Japanese researchers get the first snapshots of Architeuthis dux, the giant squid. They also show that the squid are not just bovine denizens of the deep, waiting for some Sperm whale to come by and eat them. Like anyone really thought that, anyway. This news story was the first time I had ever heard the theory that architeuthis was "sluggish."
Happy hunting architeuthis. And don't worry kids, the tentacle will grow back.
In the post-Katrina nation, I've been oft contemplating my own preparedness for a big distaster. I live in an area that's prone to earthquakes, within 100 miles of two active volcanoes, and prone to extremely catastrophic floods, so I have reason to think about it. I do have an "earthquake kit," which closely resembles my "car camping kit," but it's there. But like so many people, I'm really seeing that the key to surviving a disaster isn't having 3-days worth of water and some Neosporin, it's knowing what to do and where to go. Which is making me nostalic for the old cold-war concept of Civil Defense.
I remember when I was in junior high and started really noticing all the Fallout Shelter signs around my school. I was already living with constant dread of nuclear war (I lived near two major nuclear targets at the time, and it was the 80s). And then I started noticing this really nice logo on a lot of them. I don't know who filled me in about what CD was, but I do remember that it was the first time a good logo has made me want to know more. Eventually I found out that they had a lot of really great posters too.
OK, so I can get uptight about public design from time to time, but two months ago, could anyone even vaguely picture the FEMA logo? Or remember a single emergency prepareness PSA? And it wasn't just good graphic design that made CD such a powerful institution, they were visible and they organized locally. I know, the Cold War is over and we're not practicing "duck and cover" drills anymore, but maybe we should continue to have a more regular program for readiness. Oh yeah, they already tried that, and you know why it was the laughing stock of the nation? Poor graphic design.
If you want to give some money to the most helpless and overlooked victims of Katrina, think about the Louisiana SPCA. They moved all the animals in their shelter to Houston before the storm (can't wait to see that episode of Animal Cops). But now there are thousands of stray pets, sick, injured, tired, frightened and hungry, all around the Gulf Coast. They will need to be rescued, treated, fed and sheltered, probably for months, and the Louisiana SPCA are probably doing most of the work. And, from what I can tell from MapQuest, their facility is underwater.
Kudos to the Oregon Humane Society for sending some teams with food and rescue gear.