OK; President Van Buren; Integra; Howdy Doody; President Tyler; Animal Intelligence

Wait a minute!  Suddenly it's Summer again.  I sat on the porch this morning in 80 plus degree sunlight.  Global warming again?

OK, OK!

Margaret Zackowitz writes in the National Geographic about "OK."   Supposedly, 177 years ago, a Boston newspaper indicated that a statement was all correct by using the first two letters in "oll korrect."  It caught on, and even Martin Van Buren used it in his electioneering.. His nickname was "Old Kinderhook."

I've seen OK used in all kinds of languages.  Aren't you proud that it was first coined in the good old U.S. of A?

Integra has arrived

My November/December copy of Integra, the Journal of Intertel, arrived yesterday.  I always learn something from this bulletin, for instance:

Howdy Doody had 48 freckles on his face.  One for each State when he was "on top."

The Grandson of John Tyler is still alive and living in the Virginia family home.  That's quite a stretch, considering the ex President was born in 1790.  I had heard this some time ago.  Apparently, that virile tenth President sired a son when he was 80 years old (1880) and that son sired the present guy when he was 60 years old (1940).  I could have the dates wrong a bit, but that is basically the situation.

Ed Glomski has a lot to say about animal intelligence. He claims that  there is an intelligence hierarchy for animal groups, with the top seven groups being: (and I quote)

1.Great Apes ..

They can use tools
They show empathy
They show altruism
They show self-awareness
They hunt in organized groups
They have superior memories
They can communicate through sign language

(Chimpanzee genomes are about 98% identical to those of a human.)

2. New World Monkeys

They can use tools
They show self-awareness
They have complex social structures

3.  Whales and Dolphins

They use language
They show self-awareness
They have a social structure to their lives
They hunt in organized groups
They may even have their own unique names.
They love to play.

4.  Dogs

They are adaptable
They can solve problems
They are obedient
They understand orders
They follow orders
They can respond to non-verbal clues
Supposedly, the three smartest breeds are: Border Collie, Poodle and German Shepherd.

5.  Cephalopods (Octopus, Squid, Cuttlefish)

They can solve problems
They play games
Some giant octopi can open childproof medicine bottles

6.  Birds (Corvids and Parrots)

A crow can count to three
A parrot can count to six or more

7.  Horses
 
They learn new tasks quickly
They can work things out for themselves

What do you think?  Are animals smarter than humans.... well maybe smarter than certain political thinkers that I don't want to label.

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