As I Lay Reading — A Public Commonplace Book

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 08:13:46 -0400

The most charming I’ve ever seen a spider be: youtu.be/eMgV7vawX…

Hoover the Talking Seal

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 21:06:34 -0400

You can really tell this seal was raised by sailors, he sounds like a pirate! The audio recordings are uncanny.

”Hoover (1971–1985) was a male harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) famous for imitating human speech, who spent most of his life at the New England Aquarium in Boston, USA. Initially raised by a Maine fisherman, Hoover began imitating English phrases once he reached sexual maturity. The seal’s repertoire included “hello there”, “come over here”, “hurry”, “hey hey”, and “Hoover”. Hoover provides an unparalleled example of speech mimicry — a form of vocal learning — in seals.”

Listen to him here.

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 09:07:12 -0400

Current Reads:

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:50:31 -0400

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:31:42 -0400

Forget the “average Joe,” I much prefer to be referred to as…

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 19:45:32 -0400

I’m calling her Violet

Sun, 31 May 2026 13:19:04 -0400

The red-headed philosopher.