Rats vs Pigeons (2) ネズミ vs ハト (2) Ratos vs Pombos (2)

My declaration of greatness? Pigeons have saved lives.

Pigeons have homing abilities -- meaning if you release them somewhere new - they can __still__ fly home -- even if they are hundreds of miles away! Scientists don't exactly know __how__ they do it -- maybe they sense the earth's magnetic fields or maybe they use familiar smells to guide them. Either way -- they are amazing navigators and can fly at speeds of up to 90-miles an hour!

People still train messenger pigeons today but there was a time when these amazing birds legit helped humans communicate.

But who doesn't love pigeons? How many of you read that awesome series when you were a kid that includes the book “Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus?” That book has won a lot of awards!

Pigeon never got to drive the bus, but with those homing abilities… he probably would've done great.

Also, pigeons are super smart! They can recognize letters and undertake tasks that require reasoning that we used to think only humans and other primates can perform. They're one of the smartest birds on Earth!

Next point, Diseases. Próximo ponto, Doenças. If you think pigeons are dirty, you might think they carry diseases. And they do… but only in their poop. So if you're careful when you're cleaning it up, you're good!

Meanwhile, RATS are WAY MORE serious disease transmitters. They spread lots of gnarly diseases, including the bubonic plague, also known as the BLACK DEATH. Espalharam muitas doenças nefastas, incluindo a peste bubónica, também conhecida como a MORTE NEGRA.

There was a plague outbreak in Madagascar in 2017. Scientists found rats to blame because they carried around the fleas that jumped onto people and bit them.

The rats didn't directly bite people - not as much as the fleas did - but rats were the buses that carried the fleas around to the people.

Not even a pigeon would drive THAT bus!

Pigeons save lives. Rats help end them.

Oh, what's that, rat enthusiast? You think pigeons are just dirty bottom feeders, always congregating on sidewalks and in parks when I'm trying to walk by or have a minute alone on that bench?

Well that, my friend, is why they're awesome.

Yes, pigeons gather in city centers and well-trafficked areas. Yes, sometimes you're near them when they flutter up and fly really close and it freaks you out. And yes, maybe you've been dive-bombed by pigeon poop before.

Yeah, not great. But this is really a big misunderstanding by us humans!

See, pigeons evolved on rocky cliffs and ledges around the Mediterranean Sea. Veja-se, os pombos evoluíram em penhascos rochosos e arribas em redor do Mar Mediterrâneo. A rocky cliff is a hard surface and so is… a building!

They're used to building nests on hard, rocky surfaces, so building a nest in the window sill of a skyscraper is pretty natural!

And we're the ones who built these giant concrete birdhouses that attracted pigeons in the first place!

You might find them annoying -- but all they're guilty of is adapting to humans! Pode achá-los irritantes - mas tudo de que são culpados é de se adaptarem aos humanos!

They're just really adaptable! Why hate that?

Especially when we really love another animal that has adapted a lot: dogs. Who's a good boi?!?! ?

News flash: Dogs kill grass when they pee on walks. But we're only going to hate the pigeon poop? That's on us, people. Team Pigeon all the way.

All aboard the Team Pigeon bus!

**Molly:** A rousing Declaration of Greatness for team pigeon. Ethan, what stood out to you about Tom's argument?

**Ethan:** I think it was really cool how I heard that the pigeons can like save lives but I also heard that the rats can as well, so both of them can do very well in that. I took notes for both of them, and overall, rats are very heartfelt and kind creatures, and pigeons are very super smart.

**Molly:** We have some heroic animals that we're talking about today. Elyssa, I think you have some thoughts. Let's hear your 30-second rebuttal. What were the weaknesses in team pigeon's declaration? Your time starts now.

**Elyssa:** I have so much to say. Maybe pigeons were heroes for delivering these messages back in world war whatever but guess what? These bird brains, obsolete. Estes cérebros de pássaro, obsoletos. We don't need them anymore. Já não precisamos deles. Send a text, send an email, the end. Next point, the bubonic plague, recently a study showed that humans, who can have their own fleas, may have been spreading around the bubonic plague just as much as rats if not more, and you know what? It's a shared problem. Flees, humans have them, rats have them, only pigeons make their own poop diseases. Also, if you love pigeons too much--

**Molly:** And time. If you love pigeons too much, I want to know where that's going.

**Elyssa:** I'll tell you later. Don't worry. It's disgusting.

**Tom:** A messenger pigeon recently went for auction, I'm not even kidding, for $1.9 million. Tom: Um pombo mensageiro foi recentemente a leilão, nem estou a brincar, por 1,9 milhões de dólares. Find me a rat that would sell for $1.9 million. Messenger pigeons are still totally a thing.

**Elyssa:** People like a lot of weird things. I just want to say if you're a person that would spend that much money on a pigeon you are also the kind of person that might get a disease called pigeon fanciers lung, which is a rare pulmonary condition that people can get if they spend too much time hanging out with pigeons, gross. Só quero dizer que se é uma pessoa que gastaria tanto dinheiro num pombo, é também o tipo de pessoa que pode contrair uma doença chamada pulmão de columbofilia, que é uma condição pulmonar rara que as pessoas podem obter se passarem demasiado tempo com pombos, nojento.

**Molly:** Oh my goodness. Ethan, these are two very well-prepared debaters today. So many facts, so many heartfelt stories, but now it's time to award your first two points. One for the best declaration and one for the best rebuttal. Both points could go to the same debater or each debater could get one point.

Remember we're asking you to judge based on one simple thing, which side made the argument that their animal is cooler? You get to define what cooler means. Think about it and make a decision but don't tell us which side is getting the points.

**Ethan:** I awarded it on my little clipboard I got here.

**Molly:** Excellent. I love a judge with their own clipboard. It makes me happy. When there's a clipboard involved, it's official.

**Ethan:** It's very official.

**Molly:** Tom and Elyssa, how are you feeling?

**Tom:** Pigeon-rific.

**Elyssa:** Good. Great.

**Ethan:** Pigeon-rific?

**Elyssa:** Rat-tastic.

**Molly:** It's time for a quick break. Go dumpster diving or scan the streets for snacks whatever you need to do —

**Ethan:** and we'll be right back with more __Smash Boom Best__.

**Todd Douglas:** Todd Douglas here with 801 time debate champ, Taylor Lincoln.

**Taylor Lincoln:** Hiya, Todd.

**Todd:** Wow, that apple looks good.

**Taylor:** Here, try one. I've got a whole bunch from the orchard.

**Todd:** Nice.

**Taylor:** I went apple picking after I heard this awesome apples versus oranges debate.

**Todd:** Oh, I remember this one. The kid defending apples talked through his argument beforehand. Let's listen.

**Kid:** Mom, I know apples are better than oranges but Charlie doesn't agree with me. He can always list off a gajillion reasons they're not as good as oranges.

**Mom:** What are some of his positions?

**Kid:** Well, he'd say oranges have more vitamins and minerals than apples do. He'd probably say, an orange a day keeps the doctor away, not an apple.

**Mom:** What would you say to that?

**Kid:** Well, I'd say apples have slightly fewer vitamins and minerals that the difference is so small, it doesn't matter. Apples have more fiber than oranges do. Fiber is a super important part of every diet, so apples are just as healthy in a different way.

**Todd:** This Apple fan is using an awesome debate technique. He's thinking like his worst critic.

**Taylor:** Yes, he's imagining all the ways his opponent is going to attack him and preparing his defense beforehand.

**Todd:** Thinking like your worst critic is a great way to prepare for your opponent's rebuttals and an apple-solutely excellent way to win an argument.

**Taylor:** Ah, jeez Todd.

**Todd:** If you want to win your next argument debate heads, think like your worst critic. We'll catch you next time on __State of Debate!__

**Molly:** You're listening to S__mash Boom Best__. I'm your host, Molly Bloom.

**Ethan:** I'm your judge, Ethan.

**Molly:** One of my favorite things about this show is all the amazing debate ideas we get from listeners like you. Check out this awesome debate suggestion from Rihanna in Irvine, California.

**Rihanna:** My debate idea is heroes versus villains.

**Molly:** We'll check back with Rihanna at the end of this episode to see which side she thinks should win.

**Ethan:** Now, it's back to our debate of the day, rats versus pigeons.

**Molly:** That's right. It's time for round two the

**Announcer:** Micro Round

**Molly:** For this challenge we asked Tom and Elyssa to pretend their side is running for mayor. They've both prepared speeches, which they're delivering today about why you should nominate them for mayor. Elyssa went first last time so Tom, you're up. Let's hear why our pigeon pals should helm City Hall.

**Tom:** My name is Samuel Pigeonface and I am running for mayor of Critterville!

After eight great years of Mayor MourningDove, it's time to pass City Hall to a pigeon. Após oito grandes anos de Mayor MourningDove, é tempo de passar a Câmara Municipal a um pombo.

Because always remember! Scientifically, doves and pigeons are the same animal!

Our homing skills let us center our lives on Critterville, and we evolved from living on cliffs. So this city's tall buildings are just as suitable. Portanto, os edifícios altos desta cidade são igualmente adequados. A pigeon would never neglect these buildings because they're home!

Folks, this election is a battle for the soul of Critterville.

My opponent Charlie Ratenhopper and his band of fleas will hurt Critterville. Charlie Ratenhopper has a history of bad faith actions! Charlie Ratenhopper tem um historial de acções de má-fé!

Last year's plague outbreak at the community center? That was Charlie and his fleas!

Pigeons know cities. We're smart, spread messages quickly, and when we congregate that's us being near the people and hearing their concerns.

So if you've supported Mayor MourningDove and love doves… there's no reason not to love pigeons too. We're basically the same animal!

And if you want to keep a rat out of city hall, vote Samuel Pigeonface! You'll be home with this homing pigeon.

Thank you all!

**Molly:** Four more years of avian leadership with Mayor pigeon face. Alright, Elyssa let's hear how a rat might rule the roost.

**Elyssa:** Good day, fellow rodents!! I'm Roz R. Rattus, and I'm running for mayor.

I ask you: when you walk these city streets, how often does one of your neighbors see you and shriek?

How often do they call us rats __dirty__?? They don't know we groom ourselves constantly. Heck, we're cleaner than your average dog or house cat!

And people looove to talk about that whole bubonic plague debacle, like yeah, yeah, not the best press for us rats. But GUESS WHAT. Some scientists think that it was actually filthy humans spreading diseases around in medieval times. Back then, those guys had their own fleas.

But listen I'm not running against a human in this race. No, I'm running against a __pigeon__.

And what do we know about pigeons?

Pigeons will steal a sandwich right out of your hands. Os pombos vão roubar uma sanduíche das suas mãos. And did you know these relentless sky demons can carry over 60 diseases!

But listen, people. Simmer down. Simmer down.

I'm not here today to tell you that pigeons alone are pests. We're ALL pests.

I'm here to tell you that us rats are the SUPERIOR pests. We feel deeply. We laugh when tickled. We can smell SO many smells. We make big sacrifices when our friends need our help - rats and humans alike! And sure, we poop wherever the heck we feel like. But at least we don't make POOP RAIN FROM THE SKY! !

So cast your vote for the Rat Party this year. We're committed to keeping poop where it belongs: on the ground.

**Molly:** Bold imagery in that campaign speech. Ethan, it's time for you to award a point for the speech that you liked best. Whichever criteria you want to use, who was more persuasive, who got your vote, but don't tell us, who gets it. Have you awarded your point?