Blanket Octopus

The air around here is growing increasingly chilly and I think a nice, warm blanket to hide under is called for. All sorts of animals have lovely fur you can make one out of, but you have to do all the work yourself. Unacceptable! There is a very strange answer to this problem, so long as you can tolerate your blanket being soaking wet. The Blanket Octopus has come to tuck you in. I hope she's brought some hot chocolate along, too.

Lighthouse of the Desert

Rising forth from the mud and stone of the sea floor, an edifice strikes out at the darkness. Appearing as nothing more than a community of snowflakes, standing strong against black waters and crushing pressure.

There is snow, but it's marine snow. Crumbs from the top table that fall from sunlit realms, dragged downward by the night. There are stars, but they are brittle stars. A squirming handful of arms, each with a thousand feet. There are flowers, too, but they are sea lilies. Feathers held high on long stalks, like carnivorous palm trees waving in the breeze.

This tower is a home. Sparkling, white walls permit entry to the tiny. One couple will stay and grow too big to escape. A wedding, but a shrimp wedding. A home, but a living one. A crystal prison and a fortress against the wet, desert wasteland.

I'm Venus Flower Basket and I approve this message.

Land Planarian

Image: Wikimedia

When I first saw the words "Land Planarian" I thought it was some kind of tiny, desktop greenhouse. I imagined tiny gardens and tiny jungles, tiny fruit on tiny trees and tiny leaves adrift on tiny rivers. I imagined a miniature wonderland of lush foliage right there on the living room table.

But then I saw one.

The Blues

Image: Blake Matheson via Flickr

Are you depressed yet? It's coming on "Blue Monday", statistically the most depressing day of the year. So, if you're not mired in misery you are strange, abnormal and alone. Hopefully that thought will be the kick you need to join us in despair and relinquish any lingering happiness or contentment you may have. I'm here to serve!

Western Red Colobus

Image: Wikipedia

Round my way, there's only one kind of racism that is still allowed. That's one group of people who you can openly despise and laugh at for no other reason than the lottery of birth. I'm not talking about the Welsh (or Scottish. Or French. Or German). I'm talking about the Ginger.

Grunt Sculpin

Image: NOAA's Fisheries Collection/David Csepp, NMFS/AKFSC/ABL

*SQUEAL!* Look at this cutie! It's absolutely adorable!