September 19, 2006

"The greys will eat anything, leaving few hazelnuts for the red, which also like beech mast and the seeds of pine cones."

"Unfortunately, although large areas of Wales were planted with conifers, they were not pines, so the red squirrel could find no comfort there."

Are you following the troubles they are having in England with bad American squirrels squeezing out their good squirrels?

18 comments:

XWL said...

I had hoped there would be some squirrel blogging, just so I could link to this Tammy Bruce post.

Anonymous said...

The only good squirrel is a dead squirrel. Darn tomato-eating, petunia-killing buggers.

Ann Althouse said...

The only good squirrel is a red squirrel (in the British view).

Ann Althouse said...

Truly: Click on it.

The Drill SGT said...

Interesting role reversal. In upstate New York, my in-laws hate the red squirrels, but love the chipmunks and like the grey squirrels.

I wonder if those are "bad" foreign English reds :)

David A. said...

I came to this blog as a result of the rude and indefensible treatment of Jessica Valenti. I posted a couple of posts, which had responses from Ann herself and a couple of others. I wasn't abusive or sexist or ageist in my statements. I was then unable to respond since Ann shut down the comments section, which I can actually understand from at least two perspectives: a) it had long since passed tedium, and b) if I'd embarrassed myself as much as Ms Althouse did over this shameful episode, I'd try and make it all go away too. (Actually, no I wouldn't: I'd like to believe I'd have the fortitude to apologise to Ms Valenti, then hope it died a quick death).

Anyway, out of curiosity, I picked a random thread to see if there was anything worthwhile on here, and since the distribution patterns of squirrels has to be a fairly light and innocuous topic, settled in to read. Right away, the cavalier lack of basic respect toward anyone outside of your little bubble hits me: a statement about squirrel trouble they're having in England links to... a story about squirrel trouble they're having in Wales! Christ, you don't even need to click on it, just mouse over the link and read the URL.

Petty of me, right? Wrong. Try calling Wales "England" in Wales and see where it gets you.

Now, I've seen how this blog and its supporters treats those with which (with whom?) it disagrees, so I can anticipate the belittling responses and personal attacks, and how I'll be ridiculed that this is a matter of little import (just like an attractive young blogger being invited to a dinner with a former US president, and otherwise doing absolutely nothing wrong deserved no more than a "good for her" followed by a "move along, folks, there's nothing to see here"), so I'll just sign off now with a disappointed "later, Ann: you could have gained at least one reader and a bit of self-respect had you swallowed your pride, and I'm genuinely saddened that you spurned the opportunity" and a smartass pre-emptive rejoinder if you once again completely dismiss my point: "How's the weather in Madison, Saskatchewan?"

Cousin Don said...

In Ithaca, NY, there were an amazing variety of squirrels. There were grey, brown, black, and red. I always thought Ithaca was a "racism free" squirrel town.

But now I know! It was just a squirrel reality TV show where they divided the contestants up by the color of their fur for a chance to win a million pine cone seeds. I always wondered what those squirrels were doing with Tiki torches.

Ann Althouse said...

I know Wales isn't England, but I read the quote as saying the reds can't go to Wales because of the lack of pine trees, and that their hope for survival is therefore not in Wales but in England. And I preferred saying England because I thought the quote sounded very English.

Why not stop and think if I had a reason for writing things the way I did before getting all critical? Well, I know. You're looking for something to criticize me about, as with the previous incident, and you have no disposition to try to read me with understanding.

Ann Althouse said...

When did I say I was leaving "everything" up? I may have said I'm not deleting some things that I thought showed the vicious sexism that betrayed liberal values. I didn't say everything got to stay. I delete what I want.

KCFleming said...

Aaaagh! It's off-topic Derve!

Where are the grey squirrels when you need them?
Someone take his nuts away!

Now the thread needs to devole.

KCFleming said...

Re: "take your meds, honey ... you should follow her lead and not be so quick with the insults"

Meds? Insults? Honey?
Pshaw.
1. That was mocking. Insults are far more derisive.
2. I take Zocor. Do you think that'll help?
3. Geez, me own ma hardly calls call me honey no mo'. You make me all teary-eyed n' stuff.

Anonymous said...

Ann, you wrote The only good squirrel is a red squirrel (in the British view).

I would say, "Better dead than red."

altoids1306 said...

Don't gray squirrels have an equal right to become British squirrels? They should institute a "path-to-British-squirrelhood" program, because, clearly, these squirrels constitute an important part of the local ecology, eating bark and nuts that red squirrels won't.

Giving preferental treatment to one type of squirrel is discrimination! They should not be judged by the color of their fur1

The Drill SGT said...

I see a win-win and a possible Knighthood for the ol'sarge. Convince the Hunt Clubs (who now feel victimized by not being able to chase foxes) to instead ride to the grey squirrels.

1. a few less greys
2. lots of happy hunt clubs
3. a couple of greens happy that their red squirrels have defenders
4. 2 pissed of naked PETA gals (with boobs?) demonstrating in Hyde Park. Trust me, don't try to cover yourself with live grey squirrels in each hand.
5. retraining program for hounds, to teach them about tree climbing
6. cat breeding program to find the best "squirrelers"
5. Queen Knights me for service to the Empire :)

oh, and hire EDS to herd your cats.

exhelodrvr1 said...

So is it safe to start wearing by grey squirrel fur coat again?

Anonymous said...

Ann said: "The only good squirrel is a red squirrel (in the British view)."

A grey squirrel makes a passable meal. The reds are small, stringy, and taste like pine sap.

John Burgess said...

Alas, it's not just the grey squirrel pissing off the Brits. Our own crawfish, about half again as large as the indigenous British crawfish, is pushing it into the last corners of its existence.

What is it about those American imports? Why won't they assimilate? Instead, they just take over the damn country.

Sort of like starlings, I guess...

sally said...

What a waste of time. I was hoping I could get advice on how to identify and eliminate a pest that comes on my deck every night and eats my petunias and other flowers. Instead I got a bunch of fighting, name-calling, and obscentities. Too bad.