chip crumbs after the SuperBowl

February 5, 2006

If you swept up all the Doritos, Tostitos, Fritos, and various potato chip crumbs from millions of living rooms, would they reach to the moon and back? Several times? Would you have enough to make a small planet? Would the dust of this new planet taste spicy, and make you want more?

my old friend, the Argentine ant

It is now annoying New Zealanders, who are concerned that the pests are invading many regions of their country.

I would not be surprised if these ants swam from California to NZ. The endless lines of them across and up and down the driveway, and all along the house foundation have diminished. But I know they’ll be back.

the many voices of the humpback whale

It can sound like a monkey, a cow, an elephant, a lion, or a sperm whale. Sometimes, it can even sound like us.

the giant Palouse earthworm

It is white, smells like lilies, grows up to three feet long, and is very rare. A six-inch specimen was found recently near Palouse, Washington.

saucer magnolia

saucer magnolia

A great afternoon for a walk, a surprising number of people out working in their yards or riding bikes with their kids.

Dungeness crabs

crabs in the sink

They attacked whenever anyone approached the sink. The price is down from the New Year high of $9.99/lb, now going for $2.79.