Wildlife of America: the Ringtail, also known as "Ringtailed Cat" or "Miner's Cat."
This animal is related to a raccoon, not a cat, and it is an omnivore, rather than an obligate carnivore like a domestic cat, but it has gained its common "cat" appellation because, unlike most wild animals, it makes a good pet, and it is distinguished by its superior agility to the domestic cat, which increases its ability to control vermin, like rats and mice in a home.
The name "Miner's cat" came about when mining and prospecting came to the drylands of Arizona and New Mexico. Along with unpleasant creatures like scorpions and venomous centipedes, these areas have a native rodent called the packrat. While the packrat looks little different than the common Norway rat found in Europe, being easily distinguished only by a furry tail, it has different habits which made the ringtail's skills seem indispensable. While the Norway rat will mainly limit itself to chewing holes to gain access to new areas, and food, the packrat normally builds itself a sort of castle out of the materials in its territory, well fortified with cactus thorns. Not only will the packrat chew away and haul off building materials for its fortress, but it likes to fill its fortress with "treasure" of shiny objects. While this meant that the packrat would clean up bottle caps, this also meant that miners and prospectors could have their gold and silver nuggets, their wages and their watches hauled away to a packrat's fortress.
The normal domestic cat might catch some, but not usually all packrats, and a domestic cat is no match for scorpions, so miners found that it was well worth the trouble of keeping things quiet for the shy ringtail, rather than be stung, bitten, and have a packrat abscond with their valuables.
This animal is related to a raccoon, not a cat, and it is an omnivore, rather than an obligate carnivore like a domestic cat, but it has gained its common "cat" appellation because, unlike most wild animals, it makes a good pet, and it is distinguished by its superior agility to the domestic cat, which increases its ability to control vermin, like rats and mice in a home.
The name "Miner's cat" came about when mining and prospecting came to the drylands of Arizona and New Mexico. Along with unpleasant creatures like scorpions and venomous centipedes, these areas have a native rodent called the packrat. While the packrat looks little different than the common Norway rat found in Europe, being easily distinguished only by a furry tail, it has different habits which made the ringtail's skills seem indispensable. While the Norway rat will mainly limit itself to chewing holes to gain access to new areas, and food, the packrat normally builds itself a sort of castle out of the materials in its territory, well fortified with cactus thorns. Not only will the packrat chew away and haul off building materials for its fortress, but it likes to fill its fortress with "treasure" of shiny objects. While this meant that the packrat would clean up bottle caps, this also meant that miners and prospectors could have their gold and silver nuggets, their wages and their watches hauled away to a packrat's fortress.
The normal domestic cat might catch some, but not usually all packrats, and a domestic cat is no match for scorpions, so miners found that it was well worth the trouble of keeping things quiet for the shy ringtail, rather than be stung, bitten, and have a packrat abscond with their valuables.
Welcome to the US preselection for the May 2012 edition of the Countdown!
As usual, the preselection contains a mix of songs intended to be interesting, competitive, or representative, listed in alphabetical order.
THE CONTESTANTS
1. Anthony Hamilton - "Never Let Go" (feat. Keri Hilson)
2. C.Db.Sn- "As If December Never Happened" By Request
3. Dia Frampton - "The Broken Ones" By Request
4. Metallica - "Hell And Back"
5. Skrillex - "Right In"
6. Taylor Swift - "Safe And Sound" By Request
7. The Black Keys - "Little Black Submarines" By Request
8. The Maine - "Misery"
9. The Rapture - "Sail Away"
10. Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - "Immigrant Song" By Request
2. C.Db.Sn- "As If December Never Happened" By Request
3. Dia Frampton - "The Broken Ones" By Request
4. Metallica - "Hell And Back"
5. Skrillex - "Right In"
6. Taylor Swift - "Safe And Sound" By Request
7. The Black Keys - "Little Black Submarines" By Request
8. The Maine - "Misery"
9. The Rapture - "Sail Away"
10. Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - "Immigrant Song" By Request
The pre-selection songs on YouTube
1. Anthony Hamilton - "Never Let Go (feat. Keri Hilson)"
2. C.Db.Sn- "As If December Never Happened" By Request
3. Dia Frampton - "The Broken Ones" By Request
4. Metallica - "Hell And Back"
5. Skrillex - "Right In"
6. Taylor Swift (feat. The Civil Wars)- "Safe And Sound" By Request
7. The Black Keys - "Little Black Submarines" By Request
8. The Maine - "Misery"
9. The Rapture - "Sail Away"
10. Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - "Immigrant Song" By Request
The voting format is the same as in the Countdown International, 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 points: the highest number of points for the song you like best, the lowest number of points to the song you like least. Just send a message or post a comment with your votes.
If you have enough free time, go ahead and write the reasons that you like and dislike particular songs, or parts of songs
(but only if you want to).
Suggestions for future pre-selections are also very welcome.
2. C.Db.Sn- "As If December Never Happened" By Request
3. Dia Frampton - "The Broken Ones" By Request
4. Metallica - "Hell And Back"
5. Skrillex - "Right In"
6. Taylor Swift (feat. The Civil Wars)- "Safe And Sound" By Request
7. The Black Keys - "Little Black Submarines" By Request
8. The Maine - "Misery"
9. The Rapture - "Sail Away"
10. Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - "Immigrant Song" By Request
The voting format is the same as in the Countdown International, 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 points: the highest number of points for the song you like best, the lowest number of points to the song you like least. Just send a message or post a comment with your votes.
If you have enough free time, go ahead and write the reasons that you like and dislike particular songs, or parts of songs
(but only if you want to).
Suggestions for future pre-selections are also very welcome.
