the sheepshead fish

This little bugger is called the Sheepshead Fish, and can be found off the coast of America, from Cape Cod down to Brazil. I know you don't eat the heads of fish (well l don't anyway) but it puts you off eating them completely when they have human type teeth. More about it and using fish for drugs, can be found at Scientific American.

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the underwater photography of alexander semenov

It's a whole different world under the sea. as demonstrated by these Alexander Semenov photographs, who is a marine biologist and underwater photographer.  There are loads more photographs and information at his site here, and even a picture of him looking cool.  I bet he gets inundated with emails, especially from the laydees.

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the here heres listening trumpets

This is a pretty cool idea.  They are extra large listening trumpets so that you can hear the wondrous natural sounds of nature all around you (and blow your tiny mind maaaaaaaaaan). Ever wanted to hear the fart of a worm or the plop of a pigeon?  Then you my friend, are in luck.
These are at Kedleston Hall, Derby and more information about the project (Here Heres) is here.

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skeleton found in the base of a tree

One of the less known effects of Hurricane Sandy.  It has uprooted a tree in New Haven, and underneath the tree, a skeleton was discovered, attached and entangled in the vines.  There is a belief that it may in fact be two skeletons, but it is being investigated at the moment.  There is more on the story in The New Haven Independent.  An excellent gory tale for Halloween.

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a lord howe stick insect hatching

This video is the Lord Howe Stick Insect (Dryococelus Australis), which was thought to be extinct by 1930, but was discovered on  The Lord Howe Island group in 2001, and has been bred, notably at Melbourne Zoo, where the above video was taken.  That however, is not the only amazing thing about them.  The video goes on for a while, but it is worth the time viewing it, as the hatching of them is unbelievable.  How on Earth they manage to fit inside their shells before hatching beats me, and even after seeing it emerge, you still can't believe what you have seen.  They certainly can't have been comfortable, no matter how flexible they are.  Nature - it can be freaky.
More information is at Discovery magazine.

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alan friedman sun photograhs

These photographs of the Sun and it's flares were taken by Alan Friedman, photographing only the warm hydrogen.  It looks pretty impressive and strange, and if you want to know more, check out Discover Magazine's blog.

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x rayed fishes from the smithsonian

The Smithsonian has an exhibition travelling around showing fish that have been X Rayed, and it's pretty interesting stuff.  I wouldn't want to meet some of the creatures at the best of times, and they look even more disgusting when you can see their bones.  There's more photos here if you want to be grossed out.

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richmond racecourse and grandstand

Top of the world ma!

Well, not really, but after finishing work this afternoon, l was harassed straight out of the house by the FPO to go and visit her family at the caravan park outside Richmond.  After putting in my shift there, we drove to the top of Richmond, and had a walk up to see the old Richmond racecourse and grandstand, as, although l have lived in the area since 1975, l had never been up there.  I was told last week that the views were spectacular, which is the reason l wanted to go, but l was also curious about what shape the old grandstand was in (very poor).  I did have a quick go at climbing on top of it, but l only had shorts on and there were stinging nettles everywhere, so after the first few stings, l gave up to fight another day. It must have been pretty impressive when it was up and running (so to speak), and it's funny to think that it was still going about the time Everton football club was formed (amongst others).  The only trouble with the place is that on the way back to the car, my eyes started itching like mad, and l started sneezing, as it really bought on my hay fever, which l haven't really had for ages.  Maybe it's  because l was also tired after work (I had hardly any sleep the night before), was still getting over my flu, and more importantly, l am a big girls blouse.  I even had to put a cold flannel over my (really red and itching) eyes when we got back, and have a lie down for half an hour.  You know who l blame?  A mixture of God (for creating the hay fever) and my parents (for giving me the genetic malfunction that makes me suffer from it).  Good job l'm pretty much indestructible, as this would have killed off a lesser man.  Long trousers and dark glasses will be essential for my next visit, maybe topped off with a peg on my nose (if l bring the FPO again).


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under attack from bleeding ants

When l was pottering about yesterday, l went to put some trainers on in the hallway and noticed some ants and a few flying ants. Tracing them back, l discovered a load of the little buggers in our storage space under our stairs, trying to get nests going. It's a good job l spotted them when l did, as there would have been flying ants all over the place, but l seem to have more or less sorted them out (I hope). The worst part was having to move all of our crap in the hallway to even get under the stairs to spray them, there were shoes, coats and clothes everywhere. So far, l've used Mr Muscle, flea killer and spray adhesive. It'll be bleach next, and ant powder if more appear.
There is still the odd one trying to escape and struggle for life, so l haven't put stuff back yet, but methinks the end is near (famous last words).
Watch this space.

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cool travel photographs

It's the time of the year to be entering  Photographer of the year competitions, and here are some photographic examples that will have to be matched or bettered.  It looks like l am going to have to up my game to win a prize this year. Here's one of mine.

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project nim (2011) - james marsh

What a great, yet depressing documentary Project Nim is. An attempt to teach a primate (in this case a chimpanzee that was named 'Nim Chimpsky', it was flawed from the very start. To me, the worst offender was the professor (Herbert S Terrace) who instigated the project, as it was not supervised properly from the start, had no great plan of action, achievable and recordable aims, and he was also pretty quick to change assistants (probably with a view to getting more shags), tactics and settings, and then suddenly ended the project, leaving Nim to be shipped off and forgotten about. Nim ended up in a research facility, but, mainly due to the persistence of one of the earlier helpers (Bob), and the involvement of newspapers and lawyers, was eventually rehoused in a sanctuary. Unfortunately, Nim was in  a cage by himself, without companions and stimuli, even if the sanctuary had good intentions when they 'rescued' him.  When new owners took it over, Bob was allowed involvement again, and other chimps were added to Nim's environment, so at least he had a happier end to his life.
The extra on the DVD about Bob's story was also tear inducing, but at least it was positive, with his standing in his families eyes rising due to his involvement and persistence.
If project such as this are to be undertaken, the assistants should be there for the duration, plus the chimps should be signed at all through their lives, and encouraged to pas on the signs to their offspring, and that progress (and other offsprings) monitored in an non invasive and enjoyable way for the chimps, who should also be living in an open environment.
Then there is the issue of cattle prods - good or bad?
More or less the same as 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes', except in the movie, the apes escape to take over.
Only a matter of time.....


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some recent national geographic photographs

A Storming Victory by Mitch Dobrowner

Candles at Petra, Jordan by Behaven Jani

Deer Blossoms in Japan by Hisao Mogi

The Charles Bridge, Prague by Scott McGarvey

Moonlight night at The Matterhorn by Nenad Saljic

Whale Shark by Thomas P Peschak

Here are some of the recent photographs that have been featured in National Geographic. As usual, some tip top images that put my feeble, limp wristed and cock eyed shots to shame.
Damn their eyes and curse them all to Hell and back!


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