Did you see the National Geographic from... last month? Two months ago?... with the big article about them? And all the variations, where some eat only fish, and some prefer mammals, and there are crazy cultural differences even between pods that are in the same area, and -- similar to the bird-catching one -- there were some that would swim in formation at an angle toward an ice floe so that the resulting wave would knock seals into the water, and it was just fascinating and orcas rule! Screw you, dolphins!
No, but I have seen the David Attenborough special, which has a lot of that. But note that orcas
are
dolphins. Largest dolphin in the world, unsurprisingly. Incidentally, (other) dolphins are hella clever hunters too. There's a bunch in South America that swim in formation to generate a wave to dump fish onto the riverbank; they beach themselves at the same time, and all face in the same direction so there won't be any squabbles over one bunch of fish while another bunch goes unclaimed.
Rent him The Birdman of Alcatraz, Hec. As a big Burt Lancaster fan, I really like that movie.
He's already seen it. And Escape From Alcatraz. And he's toured Alcatraz. And he has the audiotour on CD which I am sometimes forced to listen to on the morning commute. He's got Alcatraz playing cards. He's got a postcard with Capone, Machine Gun Kelly and the Birdman on the front.
I wouldn't really be concerned until he starts asking for the cold-water swimwear.
I wouldn't really be concerned until he starts asking for the cold-water swimwear.
They do have an annual Alcatraz swim...
But note that orcas are dolphins.
D'oh. But this makes me think of Peter Cook saying, "The whale is not actually a fish... it's an insect!"
But note that orcas are dolphins. Largest dolphin in the world, unsurprisingly.
I heart you.
I always get irked by the whale-ness. "They're dolphins, damnit!"
</recovering marine mammal specialist wannabee>
I knew they weren't whales! I swear! I just had them filed as "random other cool things" instead of specifically under "dolphins."
My classification system might need work, I admit.
We'll let you slide, this time, Strega.
hee
I knew they weren't whales! I swear! I just had them filed as "random other cool things" instead of specifically under "dolphins." My classification system might need work, I admit.
Not at all, it's remarkably similar to mine, though I call it "random other cool knowledge". I shall now put everything interesting in a giant folder entitled "Things That ROCK!!!"
