This new crab-like beastie was just discovered. In hillariously human fashion, one of the articles described it as being “the length of a salad plate.” Welcome to interacting with people, little animal…now get on my plate!

This photo released Tuesday March 7, 2006 by the IFREMER (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea) shows a new crustacean, called ‘Kiwi hirsuta’.

The eyeless shellfish, about 15cm long was discovered in March 2005 during a diving mission led by American researcher Robert Vrijenhoek, of the MBARI Institut, Cal., in hydrothermal vents of the Pacific Antartic Ridge, south of Easter Island. (AP Photo/A Fifis; IFREMER)

I went outside at midnight recently, waiting while Star stepped out onto the pebbles in the courtyard to pee. It was deathly cold and moist. I was wearing nothing but sweat pants and an old t-shirt, but I was also wrapped up in my black hoodie.

As soon as I came out onto the concrete porch near the front courtyard, I saw a shape that wasn’t quite right. Fearing the wretched ‘possum that haunts the area (chewing, I suspect, my dog’s droppings), I tensed. Then I saw, by the silhouette, that it was an owl, perched in the shadows on top of the closest AC unit. I didn’t even breathe as I realized what it was; it was soft gray and brown, with horned upturns of feathers rising up over its brow. Slowly it rotated its head, much farther around than should have been possible. It peered at me with these reflective gold eyes, like the tarnished lenses of old flashlights, powered by dying batteries.

I turned my head back to the front door for an instant, to call softly to a friend. I wanted her to see it too. A second later, when I looked back into the dark courtyard, the owl was gone. Even in leaving, it hadn’t made any sounds at all. The effect was jarring, as if it had never been there. I started, spooked by the absence.

My friend Charles’ worst nightmare…Pandas getting it on.

Pandas working hard to save species!

Though technically, this is not reverse cowgirl. Stupid pandas…

A friend said his little niece found the pic on AOL and wanted to know why the pandas were sitting on each other.

My friend Rita cooked this up to celebrate UT winning the Rose Bowl:

UT Rose Bowl Shirt

And, by popular demand, panties with the same design.

UT Rose Bowl Thong

Trying to get Star to sit still in her cold weather gear is a bitch.