Training Circus Lobster : Zooillogix

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Training Circus Lobster

Category: aquarium • crustacean • lobster
Posted on: May 6, 2009 10:41 AM, by ableiman

I cannot train my dog Mathman not to pee on the damned carpet but New England Aquarium's senior trainer, cryptically known simply as "Erin", can teach a lobster to score higher on the GRE than me.

As some readers of this blog may know, I have long been concerned with growing Lobster / Human tensions as illustrated in this alarmist Geocities site I created in 2000 while hungover in Belgium at "work." So the question I pose is this: will training lobsters lead to mutual understanding or merely create more efficient killers ala the CIA and Taliban circa 1985?

Although it might not make Letterman's "stupid pet tricks" anytime soon, this video of a lobster trained to stick its claw through a hoop before getting fed is pretty cool. The lobster equivalent of "giving paw" perhaps...

Even cooler, here Erin has taught the lobster to roll-over.

Learn more about Erin's lobster walking, day care and grooming service here. I am eagerly awaiting a promised video of a lobster catching a Frisbee and returning it to the thrower, then barking "I Love You!"

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Comments

Oh.. and this gets even better.

They're calling the 24 pounder "Jedi."

Posted by: Jives | May 6, 2009 6:15 PM

Heh. Heh heh.

Here is the plot summary from Wikipedia for the Charles Stross short story "Lobsters", a Hugo and Nebula award nominee, and now the first chapter in his novel Accelerando:

In Amsterdam, Manfred receives a call on a courier-delivered phone from entities claiming to be a net-based AI working for KGB dot RU, seeking his help on how to defect. Eventually, he discovers they are actually uploaded brain-scans of the California spiny lobster looking to escape from humanity's interference. He manages to team them up with Bob Franklin, who is looking for an AI to crew his nascent spacefaring project—the building of a self-replicating factory complex from cometary material—which he created with Manfred's help. Later, Manfred's predatory fiancée forces him to impregnate and marry her in an attempt to control him.

I'm not trying to imply anything. But it's a might fine coincidence.

Posted by: william e emba | May 7, 2009 11:32 AM

'In Amsterdam, Manfred receives a call on a courier-delivered phone from entities claiming to be a net-based AI working for KGB dot RU, seeking his help on how to defect.'

I think this is not true.

Posted by: Michael | May 19, 2009 10:13 AM

In Amsterdam, Manfred receives a call on a courier-delivered phone from entities claiming to be a net-based AI working for KGB dot RU, seeking his help on how to defect...

Posted by: tatil yerleri | June 10, 2009 2:51 PM

of very very good..

Posted by: tatil hotel | June 10, 2009 2:59 PM

Wow this is incredible great thanks

Posted by: dance | June 19, 2009 5:25 AM