Things I do instead of work: episode 1

Well if I haven't made it clear enough already, I'm a huge procrastinator.  Take today, for example.  I have an enormous stack of books on my desk relating to the imminent research I have to do on Jean-Luc Godard and women in silent film, but instead I'm drinking tea, listening to The Smiths, and writing this blog.  Hell, one time I started writing down all the things I did in term one instead of my work, but seriously, I didn't even finish the list.  That's how bad I am.

SO!

Sunday evening, my dear friend Kyla told me to look up MEERKAT MANOR.  I was not disappointed.  Have a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIARDIz4E5U

First off, meerkats are adorable.  That in itself is frankly enough to get me to watch.  However, there's so much more!  Although I'm just repeating what Bill Nighy tells you in the narration,
I'm going to tell you again... just in case you didn't actually click the link.  Anyway, these meerkats are the subject of a study by Cambridge University, and the show follows a family called the Whiskers.  It's a telling of their daily lives, which are filled with all kinds of danger and drama.  I'm only on episode four, and already so much shit has gone down.  Babies have been born, snakes have attacked, leaving one meerkat on the verge of death, predators have threatened attack, and there has even  been West Side Story-esque territory battles- forbidden romance and all!  It's seriously like a Shakespearian tragedy at times... appropriate given that there is a meerkat called Shakespeare.

When introduced, Flower, the dominant female, has given birth to a new litter of pups who are about ready to be introduced to their environment.  Before they are ready, the pups stay underground in the borough.  Okay, this is amazing, because meerkats live in a sort of matriarchy with the dominant female in control.  There is a dominant male (Zaphod), but he still not the one in command.  From what I understand, the dominant male is the one that the dominant female chooses as a mate, and he can be overthrown, whereas there has been no indication that a coup for female leadership can take place.  This is made clear when we learn more of Youssarian, who the title sequence introduces as having "[social problems]", as he was once the dominant male and Flower's choice for a mate, but was eventually cast aside in favour of Zaphod.  Just as an aside, Zaphod is totally Youssarian's brother.  How's that for some sweet drama.  Oh, without giving too much away, [social problems] is a serious understatement.  I think because Animal Planet probably can't say [total fuck-up]. 

As indicated by this photo, baby meerkats are like the cutest thing ever.  And this show has lots of 'em!  In addition to Flower, her wayward daughters Mozart and Tosca have given birth to their own litters of pups.  This is totally dangerous too, because only the dominant female is allowed to reproduce.  She may choose kindness and let the transgressions go unpunished, but she may also choose to banish her daughters and their pups, or worse, kill the pups!  Meerkat pups are subject to so many predators, and the more pups there are, the more need protecting.  It's a dangerous world we live in, especially when you're just a tiny pup.  Thus, large numbers of pups at one time are not ideal for a family.  Moreover, Flower would want her own pups privileged.  Watching the meerkats protect the pups is also totally incredible.  For one, when there are pups, the meerkats take turns being babysitting them while the others go out looking for food.  Incredible.  And when there is a predator nearby, a bunch of the meerkats will surround the pups (kind of like whales do!), while others will bob up and down in an attempt to confuse the predator.  Similarly, if a meerkat is injured, others will stay with it to provide company, and to keep eyes ready for predators.  My God, animals are incredible.

The only real downside of this show is that it is really intense, and sometimes a bit too much to handle.  I didn't need to see a dead pup lying in the desert.  I really would like that image removed from my memory.  Also, you grow so attached to these little critters that when anything bad does happen, it's just so so tragic.

Regardless, check this show out if you haven't already! 

p.s. Mozart is totally my favourite.  She's described as [caring],