http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8147566.stm

Cats 'exploit' humans by purring
By Victoria Gill
Science reporter, BBC News

excerpt

"Cat owners may have suspected as much, but it seems our feline friends have found a way to manipulate us humans.

Researchers at the University of Sussex have discovered that cats use a "soliciting purr" to overpower their owners and garner attention and food.

Unlike regular purring, this sound incorporates a "cry", with a similar frequency to a human baby's. "

A purr can have two components. It's a neat description of the process & how they did the study.

Julie
Grinning

see here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPTGASZ62ys

caption: "Kitten attacks wolf" (actually a very patient dog).

if you turn the sound down you won't get the distracting TV noise...

Folo found this & sent me the link (video only, no Coast Guard audio)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mLKfRVU3qM

the splash landing is about at minute 2:00 ... & you can clock how fast the two ferries got there. By 7 minutes both ferries were evacuating!!!

More applause.

Pilot Is Hailed After Jetliner’s Icy Plunge
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/nyregion/16crash.html?th&emc=th

A US Airways jetliner with 155 people aboard lost power in both engines, possibly from striking birds, after taking off from La Guardia Airport on Thursday afternoon. The pilot ditched in the icy Hudson River and all on board were rescued by a flotilla of converging ferries and emergency boats

comment on Daily Kos which sums it up about doing one's job:

It was one of the big "negatives" thrown around by Republicans - we're "elitist." Well, this is what elitism means - the best doing what they're best at, when it all falls apart. The pilot was already considered one of the top people in airline safety and crisis handling - and he showed in practice that he is indeed that good. The rest of the crew doing what they're supposed to do. Right on down the line. It kept the passengers calm, and enabled them to be successfully rescued.

That's the sort of elitism we need, and should demand. The best people, the best training, and doing what they should in a superb manner - competence.