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The Unforgettable Shoebill.

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Greetings. Balaeniceps rex, also known as the Shoebill, is a large long-legged wading bird. It derives its name from its distinctive, enormous shoe-shaped bill. It has a somewhat stork-like physical appearance and has previously been classified with the storks in the order Ciconiiformes based on this morphology. However, new genetic evidence places it with pelicans and herons in the Pelecaniformes. The species lives in tropical East Africa in large swampy environments from South Sudan to Zambia. The shoebill is a tall bird, with a typical height range of between 110 to 140 centimeters, some specimens reaching as much as 152 centimeters in height. Length from tail to beak can range from 100 to 140 centimeters, with wingspans ranging from 230 to 260 centimeters. Adults weigh from 4 to 7 kilograms. A male shoebill will weigh on average around 5.6 kilograms, as opposed to the typical female weight of 4.9 kilograms. The signature feature of the species is its huge, bulbous bill, which is st...
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Robbinsville Re-Revisited: Inquiries Unanswered, Illusions of Accomplishment Perpetuated.

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Peter Robbins. A UFO celebrity that does not hold a scientific degree in any discipline, yet is viewed by many in the UFO subculture as an accomplished individual. Why?  Let's take another look at this particular little blot on the ufological landscape.  Mr. Robbins' biography, as it appears on his website http://peterrobbinsny.com/ is as follows. Be sure to pull up a chair for the ride, it is a long and self-aggrandizing journey. "Peter Robbins is an investigative writer, author and lecturer whose writing and research are focused on the subject of truly anomalous UFOs and their implications for humanity. He has appeared as a guest on and been consultant to numerous radio shows, television programs and documentaries. Lecture topics include but are not been limited to: Media, Ridicule and UFOs: The Origins of UFO Ridicule Politics, History and Human Nature: Roadblocks on the Path to Disclosure Comets, Cults and Fundamentalist Thinking: A UFO Related Cautionary Tale Little ...
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A Pliocene Survivor, Melursus Ursinus.

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Greetings. Known as the sloth bear, Melursus ursinus is the oldest species of bear to have appeared in the fossil record that is still in existence. The species is native to the Indian subcontinent and is the sole representative of the ancient genus Melursus.  Substantially slimmer than brown bears, sloth bears are omnivorous mammals, with characteristics similar to other insectivores. The species arose in the Pliocene, approximately 5.3 million years ago, and has survived various environmental changes during its time in existence, making it a tough and highly adaptable animal. Sloth bears have shaggy coats, a maned face, and impressively long sickle claws on their paws, particularly their forepaws. Remains of the species date back to the Pliocene Epoch, which supports an evolutionary divergence from other extinct species of bear prior to the appearance of modern bear species, some of which appeared during the Late Pleistocene. Adult males of the species weigh about 145 kilograms, ...
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