Comment Not for the first time. (Score 1) 28
The Performa line was sold by just about everyone in the early 90's
Parrots and other birds are trained very poorly via Pavlovian conditioning. That isn't the only type of training, and Model-Rival training works much more effectively on birds (which isn't to say anything about how it works on other animals).
I agree - and, although Alex was trained with Model Rival techniques, I prefer operant conditioning with my Macaws and Greys because of speed, each of our guys seem to get the idea faster with a target and click. Considering that I seem to be able to teach the physical behaviors better than verbal ones, I have to admit that I'm missing part of the puzzle.
Alex was a special case. He had received decades of organized schooling from scientists, who I'd like to think make better teachers than birds.
You can be sure that the birds in this article are just mimicking sounds.
Alex was not a special case, excepting that he was the first to demonstrate that what we were wrong in what we thought the limits were. Dismissing Alex because he got years of education that other birds didn't get avoids the reality of what he represents. That education produces better results in communication and thinking skills isn't really all that surprising, in humans. What Alex demonstrated was that the abilities of non-humans can reach significantly higher levels than we ever thought was possible. Dr. Pepperburg is still working with Alexs flock mates, and produces similar results from them without the "decades" of training. This is not unlike humans, there is certainly a variation in what each individual is ultimately capable of, but if you don't know that a human is capable of math, you don't try to teach them, once know that the bar is higher then you strive for it, and, like human education, as you understand how to communicate with the student more, you can educate them faster. The systematic approach to teaching Parrots, particularly Greys, produces faster results, I'm sure, but that doesn't mean that the birds don't teach each other, they most assuredly do.
...but if you want to buy a single drink, it's easier to say "a pint" or even "a 12-ounce cup" rather than "400 milliliters."
What's wrong with saying 4 deciliters?
Because people, as a whole, gravitate to simplicity. They want "a cup", "A pint" or some other simple group label when they do something repeatedly (like order a beer).. and if the simple thing doesn't exist, one will, inevitably evolve. and thus, the reference to "Folk" volumes appearing alongside the rigid measurements.
Lets make collecting rain illegal.
It IS, in some western states, illegal to collect rainwater. http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/water/4314447
Air pollution is really making us pay through the nose.
