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What if the Boston ‘baby whale’ viral video guy had actually been a marine biologist?
09.26.2015
12:25 pm
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Here’s the best Internet dub/remix video of the week.

I’m sure by now you’ve all seen the “We witnessin’ a baby whale kid” video which went insanely viral a few days ago.YouTube user Dan Telfer has uploaded a dubbed version of the video which recreates the scene as if the Boston Guy were an expert marine biologist.

This is wicked funny, kid:
 

Posted by Christopher Bickel
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09.26.2015
12:25 pm
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Listen to the sound of giraffes humming to each other in the dark
09.18.2015
01:24 pm
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Biologists have recently discovered that giraffes hum.

The prevailing theory about giraffe vocalization had been that they are not capable of generating substantial sounds because of the physical difficulty of them producing sufficient air flow through their long necks. However, some had suggested that giraffes employ low-frequency “infrasonic” sounds below the level of human perception, similar to elephants and other large animals who use it for long-range communication.

After extensive research in three European zoos, Angela Stöger at the University of Vienna, Austria, found no evidence of infrasonic communication, but she did pick up an intriguing humming noise coming from the giraffe enclosures at night—in all three zoos. “I was fascinated,” Stöger was quoted as saying in New Scientist, “because these signals have a very interesting sound and have a complex acoustic structure.” That hum turned out to be a low-frequency sound, of about 92 Hz. That’s not infrasound; the human ear can detect it, but just barely. Stöger and her colleagues say the hum varies in duration and contains a rich combination of notes.

Giraffes have a structured social system, but scientists don’t know much about how they communicate, according to Meredith Bashaw at the Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. “This new vocalization could add a piece to that puzzle. ... It could be passively produced—like snoring—or produced during a dream-like state—like humans talking or dogs barking in their sleep,” she says. But she indicated that it could also be a method of low-granularity information for giraffes to use in the dark, when vision is limited, as if to say, “Hey, I’m here.” There’s still information to be collected about the behaviors accompanying the humming. But it wouldn’t be too unexpected if the humming is used to transmit information about age, gender, sexual arousal, dominance, or reproductive states, Bashaw said.

John Doherty at Queen’s University Belfast, who studies giraffes in Samburu Reserve in northern Kenya, has come across similar vocalizations, “in a captive giraffe. ... But, in this case, [the giraffe] was clearly disturbed by a husbandry procedure being carried out on its calf in a separate but visible enclosure.”

Interestingly, last year residents of Paignton in southwest England complained of a humming or droning noise coming from the giraffe house at night: “I am very tired. The noise is still there,” said one resident. “I am being disturbed in the night and am being kept awake by this.” For her part, Stöger doubts that the complainants were actually hearing giraffes: “The giraffe signals are not so intensive. I personally doubt that neighbors would hear that,” she said.

After the jump, giraffe humming!

READ ON
Posted by Martin Schneider
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09.18.2015
01:24 pm
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Ralph Steadman’s endangered ‘boids’
09.08.2015
01:08 pm
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Blue-throated macaw
 
Renowned for his memorable visual interpretations of the writings of Hunter S. Thompson, Ralph Steadman has since transitioned to a less gonzo subject matter—birding. Next week sees the publication of a new book of Steadman’s paintings of endangered birds called Nextinction, as a follow-up to his 2012 book Extinct Boids, which, obviously, focused on “boids” that are, ah, no longer endangered. Both books were cowritten by Cari Levy. Nextinction came out in July in the U.K., but the U.S. publication date is September 15.

According to the Guardian, 1 in 8 species of birds is threatened by extinction. Steadman’s interest in the animal kingdom is not limited to these two books; he also published The Ralph Steadman Book of Cats and The Ralph Steadman Book of Dogs as well as The Book of Jones: A Tribute to the Mercurial, Manic, and Utterly Seductive Cat.

For more information on endangered avian species, you can check out the website for Endangered Species International. If you want to help endangered bird species, one of the concrete steps you can take is to build a pond in your backyard.
 

California condor
 

Red-crowned crane
 
More of Steadman’s “boids” after the jump…...

READ ON
Posted by Martin Schneider
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09.08.2015
01:08 pm
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Foul-mouthed bird spits on family dog and tells it off
09.01.2015
11:40 am
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Photo of Eric via Facebook
 
We normally don’t blog about animals here on DM, but when something this special like Eric the foul-mouthed bird comes along… it’s necessary. Eric lives in Australia and is owned by a woman named Sharon Curle. Eric has a vendetta against the family dog.

As you’ll see in the short video below, Eric doesn’t mince his words.

Can we please get Eric the foul-mouthed bird to debate Donald Trump?

 

 
Sharon Curle on Facebook

Posted by Tara McGinley
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09.01.2015
11:40 am
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Satanic squirrel taxidermy, anyone?
08.24.2015
11:05 am
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Satanic Squirrel Ritual taxidermy
Satanic Squirrel Ritual taxidermy
 
And since I’m sure that more than a few of you are nodding your heads, “yes, please” then today is your lucky day thanks to Ryan Hanley, a taxidermist based in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
 
Satanic Ritual Squirrel taxidermy
Satanic Squirrel Ritual taxidermy
 
Satanic squirrel taxidermy
Satanic FTW Squirrel taxidermy (and yes, he is shooting you the bird)
 
Billed as “the most brilliant present ever” by its maker, Satanic FTW Squirrel (above) and his upside down cross stands about 12” tall and was the product of roadkill just like his pal Satanic Squirrel Ritual, in case these images are getting your PETA panties all in a bunch. There are loads of other images on Hanley’s Tumblr, but I don’t suggest looking at them if you don’t want to see things like lamps that used to be armadillos (which are completely amazing by the way), or roadkill raccoons that are now fashionable purses.

If you’re interested in purchasing Satan’s favorite nut job, it’ll run you $150 over at Hanley’s wife’s Etsy shop, The Wild Few. The Satanic Squirrel Ritual piece is $175. There’s also a Suicide Squirrel piece that features a taxidermied squirrel with a gun pointed at its head if that’s more your speed.

ALL HAIL SATANIC SQUIRREL!

Posted by Cherrybomb
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08.24.2015
11:05 am
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Is there anyone left who still believes the 1967 ‘Bigfoot’ film footage is real?
08.19.2015
09:41 am
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Recently I saw a social media post touting a newly “stabilized” version of the infamous 1967 “Patterson-Gimlin film” of “Bigfoot.” I was astounded to find that this footage, which I assumed everyone knew had been debunked, was still making the rounds for folks wanting to believe.

Is it just that the debunking stories don’t get told as often because they aren’t nearly as interesting as the prospect of a seven-foot-tall hominid cryptid skulking the woods of Northern California having been caught on (excessively shaky, out-of-focus) film, or is it simply that there are still so many people willing to believe—even in the face of credible sources explaining their role in the fakery?

Wikipedia indicates that there are at least seven scientists who have conducted studies favorable to the Patterson-Gimlin film being legit. One wonders if these might be the same seven scientists denying global warming.

A few years back I attended a lecture by the man who claims to have produced the actual suit worn in the film. He tells a compelling story.

79-year-old Philip Morris of Charlotte, North Carolina is a magician and entrepreneur who began a costume and stage prop business in the early ‘60s, Morris Costumes, which has grown to become one of the largest costume companies in the country. In the 1960s, Morris Costumes was one of the few companies producing gorilla suits for magicians and carnivals. Morris claims that in 1967 a man called him, identifying himself as Roger Patterson, stating that he was a rodeo cowboy wanting to buy a gorilla suit for a “gag.”
 

 
According to Morris, Patterson swindled money out of investors to raise the money for the (relatively expensive for the time) $435 suit. Morris claims that Patterson promised seven different investors a 50% cut of the profits for a “Bigfoot film” he was going to produce (do the math). Through these “investors,” Patterson was able to send Morris a money order for the gorilla suit.

“I didn’t think it was a real big deal,” said Morris. “It was just another sale.”

Morris shipped the suit to Patterson.

Patterson later called Morris back asking how to make the suit more “realistic.” “He asked me to send him some extra fur and asked how to hide the zipper in the back and how to make the person in the costume look larger,” Morris said. “I told him to brush the fur over the zipper and use hair spray to hold it, and then get some football shoulder pads and sticks for the arms to give the illusion of being taller, and use stuffing to get more bulk.” And that was the last Morris heard from Patterson.
 

 
In October of 1967 Morris saw the famous footage on television and recognized his suit. “I was watching TV when I saw Patterson and his film on the news,” Morris said. “I called my wife from the other room and said, ‘Look it’s our gorilla costume.’”

Morris indicates that he didn’t initially go public with the information about the sale of the suit because he didn’t want to expose a fellow illusionist, stating: “In my mind it was a magic trick.”

He didn’t want to break the magician’s code.

Morris didn’t start speaking publicly about the suit until Patterson died in 1972. Even then, he mostly told his story at trade conventions.

Eventually, Morris’ story made its way to Bigfoot researcher Greg Long.

Greg Long’s The Making of Bigfoot: The Inside Story devotes an entire chapter to Morris’ claim that he provided the costume for Patterson. “I couldn’t see any motive beyond that he wanted to tell the truth,” Long said. “This was just a good story that he decided to tell.”

“Most people believe me, but there are people that are very hostile to me when I tell them it is a hoax,” Morris said. “It is like telling them Santa Claus doesn’t exist. They grew up believing it was true and do not want to admit to themselves it’s fake.”

His story seems believable, but can Morris really prove that he sold a suit to Patterson which was used to fake 59.5 seconds of jerky out-of-focus “Bigfoot” footage? I suppose not, but then again, I want to believe.
 
Here’s Philip Morris talking about the sale of the suit to Patterson:

 
And here’s the original Patterson-Gimlin film:

 
H/T: MLive.com, Rense.com

Posted by Christopher Bickel
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08.19.2015
09:41 am
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Big Dick: Glorious footage of a VERY rarely seen deep-sea jellyfish that looks like a you-know-what
08.18.2015
11:40 pm
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You’re about to witness an incredible video of a Stygiomedusa gigantea—a deep-sea jelly fish—which apparently has only had a 115 sightings in the last 110 years. So, yeah, this is pretty rare footage we all should be thankful it even exists and it’s downright amazing to boot!

The Stygiomedusa gigantea was filmed off the Gulf of Mexico with a remotely operated underwater camera. What the researchers managed to capture was its uniqueness and grace.

And, yes, the penis shape! The Stygiomedusa gigantea is obviously a bit of a shapeshifter, but it starts off looking remarkably like a big dick here. I liked the New Agey music they used, but Schoolly D’s “Mr. Big Dick” would have made for a funnier soundtrack.

 
via reddit

Posted by Richard Metzger
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08.18.2015
11:40 pm
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Self-proclaimed ‘Wizard’ banned from zoo for enraging gorillas, gets shamed by another Wizard
08.18.2015
02:06 pm
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Self-proclaimed wizard, Andrew Wright
 
You. Just. Can’t. Make. This. Shit. Up.

A self-proclaimed “wizard” and “energy healer” named Andrew Wright from Christchurch, New Zealand has been banned from the Orana Wildlife Park after chanting and beating his chest at the gorillas. Wright’s actions enraged one of the park’s largest gorillas so much so that the gorilla charged the glass and tried to attack him.


 
According to gorilla keeper Rob Clifford, he told Wright to knock it off because he was clearly upsetting the gorillas with his, er, wizardry. But Wright refused to believe Clifford and thought the gorillas were reacting positively to his chanting and chest-beating.

Christchurch’s most famous wizard had a few words for Andrew Wright’s very un-wizardly behavior:


Christchurch’s most best-known wizard. His name is unknown, but he is most assuredly a wizard

“We don’t normally go out and beat our chests in front of gorilla cages,” The Wizard says. “It’s not the normal behaviour of wizards. You wouldn’t get merit points for that.”

Andrew Wright has had his membership to the park revoked indefinitely. No wizard merit points were awarded for his little display, either.

via Arbroath and 3 News

Posted by Tara McGinley
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08.18.2015
02:06 pm
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Video shows how rats get inside your toilet (and it’s just as horrible as you’d imagine)
08.17.2015
03:45 pm
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I’ve heard stories about sewer rats magically appearing in people’s toilet bowls but I never really understood exactly how the rats were able to pull off this feat. Didn’t they need oxygen to breathe while crawling through the plumbing? Are rats good swimmers?

Too many questions and never any solid answers. Until now!


 
Thanks to the kind folks at National Geographic, we FINALLY have definitive proof of how sewer rats are able to pull off their Houdini-esque toilet stunt. It’s actually quite mesmerizing to watch, people who suffer from musophobia need not click play.

 
Via Gothamist

Posted by Tara McGinley
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08.17.2015
03:45 pm
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For the rich nerd who has everything: 1d20 carved out of woolly mammoth ivory
08.12.2015
10:14 am
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So you own all the manuals and modules and miniatures, yet still your D&D tabletop feels incomplete. Might we suggest one thing that’s sure to make you the coolest dungeon master on the block: a twenty-sided die carved out of real Pleistocene-era woolly mammoth ivory.

Woolly mammoths, huge elephant-related beasts, roamed the earth until disappearing from their mainland range at the end of the Pleistocene era, some 10,000 years ago. From time-to-time, well-preserved specimens of mammoths are discovered in the frozen bogs of the far North. So well-preserved, in fact, that 250,000-year-old woolly mammoth meat was reportedly served at the 47th Annual Explorer’s Club Dinner to a bunch of rich 1950s nerds.

Apparently the Artisan Dice company was able to get their hands on some of of these rare, well-preserved mammoth remains—specifically the tusks. From this (apparently very foul-smelling) ivory they have created a line of twenty-sided-dice for use in the role-playing game of your choice. Though their site doesn’t mention how they were able to obtain such historically significant remains to carve into RPG accessories, we’re taking their word for it that this is the real deal and that there are no preservationist directives banning the repurposing of mammoth ivory.
 

 
According to their site:

Mammoth ivory has some very unique characteristics hiding within its aged and flaky bark. The inner layers polish to an brilliant luster that showcase a wonderful grain in the form of a subtle cross hatch pattern, and distinctively heavy weight along with a crisp sound when rolled as a die. On top of all that, it produces one hell of a stink when worked. It’s by far one of the worst smells in the shop. Enduring that pungent aroma is well worth the results though as mammoth ivory makes some of the best dice on the planet.

The company made a run of two-dozen dice which were presented in an Eastern Aromatic Cedar box with a Black Walnut insert and priced at a meager $248.00 EACH.
 

 
They sold out of this run within 24 hours of making them available.

But never fear wealthy role-playing game and dead mammal enthusiasts, Artisan Dice promises to be preparing a second run and are currently taking pre-orders.

The mammoths didn’t make their saving throw against extinction, but their power and majesty lives on—possibly in your parents’ den—with these exquisite dice.

You know you want a 1d20 from ca. 20k B.C.

Posted by Christopher Bickel
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08.12.2015
10:14 am
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