I guess we’ve all (and by “all,” I guess I mean me, Sue, and Sunshine Jim) seen Barack Obama nailing that pesky fly during a teevee interview by now. Well, so has PETA, and they are not amused. Because they “support compassion even for the most curious, smallest and least sympathetic animals,” they’re sending the president a “Humane Bug Catcher.” Setting aside the whole “insects aren’t animals” argument, I can’t disagree with that.
I don’t especially like killing flies (except for deer flies and black flies, but they’re generally asking for it) or other insects (well, except for mosquitoes, of course – again, if they weren’t fucking with me, I’d leave them alone, too; it does say something about me – and most people, I guess – that I feel justified in killing, just because a creature is annoying me), and happily trap and release them whenever possible. It’s just that they don’t seem to understand my benevolent intentions, and they often refuse to fly out the door when I open it for them.
So I thought maybe this bug catcher thing would be cool. Something you could leave out for an hour, and then all the bugs in the house would be in there noshing on some bait, and patiently waiting for you to set them free to finish out whatever remains of their 20 day lifespan. Then I went and looked at the thing.
The Katcha Bug ™ Humane Bug Catcher is basically a stick with a box on the end of it. The directions for use say,
Simply place Katcha Bug over the bug and slowly slide its plastic trapdoor shut.
[…]
You’ll have no problem catching even large spiders with this handy gadget. Katcha Bug measures 9 inches in length, so you won’t have to get too close for comfort.
Uh, OK. That might work for flies that are already dead (or are really stupid; I once rode in the back of a van that was infested with huge, slow, and really stupid flies from Buffalo to Cleveland to see a Dead concert. These flies would more or less let you pick them up and pet them – or step on them. I think they were doing mushrooms. Oh, wait, that was me), but the average fly doesn’t typically just sit there while you “simply place” a box over it.
If they did, I wouldn’t need an $8 box mounted on a 9″ stick. As for spiders, a shoebox with a piece of paper works quite nicely. Except, why would I want to evict a spider in the first place? They catch the goddamn flies and eat ’em so I don’t have to (catch them, that is; I only eat them while riding a bike with my mouth open).
I wonder if PETA disapproves of spiders, too?
Wow, Chimpy gave a speech in which he criticized Obama’s monetary policy saying that you can spend your money better than the gummint. I guess he forgot how that policy worked out.
I think that bug trapper from Peta is VERY humane because no bug, ‘cept a dead one,could possibly be caught by it, especially if I were doing the capturing. I just found aphids all over my plants and I sprayed them. I hope Peta doesn’t read this.
Of course I could have released a gazillion lady bugs in the house. I’m not sure the aphids would prefer to be eaten, though. But what would I do with the lady bugs after they’d eaten their fill?
Today at the NY Senate Circus:
The Bronx politician at the center of the Albany coup has new problems, CBS 2 has learned exclusively. Official documents we obtained show Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. listed his residence as a home in Mamaroneck, not his Bronx district.
http://wcbstv.com/politics/pedro.espada.bronx.2.1048788.html
My personal policy concerning flies and other insects is as follows:
If I invite you in, make yourself at home.
If you come in uninvited, be sure to have your personal affairs in order, because you may not make it out alive.
I have the same policy for humans, by the way.
This is so tempting….
This is so tempting….
You should definitely get together with Vernon and go to that. And have Lewis Black sign a copy of the Jerusalem Syndrome.
Finally, our State Senators come to an agreement:
– Statement from Marissa Shorenstein, spokeswoman for Gov. David Paterson
My state senators make me so proud. I heard that Pedro Espada has accused the Dems of racism because one of them called him “that guy from the Bronx” and Espada says we know what that means.
I’m relieved that they’re receiving their pay. I worry about their comfort.
Are there any members of the state Repubs who are Latino?
I think somebody should humanely capture the whole lot of them, and release ’em in the woods. Preferably in Canada somewhere (not that I wish these insects on you, Sunshine Jim; maybe up in the Yukon territory).
Just thinking of more PETA sins of mine. I had to bomb the house last month and was free of most critters until some fruit flies popped up but then again I sealed off the kitchen. And then there is always mailing toxic ant chalk across state lines.
I stopped by and picked up a ticket for Maron/Black on the way home today. Turns out it is general admission unless you spring for the $75 ticket. It is a cool little theatre where they do the City Arts and Lectures series that is on many public radio stations. I saw Harry Shearer do a mixed media show and a music show there as well as Stephen Colbert. My friend Joe graduated from HS there last week.
Sounds like a great show. I wish I could go. Not much chance of anybody coming here, though.
Maron said he would try to document it somehow. Black will be in the Break Room next week.
Oh, cool. I’m a couple days behind in my BRLs.
I think releasing them in Alaska, PJ, is the only equitable solution. It would pain me to think of them as the beneficiaries of universal health care. I would prefer that they be denied fed funds for weatherproofing whatever abodes they can find…also.
I’ve struggled with whether to mention this or not. I’m not absolutely positive, and, because of that, I’m not going to discuss some of the information I have. But, anyways….
I think Fred passed away on April 23, 2009. Fred, if I’m wrong and you’re still out there, please let me know.
When Fred registered here, he entered a “real name.” You don’t need to enter your actual name; some do, some don’t. The name that Fred used shows up as a volunteer at a certain church in Colorado. They have a newsletter and Fred shows up in it up through May, 2008.
The last post here from Fred was May 15, 2008.
There’s no mention of Fred in the church newsletter until this:
The newspaper in that area doesn’t keep obits past 30 days, so I can’t check any further.
I wonder if Fred got sick in May, 2008, and that’s why we stopped hearing from him. I just don’t know.
Well, anyhow, peace to you, wherever you are, Fred.
That is very sad and I hope you are wrong but it sounds like you may have something. I don’t see Fred as a church type but you never know. You could always call the church but I guess that does not establish that it was our Fred.
Fred mentioned once that he volunteered to feed the homeless, which seems like a church type of thing. As a volunteer, he’s mentioned as “Media Technician” and in some newsletters, he’s thanked “for computer support.”
Sounds like Fred to me.
I think Fred was – as we all are – a complex individual, and maybe his “grumpiness” was a result of his not feeling well. I dunno. But it’s sad to think that at least three “seditionists” have passed away.
Especially as we appear to be near the end of things here.
Peace, Fred. Your machine gun posts are missed.
That’s sad about Fred. I wonder why he didn’t want to let us know he was ill?
Who knows? Could have been something sudden, could have been pride, could be I’m totally wrong, and Fred is fine.
I think you are right pj he disappeared so suddenly- could have been a stroke. He was so consistent with his postings and then nothing.
:gate: :peace: :knit:
roxie has been so on my mind lately. If she were here she would be on that plane to see LB and MM and meet up with Vernon too.
I’ve been wondering what happened to him. What do you mean, PJ, that his “last post” was May 8? I also remember he talked about feeding the homeless. Didn’t he say he had a brother there, too?
Can’t imagine there are two “Freds” that fit this situation. :gate: Thinking of you Fred, wherever you are.
I use a glass and a plate to catch bugs and release them.
(In Georgia, cockroaches were Mr. FK’s jurisdiction. They grow ’em big out there.)
I’ve wanted this catcher – it has a motor but still won’t kill the bug. Some vacuum bug catchers kill the bug.
That’s great you got tickets to Maron/Black Vern. What do you think the chances are they’ll come to OK?
P.S. Note to self: remember to ring door bell at Kevin’s house.
His last post here was May 15, 2008, it seems, aka my birthday last year. It was around when the Gravatars started and I took the nuke for my first. I thought I may have pissed him off like when I would talk about sports. There was a lot of contentiousness around that time. He did just flat out disappear. We had a hint of what was happening with roxie and Susan.
I imagine pj had an idea if he ever checked in and it doesn’t sound like he did. Maybe he should bring back the gun for a few days and see what happens.
This event is a fundraiser for Litquake so it is most likely a one off but sometimes things evolve out of this kind of thing. They could hit it off and put something together and take it on the road at lecture series that sometimes hit……
college towns!
I just now looked, couldn’t imagine what would bring 27! responses and was sad to know that it might be Fred.
I hope not and I sure hope we’re able to hear from Fred if he’s still with us. But if not, I just want to aknowledge the sincere concern for fellow traveler’s that all the loyal MS’ers share daily and
especially
the integrity and care that pj makes manifest in overseeing this little blog.
:gate: to Fred if you’re no longer earth-bound and :yippee: thank you for all the aggrevation that you brought to the rethugs who you spoke truth to.