The Off Topic Topic

[derspiess]

That's probably part of it.

[alfred russel]

A theory: In modern times the names kids are given are becoming ever stupider because in modern times we meet more and more people who are forever ruining potential normal names to give kids.

Pretty much.

I didn't want to name my kid Falcon, but I really had no choice since my first choices of Adolf and Pol Pot have been tainted.

[crazy canuck]

Looking for love in all the wrong places

For months, Zafar has been known in the Bay of Brest for his unabashed playfulness, even allowing people to hold on to his dorsal fin as he takes them for rides, the Telegraph reported. But the dolphin's interest in humans now appears to be driven by the need for company of an intimate nature, French newspaper Ouest-France reported. "He is in heat," one marine mammal expert told the news site.

Zafar has been seen trying to rub up against swimmers and boats or kayaks, Le Telegramme reported. In other instances, the dolphin prevented a female swimmer from returning to shore (she was later rescued by boat) and lifted another woman out of the water with his nose, according to the French news site.

While his name translates to "victory," Zafar's various attempts to satisfy his needs have not only fallen short, but prompted Landévennec's mayor, Roger Lars, to issue a bylaw banning swimming and diving near the village's shoreline whenever Zafar is seen in the area, Ouest-France reported.

Visitors and locals, Lars said, were becoming "frightened" by Zafar's behavior, according to Ouest-France.

"I issued the decree to preserve the safety of people," he said. According to the Telegraph, people are also now "forbidden" to get within 50 meters (164 feet) of the dolphin.

The "aggressive" and "pushy" antics are not unusual for a dolphin in Zafar's situation, Elizabeth Hawkins, lead researcher with Dolphin Research Australia, told The Washington Post. Zafar is what researchers call a "social solitary dolphin," meaning for some reason he's been isolated from other dolphins and is now a "social outcast," Hawkins said.

The dolphin is "wanting needing, yearning social contact from cohorts and that need isn't fulfilled, so it can try different dolphin behaviors toward humans to try and get that social fulfillment," she said, adding that this is when "strange behaviors can come about."

Given how social dolphins are, Hawkins said the animals seek to form and reinforce bonds, often using sexual behavior. For solitary male dolphins isolated from their society, rubbing themselves on objects or people has been observed as attempts to meet that biological need, she said.

"It's been observed that dolphins and different whale species will rub themselves against objects with what appears to be some type of sexual satisfaction coming about," Hawkins said.

According to one chapter of a 2003 book titled "Marine Mammals: Fisheries, Tourism and Management Issues," researchers observing 29 "lone, sociable dolphins" found that at least 13 dolphins had "periods of misdirected sexual behaviors towards humans, buoys, and/or vessels. . ."

The way Zafar's behavior has progressed is also common among these lone dolphins, said Lars Bejder, director of the Marine Mammal Research Program at the University of Hawaii Manoa's Hawaiian Institute of Marine Biology.

Full article here

https://vancouversun.com/news/world/a-lonely-dolphins-sexual-behaviors-toward-humans-caused-a-french-town-to-ban-swimming/wcm/96d0d6b7-d231-49d6-a195-d36d3428d1d5

[Malthus]

Looking for love in all the wrong places

For months, Zafar has been known in the Bay of Brest for his unabashed playfulness, even allowing people to hold on to his dorsal fin as he takes them for rides, the Telegraph reported. But the dolphin's interest in humans now appears to be driven by the need for company of an intimate nature, French newspaper Ouest-France reported. "He is in heat," one marine mammal expert told the news site.

Zafar has been seen trying to rub up against swimmers and boats or kayaks, Le Telegramme reported. In other instances, the dolphin prevented a female swimmer from returning to shore (she was later rescued by boat) and lifted another woman out of the water with his nose, according to the French news site.

While his name translates to "victory," Zafar's various attempts to satisfy his needs have not only fallen short, but prompted Landévennec's mayor, Roger Lars, to issue a bylaw banning swimming and diving near the village's shoreline whenever Zafar is seen in the area, Ouest-France reported.

Visitors and locals, Lars said, were becoming "frightened" by Zafar's behavior, according to Ouest-France.

"I issued the decree to preserve the safety of people," he said. According to the Telegraph, people are also now "forbidden" to get within 50 meters (164 feet) of the dolphin.

The "aggressive" and "pushy" antics are not unusual for a dolphin in Zafar's situation, Elizabeth Hawkins, lead researcher with Dolphin Research Australia, told The Washington Post. Zafar is what researchers call a "social solitary dolphin," meaning for some reason he's been isolated from other dolphins and is now a "social outcast," Hawkins said.

The dolphin is "wanting needing, yearning social contact from cohorts and that need isn't fulfilled, so it can try different dolphin behaviors toward humans to try and get that social fulfillment," she said, adding that this is when "strange behaviors can come about."

Given how social dolphins are, Hawkins said the animals seek to form and reinforce bonds, often using sexual behavior. For solitary male dolphins isolated from their society, rubbing themselves on objects or people has been observed as attempts to meet that biological need, she said.

"It's been observed that dolphins and different whale species will rub themselves against objects with what appears to be some type of sexual satisfaction coming about," Hawkins said.

According to one chapter of a 2003 book titled "Marine Mammals: Fisheries, Tourism and Management Issues," researchers observing 29 "lone, sociable dolphins" found that at least 13 dolphins had "periods of misdirected sexual behaviors towards humans, buoys, and/or vessels. . ."

The way Zafar's behavior has progressed is also common among these lone dolphins, said Lars Bejder, director of the Marine Mammal Research Program at the University of Hawaii Manoa's Hawaiian Institute of Marine Biology.

Full article here

https://vancouversun.com/news/world/a-lonely-dolphins-sexual-behaviors-toward-humans-caused-a-french-town-to-ban-swimming/wcm/96d0d6b7-d231-49d6-a195-d36d3428d1d5

He's like the dolphin version of those lonely guys with anime characters printed on their pillows. 

[crazy canuck]

Not sure where to post this.  A thoughtful piece by Kareem on sports and race in the US

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/aug/28/notes-from-an-ungrateful-athlete-why-race-and-sports-matter-in-america

[garbon]

Oh yeah, sports fans always seem to come together with such polite and fruitful discourse...

[garbon]

Also, pretty common for people to get annoyed when athletes stray 'outside their lane' and start speaking out on social issues.

[crazy canuck]

Also, pretty common for people to get annoyed when athletes stray 'outside their lane' and start speaking out on social issues.

Not sure anyone who has heard the eloquence of Mr. Abdul-Jabbar would think he is straying outside his strengths.

[Barrister]

Also, pretty common for people to get annoyed when athletes stray 'outside their lane' and start speaking out on social issues.

Not sure anyone who has heard the eloquence of Mr. Abdul-Jabbar would think he is straying outside his strengths.

Oh come on now.  From Ali, to the raised fist 1968 olympic dudes, there has always been push-back from athletes who got political.

[garbon]

Also, pretty common for people to get annoyed when athletes stray 'outside their lane' and start speaking out on social issues.

Not sure anyone who has heard the eloquence of Mr. Abdul-Jabbar would think he is straying outside his strengths.

I was reacting to his start and ending where he said that sports are one place where all Americans are currently still connected and his blurbs on how he applaud athletes who are speaking out and taking socially conscious positions. Has nothing to do with his abilities.

[crazy canuck]

Also, pretty common for people to get annoyed when athletes stray 'outside their lane' and start speaking out on social issues.

Not sure anyone who has heard the eloquence of Mr. Abdul-Jabbar would think he is straying outside his strengths.

Oh come on now.  From Ali, to the raised fist 1968 olympic dudes, there has always been push-back from athletes who got political.

Did you read what you are responding to, or is that just a knee jerk.  You might object to his argument (I would hope not, but you continue to surprise) but how would one conclude he is only an athlete straying outside his area of knowledge.  I put him up against any proponent against him in a debate, any day.

[crazy canuck]

Also, pretty common for people to get annoyed when athletes stray 'outside their lane' and start speaking out on social issues.

Not sure anyone who has heard the eloquence of Mr. Abdul-Jabbar would think he is straying outside his strengths.

I was reacting to his start and ending where he said that sports are one place where all Americans are currently still connected and his blurbs on how he applaud athletes who are speaking out and taking socially conscious positions. Has nothing to do with his abilities.

Ah, I understand.  But that is why the rest of the article is important.  He sets out a compelling argument why that is so.  You might criticize him for being overly optimistic but I think it is more a well reasoned defence of players who do continue to protest injustice.

[Barrister]

Also, pretty common for people to get annoyed when athletes stray 'outside their lane' and start speaking out on social issues.

Not sure anyone who has heard the eloquence of Mr. Abdul-Jabbar would think he is straying outside his strengths.

Oh come on now.  From Ali, to the raised fist 1968 olympic dudes, there has always been push-back from athletes who got political.

Did you read what you are responding to, or is that just a knee jerk.  You might object to his argument (I would hope not, but you continue to surprise) but how would one conclude he is only an athlete straying outside his area of knowledge.  I put him up against any proponent against him in a debate, any day.

Although I know of Kareem, I don't know a lot about him.

But even a guy like Kaepernick is eloquent about his cause.  Doesn't mean he wasn't criticized (and pushed out of a job).

[crazy canuck]

Although I know of Kareem, I don't know a lot about him.

I encourage you to watch the HBO documentary he did "Minority of One".

[garbon]

Also, pretty common for people to get annoyed when athletes stray 'outside their lane' and start speaking out on social issues.

Not sure anyone who has heard the eloquence of Mr. Abdul-Jabbar would think he is straying outside his strengths.

I was reacting to his start and ending where he said that sports are one place where all Americans are currently still connected and his blurbs on how he applaud athletes who are speaking out and taking socially conscious positions. Has nothing to do with his abilities.

Ah, I understand.  But that is why the rest of the article is important.  He sets out a compelling argument why that is so.  You might criticize him for being overly optimistic but I think it is more a well reasoned defence of players who do continue to protest injustice.

I think it is called preaching to the choir. Might feel good but not sure what'll accomplish.