You might remember my friend, Jim, who continues to beg his hummingbirds to land on his finger. Well, my mother (who is very fond of hummingbirds) sent these photos on to me this evening. This woman has been studying hummingbirds. One morning she put the cup from the feeder in her hand. Since the birds had become accustomed to her standing by the feeder, they didn’t hesitate to land on her hand. She says that their touch is as “light as a feather.” Her husband took these photos.
Check out the hummingbird below with no wing motion - these birds are one with this woman.
Posted by Linda at 2:05 AM PDT
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Thoroughbred racing runs in my family, but I have mixed feelings about this ’sport.’ Thoroughbreds are born to run, and - from experience - a loving owner and a good trainer who treats the horse well will produce a horse that will miss the track when retired. But, the accidents that occurred at the races on Friday and Saturday in Kentucky were stark reminders that even the best of intentions can’t sidestep tragedy. Additionally, to lend a twist to this story, I had to wonder whether Hillary Clinton became an oracle with her bet placed on second-place winner, filly Eight Belles in the Kentucky Derby - even when Big Brown, the winner, was favored at 5:2 odds.
Maybe I should stop there, as you probably get the irony already. But I can’t help myself, as this story is mind-boggling. Clinton, who didn’t attend the Kentucky Derby, ordered her daughter to bet on Eight Belles, the only female in the race. At the end of the race, Eight Belles (12:1 odds) represented the only female horse to come in within the top three spots since Winning Colors ran the Derby in 1988 (Only three fillies have ever won the Derby, which is the first leg of the Triple Crown). Running fillies “against the boys” is a hard decision for trainers and owners to make, as fillies just aren’t as strong as colts. Eight Belles made a great showing on Saturday, though. She didn’t quit. But she didn’t win.
Big Brown was the stronger horse, and he walked off with the race without a hitch as he roared off the turn, stormed to the lead and ran away from his 19 rivals to score his 4-3/4 lengths ahead of Eight Belles. Tragically, Eight Belles fell on the second turn after the race with two broken front ankles, an injury that poses little hope for recovery in any horse. Eight Belles was euthanized by injection as she lay on the track.
Hilary had to know that Big Brown was favored, even though he entertained his critics. Big Brown engendered opposition from pundits who stated that this horse was too inexperienced with only three starts before this race (but they were all astounding wins). Plus, his 20th gate position didn’t lend optimism to those who wondered if this horse had it in him to push from the outside to outrun the fence-huggers. But he did win, accomplishing a feat that hasn’t been matched since Clyde Van Dusen broke from the outside 20 post in 1929. From the previous news story:
What Big Brown has accomplished in three races leaves everyone in awe that has seen him run. The thing about Big Brown that is scary, is that he has come from nowhere. There’s nothing special about his breeding, being a son of a sprinter named Boundary, who isn’t on anyone’s Top 10 sires list.
The Derby was tragic for the filly, for her owner and her trainer. But it was an enormous win for Big Brown - now, his fans are hopeful that this Derby winner will be the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed won that title in 1978 (one year after Seattle Slew took that title).
As to that other race - the one that will end in November - anyone can admire Hillary for staying on the track. Rest assured, however, that Americans don’t euthanize their second-place runners in any election, so none of the candidates need worry about that issue. Unlike three-year-old thoroughbreds, most losing candidates in this country can pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and start all over again if they so choose.
PS - No offense intended to any candidates for comparing them to horses. Or to any race (or races). Or to gender. Or weight or height or anything else.
Posted by Linda at 1:38 PM PDT
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“Give me a kiss, deer, I’m off to the office…”
Posted by FA Editors at 11:36 AM PDT
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Yes, I watch cheesy movies and read cheesy books in my spare time. Hence, limited creativity. You all can thank your lucky stars that I stay busy. Have you visited I Can Has Cheezburger yet? Stop what you’re doing and go have a laugh on me.
Posted by Linda at 9:34 PM PDT
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