Don't Mind If I Do

The current issue of National Geographic (March, 2008) contains an article that stunned me.

National Geographic is arguably one of the most important magazines in publication; so important that it is said that Americans save National Geographic the most of all periodicals -- even more than Playboy, which comes in at second place. Edward Bernays, the Austrian-born publicist, is reported to have said that he read Playboy for the same reason that he read National Geographic -- so that he could see places that he couldn't go to anymore. Presumably he said this before his death (shortly before, if his wife was within earshot).

The article in question, "Minds of their Own -- Animals are smarter than you think," compares animal intelligence to that of humans. For example:

"New Caledonian Crow [clearly an improvement over the Old Caledonian Crow] solves problems and creates and uses tools..."

"Marmoset -- Learns from and imitates others."

"Western Scrub Jay -- Recalls the past, plans for the future."

I didn't know humans could do all that!

When did THIS happen?

I thought I was on top of human development. I've watched "2001, A Space Odyssey" several times. I've watched CNN and MSNBC. I've driven on I-95 from Florida to Massachusetts and back. What did I see? Flying bones and single-computer spaceships killing people, rappers killing people, and motorists killing people. Should I have been watching the animals? I'd go to the zoo, but the tigers have recently proven the point of this article...

So, what do you call animals that take a beautiful carnivore, place it in a poorly contained environment, and then allow other humans the opportunity to taunt that carnivore? Waiters? No, the waiters and waitresses I've known were far more intelligent than that.

Arthur C. Clarke, where were you when we needed you most?