Why Evolution is True is a blog written by Jerry Coyne, centered on evolution and biology but also dealing with diverse topics like politics, culture, and cats.
It’s hard to believe that Maru, the tubby Scottish fold who lives in Japan, has been on the Internet for eleven years. So be it: he’s probably the world’s most popular cat, and here he plays the drums with his tail. How cool is that?
And notice that, like a good jazz drummer, Maru often hits off the beat.
Let us end the work week, as we often do, with a cat—this time a prominent one. Maru is of course Japan’s most famous cat, and perhaps the most famous Internet cat in the world. His forte is entering small boxes, and he’s able to get into very tiny ones. But at last, after many years, Maru has found a box too small to enter. He does try, though!
Voilà:
h/t: Jim
It’s Hump Day—Wednesday, November 30, 2016, and the last day of the month. It’s National Mousse Day, and they’re not talking about hair products. In South Africa it’s also Regina Mundi Day, commemorating a Soweto church that was a focus of anti-apartheid activity.
On this day in 1872, the very first international football match took place in Glasgow between Scotland and England. The matched ended in a 0-0 tie; I guess there was no overtime or no penalty kicks back then. On this day in 1947, the 1947-48 Civil War began in “Mandatory Palestine” when, after the UN passed a resolution for partition, creating the state of Israel, Arabs began attacking Jewish civilians. Finally, on this day in 1982, Michael Jackson released his terrific album “Thriller,” which remains the best-selling album in rock history.
Notables born on this day include Mark Twain (1835, real name Samuel Clemens), Winston Churchill (1874), Dick Clark (1929), Terrence Malick (1943, don’t miss his terrific movie “Days of Heaven,” one of the most beautifully photographed movies I’ve seen), and Billy Idol (1955). Those who died on this day include Oscar Wilde (1900, Paris), Tiny Tim (1996; remember him and his live-on-television marriage to Miss Vicki?), and Evel Knievel (2007). Meanwhile in Dobrzyn, Hili, who can slip through the gate, is waiting for the staff to open it for her friend Cyrus..
Hili: How long do we have to wait for them at the gate?A: I’m wondering the same thing.
Hili: Jak długo mamy na nich czekać pod tą bramą?
Cyrus: Też się nad tym zastanawiam.
And today’s Google Doodle pays homage to Jagadish Chandra Bose, the Indian scientific polymath born on this day in 1858 (died 1937).
What a cruel thing Maru’s owner, mugumogu, has done to him! As we all know, Maru loves to climb into Too Small Boxes, even when he can’t even fit in them. But what happens when he’s forced to choose between TWO Too Small Boxes? Does he choose the smallest one?
You won’t believe what he does! (Yes, you will; it’s just clickbait.)
I take my leave with the latest Maru video, called “And the box becomes a part of Maru!?”
This is truly an enigmatic cat; who knows what drives him to enter boxes? Perhaps the same compulsion that drives Deepak Chopra to constantly mention the word “quantum”?
If I die, this will be my last post.