Zoo Chimps' Mental Health Affected by Captivity

"Many chimpanzees housed in zoos show abnormal behavior that suggest mental illness, according to a new PLoS One study.

The documented behaviors, which included self-mutilation, repetitive rocking, and consumption of feces, are symptoms of compromised mental health in humans, and are not seen in wild chimpanzees, the authors say. The study found that even chimps at very well regarded zoos displayed the disturbing behaviors."
via Discovery News / continue reading

Snowball the dancing cockatoo whose sense of rhythm has amazed scientists

Snowball is a phenomenon because he is the first non-human animal documented as dancing to a synchronised beat.

Like it or Unfriend It

Op-Art: Like it or Unfriend It - Graphic - NYTimes.com /more

Vicious police dog.

Imgur

Where's Sarko?

"They seek him here; they seek him there. Now, French comic book fans can find Nicolas Sarkozy in all sorts of familiar places.

A new book, Où est Sarko? (Where is Sarko?) has captured some of the key moments of his presidency. Based on the Where's Wally? - for some reason known as Où est Charlie? in France - the book caricatures not just Sarkozy's habit of micro-managing the country, but his knack of appearing to be in several places at the same time."
French omnipresident gets comic book treatment | World news | The Guardian/continue reading

Monkey steals camera to snap himself

 "A cheeky monkey stole a camera from a photographer before snapping himself in a variety of vain poses."
read more

Randy Halverson's pictures of the Milky Way in the sky above America's Mid-West

"Photographer Randy Halverson captures the rural heartland of the American Mid-West against the backdrop of the Milky Way."
more here

Project Nim : A chimp raised like a human

Nim Chimpsky (Image: Harry Benson)

"Poor old Carolyn. Six of her previous babies have been taken away from her, and, as this film opens, men are coming to take her seventh. Her son, a chimpanzee named Nim, is two weeks old and is about to be transplanted from his birthplace at a primate research centre in Oklahoma into - wait for it - a large brownstone on the upper west side of Manhattan. There he will live with a human family and be raised as a human child.

Thus begins the stranger than fiction true story that's explored in James March's new documentary, Project Nim.

What on earth were they thinking of?"
via CultureLab / continue reading

Bald Eagle Soars to Freedom on July 4th

"Einstein," an adult bald eagle, is now soaring over America after his release July 4th from the University of Missouri's Raptor Rehabilitation Project, where the once-ailing bird underwent treatment.

The bald eagle is the national bird of the U.S., serving as an important symbol for the country's strength, wisdom, and freedom. It is even front and center on the seal of the President of the United States.
Einstein may be oblivious to all of the Independence Day pomp and circumstance, but his caretakers recognize how important it is to see healthy eagles flying free, particularly on this important holiday.
via Discovery News/continue reading

A prickly Spiny Devil Katydid stares at the camera.

British photographer Chris Mattison spotted the bizarre creature while leading a wildlife tour in Ecuador.

5 Historic Happenings on July 4th (Besides America's Independence)

See what other historic events share their anniversary with Independence Day.

The history of the Nasa Space Shuttle in pictures

 "The US space shuttle Atlantis is set to blast off on Tuesday on the final shuttle mission to the International Space Station. Discovery ended its final mission in March, and Endeavour flew its last mission in May."
via Telegraph /more

Housefly Grim Reaper

 By Dan Piraro

Watch an Amazing Short Film—Shot on a Cell Phone

Splitscreen: A Love Story from JW Griffiths on Vimeo.
via Slate

Hemingway, Hounded by the Feds

Henrik Drescher

"Early one morning, 50 years ago today, while his wife, Mary, slept upstairs, Ernest Hemingway went into the vestibule of his Ketchum, Idaho, house, selected his favorite shotgun from the rack, inserted shells into its chambers and ended his life.
There were many differing explanations at the time: that he had terminal cancer or money problems, that it was an accident, that he’d quarreled with Mary. None were true."
By A. E. HOTCHNER NYTimes.com/continue reading

Sometimes I just wonder, where's all the love gone?

Muammar Gaddafi threatens European 'homes, offices, families'

 "A defiant Muammar Gaddafi has threatened to bring war to the 'homes, offices, families,' of Europe unless Nato stops airstrikes against his regime in Libya.

The Libyan leader, facing an international arrest warrant for his brutal response to the rebel uprising, delivered the warning of vengeance in an audio message played to thousands of supporters in Tripoli's Green Square."
via The Guardian/continue reading

Water levitated by Tibetan singing bowls

Tibetan singing bowls, ancient instruments used for meditation, can be manipulated to produce droplets that levitate, bounce and skip across water.

When one adds water to a Tibetan singing bowl and plays – often by tracing the edge with a mallet – the bowl's haunting sound is accompanied by ripples on the water's surface. That's because the mallet pushes on the side of the bowl – made from bronze alloy that is more malleable than glass – and deforms it on a microscopic scale.

The deformation pushes on the air and the water, forming waves. The air waves are sound; the water waves race around the ring. If they are sufficiently excited, the waves break and eject droplets. The same happens in a wine glass, though at higher resonant frequencies.
 New Scientist

Phil Bergerson's Shards of America

Phil Bergerson’s book Shards of America explores the culture of the United States through an investigation of it’s streets. In twenty years of road trips across America, Bergerson photographed window displays, everyday objects and street scenes in a formalistic, documentary style. The resulting book is a unique look at the things that make up American society. TIME spoke with Bergerson as he is working on his second book, Sublime Encounters, to discuss his process and inspiration.

Sorry pup, but no paws allowed on the couch.

via reddit

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

Business Men

 "A popular airline recently introduced a special half rate fare for wives who accompanied their husbands on business trips.

Expecting great feedback, the company sent out letters to all the wives of businessmen who had used the special rates, asking how they enjoyed their trip.

Letters are still pouring in asking, 'What trip?'"

Well - at least they didn't eat him.

The dog had colour added to its fur to look like a baby panda in a craze sweeping China.

Redhead

 "After their baby was born, the panicked father went to see the Obstetrician.

'Doctor,' the man said, 'I don't mind telling you, but I'm a little upset because my daughter has red hair. She can't possibly be mine!'

'Nonsense,' the doctor said.

'Even though you and your wife both have black hair, one of your ancestors may have contributed red hair to the gene pool.'

'It isn't possible,' the man insisted, 'This can't be, our families on both sides had jet-black hair for generations.'

'Well,' said the doctor, 'let me ask you this. How often do you have sex?'

The man seemed a bit ashamed. 'I've been working very hard for the past year. We only made love once or twice every few months.'

'Well, there you have it,' the doctor said confidently. 'It's rust!'"

Jesus

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Young Jonah rocks out to Pantera

Rosalea

 "Rosalea, a three-month-old wombat, is cared for at the Native Animal Trust Fund Wildlife Rescue Service in Cessnock, Australia. Rosalea was orphaned when her mother was hit by a car near Cessnock in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales."
Telegraph

Future FB Addict

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