Apopyllus Now

Steve Martin writes:

"Nigel:

From an alert reader.

Yet more signs of the comin' apocalypse!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/babymantis/the-best-taxonomy-humor-1opu

or is that the comin' Apopyllus.  For all the animal hunters that have not submitted that Barf Badge yet, here are some interesting ideas, even though taxonomy day was SOO two weeks ago."

 Definitely check it out!

Barf Badge Granted: Matraxis Vile

Matraxis Vile writes:

"Nigel, here's my PUBLIC submission for Animal Hunter, "the bigger and more dangerous, the better," Others who have submitted for this badge have demonstrated their feelings on inadequacy by focusing on "bigger" as size, I prefer to focus on "bigger menace to mankind" and "more dangerous that you might imagine." My deadly foe is none other than the species that brought the Black Death to Europe, killing over 25,000,000 people in the 14th century (1). Even today both the World Health Organization (2) and the Centers for Disease Control (3) note the danger of this insidious creature.

Far worse is how it appears that Dreams are bringing this creature into a new positive light. In both 'Pearls before Swine' and 'Dilbert' they feature prominently, and a whole generation of children has been mesmerized by their subtle propaganda in the 2007 film Ratatouille. I have done my part and taken my damage against this beady eyed foe, for I have fought - and conquered! - the RAT.

Attached you will find a dramatic reenactment of my fight. I would suggest the young, squeamish and those of extremely advanced years avert their gaze.

M. Vile

(1) http://www.themiddleages.net/plague.html

(2) http://new.paho.org/disasters/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=548&Itemid=662

(3) http://www.cdc.gov/rodents/diseases/index.html"

Right. Well, there's no doubt you made that rat dead, dead, dead. Had me on the edge of my effin' seat the whole time! A riveting fight. Not. So let's see here, we've had Giant Snakes, Giant Crabs, Giant Scorpions and now... a rat. First, I gotta admit, you did kill the rat and hence you deserve the BarfBadge. And the video was quite compelling. And you've managed to set the bottom bar of animals so low that it will be a struggle for anyone to limbo under that bar. I'll have to give it a 15/25.

And that whole Black Death thing? Not the rat's fault. But for all you other Animal Hunters out there, remember that Snakes, Scorpions, Crabs and Rats are now all taken!

Barf Badge Granted: Gregory Runcic

Gregory Runcic writes:

"Nigel,

Here is my PUBLIC BARF BADGE SUBMISSION-- ANIMAL HUNTER

Gregory found himself wandering the desert, minding his own business, when he was set upon by a most vicious giant Scorpion! [at least it LOOKED really big!]. Armed only with his trusty dagger [and - 40 hits later!] he dispatched the foul beast!

GR"

Nice! See those BU weapons aren't so bad after all. Let's see, those giant scorpions can be a little bit nasty. Maybe not as bad as an enraged Rottweiler, but you do have to watch yourself. Good to see you out there learning to defend yourself. Overall, I'll go 20/25.

Better Visit While You Can

Scientists report that the volcano reputed to be behind the destruction of Atlantis is experiencing a large influx of magma. Could that mean an eruption is imminent? You can read more about it here. As to what role it actually played in the destruction of Atlantis, well, those IDR sessions continue to shed light on islands that have disappeared.

Assassination?

Raoul Pawn writes:

"SIR

It is with extreme disreluctance that I must point out that the SNAGGLEPUSS camp has strayed beyond the boundaries of presidential primary decorum and has launched a VICIOUS and VIOLENT attack on a countervailing personage. I direct your attention here and beg that you ask yourself if this was truly a FERAL penguin or was this truly as I believe, Chilly Willy, rumored by many to be the SNAGGLE campaign's secret assassin.

RAOUL PAWN
Ex co-chairman,

SCCRAM"

Has Snagglepuss truly gone bad? Guess we'll have to keep our eyes open. This could turn out to be the nastiest primary in history. Nice!

What Are The Odds?

Who would have thought there were actually two Nigel Barfs on the planet with blogs that had interest in the End of the World and gave away BarfBucks? And that one of them, the one that is not me, is sponsoring an Apocalyptic Poetry Contest. Nice! I'm just mad that I didn't get an invitation. But I'm having an effin' hard time finding his blog. So if anyone has the URL, send it my way so I can check it out.

BarfBadge Granted: Doug Carr

Doug Carr writes:

"Dear Nigel,

I am making a submission for the Illegal Alien Badge.

a) Submit a picture of the being currently on this world who did not originate on this world.

 

The Sidhe goddess Danu, of the Tuatha de Danaan (Homophone She/Sidhe)

b) Put True Name with picture (see above).

c) Put the date they arrived. I believe the Sidhe, Fairy Folk, or Tuatha de Danaan are survivors from Atlantis who settled in Ireland/Scotland after the sinking of Atlantis. Therefore She arrived on planet when the Atlanteans did, which I estimate to be at about the time of the Great Flood between 3300 and 3000 B.C.

I’m sure hoping my theorizing and calculations are correct, because I need the BB!

Thanks, Doug Carr"

Nice! A very interesting submission. She is definitely an Illegal Alien, and currently alive here on Earth. And the She/Sidhe homophone? Pure brilliance! Which probably explains Her close association with Elves. And did a lot of those ancient Celts worship Her? You bet they did, and She might have even been called Danu by them, but that is not Her true name.

And it seems like you're on to something with her being associated with the people on Atlantis, but I don't get the sense from this that they came to this planet from somewhere else. As to the arrival date, it is somewhat hard to get a good sense of Her arrival time for some reason, but it wasn't during the period that you specified. 

Lots of good information from that submission, with a few things off. Overall a very solid 19/25.