Animal Pleasure

Review in NY Times

True to its subtitle — “A Pictorial Tour of Animal Pleasure” — “The Exultant Ark” showcases surprising, funny, touching, sad, heartwarming pictures by photographers all over the world. Dr. Balcombe’s text is a serious examination of the subject of animal pleasure, a study that “remains nascent and largely neglected in scientific discourse.” But it also delights us along the way with Dr. Balcombe’s observations and examples.

Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals

Jonathan P. Balcombe

For centuries we believed that humans were the only ones that mattered. The idea that animals had feelings was either dismissed or considered heresy. Today, that’s all changing. New scientific studies of animal behavior reveal perceptions, intelligences, awareness and social skills that would have been deemed fantasy a generation ago. The implications make our troubled relationship to animals one of the most pressing moral issues of our time. Jonathan Balcombe, animal behaviorist and author of the critically acclaimed Pleasurable Kingdom, draws on the latest research, observational studies and personal anecdotes to reveal the full gamut of animal experiencefrom emotions, to problem solving, to moral judgment. Balcombe challenges the widely held idea that nature is red in tooth and claw, highlighting animal traits we have disregarded until now: their nuanced understanding of social dynamics, their consideration for others, and their strong tendency to avoid violent conflict. Did you know that dogs recognize unfairness and that rats practice random acts of kindness? Did you know that chimpanzees can trounce humans in short-term memory games? Or that fishes distinguish good guys from cheaters, and that birds are susceptible to mood swings such as depression and optimism? With vivid stories and entertaining anecdotes, Balcombe gives the human pedestal a strong shake while opening the door into the inner lives of the animals themselves.

Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals

Review by Kim Stallwood

Balcombe’s writings are a carefully crafted balance of academic rigor and empathic wisdom.

Pleasurable Kingdom: Animals and the Nature of Feeling Good

Jonathan P. Balcombe

Pleasurable Kingdom presents new evidence that animals - like humans - enjoy themselves. From birds to baboons, insects to iguanas, animals feel good thanks to play, sex, touch, food, anticipation, comfort, aesthetics, and more. Combining rigorous evidence, elegant argument and amusing anecdotes, leading animal behavior researcher Jonathan Balcombe shows that the possibility of positive feelings in creatures other than humans has important ethical ramifications for both science and society. For more information please visit the author’s website at www.pleasurablekingdom.com

The Use of Animals in Higher Education: Problems, Alternatives, & Recommendations

Jonathan P. Balcombe

The Use of Animals in Higher Education is well-researched and annotated and international in scope, with a primary focus on the US. It addresses secondary education as strongly as higher education, with quite a focus on elementary education as well. (get pdf)

Beyond Animal Research Articles at PCRM

Heart Attack Experiments in Animals
Heart attacks are virtually unknown in mice and rats, probably because their natural life spans are just two to three years, their heart physiology is different from that of humans, and, of course, they avoid fast-food restaurants. But, unfortunately, some animal experimenters have nonetheless attempted to artificially induce heart problems in these hapless creatures.

Animal Research and Mobile Phones: Getting a Bad Connection
A recent article in the British Medical Journal asks “Where is the evidence that animal research benefits humans?” The authors examined systematic reviews of six areas of animal research and presented evidence that it had not informed human medicine. For two of the six areas, clinical trials were conducted at the same time as the animal studies, and for three others, clinical trials went ahead despite evidence of harm from the animal studies. Overall, the analysis reveals both a practical and a perceived disconnect between animal and human studies. The authors conclude that “new animal studies should not be conducted until…their validity and generalisability to clinical medicine has been assessed.”

Bone-Breaking Experiments
Understanding how bones break and heal and developing treatments are all important and worthwhile medical endeavors. Unfortunately, some experimenters deliberately break healthy animals’ bones. Each year dozens of such studies are published; these experiments are conducted on many different animals, including dogs, rats, mice, rabbits, pigs, sheep, and goats.

The Misunderstood Rat
Rats are one of the world’s least understood creatures. Stigmatized as filthy “pests” for centuries, these inquisitive opportunists are actually naturally sociable and make excellent companions. New scientific studies show that there is more to rats than laboratory supply companies would have us believe.

Animal Smoking Experiments
Scientists like to joke that smoking is a leading cause of statistics. It’s an amusing observation, but sadly, when it comes to animal experimentation, it’s all too true. Despite the failure of numerous animal studies during the 1950s and 1960s to reveal a clear link between cigarette smoking and cancer—and despite our established knowledge from human clinical data that smoking is deadly - smoking experiments on animals continue.

Animal Smoking Experiments: Part II
Scientists have known for decades that smoking can have devastating effects on human health. Yet researchers continue to conduct smoking experiments on animals. Do such experiments offer new insights? In an earlier column (Part I), I discussed several recent animal smoking experiments that appear merely to confirm what is already known from human studies. To investigate further, I followed up on four of these animal studies (all published in 2004) using the National Institutes of Health’s online PubMed database.

The Guinea Pigs Deserve a Hearing
Many years ago I remember seeing in a physiology textbook two photographs of a guinea pig’s inner ear, taken under a microscope before and after exposure to destructively loud noise. The first image showed the sensitive cochlear hairs arranged in neat rows; in the second they looked like a stand of trees flattened by a violent hurricane.

Animals Still Used in Motion Sickness Experiments
If you’ve ever suffered motion sickness, you know that it’s a miserable feeling. Other animals are also vulnerable, and for at least 50 years scientists have been subjecting monkeys, dogs, cats, rats and other species to experiments designed to make them ill.

Migraine Research, Part 1
According the UK-based Migraine Trust Association (www.migrainetrust.org), migraine is the most common neurological condition in the developed world … There is no cure, but there are many available treatments. Despite this, animals bear the brunt of scientific curiosity about migraine. Cats, monkeys, pigs, guinea pigs, and rats are all being used in headache research. These experimental subjects are not suffering from migraines (at least not that we can tell), but their skulls are opened up and their brains tweaked, probed and drugged in a parade of experiments designed, it seems, more to advance scientific careers than useful knowledge.

Migraine Research, Part II
In last month’s column, I described a small sampling of “migraine” studies on animals, involving usually terminal, invasive procedures on unconscious (anesthetized) animals (cats, monkeys, rats, etc.) who have no way of communicating symptoms. But other researchers are pursuing very different paths. The following sampling of recent studies underscores the broad range of human clinical methods available for advancing our understanding of this important condition …

A Stunning Waste of Pigs
A recent story appeared in New Scientist concerning the use of stun guns for immobilizing dangerous persons … The New Scientist report mentioned that, in response to concerns about human deaths associated with Taser use, animal tests were being initiated to assess their effects on the hearts of anesthetized pigs.

Confining Rodents in Laboratory Cages Has Troubling Consequences
Throughout history, human societies have dealt with criminals by confining them in small cells. Not only does imprisonment remove the offender from daily life, but by taking away the inmate’s freedom and autonomy it constitutes punishment … Animals caged in laboratories find themselves in comparable circumstances.

Chimeras: Beyond Our Moral Depth?
The chimeras I learned about as a biology student—obscure, strange-looking fishes of the ocean depths—are not the same as the ones now at the center of a debate in medical ethics. These chimeras are made by man, not by nature. As stem cell technology marches ahead, science now has the means to create creatures that blur the line between humans and other animals. The specter of a half-chimp/half-man or a mouse with a human brain is no longer the stuff of science fiction.

Sarin: Terror in the Laboratories
Originally developed as a chemical warfare agent in 1938, the nerve gas sarin became a household word when it was used in a terrorist attack on the Tokyo subway system in March 1995 (one of three such incidents in Japan between 1994 and 1998). Long-term health effects on Gulf War veterans have also been attributed to possible low-level sarin exposure. Despite the pitfalls of trying to extrapolate across species, animals have been exposed to sarin in hundreds of laboratory experiments dating back at least to the late 1950s.

Anorexia Nervosa and Animal Experiments
Anorexia is a terrible illness that afflicts some two million Americans, mostly young women. Not surprisingly, there is a concerted effort to understand and address anorexia and other eating disorders. A search for “anorexia nervosa” on the NIH’s PubMed online database yielded more than 8,600 studies. Most are human clinical studies—but not all. Many researchers are being funded to perform experiments on animals, usually (male) rats. But because rodents don’t spontaneously develop eating disorders, experimenters must create “animal models” of the condition.

Anorexia Nervosa: The Potential of Nonanimal Research
In last month’s column, I presented some examples of studies in which rats are starved and exercised in a futile attempt to model anorexia nervosa (AN), a uniquely human condition. As I researched these studies, I also encountered numerous human clinical studies. The following recent examples illustrate just some of the broad range of research strategies available for human-based research into eating disorders.

Homeopathy: Healing Some, Harming Others
My local paper recently profiled the Samueli Institute for Information Biology (SIIB), a nonprofit medical research organization that emphasizes complementary medicine, such as acupuncture and homeopathy, a system of medical practice that treats a disease especially by the administration of minute doses of a remedy that would in healthy persons produce symptoms similar to those of the disease. The organization’s stated mission is strongly geared towards healing, and its goals include alleviating suffering, enhancing well being, and establishing sustainable healthcare approaches. So far, so good. Then I noticed that the article mentioned animal studies.

Homeopathy Research: Efficacy Studies
Because homeopathy involves giving vanishingly small quantities of ingredients to patients, side effects are rare and treatments essentially harmless. That does not mean they are effective, however. The animal studies I described in last month’s column were trying to address efficacy, not safety. As the following examples from 2005 show, researchers have a variety of means for assessing alternative treatments in humans without resorting to cruel animal studies.

Mice on Soy
A recent study from the University of Colorado made headlines when it was reported that a soy-based diet worsened heart disease in male mice carrying a mutation for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Depressed Mice Study Is Inhumane and Clinically Irrelevant
A study published in the prestigious journal Science reported on the apparent role of a protein (called p11) in fighting depression. However, most of the depressed subjects in this study weren’t people—they were mice.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is implicated in about 5,000 to 7,000 infant deaths yearly in the United States … A considerable amount of this research is in the clinical setting … There are also many animal studies …

Blogs and Opinions at firstscience.com (selected)

(Unfortunately, the links to these items are unavailable at firstscience.com presently.)

Cultured Sparrows
… one enterprising sparrow had probably stumbled on this available food source (perhaps by accident while trapped?), and it was adopted by other birds. Sparrow culture.

Steve Irwin Stung by the Press
… I think Irwin would have objected to those headlines announcing his death by stingray, in which the ray was said to have “attacked” him. The animal acted in defense. With its poor word-choice, the press succumbed to the lure of sensationalism, or maybe just ignorance, and undid some of the good that Irwin had done.

Empathic Mice
A widely reported recent study documented evidence that house mice show empathy …

Animal Testing my Patience
A recent BBC news article on the rise in animal use in UK labs contained the following statement from a pro-vivisection spokesperson. “Animal testing for medical research is unavoidable.” The person who said this needs an English lesson.

Bird-Brains Not
A new study of bird behavior [www.sciencenews.org/articles/20061118/fob6.asp] adds to a burgeoning body of evidence that birds aren’t the bird-brains they were once thought to be.

Fish Scale New Heights of Social Sophistication
These studies add to a growing body of evidence that fishes are nothing like the thoughtless, unfeeling automatons they were once thought to be. That’s no comfort to anyone concerned about humankind’s voracious plundering of the world’s fish populations, but nature has her own agenda, and easing humanity’s conscience isn’t on the list.

One Man’s Waste
We owe a lot to insects for helping to keep the world clean. Were it not for the flies and beetles, the world would soon be awash with organic waste, and disease and squalor would run rampant.

Tea: Black is Beautiful
A new study reported in the European Heart Journal finds that adding milk to one’s tea may blunt its cardiovascular benefits

An Elephant Talks - Are We Listening?
The English intellectual Cyril Connolly once quipped that: “imprisoned in every fat woman [or man] a thin one is wildly signalling to be let out.” I find that sentiment rather apt for a teenaged elephant who made international news last week for having mastered eight words of human speech

A Negative Review Ain’t Necessarily So
I consider myself fortunate that nearly a year passed before my latest book (www.pleasurablekingdom.com) received a negative review. BioScience [Vol. 57(1): Pp. 83-84] has published a review titled “Feelings do not a science make” by Oxford University biologist Marian Stamp Dawkins which takes me to task for a variety of perceived mis-steps. A colleague posted Dawkins’s review on his list-serve and it generated a fusillade of responses in defense of animal experiences …

Sharp Weapons, Sharp Minds
Recent news of chimpanzees fashioning and using deadly weapons grabbed headlines last week … Less headline-grabbing was the latest in a series of elegant studies of food caching and recovery in scrub jays …

It’s Time the Fur Flew
Each time I see someone wearing fur, a little bit of my faith in humanity dies … Perhaps there’s still hope for the demise of an industry that should have gone out with the arrival of the loom.

What Does A Rat Know, Anyway?
Those who defend animal research often like to point out that about ninety percent of the animals used are rodents, namely mice and rats. The upshot is that we should all breathe a sigh of relief. “Oh, they’re just rodents. Why should we be concerned?”

A Chimp Haven
Earlier this week I visited a facility for chimpanzees given over to retirement by research laboratories that no longer want them.

A Dog Named Chester
What is special about this “dog” is that he isn’t the coddled canine whose ancestors barked at lurking predators and accepted scraps at stone-age firesides … He is a rodent … When I think of Chester’s cousins being obliterated for someone’s amusement, I wonder which species is more noble: ours or his. For all our technology and culture, humankind has a knack for moral fickleness.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for apes?
In late April, an Austrian judge denied personhood status and legal guardianship for 26-year-old Matthias Pan, who was kidnapped as an infant in Sierra Leone after his mother was shot. Brought to Austria illegally, Pan was sold to a research laboratory where he lived alone in a cage and was experimented on for many years before finally being released to a sanctuary. In her concluding statement, the judge explained that she never doubted that Pan should be considered a person, but she did not want to set a precedent that might weaken the case of humans with legal guardians.

Man Bites Shark, Apes Publish Paper
I recently reviewed a book (Anthrozoos, Vol. 20(1)) with the charmingly buoyant title of “Killing Animals.” The book’s introduction includes the sobering news that we humans kill more animals today than we have at any point in history.

Siding with the Amphibian
… as I stood there looking at this frog and contemplating her grim outlook in this man’s clutches, empathy for the frog overcame me and I quickly released her in the grass … Last week my 13-year old daughter spared another leopard frog through a noble act of conscience. She asked to use alternatives instead of dissecting a dead leopard frog in her 7th grade science class.

Blogs from Psychology Today (selected)

Falling for Birds, One at a Time
Nearly 3,000 Red-winged Blackbirds fell dead from the sky in Beebe, Arkansas on New Year’s Eve.

From Skinny Bitch to Bill Clinton: The Rise of Veganism
Have you noticed the word “vegan” lately? If you live in America and you read a newspaper or popular magazines, the chances are you have. If you watch television, you probably even know how to pronounce it properly.

Extinction Folly - Review of Paper Tiger: A Visual History of the Thylacine
Today, rewards offered for a living specimen seem like wishful thinking.

Man vs. Wild, Bear Grylls, and the Violent Nature Myth
A few months ago, surfing the television, I happened upon a scene in which a fit-looking young man forcibly removed a rattlesnake from beneath a shrub and smashed its head in with a rock. As he did so, he warned of the danger posed by these reptiles. How ironic.

Peter Singer, Vioxx, and the Future of Animal Testing
No human enterprise illustrates our deep-seated sense of superiority than the use of animals in product and drug testing.

It’s Time (magazine) to Respect Cows
Animal minds made big news this month with Time magazine dedicating its cover story to the topic. “Inside the minds of animals,” by Jeffrey Kluger, provides an engaging glimpse into some of the exciting recent discoveries in animal cognition. That title is an improvement over that of a February 2006 Scientific American article which asked meekly, “Do Animals Have Feelings?” as if there should remain any doubt about that.

Jane GoodAll Things Wonderful
I dedicate this blog entry to Jane Goodall on the 50th anniversary of her groundbreaking research on wild chimpanzees.

Whales, Whaling, and Humanity
In Morocco this week, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) decided to uphold its international moratorium on commercial whaling. That decision just might be a litmus test for the evolution and maturity of humankind. Lifting the ban would have been a symbolic reminder that we remain mired in a way of thinking that sees other sentient animals merely as resources for humans to treat as we please-a recapitulation of an arcane might-makes-right mindset that justified colonialism and slavery, the subjugation of women, and the denial of civil rights.

Beneath the Surface of an Oil Spill
As the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico hemorrhages toward its third month, there’s a big question about which very little is being said: How is it making the fish feel? How is the quality of life for individual fishes being impacted by this latest marine ecological disaster?

Sometimes it hurts when you duck
I walked into the office of the owner of Hudson Valley Foie Gras (HVFG). Since opening in 1989, HVFG has become America’s largest producer of the fatty duck livers treasured by gourmets and reviled by animal advocates. I wasn’t there to purchase foie gras. I was there on a covert assignment for PETA … But like slavery and the denial of votes to women before it, foie gras is vulnerable to exposure as an abomination in civilized society.

Vulture Culture
I met a vulture once. She had been on the losing end of a collision with a car. Unable to fly again, she went on occasional outings where people could see her up close. I met her at an animal welfare fair in a high school gymnasium. She was a black vulture, Coragyps atratus. She stood on a wooden perch, and seemed perfectly at ease in these unnatural surroundings. She was remarkably unlike my preconceptions of vultures. She had deep, black eyes. She blinked. She moved her head slowly to observe the goings on. She wasn’t smelly or scruffy as I had shallowly imagined vultures to be. She looked immaculate. She had a presence. If I had to choose one word to describe her it would be dignified. She wasn’t an object but a subject – a thinking, feeling being.

Papers (with abstracts)

Some of these items have been found through Google Scholar. Certain links are unavailable, but we will try to locate the articles through other means.

Laboratory routines cause animal stress
Balcombe, Jonathan P.; Barnard, Neal D.; Sandusky, Chad
Eighty published studies were appraised to document the potential stress associated with three routine laboratory procedures commonly performed on animals: handling, blood collection, and orogastric gavage. We defined handling as any non-invasive manipulation occurring as part of routine husbandry, including lifting an animal and cleaning or moving an animal’s cage. Significant changes in physiologic parameters correlated with stress (e.g., serum or plasma concentrations of corticosterone, glucose, growth hormone or prolactin, heart rate, blood pressure, and behavior) were associated with all three procedures in multiple species in the studies we examined. The results of these studies demonstrated that animals responded with rapid, pronounced, and statistically significant elevations in stress-related responses for each of the procedures, although handling elicited variable alterations in immune system responses. Changes from baseline or control measures typically ranged from 20% to 100% or more and lasted at least 30 min or longer. We interpret these findings to indicate that laboratory routines are associated with stress, and that animals do not readily habituate to them. The data suggest that significant fear, stress, and possibly distress are predictable consequences of routine laboratory procedures, and that these phenomena have substantial scientific and humane implications for the use of animals in laboratory research.

Vocal recognition of pups by mother Mexican free-tailed bats, Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana
JP Balcombe - Animal Behaviour, 1990 - Elsevier
The ability of Mexican free-tailed bat mothers and pups to recognize vocalizations of their presumptive kin (pup isolation calls and mother echolocation calls, respectively) was tested using playbacks of recorded calls. Captive individuals were presented with calls of two bats, one presumptive kin and the other a stranger, from opposite sides of a circular wire arena. Response was determined by amount of time spent on each side of the arena, time spent in contact with a cloth bat model in front of each speaker, and number of separate contacts with each model. For the latter two measures, mothers showed a significant preference for the calls of their presumptive pups. Pups were attracted to adult echolocation calls, but did not show preference for calls of different mothers. The ages of pups appears to have had no effect on the responsiveness of either pups or mothers to the playbacks. This study demonstrates vocal kin recognition by mothers, and suggests an important role for acoustic cues in mother-pup reunions in this species. The findings do not preclude the possibility that vocal recognition of mothers by pups also occurs.

Vocal recognition in Mexican free-tailed bats: Do pups recognize mothers?
JP Balcombe, Gary F. McCracken - Animal Behaviour, 1992 - Elsevier
Mother Mexican free-tailed bats, Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana, produce ‘directive’ calls while searching for pups inside cave maternity roosts. These calls consist of highly repetitive pulses of sound uttered in rapid sequence. Calls are sufficiently intense that they are perceptible above the substantial background noise within roosts at distances of at least 1 m. Calls are stereotyped within individuals, and statistically discriminable between individuals. These characteristics are expected for vocalizations that function for mother—pup reunions, and are shared with directive calls described previously in other bats. Mother T. b. mexicana directive calls are statistically no less discriminable than are the isolation calls of pups. Playback experiments, using recordings made inside the cave colony, show that pups perceive directive calls and are strongly attracted to them.

Eavesdropping by bats: the influence of echolocation call design and foraging strategy
JP Balcombe, M. Brock Fenton - Ethology, 1988 - Wiley Online Library
We used playback presentations to free-flying bats of 3 species to assess the influence of echolocation call design and foraging strategy on the role of echolocation calls in communication. Near feeding sites over water, Myotis lucifugus and M. yumanensis responded positively only to echolocation calls of conspecifics. Near roosts, these bats did not respond before young of the year became volant, and after this responded to presentations of echolocation calls of similar and dissimilar design. At feeding sites Lasiurus borealis responded only to echolocation calls of conspecifics and particularly to “feeding buzzes”. While Myotis, particularly subadults, appear to use the echolocation calls of conspecifics to locate feeding sites, L. borealis appears to use the calls of a foraging neighbour attacking prey to identify opportunities for ‘stealing’ food.

Student/teacher conflict regarding animal dissection
J Balcombe - The American Biology Teacher, 1997 - JSTOR
IN 1993, a medical student at the University of Colorado was compelled to transfer to another university when she failed a course for refusing to participate in a required laboratory exercise that involved performing lethal procedures on anesthetized dogs.

Animal carcinogenicity studies: 1. Poor human predictivity (pdf)
Andrew Knight, Jarrod Bailey and Jonathan Balcombe
The regulation of human exposure to potentially carcinogenic chemicals constitutes society’s most important use of animal carcinogenicity data. Environmental contaminants of greatest concern within the USA are listed in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) chemicals database. However, of the 160 IRIS chemicals lacking even limited human exposure data but possessing animal data that had received a human carcinogenicity assessment by 1 January 2004, we found that in most cases (58.1%; 93/160), the EPA considered animal carcinogenicity data inadequate to support a classification of probable human carcinogen or non-carcinogen. For the 128 chemicals with human or animal data also assessed by the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), human carcinogenicity classifications were compatible with EPA classifications only for those 17 having at least limited human data (p = 0.5896). For those 111 primarily reliant on animal data, the EPA was much more likely than the IARC to assign carcinogenicity classifications indicative of greater human risk (p < 0.0001). The IARC is a leading international authority on carcinogenicity assessments, and its significantly different human carcinogenicity classifications of identical chemicals indicate that: 1) in the absence of significant human data, the EPA is over-reliant on animal carcinogenicity data; 2) as a result, the EPA tends to over-predict carcinogenic risk; and 3) the true predictivity for human carcinogenicity of animal data is even poorer than is indicated by EPA figures alone. The EPA policy of erroneously assuming that tumours in animals are indicative of human carcinogenicity is implicated as a primary cause of these errors.

The future of teratology research is in vitro
Bailey, Jarrod; Knight, Andrew; Balcombe, Jonathan
Birth defects induced by maternal exposure to exogenous agents during pregnancy are preventable, if the agents themselves can be identified and avoided. Billions of dollars and manhours have been dedicated to animal-based discovery and characterisation methods over decades. We show here, via a comprehensive systematic review and analysis of this data, that these methods constitute questionable science and pose a hazard to humans. (get pdf)

Animal carcinogenicity studies: 2. Obstacles to extrapolation of data to humans (pdf)
Andrew Knight, Jarrod Bailey and Jonathan Balcombe
Due to limited human exposure data, risk classification and the consequent regulation of exposure to potential carcinogens has conventionally relied mainly upon animal tests. However, several investigations have revealed animal carcinogenicity data to be lacking in human predictivity. To investigate the reasons for this, we surveyed 160 chemicals possessing animal but not human exposure data within the US Environmental Protection Agency chemicals database, but which had received human carcinogenicity assessments by 1 January 2004. We discovered the use of a wide variety of species, with rodents predominating, and of a wide variety of routes of administration, and that there were effects on a particularly wide variety of organ systems. The likely causes of the poor human predictivity of rodent carcinogenicity bioassays include: 1) the profound discordance of bioassay results between rodent species, strains and genders, and further, between rodents and human beings; 2) the variable, yet substantial, stresses caused by handling and restraint, and the stressful routes of administration common to carcinogenicity bioassays, and their effects on hormonal regulation, immune status and predisposition to carcinogenesis; differences in rates of absorption and transport mechanisms between test routes of administration and other important human routes of exposure; 4) the considerable variability of organ systems in response to carcinogenic insults, both between and within species; and 5) the predisposition of chronic high dose bioassays toward false positive results, due to the overwhelming of physiological defences, and the unnat- ural elevation of cell division rates during ad libitum feeding studies. Such factors render profoundly difficult any attempts to accurately extrapolate human carcinogenic hazards from animal data.

Alternatives to the use of animals in higher education (pdf)
Jan van der Valk, David Dewhurst, Ian Hughes, Jeffrey Atkinson, Jonathan Balcombe, Hans Braun, Karin Gabrielson, Franz Gruber, Jeremy Miles, Jan Nab, Jason Nardi, Henk van Wilgenburg, Ursula Zinko and Joanne Zurlo
This is the report of the thirty-third of a series of workshops organised by the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM). ECVAM’s main goal, as defined in 1993 by its Scientific Advisory Committee, is to promote the scientific and regulatory acceptance of alternative methods which are of importance to the biosciences and which reduce, refine or replace the use of laboratory animals.

Dissection: The scientific case for alternatives
J Balcombe - Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 2001 - Taylor & Francis
This article presents the scientific argument that learning methods that replace traditional nonhuman animal-consumptive methods in life science education-so-called alternatives to dissection-are pedagogically sound and probably superior to dissection. This article focuses on the pedagogy, a learning method’s effectiveness for conveying knowledge.

Animal carcinogenicity studies: 3. alternatives to the bioassay (pdf)
Andrew Knight, Jarrod Bailey and Jonathan Balcombe
Conventional animal carcinogenicity tests take around three years to design, conduct and interpret. Consequently, only a tiny fraction of the thousands of industrial chemicals currently in use have been tested for carcinogenicity. Despite the costs of hundreds of millions of dollars and millions of skilled personnel hours, as well as millions of animal lives, several investigations have revealed that animal carcinogenicity data lack human specificity (i.e. the ability to identify human non-carcinogens), which severely limits the human predictivity of the bioassay. This is due to the scientific inadequacies of many carcinogenicity bioassays, and numerous serious biological obstacles, which render profoundly difficult any attempts to accurately extrapolate animal data in order to predict carcinogenic hazards to humans. Proposed modifications to the conventional bioassays have included the elimination of mice as a second species, and the use of genetically-altered or neonatal mice, decreased study durations, initiation–promotion models, the greater incorporation of toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic assessments, structure-activity relationship (computerised) systems, in vitro assays, cDNA microarrays for detecting changes in gene expression, limited human clinical trials, and epidemiological research. The potential advantages of non- animal assays when compared to bioassays include the superior human specificity of the results, substantially reduced time-frames, and greatly reduced demands on financial, personnel and animal resources. Inexplicably, however, the regulatory agencies have been frustratingly slow to adopt alternative protocols. In order to decrease the enormous cost of cancer to society, a substantial redirection of resources away from excessively slow and resource-intensive rodent bioassays, into the further development and implementation of non-animal assays, is both strongly justified and urgently required.

Non-breeder asymmetry in Florida scrub jays
JP Balcombe - Evolutionary Ecology, 1989 - Springer
The data of Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick (1984) show a statistically significant asymmetry in the sex ratio of non-breeders when one of the breeders is not the non-breeder’s parent. I propose that the asymmetry is attributable to a combination of two factors acting on non-breeders: the value of inheriting a territory, and incest avoidance. Although natal territories are only occasionally inherited by non-breeders, and then apparently only by males, therate of inheritance is significantly higher for parent/step-parent breeders (n=6) than when both breeders are the non-breeder’s parents (n=1). An alternative hypothesis, that stepparents determine the non-breeder asymmetry by ousting potential rivals, might also explain the data, but evidence is currently lacking.

Animal pleasure and its moral significance
J Balcombe - Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2009 - Elsevier
This paper presents arguments for, and evidence in support of, the important role of pleasure in animals’ lives, and outlines its considerable significance to humankind’s relationship to other animals. In the realms of animal sentience, almost all scholarly discussion revolves around its negative aspects: pain, stress, distress, and suffering. By contrast, the positive aspects of sentience – rewards and pleasures – have been rarely broached by scientists. Yet, evolutionary principles predict that animals, like humans, are motivated to seek rewards, and not merely to avoid pain and suffering. Natural selection favours behaviours that enhance survival and procreation. In the conscious, sentient animal, the drives to secure food, shelter, social contact, and mates are motivated by desire (appetitive behaviour) and reinforced by pleasure (consummative behaviour). This is reflected in animals’ behaviour in the realms of play, food, sex, and touch. Despite the heuristic value of interpreting animal behaviour through the proximate (experiential) lens, scholarly study of animals remains entrenched almost exclusively in the ultimate (evolutionary) sphere. Not just science but also ethics suffer for this, for when we see animals as only the products of a competitive struggle for survival, we risk overlooking the positive qualities of their lives. Pleasure has moral import for such practices as factory farming and laboratory research, for it amplifies the moral burden of depriving animals the opportunity to lead fulfilling, enjoyable lives.

Animals Society Courses: A Growing Trend in Post-Secondary Education
J Balcombe - Society and Animals, 1999 - ingentaconnect.com
A survey of college courses addressing nonhuman animal ethics and welfare issues indicates that the presence of such courses has increased greatly since a prior survey was done in 1983. This paper provides titles and affiliations of 67 of 89 courses from the current survey. These courses represent 15 academic fields, and a majority are entirely devoted to animal issues. The fields of animal science and philosophy are proportionally well represented compared with biology and wildlife-related fields. An estimated 5000 or more North American students are now receiving instruction in these issues each year. While the availability of courses in animal issues is still sporadic, it is unprecedentedly high and seen as an important component of changing social values toward nonhuman animals.

Animal carcinogenicity studies: implications for the REACH system (pdf)
Andrew Knight, Jarrod Bailey and Jonathan Balcombe
The 2001 European Commission proposal for the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) aims to improve public and environmental health by assessing the toxicity of, and restricting exposure to, potentially toxic chemicals. The greatest benefits are expected to accrue from decreased cancer incidences. Hence the accurate identification of chemical carcinogens must be a top priority for the REACH system. Due to a paucity of human clinical data, the identification of potential human carcinogens has conventionally relied on animal tests. However, our survey of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) toxic chemicals database revealed that, for a majority of the chemicals of greatest public health concern (93/160, i.e. 58.1%), the EPA found animal carcinogenicity data to be inadequate to support classifications of probable human carcinogen or non-carcinogen. A wide variety of species were used, with rodents predominating; a wide variety of routes of administration were used; and a particularly wide variety of organ systems were affected. These factors raise serious biological obstacles that render accurate extrapolation to humans profoundly difficult. Furthermore, significantly different International Agency for Research on Cancer assessments of identical chemicals, indicate that the true human predictivity of animal carcinogenicity data is even poorer than is indicated by the EPA figures alone. Consequently, we propose the replacement of animal carcinogenicity bioassays with a tiered combination of non-animal assays, which can be expected to yield a weight-of-evidence characterisation of carcinogenic risk with superior human predictivity. Additional advantages include substantial savings of financial, human and animal resources, and potentially greater insights into mechanisms of carcinogenicity.

Which drugs cause cancer? For and against: Cancer bioassays
Andrew Knight, Jarrod Bailey, Jonathan Balcombe
FOR Despite President Nixon’s War on Cancer, launched in 1971, and billions of dollars spent since then, cancer remains the second-leading killer of Americans. Around 40% of us will get cancer, and half of us will die from it. 1 This cease-less tide of human suffering …

Medical training using simulation: Toward fewer animals and safer patients (pdf)
J Balcombe - ATLA-NOTTINGHAM-, 2004 - Citeseer
This paper presents the current status of computer-based simulation in medicine. Recent technological advances have enabled this field to emerge from esoteric explorations in academic laboratories to commercially available simulators designed to train users to perform medical procedures from start to finish. Today, more than a dozen companies are producing virtual reality simulators and interactive manikins for training in endoscopy, laparoscopy, anaesthesia, trauma management, angiography, and needle insertion. For many of these procedures, thousands of animals are still being used in training. Yet simulation has many advantages that can transcend scientific, ethical, economic and logistical problems that arise when using animals. The first validation studies of medical simulators began appearing in the late 1990s, and the early results indicate that these devices measure what they are intended to, and that they can improve performance relative to traditional learning methods. In addition to expanded use for new and existing minimally invasive procedures, medical simulators began appearing in the late 1990s, and the early results indicate that these devices measure what they are intended to, and that they can improve performance relative to traditional learning methods. In addition to expanded use for new and existing minimally invasive procedures, medical simulators will probably soon be used in physician credentialing, and they may someday allow surgeons to rehearse procedures in a patient-specific operating environment. Replacing animals with simulators in medical training is limited no longer by technical feasibility but by a willingness of the medical community to embrace it.

Laboratory rodent welfare: Thinking outside the cage
J Balcombe - Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 2009 - Taylor & Francis
This commentary presents the case against housing rats and mice in laboratory cages; the commentary bases its case on their sentience, natural history, and the varied detriments of laboratory conditions. The commentary gives 5 arguments to support this position: (a) rats and mice have a high degree of sentience and can suffer, (b) laboratory environments cause suffering, (c) rats and mice in the wild have discrete behavioral needs, (d) rats and mice bred for many generations in the laboratory retain these needs, and (e) these needs are not met in laboratory cages.

Verbal Vivisection
J Balcombe - Organization & environment, 2000 - oae.sagepub.com
This commentary revisits and provides some further analysis on Dunayer’s critique of language use by the animal research community. Without question, such language is often used to distort and soften certain harsh realities of vivisection. The commentator elaborates on the terms consent, sacrifice, euthanasia, and vivisection and reflects on the particular challenges faced by any writer who sets out to assail the use of language by another interest group. For in doing so, the writer risks falling into the same traps of manipulative or prejudicial language that are being denounced. Dunayer is not immune to this, but she raises some valid and provocative points along the way.

Animal Dissection
J Balcombe - 1998 - eric.ed.gov
Killing animals for classroom dissection causes animal suffering, cheapens the value of life, and depletes wild animal populations, yet it remains commonplace. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) addresses the issue in this information packet which includes a fact sheet and three resource lists “on Dissection.” The fact sheet discusses the numbers of animals killed for dissection in schools, kinds of animals used, sources of animals, industry methods, lack of industry oversight, student feelings, legislation, available alternatives, educational pros and cons, and suggestions for student action. An annotated list of studies on attitudes toward dissection includes 13 studies of student attitudes from elementary school through medical school. A second annotated bibliography addresses comparative studies of dissection and other animal uses in education. These studies include comparisons of student performance between groups performing dissection and those learning using models, computer simulation, lecture, or sequential slides. The studies also review field-based animal research as opposed to laboratory-based studies of animal behavior.

Intelligent, social rat can find joy in a hostile world
J Balcombe - Nature, 2005 - nature.com
One has to admire the guile and tenacity of the lone rat described by James Russell and colleagues (“Intercepting the first rat ashore”, Nature 437, 1107; 2005). This rat lived for ten weeks on a small, booby-trapped island, visited by trained rat-killing dogs, before swimming a quarter of a mile to a neighbouring island, where he survived a further two months of concerted efforts to eliminate him.

EuroNICHE 10th Anniversary Conference
J Balcombe - Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 1998 - Taylor & Francis
The European Network of Individuals and Campaigns for Humane Education (EuroNICHE) held its 10th conference November 28 through 30 in Hoek van Holland, The Netherlands. EuroNICHE describes itself as" an international network of students, teachers, and other …

Laboratory animals deserve better legal protection
J Balcombe - Nature Medicine, 2008 - nature.com
Given that she is head of the National Association for Biomedical Research, Frankie Trull’s professed concern for animal welfare in her interview is disingenuous considering her organization’s history of campaigning to ensure that rats, mice and birds be excluded from Animal Welfare Act (AWA) protections. The idea that these animals are not worthy of AWA coverage is unscientific and unethical. Rats and mice, in particular, continue to be exposed to such torments as inescapable electric shocks and force-feedings. Are these really what anyone would consider “the most humane conditions”?

Dissection: The Scientiﬁc Case for Alternatives (pdf)
J Balcombe - 2001 - my.psychologytoday.com
This article presents the scientiﬁc argument that leaming methods that replace tradi-tional nonhuman animal-consumptive methods in life science education——so-called alternatives to dissection-are pedagogically sound and probably superior to dissection.

ECVAM Workshop on Alternatives to the Use of Animals in Higher Education
J Balcombe - Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 1999 - Taylor & Francis
The movement for alternatives to the use of animals in laboratories has focused primarily on testing and research and relatively little on education, yet educational use of animals is substantial-numbering annually many millions of animals worldwide. The potential for …

Humane Science Projects: Suggestions for Biology Studies
Balcombe, Jonathan P., Comp.
This paper lists 35 studies in biology which can be tailored to suit the full range of student age groups and are designed to involve most or all of the key elements of the scientific process (study design, data collection and presentation, and experimental manipulation). Examples of some studies are: (1) study the growth of molds on food items under different growing conditions; vary foods and growing conditions; (2) study absenteeism in school; relate to colds, flu, other illnesses; (3) visit a local pond where bats forage at dusk; time of arrival of the bats on different nights and compare with time of year; estimate insect abundance by counting sudden changes of flight direction; and (4) conduct a behavioral study of your companion animal(s) at home: e.g., to what sounds do they respond; compare response to different vocal inflections; examine play behavior, etc. (get pdf)

Toward Genuine Rodent Welfare: Response to Reviewer Comments
J Balcombe - Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 2009 - Taylor & Francis
I’m grateful to the editors for soliciting critiques of my commentary and for the opportunity to respond. Because one of the respondents (Patterson-Kane, 2010 12. Patterson-Kane, E. 2010/this issue. Thinking outside of our cages. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science …

Self-Harm in Laboratory-Housed Primates: Where Is the Evidence That the Animal Welfare Act Amendment Has Worked?
J Balcombe, H Ferdowsian,D Durham - Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 2011 - Taylor & Francis
The 1985 amendment to the United States Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to promote psychological well being of primates in the laboratory represents an acknowledgment of an important welfare problem concerning nonhuman animals. How effective has this amendment been? Perhaps the best-known contributor to psychological distress in primates in the laboratory is nonsocial housing; yet, available analyses suggest that little progress has been made in avoiding single-caging of these animals. Another way to assess psychological well being is to examine rates of self-abusive behavior in laboratory primates. If the AWA has been effective, then post-AWA self-harm rates might be lower than pre-AWA rates. However, when we attempted to determine those rates from published studies, data were too sparse to allow a rigorous statistical analysis; of 139 studies reporting primate self-harming behavior, only 9 contained data allowing estimation of self-harming behavior rates. We conclude that the current system of laboratory animal care and record keeping is inadequate to properly assess AWA impacts on primate psychological well being and that more is required to ensure the psychological well being of primates.

Michael Greger

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 09:59:14 -0800

Dr. Michael Greger is a major catalyst for the vegan movement!

Michael Greger, M.D. FACLM, is a physician, author, and internationally recognized speaker on a number of important public health issues. All proceeds from his speaking engagements and the sale of his books and DVDs are donated to charity. His 501(c)3 nonprofit NutritionFacts.org is the first science-based, non-commercial website to provide free daily videos and articles on the latest discoveries in nutrition.

Go to Dr. Greger’s site and also visit his NutritionFacts.org which is one of the best resources on the internet!

Archlinux

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 01:33:12 -0800

This is our distribution of choice for many years! It works well, uses a rolling release update and has an very helpful community!

You’ve reached the website for Arch Linux, a lightweight and flexible Linux® distribution that tries to Keep It Simple.

Currently we have official packages optimized for the x86-64 architecture. We complement our official package sets with a community-operated package repository that grows in size and quality each and every day.

Our strong community is diverse and helpful, and we pride ourselves on the range of skillsets and uses for Arch that stem from it. Please check out our forums and mailing lists to get your feet wet. Also glance through our wiki if you want to learn more about Arch.

Go to archlinux.org

Disruptive Technologies

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 19:51:46 -0800

We present various aspects of technology that will disrupt the status quo. Last Updated: <2022-02-28 Mon>

Introduction

This is the disruptive technology (distec) collection that we have been investigating since the end of March 2021.

We came across distec after a presentation on Beyond Animal by James Arbib of Rethinkx and were very impressed not only by the concept, but also by what is inevitably on the way. One of the main benefits of distec is to annihilate existing industries that are detrimental to lifeforms and environment. Many of the presenters in the videos section talk not only about the technology, but also about the importance of the ethical result.

We have long maintained that the achievement of animal rights (which is the fundamental ethic that present day science can determine via sentience criteria), will occur as a result of two forces, legal and business. The latter is happening through distec.

This page will be updated as we study this venture and examine investment opportunities.

RethinkX

“RethinkX is an independent think tank that analyzes and forecasts the speed and scale of technology-driven disruption and its implications across society. We produce impartial, data-driven analyses that identify pivotal choices to be made by investors, business, policy and civic leaders.”

their mission is to “facilitate a robust global conversation about the threats and opportunities of technology-driven disruptions, and highlight choices that could lead to a more equitable, healthy, resilient and stable society.”

the site is primarily sectioned into

About

About rethinkx

an independent think tank that analyzes and forecasts the speed and scale of technology-driven disruption and its implications across society

Meet the team

Tony Seba, Founder is a world-renowned thought leader, Silicon Valley entrepreneur, educator and author
James Arbib, Founder is a London-based investor in technology
Uzair Niazi, Founding Director has over 20 years of high-tech industry experience leading product development teams across the globe
Adam Dorr, Research Fellow is an environmental social scientist and technology theorist
Bradd Libby, Research Fellow responsible for our complex systems analysis and modelling
Taylor Hinds, Research Associate provides support on various projects, with a special focus on disruption within the agriculture sector
Richard Anderson, Editorial Adviser a journalist and editor for more than 20 years

Getting it right

The Seba Technology Disruption Framework takes a systems approach to analyze the market forces triggered by technology convergence, business model innovation, product innovation, and exponential improvements in both cost and capabilities. It captures the complex processes that drive a pattern of rapid, non- linear change.

Blog

The Impact of Covid-19 on Food – Part 1: The Collapse of the Old
The Impact of Covid-19 on Food – Part 2: The Rise of the New
The power of disruption: Winners take it all
Precision fermentation is nothing new and it’s here to stay
Precision Fermentation: What exactly is it?
Precision Fermentation and the Disruption of the Palm Oil Industry
Take a Byte! Food-as-Software
Precision Regulation – Policy as a key shaper of the new food system
The Social License
Why would you build a million-mile car?
and more …

Reports

LCOE levelized cost of electricity

is a measure of the average net present cost of electricity generation for a plant over its lifetime
represents the average revenue per unit of electricity generated that would be required to recover the costs of building and operating a generating plant during an assumed financial life and duty cycle

LCOE is (sum of costs) / (sum of energy produced) calculated as follows:

$$ LCOE = \frac {\sum_{t=1}^{n} \frac{I_t+M_t+F_t}{(1+r)^t}} {\sum_{t=1}^{n} \frac{E_t}{(1+r)^t}} $$

Symbol	Explanation
$@I_t$@	investment expenditures in the year t
$@M_t$@	operations and maintenance expenditures in the year t
$@F_t$@	fuel expenditures in the year t
$@E_t$@	electrical energy generated in the year t
$@r$@	discount rate
$@n$@	expected lifetime of system or power station

The Great Stranding

How Inaccurate Mainstream LCOE Estimates are Creating a Trillion-Dollar Bubble in Conventional Energy Assets.

Executive Summary

A large and rapidly-expanding global financial bubble now exists around conventional coal, gas, nuclear, and hydro power energy assets. This bubble has in part been created by mainstream energy analyses that have, for the last decade, significantly underestimated the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) from conventional power plants because they assume these plants will be able to successfully sell the same quantity of electricity each year from now through 2040 and beyond. This assumption has been false for at least ten years.
- rates at which conventional power plants are utilized will continue to decrease
- conventional energy asset valuations are heavily overstated
- critical error: they assume high and constant capacity factor for 20y lifetime
- sources that commit this error include …
- capacity factor in conventional energy has been dropping since at least 2010
- false assumptions have made conventional energy assets appear more attractive than they actually are
- financial bubble is investment in an asset class above what the fundamental value can return
- SWB will drive capacity factor of coal, gas, nuclear, and hydro power plants toward zero
Our analysis has a number of important implications for energy and finance, as well as for society and the environment at large.
Rethinking LCOE through lens of disruption

Underestimation of coal, gas, and nuclear power plant LCOE strongly biases cost comparisons with SWB and other technologies in favor of these incumbents … calculation of LCOE itself presumes that a power plant will obtain sufficient revenues and cashflows to cover costs

In competitive markets, neither the assumption that capacity factor will remain high and constant nor the assumption that electricity can be successfully sold at higher prices holds true.
- coal
  - size of the coal fleet has shrunk dramatically over the last decade in both the United States (47% decline) and the United Kingdom (79% decline)
  - there’s not a single regulated coal power plant that is competitive in the U.S. today
  - historical data show high and constant capacity factor has been invalid for over a decade
  - coal index fell 99% since 2011 and was discontinued by S&P Global
  - coal cost/kwh forecast are unfeasible compared to SWB
  - corrected LCOE for coal power is far higher than reported
  - by 2030, the LCOE of a new coal power plant is nearly 9 times greater than the U.S. EIA Reference Case assumption
- gas
  - U.S. EIA has assumed a constant capacity factor of 87% for the entire 20-year technical life of new gas power plants causing LCOE to be artificially lowered
  - corrected LCOE of new builds rises as average capacity factor continues to decline
- nuclear
  - LCOE of nuclear is much higher than mainstream analysts claim, when costs such as decommissioning and full insurance costs are accounted
  - nuclear power plants entering service in 2020 have an LCOE of 22.5 cents per kilowatt-hour – 175% greater the U.S. EIA’s current estimate of 8.2 cents per kilowatt-hour
- hydro
  - analysts assume a constant capacity factor throughout the lifetime of any newly-built facility
  - corrected LCOE of a new hydro power plant is nearly 10 times greater than the U.S. EIA Reference Case assumption
all scenarios presented are for illustrative purposes, but more realistic outcomes is full disruption to collapse … so it’s gonna be worse than it looks!
Implications

analysis has a number of important implications for energy and finance, as well as for society and the environment at large:
- Conventional energy assets are severely mispriced due to false assumptions, creating a bubble
- Coal, gas, nuclear, and hydro power are no longer competitive, SWB will capture increasing share
- Solar and wind power reached cost parity and became cheaper sooner than expected (1/20th)
- SWB disruption will proceed faster than expected
- Coal and gas power plants with integrated CCS are overvalued creating false narratives
- Governments must protect people, not industries, from the financial risk
- Carbon neutrality can be achieved more quickly and cheaply than generally expected
serious choices to make knowing the above implications.
Choices

leaders should choose to reject conventional dogma and instead demand that all energy assets – from plants and refineries to pipelines and ports – adopt a dynamic and transparent LCOE model that more realistically reflects current as well as likely future market conditions and risks based on the reality of the SWB disruption.
- dynamic LCOE choices:
  - use a dynamic LCOE model in their cash flow calculations
  - assume new power plants begin operation with only the market capacity factor
  - power plant operational lifetimes should also reflect the disruption by SWB
  - accounting authorities should allow for faster depreciation schedules
- market LCOE choices:
  - Demand analysts calculate LCOE on the basis of realistic assumptions for capacity factor
  - Demand that conventional energy promoters calculate LCOE by realistic assumptions
  - Review asset valuations of existing holdings of conventional energy assets realistically
  - Lend to conventional energy asset owners on the basis of realistic LCOE calculations
  - Valuation of supply chain assets should take into account a realistic demand model
  - Government regulators should not enlist ratepayers to subsidize
  - Utilities be obligated to use shareholder capital in any new conventional energy investment
- savings LCOE choices:
  - Financial institutions should not use the public money to invest in conventional energy assets
  - Asset managers should not invest in conventional energy assets or their supply chains
  - Market openness/transparency/liquidity should be requisite conditions for pension investment
  - asset managers should not lend to conventional energy asset owners
not adopting the above choices could lead to disruption of societal existence as severe as the disruption awaiting conventional industries.
Death Spiral

The disruption of the electric power sector by solar, wind, and batteries (SWB) during the 2020s will unfold much more rapidly than mainstream forecasts.

SWB will enjoy a virtuous cycle of accelerating adoption while incumbent technologies enter a death spiral.

the virtuous cycle for SWB
- falling costs, which increases demand
- demand drives industry growth, attracts investment, increases government support, leading to an expansion of supply
- supply expansion improves capabilities, lower costs further, increases acceptance and more demand
new technologies also bring social and environmental benefits over a conventional coal, gas, and nuclear technologies.

the vicious cycle for conventional
- falling demand as they are progressively outcompeted by SWB
- less demand means less revenue, profit, investment, government support, and therefore less supply
- supply reduction result in rising costs and downward demand
The virtuous cycle enjoyed by SWB and the vicious cycle suffered by coal, gas, nuclear, and hydro power will feed into each other, because falling demand for the old and growing demand for the new serve to accelerate one another.

Rethinking Energy 2020-2030

100% Solar, Wind, and Batteries is Just the Beginning.

We are on the cusp of the fastest, deepest, most profound disruption of the energy sector in over a century. Like most disruptions, this one is being driven by the convergence of several key technologies whose costs and capabilities have been improving on consistent and predictable trajectories – namely, solar photovoltaic power, wind power, and lithium-ion battery energy storage. Our analysis shows that 100% clean electricity from the combination of solar, wind, and batteries (SWB) is both physically possible and economically affordable across the entire continental United States as well as the overwhelming majority of other populated regions of the world by 2030. Adoption of SWB is growing exponentially worldwide and disruption is now inevitable because by 2030 they will offer the cheapest electricity option for most regions. Coal, gas, and nuclear power assets will become stranded during the 2020s, and no new investment in these technologies is rational from this point forward.

Rethinking Food and Agriculture 2020-2030

The Second Domestication of Plants and Animals, the Disruption of the Cow, and the Collapse of Industrial Livestock Farming.

By 2030, the number of cows in the U.S. will have fallen by 50% and the cattle farming industry will be all but bankrupt. All other livestock industries will suffer a similar fate, while the knock-on effects for crop farmers and businesses throughout the value chain will be severe. Rethinking Food and Agriculture shows how the modern food disruption, made possible by rapid advances in precision biology and an entirely new model of production we call Food-as-Software, will have profound implications not just for the industrial agriculture industry, but for the wider economy, society, and the environment.

Rethinking Transportation 2020-2030

The Disruption of Transportation and the Collapse of the Internal-Combustion Vehicle and Oil Industries.

By 2030, within 10 years of regulatory approval of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs), 95 percent of U.S. passenger miles traveled will be served by on-demand autonomous electric vehicles owned by fleets, not individuals, in a new business model we call “transport-as-a-service” (TaaS). Rethinking Transportation shows how TaaS disruption will have enormous implications across the transportation and oil industries, decimating entire portions of their value chains, causing oil demand and prices to plummet, and destroying trillions in investor value — but also creating trillions in new business opportunities, consumer surplus and GDP growth.

Rethinking Humanity

During the 2020s, key technologies will converge to completely disrupt the five foundational sectors that underpin the global economy, and with them every major industry in the world today.

In information, energy, food, transportation, and materials, costs will fall by a 10x or more, while production processes an order of magnitude more efficient will use 90% fewer natural resources with 10x-100x less waste. The knock-on effects for society will be as profound as the extraordinary possibilities that emerge. For the first time in history, we could overcome poverty easily. Access to all our basic needs could become a fundamental human right. But this is just one future outcome. The alternative could see our civilization collapse into a new dark age. Which path we take depends on the choices we make, starting today. The stakes could not be higher.

Seba Technology Disruption Framework

RethinkX uses the Seba Technology Disruption Framework™ to help analyze and model the disruptions we study.

Developed by Tony Seba, this framework is the result of more than a dozen years of research and teaching on technology disruptions, business model innovation, finance and strategic marketing of high-tech products and innovations at Stanford Continuing Studies, and has been used to understand and anticipate disruptions in several industries.

notes:

illustrates the framework mechanism through diagrams
convergence of technologies -> exponential growth -> disruption

Resources

Guidance for Decision Makers and Investors

this is the action plan from rethink humanity

Policy Makers

a policy factsheet for autonomous, electric, on-demand vehicles
a policy primer for the coming transportation disruption

Businesses and Investors

factsheet on autonomous vehicles and end of individual car ownership
business and investor primer for coming transportation disruption

Videos

Various videos on youtube some of which relate to the reports.

Rethinking Energy 2020-2030: 100% Solar, Wind, and Batteries is Just the Beginning

The Great Stranding: How Inaccurate Mainstream LCOE Estimates are Creating a Trillion-Dollar Bubble

Rethinking Humanity: An extraordinary interview with American futurist Tony Seba of RethinkX

Spread The Sun A New Era: featuring Tony Seba RethinkX; Frédéric Storck CNR; Anis Jouni CEA-INES

The Great Collapse: Are YOU Prepared? Investing in Disruption Starts With Understanding It

Ark-Invest

Investment Solutions

area	arkF	arkG	arkK	arkQ	arkW	arkX	TOTALS
3D Printing			1	1		1	3
Aerial Drones				1		1	2
Ag Bio		1					1
Artificial Intelligence	1		1		1		3
Autonomous Technology				1	1		2
Autonomous Vehicles			1	1			2
Biotech		1					1
Cloud Computing					1		1
DNA Sequencing		1	1				2
Digital Media					1		1
Digital Wallets	1						1
ECommerce	1						1
Enabling Technology						1	1
Fintech	1		1				2
Gene Editing		1					1
Gene Therapy		1					1
IoT					1		1
Lending	1						1
MaaS				1			1
Mobile Payments	1				1		2
Molecular Diagnostics		1					1
Orbital(sub) Aerospace						2	2
Reusable Rockets						1	1
Risk Transformation	1						1
Robotics			1	1			2
Targeted Therapeutics		1					1

By Product Type

Why Innovation

Invest In The Future Today

Innovation should displace industry incumbents, increase efficiencies, and gain majority market share.
Innovation Must Meet Three Criteria
- Experience dramatic cost declines and unleash waves of incremental demand (wright’s law: $Y = a X^b$)
- Cut across sectors and geographies
- Serve as a platform for additional innovations
Major Innovation Platforms
- Artificial Intelligence
- Energy Storage
- Robotics
- DNA Sequencing
- Blockchain Technology

Take Advantage of Four Market Inefficiencies

The Market’s Short-Term Time Horizon
- long flat adoption curves
- performance declines before mass market acceptance
- accelerated growth results in winner take all
The Silo-ization of Wall Street
- cross-sector disruptive innovation themes to capitalize on the convergence of research
The Passive Public Markets
- innovative public companies with forward looking growth are most inefficiently priced part of market
The Closed-Off Research and Investment Mentality
- an Open Research Ecosystem that combines top-down and bottom-up research
thematic investment process
- top-down bottom-up
  1. insights between the portfolio manager, director of research, analysts, external sources
  2. analysts are organized by cross-sector innovation themes
  3. identify entry points for tech-enabled disruption
  4. creates investment briefs and valuation models
  5. proprietary scoring system to evaluate stocks
  6. company scores are discussed weekly
- scoring metrics
  1. company people culture
  2. execution
  3. moat
  4. product leadership
  5. valuation
  6. thesis risk

Make The World A Better Place

sustainable investing
sdg
how?
1. Next Generation Internet
2. DNA Sequencing
3. Fintech
4. Robotics & Autonomous Technology

About ARK

The ARK Difference

invest at the pace of innovation
1. Sole Focus on Disruptive Innovation
2. Experienced Investment Leadership
3. Thematic Analysts Organized by Innovation
4. Transparent and Open Research Ecosystem
5. Long-Term Investment Time Horizon

Investment Process

A. top-down

Ideation examines from the top-down how the world is changing and where it is headed
Sizing The Opportunity models cost-curves and calculates elasticity of demand to identify entry points

bottom-up
1. Stock Selection And Valuation valuation and revenue model for each company in the portfolio over the next five years
2. Portfolio And Risk Management monitors the underlying investment thesis of every company weekly
open research ecosystem collaborate within particular themes, as well as across themes
incorporates Sustainability Intrinsically investment philosophy and process inherently considers ESG principles that align with SDG

Our Team

Work at ARK

Press & Media

Board of Directors

Corporate Responsibility

ARK believes that innovation is key to growth and will make the world a better place. We seek to invest in companies aligned with this belief, but also to operate our own company in a way that enhances society. To succeed in this mission, ARK implements responsible corporate governance, fosters a diverse and inclusive workforce, and gives back to organizations that we believe are promoting good health and well-being, quality education, and gender equality.

ARK Swag Store

FAQ

Active Research Management
ARK researches across sectors, industries, and markets to gain a deeper understanding of the convergence and market potential of disruptive innovations.
ARK’s Open Research Ecosystem seeks to capitalize on rapid change through an open approach and the convergence of insights.
ARK actively engages with Theme Developers as part of our research ecosystem.
Thematic investing seeks to capitalize on long-term trends that cut across economic sectors and geographic boundaries.
While benchmarks reflect past successes, thematic investing seeks to capture future growth allowing investors to earn a market premium.
We research and invest in a wide range of companies, from mega caps to micro caps that we believe are going to contribute to and benefit from the rapidly changing market landscape.
ARK’s cross-sector portfolios aim to uncover disruptive innovation that impacts multiple industries.
As a result of extensive and iterative research steps, ARK anticipates and quantifies multi-year value-chain transformations and market opportunities.
ARK will sell a company if it believes that a disruptor has become disrupted itself, or that it is no longer on the leading edge of fast-moving industries or innovation.
In fast-moving themes, like those of our strategies, volatility is the foundation of opportunity and potentially higher returns.
ARK believes the companies it invests in will be prominent in such indices over a full market cycle
recognize the misunderstood nature of many companies’ fundamentals and look to identify companies that are leaders rather than the largest market capitalization company in a passive index
If a stock’s share price has fallen in the market due to short-term controversy, ARK tends to increase its position (providing the thesis is unchanged). If a stock is overhyped, ARK will trim the position to take profits.
ARK suggests a long-term investment horizon of a full investment cycle, or 7+ years.
artificial intelligence, DNA sequencing, robotics, energy storage, and blockchain technology are the innovation platforms leading the global economy into what could be the most transformative period in history

Research Center

Videos

Big Ideas 2022: Summit

Big Ideas 2021: Cathie Wood and Brett Winton

Ark Invest Big Ideas 2021: Cathie Wood Explains (Full Interview)

ARK: The five platforms of disruptive innovation (an excellent Cathie Wood interview)

Ticker Symbol: YOU

An exceptionally good channel by applied math grad Alex! He follows and explains the Ark-Invest moves which can help in making trading decisions.

Nanalyze

A website with articles on a wide range of disruptive technology topics and a focus on investing.

Some articles of administrative interest:

Investing in Emerging and Disruptive Technologies provides an indication of what to expect on the site
The Nanalyze Disruptive Tech Investing Methodology explains their picking process
Calculating Our Nanalyze Tech Stock Portfolio Performance shows their results from 1998 at 480%

Below are specific areas of investment (found in the disruptive technologies dropdown menu) that are of interest to us:

3D Printing

What is 3D Printing?

the construction of three-dimensional objects from Computer-Aided Design (CAD) models or other digital 3D design models

3D Printing Materials and Technology
- plastics, metals, ceramics, concrete, paper, and even certain kinds of foodstuffs
- stereolithography (SLA), Material jetting, powder bed fusion
3D Printing Metals
- many ways to go about 3D printing metal (eg joule printing)

The Industrial 3D Printer

focus areas have emerged in various industries

Healthcare

3D Printing and Dentistry
- straighten teeth at home
3D Printing Medical Devices
- instrumentation, implants, prostheses, drug delivery
3D Bioprinting
- print organs on demand

Manufacturing

largely found its place in prototyping for aerospace, shoes, eyeware, alternative proteins

On-Demand Manufacturing
- additive and subtractive for custom parts
3D Printing and Distributed Manufacturing
- printers are connected into a giant network

Buyer Beware

ignore the glossy investor decks and dig into the SEC filings to find all the broken promises made over the years
When 3D printing hit peak popularity in the investment community, the over-the-counter roaches started coming out of the woodwork

3D Printing Penny Stocks
- everyone should know to stay far clear of all over-the-counter (OTC) stocks and penny stocks
3D Printing Stocks That Need Revenues
- Perhaps some of the most blatant incompetency was seen on crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter. While companies like Formlabs ran successful crowdfunding campaigns to pre-sell their printers, most projects over-promised and under-delivered.

3D Printing Startups

Venture capitalists have been pouring money into 3D printing startups

Three 3D Printing Unicorns
- the most exciting are the mythical unicorns
- value based on a variety of factors, rarity being one

3D Printing Stocks and ETFs

there is no designated industry classification for 3D printing stocks
investigate each company that claims to be involved in 3D printing to make sure they’re not a 3D printing pretender
If you invested in 3D printing stocks at peak hype, you would have lost a lot of money

Artificial Intelligence

artificial intelligence is an emerging technology with the potential to transform every company in every industry in just about every way you can imagine

What is Artificial Intelligence?

see An Artificial Intelligence Definition for Beginners

AI Chips
- specialized chips uses to train machine algorithms (training chips) and then the chips they run on in production (inference chips)
- industry is now moving towards chips that are highly customized with software that’s been optimized for specific tasks
Not Everything is Artificial Intelligence
- these stocks have come down to earth making everyone realize not everything is artificial intelligence
- even if you are using artificial intelligence, your company can still underperform the stock market
Artificial Intelligence and Transparency
- they’ve now decided that artificial intelligence tells the truth too much, and should be silenced
- kowtow to their demands under the guise of representing some class of people
- Always look at what’s motivating people who call for AI transparency

How Does Artificial Intelligence Use Big Data?

What proprietary data sets are you using to train your algorithms with such that you’ll be able to realize a competitive advantage?

Big Data vs. Data Warehouses
- big data lets us find “the unknown unknowns” things we didn’t even think of to start measuring
Unstructured Data and Data Privacy
- Everything that gets publicly posted on the Internet, anywhere, is unstructured data that’s probably being used right now by AI algorithms to glean some insights from.

Examples of Artificial Intelligence Use Cases

over 3,500 startups using artificial intelligence to do just about anything you can think of
Many artificial intelligence startups are seeing success by targeting large industry verticals

AI in Sales and Marketing
- you’re selling online or from a brick-and-mortar outlet, there are many ways AI can help
AI in Human Resources
- not big fans of human resources (HR) because they largely get in the way while trying to create more work for everyone
AI for Recruiting
- we speculated that competent tech startups will start to deliver effective AI solutions, and all these “boutique” recruitment firms (where the only qualification to start one is that you can fog a mirror) will start to lose out on all those exorbitant recruiting fees they were raking in to find tech people
- Any business that proposes we change this model and start rewarding people based on anything but competence needs to be condemned from the highest pulpit
AI for Cybersecurity
- cybersecurity is a high-growth sector which investors are pouring money into. That’s because hackers – 90% of whom are financially motivated – are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their attacks.
- AI is being used in many creative ways to thwart cybercrime. Speaking of creativity, AI can do that too.
AI Algorithms Get Artistic
- also being used for more creative applications
AI for Everything
- decided to deep dive into a few domains where artificial intelligence is excelling right now at solving big problems

Natural Language Processing and Speech Recognition

methods which AI algorithms use to understand human speech in written, verbal, and non-verbal forms
natural language processing includes everything from algorithms that write news articles to interpreting sign language for the deaf using computer vision
Investing in Natural Language Processing

Artificial Intelligence for Healthcare

industry which is being transformed the most by artificial intelligence right now is healthcare
Investing in AI Healthcare Companies and Stocks

Artificial Intelligence for Computer Vision

a field of research for designing machines with the ability to process, understand, and use visual data just as humans do (dominated by large chinese startups)
Investing in Computer Vision Companies and Stocks

Global Artificial Intelligence

there’s a global AI race taking place where every country is competing to build the best AI algorithms
The Global AI Race – Top AI Startups Around the World

Will AI Replace My Job?

probably

Robotic Process Automation or RPA
- robotic process automation (RPA) is when we teach machine learning algorithms how to do white-collar jobs that have a certain element of predictability to them

Investing in AI Stocks

The best question to ask a company that claims they’re “doing AI” is what proprietary datasets do they have to train their algorithms that nobody else has?
How to Invest in AI Stocks in 2021

Augmented and Virtual Reality

the promise of merging the digital with the real world in different aspects of our lives is a long way off from materializing
relative immaturity of the market means there are fewer opportunities for the retail investor

What is the Difference Between Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality?

Virtual reality is a completely digital environment that you are immersed in.
Augmented reality is where your view of reality is “augmented” with digital additions.
In mixed reality, digital objects appear within the natural world.

AR/VR Hardware

VR has labored to find a widespread consumer audience willing to invest in what is still a somewhat awkward technology with limited content
The smart money is generally headed into business solutions.

AR/VR Headsets
- There are a few recognizable names among the many augmented and mixed reality headset manufacturers.
AR/VR Headset Suppliers
- Not every player in the AR/VR headset space is a finished goods manufacturer.
AR/VR Hardware Accessories
- There are plenty of startups developing technology to help VR users feel with all five senses

VR Content

Content may be king, but virtual reality content hasn’t really risen far from jester status yet.
many item available though questionable at this stage

AR/VR for Enterprise Applications

while we’re waiting for AR/VR to catch on with consumers, the business world is quietly embracing the technology as a collaboration tool, especially with the ability to view and even manipulate data in three dimensions

Virtual Collaboration
- There’s nothing virtual about the payoff: Augmented reality businesses claim they can cut tasks like troubleshooting by more than half, often eliminating the cost of sending a technician on a site visit
Construction
- There are some pretty obvious VR applications across architecture, construction, and engineering. What better way to show someone how a space will look without the space actually being built?
- VR companies also hope to change the construction industry by offering skills training for construction workers
Healthcare
- The connection between AR/VR and healthcare may seem less obvious, but the business cases are at least as good as the ones we just discussed.
- the use cases for AR in healthcare are pretty robust
- wearables with some AR/VR-type tech are helping the blind to see using various vision-enhancement devices. In fact, technology for the blind could be worth billions, as the big R&D brains out there figure out ways to help the sightless see again
Retail
- For some, technology is only really valuable if it can help you sell stuff that people probably don’t need

Investing in AR/VR Stocks

Which, if any, of these companies should you target in your portfolio? Frankly, it’s a crapshoot, with the odds definitely in favor of the house.

Computing

When we talk about computing as an investment thesis, we need to think well beyond buying the picks and shovels.
a few examples of startups that are doing some very innovative things in the world of computing
there are lots of disruptive applications for computing that are left to be realized by ambitious entrepreneurs who are backed by visionary investors

Investing in Quantum Computing

What is Quantum Computing?
What Can We do With Quantum Computing?
Quantum Computing Companies
- Unfortunately for retail investors, largely all of the investing activities taking place for quantum computing are in privately held companies
- For retail investors, there’s one pure-play quantum computing stock worth taking a look at

Investing in 5G

What is 5G and Why is it Such a Big Deal?
- will enable autonomous cars to operate, connect trillions of devices and eventually turn your own handheld computer into a supercomputer, because all of the heavy processing can be done remotely
- everything on the planet will soon be connected to the cloud and the applications are limitless
5G Stocks

Investing in Cybersecurity

An entire industry has formed around those who want to do malicious things to earn a living
there are also many cybersecurity stocks for retail investors including ETFs

Authentication and Biometrics
- When it comes to authentication, there are many different methods that are appropriate for a variety of use cases.

Investing in Blockchain Technology

What is The Blockchain?
- blockchain is a ledger that records ownership and changes over time
Cryptocurrencies
- blockchain technology can be used to create currencies
Examples of Blockchain Use Cases
- The blockchain world is long on ideas and short on traction
- blockchain is the perfect solution for cross-border payments, and financial services applications in general
- enabling the world’s supply chains with blockchain to rid them of inefficiencies
Some Blockchain ETFs
- That’s because blockchain is far too new a technology for there to be many pure-play stocks for retail investors

Advances in Software Development

The companies that build the best software and wield the best datasets will have a sustainable competitive advantage which adds value over time
low-code or even no-code technologies that can turn just about anyone into a citizen developer
Eventually, we’ll build software so well that we won’t need customer support.

Investing in Disruptive Computing Stocks

The most exciting computing themes like quantum computing aren’t really investable yet for retail investors.
Various computing platforms will continue to service various use cases.

Fintech

Top fintech companies are enjoying success because they are solving pain points found in the traditional bank, a place where financial technology isn’t seen as a competitive differentiator.
Free trading seems to be the norm now, and they even have free trading for algo traders.
Some areas of fintech are more mature than others
motif, alpaca and others are interesting brokerages

Investing With Alternative Data

alternative data is often used by traders to generate alpha
For retail investors, there are ways to invest with fintechs that use alternative data to generate insights and increase returns across various alternative asset classes.

Investing in Alternative Asset Classes

things to invest in that may have been historically off-limits unless you were an ultra-high-net-worth individual

The Many Types of Fintech

Legaltech
- that search is to find the gems that can be used to sway a decision one way or another
- startups are finding that technology such as machine learning can come in handy for lawyers
Regtech
- RegTech is helping financial institutions make a healthier lunch
- Another area of regtech seeing lots of interest from investors is digital identity verification.
Insurtech
- accurately predict outcomes in order to make insurance policies profitable

The Biggest Fintech Company in the World

Ant Financial which has taken in $22 billion in funding and is now worth – at least the last time we checked – more than Goldman Sachs and Barclays combined, with a valuation of $150 billion

Fintech Investing and Stocks for Retail Investors

opportunities for retail investors aren’t so much in buying “fintech stocks” per se, but rather using the various fintech platforms to open up new avenues for investing in alternative asset classes, saving money using free personal finance apps

Venture Capital and Fintech
- some people have raised questions around how venture capital itself can be transformed
- For retail investors, you can buy shares of the world’s biggest startups on secondary markets
- For non accredited investors, there are some publicly traded venture capital firms.
Penny Stocks Suck
- There is one sure way to lose money investing in stocks, and that is by dabbling in penny stocks or what they call over-the-counter stocks.

Green Technology

What Are Green Technologies

The term “green technology” simply refers to ways in which we can use technology to make the world a better place.
It’s a global problem, and every country needs to address it differently.
Regardless of where you sit on climate change, we’re all better served if we clean up the planet.
The problems we need to solve with green technology also provide an opportunity for investors to make profits.

Renewable Energy Stocks and Companies

It’s not all about solar and wind power. Rain, tides, waves, geothermal heat, and biofuels, are all considered sustainable energy sources.

Water Technology and Desalination

Less than 1% of the earth’s water is freshwater, and even this amount is unevenly distributed across the planet.
one in ten people globally lack ready access to clean water
Urbanization also plays a big role in water scarcity with many large cities facing water stress.

Agtech Companies and Stocks

Most of us rely on a small percentage of the population who grow food for all the rest of us.
Since land is scarce, we’re having to come up with more creative ways to increase yields on the same footprint.

Agtech in New Zealand
- gross stuff on herd management completely missing the point of where things are going
Indoor Farming
- Attractive business models will provide vegetables at scale with price points at or under regular vegetable prices.
- From what we’ve seen so far, container farming is not economically viable.
Agtech Stocks
- We have only come across a few names that would be considered pure-plays on the agtech theme.

Food Technology Companies and Stocks

Food technology is when we start to play with producing food in ways we hadn’t thought of
most of the buzz in food tech is mainly around the whole fake meat boom

Lab-Grown Meat
- fake food which simply refers to the many types of foods that are now being produced which are supposed to resemble the organically produced thing

Investing in Electric Vehicles and EV Charging

Improved battery efficiencies, faster charging times, and an ever-expanding network of charging stations make electric cars appealing to a broader set of potential buyers. guide

Investing in Batteries and Grid Storage

The Growth of Lithium-Ion Batteries
- As battery technology improves, expect more things to be electrified.
- Another type of battery being developed by a number of companies is the solid-state battery which uses both solid electrodes and solid electrolytes, instead of the liquid or polymer electrolytes found in lithium-ion or lithium polymer batteries.
- Investors remain interested in lithium as an investment thesis
Grid Storage
- Grid-scale energy storage is about using batteries to store energy instead. We can’t just go around building reservoirs when we need them.
- A flow battery is a type of rechargeable battery in which large tanks of chemicals are used to create chemical energy which is then converted to electricity.
- the humble lead-acid battery that’s found in most motor vehicles is also being looked at for a renovation

Waste Management Stocks and Companies

It’s not just about recycling more plastic, it’s about improving the recycling process itself.
Industrial waste management is not just about plastics. Municipal solid waste (MSW) needs to get sorted first so that garbage plants can get to the recyclable part.

Investing in LED Technologies

LEDs can last up to 25 times longer than an ordinary incandescent bulb, and use 75% percent less energy to produce the same amount of light.
There’s still plenty of innovation still to be found from exciting startups

Penny Stocks, Stock Promoters, and Shills

When you see a stock soaring for no reason, go to the investment message boards like InvestorsHub and see if it’s being pumped by shills.
Whatever you do, don’t invest in any stock that doesn’t trade on a major exchange. That’s rule one.

Does Sustainable Investing Outperform?

Green-tech investing goes by a number of names such as sustainable investing, socially responsible investing (SRI), impact investing, environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing
Just make sure that your money is being put into companies that everyone agrees are sustainable, and make sure you understand what they consider sustainable to be.

Internet of Things

IoT which describes a world where everything is connected. That connectivity isn’t just everything talking to the cloud, it’s about machines talking to machines or (M2M).
We’d like to start with talking about industrial applications for IoT and the concept of a “digital twin.”

IoT Sensors and Digital Twins

a digital twin is when you create a digital representation of something like a machine on a factory floor or even the entire factory

The Emergence of Smart Cities

The smart city of tomorrow is one where IoT sensors and big data enable us to create better places for people to live

Smart Homes

A smart home is one that minimizes energy use and utility costs while providing a safe and secure location with all the conveniences you’d expect.

IoT Across Multiple Industries

new IoT-enabled medical devices that collect loads of data for AI algorithms to analyze
multiple startups pursue “Uber for trucking” business models
In the automotive industry, connected cars now talk to the cloud, and even each other
Using IoT sensor technology, we’re able to increase yields in agriculture and aquaculture.
IoT use cases abound in areas such as shoplifting prevention or “free wifi hotspot marketing.”

Investing in IoT Stocks

Given how thought leaders are predicting that IoT will transform nearly everything around us, you’re probably wanting to “invest in some IoT stocks.”
There is at least one ETF covering the IoT theme – The Global X Internet of Things ETF (SNSR)
investing in smart homes, you might consider Alarm.com (ALRM)
A few members of the ETF have exposure to IoT along with a number of other disruptive technologies.

IoT – The Threats

IoT is still having some growing pains as we wait for 5G to give us more bandwidth.
some understandable privacy concerns around IoT technology that haven’t gone unnoticed

Life Sciences

especially since this effort would end research using animals
a broad topic that encompasses around 30 different branches of study
Oftentimes we’ll find groups of startups trying to solve similar problems
Many of the problems being worked on involve cures that haven’t been developed yet, something we looked at in our “when will there be a cure” series.
we’ve tried to narrow it all down to six areas of focus

Genomics

Using genetic sequencing machines, scientists are not only able to read the recipes of life, they’re also able to edit them
Huge databases of DNA data are now being mined for insights, and scientists are even able to reconstruct composite images of criminals from crime scenes using DNA, something referred to as DNA phenotyping.
In the future, we’ll have a world where everyone is given personalized medicine tailored to their unique genetic makeup.

Investing in Genomics Stocks
- Illumina, a company that all but dominates the market for machines that perform gene sequencing
- Not all genomics stocks are leaders. There are plenty of laggards
- ARK Invest likes BNGO and that’s sent the stock soaring to the moon

Human Longevity

extending the human lifespan by rolling back the effects of aging
Venture capitalists are pouring money into dozens of startups tackling the aging problem in areas like regenerative medicine or young blood transfusions.

Medical Devices and Imaging

in the medical industry where connected medical devices allow doctors to monitor patients’ vital signs from afar

Medical Imaging
- some of the biggest advancements are being made in medical imaging where deep learning algorithms are used to interpret medical imagery
Telehealth
- The increasing sophistication of medical devices and medical imaging algorithms mean that doctors are more easily able to treat patients from afar.
Big Data in Healthcare
- Many data analytics businesses are emerging which use this data for predictive analytics or to identify inefficiencies in processes.

Brain-Computer Interfaces

A brain-computer interface might be the Holy Grail for human advancement.

The Drug Discovery Process

Plenty of companies are working on removing all the inefficiencies from the process.

Medical Testing

advancements in medical testing could prove to save lives and money

Cancer Genomics Testing
- It isn’t just about early detection, it’s also about finding the most effective cancer treatment and monitoring its progress.
- There are also companies developing cancer therapies that are fine-tuned to certain genomic profiles like personalized chemotherapy.
Genetics Testing
- There are now genetic tests for nearly everything, including genetics tests for pets.
- The evolution of genetics testing is now leading to new business models that try to adapt to the environment.

Other Life Sciences Themes

The Diabetes Opportunity
- fat asses abound because people drive up to windows to consume two days of calories in one seating – which they then wash down with a diet soda.
- The hard truth is that obesity is unhealthy and a contributing factor to a huge global problem – diabetes.
Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)
- It’s a test that makes sure your little bundle of joy doesn’t pop out with two heads, or be afflicted by any malady that would interfere with the perfect life you’ve planned for it.
Stem Cells
- These are useful for applications like regenerating body parts or figuring out what makes cancer cells replicate.

Things We Don’t Understand Very Well

It’s very difficult to understand some of these businesses without having a medical background, and if you need eight years of training to understand what a company does, it’s probably too complex for retail investors.

RNAi Therapeutics
- Instead of spending hours trying to understand how microRNA relates to RNAi, we’re staying away from drug development companies entirely.

Interesting Life Sciences Stocks

Given the breadth of technologies to be found under life sciences, we often take fleeting looks at companies that are doing cool things without necessarily doing any deep-dives or follow-ups.

Penny Stocks and OTC Stocks

Investing in any of these companies would have proved to be a total disaster. Of course, there are always some exceptions, but why try to walk through landmines to find them?

Conclusion

Because life sciences is such a broad category, you’ll find it peppered throughout all the twelve categories of disruptive technologies

Nanotechnology

What is Nanotechnology?

the study of anything that measures less than 100 nanometers

How Nanotechnology Has Evolved

Nanotechnology Penny Stocks
- In reading about companies that have failed, we can better understand how to find those that will succeed.
- We also found that the same companies that were promising us nanomaterial breakthroughs in 2004 were still making those same promises nine years later.
What Happened to Nanomaterials?
- we just can’t take companies seriously that continue to promise revenues and never deliver on them
- People quickly forgot about how the carbon nanotube was expected to change the world when it was replaced by another promising nanostructure called graphene.
- Graphene is a sheet of atoms that you can pick up.
- Researchers keep talking about all the great things they can do with quantum dots but commercialized applications seem far and few between.
- There is no shortage of interesting nanomaterials out there
- There are also applications for nano that can help heal the planet.
- There are a lot of exciting things happening in the world of nanotechnology, so let’s see how retail investors might be able to get some exposure to nano stocks.

Investing in Nanotechnology Stocks

Nanotechnology ETFs
- there are no nanotechnology ETFs right now
Nanotechnology Companies That Stagnated
- We’ve talked about how prolific nano penny stocks were, but we haven’t talked about more legitimate companies with revenues that haven’t been able to quite take off yet.
- break down the nanotechnology opportunity into three major themes: nanomaterials including graphene, nano-drug delivery, and synthetic biology including gene editing
Investing in Nanomaterials and Graphene
- What investors need to remember is that companies which use nanomaterials for a competitive advantage won’t necessarily be telling the world about it.
Investing in Synthetic Biology and Gene Editing
- the single most exciting disruptive technology there is, that would have to be synthetic biology
- Many futurist-minded people are thinking that soon we’ll just grow everything we need using tools like gene editing.

Investing in Nanomedicine

applications for nanotechnology in the healthcare sector are many

Investing in Nano Drug Delivery
- many drug companies actively use nanoparticles to deliver drugs more efficiently

Space

Will NewSpace, the term that describes the new era of commercial-driven space exploration, supernova into a trillion-dollar business?
Risk-averse investors will want to hold onto their money when it comes to the high-risk business of operating in space.

Investing in Global Internet

SpaceX appears poised to run away with the global internet race, as it sends thousands of satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO), as part of the Starlink constellation to provide billions of people with connectivity and cute cat videos
the smart money is that the impact of cheap satellites and launch platforms will give massive undertakings like the SpaceX Starlink constellation the edge

Investing in Satellite Companies

still pretty hard to get exposure to the “space theme” without ending up with a portfolio filled with either big tech stocks like Amazon or Google or a bunch of companies that make rockets aimed in the wrong direction
As much as 75% of the NewSpace industry is dominated by the satellite sector, which includes everything from manufacturing spacecraft to providing communications services.

Investing in Geospatial Intelligence from Satellites

sector of the satellite industry where we’re seeing both tremendous growth and potential is in geospatial intelligence
there are a few geospatial intelligence stocks out there
One of the biggest risks to the satellite industry is the satellite industry … New technologies for space debris removal will become extremely important

Rocket Companies Launch a New Space Race

we would expect a high rate of failure in this sector, as there’s still not enough business to justify the numerous rocket startups that have emerged
China is becoming a serious contender in space with new startups building rockets and satellites

Mining the Moon for Money

The moon is home to various precious metals and rare minerals that are integral to our technologies.

Investing in Space Tourism

Since then, there have been very few opportunities for the common man or woman to enjoy a romp in zero gravity
ISS has been floated as a possible tourist destination once the scientific mission there ends
there’s not much gold to mine in space just yet

Robotics

The first time the word “robot” was used was when Karel Capek introduced it in his 1920 hit play RUR

Why Is Robotics Important?

Robotics is becoming increasingly important because the companies using them are gaining a competitive advantage.

Where is Robotic Technology Today?

Robotics applications are growing in popularity because of technologies like machine learning that help the robots work more like humans, perhaps handling unexpected exceptions without just ceasing to operate.

Drone Stocks and Companies

Drones are usually categorized into military, commercial, and consumer segments which neatly cover most of the current use cases.

Drone Delivery
- The jury is still out on what type of drone delivery model will be adopted at scale, if any. For retail investors, we haven’t seen any pure-play opportunities to invest in drone delivery.
Industrial Drones
- industrial drones are another use case under the “commercial” category
  - industrial inspection
  - aerial information
  - reconnaissance, search and rescue
  - warehouse management
Military and Security Drones
- The military use of drones is growing at an unprecedented rate in the U.S.
- The other opportunity is security drones for civilian use cases such as replacing rent-a-cops.
- round-the-clock surveillance means that battery swapping needs to take place
Consumer Drones and Other Types of Drones
- Crowdfunding seems to be the funding method of choice for manufacturers of small, low-cost UAVs.
Where Are the Drone Stocks?
- Pure-play drone stocks are hard to come by.
- Plenty of drone startups failed too.
- The drone market remains in private hands for now

Investing in Autonomous Vehicles

Levels of Autonomy
- Autonomous vehicles (or driverless cars) are an overlap of a number of disruptive technologies.
- 5 levels
What do Autonomous Vehicles Need to Work?
- autonomous cars need uniquely tailored perception systems LiDAR
- High-definition maps, that are precise to a centimeter, are required to navigate any environment safely.
- vehicle’s artificial intelligence algorithms need to react correctly to any situation
Autonomous Trucking
- the industry created its own little startup ecosystem with companies developing applications for fuel efficiency, fleet management, and kits that can upgrade any truck to a self-driving vehicle
Autonomous Vehicles That Aren’t Cars
- Autonomous boats promise to navigate more economically and efficiently than humans do now.
- large corporations like IBM are working on autonomous shipping
- autonomous heavy construction equipment with conversion kits for excavators, bulldozers, and skid steers
- Autonomous planes are also in the making
- Autonomous robots, tractors, trains, and of course, the Hyperloop are the icing on the cake of autonomous technologies.

Investing in Industrial Robotics

industrial robotics is currently the largest application area for robots by far
industrial robot prices are declining and will continue to do so, which will result in industrial robot sales quadrupling during the next five years as more companies move to adopt them

Robots for Factory Automation
- While there are many startups working on robotics for factory automation, there also happen to be many listed companies doing the same which is great for retail investors who want exposure to this theme.
- China is becoming a large consumer of robotics
Robots for Warehouse Automation
- Warehouse robots range from plug-and-play systems and forklifts working alongside humans to infrastructure systems that can fully automate warehouses – what they’re calling “lights out operations.”
- Today’s warehouse robots are capable of full autonomy either alone or side-by-side with humans, thanks to AI algorithms.
Companies Developing Machine Vision and Industrial Cameras
- The eyes are provided by machine vision systems, the mouth by natural language processing, and the body by robotics.
Robots Replacing Humans Doing the Worst Jobs
- Industrial inspection tasks, maintenance, and high-rise window cleaning are all examples of relatively dangerous and time-consuming jobs.

Robots in Healthcare

Robots are helping in elderly care and the daily operations of smart hospitals. Robotics technology is being used to create bionic limbs and help dental surgeons perform implants.
the area where healthcare robots really shine is robotic surgery

Robotic Surgery Stocks and Companies
- at least eight different types of surgeries that are now being performed or partially performed by robots

Robots for Consumers

first large-scale implementation of consumer robotics was iRobot’s robotic vacuums
all these types of robots will be made in China

Robotics ETFs

The problem is that most of these robotics ETFs can’t agree on which companies to include.
it makes us wonder how the ESG types plan to address robotics as an investment thesis

Other resources

Singularity University

Exponential Business Models | Amin Toufani: Exponential times require exponential business models.

Exonomics | Amin Toufani: transform industries and global challenges through exponential technologies

Exponential Energy | Ramez Naam: overview of the key natural resource and environmental challenges

Investing in disruptive innovation | Cathie Woods: Investing in disruptive innovation

Useful sites

amin toufani ramez naam

Videos

Coming Soon: A Post-Cow World-Precision Fermentation

Commercial fermentation: Opportunities and bottlenecks

Spiders

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 23:45:37 -0800

Lots of interesting stuff about spiders here.

Jumpers

Jumping spiders may be the most easily identified with family of spiders. They’re insatiably curious critters and smart too! Unlike many spiders, when you approach a jumper in a non-threatening way, you’re likely to find yourself staring into a pair of inquisitive, if suspicious eyes. Jumpers have exceptional eyesight and are thus visually aware of the world around them, much as we are.

Friendly jumper #1

I first noticed this spider in the rabbit room sometime in early December. She had a habit of crawling around on the ceiling and sometimes on the door to the outside. I suspect she came in during the summer and got “stranded” inside. It may have saved her life - I believe the adults die off during the winter.

Once I tried to put her outside on a mild day. The ground was cool, but not nearly as cold as it normally was in Dec. Within a minute she had basically shut down and seemed unable to move. So I took her back in and returned her to the rabbit room.

A week or so later, I spotted her in the office, but she looked extremely hungry. Her abdomen was “deflated”, and she was moving slowly. I decided to set her up in a terrarium and look after her. Or at least try to feed her before setting her free in the house again.

At the time, she was quite cooperative. I thought it was due to weakness from hunger. The first night, I tried feeding her one of the dead frozen insects I’d been keeping for the five-legged spider but she refused, spending her time hiding under a leaf. Next time though, she eagerly took the termite and spent a whole hour eating.

The following day she was active and very curious about everything, including my hand. I had little idea then just how much time she’d spend there.

2011-12-22 Thu
Spider ate a silverfish today but wasn’t too interested in anything else.

As is natural for a jumping spider, she likes to chase moving food. Since I only feed bugs that I’ve found dead, I have to drag and shake them around with tweezers. She stalked the silverfish for almost a minute before making the pounce. When she does strike, you can actually feel the impact shake the tweezers!

Her stalking behaviour is really quite fascinating. Jumping spider hunting tactics have often been likened to those of cats, and with good reason! She is very cautious and strategic about it. Her eyes are usually fixed on her quarry, and she continually adjusts her angle of approach by moving sideways so as to try to attack it from behind. Sometimes she’ll even use the terrain to her advantage, trying to hide behind leaves or get up on something to attack from above.

2011-12-23 Fri
I got a chance to get very close with the camera today. She was sitting on one of her leaves and seemed pretty fascinated by the lens. Reflection?

2011-12-26 Mon
Spider has been coming out daily and spending time on my hand. She is curious about everything and turns to face any motion, waving her palps about excitedly. Is that palp waving for smell?

Her basic pattern of activity seems to be to crawl around on my fingers for a minute or two, then make a couple of tours of the back of my hand, and then start climbing up my sleeve. She never tries to go into my sleeve though.

2012-01-05 Thu
Nothing much has changed, but I did take some shots today. Her daily routine seems to be established now. In the morning, she crawls around on the lid of her container, waiting for me to let her out. After touring the house on my hand and staring out one of the windows, she goes back and settles down under a leaf. She might poke her face out once or twice during the day, but mostly just rests. Then she gets active in the evening and I take her around again. Night time seems to be when she is most receptive to feeding, oddly enough. She eats a moderately large dead insect once every five days or so.

Interestingly, she seems to have no interest in jumping off my hand. Indeed, she has yet to do so and normally won’t even leave when I offer her a place to go. Getting her off can sometimes be challenging, because she’s very clever! My technique is to try to herd her onto a leaf by placing it in front of her, and gently nudging her toward it from behind. She knows what it’s all about though, and moves sideways!

2012-01-13 Fri
For the first time, I found her in a “sleeping bag” structure. I know some jumping spiders make these to spend the night in.

2012-01-12 Thu
This is new. She ate part of a caterpillar today, but seems to have realized she doesn’t need to chase her food now. This time, she just came up to the tweezers, grabbed the caterpillar, and walked off with it quite calmly.

2012-01-17 Tue
Spider has found a new toy! I thought she might want more things to do, so I offered her a conifer cone. It’s a big one with well-spaced scales that are just the right size for a little spider to crawl between. It was an immediate success and she spent most of the rest of the day on/in it.

2012-01-20 Fri
She jumped onto my camera lens today while I was trying to take a shot of her on my thumb.

2012-01-23 Mon
We seem to be an extremely happy spider these days. I’ve noticed she gets very excited whenever something new happens. Today, she got to play with moss for the first time. Like the pinecone, which she plays on every day or two, it offered a great opportunity to practise gymnastics.

When she finishes playing, she runs off and tries to find some place high up. She usually likes to stay there for a bit before being taken away.

She doesn’t seem interested in any of the other jumpers in the house.

2012-01-24 Tue
I tried feeding her the remains of a ground spider. They are little black critters with slender yellow-patterned abdomens. They move very fast. This one I found dead on the deck.

At first, she was curious and came scuttling over to investigate. When she saw it up close though, her behaviour changed completely! She seemed very excited by it, but also apprehensive. After creeping around to get at it from behind, she made a quick strike and then jumped back. Then she started moving in wobbly circles almost like a drunkard, continuing to stare at it.

She kept that up for a minute or so and then approached very cautiously and tapped it with her front legs. It seemed almost like she was going to eat it, but then suddenly she decided not to and left to go hide in some leaves.

2012-01-26 Thu
This isn’t about the friendly spider, but I tried feeding the ground spider from my last entry to another one of the P. californicus spiders in the house and it exhibited almost exactly the same cautious behaviour. It made a quick strike followed by a lot of drunken wobbling, then made another strike, repeated the process, and then finally decided to eat. I wonder if this is some instinctive caution that these spiders know to take when faced with certain prey.

2012-01-31 Tue
Life has been pretty routine for the last week. She’s continuing to find new ways to avoid being taken off my arm, such as scuttling between folds in the sleeve of my sweatshirt.

I got to see an interesting leg preening ritual today. She took each of her four front legs and ran them somewhere behind her palps. I’m not sure whether she was using the hairs on her palps to clean them or what. I should have paid closer attention to see if there was an order in which she cleaned her legs.

2012-02-05 Sun
Ha! For the first time, she ate apple today. Not very enthusiastically and just for a minute or so, but she did. Aside from that, she hasn’t eaten in about a week. I don’t know why; she seems perfectly healthy and active, though.

2012-02-08 Wed
New toy. I found a vacant snail shell a few days ago. It was inhabited recently I think, because it still smelled of decaying snail. It might have been eaten by a slug? Anyway, the spider is its new resident. She sits just inside its entrance, facing out.

I’ve noticed she’s taken to “sleeping” more than before during times she would normally be active. I wonder if this is because she hasn’t been eating.

2012-02-09 Thu
She ate today! A fairly large meal too. Some black bug that I found near the rabbit house. She rarely strikes at her food these days, though she does sometimes stalk it a bit.

2012-02-10 Fri
Another P. californicus took some apple today and completely filled up on it!

2012-02-14 Tue
I’m starting to worry about the spider now. She is just as friendly as ever, but she has slowed down I think. I don’t know how long these spiders live, but I have heard that when they are getting older, they do gradually slow.

She is still reasonably active, just not as much as she used to be.

I took her outside for a bit today, but she didn’t seem to like it much. She didn’t want to get off my hand, and after a short while actually went into my sleeve to hide. She’s never done that before.

2012-02-17 Fri
Today, she fell asleep on my wrist! After one of her tours of my hand and sleeve, she just plopped down. I call it sleep, because she was almost completely unresponsive and didn’t even bother to track things moving around her. She stayed that way for about 20 minutes (during which time I did my best to keep my hand still) before waking up again.

2012-02-25 Sat
She seems slower and more quiet every week now. She hasn’t been coming out much and I’ve been reluctant to disturb her. It’s been a few days since she last ate and she wasn’t very enthusiastic about it either. She doesn’t seem to be able to climb the sides of her container like she used to so I’ve moved some stuff around to give her a way up.

2012-03-03 Sat
Nothing much has changed. She’s still pretty subdued, but still expresses interest in some things. I haven’t been able to get her to eat anything though. She doesn’t even bother to consider larger food. Small things like the flies that hang out near the rabbit house are given more attention, but she still won’t go for one.

2012-03-06 Tue
She ate!!! But not what I expected! The last couple of days I’ve been rather frantically trying everything I can think of in an effort to get her eating because she’s been looking thin. None of the usual foods have worked, but I tried banana on her for the first time and she took to it with more enthusiasm than I’ve seen from her in a long time. She spent over an hour feeding on a little piece of it and by the time she was done, her abdomen was back to full size.

2012-03-08 Thu
Maybe I was worrying about nothing. She’s much more active now and managed to climb up the side of her container for the first time in a while! Oddly, she’s started trying to crawl into my sleeve though. She normally doesn’t like it in there at all.

2012-03-10 Sat
She’s started to slow down again unfortunately. She’s still got a fairly full abdomen, so it’s not hunger. She hasn’t eaten anything since the banana, but it’s only been a few days. This slowness only started yesterday so maybe it’s just a passing phase. She’s been hiding out in a tightly curled leaf so I haven’t disturbed her.

2012-03-14 Wed
Spider’s become very reclusive. She doesn’t come out at all during the day and has only moved from her hiding spot once from what I know. I haven’t taken her out for some days now since she doesn’t seem to be in the mood. She hasn’t eaten anything still, which is very odd by now. Due to her lethargy, perhaps, she still looks pretty full though.

2012-03-16 Fri
Unfortunately, I think the spider is dead now. I found her tonight clinging weakly to the underside of one of her leaves. I knew something was wrong because her abdomen was hanging limply. I took her onto my hand and she didn’t move at all. I held her for a couple of minutes and then suddenly she had a spasm or something. She stretched out her legs and then waved a couple of them around. Then she curled them in and that was the last movement I saw. I held her for a while longer, but eventually put her back on her leaf and went to bed.

The next morning, she hadn’t moved and was still curled up. Spiders extend their legs by hydraulic pressure but contract them by muscle power which is why their legs are often curled in when they die.

It’s now night again and still no sign of movement. I’m pretty sure she’s dead. It’s a strange feeling, not having her around. She was one of the most unique creatures I’ve ever known.

Introduction to Logic

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 21:22:07 -0800

This book introduces the fundamental methods and techniques of correct reasoning, in a manner that shows the relevance of the topics to readers everyday lives.

Many new exercises introduced in this edition help supplement and support explanations, aid in review, and make the book visually stimulating. (There are editions other than this 12th.)
https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Logic-Irving-Copi/dp/0131898345

Booklicious

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 15:28:59 -0800

Are you a lover of books? Are you a parent looking for book recommendations for your young child or teenager? If so, you’ve come to the right place!

LouAnne Taylor has put together a wonderful website for children and parents alike, to find age appropriate books and learning about the importance of literacy …
Booklicious

Website Design Hosting

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 19:17:33 -0800

We can design!
We can host!
And for free!
If we think you’re the most!

We can design!

Here are links to some of the sites we’ve designed in our past. Around the turn of the millenium, my son Kyron and I learned to set up a home server and offer free websites to animal rights and vegan groups and individuals. We still will.

A few of the sites below are only samples. The early ones were done using a website editor from that era. After we learned html, css etc we started handcoding many of these and then developed a contact manager using Haskell then Racket programming languages. These days we do things with orgmode and markdown, using Hugo static site creation system.

Some sites have a bit of ’naive’ originality to them. Many sites are no longer active as their personnel have moved on to other things, while some have been redone by other webdesigners with modern tools and themes.

ASAP
Animal Conservation and Welfare Foundation EU
Animal Rights Hawaii (original sample)
BC Deer Protection Society
CATCA
Canadian Horse Defense Coalition (original)
Comfort Washlet (sample only)
Court Athlete (sample only)
Dr. David Sztybel
ESA
Fallfest (before it became Worldfest)
Family Caregivers Society (original)
Inverness Deer Protection Society
Leilani Farm Sanctuary (original)
Minimalinux (original sample)
ModelsWithConscience
Phenix (sample only)
Rakata (sample only)
SAM (Jeffrey’s advocacy site)
Seeds For Change (original sample)
Shawnigan Lake Adventure (original)
Soystache
TRACS (original)
The Shawnigan Lake Walk
Thru Bambis Eyes (poems and songs by Honey Sheperd)
TowardsFreedom 1998-2012 (original version)
TowardsFreedom 2012-2020 (the adupal version)
TowardsFreedom 2020-2026 (hugo zen version)
Trevor Murdock
Veggiechess
Veronica
Worldfest (original)
Your Cyber Court
Youth Against Animal Abuse

We can host!

Once your site is coded, it needs to be ‘put out there’ on the web. To do this, the coding has to be placed on a computer that is connected to the Internet and that is capable of ‘serving’ any visitors your site.

This ‘server’ is preferably a reasonably fast computer with ‘wide’ connections to the Internet, otherwise the pages may load slowly and only a very few people will be able to view your site at the same time.

You can have your site hosted with a variety of companies (at a variety of price levels). Or if we find your cause a worthy one, we’ll do it for free.

Are you the ‘most’?

Do you have

a creative idea
a noble cause that people could support
a service of benefit to your community
a product worth telling the world about

Well, you really can let the world know with your own website!

Veggiechess

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 13:58:04 -0800

The VeggieChess site was created in 2004 for the veggiechess group on redhotpawn.com and that group is still likely in existence.

Here is the link to VeggieChess.

What Is Compassion

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 17:37:05 -0800

We examine the meaning of Compassion and find that:

The need for a complete understanding of compassion arises out of the following facts. People are mostly very indifferent to the plight of animals. But some are not. What is the difference between these two classes of people. It is that the indifferent people lack compassion for animals and the others have compassion for animals. Animal exploitation will persist until the balance shifts and compassion comes to predominate.

It is surprising that animal activists believe that those who are indifferent can be coerced to be compassionate. Coercive tactics, including legislative lobbying, advertising, demonstrating and even illegal rescues, are common. Yet the most effective method of all is little mentioned and given little consideration. That most effective of tactics is the change in the person herself. Activists do not seem to realize that the contrast that they demonstrate by their lives compared with the lives of the indifferent ones, that this living contrast is the greatest of all stimulants to change in others. The greatest activism is the act of living the truth and being compassion personified. Coercive and violent actions do not enhance the powerful statement already made by the living evidence of compassion manifested.

In order solve the problem of animal vivisection, abuse and exploitation we cannot rely on legislative action. All legislation can do is specify restrictions on specific behavior. But if there is a will to be indifferent the indifference will be manifest anyway, whether illegally or by way of expressions not dealt with by legislation. We cannot rely on advertising and manipulative persuasion. Advertising and persuasion again address specific conditions and situations without changing the fundamental conditions that make indifference possible. We must truly understand the nature and meaning of compassion itself in order to understand the most effective means of enlarging the class of people who have compassion for animals, and compassion in general. It is disingenuous to believe we pursue a more compassionate society while we are at the same time unconcerned with what compassion is, how it has come to be so little appreciated and what conditions are necessary for its wider distribution. If we are compassionate but we do not know how we got to be compassionate, what hope have we of facilitating the change in others?

Here we begin a systematic investigation of the meaning of Compassion. There is only one prerequisite for this journey. It is contained in the answer to the question, “Does anything matter, or is it all just so much senseless, meaningless chaos?” If your answer is anything other than a resounding, “Yes, something does matter,” then this conversation is not for you and don’t know how I can help you. In that case I can only wish you a speedy recovery from your illness. Otherwise, if something does matter to you then come with me.

Now that we have the preliminaries out of the way, let’s get started. We proceed slowly and start close to home. A dictionary definition of Compassion is as good a place to start as any. Compassion is defined as, “The deep awareness of and sympathy for the suffering of others..” This is the common, prevalent understanding of Compassion. It gives us 3 important concepts to work with: awareness, sympathy and suffering. Let’s see how well this definition holds up in real-life situations.

Consider the life and work of Mother Theresa. We will choose this life because there is general agreement that she lived a compassionate life so it is a good example against which to judge the usefulness of our definition. According to our definition to know whether Mother Theresa was, in fact, compassionate one must be able to determine if she was 1) aware of anothers suffering and 2) sympathetic toward that suffering. This reveals a problem, doesn’t it. After all, no one can actually know what another person is thinking or feeling. So we cannot independently determine whether she was actually aware and sympathetic, no matter how reasonable it would seem to be to believe that she was. One cannot know this, it can only be a an article of faith that one believes it to be true. Now look at the other side of the issue. What if there were some advanced technology that allowed one person to see into another’s thoughts and this technology were applied to Mother Theresa. What if this machine told us without question that she was never aware or sympathetic to the suffering. Suppose (quite ridiculously, but just for the sake of argument) that the machine told us that her whole life and work were based upon a slavish desire to obey her Catholic Pope and he told her she must do these things. Further, the machine told us that she actually despised what she was doing and who she was helping. If you knew this is what she was thinking would you respect her Compassion less. Would she turn in your mind from being a compassionate person to being an uncompassionate one?

Finally, put yourself in the place of someone who was the recipient of her Compassion. Would it matter to you whether or not she was actually aware of and sympathetic toward your suffering, so long as her actions had the effect of being compassionate toward you and relieving your suffering. I suspect that even if some machine could prove that she did not have this awareness and sympathy you would want to believe that she did because her actions were compassionate.

We need as many Mother Theresas as we can get. It is immaterial what their mental state or motivations are, it is their actions and the consequences of those actions that are important. For the purposes of evolving a compassionate society it makes no difference whether people volunteer to be compassionate or whether they must be paid to be compassionate. To measure the worth of someone’s Compassion based upon our opinion of their mental state is a harmful distraction from the work of increasing the overall prevalence of compassionate action.

So, clearly, our dictionary definition is not as useful as we had hoped. Next time we will look at the torturer’s view to approach the question from the other direction.

Being at the most uncompassionate extreme, the torturer gives us important clues as to the nature of compassion and the validity of our definition. We are working from the definition, “Compassion is the deep awareness of and sympathy for the suffering of others.. Certainly a torturer is aware of the suffering of others. Such awareness is necessary to doing his job. Could a torturer have sympathy for the one he tortures. Possibly. There is a great deal of historical evidence to show that people can be forced to torture others, people who would otherwise not participate in torture. Suppose there is a situation in which an otherwise normal, nonviolent person is being terrorized and beaten. Then his tormentor says they will stop beating him if he will beat someone else, say a stranger. Under these conditions people have been induced to become reluctant torturers. In this case the need for self preservation could be powerful enough to overcome any sympathy he may have. The sympathy may persist but the choice is made to protect oneself in spite of it.

Then, of course, there may be people who are aware and sympathetic but do nothing. Do you think. This kind of sympathetically aware inaction is obviously of little value and cannot be a useful example of Compassion.

Our dictionary definition of Compassion appears to leave a great deal wanting. Consideration of an ideal compassionate life has led us to the conclusion that awareness and sympathy are not necessary for Compassion. Consideration of the extreme uncompassionate life has lead us to conclude that awareness and sympathy are not sufficient for Compassion. This implies that awareness and sympathy are not essential ingredients in Compassion at all and can be disregarded.

It is worth noting at this point, that awareness and sympathy are hidden, internal states of the psyche with no direct means of independent verification. Whatever they are they are unique to the individual in which they reside. Of the three concepts our definition gave us these are the two that have these characteristics and it is these two that do not hold up under scrutiny and prove to be irrelevant to understanding Compassion. The third concept, however, the suffering, is an external condition verifiable by all. We will elaborate on this point in detail shortly, but for now it should be observed that it is the only concept from the definition that we have not had reason to question and which remains potentially valuable. This relationship between the hidden, individualistic versus shown, observable quality on the one hand and the usefulness of the quality on the other hand will be one we will see repeatedly and it is an important relationship in the understanding of Compassion.

So, at this point, we are led to abandon our dictionary definition of Compassion. But it has given us a foundation from which we can build a better understanding based upon what we have learned here. Suffering remains central to understanding Compassion. Before we can again attack the question of, “What is Compassion?” directly we need to discuss several other helpful concepts. This will occupy the next several sections.

After all this dry analysis it is worth reminding ourselves why we are doing this. The question is, “Is a compassionate society possible and, if so, what does it look like?. Our analysis so far has helped us to see that awareness and sympathy are not useful in answering these questions and that the concept of suffering may be. Awareness and sympathy are not useful concepts precisely because they are part of a hidden, secret mental state. But there are many other such concepts all of which have the same weakness of being part of our hidden, secret lives, veiled to all but the individual himself. We cannot redefine Compassion in terms of any of them without running into the same problems. So Compassion cannot be, “a desire to relieve suffering,” or, “an intention to relieve suffering,” or, “the will to relieve suffering,” or, “commiseration.. All of these types of definitions postulate some internal, mental state the existence of which cannot be know be any other. A society is necessarily about a sphere of influence shared by a group of people. In so far as our secret, thoughts and mental lives are hidden from others they cannot directly contribute to the society.

Intuitively, a compassionate society can be seen to be a society in which the individuals have a prevailing tendency to choose acts of Compassion over acts of any other kind. This seems clear and reasonable enough. Operationally speaking, I would be entirely content to accept a society that fit this criterion even if I had to also accept any possible cause for this level of Compassion. To my mind, to achieve this level of Compassion throughout society it makes no difference whether the cause for it is that people’s, “consciousnesses are raised,” or that they are paid to act this way, or that they are brain-washed or that our very biology is altered by gene manipulation - by any means necessary. Having a clear idea about where we are going, to get there, to know whether a compassionate society is possible, we must understand what Compassion is.

We are left with the concept of suffering to understand Compassion. Is that enough. What if we try the following definition. “Compassion is the act of relieving suffering.. This definition uses only the concepts of act or action and suffering. I like this because I can know when someone else is acting and I can know when suffering is relieved as a consequence. Further it is possible to judge a society as compassionate by observation of the actions and the results of all the individuals there of. Let’s explore this idea further. There are several profound conclusions to be drawn from this idea.

First, viewing Compassion in this way implies that a person can be neither compassionate nor uncompassionate, only an act can be compassionate if it is an act of Compassion. Any attempt to identify a person as compassionate or not must refer back to the acts of that person some of which may be compassionate and others not, and any attempt to place relative value on the history of those acts must necessarily be arbitrary and biased. Further, pursuing such arbitrary value systems does not contribute to the identification of a compassionate society since it is a society in which there is a “prevailing trend to choose acts of Compassion”, not one in which “people are compassionate”. This realization also has certain spiritual overtones in that we become the moment-to-moment implement for something beyond our individual selves that is Compassion, acting through us. We do not own Compassion; Compassion uses us to act.

Before discussing the other implications of Compassion as the act of relieving suffering, we must now make a detailed examination of the concept of suffering, next time.

In its most elemental sense, suffering is what a living organism experiences when deprived of the conditions most optimal for its health and survival. So, for instance, when we are deprived of water we suffer thirst. When we are deprived of food we suffer hunger. When we are deprived of rest we suffer exhaustion. This is absolutely all that suffering is.

Living things rely upon homeostatic mechanisms to maintain an equilibrium in which conditions are sufficiently stable for their metabolic needs. Temperatures must not exceed a certain range or the organism will freeze or die of the heat. Oxygen must be available in sufficient quantities. Nutrients and food must be available when needed. Suffering is an alerting mechanism, a biological signal, that notifies the organism that the current conditions are not providing for it’s needs, and those current conditions are threatening its survival.

As a result of that signal that suffering provides the organism can take action to correct the situation. When it suffers from thirst it drinks and the signal is extinguished. When it suffers from hunger then it eats and the suffering stops.

If there were no suffering then the organism would receive no signal when it was becoming dehydrated. So it would not know to drink and the dehydration would increase until it died from lack of water. If you did not suffer from hunger when your body needed to eat you would starve. Without suffering death would be unavoidable. There must be both suffering and the relief from suffering for things to live. It is our very suffering and its relief that gives us continuing life. If we had only suffering without any relief from suffering, life could not be for even a day. So long as there is change life must adjust to that change, and suffering provides life the opportunity to adjust as it must.

Obviously, it can be seen from this that suffering is both inevitable and very necessary. In fact, the very existence of life itself depends upon the experience of suffering, at least from time to time and to one degree or another, in every living thing. One of the most profound and interesting observations to be drawn from this understanding of suffering is that Compassion, as the act of relieving suffering, is also the act of giving or preserving life. Compassion is the act of making the types of adjustments to the changes we experience that enables life to go on. Compassion is, most fundamentally, the tendency towards life and away from death. Without Compassion death would always be the result. Only Compassion stands between us and death.

Do you see the vistas this perspective opens up. Armed with our understanding of Compassion and its component suffering as we have them, the implications are very far reaching and have tremendous ramifications. If a compassionate society is possible we are beginning to see what it must look like.

In the next chapter we will explore more deeply into the many discoveries this view of Compassion affords us.

We have said that Compassion is the act of relieving suffering. Is Compassion real or is it just some fantasy, part of our beliefs. Is there any existence and substance to Compassion or is it just another figment of our imaginations. Let me frame the question in this way to make it perfectly clear. If man were not here would there be Compassion. During the time of the dinosaurs, before man’s arrival on this Earth, was there Compassion in the world - anywhere, in any form?

The common usage of the word compassion refers to our internal, personal feelings about someone or a situation to which we are sympathetic. However, this is a very narrow view that misses the rest of the world. If Compassion is no more than an idea in our head without substance, like fairies and leprechauns, what hope could we possibly have of ever seeing a compassionate society. That would be equivalent to dreaming about a society integrated with fairies and leprechauns. There is a strong, intuitive sense that there is real Compassion, beyond the imaginings of our minds, that is part of our real, substantial world. Let’s see if we can identify this real Compassion, that Compassion that exists outside of ourselves.

Man functions within two distinct spheres of experience, one hidden within himself and the other outside and independent of any one person. To get a sense of these two speheres, consider the following questions:

The first sphere of experience is one of shared experiences. I know your experience of eating by my eating - we both eat and thus have the experience of eating. I know your experience of breathing by my breathing. We are born, we eat, sleep, breath and die. We all share the essential qualities of these experiences. These shared experiences are entwined with our bodies and there connections with the outside world.

Then there is the second sphere of experience, which is constituted by our hopes, dreams, desires, worries, ambitions, expectations, and all thoughts and the other individualistic and hidden experiences of our secret mental lives. These experiences have no direct manifestations in the outside world. We may only see their effects indirectly in our actions.

Clearly the shared sphere of experience is where everything of importance happens. If we trivialize the experiences of living - eating, sleeping, breathing - it is because we take them for granted, not because they are trivial. Would you trade the experience of writing a novel like Ernest Hemingway for the experience of breathing. First we must breath. Then, once we have that going consistently, we can consider doing other things like writing a novel.

Our shared experiences are connected with our identity as a living being and as a species. A species represents a particular solution to a set of environmental problems. Fish developed gills to solve the problem of extracting oxygen from water for increasing metabolic needs. All fish with gills share the experience of breathing with gills. Our species developed nose, throat and lungs to solve the problem of extracting oxygen from air. We all share the experience of breathing. The qualities and experiences we share could be likened to a signal or communication with the outside world. On the other hand, all of those individualistic experiences hidden within our heads can be likened to background noise. It is similar to listening to the radio on a station that has poor reception. Even though there is background noise in the form of static we still hear the primary signal which is the music being broadcast.

Thinking, too, is a shared experience. But not the specific thoughts. I know that you have thoughts because I have thoughts, just not the same ones. Thinking itself is part of the signal or communication with the outside world. But which thoughts we have in particular at any time is individualistic, unshared background noise. In particular which thoughts, feelings, desires, ambitions, etc. we experience is just so much background noise. This point can be very difficult for us to grasp fully. We are so entangled with the need to believe our particular thoughts have importance that it is very difficult for us to see that it is really just the experience of thinking itself that has importance and that our special, individual thoughts are just distracting noise. But coming to grips with this reality is essential to understand Compassion.

You see, the question is, “In which sphere of experience does Compassion reside?. Is Compassion part of our hidden, individualistic experiences, different in each person and unsharable. Or is Compassion an essential part of the signal that we are as a species, part of the connections that tie us to the rest of the real world. Does Compassion have a real manifestation. Find your own intuitive answer to this question, and next time we will explore it in greater depth.

What is the truth about Compassion. We have argued that Compassion is an action that relieves suffering. So the truth about Compassion is the truth about suffering and its relief. So then what is suffering?

The truth about Compassion and the truth about suffering have to do with the realities of suffering and its relief. But suffering and its relief only have meaning with respect to a particular being that is the sufferer and who is relieved of that suffering. It is meaningless to talk about suffering in the absence of any sufferer. To suffer there must be one to suffer. The truth about suffering cannot be separated from the truth about the sufferer. To know one we must know the other.

Suppose a space ship lands on a very distant planet and encounters a life form completely unfamiliar to any form of life any of the astronauts have ever seen. Suppose it is so unfamiliar that no one has any idea how it acts, or lives. In this situation Compassion is not possible. The astronauts might pick it up, pour water on it or cover it with dirt. But they cannot know whether in doing these things they have caused suffering, relieved suffering or neither. To know this one must have an understanding grown out of personal experience with suffering and the ability to recognize a similar experience in another. And to be correct in one’s judgement about the suffering of another one must see the truth of that other and the nature of its existence.

Truth, the real, existence, reality - these are all terms for what is. This is simple enough. But to know the truth about a particular thing it is necessary to know all of its relationships. The existence of something is described by how it relates to everything else. This is especially important when it comes to living beings.

Inanimate objects may be used arbitrarily. At one moment a chair may be something to sit upon and the next a work of art or a piece of kindling.

But living things have an intrinsic and unalterable nature specific to themselves. If we are asked what a wolf is, or what is the truth of a wolf, we must answer by describing the relationships the animal holds to its environment. A wolf is a predator that lives and hunts in packs, feeding on caribou, and so on. The system of Nature both defines and is defined by the relationships of its constituent beings.

This brings us to consider a useful and common image called, “The Web of Life.. It can be useful to picture our living world as an infinitely large web. The web consists of strands or connections, which we cannot actually see but we may imagine them to picture the relationships connecting us to others, and them to us.

So imagine an enormous web of silken threads in which at each point where one strand or thread crosses another a living being resides. For each being there are many strands connecting her to many other beings. Each strand that extends from her ends or connects her with someone or something with which she has a special relationship.

Who do you depend upon. As children most of us depended upon our parents for nurturing. We may marry and come to depend upon our spouses. We may have children who depend upon us, in turn. And we have many more distant relationships as well. We depend upon the farmer to provide us with food, and the truck driver to deliver the food to our communities, and so on. Even more distant relationship exist. The farmers who grow our food depend upon the soil to grow the plants we eat and they depend upon the weather to provide sufficient rain and sun for a good crop.

Now the truth about you or me or anything is understood by seeing the thing in its place in this Web of Life. The truth of any one being is described by the connections she makes to others, and the connections they make to still others, and on and on, ad infinitum. This Web of Life is a metaphor for all of our relationships, both near and distant.

The truth of a being is understood by seeing the strands to which she connects in this web, her immediate relationships to others, and to which those connect, going as deeply as necessary for the understanding. A perfect understanding of the truth of a being in this web would ideally require complete visualization of all her connections, an impossible task. From where we sit on this web we each can see only to a limited, finite depth along any chain of connections because our intellectual understanding is limited. An infinite intellect would be required to have a total understanding of all relationships. We can understand how someone depends upon her family and friends. But beyond that, going as far as the farmer and his weather and soil, for instance, those relationships are usually too distant to be completely appreciated by our limited abilites. Is this enough to understand how others suffer, how we may act to relieve that suffering and thereby bring Compassion into the world. Yes, of course it is.

It is an extremely beautiful principle of this web that its health and maintenance does not require us to do any more then understand those relationships that we can understand. All that we need to know to function as a member of this web is provided within our grasp. We are guaranteed to have available to us a sufficient depth of understanding to know the truth of all the beings with which we share our region of this web, that is, all the other beings upon whom we depend and who depend upon us. This is because the connections are transitive. Although our personal understanding is local, there is a path along this web from any one place to any other. At each point, as the path crosses by each person, that person contributes their Compassion to those to whom she relates, and thereby Compassion spreads infinitely in all directions, beginning from each person.

And we do have a function in this web. Each being of the web has her own needs for survival - air, water, shelter, defense from predators, companionship, etc. The connections provide for these needs. In turn she provides for some of the needs to those to whom she connects. The web exists precisely because each member provides for the needs of others and others provide for her. A being is most content when the connections she requires are present and both providing her and receiving from her. Suffering can be seen to be a loss or disruption in these connections. Compassion, being the act of relieving suffering, can be seen to be the restoration of the lost or disrupted connections. An act of Compassion is one that sees that another has broken connections and restores those connections. An act of Compassion is one that sees that another has unmet needs, needs that arise from the true nature of that person, being or thing, and provides for those needs.

To put it another way, we are most content, we suffer least, when our relationships are whole, productive and nuturing. We have intrinsic, inborn needs, characteristic of our nature and species. Our needs are fulfilled through our relationships. Suffering occurs when those relationships are broken or disrupted. Therefore, Compassion is the restoration of broken relationships. An act of Compassion is an act that understands the relationships of another, sees that they are broken and acts to mend the broken relationships. That is the truht about suffering and Compassion.

So an awareness IS required - an awareness of the connections or relationships. But we said initially that awareness was not required. So what is going on here. We will explore this awareness in the next section.

We began by asking the question, “What is Compassion?. We discovered that personal awareness was not necessary; then we said that suffering is closely tied to our biological needs; next that suffering can be viewed as disruptions in an intricate web of Nature and that Compassion is the restoration of those connections; and, finally, we discovered an awareness that is required by Compassion.

Compassion requires an awareness of the place of an individual in the web, and the connections for that individual. This is unlike the personal awareness we considered originally. Unlike that personal awareness, which was part of someone’s hidden, secret life. This awareness belongs in the sphere of shared experiences. It is an awareness of the structure of a web that we all share. I know you have the connections that you have because I have the very same threads. I know that you have needs and relationships that help you to meet those needs, because I, too, have needs and I, too, have relationships that help me to meet my needs. We are individuals embedded in the same context in the larger system struggling to do our parts in service to the Narural web.

This brings us to the answer to our original question, “What is Compassion?. It is exactly this awareness, awareness of our context, relative to the contexts of all our neighbors, within the Natural web. It is care for the health, stability and integrity of the web, restoring broken connections, healing the suffering, giving attention to the shared experiences that ripple and pulsate like surges of energy throughout this web.

On the vast plains of the Serengeti in Africa the Summer season brings hot, dry weather that depletes the watering holes and rivers leaving a drought. The animals suffer from thirst and spend much time searching for water. Then the seasons change and the Monsoons come and fill up the streams and holes with drenching rain, providing water in great abundance.

Now if instead of the Monsoon rains there were a group of people who formed a bucket brigade and hauled water to the watering holes and filled them to relieve the thirst of the animals, it would be easy for us to recognize that action as compassionate. But the effect of the Monsoon rains is the same, in fact, far more effective. Because we have an awareness of the suffering we can infer that there is, in some sense, an awareness that brings the Monsoons, also. The source of that awareness may not be apparent to us because it lies too far back in the web, nested too deeply in distant connections, for us to see the source directly. Still it is there and the Monsoons are an act of Compassion.

From this it becomes clear that Compassion is an infinite force of Nature whose manifestion is life itself. She who serves this force acts with Compassion and there is no other means but this to act with Compassion.

Next we will look at some practical applications of this understanding.

We have come quite a ways in understanding Compassion. But we have also been dealing largely in the abstract. Let’s consider several real-world conditions that pertain to Compassion and see how it applies.

Consider slavery. What is the problem with slavery. Some would say that the problem is a denial of human righton. But the truth is that the problem with slavery is that it is a denial of a person’s connections to the web, it is a denial of her natural relationships.

Suppose you were to pay a slave trader a sum of money for a slave that he provided and he were to give you a contract in return transfering ownership of the slave to you. But further suppose that the contract also stipulated that you could in no way command, control or interfere with the normal and legal activities of your slave, nor any of her possessions nor family. Well, in this case there would be no problem with slavery, would there. It is not the possession of another that creates the problem of slavery but the control of that person and the constraints being a slave puts upon her pursuit of her inherent destiny.

When a person is not a slave and she is not otherwise controlled by someone else, then she is able to provide for her connections, those who depend upon her, and be provided for by her connections, those who she depends upon, with the web, as defined by her community and the Natural world in which that community resides. With freedom she has a rich set of options provided to her by a very large nexus of relationships with the individuals in her community and the Natural world.

Slavery causes her to be forced to substitute and be constrained by the small set of connections all of which now end at her master. Slavery is the act breaking the relationships the slave had with the people she depended upon and who depended upon her and substituting a total dependence upon the master. For the slave the master becomes the web and all meaningful contact with the real web is denied. We have an intuitive sense that this is uncompassionate because we know the suffering and misery of slavery even if we have never been slaves. We know this because we share a need for our connectedness, our relationships. Because I know suffering when denied access to my relationships by another, I know that you must suffer the same.

Those who practiced slavery could only do so by denying the truth of those they enslaved. The slave traders were overtly indifferent to the truth of their slaves. But the owners often devised elegant lies to mask the truth they denied. Here is a quote from Thomas Jefferson to illustrate this point:

Misery is often the parent of the most affecting touches in poetry. Among the blacks is misery enough, God knows, but no poetry. Love is the peculiar oestrum of the poet. Their love is ardent, but it kindles the senses only, not the imagination.
From Revolution to Reconstruction

Compassion, being an absolutely honest and literal understanding and recognition of the truth of a person, as defined by her connections to the web, her natural relationships, and being a devotion to serve the health and maintenance of those connections, acting to correct them when they are broken, necessarily must absolutely exclude slavery. This is universal.

Imprisonment is suffering for similar reasons. It is punishment and causes suffering, again, because it is a denial of natural relationships - a denial of the need to move, to work and to commune with others of our communities. Imprisonment is designed to punish specifically by breaking connections.

Thirst is a broken connection to our normal sources of water. Hunger is a loss of our relationship to our normal food sources. Lonliness is an obvious loss of relationships, relationships to our community. Every form of suffering of any real kind can be seen to be a disturbance, loss or denial of some normal relationships that are natural to our true selves - broken connections in the web.

Next time we will conclude our look at Compassion.

I have set before you life and death, blessings or curses. Oh that you would choose life, that you and your children might live. (Deuteronomy 30:19/20)

Man is different. We are completely unique among all of life. Unlike any other form of life we are not constrained by the web.

For every other life form the connections that it makes to the web are virtually a fixed set of relationships. A fish cannot devise a means to walk and fly. A bird cannot create a mechanism to stay submerged for long periods or to print a novel. Other forms of life have fixed connections upon which they depend and upon which the web relies for stability.

However, man has been freed from these restrictions. He is capable of rearranging his own connections in any way his imagination can conceive. We have devised ways to live in the most unhospitable of environments, from the deepest oceans to outer space. We are capable of conquering any environment and removing all other life that resides there.

Other life forms are completely dependent upon Compassion for their survival. The connections are their lives and they have no other choice but to rely upon Compassion to provide what they need.

Man can get what he wants. We, unlike other life forms, can materialize our ideas and thoughts. The power of this freedom leads us to believe that Compassion is not important. We are led to believe that what we think is important because what we think appears to have such grandiose effects. No wonder it has been common to believe that we are the only creatures with thought since only our thoughts have such significant effects.

From this it can be clearly seen that the reason that we were created, our purpose in the web, is to test the hypothesis that an organism that is freed from its fixed constraints to the web can persist. We, alone, can choose our relationships. We, alone, can actively deny Compassion, by denying the truth about ourselves and others, and by subverting the natural relationships. It would seem that Nature wants to know whether an organism that can choose to deny Compassion can learn to survive anyway. We are the experiment.

In spite of our special powers we are ultimately still dependent upon the web for survival. There is no existence without connectedness. We cannot be in isolation. These connections are far too complex to ever be fully within our control. The web is vast and intricate. Compassion is the ruler and law-giver that makes it stable. We have no hope of conquering Compassion. We cannot become the replacement for Compassion. Though we are offered the freedom to deny Compassion, it is a false freedom. In this way we do not differ from all the rest of life. We cannot deny Compassion and survive. We are the experiment of Nature to see if an organism that is given the ability to deny Compassion can learn to choose to serve Compassion anyway.

Man must solve the Compassion Imperative or perish. The Compassion Imperative is our fundamental, organismic, biological imperative. We must learn to actively affirm Compassion and find and take our given, natural place in the web. We have a place. That place is provided to us by the web. We cannot choose another place by force of will. The power of the web is much larger than our will. If we choose not to take our place we will be excluded entirely. There is no other place. Our place was designed especially for us by the web. It is suitable for us alone. Just as it is true that nothing else will fit in our place, we cannot take another’s place. If we do not choose to surrender to Compassion, then oblivion is our fate. There is only Compassion. To pursue anything else is futile.

There is much reason to hope that we can learn to choose to serve Compassion. Compassion is a universal convergence point. Every religion emphasizes Compassion as a fundamental tenent in one form or another. Human righton, animal righton, minority righton, every type of rights movement implicitly uses Compassion as its foundation. Wherever societies flourish and people thrive, Compassion is the source of their success. Every person has an understanding of suffering and its relief. It is not a giant leap, but only one more small step, to openly embrace Compassion above everything else. For clearly, nothing is more important.

Here ends this journey for me. We have barely scratched the topic of Compassion. The vastness of the topic makes a comprehensive survey impossible so an ending must be chosen arbitrarily.

Now it is for you to go forward. Serve Compassion with all those whom you touch. If we choose wisely and assist others in choosing wisely, and with luck, a compassionate society will be born. God speed.

How should we think about life and the living of it. Here I offer a metaphor that may be useful for that purpose.

Imagine that in one hand you are holding onto Compassion. Take your time to examine it. Explore it carefully and passionately. Recognize that this hand holds the most important thing. Examine it until you see this. Now close your fist firmly around it and with the other, second, hand do what you must do to live.

As you carry on with living with all the things you do with your second hand, pause frequently to open your first hand and contemplate what you hold there. Renew your intimacy with the object that lies resting in your palm. Then carefully close your grasp around that precious thing before returning your attention to the activities of your second hand. No matter how busy you may become never loose your grasp on that Compassion in your first hand.

The Compassion you hold onto will guide the actions of your other hand. You will naturally act in ways that allow you to give enough attention to your grasp of Compassion that it will never be forgotten, never given a minor status, never dropped from inattention.

Frequently you will find that what has come to lie in your second hand may not be compatible with what is in your first hand. At such moments open both hands and look down at both closely. If you become convinced that the thing in your second hand is not compatible with what is in your first, drop the thing in your second hand. Get rid of it.

If you ever begin to wonder if the thing in your second hand is more important than the Compassion that lies in your first, it is not. Stop and look again until you see this. If you do not do this you will inevitably drop the Compassion in your first hand. This would leave your second hand unconstrained towards all kinds of destructive actions.

Of course, none of us has perfect concentration nor the perfect ability to forsee the outcome of all of our actions. We learn day by day new ways our actions have effects. So it is inevitable that we will all drop that Compassion from time to time.Just get down on your hands and knees and feel around in the dark, inch by inch, until you find it again. It never rolls far away. Pick it up again, dust it off, and put it back into your fist. Forget about the incident; it is past. Each day is a new opportunity to hold Compassion again.

Holding onto Compassion is the source of Right Action.

A friend tells me he thinks you cannot get Compassion from a stone. I disagree. Most would agree feeding the starving is an act of Compassion. So when a government sends a shipment of food to a nation struggling with starvation I accept that as an act of Compassion. It may be true that the guy who actually unloads the food from the plane may not be thinking about the suffering of the people. It may be the only job he could find and he just wants to get it done and get home to Momma. That may be true for the entire crew on board the plane. In fact, I might go to each person involved in the decision to send humanitarian aid and each and every one of them may give me a reason for their contribution to the food delivery other than an empathy with the suffering of the starving people. Maybe the Minister of Foreign Affairs is acting on orders from the Prime Minister, and all the other bureaucrats have their own, personal self-interest in mind. To my mind the point is that the food is delivered and the hungry are fed and that means it is Compassion. I do not need any further certification of the act with respect to the feelings of anyone involved to know it as Compassion.

Similarly when a farmer plants his crop and harvests it and feeds his family with it, that is an act of Compassion. The hungry are fed. Suffering is relieved. Compassion. I’m not interested in what the farmer is feeling about what he is doing. I leave him to feel as he pleases so long as he feeds his family. No matter what feelings he may have about the act I see the act as Compassion.

But that farmer would not have his crop if he had not had the fertile soil. So the soil must be there for the farmer to have his crop and for him to feed his family. Therefore I must see the soil as an essential element in that act of Compassion - no soil, no Compassion. And that soil contains stones that contribute to the fertile quality of that soil. Hence I am inevitably lead to conclude that stones may act with Compassion.

If we did not have stones where would we stand. Where would we bury our dead. On what would we build our homes. All of life grows out of the lifeless. When a chain of events, a sequence of actions, leads to a final action that relieves suffering then each event in the chain has created that Compassion. I give each event its due. If any were missing the chain would be broken and the final act of Compassion would not be. Life itself originated from the lifeless. In the beginning it was the inanimate that gave rise to the animate. I will recognize every element for its contribution.

When we enlarge the meaning of the word Compassion in this way we gain a much deeper, fuller and more complete understanding of our place in the Natural Order.

Many Eastern religions and philosophy say that the self is an illusion, that there is no real self. I have always found this nonintuitive, after all I do seem to be here. But I have found some thought experiments that helped me to internalize an understanding of the illusion of self.

Suppose we are sitting together talking and I produce a living rabbit. I say, “Here is a rabbit.” Then I cut the rabbit exactly in half, right down the middle. Don’t worry. This is a thought experiment so no rabbit is ever actually harmed. Now we look at both halves of the rabbit and I ask you, “Now where is the rabbit?. Further suppose you decide to answer me, “There is no rabbit, only 2 half rabbits.”

Next I produce another rabbit and this time I cut off exactly one-fourth of the rabbit leaving a three-fourths part with it. We look at both pieces and I ask, “Now where’s the rabbit?. Again you answer me, “There is no rabbit, just one fourth and three fourths of a rabbit.. I produce a third rabbit this time cutting off exactly one-eighth and ask the same question and I get the same answer.

Suppose we continue in this way, cutting off less and less of each successive rabbit and you, rather stubbornly I must say, consistently answer that there is no rabbit, only parts of rabbits. Finally, with one rabbit I just trim the end of one toe nail and I point at the rabbit and the piece of toenail that I have removed and again ask, “Where is the rabbit?. If you are really stubborn and continue to insist there is no rabbit, then with my next rabbit I just sit for 10 minutes and wait for the few 100 or so skin cells of the rabbit to fall off in the process of normal skin exfoliation and ask again, “Where is the rabbit?”

This experiment makes it clear to me that what I am commonly calling a rabbit is a completely arbitrary definition of something that, in fact, never exists. The actual thing I am referring to when I say “rabbit” is just a mental image that does not actually correspond to anything of a real nature.

Now suppose we are walking together in the wilderness and we see a coyote hunting a rabbit. We stop to watch and the coyote catches the rabbit. The rabbit is struggling in the coyotes mouth and I ask you, “Where’s the rabbit?. Suppose you say, “It is in the coyote’s mouth.. We continue to watch as the coyote devours the rabbit. First he bites off a foot - crunch, crunch, swallow. The rabbit continues to struggle. I ask the same question and receive the same answer. But now I find the answer unsettling because the foot has already been swallowed. That foot was part of rabbit. Now is it still part of rabbit or is it now part of the coyote?

As we continue to watch the rabbit eventually stops struggling and the coyote devours the rabbit, piece by piece until everything has been consumed. When did the rabbit go. At what point in this process did the rabbit cease to be. When the rabbit pieces are in the bowels of the coyote they are digested into smaller and smaller pieces until finally they are decomposed into their chemical constituents, absorbed and incorporated into the tissues of the coyote. It must be clear that any choice we make about when the rabbit is and when it ceases to be is completely arbitrary. Furthermore, what was once rabbit has become coyote. When it is one thing and when it becomes the other is again completely arbitrary. Any choice that we make has no relationship to the actual identity of the thing from the point of view of the Natural Order.

If the rabbit became the coyote when it was fully digested then it must also have been the coyote when it was undigested pieces in the coyote’s stomach. If it was coyote when it was pieces in coyote’s stomach then it must have been coyote already when it was struggling in coyote’s mouth. If then, it must have been coyote when it was yet to be captured and still running for it’s life. If then, it must have been coyote before the coyote ever saw the rabbit. In fact it must have been coyote even before either coyote or rabbit were yet born.

From the point of view of the Natural Order what we are calling a coyote and a rabbit are just porous bags of molecules, sacks of energy wrapped by the sheerest gossamer netting. And these bags or sacks may come close to each other and then move farther apart, at times commingling so intimately that they seem to be one. But it is always a matter of distance, sometimes very short, sometimes farther apart. It is always a continuum with no intrinsic borders, limits or boundaries. This demonstrates clearly that there are no individual entities, only relative concentrations of energy coming and going with extreme dynamism. This observation has profound implications.

First, it becomes clear that from the point of view of the Natural Order there are no entities only actions, without entities that do the acting. Thus the web of connections that constitutes the Natural Order is all of the Natural Order and the nodes we may talk about between the connections are illusions. There are only connections.

Second, any actions of ours that arise from a idea of self, where self is different from some other, are actions based upon an illusion. When you hate me you hate yourself. When you kill me you kill yourself. When you help me you help yourself, you help every person, you help everything connected to the Natural Order.