ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE

Sunday, September 28. 2008

Danielle is coming to the Caliban Academy hunting competition this week as Rudy and his teammates play their archrival Domain High School. She, George and Francis will sit in the stands with Dad, Kell, Coney and Elanor. (Gran won’t be there; as the team’s conditioning coach her work is done by the time the competition starts.)
Danielle grew up with the human version of Gran as her mother, who (like her rabbit counterpart) had been a star athlete in her youth. Danielle never really took to sports for that reason, although she was intrigued by the emphasis on numbers. As a human child she mainly followed baseball just to keep up with batting averages, ERAs, etc. The actual games bored her.
Once here and transformed into a rabbit, she discovered the hunting competitions through Rudy. Hunting has a similar focus on numbers since the winner is determined through the size, weight and degree of difficulty of the prey. Danielle enjoys doing all that calculating in her head.
BTW, I’d like to clarify something about the town of Domain. Some of my human friends (Yes, I regard you as friends!) seem to think Domain is a big city, and others even believe it’s name of this planet...or universe! No, Domain is simply a small suburban bedroom community about ten to fifteen miles away from a big city. It’s part of a major metropolitan area, but it’s not significant in and of itself.
Except...that it’s home.

Posted by Lindesfarne at 12:49 | Comments (41) | Trackbacks (0)

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Hope Caliban wins!
Lindisfarne, I would like your take on an issue that is beginning to concern "techie" types here in the human world. It is the Singularity. This transcends politics or economics. It is the idea that in the next few decades, we will have the ability to either enhance our intelligence to hyper-human levels or build entities with such a level of intelligence (or both). The expectation is that when this happens, more inventions will be developed in days than were developed in decades before. And molecular nanotechnology will allow them to explode into the world's population overnight. One such discovery may be a way of enhancing intelligence still further. All possible progress will be made in a historical instant.
There was a firefly I believe you knew. He had his intelligence raised to a level where he felt all alone, IIRC, and decided to have it lowered back. But what if everyone could have "top IQ"? Would you like to have an intelligence raised to a level which would make Einstein or Hawking seem like Daisy the plant, if everybody had this? What about an economy based on every person having an abundance instead of a scarcity? What about going overnight from "Stone Age" to "Space Age"? Since you are a "techie" yourself, I wonder if you have the concept there and what your take on it is, if you do.

#1 Thomas Mazanec (Link) on 2008-09-28 13:23 (Reply)

It's amazing to consider how we humans make amazing progress in the speed of our progress. More amazing still is how mundane it gets once invented.

Intelligence is one of those things that requires lots of power. From an entropy standpoint it's a matter of refining the variables. Everything is a matter of tuning the details to greater degrees. I'm sure we'd reach a point where no amount of energy on earth could sustain intelligence bigger than a certain quotient.

Then you have the problem of latency, large animals with large brains may be very smart indeed. But because their brains are so big; they think very slowly. It's all a matter of getting coherence from one side of the mind to the other.

No matter how clever your hardware (or wetware) your going to run into barriers with both of those issues. No magic inventions will remove them.

Although the result may still be smarter than us.

#1.1 Martin on 2008-10-03 02:01 (Reply)

I fully understand what you mean Ms. Dewclaw. my home is very precious to me as well though i leave it more then 105 hours a week on average.

While you hunting interests me i don't think i could be happy in domain for long regardless of what form, i arrived in. your aunt has show a ability that is the staple of her kind but for me the greatest challenge would bee that all like there is self aware and well intelligence even if a number of them are stupid that all have ways to speak and interact with some one. its like if you were to stalk Ray or some other insect that you know only to see them live and realized that they are like yourself. that if why I'm sure predators are not supposed to talk to there pray because if you identify with some one that's one your food chain then you aren't comfortable eating them. your mother Kell would understand what i mean. perhaps it started out as wanting to avoid hurting you father relatives out of loyalty to her less the friendly extended family but it became more then that before she realized it. even before she know that her bother had a child as well. one more then i find puzzling in the case with you nephew Frances. form the two previous cases it would seem that mixed couples have off spring favor either the herbivore parent in appearance or off spring that display visible characteristics of both parents such as in the case with the nice lady Cabbit that your mother met at the inter-species support meeting. (i've meet cabbit before four of which became spaceships with provoked ) and i found that they are generally nice people and i think i'm rambling.

Oh yes my question. do you think your aunts interdimensional origin had anything to do with Frances long dormant spices instincts showing up? and has he been clinging to his mother on his own ?

One more thing Reading some of the post last week has lead me to proposed to others of my kind that the loss of instinct form human awareness in you world could be a subconscious suppression of owns own instincts because of a link o the human would. humans suppress a thousands more more instinctual reactions constantly as with out suppression they would overwhelm the population of most human worlds and imagine the population of the wild going truly feral and living in the city. that is would would happen. humans are only a little less volatile then ants even when not aroused in most dimensional.

#2 e_voyager on 2008-09-28 13:25 (Reply)

As a geneticist I'm very much aware of the impact that my work might have. In face, I seem to be more aware of that than many of my colleagues! That said, the decisions about future applications of technology need to be made by a well-informed population...and by leaders who support science and don't undermine it.
Nanotechnology and the prospect of increasing one's intelligence would fall into this realm. (Wow, you even know about Ray???)

#3 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2008-09-28 14:05 (Reply)

To Voyager, I have my theories about why Francis is the way he is, some of which involve residual human DNA lurking within Danielle's genome. I've been though the portal three times myself, however, and by testing myself I know I have a 100% hedgehog genome.
As far as instincts go, by limiting my human contact to writing this blog one day a week I haven't experienced any change in my behavior. Whew!

#4 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2008-09-28 14:11 (Reply)

I have a question regarding instincts, for both you and Dannielle. Since you are both originally human and crossed over into that world, how did you gain your instincts, or have you even? It's already been documented that contact with humans is what causes instinct loss, so can humans themselves gain instincts by crossing over?

#4.1 Phadin on 2008-10-03 14:54 (Reply)

humans do have instincts. on top of that human babies are more or less fearless this is why human parents must look after them less they cause themselves harm. it's not hard to use their instincts but they aren't very good at interpreting them as humans are thought form a very young age to suppress them

#4.1.1 e_voyager on 2008-10-03 21:28 (Reply)

What? Human babies are fearless? Does your race have no enemies? After all, the only species I have ever heard of with fearless young are so well protected to begin with, they'd have no need for the instinct of fear...or much for survival. The kind that make such fierce soldiers that they can counter a battle tank.

#4.1.1.1 jup-reindeer on 2008-10-05 01:38 (Reply)

Good afternoon, Lindesfarne-san!

I have finally returned from my trip and caught up with all of the recent happinings in the Domain and everywhere else and I finally have time to write. I do hope that Caliban wins and Rudy does well. I wanted to ask if you thought it was possible for humans, since we repress thousands of instinctual reactions constantly, to eventually become animals? Oh yes and what are the limits between the interspecies marriges? (i.e. A bat and a fox or a wolf and a sheep) childern wise also.

#5 Jak Trina on 2008-09-28 14:54 (Reply)

I was reading what CharlieG siad about little brothers on the preveus week's post and I have somthing to say:

They may be annoying now 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.

#6 Reptileus Concarna on 2008-09-28 14:57 (Reply)

Wait...Rudy ISN'T pure wolf?

#6.1 jup-reindeer on 2008-09-29 14:48 (Reply)

Rudy is half wolf, half red fox. (According to the webcomic, his father, Randy Foxglove, was stepped on and killed by a moose when Rudy was three years old.)

Fiona is half fennec fox, half red fox.

Most likely, if they have offspring together, the child will be vulpine.

#6.1.1 Dani on 2008-10-05 04:57 (Reply)

To Jak Trina: Obviously, yes, it is possible for humans to become animals. Both Danielle and myself took that particular journey.

In my world there don't seem to be many biological limits on interspecies marriages; just the social taboos. As for the resulting offspring...I someday intend to find out myself what happens between a bat and a hedgehog.

To Reptileus: The mental image of Rudy and Fiona... ICK!

#7 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2008-09-28 15:20 (Reply)

I'm in agreement with you there Barbie but seeing as I have a degree in family planning and your planning to get married sometime within the next 2 to 3 years you may want to plan ahead for the eventual day when your brother does something stupid and you get caught in the middle.

Also when you and Bat boy also decide to start "tagging" each other you may want to think about what unsettling side effects it may have on you parents.

#8 Reptileus Concarna on 2008-09-28 15:52 (Reply)

"When" Rudy does something stupid? Try "if"! I think the boy has shown unusual maturity for his years -- certainly more than I did at his age!

#8.1 Terri the Tiger on 2008-09-30 22:06 (Reply)

To Reptileus Concarna:
Note in my statements last week that I said I was a younger brother. Even though I'm 56 years old now, that status doesn't change. My age gives me enough perspective to realize how much of an annoyance I was then... and still can be.

To Reptileus and Lindesfarne:
With three-quarters of the genetics of any prospective offspring from Fiona and Rudy being vulpine, any child they have will almost have to be basically vulpine. One quarter Fennec, half Red Fox and one quarter Wolf. Maybe a fox who howls at the moon?

To Lindesfarne:
As a younger brother I'll tell you something of which I'm certain: your reaction to the "mental image of Rudy and Fiona..." is absolutely identical to Rudy's mental image of you and Fenton! Enough said?

#9 CharlieG on 2008-09-28 15:55 (Reply)

So if you're nocturnal, why are you answering all of our questions during the day? Shouldn't you be sleeping right about now?

#10 Holly on 2008-09-28 16:26 (Reply)

Thank you Mr. Obvious for your insight into the prospective offspring but my question was to Lindesfarne as I wanted to know her opinion on the matter.

As for the mental image I have thus far not tried to Imogen and hope to Valhalla, Buddha, Flying spaghetti monster or whoever is up there that I never see that.

As to why I care about this situation or any insight into it lets put it this way... I've been working as a security guard at the clearing for 19 years now (no it was not my first choice, my first choice was to be a detective but that got hung up to dry) and within those 19 years you want to know what I've done. I've helped to people. Very rarely does someone come by so often that I get to know them so well. So when 2 couples come by asking me if there is a place they can hang around without others whispering or staring I offer it.

Now over time I get to know thies kids, I offer a place for them to sit. I offer a place to hide, and when I feel like it I offer a solder to cry on and tell about their problems. Now if that's not enough for you, being what I am I can tell a lot about people just by keeping an eye on them. The guy who cleans the food Cort is battling cancer and is having to pull twice the amount of shifts in order to make ends meet. The young girl who runs the cash resister at hot topic has a 2 year old little boy, all because of the poor judgements of an abusive father.

It sucks when You can tell a persons life needs cheering up and you can't do anything about it, but when you notice such things with people who you know on a much higher level. But it sucks more because if you try to help... It can make things a lot worse... I want you all to think about that for a bit, especially you Lindesfarne. And if any of you have any questions... tough luck, I'm heading home because I've been working a 16 hour shift and I sure as hell am sick of sticking around here.

#11 Reptileus Concarna on 2008-09-28 19:00 (Reply)

"I’d like to clarify something about the town of Domain. Some of my human friends (Yes, I regard you as friends!) seem to think Domain is a big city, and others even believe it’s name of this planet...or universe! No, Domain is simply a small suburban bedroom community about ten to fifteen miles away from a big city. It’s part of a major metropolitan area, but it’s not significant in and of itself.
Except...that it’s home."

If I caused any of the confusion, Lindesfarne, my apologies. I had the impression it was a small to medium-sized city, but may have called your side of the portal the "Domain universe" to distinguish it from ours.

To Thomas Mazanec, I heard a little about that. Most notably some futurist predicting a nanotech therapy that would improve inteligence and memory somewhat, though not by nearly the lengths you were suggesting, some decades from now. He did foresee that people might be having to take it in order to get certain jobs.

Some years ago, I had some conversations with another friend. He thought it would be more important to have a more rational population, more clear thinking and less prone to foolish and destructive behavior, than a smarter one.

#12 Bixyl Shuftan (Link) on 2008-09-28 19:13 (Reply)

I've known for a bit that Domain is a suburb, but near and in the area known as "The Wild", some thing appear to blur.
Like, for instance, the using of clothes. We humans very much need them, for quite a few reasons, but do the inhabitants of Domain use them only to announce social status?
For instance, would you and Rudy have had any problems if Fiona and Fenton had decided to visit that theme park at the time you and your family volunteered to be hired as part of the exhibits?

#13 The J.A.M. on 2008-09-28 19:30 (Reply)

Everyone! Please, is it not clear to you that discussing Rudy and Fiona in this manner is uncomfortable for Lindesfarne?

Yes, I realize that speculation on their offspring doesn't seem that far removed from speculating about Francis and his genetic origins, but there is a big difference...namely that there is a personal distance maintained for Lindesfarne when contemplating her aunt and nephew that's not there when people bring up her stepbrother and friend.

Just...be a little respectful of the limits that Lindesfarne is trying to keep on her blog. ^_~

#14 Dani on 2008-09-28 20:04 (Reply)

As I write this it's 3:00 a.m. What time is it in your dimension?

While humans apparently need clothing for warmth and protection, here they do indeed mainly announce one's status as a member of civilization. Of course, we share with humans the habit of using them as fashion statements. (And I'm really glad no one I know saw me at that theme park!)

#15 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2008-09-28 20:11 (Reply)

Not even Fenton? I hear his sonar is quite powerful...

So you were in an exhibit all by yourself until the owners threw all of your family out, apparently, without time to pick up your stuff? I don't think Rudy had any problems with the situation, though...

11 pm here

#15.1 The J.A.M. on 2008-09-29 00:31 (Reply)

...Especially Fenton. Good night, everyone!

#15.1.1 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2008-09-29 01:21 (Reply)

Hmm...I'm beginning to wonder if the whole Theme Park thing wasn't totally "voluntary" on your part, but more like a very strong insistence from your dad?

#15.1.1.1 The J.A.M. on 2008-10-02 10:57 (Reply)

humans are neither nocturnal nor Diurnal. the function during all hours of the days as it were. i function mostly myself (work travel) between the hours of 8pm 3pm. it is currently 4 pm where i am but I'm on my way to sleep now my task for today complete and my work schedule for tonight clear. take care and remember to have fun as you can.

#15.2 e_voyager on 2008-09-29 17:22 (Reply)

G'morning ladies, gentlemen, and those somewhere in between.

Yeah, it's morning here too, but I'm not actually home right now. Thought you might like to know that I'm currently sitting in an internet cafe in a universe populated by both humans and sentient animals. What this means is that pretty much any world that that has internet and some connections to the world of Domain should have access to this site.

Yes I realize the Domain isn't the name of the world, but it's a decent way to differentiate Lindesfarne's world from any others that use Earth as the name for a planet.

#16 Nifar on 2008-09-28 21:15 (Reply)

It's not that strange, universe designations typically end up either being an index number, some part of the navigational data to get there, or something about it that was noticed early on. Of the three the last is the one most likely to be actually used for day-to-day references. So, because our early interactions have to do with a town by the name of Domain, the universe gets that as a tag.

Heck, I live in a country who's name means "the village" in the language of one of the aboriginal tribes who lived here when explorers arrived. Take a translator who doesn't quite know the local lingo and mix with having to put something on the early reports....

#16.1 Chakat Firepaw on 2008-10-04 02:50 (Reply)

I've been meaning to ask you, Lindesfarne. In some earlier comics, you were quite obsesses with a star before you learned your human origins. Does that star have a name, or is it one you discovered? Also, what was so interesting about it?

Anyways, back on topic, I can't wait to see Rudy and his team on the hunting games again. Best wishes to the team.

#17 Jumanji (Link) on 2008-09-28 21:38 (Reply)

I relate to Daniel insofar as the numbers tend to interest me more than the action, apart from soccer scores. What's a typical final score for a high school hunting match? (I don't expect you to research averages or anything.)

Probably most humans who read the associated comic strip know that Domain is only a town or suburb, but they like to use its name as shorthand for the world in which you live. We're pretty sure that despite all the parallels, the human world doesn't include any place called Domain.

#18 Classic Steve (Link) on 2008-09-28 21:38 (Reply)

Actually.. I should point out that it's very likely there's a place named "Domain".. perhaps somewhere even in the USA itself.
For instance, with the Sci-Fi show "Eureka"... there are at LEAST two or three real-life Eureka cities. I know of one for sure up in Canada. The human Earth's Domain might not be near Atlanta, but..well. We have a small suburb city named "Alpharetta". If a name like Alpharetta can exist.. the odds are highly in favor of a suburb city named Domain.

#18.1 Teonnyn (Link) on 2008-09-29 14:51 (Reply)

Good old Alpharetta...right down the Street on GA 400 from Cumming. And yes...lived there...lol
Here in ohio there is a town called utopia...interesting place that.
The question I have is this..is there paranormal researchers there in The Other side so to speak. Am curious about this due to some of my own research into the folklore that i study and am actually involved with a group also. Interesting as to what species that they are and possibly where they go also. would be interesting if the same sites are studied.

#18.1.1 Ghost Rider on 2008-09-30 02:53 (Reply)

Mr. Rider: I believe I recollect an earlier post, in which Ms. Lindesfarne had mentioned a 'ghost whisperer' helping Rudy's late father to resolve some issues and move on. If this Human cartoonist has included this episode in his webcomic, you might check the archive to find out more.

After all, we on this side are as mortal as you (I think); and hence have as much interest in the possibility of an afterlife. While paranormal research is generally dominated by Felines, the psychic faculty, being as it is an extension of normal animal instincts, can be cultivated by any species. I recall a rabbit couple, in fact, named Warren, who were quite prominent in this field of inquiry.

I hope this satisfies your curiosity. 7@=e

#18.1.1.1 Lucius Appaloosius on 2008-10-01 21:37 (Reply)

Thanks Lucius!
I did go back in the archives and see that...Must have been the time my computer crashed. Thought I went back far enough...I was wrong... Since I do not get the only paper that the comic is in i missed it.
It is a very odd coincedence that you mentioned cats. As an Animal lover and um..well.."servant" to 2 cats (Int his world it should be stated that cats are not "owned" but that they tolerate thier huan companions...lol) I have noticed that they are more "in tune" lately with certain things. Such as this aspect. The place i reside is a place that IS haunted. Not only has my crew investigated it but also another crew. Both came back with the same results. Both felines tend to stare at the same place and at the same time. I know of another group that thier canine goes out with them and is usually the one to "find" interesting items so to speak. Do you get a show with the group TAPS? would be intersting to see if they are there also and what species they are there. Thanks again!

#18.1.1.1.1 Ghost Rider on 2008-10-03 02:41 (Reply)

Does that webcomic leave nothing out?
Yes, I do have an interest in a certain star in the sky. At this point in time, though, I can't divulge the reason or which one it is. It's a common star, visible with an ordinary telescope, and is already designated by the International Astronomical Union.

A typical score of a hunting competition is 35-10, or 28-17, or 45-42.

#19 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2008-09-28 22:26 (Reply)

The worst thing is, not only does the webcomic leave nothing out, it has an archive, so that while you might forget something from years ago, we never will.

#20 Greg (Link) on 2008-09-29 21:49 (Reply)

Actually, that's quite honerable to have one's life forever recorded. So many details that can be forgotten by the less-then-reliable memories of the mind.

I do wonder in how many mirror realms this may be happening, though. Kind of reminds me of an old Fox show called Sliders, where an invention permits jumping between different realities. Their notion supported a near infinite number of them, where mild decisions lead to the wildest of outcomes.

#20.1 jup-reindeer on 2008-09-30 14:54 (Reply)

I loved that show.

As for how many universes/worlds/mirror realms/whatever word we're using now there are, the popular theory among those who believe in them is that there are and infinite number of them, some so wildly different from what you're use to that you wouldn't be able to comprehend what you're seeing, and some almost identical, except for the placement of an atom or two.

I suggest that you pick up the book "Fuzzy Dice" if you can find it. It's almost complete fiction, but it does make good usage of several theories on the subject.

#20.1.1 Nifar on 2008-10-01 19:22 (Reply)

Some say home is where the heart is. Others say home is where you hang your hat. Yet others believe home is where-ever they lay their head for the night. Some folks migrate from place to place, while others settle down in one spot for generations. I think home is what you make of it.

#21 Patch O'Black on 2008-09-30 12:14 (Reply)

Well, that explains why I don't like any sports, I HATE math. (Call me literature/history oriented)

#22 Backup on 2008-10-02 00:45 (Reply)

Not all sports uses complex math. Hoof scratch a line in the dirt per point until so many lines are formed. Almost art over addition.

So, I wouldn't be a hater of all sports.

This barbaric hunting competition, though. Well, it's no fun to see an innocent being taken down, robbed, weighed and scored for some predator's pride tally. It's......somebody should put an end to these cruel things.

#23 jup-reindeer on 2008-10-03 01:27 (Reply)

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