International Feel Sorry For Yourself Day

Reflections On The (Evolved) Eye

Scientists discovered that the brownsnout spookfish, a deep-ocean denizen, uses mirrors to focus its eyes.

"In nearly 500 million years of vertebrate evolution, and many thousands of vertebrate species living and dead, this is the only one known to have solved the fundamental optical problem faced by all eyes - how to make an image - using a mirror," said Professor Julian Partridge, of Bristol University, who conducted the tests.

This unique system was adapted to enhance the fish's ability to detect bioluminescence in the abyss. Remarkable...

This Holiday Season, Don't Forget Your Cousins

Like the Bonobo:

Bonobo Conservation Initiative

With science as our compass, we can end crimes against sentience.

Real Is Usually Horrible

I freely admit I'm obsessed with Cute With Chris. My favorite episode is here.

Chameleons Are Weird

For Tobermory, a newly discovered chameleon that is probably not suited for her Apocalyptic Petting Zoo:


The Malagasy chameleon spends most of its short life in an egg.

Protect Our Primate Cousins!

I feel very strongly about the following statement: advanced primates deserve special protections. This is just sick, and it breaks my heart.

Ms. Fred Is A Whore

While I was vacationing last week at the GateTree/Tobermory abode, I got to see, for the second time, Ms. Fred bear the shameful fruit of her wicked turtle passions (Merkavah told me she was asking for it).

Other events of interest:

• I bought old copies of Larrouse's Gastronomique and The Joy of Cooking (1953 no less, back when the recipes included some "unique" culinary suggestions).
• We watched one of the funniest movies ever, Idiocracy. My new nickname is Formica.
• I reconsidered my position on The Prestige. I must have been grumpy when I watched it first, because the second time convinced me that it is a totally underrated movie. And it has David Bowie.
• I drank a lot (surprise).
• GateTree grilled some amazing ribs on Independence Day, while we watched The Revolution on the History Channel.
• I read Under the Banner of Heaven. Frightening.
• We pontificated on everything and nothing (again, surprise). The cats and dogs agreed with us. The turtles were--as always--obstinate. Especially that whore...
  

A Fine Day

I spent all day at school working on my AP US History Syllabus we have to submit for some newfangled audit to make sure we can teach (a reasonable concern, admittedly). To this end I'm continuing to ram The Civil War by Ken Burns down my kids' collective throats, with questions to answer, of course. This afternoon we had a low-carb wrap sammich. We went outside to watch Thisbe try to break free from her tie down through any means necessary and to see the turtles frolic. We were treated to a show when a turkey vulture, my favorite carrion bird, feasted on some road kill out on the access road. A fine day indeed.