Peanuts, parrots, and brownies

Since 9/11, much has been made of the heroism of the "first responders" - police, fire, EMTs. Without a doubt, they deserve our utmost respect and appreciation. However, I'd like to bring attention to the "first responder" of the animal kingdom, Peanut the Parrot:

Shannon Conwell, 33, said he and his 9-year-old son fell asleep on the couch while watching a movie. They awoke about 3 a.m. Friday, Oct. 19th to find their home on fire after hearing the family's Amazon parrot, Peanut, imitating a fire alarm.

"He was really screaming his head off,'' Conwell said.

The smoke alarm had activated, but it was the bird's call that caught Conwell's attention.

This story reminds us that, in this post 9/11 age, we need to think outside of the box in terms of our personal security. Much as the government has created the Department of Homeland Security, we should all create our own Departments of Household Security. In fact, I was able to hire former FEMA director Michael "Heckuva Job" Brown to lead mine! I have also hired a staff of five parrots to work closely with Brownie on creating a repeater system for the one fire alarm I do have. Brownie convinced me this made more sense than getting more fire alarms, because, to quote him, "Parrots are the smartest people there are, and they can smell fire a mile away." Anyway, he's great, and I've never felt safer.