Sadly, they're still here

Happy Rapture Day everyone...

Well, it wasn't a very happy Rapture Day. We still have the crazies, purists and holier-than-thou to put up with until the next "OMG! IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD!" Looks like we scientists are going to suffer a little longer. *sigh*

Our livers were safe too; Raptor Jesus was also absent today. No Velocirapture either.

Pretty average day really.

Dino plushies vol. 1

CAVES!!Run little vegesaurus's! Run away from the meatasaurus!

Little rock cave with dinosaur plushies!! It's just so cute! This set is beautifully made by FAO Schwarz with 7 different dinosaurs "peacefully co-exist" in a plush rock cave. I know its for ages 3+... but I still think it's cool. A little pricey though, $80+ (including delivery) [maybe try Ebay ;)].

Or there is the cheap knock-off version, Dinosaur House. Just as cute, but less grrrr. Around $20-$30. The difference between this version and the one above is the "missing" zip cave door; instead the dinos are squished into the tiny crevices.

And lastly, there is My Dinosaur Friends! Yay!! But this time you get a Cave person (I can't tell if it's a guy or girl :P), and a half hatched dino chick! For me, this is the more extreme of timeline mashing - that is, of course, if you are adamant that early humans walked around in fear of being eaten by vicious roaming dinosaurs, then this will seem the most accurate plush set! Raaarrrr!! This little set will cost you about $15-$25.

Taburin is a God among palaeo-sculptors

Taburin is a Japanese sculptor with a keen interest in dinosaurs. His motto behind each beautiful sculpture (which has definitely caught my eye in the detail) is: "To make as accurately as possible". His dinosaur skeletons are made primarily of pine and Japanese chestnut wood. I am in AWE of this man!

Tyrannosaurus (right) with Spinosaurus (left).

I couldn't make this post without adding T.rex :P
The skeletal "remains" of a Nigersaurus.

Protoceratops and Velociraptor "Fighting Dinosaurs" - in their final moments!

Carnoturus skull with hand for scale

A Gorgosaurus in the process of construction and then the final product

The making of Diabloceratops.

Little Tarbs

In recent news (dinosaur based):

In 2006 the youngest and most complete skeleton (including skull) of a tyrannosaur, Tarbosaurus bataar, has revealed interesting patterns of behaviour dissimilar to fully grown adults. The juvenile is definitely a Tarbosaurus bataar due to the discovery of adults of this species in Mongolia's Gobi Desert in the same site from previous expeditions. It is believed to be approximately 2 - 3 years old when the youngster died. Like a gangly teenager, this dino toddler was more agile and lithe than its parents - with the ability to out-run and out-maneuver small prey, little Tarbs could hunt for itself but without the bite force behind the infamous tyrannosaur jaws.

Tarbosaur trio by Nima Sissani

Little Tarbs is an important discovery on many levels: (1) the feeding behaviour of young tyrannosaurs is a first for palaeo-science, suggesting tyrannosaurs changed dietary preferences as they matured; (2) this supports the notion that tyrannosaurs were not simply scavengers, but that they had the ability to hunt for themselves; (3) lastly, this juvenile will help clarify whether juvenile and adult specimens of tyrannosaurs previously classified are of the same or different species, ie. "Jane" is she a juvenile Tyrannosaurus OR an adult Nanotyrannus? We may just be able to find out.



Tsuihiji, T., Watabe, M., Tsogtbaatar, K., Tsubamoto, T., Barsbold, R., Suzuki, S., Lee, A. H., Ridgely, R. C., Kawahara, Y., and Witmer, L. M. 2011. Cranial osteology of a juvenile specimen of Tarbosaurus bataar (Theropoda, Tyrannosauridae) from the Nemegt Formation (Upper Cretaceous) of Bugin Tsav, Mongolia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, vol. 31, no. 3, pp 497 - 517

Cutlery genetics

Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying... Cutlery Genetics!

"evo-cut is a one-off set of cutlery designed according to
the principles of population genetics and natural variation"

This was a pretty cool concept by Harry White. There's also a very cool measuring jug which allows you to measure the mass of a Tyrannosaurus rex's brain.

It's in the brew

Never trust a man who, when left alone in a room with a tea cozy, doesn't try it on ~ Billy Connolly.

I've found a brief interest in teapots after an even briefer venture around T2: tea shop (and by brief I mean around an hour or so). Searching for a cast iron teapot, because I'm a klutz and porcelain, glass or bone china would not last a week with me. I've ended up with a range of visually appealing and disturbing teapots to share:

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Tea stays warm-er with its own little scarf [so cute, but the spout(s) are in a bad place]


There's heaps of animal teapots around, this white elephant is one of the simplest.
Because of the Chinese origins of tea, there are LOADS of dragon teapots around

What I have found with most teapots is that Nature plays a greater role in the creative designs of a pot, I was particularly intrigued with this one.

Confuse your friends, family and neighbours with this spout-handle combination
Or boggle minds with the bagel/doughnut ring teapots

For the completely insane, alien fanatic in your family - watch them freak out while you pour them tea out of your "very normal" teapot. Your conversation should take on the form of the following: "I don't know what you're talking about, this is just a normal white teapot. There's no alien and I don't know why you're carrying on about a spacecraft. Have some tea - no, this is chamomile tea, not alien goop or whatever-you-call-it... Have you been smoking something?"


This one is called "Lightening teapot" - I personally can see the likeness of a cat's faceless head

For the lazy! Double spouted teapot with matching teacups!
Lotus bulb and leaves - very very cool


Twisted bamboo teapot! I would have walked past it or thrown it in the fire before realising it was a teapot.
This is another bamboo teapot that just appealed to me more than the standard round, white porcelain teapot.

Disturbing dog penis tea anyone??

A swan... if it were a white swan you couldn't get much more British high-tea than that.


Funny, violent and unique - Ned Kelly would be proud!
Genuine silver and gold teapot with diamonds - if you want to drip style, of course.

CRACKED TEAPOT! Oh wait, it's meant to look like that.

I found these to be off-putting, I don't particularly want tea from the feet of rotund women. There is another pudgy lady dressed as a belly-dancing wonder, but she was wearing less and it was more disturbing to the eyes.

There is a series of furniture-based teapots... the bathroom set made me laugh the most.

Knowing that there's a urinal with Hitler's face painted on it, there has to be a teapot! Surely!?! And you'd be right... there is a Hitler teapot!

I LOVE this one in particular! It's a jewel beetle teapot - tea for 1 only.

One of the coolest ocean-themed teapots ever! The difficulty is not simply figuring out which tentacle is the spout, it's also keeping the famished octopus away from your salt and pepper shaker crabs!

I'm unsure how practical this teapot is... but I know I would not be making tea in the dark.
This is a pig's skull... with boar hair tea cozy - designed by Wieki Somers.

Easter, its for raptors too

An early message for Easter, that is to say... Raptor Easter!
In the name and glory of Raptor Jesus, I hope you enjoy your long weekend - And Anzac Day to fellow Aussies.