the most deplorable event in the history of American ornithology
I love that there's a ranking for this.
Willow: Happy hunting. Buffy: Wish me monsters.
'Beneath You'
Natter 41: Why Do I Click on ita's Links?!
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
Jessica - Jan 06, 2006 9:10:15 am PST #8227 of 10002
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
Betsy HP - Jan 06, 2006 9:15:22 am PST #8228 of 10002
If I only had a brain...
Was the passenger pigeon dead by 1903? Because that ought to be number 1.
Frankenbuddha - Jan 06, 2006 9:15:42 am PST #8229 of 10002
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"
In 1903, W.L. Dawson wrote "Without question the most deplorable event in the history of American ornithology was the introduction of the English Sparrow."
Yes, but what would we have done without all those coconuts?
Who said anything about doing without? The swallows brought the coconuts.
Gudanov - Jan 06, 2006 9:18:32 am PST #8230 of 10002
Coding and Sleeping
And I believe it was African swallows that did the coconut carrying, not European swallows.
§ ita § - Jan 06, 2006 9:24:44 am PST #8231 of 10002
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
Nutty - Jan 06, 2006 9:28:02 am PST #8232 of 10002
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."
The passenger pigeon officially went out at the beginning of WWI -- 1914, not 1903. But that means there were like twelve of them left by then.
I'll not soon forget the radio expedition I heard, where the birders were in search of that recently-rediscovered (maybe) woodpecker in Arkansas, and burst into joyful tears at hearing its (somewhat-disputed) call. I've never felt about a bird that way, but it pleases me that somebody does.
Kathy A - Jan 06, 2006 9:36:20 am PST #8233 of 10002
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil
The Cincinatti zoo still has the little building where the last known passenger pigeon died, with a plaque explaining its significance in front (I had to explain how tragic the extinction of the species was to my mom and brother).
§ ita § - Jan 06, 2006 9:39:55 am PST #8234 of 10002
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
Sushi. I'm going to have sushi for lunch, and read Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell while I do so. I've been meaning to have this lunch all week and got distracted.
Betsy HP - Jan 06, 2006 9:49:11 am PST #8235 of 10002
If I only had a brain...
Can somebody explain the whole "dive bar" fad to me? For the longest time, I thought it was a bar where SCUBA fans hung out. What makes it a dive bar? What's cool about it?
DavidS - Jan 06, 2006 9:49:24 am PST #8236 of 10002
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
I love the monkey brothel and the vacuum tormenting starling.