Comments on: The Fate of the Critters http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/01/07/the-fate-of-the-critters/ Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:58:31 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: JTomorrow http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/01/07/the-fate-of-the-critters/#comment-1109499 JTomorrow Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:31:43 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=10207#comment-1109499 Very thoughtful analysis. Very thoughtful analysis.

]]> By: ksclematis http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/01/07/the-fate-of-the-critters/#comment-1109275 ksclematis Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:42:18 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=10207#comment-1109275 Great post, as usual, Pat: You've been studying up on your "critters", especially the maggots! There are so many critters that take care of other critters, and it's a shame that the pesticides take care of all of them. Some caterpillars evolve into the most beautiful butterflies. I am a gardener (Master Gardener), but have been working the soil for a good many years, and what a shame the pesticides have almost wiped out the pollinators: honey bees. Some critters aereate the soil for good root growth and leave their residue for fertilizer, while others chew the leaves and blooms of beautiful flowers. There are people, also, who are good for this planet, and others are not so good, but we were all put here for a purpose. I'm for protecting the planet and it's beauty while protecting our own existence. Great post, as usual, Pat: You’ve been studying up on your “critters”, especially the maggots! There are so many critters that take care of other critters, and it’s a shame that the pesticides take care of all of them. Some caterpillars evolve into the most beautiful butterflies. I am a gardener (Master Gardener), but have been working the soil for a good many years, and what a shame the pesticides have almost wiped out the pollinators: honey bees. Some critters aereate the soil for good root growth and leave their residue for fertilizer, while others chew the leaves and blooms of beautiful flowers. There are people, also, who are good for this planet, and others are not so good, but we were all put here for a purpose. I’m for protecting the planet and it’s beauty while protecting our own existence.

]]> By: Stan Davis http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/01/07/the-fate-of-the-critters/#comment-1108941 Stan Davis Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:23:31 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=10207#comment-1108941 Great toon, Pat! Love it. Stan Davis Lakewood, CO Great toon, Pat! Love it.

Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO

]]> By: Rich http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/01/07/the-fate-of-the-critters/#comment-1108864 Rich Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:53:24 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=10207#comment-1108864 The problem is that they can duke it out for so long that it will not make any difference what they decide since it will be to late. Rich The problem is that they can duke it out for so long that it will not make any difference what they decide since it will be to late.

Rich

]]> By: Rich http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/01/07/the-fate-of-the-critters/#comment-1108862 Rich Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:49:38 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=10207#comment-1108862 I like the cartoon and subject matter.I like the cartoon and subject matter. I would choose that scientists should be a big part of the decision process, if only they would agree more often on just about any issue, and could do it in a timely way like one year. What concerns me is that a politician could decide to get rid of a species just because it is a problem for them, regardless of the impact on the environment, which they may have little knowledge about. I do not like gofers, but I know that getting ride of all gofers, molds, and mice could create a serious problem for many other animals. So if a politician got bit by a mesquite, or wasp, or even a bee, they may want to get ride of what ever they see as a problem. Then what happens next, could it be birds that pups on his head when he walks? So there we are. Someone has to have the ability to make a decision and with our kind of politics it is seldom an expert. Rich I like the cartoon and subject matter.I like the cartoon and subject matter. I would choose that scientists should be a big part of the decision process, if only they would agree more often on just about any issue, and could do it in a timely way like one year.

What concerns me is that a politician could decide to get rid of a species just because it is a problem for them, regardless of the impact on the environment, which they may have little knowledge about. I do not like gofers, but I know that getting ride of all gofers, molds, and mice could create a serious problem for many other animals. So if a politician got bit by a mesquite, or wasp, or even a bee, they may want to get ride of what ever they see as a problem. Then what happens next, could it be birds that pups on his head when he walks?

So there we are. Someone has to have the ability to make a decision and with our kind of politics it is seldom an expert.

Rich

]]> By: Tricia Spiegel http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/01/07/the-fate-of-the-critters/#comment-1108860 Tricia Spiegel Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:48:42 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=10207#comment-1108860 Ouch, clairtx--but you may well be right indeed! Ouch, clairtx–but you may well be right indeed!

]]> By: clairtx http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/01/07/the-fate-of-the-critters/#comment-1108858 clairtx Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:45:34 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=10207#comment-1108858 This planet will be around long after we are gone. There is nothing man can do to end all life. Some species will survive, but we won't. Unfortunately, it is all about energy now and the demand for it will keep rising along with the population. Wars will be fought over it, hastening the end of our species. We can never take greed out of the equation, so I see no other alternative.. Sorry for the doom and gloom, but I think I'm right. This planet will be around long after we are gone. There is nothing man can do to end all life. Some species will survive, but we won’t. Unfortunately, it is all about energy now and the demand for it will keep rising along with the population.

Wars will be fought over it, hastening the end of our species. We can never take greed out of the equation, so I see no other alternative..

Sorry for the doom and gloom, but I think I’m right.

]]> By: Don X http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/01/07/the-fate-of-the-critters/#comment-1108833 Don X Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:27:06 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=10207#comment-1108833 Probably many of us would have liked to see some kind of animal, bird or bug extinguished forever from the planet at some time in our lives. As a kid growing up in Kansas in the 30's, I would have loved to have had blister beetles, grasshoppers and locusts extinguished forever as theywere persistent annoying pests that systematically turned cornfields into broomsticks and devoured everything in their path. There are many instances throughout history and the world of a particular species getting out of balance to the point they become a plague. Should we preserve pirrhanas, black widow spiders? There will always be people who say, no, good riddance. And there will always be people (scientists and/or politicians and/or environmentalists) that will fight to preserve them for some (often esoteric) reason. Debate on these issues is healthy, but there is often no easy answer. The crucial decisions on the fate of a species seems to be left more often in the hands of the politicians and pressure groups than in the hands of the scientists. As for Bush's decisions and last minute push throughs, well, it will be left to the new administration to decide whether to push to repeal them. Some of these can be done quickly and some will take some time. Personally, I would like to see the ability of Presidents to push their agendas into law before leaving office curtailed or eliminated. Probably many of us would have liked to see some kind of animal, bird or bug extinguished forever from the planet at some time in our lives. As a kid growing up in Kansas in the 30’s, I would have loved to have had blister beetles, grasshoppers and locusts extinguished forever as theywere persistent annoying pests that systematically turned cornfields into broomsticks and devoured everything in their path.

There are many instances throughout history and the world of a particular species getting out of balance to the point they become a plague. Should we preserve pirrhanas, black widow spiders? There will always be people who say, no, good riddance. And there will always be people (scientists and/or politicians and/or environmentalists) that will fight to preserve them for some (often esoteric) reason. Debate on these issues is healthy, but there is often no easy answer. The crucial decisions on the fate of a species seems to be left more often in the hands of the politicians and pressure groups than in the hands of the scientists.

As for Bush’s decisions and last minute push throughs, well, it will be left to the new administration to decide whether to push to repeal them. Some of these can be done quickly and some will take some time. Personally, I would like to see the ability of Presidents to push their agendas into law before leaving office curtailed or eliminated.

]]> By: Seattle Moss http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/01/07/the-fate-of-the-critters/#comment-1108826 Seattle Moss Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:18:03 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=10207#comment-1108826 Pat, If memory serves me wasn't Bush able to undermine most of the Clinton environmental laws in the first few months. Pat,
If memory serves me wasn’t Bush able to undermine most of the Clinton environmental laws in the first few months.

]]> By: oowawa http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/01/07/the-fate-of-the-critters/#comment-1108823 oowawa Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:14:37 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=10207#comment-1108823 It's simple, really: chop off the mountaintops and dump them into the valleys: lots more rolling plains on which the buffalo can roam free, and the deer and the antelope can play. We might even fit in a Wal-Mart or two here and there . . . It’s simple, really: chop off the mountaintops and dump them into the valleys: lots more rolling plains on which the buffalo can roam free, and the deer and the antelope can play. We might even fit in a Wal-Mart or two here and there . . .

]]> By: Pat Racimora http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/01/07/the-fate-of-the-critters/#comment-1108820 Pat Racimora Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:11:28 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=10207#comment-1108820 RE: Congress changing midnight resolutions it doesn't like. That can take months or years. And they have a lot on their plate. I have a hunch most of what Bush has pushed through in recent days will sit for a long while. RE: Congress changing midnight resolutions it doesn’t like. That can take months or years. And they have a lot on their plate. I have a hunch most of what Bush has pushed through in recent days will sit for a long while.

]]> By: Pat Racimora http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/01/07/the-fate-of-the-critters/#comment-1108815 Pat Racimora Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:08:08 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=10207#comment-1108815 LOL! Good one. LOL! Good one.

]]> By: Pat Racimora http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/01/07/the-fate-of-the-critters/#comment-1108814 Pat Racimora Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:07:14 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=10207#comment-1108814 But Benny, I'd rather have them duke it out than those who don't care at all one way or the other. But Benny, I’d rather have them duke it out than those who don’t care at all one way or the other.

]]> By: Pat Racimora http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/01/07/the-fate-of-the-critters/#comment-1108813 Pat Racimora Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:06:46 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=10207#comment-1108813 But Benny, I'd rather have them dike it out than those who don't care at all one way or the other. But Benny, I’d rather have them dike it out than those who don’t care at all one way or the other.

]]> By: oowawa http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/01/07/the-fate-of-the-critters/#comment-1108810 oowawa Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:04:11 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=10207#comment-1108810 <blockquote>However, I have to be realistic and admit the anguished reality that not every living creature is going to survive the human takeover of the environment, including some forms of positive progress. Creating alternative energy sources, for example, will endanger some species. That’s just a sad fact.</blockquote> With a slight edit: <blockquote>(intercepted Klingon message): However, I have to be realistic and admit the anguished reality that not every living creature is going to survive the Klingon takeover of the galaxy, including some pesky lifeforms on minor planets. Creating safe interstellar hyperdrive routes, for example, will endanger some planets, and the species on them. That’s just a sad fact.</blockquote>

However, I have to be realistic and admit the anguished reality that not every living creature is going to survive the human takeover of the environment, including some forms of positive progress. Creating alternative energy sources, for example, will endanger some species. That’s just a sad fact.

With a slight edit:

(intercepted Klingon message):

However, I have to be realistic and admit the anguished reality that not every living creature is going to survive the Klingon takeover of the galaxy, including some pesky lifeforms on minor planets. Creating safe interstellar hyperdrive routes, for example, will endanger some planets, and the species on them. That’s just a sad fact.

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