May 31, 2023

Colorful language! 🦜

IT'S WORLD PARROT DAY

World Parrot Day is every day in my neighborhood because we live amid a zillion squawking wild parrots whose deafening shrieks can be heard throughout the daylight hours. The pocket of the Los Angeles metro area I call home is actually heavily populated with wild exotic birds, but the peacocks and parrots are by far the most boisterous.
 
Wild parrots mate for life and some breeds can live over 60 years. They are also well-known for learning to use words and chumming around with pirates. One parrot got into the Guinness Book of World Records for having a vocabulary of over 1700 words! These chatterboxes are even joining the digital age and using phones to catch up with friends.
 
Although I do think parrots are pretty cool, I would definitely try to say on their good side. I wouldn't want to cross this little psychopath.
parrot gif
Don't you give me the side-eye, sir, we know what you're capable of.
 
GIF via TLC
*****
Want a few famous May 31st birthdays and historical facts before we get to this week's amusing links? Of course you do!
 
•Born on this day: model/actress Brooke Shields (1965), poet Walt Whitman (1819), actor Colin Farrell (1976), actress Lea Thompson (1989), and rapper Darryl "DMC" McDaniels of Run-DMC (1964)
• The first US Copyright Law was enacted on this day in 1790. (Not-so-fun-fact: current US copyright laws are nearly worthless — something for our ineffectual lawmakers to consider addressing.)
 
• Psy's "Gangnam Style" became the first video to reach 2 billion views on YouTube on this day in 2014
• The Great Clock housing Big Ben started keeping time in London on this day in 1859
 
Now on to the amusing links!
 
Josh, Grace, and Tess did a little heckling of their own in response to some rude comments we've collected on our various social media accounts. For more LOLs from our team be sure to follow us on Instagram, TikTok and/or YouTube.
 
 
The answers confirm what we already know, but an entertaining watch nonetheless.
 
This stunning time lapse depicts flowers blooming in a way that's kind of reminiscent of fireworks! But, you know, without upsetting your house pets.
 
 
Amusing New Yorker comics that imagine what would happen if our animals were a lot less supportive. Did that parrot write these? I think he did!
 
Watch this adventurous cat take in his first day on a lake
OK! We'll be back here in your inbox on Friday — possibly with new art — more nonsense holidays to dissect, more notable birthdays (and maybe even some notable deathdays!) to celebrate, and more witty content in general. Until next time...

Peace, love, and parrots,

Merdith