Blog Archives
Happy Monday!
What flightless bird makes everyone smile?
A penguin.
What makes people smile more than the sight of just one penguin?
Lots of penguins.
Have a Better Week Than Last Week.
Amber’s (Pre) Historic Reveal
(R.C. McKellar, Royal Saskatchewan Museum)
Remember Dr. Alan Grant’s theory of connectivity between velociraptors (raptor meaning “bird of prey”) and birds in the 1993 cinematic masterpiece Jurassic Park?
Well, this at least seems to be pointed towards that direction.
“…this is the first time that scientists are able to clearly associate well-preserved feathers with a dinosaur, and in turn gain a better understanding of the evolution and structure of dinosaur feathers.”
–Kristin Romey, National Geographic
In perfect harmony, the sample discussed in the above quotation was preserved in discovered, yes, a piece amber about the size of an apricot that’s been dried! True story: Fans of the movie just gasped.
While this is exciting news in the paleontology world, it’s worth noting that this discovery in northern Myanmar doesn’t appear to be a gateway to a real-life Jurassic Park. A bummer, for sure. However, learning new facts and realities about such a fascinating, prehistoric period in history is incredible. It’s the latest proof and vindication of life’s eternal pursuit of knowledge and its countless mysteries waiting to be revealed with the right amount of curiosity and tenacity.
Thankfully, Jurassic Park sparked a societal interest across generations in events and creatures from more than 65 million years ago.
Michael Crichton and Steven Spielberg found a way.
Buddy’s March for Survival
An African penguin is on the march of (and for) its life right now.
(African Penguin, stock image)
Buddy, an African penguin, was recently discovered stolen by two recklessly misguided students from a South African marine park. A news report from the BBC states that the two students took Buddy as a demonstration, in which the guilty party concocted their high-minded statement to promote animals being reunited back into their natural habitat.
There’s just one minor issue: How high-minded is it to potentially kill the very animal they attempted to save?
“But Buddy was born in the park, and has no idea how to survive in the wild.
Experts say the penguin could last for just two more weeks before he will starve to death.”
–BBC News Online
There’s a significant problem with protestors, which is that the macro cause may be worthy of discussion and debate, but a critical question far too often remains unanswered: “What happens the next day?” This introspective of the micro, a necessary cognitive exercise, is rarely contemplated with any degree of seriousness or consequence within the exhilarating spirit of protest. It needs to be said that protests can be a great, powerful force for good. On the other hand, protests can equally translate into a powerfully reckless and dangerous force for evil. In this situation, there’s no doubt the two students made a statement. Yes, the academic scholars made a declaration akin to animal malpractice that has the heart-wrenching probability of marching an innocent penguin (and its family) to its death.
Buddy was part of a breeding pair, and was looking after his two new chicks with mate Francis when he was stolen.
Since his disappearance, one of the chicks has died, although park officials do not know if this was related. Francis is also now unable to leave the nest, as Buddy is not there to take over from her.
–BBC News Online
Dr. Ian Malcolm famously said, “Life…finds a way.”
Let’s pray Buddy safely finds his way back to his home and family in the coming days.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 