In between naps, I might decide to rant a little. I might even tell you about the orangutangs.
In the artist of all kinds I think one can detect an inherent dilemma, which belongs to the co-existence of two trends, the urgent need to communicate, and the still more urgent need not to be found.--D.W. Winnicott (British psychiatrist, 1896-1971)
Random anecdote from last July:
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Laszlo, the other day, listening to Kallisti and I plotting last minute Bastille Day preparations asked us exactly what Bastille Day was about.
"It's the equivalent of their Independence Day," we said.
"From whom?"
"From themselves. They basically massacred themselves."
To which he replied, "It's illegal to kill frogs with a gun in California, you know."
Whether THAT was a non-sequitur or an oblique attempt at a pun, I'll leave up to debate. But we laughed.. He said he had the statutes handy. We said, "email us them." So, he did.
We laughed uneasily at some of these, wondering what frog-horrors once happened to cause lawmakers to make some of the more specific points in legislating these particular human-frog interactions.
Anyway, for perverse, quite perverse, amusement, the frog codes of California:
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There are other laws that mention frogs, but these are the biggies - Laszlo
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Notice Section 6854
"FISH AND GAME CODE"
6850. As used in this article, "frog" means all species of frog.
6851. Except as otherwise provided in this code or in regulations
adopted by the commission, it is unlawful to take or possess any frog
for commercial purposes. This article does not apply to frogs grown
pursuant to Division 12 (commencing with Section 15000).
6852. Any person who conducts a place of business where frogs are sold
to the public for food, or who takes or possesses frogs for sale to, or
for use by, educational or scientific institutions for scientific
purposes, may possess only at the place of business any number of frogs
which have been legally obtained pursuant to this code or regulations
adopted by the commission.
6854. It is unlawful to take frogs by the use of firearms of any
caliber or type.
6855. The department may issue a permit to take and dispose of frogs
under such limitations as the commission may prescribe, when, in the
judgment of the department, such frogs are polluting the water supply in
any area, or otherwise constitute a nuisance.
6880. As used in this article, "frog-jumping contest" means a contest
generally and popularly known as a frog-jumping contest which is open to
the public and is advertised or announced in a newspaper.
6881. Frogs to be used in frog-jumping contests shall be governed by
this article only. Frogs to be so used may be taken at any time and
without a license or permit.
6882. If the means used for taking such frogs can, as normally used,
seriously injure the frog, it shall be conclusively presumed the taking
is not for the purposes of a frog-jumping contest.
6883. Any person may possess any number of live frogs to use in
frog-jumping contests, but if such a frog dies or is killed, it must be
destroyed as soon as possible, and may not be eaten or otherwise used
for any purpose.
6884. A frog which is not kept in a manner which is reasonable to
preserve its life is not within the coverage of this article.
6885. The commission has no power to modify the provisions of this
article by any order, rule, or regulation.
