Althouse: "The little beasts are agitated."

December 1, 2005

"The little beasts are agitated."

Squirrels!

EXTRA: Fiona de Londras spots the hilarious -- and grisly -- misplaced modifier in the BBC news story.

16 comments:

Meade said...: You don't want to be a dog who makes me angry. Especially when I need caloric intake. And don't think the protein in those stupid little acorns is sufficient. At times, only the flesh of dogs and cats satisfies my needs.

But seriously, even a flying squirrel, cute though it is, is really nothing more than a rat with a bushy tail that has adapted to falling through space or walking on your roof.; 12/1/05, 4:24 PM
Anonymous said...: They got balls, no doubt about it.; 12/1/05, 4:45 PM
reader_iam said...: Oh. My. Gosh.

This squirrel looks EXACTLY like the black ones that live in our yard.

Does this mean I should keep our three pug dogs inside? (Their jaws may be powerful because they were bred down from mastiffs hundreds of years ago, but they're just so darn lazy--comes from never having had a useful purpose, ever--the breed I mean, not ours in particular.)

Hell, maybe I should keep the KID inside.; 12/1/05, 4:52 PM
Paul is a Hermit said...: That's exactly right, rats with bushy tails.
Ann, shut your windows! Lock your doors! The little buggers are planning something. Darn Pajamas Media!; 12/1/05, 4:52 PM
reader_iam said...: Quxxo: LOLOLOL.

(I hope anyone who follows your link actually scrolls down.)

Quxxo, this may be the best comment you've ever made here (and I'm being sincere, not snide).; 12/1/05, 4:53 PM
Derve Swanson said...: I love it when daily blog posts come full circle theme-wise.

I wonder if the black squirrel's mother-in-law may have given him a little advice regarding moods and nutrition: "Always carry a bannana with you, or at least know how to gut a dog quickly for those Cranky Pants days..."; 12/1/05, 5:01 PM
sonicfrog said...: I was about to limk the story to you, but you got there first. Oh, and I promise this weekend I will have the cute squirrel video posted.; 12/1/05, 5:35 PM
Anonymous said...: Clever little buggers aren't they?

http://worldofwonder.net/image1/squrrilslightsabebattle.jpg; 12/1/05, 7:30 PM
SippicanCottage said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 12/1/05, 7:43 PM
Palladian said...: Ann,

You know how you've never figured out whether a squirrel got into your house or not? Well, here's a little image to keep you up at night.

And for all your other squirrel needs, try Scary Squirrel World. Because they really are scary.; 12/1/05, 8:06 PM
Link said...: I saw that crazy squirrel story and while blogging about it myself, I thought of sending it along to you....but...master blogger Ann Althouse...you beat me to the punch...; 12/1/05, 8:41 PM
sonicfrog said...: Foamy The Squirrel.; 12/2/05, 12:37 AM
goesh said...: I needed a good laugh this morning - thanks!; 12/2/05, 7:20 AM
john(classic) said...: Hundreds of people walk by the squirrels on the Capitol grounds, the university, the lake front, every day. For that matter think of the joggers in the arboretum. Think of homeowners who believe they are safe, but are separated by just a few fractions of an inch of glass from these bloodthirsty, ravenous, rodents from hell.

And what does the legislature do in the face of a callous Governor, heedless of the safety of the citizens? It dithers. It dallies. It ignores the threat.

I have rarely seen a more cogent argument for concealed weapons permits. Contrast scenarios:
Scenario #1. A group of innocent looking squirrels pretending to merely be after nuts surreptitously surrounds you and then, at a secret chitter signal...
Scenario #2, A group of squirrels surrounds you. You pull out your .45 automatic loaded with survival shot, crouch down in a defensive posture, holding the weapon in a firm two handed grip. It is a moment of decision for the rodents..how hungry are they really.

Not only would the permit protect you, but because the rodents could never know who had the permit, they would have to always be cautious. Oh sure, they might surround the occasional peace activist, confident that the "Cindy Sheehan Speaks For Me" button indicates someone not carrying, or at least a poor shot, but for those not identified as an easy mark, the possibility of self defense would spread its invisible shield.

Write the Governor now. If he is going to allow the rodents to mass on the Capitol grounds for their nefarious ends, he needs to allow people to defend themselves.; 12/2/05, 8:49 AM
Brad V said...: I know I'm going to be watching my back on Bascom Hill now.

Especially with the squirrels we have here - the giant ones that graze out in the open due to a complete lack of predators here in the city. They have become almost a subspecies, it seems.; 12/2/05, 12:31 PM
Fiona de Londras said...: I'm amazed that none of the astute Althouse commenters picked up on the HORRENDOUS grammatical mistake in the BBC Report: http://fdelondras.blogspot.com/2005/12/dog-killing-squirrels-and-stray-commas.html

Shocking!!!
Bet it's made you rethink your 'squirrel problem' Ann!; 12/2/05, 9:09 PM