The spouse speaks: Raccoons may be smarter than my husband.

Message boards : SETI@home Staff Blog : The spouse speaks: Raccoons may be smarter than my husband.

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Author	Message
Angela Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 16 Oct 07 Posts: 7573 Credit: 874,865 RAC: 1,602	Message 660403 - Posted: 16 Oct 2007, 5:59:28 UTC
	Ok, so Eric loves shelf stable, no refrigeration required fake-jello cups... there is no accounting for taste. I sent him to the grocery store for toilet paper or something last Friday and he came home with 4 six packs (yes 24 cups!!!) of fake-jello. Fake-jello was not on the shopping list, but he is an adult and I simply cannot supervise his every action. Anyway, tonight I found an empty fake-jello cup downstairs with no evidence of a spoon nearby. I asked Eric if he had eaten the fake-jello without a spoon. He mumbled something about silverware being unnecessary. I told him that he was turning into the raccoons HE insists on feeding. Eric and I then began wondering just HOW a raccoon would eat a fake-jello cup. Would a raccoon stick his whole face into the goo? Would he poke his paws in and fish out the pineapple chunks? Would he overturn the cup, scoop out the contents and then lick the mess... I mean mass? Given that it was evening at our house, it was not hard to find a couple of experimental test subjects outside. Eric unwrapped a fake-jello cup and put it out on our deck. He came back inside the and we watched as both raccoons entirely ignored it. Eric started making pathetic excuses for why the raccoons were ignoring his fake-jello. He indulged in experimenter bias and actually went back outside to move the fake-jello cup closer to the raccoons. Then he came back inside and we watched and waited... and waited... and waited... Finally the raccoons came up to the cup, sniffed it and walked away. Raccoons (who eat GARBAGE, mind you) are smart enough to recognize that fake-jello is not actually a FOOD!!!! The raccoons have left for the evening and the fake-jello cup is still out there, untouched... unattended... forsaken... forlorn... I'd better go upstairs now and keep Eric from going out on the deck to eat it - without a spoon!
	ID: 660403 ·

ML1 Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 25 Nov 01 Posts: 7137 Credit: 3,684,894 RAC: 965	Message 660499 - Posted: 16 Oct 2007, 11:05:05 UTC - in response to Message 660403. Last modified: 16 Oct 2007, 11:06:55 UTC
	... Raccoons (who eat GARBAGE, mind you) are smart enough to recognize that fake-jello is not actually a FOOD!!!! The raccoons have left for the evening and the fake-jello cup is still out there, untouched... unattended... forsaken... forlorn... I'd better go upstairs now and keep Eric from going out on the deck to eat it - without a spoon! Thanks for a beautiful example of proof of junk food! (And a romantic setting for a real world science experiment! :-) ) And welcome to the forums. Perhaps the junk food was so alien to the subjects that they didn't recognise that it was meant to be eaten. Could it be that the Human subjects have been so conditioned by Marketing that they are now capable of being convinced to eat plastic and even use another form of plastic to actually PAY for the Marketing induced 'pleasure'? A triumph of Marketing manipulation and cheap chemicals over nutrition? Science, its all around us! Cheers, Martin ____________ Mandriva Linux A user friendly OS! See new freedom Mageia2 The Future is what We make IT (GPLv3)
	ID: 660499 ·

Dr. C.E.T.I. Send message Joined: 29 Feb 00 Posts: 15969 Credit: 625,357 RAC: 258	Message 660504 - Posted: 16 Oct 2007, 11:24:03 UTC
	Thanks Plenty for Your Post - Reminds me of the Ol SETI Classic Days . . . > a most interesting Story - has Eric seen it yet? ;)))
	ID: 660504 ·

Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 9 Apr 02 Posts: 11987 Credit: 18,031,266 RAC: 53,727	Message 660546 - Posted: 16 Oct 2007, 13:54:34 UTC
	They just didn't want to eat it because they knew you guys wanted them too. They knew you were watching. ;) It's no fun when it's expected of you. 8-) ____________
	ID: 660546 ·

Eric Korpela Volunteer moderator Project administrator Project developer Project scientist Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 952 Credit: 5,670,861 RAC: 5,818	Message 660635 - Posted: 16 Oct 2007, 16:04:57 UTC
	The crazy raccoon lady wanted me to post an update. The jello cup is still there, untouched. ____________
	ID: 660635 ·

ML1 Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 25 Nov 01 Posts: 7137 Credit: 3,684,894 RAC: 965	Message 660678 - Posted: 16 Oct 2007, 21:48:05 UTC - in response to Message 660635. Last modified: 16 Oct 2007, 21:49:02 UTC
	The crazy raccoon lady wanted me to post an update. The jello cup is still there, untouched. Just goes to show that unlike a good wine, junk food doesn't improve with time. The question is, just how hungry must the racoons get before they discard their garbage treasure hunt to suffer the jello at their doorstep?... You did take the lid off for them did you? Cheers, Martin ____________ Mandriva Linux A user friendly OS! See new freedom Mageia2 The Future is what We make IT (GPLv3)
	ID: 660678 ·

1mp0£173 Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 8423 Credit: 356,897 RAC: 0	Message 660694 - Posted: 16 Oct 2007, 22:07:14 UTC - in response to Message 660678.
	The crazy raccoon lady wanted me to post an update. The jello cup is still there, untouched. Just goes to show that unlike a good wine, junk food doesn't improve with time. But it doesn't degrade either. That may not be a good thing. ____________
	ID: 660694 ·

Misfit Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 21 Jun 01 Posts: 21680 Credit: 2,443,662 RAC: 0	Message 661779 - Posted: 18 Oct 2007, 5:14:30 UTC - in response to Message 660635. Last modified: 18 Oct 2007, 5:22:50 UTC
	The crazy raccoon lady wanted me to post an update. The jello cup is still there, untouched. It's true - raccoons are smarter than you. The jello needs to be served on a shiny CD rom. ____________
	ID: 661779 ·

Misfit Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 21 Jun 01 Posts: 21680 Credit: 2,443,662 RAC: 0	Message 661780 - Posted: 18 Oct 2007, 5:16:38 UTC - in response to Message 660403.
	I sent him to the grocery store for toilet paper or something last Friday and he came home with 4 six packs (yes 24 cups!!!) of fake-jello. Well at least you know now what he does with the lids. ____________
	ID: 661780 ·

Clyde C. Phillips, III Send message Joined: 2 Aug 00 Posts: 1851 Credit: 5,955,047 RAC: 0	Message 661964 - Posted: 18 Oct 2007, 17:59:57 UTC
	Jell-o, the real thing, is just a fake, anyway. Just sugarwater. I don't waste my time to eat those empty calories. If I'm thirsty I just put my glass under the faucet and turn it on. On weekends I have a couple of beers. ____________
	ID: 661964 ·

Fuzzy Hollynoodles Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 9659 Credit: 251,998 RAC: 0	Message 662113 - Posted: 18 Oct 2007, 21:59:09 UTC - in response to Message 660403. Last modified: 18 Oct 2007, 22:02:56 UTC
	Ok, so Eric loves shelf stable, no refrigeration required fake-jello cups... there is no accounting for taste. I sent him to the grocery store for toilet paper or something last Friday and he came home with 4 six packs (yes 24 cups!!!) of fake-jello. Fake-jello was not on the shopping list, but he is an adult and I simply cannot supervise his every action. ... Hey Angela and welcome to the boards. Nice RAC you have there. ;-D No, men do come home with weird items when we send them out to buy useful things for the household. Been there, experienced that, and no, it's not worth the efforts to try to supervise them, they do what they want anyway. ;-D Please come and keep us with company often, we have a great community here. :-) ____________ "I'm trying to maintain a shred of dignity in this world." - Me
	ID: 662113 ·

KB7RZF Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 15 Aug 99 Posts: 9427 Credit: 2,092,323 RAC: 4,871	Message 662226 - Posted: 19 Oct 2007, 0:39:20 UTC
	LOL Angela, thanks for the story. LOL And welcome to the boards, I do hope you kick Eric off every now and then and post. :-) Jeremy ____________
	ID: 662226 ·

Blurf Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 2 Sep 06 Posts: 6344 Credit: 5,677,345 RAC: 5,978	Message 662249 - Posted: 19 Oct 2007, 1:33:19 UTC
	Welcome aboard Angela! ____________
	ID: 662249 ·

Angela Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 16 Oct 07 Posts: 7573 Credit: 874,865 RAC: 1,602	Message 662663 - Posted: 19 Oct 2007, 19:11:40 UTC
	Update on the fake-jello cup: As you can see, we are on day four. The contents have been explored, but not consumed. Even the ants seem to be rejecting fake-jello. There has been no observable oppossum, squirrel, skunk, feral cat, bird, rat or mouse action as well. In all fairness to Eric, I do not think we can conclude anything definitive about his sum-total cognitive capacity based on a food sample size of one. I therefore propose that, in the interest of science, we test a variety of questionable foods. Please suggest items. I will place said items before Eric and before raccoons and keep you updated on the results. Angela (AKA Crazy Raccoon Lady)
	ID: 662663 ·

Eric Korpela Volunteer moderator Project administrator Project developer Project scientist Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 952 Credit: 5,670,861 RAC: 5,818	Message 662685 - Posted: 19 Oct 2007, 19:47:25 UTC - in response to Message 662663.
	Might I suggest a nice thick steak and/or lobster and a couple bottles of decent Cabernet? I doubt the raccoons would be able to open the bottles... Score 1 for the human. ____________
	ID: 662685 ·

Angela Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 16 Oct 07 Posts: 7573 Credit: 874,865 RAC: 1,602	Message 662697 - Posted: 19 Oct 2007, 20:01:28 UTC
	Nice try dear... nice try
	ID: 662697 ·

Dr. C.E.T.I. Send message Joined: 29 Feb 00 Posts: 15969 Credit: 625,357 RAC: 258	Message 662851 - Posted: 20 Oct 2007, 0:21:14 UTC Last modified: 20 Oct 2007, 0:23:28 UTC
	. . . maybe a can of Pork & Beans - though Don't forget the can-opener ;) Disclaimer: IF they THROW it at a Window - I am NOT to blame . . . ;) ps - nice thread - could become even MORE interestin' as time goes on, especially [edit] since i just saw your Avatar Angela ;)) ____________ BOINC Wiki . . . Science Status Page . . .
	ID: 662851 ·

Misfit Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 21 Jun 01 Posts: 21680 Credit: 2,443,662 RAC: 0	Message 662976 - Posted: 20 Oct 2007, 2:37:43 UTC - in response to Message 662663.
	Just make a peanut butter sandwich. You'll have yourself a critter convention. ____________
	ID: 662976 ·

FD347 Send message Joined: 28 May 00 Posts: 3 Credit: 288,789 RAC: 0	Message 663545 - Posted: 21 Oct 2007, 2:53:16 UTC
	I'll send over some genuine White Castle hamburgers from NYC. It will be a test of skill. Will Eric be able to control himself? Will the raccoon make it 10 feet without leaving a trail? Will Angela laugh herself silly in the process? (And what of Naomi?) For those of you unfamiliar with the White Castle hamburger, they're about 2 inches square, steamed in onion juice and served with ketchup, pickles and chopped onions on a seedless bun. The taste is unlike anything you've ever eaten but they are guaranteed to cause a significant increase in gastric pressure. At 49 cents they're the cheapest laxative in the world that works in 15 minutes. Our raccoons love them. Just stay upwind. ____________ Frank Raffa Supv. Dispatcher FDNY Borough of Brooklyn www.FDNewYork.com
	ID: 663545 ·

PEWD Send message Joined: 13 Jun 07 Posts: 6 Credit: 126,273 RAC: 0	Message 663575 - Posted: 21 Oct 2007, 4:27:33 UTC Last modified: 21 Oct 2007, 4:27:50 UTC
	spam. the physical stuff, not virtual
	ID: 663575 ·

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Message boards : SETI@home Staff Blog : The spouse speaks: Raccoons may be smarter than my husband.