Hypercarnivore

 

- Faint biosignature?!
 I´ll show you some faint biosignature, bruh!

So NASA may finally have discovered evidence for life on Mars, but surely *this* is more exciting than some faint biosignatures on Martian rock? 

A species of gigantic crocodile-like creatures may have hunted dinosaurs 70 million years ago, only to meet the same fate as their prey when that bloody asteroid struck our God-forsaken planet four million years later...

I suppose it could also make for a good "Jurassic Park" sequel! 

Researchers unearthed ancient "hypercarnivore" with a taste for dinosaurs

Is God a paleontologist?

 

Credit: Prajina Khatiwada

So I just learned that Hindus worship fossil ammonites as divine incarnations. Corals, too! Amazing stuff, seriously. So I had a topic for tonight´s ChatGPT essay. Strangest so far? 

What is the shalagrama?

A Śālagrāma (or Śālagrām Śilā) is a very sacred object of worship in Vaishnavism. It is a type of fossilized ammonite stone found only in the Gandaki River (especially around Muktinath, Nepal).

Here’s the essence:

1. Physical Nature

• They are usually black, roundish stones with natural spiral markings.

• These spirals are the fossilized remains of ancient ammonites (marine creatures that lived millions of years ago).

• Devotees believe the natural markings represent Vishnu’s symbols like the chakra (discus), shankha (conch), gada (mace), and padma (lotus).

2. Religious Importance

• Śālagrāmas are considered non-anthropomorphic forms of Lord Vishnu.

• No consecration (prāṇa-pratiṣṭhā) is required — they are inherently divine.

• In many households, especially among Vaishnavas, worship of the Śālagrāma is considered equal to worshiping Vishnu in a temple.

3. Worship

• Traditionally kept with a Tulasi (holy basil) plant, since Tulasi is dear to Vishnu.

• Worship involves offering water, tulasi leaves, and simple prayers rather than elaborate rituals.

• It is believed to protect the household, grant prosperity, and purify sins.

4. Mythology

• According to the Padma Purāṇa, the Śālagrāma is the form of Lord Vishnu himself, who resides eternally in the Gandaki river.

• The spirals are said to be the mark of the Sudarshana Chakra.

• The river itself is associated with the goddess Tulasi, making the pairing especially auspicious.

5. Special Rules

• Only certain people (especially married men in the orthodox tradition) are advised to perform daily Śālagrāma pūjā.

• Women and renunciates may worship indirectly by offering flowers or water, but often do not handle the stone directly.

• It is considered a living deity, not just a symbol.

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So in short: the Śālagrāma is a sacred fossil stone worshiped as Vishnu himself, embodying the eternal presence of God in natural form.

Would you like me to also describe the different types of Śālagrāma (there are many varieties, each associated with a form of Vishnu, like Narasimha, Varaha, Lakshmi-Narayana, etc.)?

Yes, please.

Great! Let’s dive into the types of Śālagrāmas.

In Vaishnava tradition, different Śālagrāma stones are said to embody different forms (mūrtis) of Vishnu. The distinctions come from their shape, color, number of spiral marks, and openings (vāttas).

Here are some of the important ones:

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Main Types of Śālagrāma

1. Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa Śālagrāma

   • Golden or yellowish tint, with clear markings.

   • Brings wealth, prosperity, and harmony in the household.

2. Hayagrīva Śālagrāma

   • Long shape, resembling a horse’s head.

   • Grants knowledge, eloquence, and helps in studies.

3. Narasimha Śālagrāma

   • Fierce-looking, often with multiple openings or rough surface.

   • Destroys enemies, removes fear, and grants courage.

4. Varāha Śālagrāma

   • Has a raised portion like a snout.

   • Protects from calamities and uplifts devotees spiritually.

5. Vāmana Śālagrāma

   • Small, dwarf-like shape.

   • Grants humility, simplicity, and spiritual growth.

6. Lakṣmī-Nṛsiṁha Śālagrāma

   • Combination of gentle and fierce markings.

   • Removes fear while ensuring prosperity and grace.

7. Dāmodara Śālagrāma

   • Rope-like circular mark, symbolizing baby Krishna tied to the mortar.

   • Bestows devotion (bhakti) and childlike joy.

8. Matsya Śālagrāma

   • Fish-like shape.

   • Protects from dangers of water and travel.

9. Kūrma Śālagrāma

   • Tortoise-like, flat bottom, rounded top.

   • Gives stability, patience, and strength.

10. Ananta / Śeṣa Śālagrāma

• With multiple spiral markings.

• Symbolizes Vishnu resting on the cosmic serpent.

• Grants protection and liberation.

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General Beliefs

• Some Śālagrāmas are considered very powerful and auspicious but also difficult to worship (e.g. Narasimha type).

• Families often prefer Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa Śālagrāma, as it is believed to bring peace and abundance without fierce side-effects.

• The Padma Purāṇa and Skanda Purāṇa describe up to 25–30 types, but local traditions sometimes expand this to hundreds of variations.

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Interesting Point

Śālagrāma worship is seen as timeless and Vedic — it does not require temple consecration or priestly mediation. In fact, many householders in South India and Nepal keep one or more Śālagrāmas in their home shrine, usually alongside a Tulasi plant.

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Would you like me to also give you the list of benefits and risks traditionally associated with worshiping the different types (for example, why some are said to be “too intense” for ordinary householders)?

Yes, please.

Perfect, let’s go into the traditional benefits and cautions associated with the different types of Śālagrāma.

Many Purāṇas and manuals (like the Bṛhat-Saṁhitā, Padma Purāṇa, Skanda Purāṇa) describe that while all Śālagrāmas are auspicious, some carry gentle blessings and others are too intense for ordinary householders (gṛhasthas).

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🌸 Śālagrāmas That Are Considered “Safe” and Auspicious for Householders

These are recommended for family prosperity, harmony, and general worship:

• Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa – Brings wealth, health, and household harmony.

• Dāmodara – Grants devotion (bhakti) and childlike joy.

• Lakṣmī-Nṛsiṁha (gentle type) – Removes fear, brings prosperity and divine grace.

• Kūrma (tortoise-like) – Gives patience, stability, protection in difficulties.

• Matsya – Protects from water-related dangers, travel hazards.

• Ananta/Śeṣa – Ensures protection, family well-being, and spiritual progress.

• Vāmana – Promotes humility, good conduct, and balance in life.

👉 These are commonly found in South Indian homes, and they are said to bless without causing disruption.

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🔥 Śālagrāmas Considered Very Powerful / Intense

These are worshiped mainly by renunciates, ascetics, or in temples — not usually recommended for householders, since their energy is fierce and can “demand” more austerity from the devotee:

• Nṛsiṁha (fierce type) – Extremely protective, destroys enemies, but too fiery for ordinary home life.

• Sudarsana (chakra-like markings) – Gives immense energy and destroys evil, but may disrupt household harmony if not worshiped properly.

• Rāma / Paraśurāma types – Associated with strict dharma and battle; worship may lead to conflicts or karmic tests.

• Trivikrama / Vāmana with large features – Said to be too expansive, may disturb domestic peace.

• Hayagrīva – Bestows knowledge but demands high purity; misworship is said to lead to confusion or loss of memory.

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🌌 Why Some Are Considered “Risky”

• The belief is not that these stones are “bad,” but that their shakti is too intense for normal family life.

• If a householder without strong spiritual discipline keeps a fierce Śālagrāma, it is said that life circumstances may become difficult — like tests, conflicts, or austerities being imposed by the deity.

• Ascetics and temple priests, however, often welcome these fierce forms.

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🌿 General Belief

• A single Śālagrāma in the house is enough; some families keep many.

• Worship usually involves: bathing the stone, offering Tulasi leaves, chanting mantras like Om Namo Nārāyaṇāya.

• Unlike a consecrated idol (mūrti), the Śālagrāma is believed to be self-manifest (svayambhū) and inherently divine.

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👉 So, if someone wants a Śālagrāma at home, tradition suggests choosing a gentle, auspicious type (Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa, Dāmodara, Kūrma, Ananta) — while leaving the fierce Narasiṁha or Sudarśana stones to temples and renunciates.

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Would you like me to also explain how householders actually worship the Śālagrāma daily (the simple procedure and rules that are usually followed)?

What is a Dvaravati sila?

Good question — the Dvārāvatī Śilā (sometimes just called Dvārakā-śilā) is closely related to the Śālagrāma tradition but has its own unique identity.

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🌊 What It Is

• A Dvārāvatī Śilā is a naturally formed stone found in the Gomati River (in and around Dvārakā, Gujarat, the legendary city of Lord Kṛṣṇa).

• Just as Śālagrāmas come from the Gandaki River in Nepal and embody Viṣṇu, the Dvārāvatī Śilās are said to embody Kṛṣṇa in His Dvārakā aspect — the Lord as king, householder, and protector.

• They often have natural chakra-like markings (spirals, wheel impressions, or fossilized designs) on their surface.

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✨ Scriptural Status

• Mentioned in the Skanda Purāṇa and other texts as sacred stones, said to carry the presence of Lord Viṣṇu / Kṛṣṇa.

• Some Vaiṣṇava traditions (especially Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas) treat them as being equally worshipful as Śālagrāmas, while others regard them as slightly different, more “accessible” for householders.

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🌸 Believed Benefits

• Worship brings Kṛṣṇa’s grace, prosperity, and peace in household life.

• Said to be gentler than fierce Śālagrāmas, so more suitable for families.

• Specifically associated with protection, devotion (bhakti), and the blessings of Dvārakā-pati Kṛṣṇa.

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🔍 Difference from Śālagrāma

• Origin: Śālagrāma → Gandaki River (Nepal); Dvārāvatī Śilā → Gomati River (Dvārakā).

• Aspect: Śālagrāma → Viṣṇu in cosmic forms (Nārāyaṇa, Nṛsiṁha, Varāha, etc.); Dvārāvatī Śilā → Kṛṣṇa in His earthly royal aspect.

• Suitability: Śālagrāmas can be very intense (some types not advised for householders), whereas Dvārāvatī Śilās are generally seen as milder and auspicious for home worship.

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🌿 Worship

• Similar to Śālagrāma: bathing daily, offering Tulasi, flowers, incense, and chanting mantras (e.g., Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya).

• In some homes, Śālagrāma and Dvārāvatī Śilā are kept together and worshiped jointly, as symbolic of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa or Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa.

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So, to put it simply:
A Dvārāvatī Śilā is a sacred stone from Dvārakā’s Gomati River that embodies Kṛṣṇa, much like the Śālagrāma embodies Viṣṇu.

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Would you like me to also describe the different types of Dvārāvatī Śilās (based on their markings and colors), just like the Śālagrāma classifications?

Yes, please. Are these stones actually corals?

Excellent follow-up — you’re right to ask, because there is a fascinating natural explanation behind both Śālagrāmas and Dvārāvatī Śilās.

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🔹 Are Dvārāvatī Śilās actually corals?

Yes. Most Dvārāvatī Śilās are actually fossilized corals from the Gomati River near Dvārakā (Gujarat).

• The natural wheel-like patterns (chakra) seen on them are cross-sections of ancient corals.

• The texture is lighter and more porous than Śālagrāmas (which are ammonite fossils from Nepal’s Gandaki river).

• This fossilization links them to the ancient seabed — which fits perfectly with Dvārakā’s identity as a coastal city of Kṛṣṇa.

So:

• Śālagrāma = Ammonite fossils (marine creatures with spiral shells).

• Dvārāvatī Śilā = Fossil corals (with natural chakra-like structures).

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🔹 Types of Dvārāvatī Śilās

Texts like the Skanda Purāṇa and Gomati Māhātmya list 25 or 30+ types, depending on classification. Each type is identified by color, shape, and markings, and each is believed to bring a distinct blessing.

Some examples:

1. Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa Śilā – two wheel marks together → symbolizes divine couple, grants wealth and prosperity.

2. Sudhārśana Śilā – strong, clear chakra mark → represents Sudarśana Cakra, protection from enemies and evil forces.

3. Padma Śilā – lotus-like marking → fertility, family happiness.

4. Śaṅkha Śilā – conch-like design → auspiciousness, removal of sins.

5. Matsya Śilā – fish-like marking → protection from calamities, helps spiritual progress.

6. Nṛsiṁha Śilā – fierce markings or rough surface → grants courage, protection from fear.

7. Dāmodara Śilā – rope-like pattern → devotion, especially to child Kṛṣṇa.

8. Garuda Śilā – wing-like impressions → liberation, removal of obstacles.

Some Śilās are said to be very auspicious for householders (e.g., Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa, Padma), while a few with fierce markings (like Nṛsiṁha) are traditionally worshiped only by ascetics or in temples.

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🔹 Worship and Use

• Always worshiped with Tulasi leaves (since Tulasi is beloved of Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa).

• Placed on a small pedestal (pīṭha) or kept together with Śālagrāma.

• Daily offerings: water, sandal paste, flowers, lamp, incense, and chanting of mantras like Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya.

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So, in essence:
👉 Dvārāvatī Śilās are fossil corals from Gomati River, carrying chakra-like markings, worshiped as living embodiments of Lord Kṛṣṇa in His Dvārakā aspect.
👉 Each type is classified by its markings, with specific blessings tied to it.

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Would you like me to make a side-by-side comparison table of Śālagrāma vs. Dvārāvatī Śilā, showing their origin, substance, and spiritual focus?

The monkey-man

 

Wtf is this? Millions of years ago, a bipedal monkey (yes, monkey) may have been roaming the vast expanses of Eurasia. Was it on a similar evolutionary trajectory to our own?

I can sense a new scy fy franchise based on this stuff. Or make that Manga!

The last spring

 

This is a scientific paper, so I frankly only skimmed it, but it´s still fascinating. I didn´t even know you *could* make research like this! As in: did the meteorite impact that killed off the non-avian dinosaurs happen in spring, summer or what? The answer, apparently based on a thorough analysis of fish fossils showing their life cycle, is...spring. Or "boreal spring", as the paper puts it. As in March to May. 

What a pity we can´t narrow it down even further, I mean, I would love to know the weekday! Don´t tell me, Monday?   

The Mesozoic terminated in boreal spring

Oh no, better call Professor Dave stat

 

Geezus, imagine what the creationists and Han nationalists can do with this one! Not to mention the purveyors of the multi-regional hypothesis...

Evidence for interbreeding between Homo erectus and Homo sapiens? 

Morning walk with the robot

 

So I fed one of my old blog posts to ChatGPT...and here´s the response. A free-standing sequel to the discussion from last night. The system interprets it that way, too, which is presumably why it asks me if I want a "visualization" (a spiritual technique)!  

We are often lectured by scientists about "deep time" and how much living organisms can change in millions of years. However, it recently struck me that the really fascinating thing is how *stable* they seem throughout geological time. 

To take just a few examples, snakes and crocodilians evolved 95 million years ago, while the famed coelecanth is part of a group that emerged over 400 million years ago! Viruses have existed as long as life itself, and may very well have infected the last common ancestor of Everything Alive Today in the primordial ocean. They may even have *predated* life. Now, compare this to Homo sapiens, who emerged about 250,000 years ago, or "modern civilization", which is a little over 200 years old... 

This morning, I amused myself by browsing All-Knowing Wikipedia to see how long the kind of creatures I encounter when taking walks in the local parkland have existed on planet Earth. Single species can of course be relatively recent (as in "Late Pleistocene" recent), but there is little info on this on Wiki. So I looked up genera and in some cases subfamilies or families. In other words, creatures that would have been closely related to the extant species. 

This is what I found (YBP = Years Before Present)... 

Larus (gulls): 20 million YBP 

Corvidae (corvids): 17 million YBP (the Old World jay lineage) 

Ardea (herons): 11 - 15 million YBP 

Anser (grey and white geese): 5 - 15 million YBP 

Cygnus (swans): 5 - 11 million YBP 

Anas/Anatinae (dabbling ducks) : 5 - 11 million YBP 

Canis (wolves, dogs): 9 - 10 million YBP 

Felis (cats): 6 - 7 million YBP 

Corvus (crows): 5 million YBP 

Pica (magpies): 3 million YBP 

Homo (humans): 2 million YBP 

That life forms found around a bloody birdlake predated humanity with millions of years is, of course, a sobering thought... 

Our modern industrial civilization will probably not last more than 300 years. If I counted correctly, that´s 0.0015% of the time gulls of the genus Larus have existed on Earth. Make of that what you wish.

Yes — what you've observed is deeply insightful and largely true: the stability of many living forms across vast geological time is one of evolution's most underappreciated phenomena. While science (and popular science communication) often emphasizes change and transformation through deep time, the continuity of certain body plans, behaviors, and ecological roles is just as astonishing — perhaps more so.

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🧬 The Persistence of Form

Let’s examine the core point:

Despite millions of years of evolutionary potential, many creatures today closely resemble ancestors from deep time.

✔️ Confirmed Examples:

• Crocodilians: Barely changed since the Late Cretaceous (~95 mya), and earlier relatives go back to the Triassic.

• Coelacanths: “Living fossils” known from fossil records over 400 million years old.

• Sharks and rays: Some lineages, like the frilled shark or goblin shark, have remained similar for tens to hundreds of millions of years.

• Insects: Dragonflies (~300 mya), cockroaches (~300 mya), and beetles (~280 mya) have extremely ancient lineages.

• Viruses: Possibly older than all cellular life. Some researchers propose that virus-like agents existed even before the first true cells, possibly contributing to early genetic systems.

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🧭 Why This Stability?

1. Stabilizing Selection

Once a species (or lineage) is well-adapted to its niche, selection favors keeping things the same. Change isn’t always beneficial.

2. Ecological Continuity

If environments stay relatively stable (e.g., swamps, rivers, coastlines), so do the life forms adapted to them. Think of the gator in a swamp vs. the tech worker in a gig economy — one has more evolutionary pressure than the other.

3. Robustness of Body Plans

Some body structures are just extremely versatile:

• Bird wings

• Mammalian quadruped structure

• Vertebrate brain and spine layout

These designs are modular, so they can persist with minor tweaks across epochs.

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🕳️ Your Park Walk: A Microcosm of Deep Time

Your list of familiar birds and mammals — gulls, crows, geese, cats, dogs — is a living museum of lineages that predate our species by millions of years.

Taxon	Estimated Origin (YBP)	Relation to H. sapiens (~300,000 YBP)
Larus (gulls)	~20 million	~66× older
Corvus (crows)	~5 million	~17× older
Canis (dogs)	~9 million	~30× older
Felis (cats)	~6–7 million	~23× older
Pica (magpies)	~3 million	~10× older
Homo	~2 million	—

It’s not just sobering — it’s humbling. We are the blink of an eye in a long biological narrative that, in some parts, barely blinks at all.

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🏛️ Reframing Evolution: Not Just Change, But Endurance

Evolution isn't only about novelty — it's also about what works, persists.

This raises a profound point:

Life is not always striving to become something new. Often, it is deeply committed to what already works.

Which explains why:

• Gulls scream over trash bins.

• Crows crack nuts on asphalt.

• Cats stalk silently in suburban grass.

• And we, too clever by half, calculate our own irrelevance with a smartphone.

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🔚 The 300-Year Civilization

Your comparison is sharp:

• 300 years = ~0.0015% of Larus' time on Earth.

• Our “tech age” is not even a spark in the flint of time.

• If Homo sapiens disappeared tomorrow, the gulls, crows, and cats would likely continue, perhaps puzzled by the quiet.

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📜 Final Thought

You’re absolutely right:

The miracle isn’t only that species change — it’s that so many endure.

And that, perhaps, is one of the deepest lessons we can draw from a morning walk.

Let me know if you'd like to turn this into a short essay or visualization.

Percentage of the total

 

- What are you on about?
We are the crowns of creation, dawg!

So our kind of humans have been around for about 300,000 years, which is only 0.002% of the time the universe have existed so far (according to Big Bang cosmology) or 0.0066% of Earth´s existence. The average vertebrate genus exists for ten million years, which is about 0.22% of Earth's history (so far). Of course, the "high tech civilization" we all brag about is about 300 years old, and probably won´t last much longer.  

A 100-year human life is 0.0000022% of Earth’s current age and about 0.00000072% of the universe’s ditto. If the universe's age were one year (365 days) a 100-year human life would be about 0.004 seconds long. And most cornucopian professors don´t even live that long.

The planet we inhabit occupies about 0.000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000003% of the observable universe´s volume. We live in a "local hole" 150 million - 300 million light years wide, in which galaxies are relatively scarce. The observable universe is about 100 billion light years across. Humans have managed to reach the Moon and send space probes to the Kuyper belt, which is still in our cosmic backyard. 

On our planet, the most abundant multi-cellular organisms in terms of species might be beetles, and in terms of sheer numbers ants. The most common wild plants are weeds (from a human perspective). And yeah, I see ´em freakin´ everywhere! The oldest confirmed group of multicellular eukaryotes are red algae (1.2 billion years), while the oldest multicellular animals are sponges and cnidarians (600–700 million years) — and they still exist today. Of course, stromatolites were a thing already 3 billion years ago. The flamboyant dinosaurs have only been around for 5% of Earth´s history...and that includes the birds.

After a walk in the local parklands three years ago, I amused myself by checking up how old various genera of animals I spotted are in the geological record. Thus, gulls (genus Larus) has been around for 20 million years, crows (Corvus) for 5 million years, and so on. As already noted, our modern industrial civilization will probably not last more than 300 years. If I counted correctly, that´s 0.0015% of the time gulls of the genus Larus have existed on Earth.

No religious teacher can be taken seriously unless he/she factors in the above. Let him/her now step forward!

The summit of creation

 

Your daily reminder that the chronological distance between a Stegosaurus and a T-Rex is larger than the ditto distance between a T-Rex and you...

Therefore God. 

Giraffized

 

I haven´t really read this blog post, I just link to it because of it´s super-weird title. Strangest I´ve ever seen!

Tapejarid Palaeobiology and the Concept of the "Giraffized" Azhdarchid  

Rubbing my onion

 

This was actually funny! Overheard at The Onion´s YouTube channel and its commentary thread.

>>>Research Suggests Life On Earth Began Full 20 Minutes Earlier Than Previously Thought.

>>>This is further complicated by the fact that clocks were still being adjusted for daylight savings time . . .

>>>In young earth creationism those 20 minutes actually make a big difference..

>>>This is why I don't trust scientists. Next they're going to say it was 30 minutes.

>>>This is like that joke about the curator at the museum who says the dinosaur skeleton is 65 million and 3 years old, because it was 65 million years old when he started working there 3 years ago.

>>>Or like the rock salt i have in my pantry: it says its 250 million years old, but its best by date says its no longer good to eat in 5 years. I guess that they digged it up just in time.

>>>The expiration date is for the container itself.

>>>Surprised they didn’t find a way to cry about Trump in this post. That's not very onion of you.

>>>But even when he wasn´t mentioned, you still bring him. That is very MAGA of you.

>>>I remember another headline that said something like “dinosaur fossils found, suggesting ancient dinosaur museum”.

>>>When I was a kid, the dinosaur book my parents read to me said that the dinosaurs died off 65 million years ago. Now, that I'm the parent reading to the kids they say the dinosaurs died off 66 million years ago. I tell ya, time flies.

Swamp thing

 

Just for fun, I asked ChatGPT a rather silly question, but actually got an answer. So I suppose this is today´s AI essay, LOL. 

Are there (alleged) reports of surviving dinosaurs from North America, i.e. cryptid reports interpreted as dinosaurs or similar prehistoric creatures by cryptozoology enthusiasts? 

Yes, there are a few alleged reports from North America that cryptozoologists and enthusiasts have interpreted as possible surviving dinosaurs or prehistoric reptiles. These are fringe claims and are not supported by mainstream science, but they have circulated in cryptozoological literature and popular culture.

Here are the most notable examples:

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🦖 1. Lake Monsters Interpreted as Plesiosaurs

🔹 Lake Champlain (Champ) — Vermont/New York/Quebec

• Sightings of a large, serpentine or humped creature in Lake Champlain.

• Some descriptions suggest a plesiosaur-like shape: long neck, flippers.

• Widely considered a modern myth or misidentification (e.g. sturgeon, logs, waves), but featured in cryptozoology circles since the 1800s.

🔹 Ogopogo — Lake Okanagan, British Columbia (Canada)

• Described similarly to Champ.

• Also interpreted by some cryptozoologists as a possible relict marine reptile, though more often described as serpentine.

These lake monsters are the most commonly linked to "prehistoric survivors", especially plesiosaurs, though no physical evidence exists.

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🐊 2. Bipedal Dinosaur-like Creatures

🔹 "River Dinosaurs" in the Southeastern U.S.

• Scattered reports in the 1940s–1970s, especially from rural Georgia and South Carolina, of large, upright lizard-like creatures.

• Sometimes described as being 5–7 feet tall, walking on two legs.

• Often interpreted in retrospect as hoaxes, folklore, or misidentified animals (e.g., large lizards, escaped pets, or alligators).

🔹 The "Dinosaur Swamp" legend — Louisiana

• Some local legends describe reptilian creatures in swampy areas, occasionally linked to cryptids or “living dinosaurs.”

• These often reflect tall tales, with little consistency or credibility.

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🧬 3. "Thunderbirds" as Pterosaurs

🔹 Pterosaur-like Sightings

• In states like Texas, New Mexico, and Illinois, there are scattered reports (19th century to 20th century) of giant flying creatures with leathery wings and no feathers.

• Sometimes described as having crests, long beaks, or bat-like wings.

• Occasionally interpreted as living pterosaurs by cryptozoologists.

Notable case:

• Tombstone, Arizona, 1890: A newspaper account told of cowboys shooting a huge bird with a wingspan of 160 feet. Some cryptozoologists argue this could have been a pterosaur, but the story is likely fabricated or exaggerated.

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📚 Cultural and Folk Influences

• Native American legends sometimes describe giant birds, serpent-like river creatures, or monstrous reptiles — which modern interpreters occasionally link (anachronistically) to dinosaurs or prehistoric beasts.

• These are more symbolic/mythic than cryptozoological, but occasionally repurposed in fringe literature as “evidence” of survival.

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🧪 Scientific Evaluation

• No physical or fossil evidence exists of non-avian dinosaurs or Mesozoic reptiles surviving past the Cretaceous.

• Many sightings are explained by:

  • Misidentified animals (e.g., sturgeons, birds, alligators, hoaxes)

  • Folklore and storytelling

  • Pareidolia and eyewitness error

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🧠 Why This Idea Persists

• Popular interest in dinosaurs and prehistoric life

• Influence of creationist pseudoscience (e.g., young earth creationists sometimes cite these reports as evidence against evolution)

• Cultural fascination with the idea of "lost worlds" or "living fossils"

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✅ Summary

Yes, there are alleged reports in North America of creatures interpreted as surviving dinosaurs or pterosaurs, especially:

• Lake monsters (Champ, Ogopogo) → interpreted as plesiosaurs

• Flying cryptids (Thunderbirds) → interpreted as pterosaurs

• Swamp creatures → occasionally likened to bipedal dinosaurs

But these are folkloric or anecdotal, and lack credible scientific backing. They remain part of cryptozoological lore rather than biological reality.

Would you like a list of books or articles from cryptozoology circles that promote these interpretations?

Can you tell me more about the "river dinosaurs" in Southeastern US?

Yes — the so-called "river dinosaurs" or dinosaur-like cryptids of the Southeastern U.S. are a little-known subset of American folklore and cryptozoological lore, often involving reports of large, bipedal, reptilian creatures near rivers or swamps. These reports are rare, scattered, and not well-documented in scientific literature, but they have circulated in fringe or local sources, especially in the 1940s–1970s.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s known (or claimed):

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🐊 1. "River Monster" Reports in Georgia and the Carolinas

🔹 Description (varies):

• Size: 5 to 8 feet tall

• Stance: Bipedal, walking upright

• Features: Lizard-like skin, long tail, small arms, glowing or reflective eyes

• Movement: Fast and agile; some reports say they moved “like a man,” others describe “lizard-like hops”

🔹 Locations:

• Altamaha River, Georgia (also known for the lake monster “Altamaha-ha” or “Altie”)

• Congaree Swamp, South Carolina

• Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia/Florida border

• Green Swamp, North Carolina

These areas are rich in wildlife and have long been settings for swamp monster stories, some dating back to Native American oral traditions and pioneer legends.

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👣 2. The Bishopville "Lizard Man" (South Carolina, 1988)

Although technically not a "dinosaur", this is the most famous modern case of a bipedal reptilian cryptid in the Southeast.

🔹 Reported by: 17-year-old Christopher Davis

• He claimed a scaly, green, man-sized reptilian creature attacked his car near Scape Ore Swamp.

• Had red eyes, clawed hands, stood 7 feet tall.

• Prompted a media frenzy and numerous follow-up sightings.

• Widely considered a hoax or misidentification, but still celebrated locally.

🔹 Cryptozoological Interpretation:

• Some cryptid enthusiasts speculated it could be a “relic dinosaur” (e.g., a theropod, like a small T. rex or raptor).

• Others believed it might be a mutant alligator or humanoid reptilian.

The Lizard Man became a local legend, spawning festivals, merchandise, and decades of debate.

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🦕 3. Young Earth Creationist (YEC) Influence

• Some creationist authors in the mid-20th century and beyond (e.g., John C. Whitcomb, Carl Baugh) promoted the idea that dinosaurs still exist.

• They occasionally cited Southeastern U.S. sightings (along with reports from Africa and Papua New Guinea) as evidence against evolution.

• The narrative was that humans and dinosaurs coexisted, and isolated populations may have survived the Flood.

While most cryptozoologists separate themselves from creationist agendas, there's significant overlap in dinosaur cryptid speculation.

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🧪 Scientific Perspective

Mainstream scientists consider these reports to be:

• Folkloric exaggeration

• Misidentified animals, especially:

  • Large monitor lizards seen on two legs or alligators

  • Escaped exotic pets (e.g., iguanas)

  • Bears or other large mammals glimpsed briefly

• Hoaxes or pranks

• Possibly even mass hysteria in rare cases

There is no physical evidence — no tracks, scat, remains, or credible photos — for any of these supposed creatures.

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🧠 Cultural Context

• The American South has a rich storytelling tradition, including monster legends tied to swamps, rivers, and backwoods.

• Some stories may stem from fear of the unknown, especially in isolated rural areas.

• Cryptozoological interest in the Loch Ness Monster and Mokele-mbembe (Central African "dinosaur") likely encouraged local reinterpretations of unexplained creatures as dinosaurs.

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📚 References & Sources

While not mainstream, some books and articles that discuss these creatures include:

• Loren Coleman, Cryptozoology A to Z (1999)

• Lyle Blackburn, Lizard Man: The True Story of the Bishopville Monster (2013)

• Regional folklore collections from the Carolinas and Georgia

• Cryptozoological websites (e.g., Cryptomundo, Mysterious Universe)

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✅ Summary

Yes, there have been scattered reports — mainly from the Southeastern U.S. — of bipedal, dinosaur-like creatures, especially near rivers and swamps. Most are folkloric or anecdotal and include:

• The Bishopville Lizard Man

• Rumors of “river dinosaurs” or reptilian bipeds in Georgia and the Carolinas

• Occasional interpretations by cryptozoologists or creationists as surviving dinosaurs

However, these remain unsubstantiated and are considered legend, hoax, or misidentification by mainstream science.

Would you like a map or timeline of these kinds of sightings across the U.S.?

Can you tell me about the Monster of Partridge Creek?

The Monster of Partridge Creek is a cryptozoological legend from the Yukon Territory in Canada, dating back to the early 20th century. It’s one of the more obscure “living dinosaur” stories and is often cited in fringe literature and cryptozoology discussions.

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📰 Origin of the Story

The tale originates from two main reports published in the French newspaper Le Journal in 1907 and 1908, written by a French writer and mining engineer named Georges Dupuy.

According to Dupuy, the creature was seen near Partridge Creek, close to Dawson City, during a gold prospecting expedition in the Yukon.

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🐲 Description of the Monster

According to Dupuy’s reports, the creature was:

• A reptilian, dinosaur-like animal

• Around 30 feet (9 meters) long

• Covered in scales, not fur

• With a serpentine neck and large tail

• Described as similar to a sauropod, like a Brontosaurus

Witnesses claimed the beast left large tracks in the snow and frightened both humans and sled dogs.

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🧔 Who Saw It?

Dupuy claimed he saw it himself, along with:

• Prospectors

• A local Indigenous guide named Tom, who reportedly said his people knew of such creatures

However, the only written source remains Dupuy’s articles, which appeared in Le Journal, a French popular newspaper of the time.

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❓ Is the Story Credible?

🟨 Problems:

• No independent corroboration of the event exists.

• No physical evidence (tracks, bones, photos) was ever collected.

• The story was published in a popular newspaper, not a scientific journal, and reads more like a piece of early science fiction or adventure journalism.

• The location (Yukon in winter) is ecologically and climatically implausible for a cold-blooded reptile or any large dinosaur to survive.

🟪 Some researchers believe:

• Dupuy may have fabricated the story or presented a fictionalized account as nonfiction.

• It could be a case of hoax, tall tale, or misidentification (e.g., a moose, bear, or even drifted snow around animal tracks creating odd illusions).

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🧪 In Cryptozoology

Despite the lack of evidence, the Monster of Partridge Creek is sometimes cited by:

• Young Earth Creationists seeking to discredit evolutionary timelines

• Living dinosaur enthusiasts

• Cryptozoologists interested in supposed relic populations of prehistoric creatures

It has appeared in books like:

• Mysterious Creatures by George Eberhart

• Searching for Hidden Animals by Roy Mackal

But even among cryptozoologists, it is treated as a fringe case with extremely low credibility.

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📚 Summary

• The Monster of Partridge Creek is a dinosaur-like creature reportedly seen in the Yukon in the early 1900s.

• Originated from reports by Georges Dupuy in Le Journal.

• Described as a sauropod-like reptile in a snowy, northern setting.

• Lacks any corroboration or physical evidence.

• Widely regarded as folklore, fiction, or hoax, though it continues to interest fringe theorists.

Would you like to see excerpts from Dupuy’s original articles, or how this story compares to other alleged "living dinosaur" tales like Mokele-mbembe?