John Lynch took me to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum yesterday, and made me walk. Naturally I forgot my camera, so I can't show you the really cool hummingbirds, or the cougar/puma (it has a split personality) or the bighorn sheep, let alone the amazing diversity of plant life (until I came here I though "cactus" was a single species - just kidding), but you can see all that at the Museum's website and digital library.
I forgive John for making me walk - he was not to know that silverbacks, especially albino silverbacks, are lazy fat buggers. But the provision of ice cream and slushy drinks reduced the core temperature and hypoglycemia, and a fun time was had by all. I can see why the notion of a biome was first developed here. The demarcation is rather dramatic, as you drive through the area. Saguaro cactuses are rather obvious, as is their sudden lack.
Tomorrow off to Salt Lake City, where the weather is below freezing at night. This is harsh treatment of your favourite great ape. We are temperate beasts, but the conference, organised by Matt Haber, looks to be a fun one: Edges & Boundaries of Biological Objects. I'm not speaking, but it'll be fun.
By the way: to prove I am actually working over here, here's a photo of me (I'm not out of focus - I really felt like that), Andrew Hamilton (the workshop organiser) and Charissa Varma, all looking serious. I can look serious for hours without a break.
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In SLC at 736 W North Temple there's a great Mexican restaurant called The Red Iguana. They've got some of the best moles (pronounce moe-lay) I've ever had. Ask the waitress for some samples; you won't be sorry.
John, for the love of all that is unholy, resize the picture!
I imagined you more simian for some reason.
What does that say on the white-board? Reciprocal illumination and evidence perhaps....
Do you have only half a face, or has it been FUSEd?
Did you wear a hat? Real gorillas have built-in hats. I thought that Ozzies wear hats, sunglasses and sunscreen even in the shower.
"Saguaro cactuses are rather obvious, as is their sudden lack."
Those who have not visited Arizona may not take this seriously. When traveling south on I-17 to Phoenix, I often say to a companion, "And... cue the cacti!" as we come around a particular bend in a section of curvy, steeply-descending road. In a matter of seconds, one goes from seeing no saguaros at all to seeing thousands, spread out across the landscape.
Sorry for the production error. The people who made it have been sacked. Yes, that's what it says on the whiteboard. Something to do with cladistics, I gather.
If I go to another Mexican restaurant I may be forced to emigrate there.
Are you going to Tijuana to eat barbecued iguana?
Zarquon:
Are you also recommending 'mucho macho bonito'? Please ignore the spelling and the grammar, my topic is for a gourmet:-)
Are you going to Tijuana to eat barbecued iguana?
Posted by: Zarquon | March 12, 2008 5:56 PM
Sounds like a reasonable thing to do! LOL!
Dave Briggs :~)
Cougar/puma?
I thought it was 'mountain lion'.