syrinx

a to z

• A is for Anger
  One of my current topics for reflection has been anger. The APA web site has a topic heading as well as some pamphlets and news links.

• Get angry when hungry? Blame low serotonin.
  Brain chemical is key for keeping aggression in check, study finds - in which researchers manipulated
  

  serotonin levels in 20 healthy volunteers who were then asked to play a situation game that tested their responses to fair and unfair offers of money.

  tags: humor depression torture ethics anger milgram yale abu ghraib

Bad cat - better not come back!

Naughty Cat caught lurking in the grass behind the fence watching the bird feeder with its name tag on and everything. I foisted a rock in its general direction, not having a grail or a Frenchman around, besides it was much too windy for Monty Python jokes at the time, as you can tell by the dumb expression on the cat's face.
I think I saw this cat out for a walk/run yesterday with a human on a leash, so I will put off spending $80 on a Havahart trap. But if I do have to trap a stray nuisance animal, I don't think I will have a problem taking it to the Humane Society and dropping it off so they can charge the owner for room and board and a refresher on the stray animal ordinance.

tags: humor satire cats stray ethics animals humane surplus population monty python jonathan swift

What does one do about "stray animals" in one's backyard that have become a "nuisance"? Specifically, what can you do about cats that stalk birds around your bird feeder, when adopting a dog as guard dog is not an option?

The butterflies in the backyard don't seem to be in danger, but the bird feeder not only attracts birds, but the birds seem to attract well fed, unleashed, domestic cats with collars and tags and everything, who take a great deal of interest in stalking birds.

tags: animal cat bird kills ny times stray control nuisance ethics