Rhino attack

When I saw this article about a South African woman being gored by a rhino on a safari, Darwin's theory of evolution sprung to mind: that inherent dynamic forces allow only the fittest persons or organizations to prosper... and it reminded me of the importance of respecting wild animals, particularly when encroaching onto their territory...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/15/chantal-beyer-south-africa-rhino-game-park_n_2477639.html

Kumbh Mela festival in India

Photograph: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images

During this festival, which happens every 12 years and lasts for 55 days, people visit the city of Allahabad where two rivers, the Ganges and Yamuna, meet.  It's probably the biggest gathering of people in the world. Millions of devout Hindus led by naked ascetics with ash smeared on their bodies plunge into the frigid waters of India's holy Ganges River on Monday in a ritual they believe can wash away their sins. More info. on the festival: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumbh_Mela

Angel of the North in Snow

England is blanketed in snow today and I love this photo of the famous Angel of the North statue in Gateshead (in the north east of the country) :

More info. on the Angel of the North:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_of_the_North

The End of Courtship?

Loved this article by Alex Williams in today's New York Times fashion section and, from what single friends tell me, it is SO TRUE....
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/13/fashion/the-end-of-courtship.html?pagewanted=all

Jennifer S. Altman for The New York Times

“Dating culture has evolved to a cycle of text messages, 

each one requiring the code-breaking skills of a cold war spy to interpret.”

Orca whales break free in Canada

What a relief to hear that a dozen orca whales have broken free of their icy prison in Canada's Hudson Bay:http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/whales-break-free-icy-prison-canadas-hudson-bay

Pacific bluefin tuna levels drop 96%

Photo: Getty

"The bluefin tuna, which has been endangered for several years and has the misfortune to be prized by Japanese sushi lovers, has suffered a catastrophic decline in stocks in the Northern Pacific Ocean, of more than 96%, according to research published on Wednesday.

Equally concerning is the fact that about 90% of specimens currently fished are young fish that have not yet reproduced." http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jan/09/overfishing-pacific-bluefin-tuna?intcmp=122

German raven plays with a twig

• Raven caught lying on its back in the grass playing with a twig.
• Amateur photographer captured the images in park in Schleswig, Germany.
• Bird clearly appears to be enjoying itself with its new toy.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2259232/Ive-just-twigged-fun-Raven-lays-enjoys-playing-new-toy.html