There is absolutely no legal, policy, or religious content to this posting. I just love this picture and it is my blog. I am convinced that this goat has achieved a level of mystical tranquillity that has escaped all but the oldest and most devout Buddhist monks.
The question is why with all of the pharmaceutical and therapeutic assistance, we still struggle to achieve this level of happiness. We need to find and study this goat. Be the Goat. Experience the Goat.
38 Responses to “A Happy Goat”
- 1 Trackback on 1, December 3, 2008 at 10:18 pm
- 2 Trackback on 1, December 28, 2008 at 9:02 am
Very Zen. Must be a result of my Kung Fu video post.
I’ll see your contented goat and raise you this happy feline.
http://albinowolfman.info/updown/happy%20cat.jpg
What does that goat know that we don’t know? And what kind of grass has he/she been eating to get that grin on his face? I think there may be some natural pharmaceuticals at play here!
Don’t be fooled by the smile…
http://buelahman.wordpress.com/files/2008/11/bush_smiling_2004_11_04.jpg
Rafflaw:
Your defamation of my favorite goat is outrageous and actionable. I will remind you that an allegation of criminal conduct remains a per se category of defamation. This pacific, contented animal has merely reached a higher spiritual reality based on some cosmic-goat-driven consciousness. I will further note that, despite his appearance on this blog, he is not a public figure and not subject to the New York Times v. Sullivan standard.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Turley
Counsel for The Happy Goat
I have seen netsuke that look just like this. At the risk of lawsuit I’m agreeing with rafflaw that this goat looks perhaps a tad too happy and that goat weed may be involved! Their are squirrels in my neighborhood who go a little crazy when they chew oak bark. They literally tumble with the piece of bark for quiet some time. It’s really cute as is your cat picture, mespo.
Jill:
You can keep your drug-induced, zombie squirrels out of this conversation. It is clear that only a public urinalysis will clear my goat. The fact that you have a squirrel Woodstock going on in your backyard is no excuse to repeat the defamation of Rafflaw. Squirrels are known to be party animals and a bit nuts.
Have we come to this? Is it not possible for a goat to be simply happy without these baseless rumors of contraband grass consumption? Goat lovers hope for a change with the Obama administration. Indeed, we still hope to see not just a goat-friendly administration but an actual goat in the cabinet. At the very least, Obama can reintroduce goats to the White House. The last president to have the lawn cut by goats was Woodrow Wilson. It is time for a change of the cloven-hoof variety.
A stirring speech, promolgated by a goat sap. I met goat farmers who gave me a sheet about raising goats. It was obvious these people had taken the goat weed! It was, well, uneven in the coverage of the keeping of goats (aka “it’s all good”). These people kept their goats in their house. All they told me was they were, “a little destructive”.
You’ll be hearing from Squirrel Nutkin, atty. at law in the near future. You may avoid this by placing black oilers on the ground each day until summer.
I applaud your picture of a happy goat!
However as this is a close-up; there really is no way of knowing what other pleasure-inducing acts this goat may be experiencing concurrent to the picture being taken. Given the variety of animal acts that have been “exposed” on your blog the list is endless.
Please I am begging you do not Zoom out!
Baa humbug. Over zealous anthropomorphism replete with psychological projection.
Jill:
Some of your best friends are goat herders. Is that the best you can do?
I maintain an assortment of bird feeders in a constant struggle with your little furry brethren. Even my Squirrel Buster has been compromised by these ravenous critters.
As for your attorney friend, bring it on, as our illustrious president would say. I am one nut his clients won’t crack.
JT,
Have you tried switching to feeding Safflower seeds? You might see a drop in the birds coming to your feeder, but most squirrels won’t come near the stuff. In the several years I worked selling birding supplies I only heard of one squirrel that developed a taste for Safflower.
As far as Goats go, I’ll just point out that they do constantly have the Munchies. Not to mention a history of addiction. If memory serves, Coffee was discovered when a goatherd realized that his goats had a habit of eating certain berries, then ‘dancing.’ The goats would get extremely irritable if not allowed to eat from the bushes first thing in the morning, they needed their caffeine fix.
I should have married a (this) goat.
et tu Gyges?
Why not just tell him to poison them? And to think I felt badly that your wife was attacked by new agers for her lack of positive thinking!
And so, some animals are more equal than others JT? You may expect a Congressional summons from the agricultural committee. See how you like that! Joe Lieberman won’t be there to protect you anymore. Squirrel Nutkin, ESQ is not to be trified with. He shall not rest until your reputation lies strewn about the goat pens, trampled underfoot by your so called “friends”! (Hope that was suitably Biblical sounding.)
Safflower seed is for cardinals.
Mixed bird seed is just OK, The idea is good, but most of it gets kicked out onto the grass and springs up later. You can never go wrong with separate feeders of – Black Oil Sunflower seed, primarily (birds, squirrels, cardinals, finches and chickadees, alike, love it), thistle seed bags, safflower seeds, and peanuts and the occasional fresh and dried fruits, berries, and popcorn where I live…
I now, thoroughly enjoy watching the Fuzzy-guy gray squirrels ‘invade’ the feeders, having made friends with all of them and can now distract them, deftly, by feeding them roasted peanuts, which they love to eat, along side the ‘Cheryl-crows’ on the ground while keeping my precisous cardinals company, but which also keep them busy – burying all day long, even in the snow. Just too funny to watch. They really patrol the yard. Their only threat is the occasional hawk.
Patty,
I’ve seen chickadees, nuthatches, and grosbeaks all frequent safflower feeders (Even when black oil was offered near by). It takes awhile for them to adjust to the change, but that’s true even if you just buy a new feeder. We recommended it as a possibility to people with squirrel\grackle\starling problems. The problem is that to solve those problems you generally need to feed only the Safflower, so among other things you loose your finches. You could probably get some back by feeding Nyger, but if you get the cheapo-sacks rodents will sometimes chew the sack up.
A study done in the mid eighties showed that when safflower was offered over several months, cardinals actually sought out safflower seeds over the standard sunflower. Eventually the Safflower was eaten at about the same rate as black oil.
As far as the mixes go, the problem is usually that they include WAY too much millet. If you want to avoid sprouting you can buy the hulled mixes that most birding stores have.
I still like my cat better!
“I will further note that, despite his appearance on this blog, he is not a public figure and not subject to the New York Times v. Sullivan standard.”
*****************
You, JT, have made him so and he apparently accepts the public position “happily.”
This entire posting is a transparent and crass attempt to raise JT’s standing among the goat constituency and to deflect criticism JT rightly received for his glossing over the pogrom against the Billy Goat Gruff 3 in his almost fanatical attempt to defend the legendary excesses of those troll scalawags. Random and innocent posting he claims, but with sinister design I suspect. Remember the gnome:
http://jonathanturley.org/2008/08/20/gnome-de-guerre-pennsylvania-man-convicted-of-aggravated-assault-with-garden-gnome/
Sat, 15 November 2008 at 8:02 am
George Clooney Stares At Goats
George Clooney Stares At Goats
Mustache-rocking George Clooney buttons up his army outfit as he heads to the set of his new movie, Men Who Stare at Goats, in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Saturday.
The movie is based on a 2004 book about alleged U.S. military efforts to develop paranormal powers for American soldiers. Clooney, 47, plays a U.S. soldier who fights the enemy using ancient Chinese mind techniques. Co-stars Ewan McGregor and Kevin Spacey also will be filming in the central Puerto Rican town of Comerio.
P.S. I cannot recommend this book enough. It is hysterical in a Dr. Strangelove meets RNC/DNC street protestors, meanwhile psy-ops is coming to dinner kind of way!
George Clooney and I have mutual affection toward Pot-belly pigs…
Read Up.
Prof. Turley,
I am appalled that you are suggesting that I had defamed your Pet Goat. I merely asked a question and then wondered aloud about his/her choice of fibrous eating material. By the way, is this the same Pet Goat that George W. Bush was reading about on 9/11? If so, that would make this goat a very public figure under NY Times V. Sullivan. I will have you know that some of my best friends are squirrels and they may consider your statement to be way off base and they are talking with Jill’s attorney friend as I write this. As to your bird feeder problems, try the baffles in conjunction with having a dog in the yard alot. That usually keeps our friends, the squiirels, in their own kitchens.
If a goat smiles in the woods and no one sees him, is he really happy?
This is more than a koan. It’s a physics problem. Remember – observation changes outcome. Ask Werner Heisenberg. Or the goat. He’s certainly got something figured out.
Dunno know if this will transfer here – my baah-boy, Tupelo…
DSC00179
“If a goat smiles in the woods and no one sees him, is he really happy?”
Yes, if he enjoys privacy along with his coffee enema.
Bob,
I’m glad you brought up the important subject of coffee enemas. It’s time to caution people about the proper use of coffee. From the book, The Yeast Syndrome: “We believe that the only way that coffee should be used internally is as an enema!” (p. 177) Thank you for giving me a chance to use this quote. It has remained a favorite of mine since I read it.
rofl
Jill, I notice you seem to have a pre-occupation with feces and anal function, in particular…
… perhaps you should speak to someone – professionally?
I’ll have what the goat’s having
Idiomatically, Jill, rafflaw et al. have riled JT and therefore have ‘done’ “got his goat”…
FROM: Squirrel Nutkin, ESQ.
425 S. Oakbark Lane
Woodstock, Anywhere USA
TO: Mr. Jonathan Turley, ESQ.
780 Goatsbend Ave.
Hornrub, Anywhere USA
Dear Sir (and we use the term lightly),
The midden are gathering even now to decide upon a legal course of action against you for you squirrilous statements against our kind.
“If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?”
Protect your nuts, sir, for it is revenge we shall seek.
To: Squirrel Nutkin, Esq.
From: Jonathan Turley, Esq.
I am in receipt of your intent to sue letter.
Your suggestion of our impending defeat is a mockery. “We fail?
But screw your courage to the sticking place, And we’ll not fail.” (I suggest those black oilers).
I am ready for you and your tiny army of furry litigants, so “With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch’s voice
Cry “Havoc!” and let slip the [squirrels] of war,
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial.”
Let slip the squirrels of war, my dear Nutkin, and let no one say you got my goat.
Mr. Turley:
I have valued your insights on matters constitutional for some time, and am always pleased to see you on Olbermann’s show. I had never read this blog before — indeed, I had no idea it even existed — until tonight (I linked here from Daily Kos).
I knew you for a brilliant legal mind, but now I see the philosopher. I will check this blog frequently for future pearls of this sort. I cannot promise that I will “be the goat,” sir; but I will strive, in your honor, to be some sort of animal. Most like a river otter.
Revelwoodie:
Much appreciated. All animal avatars and mascots are welcome, even squirrels. River otters are a particularly noble choice and one of my personal favorites. Indeed, I view otters are the ultimate example of successful evolution. I particularly like pacific otters and watch them floating on their backs with salmon across their stomachs. Just floating and eating; eating and floating. It is what every couch potato husband strives to achieve.
Prof. Turley,
I would recommend that you cease and desist with your slurs of the true spirit and meaning behind the meditative lifestyle of the eternal couch potatoes or Jill will retain Attorney Squirrel Nutkin to contact you again. Besides, salmon is not the preferred couch potato fare. Chips and a beverage of your choice is the favorite food of choice for this recovering couch potato.
I want to thank you Mr. Turley so much and Keith Olbermann Too!
Like Revelwoodie, I also watch Olbermann and came to this site a long while back. Your knowledge of the law helps many of us who are not attorneys, but normal people who need to learn many things about our Constitution etc…
I love the picture of the happy goat, I am an avid supporter of all life forms. Daggone it, it’s nice to see some happiness in the world! I don’t want to say love the animals, due to others possibly taking that and running into sludge with it.
This is a nice goat. I hope you don’t mind me using him in my new blog post about goats – http://inaudiblewhisper.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/goats/