good news is, well, good.

That Joseph Gordon-Levitt thing is awesome. More celebrities should totally do that.

sara, insent.

Yay! Chicago has its first ever Komodo dragon!

[link]

As a representative of the Komodos, which have been known to eat the occasional human, Faust is the star of a temporary lizard exhibit that will open April 8 at the Shedd. It features more than 25 species of lizards from around the world, ranging in bulk from the sleek, muscular, lime-green beauty of Faust down to tiny geckos the size of a pinky finger.

In between lies an impressive array of green tree monitors, caiman lizards, Gila monsters and the world's longest lizard, the crocodile monitor, which can be as long as 15 feet.

Crocodile monitors may grow longer than Komodos, but they are no match for them in bulk or strength. A full-grown Komodo lizard, with its rancid, razor-sharp teeth, can pull down a 1,000-pound water buffalo and kill it.

The Komodo is also one of nature's great gluttons, able to eat up to 80 percent of its body weight in a single sitting, so that a mature, 200-pound male might balloon out to 360 pounds in a matter of hours.

...

In the wild, it is a fierce killer, patiently hiding along forest trails for passing prey, especially deer. It waits until the animal passes, then rushes out in a 12 m.p.h. burst, its powerful jaws snapping at the prey's rear legs.

It then will go for the stomach, using its teeth to open the animal up and let it bleed to death. If the animal's skin was broken by the Komodo's bite, it usually dies even if it manages to escape.

"There is always a lot of lot of rotting flesh stuck in their teeth from their last meal, so their bite is full of deadly bacteria," said Owczarzak, "and anything it bites usually dies from infection."

The Komodo eats every part of its prey--hooves, fur, teeth, everything except for the contents of the prey's stomach and intestines. But it vigorously shakes those organs until they are emptied so that it can eat the organ tissue.

yesterday I got three bunches of tulips for ten bucks. Bright sunny yellow, a gorgeous almsot fuschia pink, and this bright orange-red. Broke them up into two vases, one in the kitchen, one in my bedroom/living room. That and the orchids from Kat and lori have made my apartment so cheery and spring-like that it's just hard to leave and go to the institutional walls of work.

The Komodo eats every part of its prey--hooves, fur, teeth, everything except for the contents of the prey's stomach and intestines. But it vigorously shakes those organs until they are emptied so that it can eat the organ tissue.

Just like a Dimetrodon from 280 million years ago. (At least according to the BBC? program I saw, I don't know how they determined that behavior)

(At least according to the BBC? program I saw, I don't know how they determined that behavior)

Well, if it was the BBC they could just borrow the Tardis....

Seekrit Message for Frankenbuddha

Thanks! Seekrit natter back: Now I know why I never came across it - it's pretty much in North Beverly. I rarely make it farther than the point where Cabot and Rantoul intersect. Although I must have been past it a few times since it's on 1A and that's my scenic tour back from Northern Mass (when I had a car).

"There is always a lot of lot of rotting flesh stuck in their teeth from their last meal, so their bite is full of deadly bacteria," said Owczarzak, "and anything it bites usually dies from infection."

Anything but another dragon. Years ago my dad knew a guy who was studying them to figure out why they were immune to all the ick in their saliva. And, presumably, to see if it could be applied to human infections.

Not literally; that would be hideous.

Happy Birthday, libkitty!

Gronk. I've already been at work almost an hour. Dang, I hate days when Paul has to go in early. Time to hit the coffee machine.

Meanwhile, Lillian: [link]

Is that J G-L stuff real? Because it's awesome.

Happy birthday, libkitty!

When I move it doesn't tingle so much. Not conducive to falling asleep, but it's something.

Maybe you should try Rio's perpectual-motion machine?

Becuase we have to vote where we're registered, and both me and my siser are still registered at my parents' address, we got to meet there

This just makes me think of Joseph and Mary, sorry.

ION, EEE EEE EEE! I applied for a job yesterday, was slightly concerned that my cover letter wasn't great, but figured better sent than not, AND I felt like I asked for a zillion dollars (they asked for salary requirements, and it was based on research, but still). ANYWAY, the point is, I got an email back already that said:

I was very impressed with your background and experience as it would serve us in our current vacancy

EEE EEE EEE! It went on to say that they're really busy with a conference and stuff this week, but hope I'll be patient and they'll get back to me next week. I like them already!!!