BUT THEY’RE COUSINS...

Sunday, September 21. 2008

BUT THEY’RE COUSINS...

Rudy texted me the news, that the catty woman who drove up insulting Kell was actually Kell herself dressed as her cousin Sheila, mouthing the things she imagined Sheila would say. Sheila, meanwhile, was dressed as Kell and took the side of suburban domesticity. In that way, they processed their respective differences.
They continued the switch throughout the evening, to the consternation of Dad and Elanor. Rudy, meanwhile, saw through the ruse with his finely-tuned sense of scent. He confronted Kell (dressed as Sheila), who asked him to play along for a day. He did, not even coming clean with me although I’m away at college. (Thanks for the demonstration of trust, Rudy!)
The most amazing thing that happened during the switch was Gran coming to Kell’s defense during the exchange of hostilities. (I’m surprised Kell was able to hide her astonishment and stay in character.) At the end of the evening Kell and Sheila switched back so that Kell would sleep with Dad (of course!). It was at noon the next day that they dropped the routine. Elanor was furious; as a wolf who takes everything at face value she takes a dim view of subterfuge even in a benign setting as this. As for Dad, he’s laid back and nothing much surprises him, but this definitely did.
Addressing some of points raised on the blog after I logged off last week, domestication in the human world was created by humans but here...it’s a genetic condition. Do the domesticated miss something that a human would provide? I see no evidence of that.
It was wasn’t dangerous bringing friends around Coney, even before her protective instinct kicked in. Even as a carnivorous infant she would first observe how people interacted with her surroundings before attacking prey. If a member of her pack (us) brought a friend over she’d see that we were accepting of their presence and leave them alone.

Posted by Lindesfarne at 11:27 | Comments (41) | Trackbacks (0)

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Heh.

Ever see a movie called The_Parent_Trap?

I saw in your post of last week that you were talking about football. Which is more popular as a spectator sport, football or hunting? Is there a hunting professional league? Or a pro football league, for that matter?

A number of the pro teams of the NFL here take their names from carnivore species -- Falcons, Bears, Seahawks, etc. What are team names like there?

#1 Rob in Japan on 2008-09-21 11:45 (Reply)

We have football, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, etc., but competitive hunting is the most popular by far. Even herbivores watch it.
Sports teams are usually named after predator species here as well. Let's face it, a team named the "Koalas" wouldn't strike fear into the heart of any opponent.
Yes, I saw both Disney versions of "The Parent Trap." (The first was better.)

#2 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2008-09-21 11:56 (Reply)

Yeah, I've heard herbivores root for their own while watching competitive hunting, which is, pardon my ignorance, silly. That's like rooting for the ball while watching football!

And "The Koalas" would strike fear into you if you're a eucalyptus plant!

#2.1 Ken D. Lion on 2008-09-21 14:43 (Reply)

This is a bit off topic, but given the events of the last week it may be pertinent.
Go to your equivalent of http://www.generationaldynamics.com/ww2010.htm
and see what it says. Here, it projects an imminent period similar to the Great Depression/World War II one. Given that we have just had the weirdest week in Wall Street living memory, he may have a point. He has been doing a good job of making short term political and economic predictions using his "Generational Dynamics" method since 2002.
And BTW, did you have a hurricane a week ago? WE had one sweep Texas and get as far as here in Ohio.
I guess lapines don't have a good sense of smell compared to canines. Is Elanor losing her sense of smell in her old age (maybe Gran is just old too)?

#3 Thomas Mazanec (Link) on 2008-09-21 12:16 (Reply)

Yes, Hurricane Ike did a great deal of damage and misery on the Gulf, and even in the midwest states as it moved north. (We could have used the precipitation here.)
As for "Generational Dynamics," that sounds a little like Asimov's Hari Seldon.

#4 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2008-09-21 12:35 (Reply)

"Generational Dynamics" makes me think a little of a book I read in the early '90s, "Generations: A History of America's Future." The writer talked about generations falling into a pattern of "Idealistic," Reactive," "Civic," and "Adaptive" (as generation names never caught on until the Baby Boomers, examples of political leaders and Presidents from each would be Franklin, Washington, Jefferson, and Jackson). He also talked about American history tending to have "Great Crisises" and "Spiritual Awakenings" at certain times. The author felt America would be best able to handle another "Great Crisis" around 2020, give or take a few years. It got the attention of a US News & World Report reporter, and even one of the writers of a GURPS gaming book, suggesting it's use as a possible guide for 21st Century sci-fi campaigns.

Two of my online friends had to get away from Hurricane Ike as well.

#4.1 Bixyl Shuftan (Link) on 2008-09-21 15:12 (Reply)

we got plenty of ran form Ike were i am at but enough about me. i was wondering if you were secretly working of stabilizing your portal transportation system. if so i advised caution not a very strong human instinct but taken in context it can be very useful.

#5 e_voyager on 2008-09-21 12:58 (Reply)

Blast you, Lindesfarne! You had to title this entry that way! Now, I won't be able to get that inane theme song out of my mind for hours!

In other news, the Hadron Collider on our side sprung a liquid hydrogen leak and will be out of service for at least two months. Most of the other news is financial: two of our largest mortgage companies basically failed and our Stock Market (which has nothing directly to do with food, despite its name) lost almost a thousand points in two days. I won't comment any further on the financial situation since it would turn this into a political blog, which you don't want.

#6 CharlieG on 2008-09-21 12:58 (Reply)

Judging by the title, I'd say you not only saw The Parent Trap (both versions), but also The Patty Duke Show! Obvious question: what species is Patty Duke over there?

This also reminded me of The Prince and The Pauper; I would hope someone of your intellect is familiar with the classics. As an aspiring teacher (albeit History, not English/Literature), I appreciate young people who take interest beyond popular culture.

#7 ReFlex76 (Link) on 2008-09-21 13:11 (Reply)

"They walk alike, they talk alike. What a crazy pair..."
Yes, I'm evil.
In serious news, not only did we have the hurricane but apparently we had the same financial crises that occurred in the human world, necessitating a bailout by the federal government. Fortunately, Hare-Link wasn't affected.
To Voyager, I haven't done anything about portal transportation. I've just been receiving signals that come through it. That device is perfectly stable, but the signal strength is very low so the baud rate precludes anything except text. (Imagine the first primitive modems of the 1980s.)

#8 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2008-09-21 13:12 (Reply)

Heh, imagine it, I was there, and before. What a wonderous time that was. Everything was new, nothing was nundane. Good times.

#8.1 Mortar on 2008-10-02 00:58 (Reply)

Yes, I'm really familiar with the Prince and the Pauper.

I guess you have to know my personal history to know how much.
The actress Patty Duke is feline. Thank you, TV Land!

#9 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2008-09-21 13:29 (Reply)

Hey, Lindesfarne, did you know there was a Barbie version and Disney version of P&P? At least, in our world, there is. Barbie version is, of course, bad animation and kiddy stuff (What IS barbie in your world? A Bird of Paradise?), while the Disney version was more modern, starring Dylan and Cole Sprouse (What about them? Chameleons or something?). I've never seen either, myself.

#9.1 Josh Uzuki on 2008-09-21 14:17 (Reply)

Y'know, it's downright eerie how closely our worlds are parallel. Right down to weather patterns. One would think that chaos theory would suggest that a system as delicate as the weather would vary more...but I'm no scientist, so whatever.

I wonder if somewhere there's a human college student who is amazed that she has made contact with the animal world. Of course, the obvious parallel can't be made since you're over there...

2:40 AM in Japan! Signing off for now!

#10 Rob in Japan on 2008-09-21 13:47 (Reply)

Lindesfarne,

I wish hunting was more popular over here, then maybe we'd get some decent hunting shows on TV. I wonder what channel rudy watches when he wants to see some hunting on TV.

First question:How universal are species languages. IN other words, would a cat who speaks only french be able to communicate with a cat who speaks only english because they both speak "cat"?

Second question: Are you thinking of going to graduate school? Do you have any thoughts about what subject (would you stay with biomedical engineeringish stuff you have done in the past) or do something else?

#11 David D on 2008-09-21 14:01 (Reply)

You asked about domestication. Over here, the reason domesticated animals are really dependent on humans is we are their food source. We have a pet dog who, though getting old, could certainly take care of herself if necessary, but she gets her food from us. The cat could not take care of herself because of something done to her when she was a kitten, but she still likes food from us more than anything else. The reason domesticated species aren't more dependent on you is your domesticated herbivores can still forage well and if your carnivores can't hunt, they can still go to the supermarket and buy proper food.

#12 Selina Grace on 2008-09-21 14:11 (Reply)

What channel does Rudy watch when he wants to see hunting on TV? All of them, pretty much.

Yes, species languages are universal. To cite your example, a French cat and an English cat could communicate simply through speaking Feline even if neither understood the other's regional language. Regional languages are still vitally important, of course, for interspecies communication.
I'm definitely going to graduate school to pursue genetics.

Selina's comment about food sources being the main issue between human and non-human domestication seems to be on the mark.

#13 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2008-09-21 14:40 (Reply)

A (possibly too) personal question, Lindesfarne: are you going to make Fenton wait until you complete your post-graduate studies before the wedding?

#13.1 CharlieG on 2008-09-21 15:00 (Reply)

Regarding the bandwidth problems:

I wonder if it might not be possible to send lines of code through the portal, then re-compile them on the other side? I'm not sure exactly how it would be done (I'm a biochemist, not a computer expert), but I figured I'd check and see -- might solve some of these image problems.

#14 Koronak on 2008-09-21 14:53 (Reply)

Re bandwidth: The best I can figure is that information comes through the portal at 300 bit/s, so think we're pretty much stuck with text here.
I've told Fenton we have to wait until I get my B.A. I wouldn't be so cruel as to make him wait longer than that.

#15 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2008-09-21 15:18 (Reply)

It's good to hear that you're not going to make Fenton wait that long. He's been a perfect gentleman throughout your relationship: it would be unfair to the poor guy.

Also, why would you bother to create a portal transportation system at 300bits/sec? You already have the portal itself with an (effectively) infinite baud rate. All you have to do is get past the avian guards...

#15.1 CharlieG on 2008-09-21 15:51 (Reply)

The baud rate is fixed, unfortunately. It's only through this small accidental leakage that we're able to communicate at all.

#16 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2008-09-21 16:11 (Reply)

"I have been pondering this.

The Human world has a comic that somehow is following you/your family's activities...in real time, so it would seem.

How is this artist able to even get this information? Then, something hit me. So many of these modern computers and phones have audio/visual devices, linked right into them. What if this (or these) Human(s) have been nabbing information from them at a much higher bandwidth? One of the Human side posts said this comic's been going for years.

Of course, there are more radical theories that could explain this, too. But, I might save such notions for another time."

#16.1 jup-reindeer on 2008-09-21 21:06 (Reply)

Whee! I'm glad someone asked! (I seem to be in a good mood lately. Blame AWA.)
This might come as a shock to a few of you, but universal creativity ran out in the stone age. Hell, I'm not even sure it lasted that long. Artists, writers, and other people who "create" other worlds seem to have an innate ability to tap into other worlds and draw/write/whatever about what they see(?) there (Not entirely sure how it works. They may just sense it, and then put on paper/computer, thinking it came to them out of the blue). Since pretty much everyone has a bit of "creativity" in them, I'm thinking that it's a universal ability, but people like writers and artists just have it stronger than others.

This is just a theory, but if you think about it, it makes sense. Ask me how later, I've typed too much for now.

#16.1.1 Nifar on 2008-09-22 21:01 (Reply)

If I may, perhaps this "leakage" is not accidental. It could be ether an unavoidable side-effect of the portal, or perhaps it is intentional, and someone requires communication between the two worlds.

#16.2 Patch O'Black on 2008-09-25 12:50 (Reply)

Oh yeah, I forgot to factor in the number of users around here. I checked one picture I have, and even though you could get it through in about 30 seconds for smaller files, with that many downloads back through the portal to the other side...

At least going to your side the first time and returing/going to this side, since I suppose that, once they arrived, they'd be freely viewable on your side once they arrived, if this blog is hosted over there.

Hmm. I guess if one was able to somehow set up photo servers buffers on both sides, so that the photographs were taken from the local world's side only, you could theoretically just send over the ones you wanted to during off hours or something, then use the speed of a local world's internet to send it after that. Assuming you could find a way to get it working, anyway.

The other question, of course, being if this wouldn't start to introduce the human element to your world at too high a pace. I realize that the presence of humans is a bit much, but would photographs of humans do the same? For that matter, would the sudden presence of pictures of humans draw too much attention to you on your world? Over here, it would probably be dismissed as a photoshop or costume or something, but on your side? There are actually being watching, or at least used to be.

#17 Koronak on 2008-09-21 19:15 (Reply)

Oh yeah, I forgot to factor in the number of users around here. I checked one picture I have, and even though you could get it through in about 30 seconds for smaller files, with that many downloads back through the portal to the other side...

At least going to your side the first time and returing/going to this side, since I suppose that, once they arrived, they'd be freely viewable on your side once they arrived, if this blog is hosted over there.

Hmm. I guess if one was able to somehow set up photo servers on both sides, so that the photographs only had to be transferred across worlds once and then were sent from the local world's server, you could theoretically just send over the ones you wanted to during off hours or something, then use the speed of a local world's internet to send it after that. Assuming you could find a way to get it working, anyway.

The other question, of course, being if this wouldn't start to introduce too much of the human element. I realize that the presence of humans is causes trouble over there, but would photographs of humans do the same? For that matter, would the sudden presence of pictures of humans draw too much attention to you on your world?

#18 Koronak on 2008-09-21 21:14 (Reply)

Knowing the GBC any non avian who gets close to the portal would be disintegrated by a Model 4 Disintegrator Rifle... but if there lucky they may only get captured and shot with an Mark IX Echo Gun.

Also i heard about your plans to wed... May I make a suggestion... if you plan to get married why not get married on an Airship? I did. (Airship is another word for dirigible).

#19 Reptileus Concarna on 2008-09-21 21:49 (Reply)

Ooops, sorry. Didn't think that first one got through...

And I don't know how the comic guy as been getting info. I do know he has a link to this blog on his web site, but his info usually predates Lindesfarne's.

#20 Koronak on 2008-09-21 22:23 (Reply)

Hi, it's Sunday evening and I'm signing off until next week. I'll just address the issues raised in the last few postings.
I have no idea how the webcomic in the human world that's based on my family is created. The only webcartoonist that I know is Rudy, and the idea that he possesses some deep insight into an alternate dimension is somewhat frightening.
No, I hadn't considered being wed in a dirigible. I have to keep in mind, though, that not everyone on the guest list enjoys flight as much as I do.
And yes, too much exposure to humans has had dire consequences here. So far nothing has changed due to this blog, so I have no intention of taking it further just to be safe.
See you next week!

#21 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2008-09-21 22:28 (Reply)

"Ahhhh...I see. I see. The pieces are falling into place like a jig saw puzzle.

One: You, Lindesfarne, had actually visited the Human world. And returned.

Two: Your brother; aware of this or not? Either way, this direct and long term contact may have awakened a sub-conscious instinct of sorts.

Sub-note: There have been documentries about siblings that claim to know one another's thoughts, even over great distances. In the most radical cases, they can feel one another getting pinched, tickled, etc.

Three: We're establishing that our world and the Human world may very well have mirror image persons doing the same kinds of things as weather and events play out with mirror image equals...or slightly altered outcomes.

Four: (Correct me if I am remembering this wrong.) Your brother is writing a comic about Humans?

I propose that, on a very sub-conscious level, we might be looking at Rudy's Human counterpart, creating these comics. Neither are aware of this. Sharing each other's thoughts.

As a rule, we all live in the hear and now. The conscious realm. Our senses tell us where we are and what we are. The sub-conscious, though extremely important, is often reserved for the automatic things of life. Unless it screams out in attention, none of us are usually aware of it.

This is something extremely facinating. Going beyond portals, I would suspect. Equal siblings, born in opposing worlds.

Do not tell him this. Mention nothing about this link. If it were to inspire fear, he might mentally self destruct. The psyche is a fragile place, after all. Tamper with it's perception of reality and it might rebuild far stronger...or crash towards weakness.

No. I think this mind link is harmless enough if left untouched.

I also ponder if this instinct dampening and/or loss could be an issue from becoming aware of one's alternate form. By shining light into the unconscious mind, are we distracting ourselves in ways that could be dangerous...or beneficial?

As for bandwidth, I suspect this blog is split between two hosts, one on each side, syncing to make the low data flow possible for both sides to access at will. Much like how an IRC system works. Perhaps, it is a blessing that images are not being shared so easily.

#21.1 jup-reindeer on 2008-09-22 02:12 (Reply)

Give the... reindeer a... salt lick (?). Hmmm... That saying doesn't translate across species well, unless you have cookies too.

Anyway, I could be wrong in this particular case, but thats usually how these things work.

#21.1.1 Nifar on 2008-09-22 21:11 (Reply)

"-=Murrrrr...=-

A gift certificate to Ben & Jerry's Salt Bar does just as well. I've been known to mix a little ice cream on top of a salt lick for that sweet and salty effect. It always pays to know who is the best.

On a side note, I just had to chuckle very deep throated upon seeing Herd Thinner's (Inc) brand Salt Lick at the local grocers, the other week. Who are they kidding?"

#21.1.1.1 jup-reindeer on 2008-09-23 14:26 (Reply)

Dirigible...awkward.

If you did, somehow I expect the Universe would conspire to have representatives of your birth family show up, uninvited and unannounced...and lacking proper safety precautions...

#21.2 Tuyu on 2008-09-23 00:20 (Reply)

I know you won't respond to this reply, but hopefully you'll read it: I don't blame Rudy for keeping that secret from you. It's not necessarily that he expected you to blab on your blog while the ruse was still happening. He may have just wanted to let you experience the surprise as well. Surely you don't hate surprises.

#22 Classic Steve (Link) on 2008-09-22 08:58 (Reply)

Even without any distrust of any given person, there is a long held ssying in the security community: The probability of a secret being blown is proportional to the square of the number of people who know it.

Rudy finding out had already more than doubled the chance of it leaking, him telling Lindesfarne would have almost doubled it again.

#22.1 Chakat Firepaw on 2008-09-27 23:41 (Reply)

what confuses me is that ELENORE didn't catch on. Does the sense of smell go as you get older? I'm not sure if you have got this question before. (I'm actually responding for the first time. Last year, I read the whole webcomic, so Ima try blogging on here too.)

#23 mark burgner on 2008-09-23 07:26 (Reply)

Lindesfarne didn't, but I did. We hate to admit it, but yeah, the sense of smell in a carnivore does go as we get older; it's a really touchy subject. But it does make grocery stores a blessing.

#23.1 Terri the Tiger on 2008-09-30 21:58 (Reply)

About Rudy's apparent 'lack of trust:' Please remember, Lindesfarne, that when your mother 'asks' you to do something, it is often better described as an 'order.' I don't think I'd want Kell mad at me, and I'm a human on the other side of the portal!

All things considered, Rudy's actually not as bad a young man (fox/wolf) as he might appear to someone who's had to live with him. Younger brothers are always annoying, I know from experience. I am one myself...

#24 CharlieG on 2008-09-27 05:11 (Reply)

Indeed CG, but as all good things must come to an end, sooner or later those "annoying little brothers" reach 17 and then everything changes, soon they are attracted to a young female, then they state dating, then before anyone knows it they are "tagging" each other in secret (if you know what I mean).

Next thing you know "Oops I'm pregnant" then the two of them go off and get married. Then 2 or 3 years later your the one stuck watching that little "oops" wile the two of them are "tagging" each other again!

This brings up an interesting question... If Rudy and Fiona were to "dance the dance of life" (God forbid the disgusting thought" any idea if any offspring would be. You have 3 possibilities there, Red Fox, wolf and even (Tho unlikely) Fennec Fox. I would think it would be born a Red Fox seeing as both Rudy and Fiona have Red Fox all over their DNA.

#25 Reptileus Concarna on 2008-09-28 11:02 (Reply)

"There is a fourth possibility...DNA incompatability.

Especially where Foxes are concerned, or so I have read.

When it comes to cross breeding, it would seem to fully depend upon the species involved.

Some have aggressive genes. Others vary by many degrees towards the recessive. Then, some have such selective needs that cross breeding is near impossible, to begin with.

Fiona may very well fall under this third category. Especially since she is the female.

Depending on the goals of the relationship, this could be a good or bad thing. All the pleasure with none of the consequences, if you get my drift. Adoption is always available. Or, if Rudy can get the better of his territorial instincts, a fox mate for his wife for just such a family.

On the whole, only time will tell. They may prove to be more compatable then I suspect. The power of love has pulled many miracles. And, I am posting to the blog of a member of a family blessed with miracles, after all.

#25.1 jup-reindeer on 2008-09-29 14:12 (Reply)

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