-3K status-

-3K-

Yeah, 3K at last. Took me 5 years almost, while it takes most other cats 5 weeks.

I feel like crap though. I've had the flu for the past 3 days, though today it seems to have simmered down, temp is back to 98.6. Still, it sucks waking up every morning freezing because you're drenched in sweat, and being so dizzy you can barely walk...and my throat is fuckin killing me right now, I think my vocal cord was elongated or something because yesterday it felt like I had a piece of cereal stuck in the back of my throat the whole day. Is that even possible, for the vocal chord to get swollen or some shit like that?

Anyway, I don't mean to depress you guys with my sickness, so here, I'm gonna post some stuff about penguins.

Penguins

The signature species of Antarctica -- the mascot, if you will -- is the penguin. There are not one but no fewer than 17 species of penguins, of which only four breed on the Antarctic continent itself. These include the Adelie, the Emperor, the Chinstrap and the Gentoo penguins. Several other species are sometimes found within the Antarctic region, and penguins are found as far north as the Galapagos Islands, straddling the equator. But in general, the link in the public imagination between Antarctica and penguins is supported by the numbers -- there are millions of nesting pairs of Chinstrap penguins alone, and they are by far the most numerous creatures in the region.

Flightless Birds

Penguins are flightless birds which have adapted to living in the cooler waters of the Southern Hemisphere. The 17 species of penguins found today are thought to have evolved from petrel-like flying birds some 50 million years ago. Some species spend as much as 75% of their lives in the ocean, yet they all breed on land or sea-ice attached to the land.

All penguins have a very similar torpedo-shaped body form, though they vary greatly in size. Penguin wings are highly modified to form stiff paddle-like flippers used for swimming, and their feet and stubby tails combine to form a rudder. The penguin's bones are solid and heavy, which help them to remain submerged and reduce the energy needed for diving.

Penguins are able to withstand the extreme cold because insulation provided by their short, densely-packed feathers forms a waterproof coat. A thick layer of fat or blubber also serves as an energy store. These adaptations, among others, enable them to minimize heat loss in icy cold waters so they can cope with the harsh conditions of the Antarctic.

Behavior

Penguins communicate by complex ritual behaviors such as head and flipper waving, calling, bowing, gesturing and preening. Territorial disputes lead to aggressive postures such as stares, pointing and even charging. Courtship and mating rituals include so called "ecstatic displays" where a bird, typically an unattached male, pumps his chest several times and, with his head stretched upwards and flippers akimbo, emits a harsh loud braying sound. This can result in a mass trumpeting by other males, which is believed to help synchronize the breeding cycle

Locomotion

Penguins are very efficient swimmers. Though they are comfortable at speeds around 5 mph (8 km/ph), some species can travel at 7 mph (12 km/ph) in short bursts. When traveling quickly, penguins will leap clear of the water every few feet -- an action called "porpoising" due to its resemblance to porpoise behavior. This enables them to breathe, and decreases their chances of being taken by a predator.

Antarctic penguins have also developed the ability to leap out of the water to a substantial height on land, enabling them to reach raised ice edges or rock ledges. Penguin legs are set far down on their bodies, so they walk with a very erect posture. Ashore they are often awkward, waddling and hopping over rocks; on snow they sometimes push themselves along on their stomachs

Movie of penguin locomotion.

cool penguins.

penguins are my steez i have a calander of penguins and penguin soap, if i come up on some money ever im totally gonna have one as a pet.

*picture opening your fridge and a penguin running out and slapping you with its flappy wing like amrs then running off*

Originally posted by AREANKAY@Mar 2 2005, 01:02 PM

 

*picture opening your fridge and a penguin running out and slapping you with its flappy wing like amrs then running off*

Quoted post

Pen-Pen!

congrats on the 3K my man. Took you long enough.... ha!

congrats fellow blunted wonder

um, since when am i not the Penguin man ?

since you got all lazy and stoped living here every day.

congrats my friend, good to see some old schoolers still round here.

I like these birds too

well deserved! good to have the old cats around, that goes for you too platapie

still around sure, but also still rockin the og screen name too.

eggsellent.

hmm, i just crossed the 4k barrier the other day. i just realized that this august i'll have been daryling around this site for two years

whoooaaaaaaa....dude

that's awesome...as are the lovely penquins.

doesnt someone have a gif of a penguin slapping another penguin in their signature? i always enjoy it.

I love penguins this really made my day, congrats on your 3000th im almost 1/6 of the way there.

Wow, thanks everyone who made some penguin contributions. Thanks to all the old schoolers and what not. Check me out, I'm all elite and shit.

Penguins be up to some scandalous shit:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4292231.stm

P Diddy angers animal activists

Rap star P Diddy has angered animal rights activists after penguins were used as a party piece at an event he was hosting in the US.

The animals were placed on a floating glass platform in a swimming pool at a hotel in Miami Beach, Florida.

Animal rights group Peta has expressed concern that it was far too hot for penguins who are used to cold climates.

A hotel spokesman claimed the South African penguins were a warm-weather variety trained for entertaining.

A "sincere apology" was also issued to any party-goers who were offended by the display.

A spokesman for the rap star, who was billed as the host of the hotel launch, said that the use of the penguins had not been P Diddy's idea.

Onlookers at the party said the group of penguins on the platform were huddled together with their backs to the crowd.

Peta (People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals) spokesman Michael McGraw said the organisation is looking into whether the incident contravened any anti-cruelty legislation.

He added that the event was probably unbearable for the penguins.

"They're very sensitive to temperatures, so if it was as hot as we've heard, it's a wonder they didn't collapse," he said.

"In any case, they were likely terrified and at the very least it was a very bad idea," added Mr McGraw.

He added that there was one species of penguin which is adapted to warm weather, but said that the birds should not be used for entertainment purposes, and urged those who attended the party to get in touch.

another old schooler just hitting the 3k...i'm almost there as well.

congrats,penguins are cool

3k in 2012.

Congrats...

While not as significant, I recently hit 3k myself.