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Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Jumpy and Green and Screaming with Desire

posted by on May 1 at 12:22 PM

Yesterday, the governor—“wearing a toy frog on her forefinger”—signed a bill making the Pacific chorus frog the “official amphibian” of Washington State.

Washington now has an official amphibian—the Pacific chorus frog—a lighthearted addition to a growing list of “official” things that now includes a state vegetable, ship, folk song and even grass, though not the funny kind.

A couple things: One, throughout history frogs have symbolized fertility, but I doubt anyone told that to the third graders who wrote this bill. (The sound the frog makes—that chorus—is the sound frogs make when they want to do it.) Two, the Associated Press writers calls the passage of this bill “a move Kermit would love.” Three, the jumpy green things have been loaded with political import, as Gregoire is quoted in the above article as saying, “It is truly a One Washington frog,” a reference to some ongoing rhetoric. Four, official amphibian?

Is everybody stoned?

Here’s what it looks like (cute!):

2003660729.jpg

Here is some more information about the frog, which is usually referred to in books as the Pacific tree frog, and here is a short Quicktime video of a male frog making the noises that only mean one thing. Those lady frogs are tough customers: “Most breeding occurs at night. Males sit near the edge of ponds and creeks, and croak out an advertisement call to attract females… Research has shown that female[s]… prefer to mate with males that consistently call earlier than the other males around them… When a female approaches a male, the male will move onto her back, and grasp her under her forelimbs with his forelimbs…” OK, enough of that.

Here is the ’80s video game Frogger, which you can play here for free.

Here is a recipe for fried frog legs.

Here is a short YouTube clip called “Leap Frog of Doom” that makes my heart leap out of my chest every time I see it.

And, just for Megan, here is the video for the Belle & Sebastian song “Funny Little Frog.”

RSS icon Comments

1

I for one think this is great.

I'm very hoppy.

Posted by Will in Seattle | May 1, 2007 12:44 PM
2

Sadly, these frogs, and almost every other kind of frog, are disappearing everywhere. The great frog malaise. I can't remember the last time I saw a frog in the wild.

Posted by Fnarf | May 1, 2007 12:57 PM
3

First colony collapse and now the great frog malaise...

Posted by Eric Grandy | May 1, 2007 1:13 PM
4

HMMMM Crispy Frog Legs!!! YUMMYY!!!

Posted by Just Me | May 1, 2007 1:22 PM
5

gotta get my six cents in here.

LOLOLOL when reading this post then got down to Is everybody Stoned? OMG too funny following that prior info
LOL Also, the question abotu "No Diggity"?
And Fnarf, I've seen a tiny frog or two up near Lake 22 area. I'm surprised that you haven't, yeah, but you're probably right in comparison to when you were younger. Let's do a Minnesota tourband and see if we can spot any of those 3 headed or 6 legged ones. Or was that on the Potomac?

Posted by Garrett | May 1, 2007 1:25 PM
6

while we're on froggy things... check out "sadkermit" on youtube, or on myspace as well... very funny. he sings a good cover of nine inch nail's "hurt"

kermit is all depressed now that the muppet show is canceled and jim henson is dead and miss piggy left him... he turned to drugs.. "being green is excruciatingly painful" =)

Posted by war pigs | May 1, 2007 1:44 PM
7

Mmm, the froggy carnal embrace is called amplexus. Best word ever.

Wesley, where are you? It's time for you to call for the legislature to move on to the next pressing issue--changing the state dance from "square" to... something, anything else. Macarena?

Posted by annie | May 1, 2007 1:44 PM
8

here's another comment for u!! yay, more commments...WAY more than sw. =)

I heard that some people are trying to get the Lady Washington to be our State boat!?

Posted by edit class | May 1, 2007 8:58 PM
9

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | May 12, 2007 5:11 AM
10

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | May 12, 2007 5:12 AM
11

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | May 12, 2007 5:12 AM
12

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | May 12, 2007 4:42 PM
13

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | May 12, 2007 4:43 PM
14

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | May 12, 2007 4:43 PM

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