BoingBoing has a link to a fantastic set of photographs of modern-day River Country – Disney World’s original water park. I remember going there as a kid, but can’t pin-point the date.

It’s changed quite a bit.

How cool is that?

That began to change, however, when he started blogging.  He’s posted some great things there, like his scathing indictment of Ben Stein (and his execrable film, “Expelled”), and his love letter to books. I don’t think he’s fundamentally changed as a thinker or writer… It’s far more likely that I have.

At any rate, he’s now written a piece equating new age hoo-ha with creationist hoo-ha, and it’s truly a satisfying read. No one who trusts in the magical thinking required by either creationism or new agery should be wagging their fingers at people on the other side of the political aisle: Both are guilty of the same thing.

via.

The okapi, while fairly common in zoos today, are rarely seen in the wild. It was known to the ancient Egyptians, but was called the “African unicorn” for many years, because European explorers heard tales and saw tracks and droppings of the animal, but were unable classify it until 1902, with the first live specimen not arriving in Europe until 1918.

In more recent times, they’ve been hunted to near-extinction in their native territory in the northern rain forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Conservationists using camera traps have now for the first time captured images of wild okapi living in Virunga National Park. Sadly, their fears are that poaching will wipe out the DRC’s population within two or three years.

Link to Sky News article

Image stolen directly from The Sun. Even I wouldn't put together something this tasteless.

According to the world’s most reputable news source, “Nazi raccoons” are poised to overrun Europe. The species, indigenous to the United States, was introduced to Germany in 1934 by Hermann Goering.

I have no way to comment on this story that won’t offend someone.

The Griffiths family: Spider refugees.

A British paratrooper’s family have been forced out of their home after a camel spider hitched a ride back from Afghanistan with him.

Terrified Lorraine Griffiths thinks the sandy-coloured desert creature killed their pet dog Bella and is now nesting in her 18-year-old daughter’s bedroom.

The 37-year-old mum is so scared she has moved out of her four-bedroom army home in Colchester, Essex, with children Cassie, 18, Ricky, 16, and Ellie-Rose, four, and is now living with her mother.

Okay… I can kinda sympathize with the family, having lived through a similar experience when I was in college. Except instead of a camel spider, it was a group of homeless people, and instead of a paratrooper, it was my roommate’s boyfriend. Also, instead of hissing, there was stank.

But seriously guys… It’s a frigging spider, and not one that’s gonna kill you, either. Just step on it. Or get some Raid. This isn’t rocket science here.

According to the Royal Australian Air Force (from whom I ripped off the above photo):

Palm-sized flesh-eating Camel spiders have been found in the kit of forces returning from the field.

Although they look ferocious and have a powerful bite, they are harmless – for humans at least.

Despite the name and appearance, camel spiders are actually solifugids which, unlike spiders, do not have venom or silk glands. They prey on spiders, scorpions, insects, small vertebrates and other solifugids. Usually nocturnal, they sometimes come out in the day but will seek out shadows, even if the shadow is cast by a human. If the person moves, the solifugid follows the shadow, which gives the impression it is giving pursuit. It’s easy enough to get that impression, particularly as camel spiders can move at speeds of up to 16km/h.

So… no venom, and they prey on things you don’t want in your house anyhow. Sorry about your dog I guess, but it sounds like you got a new eight-legged pet now.

To be honest, I gotta think that dog was a wuss. I mean, come on… It was taken down by a frigging spider.

Here’s a site dedicated to camel spiders, just in case you think this Griffiths woman is at all in her right mind.

Yeah… I know: No cryptids here… But they’re primates. That’s kinda close.

A newly-discovered species of snake has claimed the title of “world’s smallest.” Averaging only 100 millimeters long, the Leptotyphlops carlae was named by biologist Blair Hedges of PSU after his wife.

Link

A rival team of scientists announced they expect to shatter this record, as they are planning an expedition down Sleestak’s pants.