As a wee lad hiking in Colorado, I once looked back and saw a rattlesnake quietly chilling where I had previously trod upon just moments earlier. After an initial, “Holy shit!” reaction, which my mother did not chide me for, it was then that I stopped fearing snakes. Don’t get me wrong, I respect them and won’t provoke one on purpose, but even now I don’t worry when walking through areas I know are rife with snakes. They don’t want anything more to do with me than I do with them, so as long as I’m reasonably careful then I’m safe.
I also once exhibited my ballet skills as you did. Once again, in Colorado, when I was walking through my neighborhood, glanced down, and discovered a snake at my very feet. Turns out it was just a garter snake and I felt a bit foolish.
I’ve seen cattle mating in India, and it’s really not a big deal; the bull rears up on his hind legs behind the cow and balances his chest rather precariously on the cow’s back, with a foreleg on either side of her for stability. The cow doesn’t seem bothered, and certainly not in any danger of being toppled or crushed beneath him.
Or maybe Indian bulls are just more nonviolent? Couldn’t say.
No, I don’t think so, although I haven’t seen cattle mating IRL, I’ve seen it on video, and the act is much calmer than for other animals of that size, for instance horses.
doesn’t Mexico still have bull-fighting?
In Mexico it’s regulated by the states, and from searching it seems as of today six out of 31 have done away altogether, plus Mex City (a separate federal component) now only allows “bloodless” nonlethal corridas.