Thursday, May 17, 2007

Ride the walrus



I propose that the walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) and the elephant seal (Mirounga spp.) fight to the death to determine which is rightfully King of the Pinnipeds.

Elephant seals are certainly mean when they're hauled out; however, anecdotal evidence from Inuit kayak hunters suggests that walrus are mean pretty much all the time. Maybe both species respect and avoid each other, and as such divided the world's oceans at a time immemorial: the high Arctic belongs to the walrus, while more temperate oceans in both hemispheres are the domain of the elephant seal.

Attempts at satellite tracking of walrus migration by a Danish research time suggest that walrus value their privacy.

The BBC seems to have a walrus fetish. Consider the plethora of walrus journalism from the UK:
* This also wins the award for "Nature photo most closely mimicking the way I look when I eat pudding."

Walrus much?

Friday, May 4, 2007

Atomic Tourism

It has come to my attention that a number of Cold War sites are now open for tourism. Road trip, anyone?


Nuclear explosion sites



Aircraft and missiles on display


ICBM Silos and Nike Batteries


Other atomic tourist sites:


* denotes that I've been there and it's totally sweet.


Closing thought, from the journal of one of The Mighty Rando's lab-mates:



The U.S. government has a huge stockpile of nukes. Somewhere between 10,000 and 30,000, although no one--not even the government--knows for sure. Those beautiful engines of destruction were lovingly crafted out of pure taxpayer greenbacks, and by golly, they owe us. I say the government ought to be forced (either by popular vote, or because I damn well told 'em to) to set off one nuke every year at the Nevada test range, on the ground or in the air, just so dads all over the country can pile the family into the pickup or camper and drive out to the desert to see a little fireworks display, USA style. It would be good for all of us. To remind us that nukes exist, that they exist for a reason, and that we Americans are going to be their most important stewards forever. Because we built 'em first, we built the most, and they are not going to go away, no matter how much we might wish that they would. Hell, we ought to invite foreign dignitaries, too. I think that certain terrorist-coddling Middle Eastern heads of state could learn a lot from seeing a few square miles of desert instantly turned into glass.

Ask Doctor Vector: The Star-Spangled Incredible Hulk

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Find-A-Species

This is neat: The International Species Information System has a find animals service by which one may search their member zoos and aquaria for a species by common or Latin name.

Other zoo/aquarium items: