Mad Science Network has answered the recent question that arose here on Protozoic as to whether or not squirrels had nipples and belly buttons.

Hi Michael – Squirrels are eutherian mammals, meaning they bear live young which are nourished in utero through a placenta.

The umbilical cord transports the fetal blood to the placenta, where it is nourished with oxygen and nutrients from the mother’s circulation. After birth, the remnant of the umbilical cord connection is the belly button, or umbilicus. Squirrels thus have a belly button.

Mammals also nurse their young through mammary glands which produce the milk. The milk in eutherian mammals is exuded through the nipples. Squirrels, being eutherian mammals, thus have nipples.

• Lynn Bry, MD/PhD, Dept. Pathology, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School

Alternatively click here to read their answer to the question here.

Interestingly it would seem that Gerry had a similar question about dogs and cats having belly buttons.

Thanks Mad Science Network!

Additionally, The Worldwide Wildlife Fund has written me indicating that they have printed out Squorty Tails, the Delmarva Fox Squirrel, and hung him on their bulletin board. And if you ask me, that is almost as good as getting published!

While researching ways to counteract propaganda, I came across the Internet Archive, a fantastic resource that culls audio, video, text and computer programs that for whatever reason have fallen into public domain. In other words – PURE INFORMATION out the wazoo.

In the moving images section for example, you can download the complete versions of Killers from Space (1954), directed by W. Lee Wilder, a movie about atomic bombs and aliens, and the minor classic Big Trees (1952), directed by Felix E. Feist, starring Kirk Douglas as a timber baron planning to chop down old wood sequoias in a Quaker colony. Can it get any better than this? Yes, there are a slew of Max Fleischer-produced Superman cartoons, math lectures, newsreels, propaganda films and stuff that I haven’t even looked at in the text, audio and computer program sections.

Additionally, I strongly urge everyone to take a gander at the reason why I happened onto this site in the first place – the Fairbanks (Jerry) Productions, Brink of Disaster Part I and Part II (1972), directed by John Florea. No joke, Brink of Disaster, is about a revolutionary war hero who travels back in time to quell campus rebellion in the 1970s. From its whacked-out premise to its re-christening of “freedom of speech” to “freedom of filth”, Brink of Disaster is a must.

In conclusion, sites like the Internet Archive are all about what the Internet can be and should be.

Just thought I’d post a quick note to let everyone know that Dash Eight won the first round of the WRNR “Land Your Band” competition. The grand prize is a trip to Epic Records in N.Y.C. to meet with some guys about the small matter of a record contract. Big ups to Thom for coming out and representing the C.O.T. crew. Next round is in August- I’ll keep everyone updated. 🙂

For a long time I’ve been a fan of the Theology Girl website. The most recent posts concerning Denny the Electrician are must reads. Truly fantastic stuff. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

Click here to visit Theology Girl

DJ Webb, AKA Thom, now has his own photo blog. Check it out. Click here to go see Thom’s Travels.

For some time, I’ve promised a post on the progress of the “Untitled Project”. Without revealing too much, the project will most likely have one of the following names:

• Ameviathan
• Magine
• The Suspension Invention

Currently, I’m leaning heavily towards the last name; though all three names will be featured in the project in one form or another.

I’m developing the project so that it has the potential to be an episodic show. At this stage however, for practical reasons, my goal is too shoot one show, a pilot, which will be 20 to 30 minutes in length. If I even manage to get the pilot done, it will be a small miracle.

Continue reading Untitled Project to Soon be Titled →