Vote P-mail for New Orleans! August 31, 2006
Posted by *christuttle* in : tuttle says... , trackback300 points for Kasey! OK, so ya didn’t quite get 1,000 points, but you were-generally-correct. P-mail is a term used–from what I can find, primarily by BBC News–to describe the usage of carrier pigeons.
The first example is a new story describing how carrier pigeons we’re used to relay (ping) two computers. The idea was first proposed as an April’s Fools joke in 1990 by David Waitzman. David probably had no idea some crazy folk would waste their time making his joke a reality in 2001. [see BBC News article] [text of 1990 proposal]
The second example is a 2002 article of the then-ending of India’s national emergency response team… the India Police Pigeon Service. 2002 kids, you read correctly! First I have to say that this is simply hilarious. In 1946, when first created, it probably made sense. Though I can’t help but picutre these pigeons getting swept up into the very hurricaines and tornado’s they were released to report on, I’d like to think animals are much savvier. But pigeons, in 2002? All offices are, and have been, equipped with radio networks, email and cellular communications. It seems the India Auditor General agreed, reporting that the 800 birds were costing the state around 500,000 rupees ($10,260) a year. [see BBC News article]
But there’s more.
One point the article skims over however, that I must admit I find an interesting one–is that in 1982 and 1999 radio networks were knocked out by the floods and a cyclone, respectively. P-mail was “extensively used.” I must wonder how helpful this sort of “back-up” system was?
Maybe if New Orleans’ locals had had p-mail last year during Katrina, FEMA and Bush would have realized how horrible things were. National media didn’t seem to work, so let’s buy N.O. some pigeons!
Related But Not.
1| Though the Indian government will now be saving about $10,260 a year, should they decide to bring back the Pigeon Police Server Thing then I found this great resource called “Classified Magic” where they say you can make up to $10,260 EVERY MONTH by selling your shit thru classified ads. Amazing, huh? Then you’d have, like, 9,600 pigeons! Hot!
2| 10260 is also the zip code for NY City Hall.
3| As for President Bush, his birthday was July 6. Ooops, I forgot to get him a present. That same day back in 1699, Pirate Captain William Kidd was captured in Boston, MA and deported back to England. Can Bush be departed back to New Haven, CT?
4| Many people incorrectly believe that carrier pigeons are extinct. This is actually untrue, it’s Passenger Pigeons that are extinct. Passenger Pigeons once numbered in the millions across North America were hunted in the 1800’s to extincition. By the early 1900s a few remained in captivity, but as DamnInteresting.com reports…. on “September 1st, 1914 the last Passenger Pigeon fell off her perch and died. Martha had lived to be 29. She was frozen in ice and shipped to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington where she was skinned and stuffed. She remains there on display.”
5| According to Wikipedia, every mention of Carrier Pigeons above is incorrect–the birds being used to “carry” things are actually Homing Pigeons. My question is, what are the pigeons sitting outside of my office in downtown NYC?
6| OK, last one. According to the NYC Wildlife Discussion Board, pigeon’s are NOT “flying-rats”. In their list of “Dos and Don’ts” they suggest… “DO help an injured or sick pigeon by picking it up… .” Now I don’t know about you, but no way in hell I’m touching one of those pigeons.
Also, The NYC Wildlife Discussion Board is currently excepting new members who don’t live in NYC and have never seen, smelled or been shat on by a flying-rat.
Comments»
Some more triva for you…
Captain Kidd is said to have buried his treasure on Charle’s Island off the coast of Milford, CT (my home town). There have been several attempts to find the treasure, but no records have been kept as to if it has been found or not.
Who want’s to go treasure huntin’ ?!
#1.) The are flying rats. They’re gross. I used to think they were cute, then I saw a group of pigeons carry a small dog away. I was scarred forever.
#2.) That being said, I’m going to try and bring this back. Can you teach an old pigeon new tricks? Or new addresses. At the least I can send my pigeon to the bodega for smokes and liquor.
#3.) 300 points? I was robbed!! That was worth at least 750 for the effort alone. I would like an extra 150 points for the charm and glamour that I bring to every comment.
#4.) I need everyones address so that I can send those pigeons.
#5.) We’re totally finding that treasure.
that pigeon is gonna get you lik’erd up!
let’s go treasure huntin’!!!
At least pigeons don’t sit and stare at you while you sleep, waiting to suck out your soul. They are NOT rats with wings. They’re smarter than dolphins — ever try to get a dolphin to deliver an important message? They’re quieter than dogs — no one ever complained about pigeons cooing. And you can train them to pick up a shiny object like a quarter or a diamond ring and bring it back to you. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both planned to make the pigeon the national bird of the newly-formed United States, but Ben Franklin reminded them of how elite the noble pigeon was, and at Ben’s urging, they all decided on the snobbish eagle. So leave pigeons alone, and don’t come running to me asking to borrow one of my homing pigeons during the next NYC blackout because your cell phone and your home VoIP phone doesn’t work.
P.S. Captain Kidd’s treasure is in my medicine chest. A pigeon brought it to me, piece by piece, over a period of 13 years when I first moved to NY. He finished 3 years ago and I have given him a retirement coop in Boca Raton.