'New' ape found in DR Congo. Scientists discover a new group of giant apes in central Africa, which could be a new species of primate. [BBC News | News Front Page | UK Edition]

Seems there's more lurking out there than we ever thought. Let's hope that this new species isn't driven into extinction before we even get properly introduced.

The animals, with characteristics of both gorillas and chimpanzees, have been sighted in the north of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to local villagers, the apes are ferocious, and even capable of killing lions.

There are three controversial possibilities to explain the origin of the mystery apes:

• They are a new species of ape
• They are giant chimpanzees, much larger than any so far recorded, but behave like gorillas
• They could be hybrids, the product of gorillas mating with chimpanzees.

So far, researchers have little to go on, but they now plan to return to northern DR Congo to study the apes further.

In the meantime, there are fears that unless measures are taken to protect them, poaching could threaten this new group of primates before the mystery of their identity is resolved.

"This is a lawless area," says Kenyan-based Swiss photographer Karl Ammann, who tipped Ms Williams off about the apes.

I hope these majestic primates can kill poachers.

5:21:07 PM     leave/read comments []

From the second day ever of my blog comes this item that might make you want to rethink the whole "God is my Co-Pilot" thing:

Thirty-nine hurt as coaches crash. Two coaches collide in Lincolnshire, injuring 39 elderly people who were travelling to a shrine. [BBC News | News Front Page | UK Edition]

Yes, the disturbing trend of religion-related bus misadventures continues apace. Is God sending us a message? Or is it just a really bad idea to mix Christian fellowship with motor coaches?

Oh, the humanity.

Secular humanity, that is.

I ain't taking no chances.

4:04:56 PM    

Waiting For Lt. Calley

Chris makes some excellent points about a nightmarish direction the Occupation of Iraq could take if the U.S. refuses to acknowledge the lessons of history and instead chooses to heed the lessons of B-movies.

I am heartened by the reactions of some of the Marines, tho'.

"The reality right now is that the most dangerous opinion in the world is the opinion of a U.S. serviceman," said Lance Cpl. Devin Kelly, 20, of Fairbanks, Alaska.

Lance Cpl. Alexander Jones, 20, of Ball Ground, Ga., agreed: "We're basically proving out that the government is wrong," he said. "We're catching them in a lie."

However, as Chris points out, there are frightening echos of Vietnam in Iraq that grow louder every day:

The Marines also expressed frustration that they were unable to fight more aggressively because of restraints in the rules of engagement imposed by senior commanders.

The rules, which require Marines to positively identify their target as hostile before shooting, are cumbersome in the face of urban guerrilla warfare, several of them said.

"When we get called out, we'll sit there staging there for an hour," Maio said. "By the time we're ready to move, they're up and gone. A few weeks ago, the Iskandariyah police station was under attack. We staged for damn near an hour before we went out. It's stupid. You have to wait to get approval and all this other stuff."

So what lesson do we take away from all this? "Let us win the war, by any means necessary" (Hello Abu Gitmo?) or "We have no business being in Vietnam," uh, I mean, Iraq?

2:53:51 PM     leave/read comments []