He's more famous to us as Doctor Mark Sloan from Diagnosis Murder and Bert the jack of all trades (most notably, a chimney sweep) in Mary Poppins, but Hollywood funnyman Dick Van Dyke's latest role has been as sidekick to Flipper. Sort of.
The 84-year-old star apparently nodded off on his surfboard during a trip to the beach not far from his home and only woke up when he was so many miles out to see that he could no longer see land.
However, a pod of porpoises (okay, Flipper was a dolphin, I know, but find me a famous porpoise!) appeared from beneath the waves and pushed Mr Van Dyke all the way back to shore.
Friday, November 12, 2010
RAHEEL MUGHAL: The Cave Demons of the Kirthar Range, Pakistan
The Kirthar Range stretches along the Sindh-Balochistan border like a spine interconnecting the two provinces. The Kirthars are a dry and arid expanse devoid of trees and natural greenery of which most of Pakistan is famous for. In the summer temperatures in this relatively bleak place can reach 50 degrees C (12 degrees F) and winter frost can plummet down to minus figures, freezing shallow ponds.
The Kirthar Range is inhabited by a number of tribes; most notable of these are the Brahais, who inhabit both sides of the Sindh-Balochistan divide, as well as the Chuttas of Balochistan, the Chandius and Guinchus of Sindh, respectively. Life for them is a constant struggle of migration between the pastures of the highlands in the summer and the lowlands in the winter.
These tribes have a rich oral history along with a culture that is formed on the basis of storytelling. Most of the stories describe a number of varied supernatural creatures said to inhabit the region in dark caves and crevices. One such species are the cave demons of the Kirthar Range.
Stretching all the way up to 5,000 ft (1,500 metres), the high peak of Machal is virtually unexplored. It is through this deep and narrow cleft that the Khenji a slopped incline branches into the Toshangi cave system with its submerged springs. On either side limestone walls rise almost 700 ft (200 metres) above the calm and supposedly bottomless lake.
Legend has it that the main cleft hides a dark secret: a large cauldron brimming with gold and jewels hangs at the head of the Khenji. This is said to be inaccessible from all sides and visible only from the water; it has always been a major obstacle for men, for not only is the cauldron difficult to get hold of but it is guarded by hideous, giant, bat-like demons with a taste for human blood.
The Kirthar Range is inhabited by a number of tribes; most notable of these are the Brahais, who inhabit both sides of the Sindh-Balochistan divide, as well as the Chuttas of Balochistan, the Chandius and Guinchus of Sindh, respectively. Life for them is a constant struggle of migration between the pastures of the highlands in the summer and the lowlands in the winter.
These tribes have a rich oral history along with a culture that is formed on the basis of storytelling. Most of the stories describe a number of varied supernatural creatures said to inhabit the region in dark caves and crevices. One such species are the cave demons of the Kirthar Range.
Stretching all the way up to 5,000 ft (1,500 metres), the high peak of Machal is virtually unexplored. It is through this deep and narrow cleft that the Khenji a slopped incline branches into the Toshangi cave system with its submerged springs. On either side limestone walls rise almost 700 ft (200 metres) above the calm and supposedly bottomless lake.
Legend has it that the main cleft hides a dark secret: a large cauldron brimming with gold and jewels hangs at the head of the Khenji. This is said to be inaccessible from all sides and visible only from the water; it has always been a major obstacle for men, for not only is the cauldron difficult to get hold of but it is guarded by hideous, giant, bat-like demons with a taste for human blood.
OLL LEWIS: Take me to the river
In the absence of any news from the India expedition, Oll Lewis has another peculiar story from India for you: Ramchandra the semi-aquatic river boy. Would we lie to you?
Read all about it
Read all about it
CFZ AUSTRALIA: Giant Croc exhibition
As I said to dear Rebecca when she was staying with us the other week, Australia really was the grooviest place in the world if you were into cryptozoology. Max said that I was showing myself up as an old hippy by using the word groovy, and Rebecca sent me a story all about an exhibition of giant crocodiles in NT.PECULIAR PATAGONIAN POLYGLOT PARROT PARABLE?
During my time poddling about the internet at night, as I am kept awake by the sonorous snores of Prudence who insists on cuddling as close to Corinna and me as possible, I find some interesting things. One particularly interesting blog is Beachcombing, which has lots of obscure odds and sods of interest to the fortean zoologist....
Today’s post was inspired by a long ago reading of WaNW David Crystal’s Language death (CUP 2000). In this book – that Beachcombing no longer has to hand but enjoyed on the steps of Santiago’s cathedral – Crystal relates the story of Alexander von Humboldt’s parrots. While travelling in South America in 1800 von Humboldt stumbled upon a tribe with several pet parrots. These parrots were speaking though words of another language: the great German naturalist learnt that they had been taken from an exterminated people. Crystal sets this up as an eloquent image for language death – a handful of syllables guarded by creatures who cannot even understand the last words of the people that they are perpetuating.
Read on.../
Today’s post was inspired by a long ago reading of WaNW David Crystal’s Language death (CUP 2000). In this book – that Beachcombing no longer has to hand but enjoyed on the steps of Santiago’s cathedral – Crystal relates the story of Alexander von Humboldt’s parrots. While travelling in South America in 1800 von Humboldt stumbled upon a tribe with several pet parrots. These parrots were speaking though words of another language: the great German naturalist learnt that they had been taken from an exterminated people. Crystal sets this up as an eloquent image for language death – a handful of syllables guarded by creatures who cannot even understand the last words of the people that they are perpetuating.
Read on.../
OLL LEWIS: Yesterday's News Today
http://cryptozoologynews.blogspot.com/
On this day in 1841 James Braid witnessed his first demonstration of animal magnetism, which he later developed into hypnotism. I volunteered for a stage hypnotist once; the way the hypnotist puts you into a trance is to do some showy gubbins with a watch or laying you down and getting you to think about a beach then whisper in your ear “Alright this is all a load of bull**** but play along and you'll have fun 'cos you're in on the joke.” Perhaps Braid had a better system.
And now, the news:
"Fraser's Penguins" Documents Stark Climate Change...
Australia's deadly redback spiders invade NZealand...
France signs death warrant for the eel
The helpful hippo that rescues helpless animals fr...
Bid to save Borneo’s rhinos
Cat's 'step aerobics' blamed for house fire in Por...
Whenever I see a news article about cats I can't help but think of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9P1DmgXOCg
On this day in 1841 James Braid witnessed his first demonstration of animal magnetism, which he later developed into hypnotism. I volunteered for a stage hypnotist once; the way the hypnotist puts you into a trance is to do some showy gubbins with a watch or laying you down and getting you to think about a beach then whisper in your ear “Alright this is all a load of bull**** but play along and you'll have fun 'cos you're in on the joke.” Perhaps Braid had a better system.
And now, the news:
"Fraser's Penguins" Documents Stark Climate Change...
Australia's deadly redback spiders invade NZealand...
France signs death warrant for the eel
The helpful hippo that rescues helpless animals fr...
Bid to save Borneo’s rhinos
Cat's 'step aerobics' blamed for house fire in Por...
Whenever I see a news article about cats I can't help but think of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9P1DmgXOCg
PRUDENCE - "NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT," SAYS VET
We were probably being over-paranoid, but I am a paranoid person anyway, and what happened to Biggles only six weeks ago makes me even more paranoid.There was no blood in Prudence's urine yesterday, according to the test done by the vet. He could find nothing wrong but suspects a slight urinary tract infection. Prudence has some antibiotics, which will take care of that...
Meanwhile, apologies to the member of the CFZ posse who rang me this morning pointing out that his mother's name is Prudence and that his wife found it highly amusing. No slight was intended; honest....