Interesting factoids - Peter Tosh and Moai on Easter Island

We we driving back from Thanksgiving with my brother's family in Clarksville, TN and hit an inevitable airways dead-zone (we were switching to the various NPR stations along the way) so we resorted to the CD player. Out of 6 discs it went to number 5 and the music of Peter Tosh "Legalize It" started blaring from the speakers. Cindi asked me if Peter Tosh was dead and I said "I believe so" but couldn't remember the details so I looked it up on wikipedia. I'm not quite sure where I was or what I was doing when he died, but the end for Mr Tosh was quite shocking to me.

It seems Tosh had been on tour but made a trip home to Jamaica, where his house was invaded by 3 thugs - they were there to rob him (I guess touring makes a musician lots of money and you know you keep all that cash under the mattress or something?). In any case there was much torture involved and intermittent visits by friends and well-wishers, which seem to have spooked the robbers. One in particular decided to blow Peter's brains out - wow! That was September 11, 1987. Note the date - I wonder if this murder has been totally obscured by the 911 attacks to the US.

The murderer was a guy named Dennis 'Leppo' Lobban who Peter Tosh had befriended - the guy had been in jail a while and Peter had helped him to find work - I guess he got paid for that kindness. Lobban was sentenced to execution which was commuted in 1995 (he remains in jail).

After 7 studio albums, 5 live albums (4 released posthumously as well as 11 compilations), you would think Peter Tosh would be a household name. Instead his music is often just thought of as another Bob Marley tune when heard on radio. Let's take a moment to both praise him, and burn this entertainer's works to memory.

On a lighter note, there's some interesting information on the Moai of Easter Island - seems they have bodies carved beneath the heads? I had never heard this before, more information here: http://www.worldsstrangest.com/mental-floss/the-easter-island-“heads”-have-bodies/ and here: http://www.eisp.org/3879/

-- John

Faces of Death - Kitchen Sliding-glass door mat - Vole

Once again my cat Mucha has contributed to the population control of voles in the back yard - this one was already being consumed by ants when found on the sliding-glass door from the kitchen. Seems he likes to chew the tail a bit as the tip is missing - but they must be foul tasting indeed if my cat (who will eat anything) leaves the body....

There have been a few other critters since my last post - a couple of small snakes, and lots of feathers. This was the only offering to the house.

-- John

Faces of Death - Front Yard - April Images

I forgot to publish these and ran across the photos today - these are from April 16. The first is a small bird on the front stoop - the head has been eaten and is now being enjoyed by ants. I think my cat Mucha is responsible for the head - the bird was probably still alive as he normally only goes for fresh kill.

The second fatality (same day) was found in the front yard below the carport clerestory windows.

I also just yesterday found my second snake (the first one was still alive when Mucha brought it to the door) - this one was dessicated with the head eaten. Also a still fresh chipmunk was under one of the chairs. Seems he doesn't really like the taste of rodents (as mentioned before) but foul is very tasty.

-- John