brushed with chocolate...?

wanders in

looks at peacefully sleeping thread

wanders back out to insomnia land.

The ultimate in mating displays. ::waits for billytea to show up and contradict him::

There are so many criteria to decide which mating display should be the ultimate. There are those by which it would be the peacock. I think some of the birds of paradise offer more beautiful displays myself; and my tastes really run more to the charming absurdity of the blue-footed booby. But I think I shall declare the peacock to be the ultimate lekker. His display is undeniably remarkable; more than that, I can't think of another animal whose commitment to the laydeez is more detrimental to his own chances of survival. His display isn't just beautiful, it's also a real bugger to carry around. Imagine trying to escape a hungry tiger with that trailing behind you. (Peacocks moult their trains after the breeding season.)

Of course, this means that the display is not just major fabulosity, it's also a reliable signal of fitness. Surviving with one puts a bird a cut above the rest. (In addition, a parasite- or disease-ridden bird will have their condition make itself known in the train, through dullness, scruffiness or asymmetry.)

I tell a lie, however. The male with the greatest disregard for his own safety is the redback spider. As with many other species of spider, the female eats the male after mating if she can. The male redback, however, doesn't try to escape; he actually somersaults into the female's jaws, throwing other males out of the way if necessary. Indeed, to reach the female's genitalia, he has to. So perhaps I must qualify that the peacock is the animal most reckless with his own safety without actually having a death-wish.

Other thoughts: I have been COMM'd for the mating habits of the octopus, the blue-footed booby, the antechinus and the echidna. But never the peacock.

And see? Now I feel better. Hee. Antechinus.

Hi billytea!

Argh. It's nearly 4, and I'm still awake. Stupid insomnia.

Heh. Bird sex. And it's only six a.m. Yay!

I told the boy to wake me for Deb's segment this morning and he wanted to make sure I was up early for it. He's very thoughtful that way.

I have not yet slept tonight (this morning?) because I was out way WAY past my bedtime with Victor and Lea and had a ton of fun. I did, however, apparantly miss a helluva a lot of messages for me today, so my apologies if you tried to reach me and I wasn't around.

Also, {{{{{{Cass}}}}}}}. I'll be around tomorrow evening if you want to talk, hon.

And P-C:

I missed you, blondie.

Missed you too, sweetie!

I'm jealous of Kristin getting to hang with Victor and Lea. But, they belong to me on Saturday, so I guess we'll be even.

I want Deb to be on tv. I don't want to be up (stupid period!), but if I'm gonna be up, I might as well do something fun.

I know, vw! I'm guessing maybe the first half of the show is newsy and the second half is more fun?

Also, gronk.

This tsunami stuff is depressing me.

Yeah. Also, hugs to California and that poor dude who keeps getting rescued with no pants.