The Water Boatman Sings with Its Wang

Scientists have determined that the tiny water boatman insect (Micronecta scholtzi) is the loudest animal on earth -- and it makes its ultra-loud noise with its penis!

The water boatman, measuring a mere 2mm or so, makes its noise by stridulation -- which simply means rubbing one body part against another to create a sound. In the case of the tiny water boatman, the noise is made by rubbing its penis against its ridged abdomen. The sound measures in at a whopping 78.9dB, which is approximately as loud as a passing freight train! While the stridulation of the water boatman is audible to human ears, 99% of the sound is lost in the transference from water to air, as the water boatman spends its time underwater.

Most of the loudest animals are also the largest, including the blue whale and the elephant, but when the water boatman's body size is taken into account, it is the loudest creature on the planet.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Spontaneous Human Combustion in Literature: Herman Melville

Herman Melville is best known for his work, Moby Dick.  Like much of Melville's work, Moby Dick was loosely based on a true story.  The same holds for his 1849 book, Redburn.  However, in the latter, Melville employs a popular trope of the time when a drunken, shanghaied sailor falls prey to spontaneous human combustion:

...two threads of greenish fire, like a forked tongue, darted out between the lips and in a moment, the cadaverous face was covered by a swarm of wormlike flames... [the body] burned before us, precisely like a phosphorescent shark in a midnight sea.

While some historians have questioned whether or not Herman Melville actually witnessed a case of spontaneous human combustion, the excerpt proves rather tellingly that he probably did not.  It was a common belief of the time that only drunks could succumb to such a demise, and the meme appears throughout the literature of the era.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

The Ghastly Red Bus of Ladbroke Grove

Following yet another fatal accident near the Ladbroke Grove underground station in North Kensington, London in the 1930s, the coroner decided to investigate.  He discovered that dozens of local motorists reported having seen a red, double-decker bus careening around the corner of St. Mark's Road onto Cambridge Gardens.  Time and again, drivers reported swerving to avoid this bus -- sans passengers or crew -- that would come flailing around the corner... then simply vanish!

There had been hundreds of accidents at the North Kensington corner, several of which included fatalities.  At least one motorist who had driven his car onto the sidewalk to avoid the mysterious red bus testified in court as to having seen it... and having seen it vanish.  He confirmed that "...the headlights were full on but I could see no sign of crew or passengers."

Eventually, the local council straightened the road and the number of accidents, and fatalities, fell dramatically.  The phantom red bus was never seen again.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

American Zoos Attract Visitors with Overnight Stays

Many zoos throughout America are attracting visitors, young and old, with overnight stays. Zoo officials and visitors agree that the experience is quite different from visiting the zoo during normal business hours, as well as educational. Visitors get to see the animals' nocturnal habits and "have the zoo to [themselves]," as one visitor put it.

The Denver Zoo has been running a nocturnal program since 1998, often tailored to the group's overnight package -- such as birthday, Scout badges, and so on. A midnight snack is provided, as is breakfast, and in some cases, nightvision goggles.

Zoos attract about 2 million visitors per year.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Another "New" PC

I have "new" in quotes because it's actually a refurbished machine I bought off of eBay, but it's new to me. I bought it after lightning struck the house Saturday and destroyed my brand new HP-Pavilion, which HP then refused to repair because it was an "Act of God." Needless to say, I won't be purchasing anything else from Wal-Mart or HP.

I'm still getting it up and going, and I have to try to slave the old hard drive to it later today to save myself $50-100.00; otherwise, I'll take it to the local computer shop to have them do a data transfer.

I'll be posting along the way.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Man Updates Facebook During Standoff

A known Utah criminal managed to keep friends and family members updated via Facebook during a tense 16-hour standoff in a motel room. Jason Valdez held a woman hostage while SWAT team members waited outside his motel room. Valdez apparently continued to update his Facebook profile during the standoff and even received helpful tips from Friends following the ordeal.

When SWAT stormed the motel room, Valdez shot himself in the chest. He is listed in critical condition.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

STILL Storming!!!

That title looks like some soccer mom's Facebook status update, huh? Well, it's the truth. In fact, storms knocked-out the power in much of the surrounding area over the weekend through yesterday (Monday), as well as Internet and phone connectivity. The same storm also killed one of my phonelines, my DSL modem, and the motherboard on my brand new computer.

For those of you keeping score, that is the third computer I've lost to lightning/lightning-related incidents since I moved to my current residence. It's definitely atmospheric, as the node for the entire region is just about two miles down the road and the entire Web goes down almost everytime my house does. However, I have one of those towering TV antennae on my house, as do a lot of people around here. I'm having mine taken down...

I don't know what the real cause is, but there are certain areas that retain mist and fog as well, so I'm convinced it's atmospheric in nature. The soil itself may be so mineral-rich that it just attracts ground lightning, though that seems a little far-fetched and possibly even simplistic. The truth is that I do not know enough about this sort of thing to say, but it would be far more interesting if it didn't cost so much and use-up so many PCs!

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Moms No Longer Needed

Chinese scientists have produced genetically-modified cattle capable of producing milk that is nearly identical to human breast milk, but sweeter. The experiment started in 2003 and there are now some 300 genetically-modified cattle delivering calves weekly. The company behind the project hopes to have product on the market within three years.

China recently suffered a rash of scandals involving tainted milk powder that affected over 300,000 young children and killed at least six. At least one person was executed.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Technical

They're working on the phonelines this morning. I expect it to be completed by the mid-morning/early afternoon. I'm not sure if I will be posting today or not. Thanks!

© C Harris Lynn, 2011