Gus Mager and Un-Natural History

Cartoonist Gus Mager is well-respected for his pioneering newspaper strips. But he seems to have let his fertile and fanciful brain trespass into his supposedly scientific feature for Popular Science. Some of the "facts" given in his column appear somewhat dubious, to say the least. The business about the grapefruit was all settled well before Gus was working in the 1930s.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Oct 13, 2012 - Comments (5)
Category: Animals, Comics, 1930s, Natural Wonders

Migaloo the Albino Humpback Whale

This clip from ITN news makes me think I have been saying "albino" wrong for decades. There's a nice tail flip at about :35.



I'm also thinking of changing my name to "Migaloo", which apparently means "white fella" in an aboriginal language.

Not politically correct, but it is a correct description.

Both of us are big white fellas.

Posted By: gdanea - Fri Oct 12, 2012 - Comments (5)
Category: Animals

Gorillas Watch Caterpillar

Inter-species fascination is fun to watch, but if you are the boss, you may be the one who gets to watch the caterpillar.
Did anyone else get the feeling they were considering lunch?




Think about what you sitting there watching this means. One species (us) watching another species(gorillas) watch another species (caterpillar). If we could only know if the caterpillar was watching another species. And don't forget, there is someone out there watching what you are watching. (And probably someone watching them.)

Posted By: gdanea - Wed Oct 10, 2012 - Comments (10)
Category: Animals

Life and Death Down on the Farm—Revenge of The Bacon

Ahh... the idyllic countryside of another Oregon farm. Unless you look closely at the pig-pen, where Terry Vance Garner disappeared last Wednesday




At this peaceful site, only dentures and some body parts were found. Speculation ranges from heart failure and falling in the pen and then being devoured to being attacked. These precious piggies are up to 400 pounds each, and Mr. Garner had been bitten by one sow before.

Makes me wonder how much bacon he consumed in his life -- 400 pounds?

Posted By: gdanea - Tue Oct 02, 2012 - Comments (6)
Category: Animals

Poodle Hitches A Ride

A cute poodle mix crossed the road at the wrong time and ended up in the grill of a Toyota. The car's driver saw the dog run out but did not see it anywhere in the road so he assumed it made it's way across safely. Eleven miles later at a stop light someone waved the driver down and alerted him to the dog's plight. Police and animal control extricated the little dog and it was treated for minor injuries. Now, they are searching for the doggie's family so it can go home.

Update: Suzie the poodle has been reunited with her family. They were brought together due to Suzie having a microchip.

Posted By: Alex - Tue Oct 02, 2012 - Comments (3)
Category: Animals

She Finally Got Her Moose

On a recent hunting trip, Laura Wood successfully killed a moose with a single shot. What makes this weird is that she's 95 years old. Good for her, but not so good for the moose. I wonder if she's the oldest person ever to have killed a moose? [thestar.com]

Posted By: Alex - Mon Oct 01, 2012 - Comments (7)
Category: Animals, Elderly

Mouse Takes Photo Of Its Own Death

This photo, with the accompanying caption, ran in papers back in July 1952.



(via eBay)

Posted By: Alex - Sun Sep 30, 2012 - Comments (5)
Category: Animals, Death, Photography and Photographers

Mutant Genital-Biting Female Mice

After tweaking the genes of some laboratory mice, Swiss scientists have produced female mice that exhibit an unusual sexual behavior. They bite the genitals of their partners. The male mice respond by running away in terror.

This unusual trait is passed through the female line, from mother to daughter. The scientists aren't sure if humans have a similar 'genital-biting' gene, but they're hopeful that "future studies addressing the genetic basis of behavior in humans may be very informative in this respect."

The video is worth watching just to see the female mice going at it.

Posted By: Alex - Tue Sep 25, 2012 - Comments (13)
Category: Animals, Science, Genitals

Follies of the Mad Men #190

Yeah, the first thing I think of when I get thirsty for booze is "Froggy Went a-Courtin'" and sexy swimsuit frogs.

Original ad here.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Sep 24, 2012 - Comments (7)
Category: Animals, Anthropomorphism, Business, Advertising, Products, 1940s, Alcohol

World’s Largest Snake at Kansas City Haunted House

Weird on so many levels!! At 350 pounds and 25 feet long -- this snake called "Medusa" is on display at "The Edge of Hell", a haunted house in Kansas City. Held in the picture below by what I am hoping is some of the "cast":



Here's the link to the story:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/21/medusa-worlds-longest-snake_n_1904214.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news#slide=1514068

which includes juicy details like "Medusa does pretty well on a diet that includes rabbits, hogs and deer, served to her every two weeks."



Her handler Larry Edgar keeps her away from the crowds, reminding us that "she always has the upper hand", and that "people have been cut out of reticulated pythons before." Which of the cast members could be cut out of the python next?

Let the Halloween festivities begin!!

Posted By: gdanea - Sun Sep 23, 2012 - Comments (6)
Category: Animals