short takes

[cellio]

I picked up a bit of random torah commentary this Shabbat that was new to me. After the ark landed, Noach first sent out a raven, which flew "to and fro". Later he sent out a dove (more than once), and eventually that dove found dry land. So what's up with the raven? Well, this is where "the flood is not a nice story" comes in. Ravens are carnivores. Everything previously living on the earth just got wiped out. Um. Yeah. That makes sense. So the raven was chowing down at the buffet table, but this didn't help the folks in the ark.

This analysis of the anti-gay movement resonated for me (post by xiphias).

Seen in Giant Eagle: someone checking out with a carton of cigarettes and a bottle of mouthwash. Um, dude, that's not going to help.

For something lighter, go read this entry from grifyn:

V: "You requested a PONY."
I did.
V: "On the supply report."
You told us to list what we needed.

Comments

[ginamariewade.livejournal.com]

Not just carnivores - ravens are carrion eaters.

Sailing Trivia

[dagonell.livejournal.com]

Know why the lookout on a sailing ship is called a "crow's nest" and not simply a "bird's nest"?? Because that's where they kept the crows! Crows and Ravens detest open water. If you're lost at sea (in the fog off the English coast) merely release a crow. He'll head for land "straight as the crow flies".

The problem wasn't that the crow was chowing down, he just wasn't willing to make the trip back!