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Birding Shanghai in December 2023

10,000 Birds

The prinia will then claim that its current name – celebrating a morally very questionable person – is no longer acceptable in the modern world. Of course, there should be a photo of a Plain Prinia here now, but somehow I did not get one this month). Personally, I wish the species the best of luck in this endeavor. (Of

Birds 188
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NYT Opens the Door to the Humane Myth

Animal Person

In this morning's New York Times editorial " There Is No 'Humane' Execution ," we have an imperfect yet nevertheless baby step toward acknowledgment of the HumaneMyth. We went from an abolitionist angle--that executing people is morally wrong--to the death penalty needs to be repealed to eliminate problems during the execution.

Humane 100
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Birding Shanghai in August 2023

10,000 Birds

The Asian Brown Flycatcher does not count as a season-starting bird – discrimination, of course. Anyway, not a bad look for a juvenile given the bland look of some of the bulbuls I recently saw in Borneo, though of course, the adult bird looks more distinct.

Birds 130
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J. J. C. Smart on the Moral Elite

Animal Ethics

Let us think of the more moral members of society as a moral elite, much as the generality of scientists form a scientific elite. I hope I do not need to stress that such a moral elite must not be confused with a social or intellectual elite. I am myself not so heroic. I eat eggs though they may come from battery hens.

Morals 40
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Birding Shanghai in June 2022

10,000 Birds

As with Chinese male humans, having your own building is still vital to raising young. One of the established ways to evaluate self-cognition in animals (including humans) is the mirror test. Among humans, there is a tendency to dress very young humans up in the most colorful way possible. You should try it too.

Birds 184
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On Humane Societies and Calf-Roping

Animal Person

Angus directed me to a story about the Calgary Stampede (rodeo) and the Calgary and Vancouver Humane Societies which had me asking: Whose side are they on? The Calgary Humane Society works with the Stampede to make sure the animals are safe (and by the way that's impossible if the animals are being used in the rodeo. Not the rodeo.

Humane 100
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Moral Vegetarianism, Part 1 of 13

Animal Ethics

His book on atheism is among the best I have read on that topic, which is why I used it in my Philosophy of Religion course many years ago. (I I use different books in my courses to keep things interesting for me.) You will, therefore, agree with Martin about moral vegetarianism but not about Christianity. One is health.