Archive for May 2010

Creative Animal Grooming…

May 10, 2010

– – I’ve always thought that dogs should look like canines, and cats felines.  I enjoy being vulpine.  Some weird and wild styles, however,  have been showcased at creative grooming shows, a subset of dog grooming and dog shows that largely feature poodles cut and styled to resemble almost anything, including giraffes and horses.  It takes about two hours for the “transformation” to be completed.

Some view this kind of thing as cute and fun, while others regard it as humiliating, degrading, and abusive to animals.  If I were the canine in question, I’d be profoundly embarrassed, and probably need years of therapy…

Life Imitating Art…

May 7, 2010

– – Attired in a full Spider-Man costume, the  owner of a comic book store in Australia spotted a would-be thief attempting to pocket a costly X-Men item and depart the premises.  The costumed 45-year-old Spidey-wannabe confronted the man, and demanded that he hand over the item, shouting to a group of 40 other costumed customers (including Jedi knights and the Flash) to block the door...the collected superheroes then called the police!

…that’s what I call a real Marvel!

Giving the Devil His Due…

May 6, 2010

– – Stories of the Jersey Devil have been in oral circulation since 1735, making it possibly the oldest reported “monster” in America.  Two schools of thought exist about the creature, one holding that it is truly supernatural…the “son of the devil,” as suggested by the original Mother Leeds account.  A second explanation for the creature holds that it is some sort of mutated animal that has not yet been identified by science.  Supporting this latter contention is the fact that the Pine Barrens location reported as the Devil’s stomping grounds has been known to have produced genetic malformations in reptiles and mammals, including humans, possibly due to heavy metal or other mineral deposits. Some abnormalities afflicting animals in this location have included odd colorations, extra appendages, and even extra heads.

Native Americans in petroglyphs, some dating back thousands of years, depicted an entity that has reptilian features.  In spite of this and the extensive oral history, the Jersey Devil has been treated satirically, making many reluctant to step forward with their beliefs due to fear of ridicule.  More serious study and treatment of the Jersey Devil may be fostered by a recently opened exhibit at the Paranormal Museum in Asbury Park, N.J. that features a variety of artifacts, including reproductions of a supposed Jersey Devil skull, drawings, and other artifacts.

Despite the lack of hard evidence, the Pinelands area of New Jersey covers more than a million acres…a perfect environment for an unknown animal to hide in!

Metal Dinos!

May 4, 2010

– – In Finland, Barney meets heavy metal in Hevisaurus, a group of long-haired costumed reptiles in leather and spiked bracelets who perform largely to  kiddie audiences.   Billed as the world’s only Jurassic metal band, the five performers wear elaborate costumes made of reindeer skin dyed to look green and treated to look scaly.

Metal music has gone mainstream in Finland, and is even played in churches...and if they meet Barney, I think he’ll be extinct…

Gumby, Asian-Style?

May 2, 2010

– – The Shanghai Expo, the largest world’s fair ever, opened today with a mascot, Haibao, who appears to bear more than a passing resemblance to the iconic American character, Gumby. The two figures are shown side-by-side here for your consideration…

The Taiwanese creator of Haibao denies having seen Gumby before creating the mascot.- – Is this some kind of hybrid love-child between Gumby and the genie of Aladdin? Perhaps Pokey the horse could render a judgement…