Special thanks go out to Plover, who graciously pointed out that the Rhea, unlike its evil and aggressive cousin the Emu, does not require a “Dangerous Wild Animal Licence” in the UK. This information and more is available from the omniscient Rhea & Emu Assocation. It seems imperative here at 3 Bulls that we make new forms of flightless ratites available for metaphor.
Coincidentally, I have been thinking a great deal about The Rhea ever since my recent visit to the Darwin exhibit at the Museum of Natural History in NYC. It turns out that Darwin was not only an avid documenter of different species of animals, but was a giant fan of shooting and eating said animals. Darwin was quite interested in how new species of animals might taste. This culinary curiosity proved quite useful scientifically. While eating some Rhea in the Galapagos, Darwin noted that the available quantities of meat were quite different from the other more common species of Rhea Darwin had consumed elsewhere in the world, despite a remarkably similar outward appearance. Indeed, this new Rhea was a highly related but distinct species named Pterocnemia. Laypeople call it Darwin’s Rhea. Had it not been for Darwin’s insatiable appetite, he might have missed out on the obvious common ancestry of these two geographically distinct Rheas.
Whom should we bestow the honour of being the internet’s first Rhea?
I can think of lots of ways to pun that- someone who endlessly blogs about themselves- they are dia-rheas?
Ouch that was bad.
I wonder if Rheas taste like emu or chicken?
There’s also the Moa (the King of the large flightless birds – now extinct) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moa
i think PP is a cassowary
None of them have the auditory savor of “Emu”, which is so deliciously similar to the much-loathed “emo”.
Actually the enlightened and infallible gurus of R.E.A tell us that emus are “not aggressive by nature”, but that they will, “like other animals, protect themselves by kicking if frightened or cornered”. This does make me wonder though: what do rheas do when frightened or cornered such that they don’t count as “Dangerous Wild Animals”? Have fainting spells? Offer bribes? Pass out crumpets? Just stand there and knock their knees together like someone from an early Warner Brothers cartoon? Maybe rheas are into non-violent resistance?
OTOH, I do still have the feeling emus are getting a raw deal around here. (Though that picture Pinko found is damn funny.)
It is the cassowaries that are really dangerous, with a 5 inch claw on each foot to disembowel you with. Plus they’re quite boneheaded – literally. However, the word “cassowary” seems like it would make a fairly crappy epithet…
Wayne “The Roc” Johnston says:
Don’t be an emu! I rheally loathe emus and may be forced to moalest you, should you display emu tendencies.
I don’t think John A is really dangerous either. He might peck you on the forehead and run away to start a fundraising week if frightened, but I think that’s about it. I wonder if we could eat him?
…and would he taste like chicken?
I’m pretty sure that that’s precisely what he would taste like.
Pinko, don’t be stealing our beloved Plover’s statement’s from RoD. That’s against our copyright policies.
This is questionable behavior. It just shows you are still mad we got Blue Girl’s dream and the good commenter’s love. We even got Yo Yo to come by with safe for work materials. Don’t be hating in criminal acts against nature.
Umm, AG, you might want to check out who actually wrote the article …
Did the delicious or disgusting on rheas not give it away?
Now AG, I was just visiting. 3B! is … home
Hee hee. Bird-like emus are actually OK, but its the more human-like ones, that’s when you get fleathers all everywhere. Leathery feathers.
UC, it was a typo. I meant to say UC, you little thief. Sorry PP.
Yo Yo, we know you are too weak to break out of the 3 choads chock hold. We understand. You have to be strong at RoD.
You have to be strong at RoD.
Strong, or easy. Either is okay with Tu Presidente!
I guess that was another comment doomed to entropy. Can I get a witness?
Well Res maybe you are easy for Pinko, but since he doesn’t bat on my team, he doesn’t have AG in a choke hold.
why does every comment thread devolve into something about kinky sex?
maybe it does make the world go around
Yeah. That’s why it’s good to be El Presidente.
Dang AIF, which blog have you been reading?
El Presidente? You wish homefry. You show up, you binge blog like a rock star and then you go into a Rip VanWinkle manny in 20 seconds. I’ll grant you BG, who I love, runs around behind you like she never does when AG is ruling the universe while you are gone, thereby inflating your ego and desire to deem yourself Presidente. As if and whatevs. We all know who wears the skirt on the RoD blog and it isn’t you, sunshine.
And Gregoire is correct, AIF — come now my good man. You’ve let those deliquent cousins of you ruin your sense of kewl over here at 3B! What next, you give in to your mother’s fear of blogging as a relief for porn desires? Come now. Stay with us, kiddo!