Megan has started a blog. It collects her very astute and witty observations from diverse things like the sitcom Full House, to the book, Sing and dance with the Pennsylvania Dutch. She made me laugh and I’m sure she’ll make you laugh too.

Click here to visit Megan’s site.

Well Week 1 of the new regimen is over. I won’t lie either, it beat the hell of me. However, rather miraculously the plan is working and progress on the screenplays is not only continuing, but going extremely well. I have a feeling that Week 2 is going to be a lot tougher. And Week 3… I don’t even want to think about yet.

This all means that I’m not really sure how many updates I’ll be doing here on Protozoic, at least while I’m working 9 to 5 and getting up at the crack of dawn to write. However, I’m certain I’ll figure out a way to squeeze in an update or two from time to time (maybe after I get my evenings back from exerting my will against the employment-void by filling out job applications). In any event, I will continue to post weekly reports of the Amieviathan project’s progress here. And of course, I’m sure our other posters will throw up some juicy nuggets of truth here at some point too.

Is there anything else? I saw a deplorable documentary about Chemtrails (2001). It had to be one of the worst produced things I’ve ever seen, not to mention the work of foaming madmen. Really though, what did you expect if you are watching a documentary on chemtrails? So there are highlights for chem-fans, like the interview with William Wallace, and his dog, eh-hem, Braveheart.

Some better, and more enjoyable things I’ve seen here in the past week or so are [The Good Fairy] (1935), directed by William Wyler, The Long Goodbye (1977), directed by Robert Altman, the new Battlestar Galatica (2003), directed by Michael Rymer and Joss Whedon’s Firefly (2002-2003).
If you are not particularly interested in chemtrails, watch these things first.

See you in a week.

DJ Webb is now running his own blog, Namrepus Hunter. I looked at the name for a couple days thinking it was slightly odd before I finally had to sit down and figure out what the hell it meant. I have to say, it is a good name, escpecially considering that it came from the same man who rather famously named his own “Master of Flowers” Monk, Mr. Monk.

Click here to read DJ Webb’s blog, Namrepus Hunter.

Thom at Little Chef:

The summer has been good for the film project. Though I’ve not hit anywhere near the ridiculous goal I set myself, there has been lots of motion and development. Not only are things starting to take definite shape, but I can genuinely say I’m excited. Draft one of the first Ameviathan/ Suspension Invention script, “The Boggy Boogieman”, has been written. The only thing I can really say about the script is that it loosely has to do with the Delmarva Wetlands. And hey – thanks to Megan for alerting me to a recent article from the Associated Press about the good news for those wetlands!

In addition to the first screenplay, I’ve written up to the half-way point of the second script, “The Green Machine”. This leaves only one more script to write, and then the revision of the three. After the revisions, the second phase film (or rather video) project will begin.

But there can’t be good news without bad news. The good summer has taken its toll on my finances. They have finally run dry leaving the bills piled up (like that one from the dentist).

This means: I have to go back to work. This afternoon I begin working once again at Westminster’s Choir College’s Talbott Library in a temporary capacity as the Secretary. There is a chance that my temporary employment could turn into full time employment. Time will tell.

If this is the case, I’ll want to maintain momentum on the film project. In order to do this I’m going to implement a new regimen of waking up every morning at 4 AM and continuing to write.

I don’t figure it will be too easy. But, was anything ever easy.

Two weeks ago, a question came up in reference to the Squorty Tails, the Delmarva Fox Squirrel, post.

Megan asked,

Do squirrels actually have nipples and belly-buttons?

We wrote the Mad Science Network who were kind enough to provide an answer to Megan’s question. They confirmed that since squirrels were eutherian mammals, that they did have nipples and belly buttons. Their full answer to our question can be read here.

However, there was still a question if the belly button and nipples could be seen on an adult squirrel through the fur. We contacted the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Ask a Scientist resource with the question. They were unable to give us an answer, but suggested that we try asking The Wildlife Center of Virginia.

And now we have the answer!

According to The Wildlife Center of Virginia a squirrel’s belly button would not be visible through the fur. Unlike humans, when squirrels are born, their umbilical cords are not tied off like they are on human babies. It is this tying of the umbilical cord which actually causes the belly button indentation. Since no one ties off baby squirrels umbilical cords, with time, they rot and fall off. This only leaves a pale mark on the skin under the fur of the adult squirrel.

The Wildlife Center of Virginia indicated that the nipples were a different matter. It is possible that nipples would be visible through the fur, but only on a lactating female squirrel.

So what does this all mean for Squorty Tails, a boy squirrel, with a visible belly button and nipples? Well, his belly button is just a pale mark, and not like the indented human belly button. As for his nipples and pale-mark-belly-button both being visible, it is obvious that Squorty shaves. How else would he have gotten that well groomed beard?

Protozoic would like to extend special thanks to The Wildlife Center of Virginia, Ask a Scientist and Mad Science Network for helping us resolve these questions. And if you have similar questions – you now know who to ask!