This has absolutely nothing to do with the law, policy, religion, or any connection to this site with the possible exception of the environment. However, I find it amazing that after thousands of years of herding cattle, scientists have discovered that cows tend to uniformly align themselves in the north-south direction. This makes them something of bovine compasses — a condition apparently shared with deer and other animals.
Scientists used the Proceedings for the National Academy of Sciences to reveal their bovine bombshell. It appears to be the result of Earth’s magnetic poles. Birds and salmon are also known to use the magnetic poles and bats are known to have a “magnetic compass.”
The new BPS has the advantage of actually walking next to backpackers and being covered with a pleasant fur exterior. They can also produce milk, which is something that the GPS systems have never done. Of course, there is the problem of feeding and herding a cow on long backpacking trips — and that little issue of cow “production.” Compass manufacturers are probably safe, but it you are ever lost, just ask a cow.
i wonder if they chew their cuds clockwise.
Pardon Me,
It depends on which side of the equator they’re on.
I’m sure that more observant farmers, ranchers, and hunters (in the case of deer) have know about this for centuries, but there’s a difference between “everyone knows” and “scientifically proven.” I’ve actually read in a couple of hunting articles that deer tend to orient themselves N/S when grazing; which was generally attributed to a combination of wind, sun position, and geography. I’d be interested in reading more about how the study ruled out those factors, but there doesn’t seem to be a link to it in the article.
Gyres:
Cow tippers may have noticed, though they tend not to talk.
JT
I think there is a small amount of iron in the noses of many animals, even people. I believe even we could orient ourselves this way, but it would take relearning a skill and GPS is very cool. Perhaps if we invent customized nose covers for cows and people it will become the latest tech graze–oops-craze!
Jill,
I wonder if anyones done a similar study on people with piercings?
This is a phenomenon that I have observed on Rt 101 at 8 AM in the morning heading to San Francisco. All the cars are parked – apparently grazing – facing North.
Gyges,
I don’t know about nose piercings but now I understand what aliens are doing with their implants. They’re trying to mess with our orientation! (That explains all the gay people!)
This is not related to this post at all but a kick-ass elder won a mass-ruling against the IRS. “Mr. Ulrich, 72, an accountant for 49 years…(is my hero). He said; “Largely I was regarded as a lunatic..
The IRS wasn’t pleased with Mr. Ulrich.” Justice, sweet justice!!!
JT,
That’s because they’re out of breath from running away from the Bull.
Gyges,
Art is all about stealing, and you’re stealing from one of the best!
Jill,
But there can never be any truly new art! How dare you say otherwise.
Did I mention I also dabble in Satire?
Jill,
Now if I were good at Satire I’d post that multiple times with slightly different wording.
But maybe that’d be over doing it. Satire’s all about the subtlety.
Subtlety:
1 : the quality or state of being subtle
2 : something subtle
I really am bad at Satire aren’t I?
Oh well, at least I’m not claiming to be civil and calling people liars and illiterate.
Fin
Sounds like a lotta bull, but… if they say so.
Now if I can just fit our milk cow into my rucksack, I’ll be all set for the Alpines this year.
“But there can never be any truly new art! How dare you say otherwise.”
So, you’ve never seen the dogs around the poker table? Can you show me a tapestry with something like griffins or unicorns playing poker? I rest my case sir!
Jill,
That’s not true art.
I know. Those tapestries are really more of a craft. But I haven’t seen any chinese scrolls, greek vases, african rock art–nothing even closely resembling that picture. So again, I rest my case.
Jill,
As an aside, in all seriousness I don’t really consider myself an artist. I’m a craftsman. I’ve got too much of a sense of humor to view playing bass as an art, it’s just a good way to get paid to grow a beard and wear a hat all the time.
Gyges,
I don’t really worry about the distinction between art and craft, but I enjoy hearing the subject brought up at openings! I’ve heard photography isn’t an art either. And on and on. It’s just silly. Getting paid to grow a beard and wear a hat ain’t bad, although you could be a priest and do the same thing! And truthfully, I wish more artists did have a sense of humor and didn’t take themselves so seriously. Some people seem to believe, if you’re not (making others) miserable, you’re not an artist. Good Lord!
Jill,
I also considered opening my own brewery as a way to get paid for the beard and hat. Brewing is an art.
If you throw a cow chip, will it always fly to the north?
Only in the summer, rafflaw.
Rafflaw and Jill:
First, cow chips are not thrown. They are tossed. They may even be flung – but never, never are they thrown. Throwing is term exclusively reserved for BS, which is a generally a cow chip, before sufficient aging or a ‘Reply’ not unlike the one I am writing.
Secondly, while there is not sufficient empirical data, there does appear to be evidence that a new phenomenon has been discovered in Minnesota, particular the twin-cities area, where the Bovine population is moving in all directions away from the suspected epicenter of what scientists predict will be the largest deposit of BS the planet has ever endured. It is further suggested that it will be thrown along the same trajectories as Satellite, Cable and Terrestrial television signals and the world population has been advised to protect themselves from the results of contamination.
Symptoms include banging one’s head against sharp objects, becoming violent at the mention of the term P.0.W., the involuntary act of throwing heavy objects at expensive television sets, and uncontrollable swearing.
The Bovine population’s reaction was first noted by when an agricultural student noticed that cow chips, in the areas that had recently been abandoned by cattle, were seemingly embossed with the
likeness of William Krystol, Neocon movement promoter.
Not for nothing, but if you’re a grazing animal with eyes in the sides of your head, wouldn’t you be pointing north/south so as to spot changes in light and shadow from approaching predators?
Udderly reasonable theory.
“Udderly reasonable theory.”
Shameless.
; )