The Anal Howitzer; or, Frass-A-Blast!

That post on lice evolution led me to explore The Loom, Carl Zimmer's Science Blog, which led me to buy his book, Parasite Rex. So far, it's a great introduction to pests.

Something I read today got me chuckling maniacly.

(Leaf-rolling caterpillars are) pretty ordinary insect larvae with one exception: they fire their droppings like howitzers. As a bit of frass starts to emerge from the caterpillar it pushes a hinged plate back against a ring of blood vessels surrounding the anus. The blood pressure builds up behind the plate, which the caterpillar then releases. The pressure of the blood slams against the droppings so suddenly that it blasts them three feet a second, in a soaring arc that carries them up to two feet away. (Zimmer, Parasite Rex, Touchstone, 2001, p. 180)

"Back off, predator! I've gotta poo!"

Creationist "Logic" . . . With Food!

The first distorts the logic of "new life" free peanut butter . . . without ever considering the benefit of pasteurization.

Watch on YouTube

Next, this jackhole ably demonstrates what may be a perfect example of a complex co-evolution, leading to the eventual marriage of hand and banana.

Watch on YouTube

Unlike Martin Luther, let me clarify that "poor reasoning is the devil's whore."

Crappy Turns to (Mildly) Happy

Just a week ago (as regular readers might remember) I came home to a disturbing message, which led to an even more disturbing trip to the bank.

Well, I'm happy to report some good news. The other day, a Seattle police officer took a peak at the check in question, and saw this:



I've enlarged the detail that gives the check meaning. Officer Ku had to put on his reading glasses for this perspective. He stared at it for a second, then said, "This has got to be the dumbest criminal I've ever seen!" I guess comitting a felony for a hundred bucks ain't worth the effort.

I won't bother to post a close-up of the amount in numbers. It's more of the same, just an oversized hash mark squeezed between my 1 and the $ sign at the head of the line.

I also gave him the perp's ID, photocopied by the bank.

Those tellers have a bouquet of flowers coming their way.