coyotes, alligators, speaking Minnesotan, and carillons.

Regarding recently mentioned wolves and foxes, let me just link this site called The Daily Coyote, featuring gorgeous photography by a woman of her companion coyote (apparently, it's not so much a pet as a coyote whom she half-raised which now hangs out).

My sister-in-law posted a FB picture today of she and my brother with an adorable tiny alligator (or very similar-looking lizard). While i would just be absolutely delighted (no, seriously) if a pet alligator were the newest addition to the family, it looks as though it's illegal to feed an alligator according to Florida laws (where my sibs live). According to an article from the Florida extension service, " Alligators make terrible pets. Although baby alligators may seem like a cool pet, it is illegal to possess or take an alligator without the proper licenses and permits from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Alligators are purely instinctual hunters and do not show affection. Unlike cats and dogs, alligators will never love the hand that feeds them."

i have been listening/watching FAR too much of this rather long but super awesome Lumineers live performance. It features a fantastic version of Dylan's Boots of Spanish Leather, but the whole thing's good.

My friend and biking partner Asuka linked a clip called 'How To Speak Minnesotan'. It's also long but mocumentary style; it was apparently based on a book of the same name by former Prairie Home Companion writer Howard Mohr. i liked the bit about waving. My mother called when i was in the middle of watching it, and upon hearing what i was doing, replied that (communicating with the natives) might be a useful thing to learn.

The Carillon bell tower on campus has recital on Sundays at 3pm, and this past Sunday featured the theme from the Game Of Thrones show in epic fashion. Regarding the Carillon, it's played by master carillonneur Lyle Anderson, and is one of three such towers in Wisconsin. Interestingly, the carillon is the heaviest musical instrument in the world, and from the wikipedia article, "In German, a carillon is also called a Glockenspiel; while in French, the true glockenspiel (a percussion instrument consisting of a set of tuned metal bars) is often called a carillon."