This is real.
There was an oil spill in New Zealand which left the local population of penguins in need of warmth and protection. So, logically, a call has been made to all knitters to make them sweaters… If only I could knit things other than squares (or other rectangular shaped objects).
Cat Massage - A promising career opportunity if this whole job search doesn’t pan out?
Thanks to Jeff for introducing me to the wonders of Everything is Terrible. And Turtle, for teaching me how best to cat massage… though as a right-hander, I still haven’t worked up to petting with my left! It’s a complicated art.
I figured animal videos were a good way to work my way back into blogging after a long hiatus. Perhaps a more thought-out, intelligent piece will come in the near future, but in the meantime, here is the weirdly unique gang fighting ritual of Galapagosian mockingbirds. Only the ones on Isla Espanola do this. No, the video is not sped up and this is an accurate representation of how they move.
The Indiana State Prison in Michigan City has started a unique rehabilitation program: cats.
From the article:
During my interviews, I found that whatever the complexities of their relationships with other people, most of the offenders in the cat program have always been animal lovers. And their devotion to their cats goes beyond providing these felines with security. These men adore their cats. Again and again, they affirmed that the cats had changed their lives, calming their anger, offering them love and teaching them about the joys and sacrifices of responsibility.“When I arrived here, I had nothing to lose.” Explains ‘Bear’. “When you have nothing to lose—you can get yourself into a lot of trouble. When I got my first cat, it changed me. There is something about holding a cat that makes your anger melt away. And if someone does something that upsets me—I have to remember my cat. I can’t keep my cat if I get into trouble.” He smiles wryly, reaching for little Ziggy.
So I was listening to NPR on Monday as I drove into work and heard a fascinating story about a Boa Constrictor who gave birth to a litter of snakelettes and because all of these baby snakes were female and all had recessive scale pattern (which none of the males in the habitat had), the scientists realized that mama snake must have reproduced via parthenogenesis.
Parthenogenesis is a form of reproduction where a female of a species can essentially reproduce by herself, without a male partner. Apparently it can happen in several different reptile, bird, and insect species. There are even a few species in the world that are entirely female and reproduce exclusively using this method. It’s something that’s impossible for males of any species to ever accomplish.
Now, I’m not advocating we get rid of men entirely… you guys are good for a laugh now and then… I’m just pointing out the inherent evolutionary superiority of us ladies. Well, at least the inherent evolutionary superiority of my reptilian and aviary sisters. Come the apocalypse, girls are totally going to ruuuule! Slither/Squack.
What happens when you release 100 cats in an Ikea?
(and, if you’re like me and thought there weren’t nearly enough cute cats playing in the lighting fixtures in the above video, here’s some bonus content.)
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