It was when I took up walking in the very early mornings in order to improve my health that I came to better understand the local deer. Columbia Blacktails, Odocoileus hemionus columbianus, are abundant around our Pacific Northwest home, being particularly visible in the hours just before and after sunrise. Each day, as I set […]
According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word “imperial” is defined as: imperial (adj.) late 14c., “having a commanding quality,” from Old French imperial, emperial “imperial; princely, splendid; strong, powerful” (12c.), from Latin imperialis “of the empire or emperor,” from imperium “empire” Looking a bit further into “imperium,” we find: imperium (n.) “authority to command […]
The largest land animal species presently to be found in Great Britain is the Red Stag; after that, the Roe Deer, a few smaller deer, then the Badger and the Fox. However not so very long ago – a few thousand years or so, one would have seen a vastly different megafauna; Woolly Mammoth, Woolly Rhinoceros, Cave Lion, Cave Hyaena, and (my personal favorite) Irish Elk all roamed the ‘Sceptered Isle. So what happened to them? Why are they no longer to be seen – in Britain or anywhere, for that matter?
Even if you’re not particularly interested in astronomy, it’s very difficult not to enjoy the duo of Frasier Cain and Dr. Pamela Gay as the hosts of Astronomy Cast. As a regular listener, I’ve learned a remarkable amount about not only astronomy but a wide variety of other subjects as well.