Today's photos are only for the most hearty of readers/viewers. They'll take fortitude and stamina to endure!
Hippos, hippos everywhere. They're so cute, why don't I just reach out and pet one? They're like big hairless dogs - something that everybody wants. I've been told that when their ears wiggle, it's like when a dog wags its tail - it's a sign of friendliness.
Gaaaaaah! What the heck? Look at those tusks! Maybe I will rethink my idea to pet one of these critters. But I don't want to be cruel, maybe this fellow is just hungry. I could probably throw a churro that far and make two points. (Would they kick you out of the park for throwing a churro? Asking for a friend).
And just because I had one more Jungle Cruise slide from this batch, here's a "you are there" view looking over the heads of some guests toward the much-photographed "African Veldt" scene. A few seconds longer and he would have been too late. Did he stand up in the boat, endangering all of the lives on board?
Major-
ReplyDeleteI don't know about 'fortitude and stamina', but I do have patience and fortitude-! They accompany me on every excursion I take on the Jungle Cruise. It's safer that way.
Thanks, Major.
It looks like the brush on the African Veldt has grown so tall, that we can no longer see the sleeping zebra in front of "mom and dad" lion. However, just to the left, we can see the two lion cubs, playing tug-of-war with a piece of it's flesh.
ReplyDelete- Tokyo (Pepper) Mint!
Major, I know you joke about too many hippo photos, but we actually haven't seen that many here on GDB. At least, not as many as say, the African Veldt or the Ruined Temple or the Elephant Pool.
ReplyDeleteI always welcome a good, close-up hippo photo.
Hungry hungry hippos. I don't think one churro is going to sate that fellow's appetite. Time to start tossing other passengers to the tuskers.
I know that hippopotamus means "river horse", but are they actually in the horse family? Maybe they were named by someone who had never seen a hippo or a horse before and so, didn't know what they were talking about.
They won’t kick you out of the Park for throwing a churro as long as you buy another one to replace it. You can throw churros all day long; it helps the company’s bottom line.
ReplyDeleteJB, hippos are actually more closely related to cetaceans than any other mammals. Seriously (for once).
Ol' Man hippo,
ReplyDeleteThat Ol' Man hippo,
He eats my churros
(They cost five Euros)
He just keeps snappin'
He keeps on snappin' his jaws.
He don't eat tourists,
'Cause they won't let him,
But, all the same, please
Don't try to pet him
He just keeps snappin'
He keeps on snappin' them jaws.
You an' me, we're in a boat,
Sailin' and sailin' around a moat.
Crack that joke, pun that pun,
Better be careful
Where you point that gun.
I gets weary
And sick of cruisin'
With folks who don't find
My jokes amusin',
But Ol' Man Hippo,
He just keeps snappin' his... AAAAAAAAAGH!
"Hungry hungry hippos"
ReplyDeleteJB, Disney heard you and came out with their version of the game.
See HERE.
What's the difference from the original Hungry Hungry Hippos game? Nothing, expect Disney changed the box design and doubled the price.
Wow, this is a timely post. I just watched a tv show about Egyptian civilization that explained those ancient folk considered the hippo to be the personification of Chaos and the Devil due to their habits of ransacking the farmer’s fields and retreating to the deep water after, leaving only ruin behind.
ReplyDeleteEars or not, hippos are nothing to mess around with in real life. Chuck, that’s right, but we can’t blame the Greeks for the inaccurate name, they were doing their best.
Melissa, the Poet Laureate of GDB. (Golf clap).
Major, I’m short on fortitude and stamina, I prefer to rely on Fame and Notoriety. Thanks for these pics today.
JG
Nanook, I assume that “patience and fortitude” is a reference to something that I am not getting?
ReplyDeleteTokyoMagic!, who wants to see a smelly old zebra anyway? I like grass! Good eye on the lion cubs, even they are hard to see.
JB, I have purposely not scanned many of the hippo slides that have come my way; there’s only so many times I can enjoy those. How sad is it that I have never played “Hungry Hungry Hippos”? I’ve considered placing a moratorium on African Veldt images too! Hippopotamus does mean “river horse”, but they are in fact fish.
Chuck, now you’ve given them a great idea! Sell churros just to throw! Sort of like water parks selling little packs of cut-up sardines to feed to seals. My gosh, they’ll be minting money.
Melissa, another “Showboat” reference. And finally with the original lyrics too. I can almost hear Paul Robeson singing it. (You worked 10 times harder on that song than I did on this post!).
Lou and Sue, whoa, $40 for Hungry Hungry Hippos. I’ll just play with my Lite Brite, thank you very much. It’s super fun to spell out bad words that light up!
JG, you must have been watching a channel other than The Discovery Channel or The Learning Channel, both of which have turned into junk. Why can’t they show serious science like “American Choppers”? There is at least one YouTube video of a hippo popping up in a river and chasing a boat, it’s pretty scary. What was he going to do if he caught it?? “Fame and Noteriety” are great, but what about “Fame and Fortune”, like Rudolph and Hermey sought?
ReplyDeleteMajor-
ReplyDeleteYes, of course... "Patience and Fortitude, the world-renowned pair of marble lions that stand proudly before the majestic Beaux-Arts building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street in Manhattan, have captured the imagination and affection of New Yorkers and visitors from all over the world since the Library was dedicated on May 23, 1911. "...Their nicknames have changed over the decades. First they were called Leo Astor and Leo Lenox, after The New York Public Library founders John Jacob Astor and James Lenox. Later, they were known as Lady Astor and Lord Lenox (even though they are both male lions). Kinky-! During the 1930s, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia named them Patience and Fortitude, for the qualities he felt New Yorkers would need to survive the economic depression. These names have stood the test of time: Patience still guards the south side of the Library's steps and Fortitude sits unwaveringly to the north".
@ Melissa-
As JG rightly-stated: You ARE the 'poet laureate' of GDB-! What other blog has such bragging rights-? [I didn't think so-!] Is it any wonder GDB is a daily must-read-?
Melissa, another classic. And to think that you composed that before 8 AM. Amazing.
ReplyDelete"Euros" and "churros" is one of the greatest rhymes of all time.
ReplyDeleteNanook, after reading what you just posted regarding the names "Patience and Fortitude" (for the lions), I was curious as to what are the names of Chicago's Art Institute's lions, in front of their building. Sadly, they are named after their 'stances':
ReplyDeleteThe south lion is "Stands in Attitude of Defiance," and the north lion is "On the Prowl." Stupid names, if you ask me. Though, what do you expect from a city that allows the Sears Tower to be renamed "Willis." Even more stupid.
I’ll just play with my Lite Brite, thank you very much. It’s super fun to spell out bad words that light up!
hahahaha! Major, in all the years I played with Lite Brite, I don't think my friends, or I, EVER thought to do that. It just goes to show there's a big difference between boys and girls.
Melissa...
ReplyDeleteI hereby award you an honorary title of "JC Skipper!" With that type of creativity, I would have welcomed you into the Skipper 'fraternity' of the 70s. 3 female CMs were 'tried out' for a while, but management felt the trial to be unsuccessful and they were reassigned back to other attractions. I believe you would have made the cut!
Major...hippos are only dangerous when they wiggle their ears AND blow bubbles at the same time!! LOL KS
Major, the show is called “Secrets” or something like that, I get it via Paramount+ streaming. It’s very good, lots of unusual archaeology topics, illustrated with the ancient sites and some video reproduction of ancient folks (I’m pretty sure it’s not live video of King Tut) but not sensational, no ancient aliens etc. I’ve learned a lot of cool stuff.
ReplyDeleteFame and Notoriety were held to be sisters by ancients. Fame was portrayed standing on a ball, since it’s difficult to maintain fame over time, while Notoriety stands on a block, since once you attain it, it’s hard to get rid of it. Either one can lead to fortune these days.
I think the ear-wiggling thing was a Disney story since it was an effect they could animate. I’ve never heard of any particular signal a hippo would make to indicate anger, but hey, it could be true. I’ll go look it up.
JG
I can think of no greater honor than Honorary JC Skipper!
ReplyDeleteMe with either Patience or Fortitude, many years ago.
Well, I’m glad I researched this. Ear-wiggling is NOT made up by Imagineers. It is a very real sign of impending attack.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/the-humble-hippopotamus-is-africas-deadliest-animal/article992454/
Quote from the article…
“He is well-versed in hippo warning signs: first the huge "yawn," which is actually threatening; then a huffy series of loud grunts. An angry hippo will then wiggle its ears, before lowering its hindquarters and its snout, to peer at an intruder with its most threatening squint. "By the time you see their ears wiggling, you've really overstepped the mark."
I take it all back. Thank goodness for the internet.
JG
Melissa, great picture!
ReplyDeleteJG, hippo’s (hipposes? Hippi?) sweat turns red when mad. Am serious.
@ Melissa-
ReplyDeleteThat would be 'Patience' you're buddying up to.
As Sunday Night pointed out - "Euros" and "churros" may be one of the greatest rhymes of all time. It's right up there with the 'greats' from Lorenz Hart:
"Beans could get no keener re-
Ception in a beanery..." - or -
"While you love your lover, let
Blue skies be your coverlet--..."
Thank you, Melissa.
Chuck, thanks for that hippo info. With their odd appearance, I guess they're sort of on their way (evolutionarily speaking) to becoming like whales.
ReplyDeleteMelissa, Brava! One of your best. I like the Python-esque ending. (Joseph of Arimathea's last words: "in the Castle of Aaargh!")
Sue, Haha. Oh my, Disney never misses a chance to gouge their fans, do they. Now I can add this to my Christmas wish list; along with the blinged-out Mouse Ears. (I'm still miffed that I can only get one of those!)
Major, I've never played the game either. But I've seen the commercials often enough! I wonder how well the game holds up, physically, with all the forceful slapping/pounding of the hippos' tails?
"...but they are in fact fish." I KNEW IT! Looks like Chuck got it all wrong for once. ;-)
Of course you know, the Throwing Churros will cost twice as much as the regular ones.
Yay, a Rudolph reference!
Sue, It's not so much a difference between boys and girls, as between Major and everybody else.
Melissa, that's a nice photo. Even the Lion is smiling!
JG, thanks for doing the ear-wiggling research. I was curious about it as well, but was too lazy to check.
Nanook, well I sure wouldn’t have guessed “the marble lions outside the New York Public Library”! I’ve even seen them fairly recently but didn’t know that they had nicknames, though I guess that shouldn’t be that much of a surprise. Yes, why would they give one of them a female nickname when they are both clearly male lions? Oh well, I’m not going to lose any sleep over it.
ReplyDeleteSunday Night, I don’t know how she does it.
Sunday Night, she could have rhymed “churros” with “burros”, but after that I have nothing!
Lou and Sue, it’s funny, I was thinking about the Art Institute lions as well! I can’t say I’m too crazy about their “names”, but they have a certain old-fashioned quality that appeals to me in a way. I will never call the Sears Tower the “Willis Tower”! I loved my Lite Brite, and was super happy when my mom bought me a package of extra plastic pegs so that I could really go nuts with them. I think making bad words was one of the first things I thought of, so you must be right about the differences between boys and girls.
KS, wow, “JC Skipper” is quite an honor! I thought that the Jungle Cruise had female skippers all the time nowadays? And thank you for the reminder about hippos, I forgot about the bubbles.
JG, “Secrets”?? I only care about CELEBRITY secrets! What are the Kardashians up to? I need to know every minute! They are the most interesting people on the planet. And if you don’t agree, then I just don’t understand you. My brother sometimes watches some pseudo-scientific archaeology shows on “Discovery”, but they are so padded with filler and useless talking heads. I guess “normal” people don’t have the patience for a smart show about real scientific stuff. By the way, I love how I misspelled “noteriety”, it makes me look super dumb! Maybe….? I never knew about “Fame” and “Notoriety” as they were in ancient lore. But I do know about “Cool Ranch” and “Spicy Nacho”.
Melssa, aw, what a great picture!
JG, I know that my ears wiggle when I’m about to attack, so I am not surprised about the hippo fact. Did you ever see Fiona, the baby hippo at the Cincinnati Zoo? It was so fun to watch videos of her as they raised her from her premature birth (it was touch and go for a while) to being a healthy hippo, but now she is just a BIG scary hippo (1300 pounds at last report)!
Lou and Sue, I’ve heard that too, though I heard the sweat was pink. WEIRD.
Nanook, I dunno, that lion looks like it has a lot of fortitude! Also, any song that mentions a beanery is already way ahead. Did Shakespeare write about beaneries? NO.
JB, I’ve seen artist’s renderings of the creatures that used to live on land, but eventually returned to the water to become what we know as whales, and MAN are they strange looking. And I would not be surprised if Hungry Hungry Hippos broke after six games of spastic pounding by kids who’ve had too much sugar. I thought you might like the Rudolph reference!
I don't know why they renamed the Sears Tower for Diff'rent Strokes, since that show took place in NYC.
ReplyDeleteWha'chu talking 'bout Willis Tower?