Okay, I don’t normally comment on news events in the DandyGram, but the news of the death of Steve Irwin has really hit me more than I imagined it would. He’s, of course, known best as the “Crocodile Hunter” and practically single handledly turned ANIMAL PLANET into the channel it is today. While he was hardly the first person to do a wildlife show, his hands on approach was unique, if only for the energy and passion he put into his work.
I really loved his show and his position on animals really changed my perspective on a lot of things. More than anything else, I’ve had to listen to people call him either stupid or crazy for the past few years, and those people are enjoying themselves today, which makes me sick. Steve Irwin’s passion and love for what he did rivals anyones. I’ve NEVER seen anyone in my life, myself included, who so loved what he did… so cared for his causes… as to literally risk his own life and safety for it.
The people who said he was “Crazy” for throwing himself on the backs of Crocs and the like clearly never paied attention to the show. He knew that the physiology and make up of Crocs were such that the existing means of containing and catching them were inheriantly DANGEROUS to the animal. Their systems didn’t react predictably to tranquilizers and they were often maimed by the nets and snares lesser people used to trap them. He leaped on them to subdue them for THEIR safety, and that kind of dedication was rare. So rare, that most people would rather call him “Crazy” than admit how much better of a person he was then THEY were. It’s always easier to tear someone down then it is to rise to their level.
I turned to Animal Planet tonight, and of course there was a special on Steve showing. And I have to admit that I started crying after just a minute. I didn’t realize how influential and impactful he really was, but it will become apparant pretty soon, as we all beging to notice how big the void he’s left really is. I miss him already, and hy thoughts go out to his friends and family. We all lost someone special.
Okay, I know strips like this are killers for you guys because the pacing is kinda slow in daily strips so an entire strip where nothing really HAPPENS just drags things out longer. But for me, I don’t like bulldozing through a story. Sometimes you need to put in breathers and slow down a hair.
Than and it gives us an idea that this newlt de-aged Dandy IS a real little kid. Now, it’s not a big story point, but Dandy hasn’t really gone back in time, so much as he’s been de-aged. His body and mind are like a little kids, but he DOES have all his memories, so he knows who Maryweather is, and that as an adult dog, he likes her… hence she IS a Cootie Farm to his de-matured mind.
