18 Comments
User's avatar
Yuri Bezmenov's avatar

Lovely photos. Zuckerberg supposedly hunts the pigs on his Hawaii compound. The Texans have a major feral hog problem that they are attempting to solve in the most Texan way possible - with helicopters and guns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaEi6-Gxp1o

Expand full comment
Tao Lin's avatar

I saw that. The pigs here leave me their poop which I can use to fertilize my trees. I like it. Forgot to talk about their poop in the post.

Expand full comment
Yuchin Lin's avatar

Interesting! Hope we can see them soon.

Expand full comment
Andrei Atanasov's avatar

Lovely post, except for the last paragraph😂

Expand full comment
𝓫𝓲𝔁𝓪's avatar

this is so good.

it also made me laugh because i was watching the 'mobbed by raccoon' guy on youtube last night. this guy feed a bunch of raccoons hotdogs pretty regularly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofp26_oc4CA

Expand full comment
Ryan McDuffie's avatar

Tao observing Nini observing wild pig.

Expand full comment
Tao Lin's avatar

true, yes

Expand full comment
Delicious Tacos's avatar

Excellent post

Expand full comment
Tao Lin's avatar

thank you

Expand full comment
Elizabeth KT's avatar

What interesting observations! You are so generous with your food 😂

When I first went to Hawaii, I was nervous about the wild boars. I was prepared if one charged me!

In my post collapse novel, my characters do hunt wild boar for food!

Expand full comment
Probability's avatar

Enjoyed reading this (and your notes) - those are some good looking pigs, lucky to have a friend like you and your cats.

Expand full comment
Lauren's avatar

They are so cute! Love the smacking noises of them eating.

I live in Texas and we have a rampant feral hog problem. Can confirm what Yuri said about people hunting them from helicopters. But they are not cute pigs - large tusks and they will kill calves and baby goats. We have attracted them into traps on our ranch with a mix of grape kool aid, corn, and diesel.

I much prefer your cute pigs.

Expand full comment
Tao Lin's avatar

They seem really strong.

Expand full comment
William Goldsmith's avatar

Thanks! My mom lives on Kauai & has been at war with the local pigs ever since her dog tangled with one and almost lost a leg. I appreciated your very different perspective.

I've also spent enough time around pigs to get a sense of how intelligent they are. I suspect that future humans will have a hard time understanding how we treat them like little meat factories with zero inherent value or dignity.

My favorite part of your piece, though, was the final sentence: "I don’t fear death anymore but look forward to it (in a positive, non-suicidal manner)".

Love that very much.

Expand full comment
Tao Lin's avatar

Thank you. They have strong jaws and big mouths, I’ve noticed.

Expand full comment
Alex Arpaia's avatar

is Nini still missing?!

Expand full comment
Tao Lin's avatar

No. He's back.

Expand full comment
Alex Arpaia's avatar

wonderful

Expand full comment