Writer and photographer Shreve Stockton took in a baby coyote when his parents were shot for killing sheep in Wyoming. She is documenting Charlie’s life with her and Eli the cat on the blog The Daily Coyote.
If Charlie demonstrates the need or desire to be out in the wild, there are places around here I could safely set him loose. There’s no question he would survive in the wild just fine - his instincts are very intact (more on this later), and though he is gentle and attached to me and to MC, he is afraid of other people.
From the beginning, I have made the commitment to let Charlie decide his destiny; to do right by him without attaching my own desires to the outcome or interfering with human logic. You can join me in seeing what unfolds.
MC refers to a coyote expert who is helping with Charlie. Scroll down the blog and check the archives for adorable baby pictures. Link-Thanks, Bill!
Two crew members for the TV show Scrubs fell in love. When it came time to pop the question, the whole set was ready. I’m a sap for this sort of thing. -via a comment at mental_floss
Lucky charms, amulets, and talismans have been in use since prehistoric times all over the world. Stones, coins, and amulets with symbols are the most common. Others are taken from nature, such as the rabbit’s foot (which wasn’t so lucky for the rabbit), or are considered lucky because of their rarity, such as the four-leaf clover. But a few are just a bit odd.
1. Lucky Swastika
The swastika reminds us of Nazi Germany in the first half of the 20th century, but the symbol has been used for many purposes in many parts of the world. Swastika-shaped ornaments have been found dating as far back as the Neolithic period. Hindus use the swastika as a symbol of the elephant-headed god Ganesh. Jains use it as a symbol of the seventh saint, and begin and end religious services by making the swastika sign. The symbol is supposed to bring long life, good health, and good luck. In fact, the word swastika itself is derived from the Sanskit word svastika, which mean lucky charm.
2. Vulture Heads
Vultures have such great eyesight that they are said to be able to see into the future. South African lottery players would love to have that power, and have made vulture heads into lucky charms to help them win. A poacher can make up to $1,000 on one properly-dried vulture head, leading to a depletion in the vulture population.
3. Ship’s Figureheads
Ship’s figureheads were useful for identifying a ship and intimidating its enemies, but they were mostly charms to protect sailors from harm. A ship’s spirit, or klaboutermannikin, would inhabit the figurehead, and either protect sailors, or in the event of their deaths, would escort them to the proper afterlife. They were also sentimental symbols of one’s ship, to be fought for and protected. To damage an enemy’s figurehead was the ultimate insult. Carved figureheads date from as far back as ancient Egypt, where they resembled deities. About three hundred years ago, figureheads of women became popular because of the old legend that says a woman’s bare breasts will calm the seas. Each sailing era had it own fashions and types of figureheads, but they are all important to those who sail behind them.
4. Maneki Neko
(image credit: Searobin) Maneki Neko, or the Beckoning Cat, is a Japanese good luck charm. It was first documented in 1870, but its origins may go back much further. There is a theory that the cat became popular at the end of the Edo period, when western sensibilities caused phallic worship and prostitution to go underground. The beckoning cat became a euphemistic symbol of such activities. Businesses which displayed a Maneki Neko were quite profitable, so the symbol spread to other types of shops as a good luck charm. If the cat is raising its right paw, it will attract money. If it is raising its left paw, it will atract customers. Maneki Neko even has a fan club!
5. Bezoar
A bezoar is a “stone” retrieved from the gut of an animal. They are formed by animal secretions (as in pearls), or material consumed but not digested, such as hair, food fiber, or other material (as in hairballs). The word bezoar comes from a Persian word meaning “antidote to poison.” There is some evidence that bezoars made of hair will absorb small amounts of arsenic, but will have little effect on other poisons. Bezoars of all kinds are used for lucky charms and talismans, and for psychic healing, in addition to protection against poisons.
6. Jatukam Ramathep Amulets
Jatukam Ramathep amulets are all the rage these days. They are sold by Buddhist temples in Thailand. Earlier this year, the Thawee Kara Anant temple near Bangkok got into some hot water for making “special” Jatukam Ramathep amulets out of the cremated remains of infants who died from natural causes. Around 140,000 amulets were made from a combination of herbs and human ashes. The practice is not illegal, but the monks involved were reprimanded by religious leaders.
A raccoon penis bone, or baculum, is regarded as a lucky charm, especially for fertility or gambling. They are available alone or made into necklaces or earrings. These bones go by many names; one of the few that can be said in polite company is "Texas toothpick."
Any object can be a lucky charm if you believe in it. If it gives you confidence in your daily activities and decisions, then it is indeed "lucky".
Watch this little robot; it's like a pet who won't give up!
RHex is a man-portable robot with extraordinary rough terrain mobility. RHex climbs over rock fields, mud, sand, vegetation, railroad tracks, telephone poles and up steep slopes and stairways. RHex has a sealed body, making it fully operational in wet weather, in muddy and swampy conditions, and it can swim on the surface or dive underwater.
RHex is made by Boston Dynamics, and is controlled by a remote operator up to 600 feet away. http://www.bostondynamics.com/content/sec.php?section=RHex -via Dark Roasted Blend
wedged between the walls of a mountain crevice in norway is a rock called kjeragbolten. the rock is often stood on by tourists for a crafty photograph whilst attempting not to look down at the 3000ft+ drop. i’m assuming the sheep/goat in the picture below was a local.
Kjeragbolten is just one of a collection of "rocks that rock" today at deputy dog. http://deputy-dog.com/2007/11/06/these-rocks-rock/
This infographic shows the ratio of inhabitants per doctor in countries the world over. Cuba seems to be doing great; sub-Saharan Africa, not so much. Link -via Dump Trumpet
Steven is impressed that we are able to order pizzas online.
But what I've become obsessed with is that when you only want a particular topping on half of your pizza, they make you specify WHICH HALF. LEFT or RIGHT.
I had ordered from them a few times but never paid attention to see if they got the halves correct. I was curious to see if it really would arrive the way I ordered it.
So he performed a little test. Read the story and the results at The Sneeze. Link -via Reddit
There are over a million described species of insects, and even more that haven’t been studied. A little research indicates they are all strange in different ways. It was not easy to pick a dozen for this list, but these are all pretty weird.
The Longest Insect.
The Borneo walking stick (Phobaeticus kirbyi) can grow to up to 32 centimeters long, with another 14 centimeters if you measure the legs stretched out! But you might not see one, even if you are in Borneo and looking for them, since they closely resemble the slender tree branches they live on.
Goliath beetles (Goliathus) are the largest insects in terms of bulk and weight. They can reach over 4 inches long, which doesn’t sound like much, til you look at the picture. The beetles are native to the African tropics, where they subsist on tree sap and fruit. Goliath beetles can be kept as pets, just feed them dog food (but don’t expect them to come when called).
Strongest animal on earth.
The Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules) is a species of rhinoceros beetle that lives in South America. It can grow to over 6 inches in length (counting its horns), but its claim to fame is its strength. The Hercules beetle can support 850 times its own weight on its shell! This beetles eats only vegetation and is not aggressive, except to other Hercules beetles, when males fight each other over females.
Weird Lifecycle.
(Image credit: Hans Pohl)
The twisted-wing parasite (Strepsiptera) is an order of insects who display a gruesome lifestyle. The larval stage parasite will climb a flower and wait for an insect pollinator (bee or wasp) to come along. They climb aboard the bee, burrow into its body, and change into a second-stage larva. They feed off the blood and organs of the host. An adult male parasite will emerge from the host and search for a mate -a process that takes such little time that he never develops a mouth. The adult female remains in the host’s body for the rest of her life, never growing legs or wings. She mates by pushing only her reproductive organs outside of the bee’s body! Her offspring will emerge and look for new hosts.
Violent Sex.
The gruesome behavior or the male African bat bug (Afrocimex constrictus) is directed at other bat bugs. Instead of copulating via the female’s sex organs, he will stab her abdomen to release sperm directly into her bloodstream. So the females have evolved paragenitals, a “spongy reservoir of immune cells” as a defense against these tactics. But since male bat bugs are not particular when it comes to mating, some male bat bugs have also developed paragenitals to defend themselves against sexual attack!
Bizarre Body Parts.
Seed Beetles have rough sex, too, but in the conventional manner. What is very unconventional is the male seed beetle’s penis (shown in above picture). He can do some damage with that thing. So female seed beetles have developed thicker, more padded reproductive canals over time as self-defense against their paramour.
Trap and Torture.
Tree ants (Allomerus decemarticulatus) in the Amazon contruct elaborate traps for other insects they feed upon. They build these traps from tree fibers reinforced with fungus. When an unsuspecting insect encounters the trap, the ants emerge from hiding underneath and pull the prey’s legs to immobilize them, almost like a torture rack. Then they dismember the victim and carry the parts off to the colony. This method of “drawing and quartering” allows the ants to dine on insects much larger than themselves.
Driver ants (Dorylus) or siafu are the masters of the swarm. Dorylus includes several species of army ants, primarily found in Africa. Colonies can contain 20 million ants! When the column is on the march looking for food, people can avoid them just by stepping aside. But there have been cases where invalids have been killed (by asphyxiation) when a column of ants marches through the house. They have been known to kill and eat animals up to the size of small zebras. The soldiers of the colony flank the column. Their bite is so strong and persistant that they are sometimes used to suture wounds; just apply an ant while you hold the wound together and let it bite, then rip the body off. It should hold for a few days. Male driver ants are so much larger than the rest of the colony that they appear to be a different species. Males lead a solitary life until sexual maturity, when they approach the colony for mating. When a male is detected, the workers of the colony tear off his wings and take him to be mated with their queen. You can watch this process on video.
Gruesome Bloodsuckers. Assassin bugs use a mouth tube to inject toxin into their prey. This toxin acts as an anaesthetic and also liquifies tissues, the easier to suck you dry with. There are thousands of assassin bug species; some eat only other insects and some attack reptiles, birds, and mammals. This assassin bug is turning the tables on a vampire bat. Notice how you can see the blood entering the young insect.
Deadliest of all.
The mosquito (Culicidae) causes the deaths of millions of people every year. They spread yellow fever, dengue fever, encephalitis, West Nile Virus, and malaria from person to person, without being affected by the diseases themselves. They also transmit the debilitating filariasis worm, which can lead to elephantiasis in humans. Mosquitos are nasty business.
The Prettiest (discounting butterflies).
The Orchid mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) is a variety of flower mantis usually found in Malaysia and Indonesia. Doesn’t the mantis pictured look just like an orchid? They hide in the flowers they resemble, waiting for other delicious insects to alight. See a beautiful picture of a pink flower mantis here.
The strangest of all.
The weirdest insect of all is the Western honeybee (Apis mellifera). That may surprise you, but the only reason they don’t seem strange is because we are familiar with them. But think... how many insects produce a delicious food product enjoyed by bees, bears, and people? In addition to honey, bees produce beeswax, honeycombs, royal jelly, and venom. Bees communicate with each other, coordinate colony activities, determine the fate of the next generation, and are master architects, chemists, and engineers. Bees are crucial to food production as they pollinate billions of dollars worth of crops each year. Just don’t step on one barefoot!
Since Carl Zimmer at The Loom asked about people with science tattoos (reported previously on Neatorama), he has received over 70 submissions for his Flickr set. Especially worth noting is this tattoo of an intricately-detailed strand of DNA on Matthew MacDougall, a 4th year med student. Link
How well do you know modern medications? In the latest mental_floss quiz, try to match the medicine with a side effect from its warning label. You don’t have to take these medications to know the answers -most have been in the news. Link
Do you know what your eyes are doing while you are reading? A group of researchers has determined that often, our left eye is not looking at the same printed letter as the right eye!
The team's results demonstrated that both eyes lock on to the same letter 53% of the time; for 39% of the time they see different letters with uncrossed eyes; and for 8% of the time the eyes are crossing to focus on different letters.
A follow-up experiment with the eye-tracking equipment showed that we only see one clear image when reading because our brain fuses the different images from our eyes together.
I’m impressed that they can actually measure such things, as fast as the reading process goes in most adults. Link -via Reddit
The Consumerist reports on the Continental Finance MasterCard. The fees include:
Account setup fee: $99 Program participation fee: $89 Annual fee: $49 Account maintenance fee: $120 (charged @ $10/month) Purchase APR: 19.92% Authorized user fee: $30 (great! seems like $53 credit is a bit too much for a single person to handle) Credit limit increase fee: $25 (and you don't even have to ask for it!) Internet payment fee: $4 for each authorized internet payment.
After all that, your credit limit is $53. Link - via Consumerist
