I am feeling the need for some social activism.
Last night I saw part of a fantastical pre-historic movie in which primitives, oddly more enlightened than we moderns in their pristine innocence, were being chased by and eaten by pre-historic carnivorous chickens.
Made me hungry, of course.. for chicken.
But I digress.
These cinematographical chickens were clearly supposed to be the Darwinian progeny of the more entertaining cinematographical velicoraptor, riased by the fly-in-amber traditionalists of Jurassic Park.
But I digress.
The ancestor of Dante has on his blog provided the blogosphere with a useful PSA, to wit:
Mark your calendars:
* April 17 is Velociraptor Awareness Day (Facebook registration req’d — but you’re all on Facebook, aren’t you?)
* May 3-9 is National Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week. So if you’ve raptor-proofed your home and office but are still depressed … or edge-of-ralphing anxious, check it out.
Remember, this vicious predator can be prevented. And so can velociraptors.
I wonder if there is a Species 8472 Awareness Day.
Brrrr…. now that’s a cause for concern. Especially because they are real.
You’re watch TV during Lent?
Peter: Yes.
If you love raptors, than you’ll love the comic xkcd.com It includes some raptor jokes in it :)
Father Z,
How about doing a blog on hell? I am thinking of the vision of Don Bosco now. :)
Nick: I think the combox under some of the other entries takes care of that.
Species 8472.. ahh, now I see where your ‘alien’ nightmares/dreams have their genesis, Father!
Species 8472….
ST: TOS – OK
ST: TNG – OK
ST: DS9 – OK
ST: V – NOT OK.
Your stock went down 2 points. ;-)
I shall bear up.
Nick: It’s the guy who draws xkcd who’s organizing Velociraptor Awareness Day.
But, no “….,” dudes: people don’t take depression seriously enough as an illness. And they really don’t take velociraptors seriously enough as a household hazard!
Brian Day,
You make no mention of Star Trek: Enterprise…
Father: Poor form for posting something that belittles depression. Poor form.
Dear and Reverend Father,
You clearly underestimate our far we have evolved. We now have thumbs, and use computers proficiently. [?!? AHG!]
bear-i-tone,
ST: [Name removed] is below my commenting threshold.
Brad: Unless it’s I and not you who’s badly misreading a post (always possible), I must clarify that my post that Father linked to was meant to urge people to take depression more seriously, and to provide them with a link that may help them do so. Bottom line: if raptors were still around, they’d be a big problem, and depression and anxiety are around.
At any rate, those for whom the post was written will get it. I was not, I confess, trying to save the whole world from depression; just my somewhat eccentric readership.
Fr Z,
Upon further reflection (an examination of conscience) I must withdraw the 2 point penalty. You definitely deserve points for bringing up an awesome species. :-)
I find dinosaurs fascinating and fun to study.
I am not sorry they are extinct.
Jurassic park is one of my favorite movies. The third one was fun too.
You geek roots are showing… [And here I thought they were so well hidden.]
For those who have ever spoken ill of Boston College, just know that I took a course there entitled “Dinosaurs.” And no, it wasn’t about the Jesuits or the theology department there.
Yes, it counted toward my degree. And yes, we watched Jurassic Park clips and Discovery Channel shows with CGI dinosaurs.
I can smell the jealousy pouring out of my modem.
Fr Z,
Thank you so much for bringing up my personal favorite obscure alien species. If someone starts a Species 8472 awareness day, I’m right there with you. :)
femina: People had people be aware of Species 8472 or one day… one day…
Uhm, didn’t the federation make peace with 8472?
Already a velociraptor awareness day attendee!
Thanks Fr. Z for the heads up, I too, am now attending velocitaptor awareness day. Now I need to find something to wear. Would snakeskin cowboy boots with an alligator handbag be offensive to the guest(s) of honor? Maybe I’ll leave with a velociraptor belt.
John, yes the Federation (on behalf of Captain Kathryn Janeway and crew) and Species 8472 have made peace. I do think that instead of having an awareness day for them, we should have one for the Borg. Father, don’t you think the Borg are much like the Catholic Church? “We are the Borg: One Mind, One Voice.” “That they may be one, just as you and I are one.”
Cory: Borg as the Catholic Church…That’s alot of rogue Borg who’ve mentally checkout of the collective. But, perhaps they haven’t realised that resistance to the new young breed is futile.
Cory: I must say that sometimes the Confession of Faith as spoken by 500 people in our cathedral sounds quite like your average Borg cube.
“We are the Church, fold your hands and kneel. You will be baptised. Resistance is futile.” :)