Alex the African Grey Parrot Dies 242
grrlscientist writes "Yesterday, I received the devastating news that Alex the African Grey parrot, who was both a study subject and colleague to Irene Pepperberg, died unexpectedly at 31 years of age. 'Even though Alex was a research animal, he was much more than that. This species of parrot generally lives to be 50-60 years old, so Alex was only middle-aged when he died. According to some reports I have read, it is possible that Alex might have succumbed to Aspergillosis, a fungal infection of the lungs that he has battled in the past. However, the cause of death will not be known until after a necropsy has been completed... Alex's veterinarian is returning from vacation to personally conduct this necrospy.'"
Cue the... (Score:5, Funny)
Uhm... (Score:4, Funny)
What about the Norweigan Blue? (Score:4, Funny)
Profit? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Uhm... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Uhm... (Score:5, Funny)
Ok... *still trying to figure out how this is newsworthy* I know, I know.. I'm new here...
Re:Elsewhere, (Score:5, Funny)
Yeah, but that doesn't give us a cue to commence the recital of Monty Python routines.
Re:Profit? (Score:3, Funny)
2: ???
3: Profit!
2 probably involves some sort of comedy routine, rather than any attempt to sell the thing, though.
I don't know... (Score:5, Funny)
I don't know, the Chinese government says they're sleeping.
Great attention grabbing first sentence (Score:4, Funny)
This coming from someone who calls themselves grrrlscientist. You could probably make some videos to pay for your research.....
Re:Cue the... (Score:4, Funny)
Ok no jokes, but did we get any last words [wikiquote.org] to quote then?
For the sake of completeness... (Score:5, Funny)
The cast:
MR. PRALINE
John Cleese
SHOP OWNER
Michael Palin
The sketch:
A customer enters a pet shop.
Mr. Praline: 'Ello, I wish to register a complaint.
(The owner does not respond.)
Mr. Praline: 'Ello, Miss?
Owner: What do you mean "miss"?
Mr. Praline: I'm sorry, I have a cold. I wish to make a complaint!
Owner: We're closin' for lunch.
Mr. Praline: Never mind that, my lad. I wish to complain about this parrot what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very boutique.
Owner: Oh yes, the, uh, the Norwegian Blue...What's,uh...What's wrong with it?
Mr. Praline: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. 'E's dead, that's what's wrong with it!
Owner: No, no, 'e's uh,...he's resting.
Mr. Praline: Look, matey, I know a dead parrot when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now.
Owner: No no he's not dead, he's, he's restin'! Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue, idn'it, ay? Beautiful plumage!
Mr. Praline: The plumage don't enter into it. It's stone dead.
Owner: Nononono, no, no! 'E's resting!
Mr. Praline: All right then, if he's restin', I'll wake him up! (shouting at the cage) 'Ello, Mister Polly Parrot! I've got a lovely fresh cuttle fish for you if you
show...
(owner hits the cage)
Owner: There, he moved!
Mr. Praline: No, he didn't, that was you hitting the cage!
Owner: I never!!
Mr. Praline: Yes, you did!
Owner: I never, never did anything...
Mr. Praline: (yelling and hitting the cage repeatedly) 'ELLO POLLY!!!!! Testing! Testing! Testing! Testing! This is your nine o'clock alarm call!
(Takes parrot out of the cage and thumps its head on the counter. Throws it up in the air and watches it plummet to the floor.)
Mr. Praline: Now that's what I call a dead parrot.
Owner: No, no.....No, 'e's stunned!
Mr. Praline: STUNNED?!?
Owner: Yeah! You stunned him, just as he was wakin' up! Norwegian Blues stun easily, major.
Mr. Praline: Um...now look...now look, mate, I've definitely 'ad enough of this. That parrot is definitely deceased, and when I purchased it not 'alf an hour
ago, you assured me that its total lack of movement was due to it bein' tired and shagged out following a prolonged squawk.
Owner: Well, he's...he's, ah...probably pining for the fjords.
Mr. Praline: PININ' for the FJORDS?!?!?!? What kind of talk is that?, look, why did he fall flat on his back the moment I got 'im home?
Owner: The Norwegian Blue prefers keepin' on it's b
No no he's not dead, he's, he's resting! (Score:3, Funny)
Pining for the fjords? (Score:5, Funny)
Luckily for me, Alex died young - I don't know if I could have held out for another 19-29 years...
Re:What about the Norweigan Blue? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Uhm... (Score:5, Funny)
Arrrggghhhh!!!!!!! (Score:5, Funny)
May he rest in Davy Jones Locker in peace. Arrrgghhhh!!!!!
What They Didn't Tell... (Score:2, Funny)
how sad (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Researcher's Famous Dog Seen in Bronco (Score:3, Funny)
News for Nerds? (Score:4, Funny)
Initially I read Nerds as Birds... which would make for an interesting headline:
News for Birds, stuff with crackers
operant conditioning (Score:1, Funny)
I can see it now: "In Soviet Russa... In Soviet Russia *SQUAWK* I FOR ONE WELCOME *SQUAWK*"
Re:Uhm... (Score:4, Funny)
Too bad he's dead. If he could grasp the concept of null as well, he would be a fine programmer.
He's not dead... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Uhm... (Score:5, Funny)
"Alex, would you like some corn?"
*squawk* "Why do you want to talk about some corn?"
"Well, we could talk about something else."
*squawk* "Does it please you to believe we could talk about something else?"
Re:No offense but (Score:3, Funny)
A roof over your head, three square meals, and all the drugs you can want. Now, give me a computer with internet access, and I'm not seeing a down side here.