Political Progress, Severe SWAT, Riotous Raccoons, Diminutive Dwellings, and Interest Intelligence

This entry is part [part not set] of 100 in the series Today's Tidbits

In the feed today is a totally adorable video of people feeding a whole passel of raccoons in a parking lot.

It’s one of the stupidest things I’ve seen people do on the Internet today. (That’s saying a lot.)

I grew up in the woods. I’ve had numerous “close encounters” with raccoons. They’ve all been amusing. But that doesn’t mean I go out of my way to interact with these critters. It’s typical to see three, maybe four raccoons trundling along in the dusk… especially if there’s a trash bin nearby. But, more often, you’ll see solitary ones or pairs doing their thing. If you’re in an area where you see this often, they probably won’t dash off when they see you–they’ll just continue on their way.

That, in and of itself, is kind of a problem. It means they’ve gotten used to humans being around them. It also gives the false impression that they’re really okay with humans being around them and can easily lead to people thinking, “Hey, let’s play with the cute animals!”

Which is a very bad idea.

In the video there are more than two dozen raccoons gathered around this nimrod who’s handing out Doritos. In a parking lot. During daylight.

That is not typical in any way, shape, or form.

This is a whole colony of raccoons who have been trained out of most of their natural habits–being nocturnal, not grouping up, showing at least some minor trepidation when humans are around, actually foraging for food. No doubt this has occurred after years of people feeding them in that parking lot (which I’m guessing is for a park of some sort).

Here’s what this sort of thing leads to…

  • A bunch of raccoons that can easily catch and spread disease–not just among themselves, but over to humans, too
  • A situation where someone is more apt to get bit or scratched or otherwise wounded by a raccoon (which never ends well for the raccoons in the area)
  • A hazard for pets and other animals (not to mention children)
  • A game of Russian roulette as to when that cute and passive gaggle of fuzzies is going to decide you most certain are not done feeding them as they swarm you

These are wild animals, people. They should be treated with some amount of respect and, whenever possible, left to their own devices.

Unless you like the idea of going though treatment for potential rabies infection. If that’s the case, then by all means go snuggle with those little banditos.

Year Seven

DC Capitol Police[This was originally posted in 2008 on my LiveJournal]

For all the posturing and pontificating of the politicians in charge of things, you’d think the world was an infinitely safer place (thought not quite yet safe enough for us to actually feel safe, mind you–still have to keep spending all that money and adding new measures for our own safety, y’know).

The simple fact is: it isn’t.

If anything, we’re in more actual danger now than we were before. As economic times get tough–as that belt tightens and the challenge of putting food on the table spreads to more and more citizens who were used to being pretty OK gets added to all the other stresses of modern life–friction among the classes heats up. Add to that the still increasing rhetoric about unseen enemies and how our own political parties (whichever one the speaker isn’t part of) are just out for themselves and looking to screw you over and we’re potentially in a powder keg playing with matches.

Yes, I’m negative and cynical on this point. And days like today–especially during weeks like this week (where not only am I stressed out by work but also had to walk through a swarm of cops, some with automatic weapons, on my way to work yesterday)–bring that out in spades.

September 11, 2001… I was a reporter when it happened… it and what followed most certainly didn’t change most things for the better.

It’s an ongoing thing. (Read what I’ve written in years past with that link… I’ll come up with something more coherent when I’m done with work.)

Six Years

War [Without End] on Terror[This was originally posted in 2007 on my LiveJournal]

I’ve said it all before.

In summation, we have been destroying ourselves.

No one needs to attack us again. We have done and continue to do more damage to what I consider the heart and soul of the American Ideal, the grand dream this country represented for a very long time.

Our leaders continue to disrespect the memories and destroyed lives of the more than 6,000 people who have passed on our side of the conflict (those in the initial attacks and those who have died on the actual battlefield).

Our blindly “patriotic” and scared countrymen are blind to the forces that influence them.

Our “bold and outspoken” representatives on the other side of the argument continue to be ineffective and dull.

Our “enemy” continues to be poorly defined and, in my opinion, exaggerated to nonsensical levels.

We have been destroying ourselves.

Infinitely more effective for our real enemies. They need do nothing but sit, watch and then come in to sweep up the shattered, withering pieces.