Giant Squid Spotted on Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, 2015, a tentacled wonder from the depths of the ocean visisted a Japanese Harbor.

No, it wasn't Squidard.  It was something much more amazing.

A Giant Squid was spotted beneath the boats of the Mizuhashi Fisherina in Toyama prefecture.

ARCHITEUTHIS RISES

Architeuthis, the Giant Squid, is usually found more than 2000 feet beneath the oceans surface.  The ones seen up close and personal are usually hauled up in fishing nets, their bodies white and long since dead.

Not so with this surfacing giant.

This vibrantly colored specimine was around 12 feet long, and according to Akinobu Kimura who jumped in the water to film it,

"This squid was not damaged and looked lively, spurting ink and trying to entangle his tentacles around me. I guided the squid toward to the ocean, several hundred meters from the area it was found in, and it disappeared into the deep sea."

While portrayed in movies like The Beast as being monsters hungry for human skin, this Giant Squid didn't harm a single person who swam with and filmed it.  It stayed inside the marina for several hours before being led back to open waters.

While nobody is sure why this curious squid paid a visit -- the weather was fair, ocean conditions normal and it didn't appear to be ill -- I for one am thankful for its visit, and for today's technology, and the ability to see one of these creatures

Rare Footage Of Giant Squid Swimming Along Coast Of Japan
Posted by Discovery News on Tuesday, December 29, 2015

If you are curious to know more about Architeuthis then you might want to check out the book Giant Squid: Searching for a Sea Monster (Smithsonian) or, for the younger giant squid lovers in your life there is also Tentacles!: Tales of the Giant Squid.

And then, after you've learned all there is to know about the giant squid, you can bring home one of your very own to love!

I just want a HUG!
Love me!

See even more amazing squid video at this link:

Creature from the deep surfaces in Japanese harbor

And you can purchase any product mentioned in this post from Amazon.com.

A Doggie Howliday

We humans have been busy these past few weeks as we scrambled and scurry about, getting ready for our Christmas or other holiday.

While we were busy and excited, we might have overlooked our pets excitement.  Our holiday is their Howliday.  And while we were eagerly awaiting the jolly man in the red suit to sneak into our house and leave us gifts, they were waiting for a visit from Santa Paws.

Each year my dogs get their own gift to unwrap.  They also get their own stocking.  And they are every bit as excited to unwrap their gifts as the children are.

Some years they get new frisbees.  Some years they get new squeaky balls.  This year, for the first time in a while, they got some rawhide bones to unwrap.

 Rusty was still eager to get into his own, and other than a tiny bit of assistance, he was able to tear into his own package.

Boomer needed a little more help.  He sniffed, but didn't tear into it like he once did.  He just doesn't have the energy he once did.  He might not have many more Christmases with us.

 Once it was unwrapped, he did take it in his mouth and do a victory lap.  But only a round or two.

Please pardon my nekkid booty. 
I'm an old dog and I have skin problems.

He used to prance around and around and around the whole house.  He would have to show off his boen for 10 to 15 minutes before he chewed on it.  This time he didn't even chew on it.  He just walked a lap or two then climbed back on his sofa.

Rusty didn't really chew his either, though he did keep it close.  Just to keep anyone else from getting it.  He might not feel like chewing it, but he also doesn't feel like sharing it.

Now, while they didn't play with their bones like the once would have, they did both go nuts over their stockings.  They got Beggin Strips, one of their favorite treats that they usually only get from Santa Paws.

Did your pets get gifts this Howliday Season?  Does Santa Paws stuff them a stocking?

Northern White Rhino Faces Extinction

Have you heard about Nola?

Nola, living in the San Diego Zoo Safari Park was one of only 4 Northern White Rhino's left in the world.

Unfortunately the world lost Nola during the third weekend of November. 

While America geared up for their Thanksgiving day feasts and the shopping holiday that comes after it, the San Diego Zoo posted this sad note on their facebook page:

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of Nola, a critically endangered northern white rhino who lived at...
Posted by San Diego Zoo on Sunday, November 22, 2015

Nola, who was 41 years old, had been ill for a while.  She was suffering from a bacterial infection and had recently undergone surgery to drain an abscess in her pelvic region which was the cause of her illness.

Another female Northern White Rhino (in a different zoo) had died just this past July, also from an abcess.

The passing of these two females leaves only 3 Northern White Rhinos alive.  Two female and one male who, unfortunately, has a low sperm count.

Since poaching is the reason that the Northern White Rhino is critically endangered, Sudan is kept under constant guard, being the only male of his species left alive.  He has also has his horns cut off to make him less appealing to poachers.

Keep our #rhino #rangers safe- the men who safeguard our rhinos need your help. http://t.co/50hxQENE9d #RT #OlPejeta pic.twitter.com/nHLtJFgRR2

— Ol Pejeta (@OlPejeta) February 9, 2015

All because people with more money than sense decided that they MUST have rhino horns.

That is very silly when you realize that rhino horns are keratin all the way through.  Do you know what keratin is?  It is the same thing that our own fingernails are made of!

Since all previous insemination attempts were unsuccessful, things are looking bleak for the Northern White Rhino.