Pribek

One thing I have learned since I started writing this blog is that people are fascinated with feral pigs. I still get a bunch of search traffic each month from people who use the key phrase big pig.

Who knew?

So, to satisfy this quest for knowledge I give today’s update. Alternate titles that I considered were, “The Return Of Big Pig”, “Big Pig Goes To Camp” and “You’re In The Army Sow” (audience participation welcome here folks, leave more titles in your comments).

Fort Benning, Georgia has a serious big pig problem. The estimate is that there is 6,000 feral pigs on the army base’s property.

From boston.com.

Maj. Bobby Toon is known as the Pig Czar at the huge army post on Georgia’s western edge…

“These pigs feed and breed,” Toon said. “That’s all they care about. I’ve been here off and on for 17 years, and I can never remember a pig population as big as it is now.”

People who have never been around these rascals may not know what kind of problem big pigs can be.

“These animals can smell a turkey egg three miles away,” Toon said. “They’re also a danger to tortoises and woodpeckers.”

They will also destroy grain crops and devour feed that is intended for livestock. In short they conduct themselves, well…like big pigs.

Fort Benning has declared war on the pigs, put a bounty on ‘em.

About 2,000 people who are authorized to hunt on the post have been encouraged to go after the feral pigs. They must be active-duty, retired military or civilian workers at Benning and must have a license from the base.

The post is offering a $40 bounty for every pig tail that’s brought in.

For me, 40 bucks wouldn’t be worth it. Feral pigs are mean and tough too. They don’t go down with the first shot and have a tendency to charge those who are shooting.

George Bernard Shaw said; “I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig, you get dirty; and besides, the pig likes it.”

Since July, more than 900 pigs have been killed.

900 sounds like a lot but, like the old Pig Czar says, all these things do is “feed and breed” so, it sounds like they may need to step up the pace here.

Hope that satisfies your big pig Jones Google searchers.

Winston Churchill said; “Always remember, a cat looks down on man, a dog looks up to man, but a pig will look man right in the eye and see his equal.”

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What do you think of this situation with Prince Harry serving on the front lines in Afghanistan?

From the Washington Post…

“All my wishes have come true,” Harry told reporters in last week’s camp interview, wearing a brown military T-shirt and camouflage pants and noting that he had not showered in four days.

“It’s very nice to be sort of a normal person for once; I think it’s about as normal as I’m going to get,” said Harry, now addressed with his rank as Cornet Wales. “It’s much better being here experiencing it rather than hearing all the stories of people coming back.”

I’ve got to admire his grit but question the decision at the same time.

Since the story came out, there has been a lot of talk about a media “embargo” that was in place. And, a lot of what you hear is about how well-behaved the media was in holding off reportage. The irony there is, of course, the fact that the story came out. The “embargo” didn’t work. You can blame it on evil Matt Drudge or whoever; doesn’t matter. If Drudge didn’t do it somebody else would have.

A media embargo is folly. It’s setting a package of raw hamburger in front of a pack of wild dogs and walking away.

The fact is that Prince Harry has lucked out here. This could have ended a whole lot worse. Plain and simple, Prince Harry endangered those he served with. My first thought was that it’s like going to the office when you know you have a contagious illness. You might get credit for toughing it out but decrease productivity by infecting co-workers. It’s worse than that though. You know what it’s like? It’s like that guy who got on the plane knowing he had TB.

All it takes is one of these reporters, who is “keeping it quiet”, to get picked up by the Taliban and interrogated.

Prince Harry; he’s just a kid. He wants to be a “normal person”. He isn’t. He never will be. That’s out of his hands. I can’t blame him for wanting to experience life on this level. And, I can’t blame him for putting other’s lives at risk. The British Government dropped the ball here.

Here’s to you and your good fortune, Prince Harry.

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Here’s the trailer for the new Stones/Scorcese concert film, “Shine A Light”.

Keith Richards; Every time he’s interviewed he comes up with something that’s going to get some extra coverage. These quotes are from an upcoming piece for Uncut Magazine.

On drugs…

“I know the fascination, but it ain’t worth it, pal.”

On Mick…

Addressing Jagger’s on-stage presence, Richards told the magazine, “Excuse me while I laugh. He’s a bit vain, let’s put it like that,” before adding: “We want a vain bloke up there, don’t we? Meanwhile, the band can go to work. Vanity will not carry a band. But a band can carry vanity.”

Woah… Keef gets a Yahtzee for; “Vanity will not carry a band. But a band can carry vanity.” That one’s a gem.

On Led Zeppelin and the recent reunion show…

In the interview, he also belittled Led Zeppelin’s December one-off reunion gig, telling Uncut: “They had one? Well, well done Jimmy (Page) and Robert (Plant). F**k off. Stairway To Heaven don’t make it for me, baby.”

Going around and doing these interviews to promote an upcoming release well; it’s all about raising a little sand, isn’t it?

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