NEO-HUMANITY - TRANSHUMANISM WILL MERGE MAN WITH MACHINE

http://www.activistpost.com/2012/08/neo-humanity-transhumanism-will-merge.html


WHY A RUSH TO THE END OF MAN?

Why the rush to singularity?  The destruction of this most magnificent human being who, to be human, has faults?

Westminster Dog Show

I was watching the judging of Best of Breed last night and was sorely disappointed in the appearance of the German Shepherd. The slope of the back, favored by breeders, was so severe that the poor dog was walking on its hocks.

So many of the breeds have been modified to fit "fashion" - for looks rather than utility. That German Shepherd looked and moved like a cripple, and if I were looking for a German shepherd to buy and breed, it would stand foursquare on its legs, like mine. I have been blessed with four powerful, beautiful German Shepherds in my life and all were rescues. Bear and Blade were huge dogs. Maggie who emerged a stray from the sun and sand of the California desert was not as tall as Maya is today. But she was not small. They all had lovely toplines, and none grew old with dysplasia. Blade was euthanized because of bone cancer. Bear left us an old, old man - leaving us with memories of being a lifeguard - God help you if you were in the water - you were going to be pulled out of that water by limb or bathing suit, but by golly, you were coming out!
He also hated to walk among crowds and he would take on anything - ANYTHING - with wheels.
Maggie was perfect. She died too young of liver failure. Maya's only fault is an over-fascination with the cats, and she knows how to open the refrigerator, and now there's a hasp on the door. Unfortunately, she has shown Mickey and Jack how to do it.

The German shepherd last night made his way around the ring with his handler, and I just wondered at what age those back legs will give out. This does not give a dog the look of power.
You wouldn't breed a hunter/jumper so that its legs were shorter or at an angle so that the back slanted.

For a short while I bred Basset Hounds and Bloodhounds. I really did some research before I found a stud dog, and I kept one handsome Bloodhound who won many ribbons. He was as close to the standard as you could find.

You may find these articles interesting, and you may not agree with me. But it's something to think about.




http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/2010/02/westminster.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fhsus%2Fwayne+%28Wayne+Pacelle%3A+A+Humane+Nation%29


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Shepherd_Dog

Bear Creek Feline Center

Not far from where I live, tucked away under the trees, is Bear Creek Feline Center, sanctuary and future breeding facility for the "lesser" exotic cats, staffed by interns and volunteers. I was invited for a Sunday morning "Coffee with the Cats", an educational event where you can sit with Jim and Bertie Broaddus, their staff, curious visiting children and adults who are fascinated with the "house" cats. I am quite taken by the Servals, long-legged "lesser" cats of Africa whose tawny coats have the Morse code splattered loudly all over them.

The first time I visited, Bertie was bottle feeding their new goodwill ambassador, a Bobcat kitten, 17 days old. In residence, but not in the house are other Servals, a Caracul, the rare Jaguarundis, Bobcats, Russian Lynx and Dani and Thatcher, two beautiful Florida Panthers.

Returning several times (but not enough), I am always struck by the clean compounds, the beautiful condition of body and mind of the cats. Because of many hours of daily human contact and enrichment (playdays with boxes or hay bales, or...and prey stimulation, they are never bored, and never pace - that terrible habit that comes of small quarters and nothing to do.

If you are in Florida, take a side trip and visit. It's time well spent.

The goal of the Center is to breed the endangered cats to insure the perpetuation of the species.