The Poodle Moth and the Problem of Cryptozoology

A few months ago many of you probably stumbled across this meme – the famous Poodle Moth! And indeed for the most part the reporting was half decent. Yes, it’s real. Yes, it’s a moth. Yes, it’s probably a species in the Lasiocampidae (possibly the genus Artace) as correctly pointed out by Dr. John Rawlins.

. . . → Read More: The Poodle Moth and the Problem of Cryptozoology

Genius of the Press XXII

Back from hiatus and back to the Genius of the Press insect-news-failure series! Fresh off the presses from last year, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the UK was shut down for a massive infestation of clothes moths. The picture shown here from “The Nation” story is a far cry from a . . . → Read More: Genius of the Press XXII

Genius of the Press XXI

This is a pretty epic fail. I guess the “young adult” publishing guidelines are less strict with “facts”.

 

 

 

Thanks to Richard Lee Brown for first posting this on Facebook.

Genius of the Press XX

This GOP is less of a challenge and more of a simple roundup of miserable stock photography. Alex Wild and others have long ago pointed out the massive failings of many stock photo sites – but here is a brief and painful lep roundup using Google.

Step 1: Image search “moth on flower”.

Step 2: . . . → Read More: Genius of the Press XX

NABA Turns Fish and Wildlife into Brainless Zombies

Fresh off the presses, the Miami Blue Butterfly (MBB) is now listed as federally endangered by act of an emergency provision. Huzzah! (right?)

Miami Blue Butterfly from Butterflies of America

My first thought was “wait, wasn’t this already endangered?”. Yes, turns out the MBB has been state-endangered since 2002 after a previous emergency . . . → Read More: NABA Turns Fish and Wildlife into Brainless Zombies

Richard Branson is an Idiot

 

Source: Wikipedia

It turns out that Richard Branson has a new idea; to save the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) by importing them to his private British Virgin Island. As the article points out Branson spent millions of pounds and years of effort to turn the island into “the most ecologically . . . → Read More: Richard Branson is an Idiot

Call me skeptical…

I came across this interesting device and had an instant gut reaction.. “Of course a stupid water bulb doesn’t repel flies, this is a scam!”…

deep breath…

OK that is terrible skepticism. Actually, it’s cynical and it’s just what skeptics hate being called. It’s also something that happens much too easily – . . . → Read More: Call me skeptical…

It just won’t leave me alone

On my daily commute back to Berkeley, I have spotted this (apologies for the cruddy image). Actually, I’ve seen a handful of these pop up around San Francisco and it makes me want to tear my hair out every time. For those who are new to my blog, this goes back to my Genius of . . . → Read More: It just won’t leave me alone

An Uphill Battle

If there is one thing that I learned in college, it was how to easily distract myself. I tend to keep my TV on in the background while I’m working on my computer, especially late at night when I am usually fighting a winning war against sleep. The other night something did catch my . . . → Read More: An Uphill Battle

Genius of the Press, v. IV

Another installment of Genius of the Press, and perhaps a bit of a softball. (Yikes these are easy to find) Who can tell me whats wrong with this article?