Green Pornos

So. I was just reading about this series on Paste Magazine's website. I haven't watched it yet (I'm at work, as usual), but it sounds... intriguing?

"Green Porno focuses on the mating habits of various animals. Each short begins with Rossellini’s simple statement of, “If I were a mantis,” or, “If I were a starfish,” before quickly jumping directly into how her genitals would work in each case, what her turn-ons would be, and, with surprising frequentcy, how exactly she would defecate. Rossellini herself acts out each of these in a stunning handmade animal costume, mating with a giant prop partner and then ending abruptly when the act is finished. This brief description doesn’t do the series nearly the justice it deserves, though. Suffice it to say, if you wish to see Rossellini dressed as a snail crapping on her own head, these are the videos for you. And if, like the other 99.999% of the population, you never would’ve conceived of such a thing, there's a chance you’ll probably still want to check out the series."

Nature as art

Live From the Backyard

There I was, minding my own business, watering the few plants I recently planted, thinking that I really hope they survive when out of nowhere a large bird swooped down just behind me and into the tree in our neighbor's yard. There was a ruckus and a bunch of smaller birds instantly flew out of the tree in all directions. Then, the big bird flew back nonchalantly up and over our roof. I was like, what the--?? but it was over before I even pieced it together: I am sure he had been perched on our roof hunting the tree full of birds. And he certainly didn't let some person who interrupted by pulling out a garden hose get in the way!

It is just funny to imagine it from a bird's eye view: "There's the tree full of prey. Wait, what's that? Oh, right: a human. But why does it have a nest on its head? Anyways, back to the prey. Three... two... one... BLAST OFF!"

BTW, I have identified the bird as a Cooper's hawk. He was slate-colored with horizontal stripes across the tail.

New Species Discovered: A Sign of Global Warming?

I was watering in our front yard at dusk when I spotted a hummingbird drinking nectar from our flowers. I ran to get my camera and took several shots, then zoomed in to see this:










ECH! It's some sort of alien-mutant BUG! Which is cool and all, but doesn't give you the warm fuzzies like seeing a hummingbird would. Has anyone seen anything like this?

Also, I need glasses.

UPDATE: it's a nessus sphinx