Humboldt Squid Beaching!

– They were having a terrible, no-good, very bad day in La Jolla, California.  First there was a 4.0 magnitude earthquake centered 19 miles out in the ocean, then dozens of 3-to 4-foot long Humboldt squid weighing up to 40 lbs. washed ashore and flopped around, dazed and disoriented and probably appalled at California’s real estate prices…

…then to add to the eww factor, seagulls swooped in and started feeding on the squid! — How’s that rate on the grossness scale?  This caused well-intentioned beachgoers to try and save the squid (gotta be a T-shirt slogan there!) by tossing them back in the sea, and we’re talking big, wet, slippery, heavy squid here!  The squid were so loopy by this point that even when thrown back, they tended to wash ashore again.  There’s no helping some cephalopods…they just don’t listen.

So a fun time was had by all, excepting, of course, the squid.  Water  temperature inversions rather than the earthquake could have been the cause of the beachings…calamari, anyone?

Rubber Dinosaurs…

–When I was a kid, I had a big collection of hard rubber dinosaurs which I regarded with love and veneration. They were solid and well-detailed, not like the junk dinos often sold today.  Some of the suckers were big, too, especially the one of what was then called Brontosaurus.  My mother, of course, made me keep them all in a large box, mothers being well-known for their obsessive-compulsive tendencies.  But every chance I had, I’d get my rubber dinosaurs out, and lovingly go over the fine details of each one. Then it was time to pit them against one another in elaborate battles to the death that occurred only in my head.–Ahh, the memories!  I don’t think that kids play with rubber dinosaurs as much these days…that’s a pity!   My early love for dinosaurs led me to a life-long interest in science, biology in particular.

My rubber dinosaur collection was one of my prize possessions.  I knew right where they were until one day, probably when I was in college, my mother threw them out…

…and I’ve never forgiven her!

“Critical Evidence”

–More convincing than other installments, the latest episode of MonsterQuest re-examined the classic Patterson film footage (vintage 1967) of a supposed Bigfoot as well as looked to the “Cripplefoot tracks” of an injured Bigfoot from Washington state in 1969.  Lastly, the mid-tarsal break evidenced in Bigfoot tracks was examined.

Bends to the mid-foot represented in alledged Bigfoot prints show a skeletal structure more similar to primates than humans.  The Cripplefoot tracks show a low probability of being a hoax due to the accurate representation of the deformity, and are judged to be not human in nature.  Lastly, the Patterson film footage in simulations was judged in the MonsterQuest episode not to be a human in a suit, and to represent a figure of a size larger than human.  The movement of fur and underlying tissue reflected in the film would also appear to present a level of realism and technology that was not available using 1967 materials and methodology.

The Patterson film (aka, the Patterson-Gimlin film) has been subjected to many attempts over the years both to debunk and authenticate it; scientists remain divided on the authenticity of the sighting.  We won’t go into the Patterson film in detail here as books can and have been written about it, one by Greg Long.  Some maintain that the film is a well-executed hoax, with Planet of the Apes special effects pioneer John Chambers being judged capable of having made the Patterson film suit.  At least one person claims to have been the person inside the suit.

Understandably, the MonsterQuest presentation was sympathetic to the viewpoint of the Patterson film being the real deal.  Whether you believe in the authenticity of the film or not, it is among the most renowned artifacts in the field of paranormal study.  Many, like anthropologist Grover Krantz, have concluded that the film depicts a genuine unknown creature…

…we can only keep hoping for additional verifiable confirmations.

“Warehouse 13″ Works!

– If you haven’t heard, the Sci Fi channel has been re-branded Syfy; the old name was felt to be too limiting and geeky, conjuring up images of aliens, space ships, and ray guns.–Well, what’s wrong with them?!–Add mummies, the living dead,  mysterious ancient civilizations, cryptids, and I’d never tune anywhere else!

Anyways, Warehouse 13, kind of a hybrid of X-Files and Raiders of the Lost Ark, debuted on Syfy, and just might work with Saul Rubinek supervising a top-secret government storage facility in South Dakota that looks remarkably like the one glimpsed by Indy at the end of Raiders; fantastic and supernatural objects abound here, with Pandora’s box several rows over.   The gadgets alone have been described at “catnip for nerds;”  for example, there’s a wonderful ray gun designed by none less than Nikola Tesla.  Throw in Eddie McClintock and Joanne Kelly as stereotypically mismatched Secret Service agents in the Mulder/Scully tradition, and this fox might bat the catnip around a bit even if it seems familiar…

The Jackson Stage Show We’ll Never See…

– In his planned comeback concerts in London that now we’ll never see, Michael Jackson reportedly planned a nature theme which heavily involved live creatures; for his entrance, there was talk of Michael riding an African elephant while panthers were led on gold chains and parrots and other birds flew behind him.  PETA and other animal rights groups understandably filed protests with officials, pointing out that “Animals don’t want to perform stupid tricks on a stage surrounded by screaming people, bright lights, and stage explosions.” Jackson subsequently announced that he would not be using any live animals in his concert series.

PETA filed a complaint in January 2006 claiming that animals were mistreated at Jackson’s Neverland ranch.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture inspected the animals at Jackson’s zoo, and found no evidence of abuse and neglect.

In addition to the well-known Bubbles the Chimp, Jackson had a fascination with animals, especially exotics.  He even liked spiders, and as his early song Ben might suggest, had a pet rat when young…

Woo-Hoo!

–Sarah Palin has resigned as governor of Alaska!–No more shooting wolves from aircraft!!!

(–does the fox Dance of Joy!)

“Bubbles” Lives!

--Michael Jackson is survived by a furry friend as well as his three children. Bubbles the chimp was part of Michael Jackson’s entourage in the 1980’s, and he and Michael often wore matching outfits (–does this surprise you?).  Jackson adopted Bubbles at age 3 from a cancer research clinic in Texas. — Well, when Bubbles got too big and too hard to control (anger issues), he was kept by an animal trainer until 2005, at which time he was sent to an animal sanctuary, the Centre for Great Apes, in Florida.  Bubbles currently resides there with 41 other chimpanzees and orangutans.

Shown in the picture during better times in 1987, Bubbles is now described as “huge and ugly,” but hey, who looks like they did 22 years ago?    He likes painting and listening to flute and guitar music, and also spends much time sitting quietly in trees with his best friend Sam, a 40-year-old chimp.  Bubbles will not be attending Jackson’s funeral, and could live to be 60 years of age.  It is not known whether Jackson provided for Bubbles in his will…

Snake Kills Toddler

– A nine-foot long Burmese python recently killed a two-year-old child in Oxford, Florida when the reptile escaped from its terrarium.  The snake when found had constricted around the child, and was stabbed until it relinquished its grip, although unfortunately it was by then too late for the toddler.  The python had bitten and then squeezed to death the little girl.  The owner of the snake may face criminal charges…

…unanswered is the question of why would anyone allow a predator in the same house as a young child…

“Agent P” Rocks!

– Disney stuff is usually too mainstream and white breadish for me, but I have to love Perry the Platypus, pet of the title characters in the Disney Channel show, Phineas and Ferb. Unknown to his owners, Perry (aka “Agent P”) lives a parallel life as a secret agent for The Agency, a government organization of animal spies.  Pretending to be a mindless house pet, Perry is secretly a fedora-wearing secret agent who enjoys romance soap operas and potato chips.

While Perry’s exploits are secondary plots to those involving the human owners, it’s worth tuning in to see Perry thwart his evil nemesis, Dr. Doofenshmirtz.  This is usually fairly easy for Perry to do as his archenemy doesn’t even recognize the platypus unless he is wearing his trademark fedora; another stereotypic scientist portrayed as lacking rudimentary common sense <sighs>.

How many other platypus ‘toon characters can you name? — And perhaps the notion of leading a parallel life is all too familiar to those of us who are furry…

…I wonder if The Agency is hiring?

The Demonization and Canonization of Michael Jackson

– So what’s a Michael Jackson post doing in a furry blog?  Well, don’t forget that he did a rather good were in his Thriller video!

I think it’s important to separate Michael Jackson the artist from Michael Jackson the Sideshow, which occupied most of the public and press attention for the past 20 plus years or so.  Michael was a great performer with a variety of gifts, the megastar of the 1980’s.  In addition to the music, Michael was a dazzling dancer whose moves at times couldn’t be believed even when seen; he radiated vibrant youth and kinetic energy at his prime.   Thriller was as good a concept piece as has ever been done, the video inspired by Jackson’s enjoyment of American Werewolf in London. The dancing zombies of Thriller continue to awe me even today.

It’s unfortunate that Michael’s personal idiosyncrasies diminished his popularity and earned him the “Wacko Jacko” label; he didn’t need all those plastic surgeries, and at times conveyed an edge of creepiness.  Michael needed better handlers to save him from himself.   In middle age, Jackson struggled to recapture his earlier fame and fan base, following the destructive downward spiral that Elvis and other great performers have traveled, apparently and sadly not omitting the drug component.  As with Elvis, death is likely to provide Michael with a post-mortem career boost and solidify his reputation; the soaring accolades have already begun.   One wonders where all of his well-wishers were when Jackson stood almost alone on abuse charges, and when he was in crying need of interventions for apparent prescription drug addictions.

Immensely talented, tormented, and twisted, both child-like and complex, Michael Jackson was one of a kind.  Adored by some, demonized by others, he was always intriguing…rest in peace, Michael, and thank you for sharing your uniqueness and great performance gifts with us.