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This weekend, while wandering past the cheetah exhibit at the Living Desert, Martin and I learned some valuable life lessons:


1. 'Life is about experiences, not the things you pick up along the way' (spoken by a father to his five year old son).

2. 'Cheetah's don't cheat!' (spoken by the wife of speaker number one, to their three or four year old son).


On top of all this, I have expanded my vocubulary. Almost. That is, I acquired this most fantastic word:


ferruginous


but have no idea what it means. It described a hawk that we saw - caged but happy - during our dusty tour of the L.D. According to their website, they also have a ferruginous pygmy owl, but this I don't remember coming across. I suppose I also ought to clarify that the image above is of a Harris's Hawk which, though may be many wonderful things besides, is not particularly ferruginous.
More to follow.

Comments

  1. Hello, I'm Emily Clare.27 November, 2007 18:39

    You didn't look it up already??
    It's an adjective meaning:
    1. Of, containing, or similar to iron.
    2. Having the color of iron rust; reddish-brown.

    [From Latin ferrūginus, from ferrūgō, ferrūgin-, iron rust, from ferrum, iron.]

    I feel smarter already. I think we need to hang out more. :-P

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous29 November, 2007 00:47

    Oi, achei seu blog pelo google está bem interessante gostei desse post. Gostaria de falar sobre o CresceNet. O CresceNet é um provedor de internet discada que remunera seus usuários pelo tempo conectado. Exatamente isso que você leu, estão pagando para você conectar. O provedor paga 20 centavos por hora de conexão discada com ligação local para mais de 2100 cidades do Brasil. O CresceNet tem um acelerador de conexão, que deixa sua conexão até 10 vezes mais rápida. Quem utiliza banda larga pode lucrar também, basta se cadastrar no CresceNet e quando for dormir conectar por discada, é possível pagar a ADSL só com o dinheiro da discada. Nos horários de minuto único o gasto com telefone é mínimo e a remuneração do CresceNet generosa. Se você quiser linkar o Cresce.Net(www.provedorcrescenet.com) no seu blog eu ficaria agradecido, até mais e sucesso. If is possible add the CresceNet(www.provedorcrescenet.com) in your blogroll, I thank. Good bye friend.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Unknown29 November, 2007 10:33

    Oh dear. I wasn't quite able to understand that last comment. Translation, anyone?

    As for you, Ems, thanks for the research. I should hire you as my academic assistant. Next time I'm an academic. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wonder Jens29 November, 2007 10:40

    Ha!

    I was going to say something about iron, but apparently Emily beat me.

    But I was still going to say iron, although I don't know what you would do with an iron hawk.

    Ohhh! Ohh. OOh! sounds like a super hero to me.

    Iron Hawk, with her talons of justice.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Unknown29 November, 2007 16:40

    hmm.... i don't think i'd want to be the superhero Iron Hawk. I might rather be Night Hawk or Silver Hawk. something a little more sylph-like. In fact, mebbe I shouldn't be a superhero at all...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello, I'm Emily Clare.29 November, 2007 19:05

    Can you flag a comment? I think you got spammed! In another language, except for that last sentence...
    Iron Hawk is an AWESOME super hero name!!

    ReplyDelete

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