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Carrion Luggage  Native to the Americas, the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) travels widely in search of sustenance. While usually foraging alone, it relies on other individuals of its species for companionship and mutual protection. Sometimes misunderstood, sometimes feared, sometimes shunned, it nevertheless performs an important role in the ecosystem. This scavenger bird is a marvel of efficiency. Rather than expend energy flapping its wings, it instead locates uplifting columns of air, and spirals within them in order to glide to greater heights. This behavior has been mistaken for opportunism, interpreted as if it is circling doomed terrestrial animals destined to be its next meal. In truth, the vulture takes advantage of these thermals to gain the altitude needed glide longer distances, flying not out of necessity, but for the joy of it. It also avoids the exertion necessary to capture live prey, preferring instead to feast upon that which is already dead. In this behavior, it resembles many humans. It is not what most of us would consider to be a pretty bird. While its habits are often off-putting, or even disgusting, to members of more fastidious species, the turkey vulture helps to keep the environment from being clogged with detritus. Hence its Latin binomial, which translates to English as "golden purifier." I rarely know where the winds will take me next, or what I might find there. The journey is the destination. |
| Considering the source, I wouldn't trust this Mental Floss article to be fully accurate or complete. Still, I found it amusing, and I never let facts get in the way of amusing. First item of amusement: "No capes!" was a famous line from The Incredibles, which, being a Pixar thing, is a Disney property. Second: The visual image of someone impersonating (would that even be the right word?) Goofy. In 1967, the same year the Pirates of the Caribbean ride debuted, park officials a Disneyland made a curious declaration: They were banning all “hippies” from the premises. Gotta admit, that's on-brand. “If we allowed people with weird outfits into the park, that might cause other patrons to make derogatory remarks, and that could lead to trouble,” a park spokesperson told the Associated Press. And, of course, they get to decide what's "weird" and what isn't. Which is rich coming from a company whose mascot is a talking mouse wearing clown shoes and white gloves. After another generational skirmish in 1970, this one involving antiwar and pro-marijuana demonstrators taking over Tom Sawyer Island, the park also banned "long-haired youths" from the premises. Today, those former "long-haired youths" are the ones fussing about "kids these days." But there are still a number of prohibited items and behaviors at Disneyland and its sibling park, Disney World... As always, it pays to know what the rules are so you can follow them or break them as you see fit. The rest of the article is basically a list of items, clothing and behaviors that are considered contraband. I'll just highlight a few. Weapons No surprise there. But, you know, for some of us, anything can be a weapon. Marijuana What? The only way most adults can even deal with the parks? Selfie Sticks Good. Non-Coast Guard Approved Flotation Devices/Swim Noodles (Prohibited only at water parks} Perfectly okay to bring one onto Space Mountain, I suppose. From the "activities" list: Sales So much for healthy capitalistic competition. Commercial Photography Photos or video for commercial (non-private) purposes, i.e. shooting a film Especially if you're with MGM, Warner, or Paramount, or whatever combination/permutation of Disney competition exists these days (I can't keep up with all the mergers, buyouts, and spinoffs). From "clothing," though I don't think some of these qualify as such, like: Objectionable Tattoos Presumably, Daffy Duck would count, being from a competitor and all. Multiple Layers of Clothing Fortunately, both of Disney's US parks are located where layers aren't usually required. Not included on the list but presumably implied: no clothing at all. Unless, of course, you're a duck named Donald. Or Howard.  Hm. A Donald/Howard crossover could be EPIC. I should put that on my list of pitches to Kevin Feige along with the Squirrel Girl movie.Honestly, most of these prohibitions are understandable, if not from a safety perspective, at least from the point of view of them wanting people to focus on the theme park itself and ensure that all money spent flows to Disney alone. I just feel sorry for anyone who visits who just happens to look like Cinderella or Ariel. Or Goofy. |
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