Wog Captured On Film!
After patiently waiting with cameras ready for a month, yesterday's storm (you can hear the thunder in the background) brought out the wog and we were able to capture this short video clip.
The wog, which most believe is a cross between a dog and a weasel, is first spotted by the pond. In order to capture the video, I have to come from behind the blind we had set up. As soon as I do, the wog hops out of the yard, into the tress and vanishes.
You can view previous wog sightings here, here and here.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Roxopods Day one; evening
During dinner, Becky kept looking at the images on her camera while mumbling, “Something different about image 0089.”
It wasn’t until we were back in the hotel room where we were able to export the image to the mobile lab computer that we could clearly see what Becky had photographed.
Upon closer inspection and further enhancement of the image, you can clearly see a difference in the rock formation on the west side of the building. There appears to be an oval shaped creature about halfway up the side of the wall. The team is in agreement that this indeed is a roxopod, most likely a granipillar.
Since there was only enough funding for one night, the team will be back at the university tomorrow. However, we feel certain Becky’s photographs will provide enough evidence for future roxopod expedition funding.
During dinner, Becky kept looking at the images on her camera while mumbling, “Something different about image 0089.”
It wasn’t until we were back in the hotel room where we were able to export the image to the mobile lab computer that we could clearly see what Becky had photographed.
Upon closer inspection and further enhancement of the image, you can clearly see a difference in the rock formation on the west side of the building. There appears to be an oval shaped creature about halfway up the side of the wall. The team is in agreement that this indeed is a roxopod, most likely a granipillar.
Since there was only enough funding for one night, the team will be back at the university tomorrow. However, we feel certain Becky’s photographs will provide enough evidence for future roxopod expedition funding.
Roxopods Day one: afternoon
While most people staying at the Black Rock Lodge would be excited about the indoor/outdoor pool, the free continental breakfast or the mint that is left on their pillow, our team was content to stare at the walls. And stare we did all afternoon waiting to see if one of the boulders moved.
When we needed to give our eyes a rest, we spoke to the hotel staff about the possible existence of the roxopods. None of them hesitated to tell either of their personal encounters or the stories told to them by previous guests of the hotel. One story went so far as to claim that a brother and sister collected an entire bucket of sedimentipedes. However, their mother, thinking it was a bucket of rocks, made them leave it outside their room. In the morning, there was nothing left but an empty bucket.
The origin of the roxopod is not entirely clear but the hotel manager claims they were created by the construction workers who first built the lodge. As the story goes, during their lunch-breaks the workers would ease their boredom by gluing little pebbles to bugs with cement. They would place the bugs on the side of the newly constructed walls and bet on which bug would climb to the top the quickest.
It is not know how the roxopods developed after that. Some suggest that the bugs with the pebbles were stronger and more attractive to other bugs and that natural selection favored more rock-shaped creatures. Others suggest that some rocks of a more organic nature bonded to the bugs and that the story of the bored boulder builders is more fable than fact.
Becky, who has been carefully visually documenting the walls with her camera the entire afternoon, claims she has seen a difference in the rock patterns. However, our eyes are strained from seeking all afternoon and it's starting to get dark. We decided to call off the hunt, grab something to eat, and then head back to the mobile lab where we can better examine Becky's photographs.
While most people staying at the Black Rock Lodge would be excited about the indoor/outdoor pool, the free continental breakfast or the mint that is left on their pillow, our team was content to stare at the walls. And stare we did all afternoon waiting to see if one of the boulders moved.
When we needed to give our eyes a rest, we spoke to the hotel staff about the possible existence of the roxopods. None of them hesitated to tell either of their personal encounters or the stories told to them by previous guests of the hotel. One story went so far as to claim that a brother and sister collected an entire bucket of sedimentipedes. However, their mother, thinking it was a bucket of rocks, made them leave it outside their room. In the morning, there was nothing left but an empty bucket.
The origin of the roxopod is not entirely clear but the hotel manager claims they were created by the construction workers who first built the lodge. As the story goes, during their lunch-breaks the workers would ease their boredom by gluing little pebbles to bugs with cement. They would place the bugs on the side of the newly constructed walls and bet on which bug would climb to the top the quickest.
It is not know how the roxopods developed after that. Some suggest that the bugs with the pebbles were stronger and more attractive to other bugs and that natural selection favored more rock-shaped creatures. Others suggest that some rocks of a more organic nature bonded to the bugs and that the story of the bored boulder builders is more fable than fact.
Becky, who has been carefully visually documenting the walls with her camera the entire afternoon, claims she has seen a difference in the rock patterns. However, our eyes are strained from seeking all afternoon and it's starting to get dark. We decided to call off the hunt, grab something to eat, and then head back to the mobile lab where we can better examine Becky's photographs.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Roxopods
Exploration: To seek out and find evidence of petro-based creatures know as roxopods.
Location: Mountain region: town of Black Rock
Probability of existence: Medium
Funding: Grant for two days. Possible extended funding based on return of factual evidence.
Day One:
Our team, consisting of nature photographer Becky Bernard, naturalist/artist Christian Gray, and myself, animal behaviorist Cole Saphone, touched down in the small mountain town of Black Rock this afternoon. Our mission, a one-night stay at the Black Rock Lodge, a motel composed mostly of granite walls and famous for their roxopod sightings.
The Black Rock Lodge
Roxopods is really a family of creatures having two sub species, sedimentipedes and granipillars. Sedimentipedes are usually longer and flatter than their cousins the granipillars, with sighting occurring on low rock piles. Granipillars are shorter and rounder. Most granipillars have been sighted clinging or crawling on steep, vertical rock walls. Since the Black Rock Lodge’s walls are created from boulders, our team’s focus will be fixed on finding granipillars.
Good location to hunt sedimentipedes
Exploration: To seek out and find evidence of petro-based creatures know as roxopods.
Location: Mountain region: town of Black Rock
Probability of existence: Medium
Funding: Grant for two days. Possible extended funding based on return of factual evidence.
Day One:
Our team, consisting of nature photographer Becky Bernard, naturalist/artist Christian Gray, and myself, animal behaviorist Cole Saphone, touched down in the small mountain town of Black Rock this afternoon. Our mission, a one-night stay at the Black Rock Lodge, a motel composed mostly of granite walls and famous for their roxopod sightings.
The Black Rock Lodge
Roxopods is really a family of creatures having two sub species, sedimentipedes and granipillars. Sedimentipedes are usually longer and flatter than their cousins the granipillars, with sighting occurring on low rock piles. Granipillars are shorter and rounder. Most granipillars have been sighted clinging or crawling on steep, vertical rock walls. Since the Black Rock Lodge’s walls are created from boulders, our team’s focus will be fixed on finding granipillars.
Good location to hunt sedimentipedes
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Pigrate Funding
Back at Dukerd University, the team and I are in tight negotiations with Professor Fumbleton in an effort to secure funding for another pigrate expedition. A recent email tip about the possible marketing of pigrate feet can only support our position.
Attached to the email was the following photo taken in a small coastal grocery store, apparently selling supposed pigrate parts.
If the claim is true, we could have a conservation crisis on our hands. Since there is no account of an accurate number of pigrates, we may have a store marketing parts of an animal that very well likely should be protected by the Endangered Species Act.
The negotiations seem to be going well and we are hopeful to receive funding for another expedition by mid to late July.
Back at Dukerd University, the team and I are in tight negotiations with Professor Fumbleton in an effort to secure funding for another pigrate expedition. A recent email tip about the possible marketing of pigrate feet can only support our position.
Attached to the email was the following photo taken in a small coastal grocery store, apparently selling supposed pigrate parts.
If the claim is true, we could have a conservation crisis on our hands. Since there is no account of an accurate number of pigrates, we may have a store marketing parts of an animal that very well likely should be protected by the Endangered Species Act.
The negotiations seem to be going well and we are hopeful to receive funding for another expedition by mid to late July.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Fork Bending
After watching a video about spoon bending by using the power of the mind, I have taken on this new and exciting hobby.
I must say I was pleasantly surprised with my newfound abilities. The fork used in this video is a real fork and pretty hard to bend, that is, without using a mind-bending technique.
After watching a video about spoon bending by using the power of the mind, I have taken on this new and exciting hobby.
I must say I was pleasantly surprised with my newfound abilities. The fork used in this video is a real fork and pretty hard to bend, that is, without using a mind-bending technique.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Rejection
This is an illustration I created for Picture-Bookies Showcase theme, Friends. But I got to tell you, it works just fine for this week's Illustration Friday word, Rejection.
click image to enlarge
Why, you might ask? Because, this is an illustration I created based on my chapter book manuscript, HOW TO MILK A DINOCOW. And that particular manuscript was just sent off for the thirteenth time (having been rejected twelve times). You can read about feeling lucky to find out more.
Or if you want to have some fun, visit the dinocow website to see this little puppy in action. Don't forget to click on the milk bottle!
This is an illustration I created for Picture-Bookies Showcase theme, Friends. But I got to tell you, it works just fine for this week's Illustration Friday word, Rejection.
click image to enlarge
Why, you might ask? Because, this is an illustration I created based on my chapter book manuscript, HOW TO MILK A DINOCOW. And that particular manuscript was just sent off for the thirteenth time (having been rejected twelve times). You can read about feeling lucky to find out more.
Or if you want to have some fun, visit the dinocow website to see this little puppy in action. Don't forget to click on the milk bottle!
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Bright Lights, Big Turtle
Here’s the problem. All the little turtles keep getting out of my pond. They get out of the pond, then they get out of the little fence around the pond, and then they get out of my yard. So I’m done with little turtles.
Not long ago, I helped a rather large snapper cross the road. Since that day I have been thinking about getting me one of those big snappers. So today, we went fishing and low and behold this fellow comes along. From the water to the net, from the net to the bucket and from the bucket... well, I put him/her back in the lake.
I’m not sure why. Maybe I didn’t think having a 2-foot snapping turtle in my yard was all that safe. Or maybe it smelled really terrible. Or maybe I just thought he/she would be happier swimming around a lake then some little pond in my yard.
So did I do the right thing? I could go back. This turtle was way cool. Big alligator feet and claws. Fast action neck with kung-fu jaws. But smelly. Did I mention smelly? Smelly.
Here’s the problem. All the little turtles keep getting out of my pond. They get out of the pond, then they get out of the little fence around the pond, and then they get out of my yard. So I’m done with little turtles.
Not long ago, I helped a rather large snapper cross the road. Since that day I have been thinking about getting me one of those big snappers. So today, we went fishing and low and behold this fellow comes along. From the water to the net, from the net to the bucket and from the bucket... well, I put him/her back in the lake.
I’m not sure why. Maybe I didn’t think having a 2-foot snapping turtle in my yard was all that safe. Or maybe it smelled really terrible. Or maybe I just thought he/she would be happier swimming around a lake then some little pond in my yard.
So did I do the right thing? I could go back. This turtle was way cool. Big alligator feet and claws. Fast action neck with kung-fu jaws. But smelly. Did I mention smelly? Smelly.
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