Whale go BOOM! Here's a scenario for you: It's Thursday, November 12, 1970. You're in Lane County, Oregon, and decide to get a start on the weekend by spending a delightful afternoon in the lovely little coastal town of Florence. Perhaps you're with that special someone, hand-in-hand, taking that clichéd "walk along the beach." You notice there's a bit of a funny smell in the air -- something like rotting fish -- but it's not enough to deter your enjoyment. Suddenly, in the middle distance, you hear a mysterious explosion. "That's odd," you think. "What could be blowing up?" Sand begins to rain down on you; an odd sensation, but not unpleasurable. But then you start to notice that that "sand" is way too icky, sticky, gooey -- and smelly -- to be merely sand. You're no expert, but you have a sickening sense that those gelatinous bits that are suddenly covering your body aren't jelly, either. What you've managed to luck into is the day the Oregon Department of Transportation tried to dispose of an eight-ton sperm whale that had washed ashore on the Florence beach. Having little experience with dead cetaceans, the wise authorities of the State Highway Division decided that the best way to get rid of a rotting whale carcass was not to bury it in the sand or to tow it away. No, their solution was to take a half-ton of dynamite and blow the poor creature's remains sky high. The idea was that the whale would be rendered into bite-sized pieces, providing local carrion-eaters with meals for weeks and saving the state a bundle of dough in disposal charges. Unfortunately, that plan of attack didn't go so well. Instead of disintegrating the blubbery blob, the explosion left the whale mostly intact, while hurtling whale parts up to a quarter mile from "ground blubber." Lucky spectators found themselves speckled with cetacean bits, chunks landed perilously close to nearby buildings, and one massive fleshy piece crushed a car. The story remained something of a local legend for two decades, until columnist Dave Barry wrote about the incident. While many dismissed the story as merely an urban legend, Barry was able to prove the story happened through the use of one of the many video clips that, in the intervening years, have become available on the Internet. In the nearly four decades since the event, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has changed its whale-disposal policy: they no longer blow them up. They either bury the whales where they land, or "relocate" them to another beach. It's a shame, though, because you really can't watch a video like this too many times. Suggested Sites... The Exploding Whale - the title really says it all. The Infamous Exploding Whale - putting Oregon on the map. NPR: Reporter Tells Story of Exploding Whale, Again - Paul Linnman recounts the day blubber fell from the sky. You Tube: Exploding Whales - who knew there were so many of them? Wikipedia: Exploding Whale - background on the earth-shaking event.

Directory categories: Whales, Urban Legends, Explosives, Demolition, Florence, Oregon

Archived under: 1970s, Animals, Anniversaries, Beaches, Flops, Marine Biology, Urban Legends, Videos, Weird Stuff, Whales, Wildlife

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Benicio del Toro as "The Wolfman" (Photo from Yahoo! Movies) The frenzy is beginning to pick up for "New Moon," the first sequel in the immensely popular Twilight series, which is set for release on November 20. This time around werewolves get some facetime; vampires, apparently, aren't the only ones who can be angsty. Werewolves making an appearance in a vampire series -- how appropriate. Werewolves are those classic monsters that, these days, only find themselves as interesting tangents in a story arc focused on other, more attractive, denizens of the dark underworld. Rarely are they centerstage ("An American Werewolf in London," "Ginger Snaps," "Blood and Chocolate," "The Howling"). Today there is deluge of books and movies populated by either sexy vampires or grotesque zombies: the stars of the horror scene. This is a world where werewolves find themselves desperately snapping at the scraps of side characters and tangential plotlines But it was not always this way. The werewolf, believe it or not, might just be our oldest nemesis. Maybe in our modern, urban lives we have distanced ourselves from a time when nightfall did not signal the start of fervent activity out on the town or comfort on the couch. There was a time when nightfall meant only a feeble campfire and the gathered darkness of unknown wilderness all around us. It was a time when only the howling of some distant wolf pack could be heard from within the protective warmth of our campfires. Even then we had dogs. But they must have also trembled, like their masters, at the sound of their wilder, more dominant cousins. Maybe this is one of the reasons for man's deep (some would say primal) fear and hatred of these animals. We kept the docile ones that would obey us and seek our affection. Wolves represent their evil doppelganger: the violent, untameable side of animal and man alike. For that the wolf has become a legendary figure of evil, like the great Norse wolf Fenrisulfr. And from legends such as these came the werewolf. The legend of the Wolf of Magdeburg and the real-life Beast of Gevaudan, among other legends, were precursors to our modern ideas of what it means to be a werewolf. Vampires get a lot of attention and they love it. They mope about to the strains of depressing emo music, complain about their superpowers, and strike modelesque poses at every opportunity. Werewolves have none of that. They get right to the point of blood and gore. No emo music: it's all thrash metal and ripping out throats. To illustrate: in the opening scene of the movie "Silver Bullet" there is no lengthy dialogue, no make-out scene, just a werewolf decapitating a man. That's what werewolves are all about, and that's why they deserve a return to the spotlight. Suggested Sites... Werewolves.com - tons of werewolf-related goodies. Wolf Country - learn about wolves, listen to them howl, watch them in action. Werewolf Movies - learn what's happening in the world of werewolf movies. New Moon Official Site - get your Twilight jollies here. The Wolfman - Benicio del Toro dons the fake fur in this 2010 take on the classic monster movie.

Directory categories: Werewolves, Wolves, Horror Movies, Full Moon Superstitions, Folklore

Archived under: Animals, Horror, Monsters and Creatures, Movies, Mythology and Folklore, Vampires, Werewolves

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(Photo by Jason Meredith) Back in the good ol' days, county and state fairs celebrated a region's agricultural achievements and drew folks in from the fields for a day of fun. Even though fewer of us live on farms nowadays, a day at the fair is still one heck of an occasion. As soon as you arrive on the midway, that unmistakable smell hits you: equal parts hot asphalt, deep fryer, and livestock. The fairgrounds reek of summer -- and everything else. Whatever your penchant, the fair's got it: prize-winning veggies and crafts, animal races of all sorts, stinky livestock pens, carnival rides, good-time music in the band shell, and lots and lots (and lots) of food -- most of it deep-fried. (Deep-fried latte? Gross!) The mind boggles at how many types of food can be served on a stick. Corn dogs are so passé! Cutting-edge fairgoers save the sticks for such nouveau delights as teriyaki ostrich, roasted alligator, and fried Twinkies. But, if you prefer your animals uncooked and without sticks, you can always count on the 4-H kids to parade the fluffy bunnies, pink piglets, and cute cows. Suggested Sites... State Fair Dates - find out when your fair is happening. Exhibiting and Judging Garden Vegetables - key techniques for blue-ribbon veggies. Meet Me at the Fair - Flickr Photo Group - it's almost like being there. How to Beat Carnival Games - better your chances of winning a prize. Deep-Fried Fair Food - mac-n-cheese, peanut butter and jelly, Oreos, hard-boiled eggs? Is there nothing they won't deep-fry?

Directory categories: State Fairs, Deep-Fried Dessert Recipes, 4-H, County Fairs, Livestock

Archived under: Amusement Parks, Animals, Awards, Celebrations, Contests, Crafts, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Food and Drink, Fried Food, Junk Food, Regional, Summer, Tourist Attractions, Travel, United States

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"Ehhhh, What's up, Doc?" Bugs Bunny, arguably the world's most famous rabbit (Photo by AC21) There's Peter Rabbit, Bugs Bunny, The Tortoise and the Hare, and lest we forget, the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." And then there's his High Holiness, the rabbit who never fails to show up each spring with a basket of chocolate eggs in tow: the Cadbury Bunny (you thought I was going to say the Easter Bunny, didn't you?). That’s right, all you lagomorph lovers, July 14-20 is National Rabbit Week, so it’s time to pay homage to our furriest of friends, whether they’re cute and cuddly, cheeky and full of mischief, or just plain evil. Rabbit culture is a bit like a secret club. There are house rabbit societies, cult web programs like Buns and Chou Chou -- and even entire brands of food are dedicated to these fuzzy mammals. Some rabbit lovers go so far as to build plush condos for their pets, while a number of websites are devoted to celebrating their disgruntled standoffishness. Of course, bunnies are not always innocent creatures with soft ears and twitchy noses. Rabbits can be serious ("Watership Down"), sarcastic ("It’s Happy Bunny"), or disturbingly suicidal ("The Book of Bunny Suicides" by Andy Riley). So next time you see an adorable bunny hopping about, remember to check the ground for bones. He might just bite your head off. Suggested Sites... National House Rabbit Society - tips, FAQ's, links, and resources on how to care for indoor bunnies. Angry Alien - cartoon rabbits who re-enact popular movies in thirty seconds each. Rabbit Bites - two rabbits who talk about everything from pop culture to politics. Rabbits on Pet Finder - rabbits for adoption. LOLBunnies - not to be confused with icanhascheezburger.

Directory categories: Rabbits, Rabiit Humane and Rescue Societies, Rabbit Companies, House Rabbit Societies, Rabbit Humor

Archived under: Animal Rights, Animals, Bugs Bunny, Celebrations, Easter, Holidays, Pets, Rabbits

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"His Master's Voice" (What you don't see is that Nipper is sitting on the coffin of his dead owner) In company logos and advertisements, animals are a fairly common sight. So common, in fact, that you probably haven't given these mascots a great deal of thought. But those whose job involves selecting an animal representative for an organization or company face no small task. With their choice, they will be aligning themselves with whatever qualities people tend to associate with that animal. Once they’ve found their totem, they may forever be associated with it. A prime example of logo longevity is "His Master’s Voice," a design trademarked by the Victor Record Company on this day in 1900, sealing forever in our minds the image of Nipper the dog listening attentively to a Victrola, and connecting it further with the Gramophone Company (later known as HMV). In the ensuing century, plenty of other corporate critters have made their marks on our cultural consciousness. How many times have you heard Leo, the MGM lion roar? Financial institutions have adopted symbols of strength, including an elk and a lion, though Merrill Lynch was wise to select a bull rather than a bear. Animals in advertising have also provided memorable and humorous moments. Cuteness gives many animal representatives their appeal. The Geico gecko is pretty adorable, as is Snuggle, the Fabric Softener Bear. Some creatures are simply effective because they are cartoons, and appeal to kids, such as the Trix Rabbit and Sugar Bear. Turns out there’s a science behind the success of animals (or "visual identifiers," as the marketing analysts call them). While some wine critics may claim they avoid "labels bearing cute animals," the rest of us are drawn to these images almost against our will, according to researchers. Did you pick up that bottle of Syrah because it had a kangaroo, chameleon, or a cute dog or kitty on it? It’s not your fault -– you're a victim of your own "perceptual fluency." In light of the incredible sway these animals have over us, some mascots may not have been the best selections. Joe Camel, for example, the longtime rep for Camel cigarettes, was no longer depicted in cartoon form due to objections that he appealed to children too effectively, and Budweiser’s Spuds MacKenzie faded into obscurity before anyone noticed that a dog in a Hawaiian shirt was probably not the most appropriate spokes-animal for beer. After all, wouldn’t you rather share a tall one with a creepy penguin? Suggested Sites... TV Acres - Advertising Mascots - take a four-legged walk down memory lane. "Of Frog Wines and Frowning Watches" - academic study on why we select animal-endorsed brands and respond to other visual cues. Live-Animal Mascots Get an "F" - PETA argues that actual animals should not be used as mascots. "Dinner With the Mascots" video on YouTube - amusing reunion of several iconic mascots.

Directory categories: Advertising, Commercials, Pop Culture, Graphic Design, Phonographs

Archived under: 19th Century, Advertising, Animals, Anniversaries, Bears, Birds, Brands, Cartoons, Design, Dogs, History, Images, Mascots, Music, Music History, Nostalgia, Records, Society and Culture, TV, Wine

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