Loupie's Blog » Uncategorized http://loupie.co.uk This is my Blog, its a eclectic mash up of my random thoughts. Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:18:16 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 More on the sex lives of bats… http://loupie.co.uk/more-on-the-sex-lives-of-bats%e2%80%a6/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=more-on-the-sex-lives-of-bats%25e2%2580%25a6 http://loupie.co.uk/more-on-the-sex-lives-of-bats%e2%80%a6/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2005 18:21:33 +0000 Loupie http://loupie.co.uk/?p=88 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> According to the Metro today the production of sperm and brain cells are both very energy demanding. Thus males cannot generate large numbers of both.

The study found that in bat species where the females were unusally promiscuous the males had much larger testicles, up to 8.5% of their body mass, as opposed to 0.02-0.75% in apes, however these males also had much smaller brains.

In species where the females were monogamous have relatively large brains.

However male promiscuity doesn’t seem to affect this at all.

And some more cute bats

]]> http://loupie.co.uk/more-on-the-sex-lives-of-bats%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 Dance of the Damned — The Vampyre ball http://loupie.co.uk/dance-of-the-damned-the-vampyre-ball/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dance-of-the-damned-the-vampyre-ball http://loupie.co.uk/dance-of-the-damned-the-vampyre-ball/#comments Sun, 10 Sep 2006 14:44:02 +0000 Loupie http://loupie.co.uk/?p=74 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Last night was the Vampyre ConneXion’s Dance of the Damned or vampyre ball at The Clink prison museum.

It was appsolutlety amazin, first we walked through some of the museum to get to the hall, which has left me longing to go back and see it all again properly. The hall itself was so dark that it took everyone about 20 minutes to get their night vision, but was wonderful, the perfect venue.

I only saw the first band, The Voices of Masada but loved them, I think I’m going to have to get some of their CD’s. Then spent most of the night dancing until I was exhausted. If Wrecked is anything like this next week we’ll have a great time.

Updated: The photos can be found here, courtesy of Cecile

]]> http://loupie.co.uk/dance-of-the-damned-the-vampyre-ball/feed/ 0 I have been very silly http://loupie.co.uk/i-have-been-very-silly/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=i-have-been-very-silly http://loupie.co.uk/i-have-been-very-silly/#comments Sat, 07 Apr 2007 13:43:48 +0000 Loupie http://loupie.co.uk/?p=50 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Yesterday I attempted to jump a stream, slipped and grabbed the first thing I could. Unfortionately for me it was the top rail of a barbed wire fence! So I now have a nice scratch all the way across my right palm, luckily its not deep and as I’m up to date on Tetnus I managed to avoid going to A+E for 5 hours.

At least I know for next time.

]]> http://loupie.co.uk/i-have-been-very-silly/feed/ 0 Library Thing http://loupie.co.uk/library-thing/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=library-thing http://loupie.co.uk/library-thing/#comments Thu, 12 Apr 2007 13:37:12 +0000 Loupie http://loupie.co.uk/?p=42 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Following the advice of Manda; I have signed up to  Librarything.com all you do is type in a user name and password and you can catalouge up to 200 books for free, sort them by categories and find other people who read the same stuff and recommendations for what books you may like next.

If you would like to see what books I currently have (Please bear in mind this is not nearly all of them and it will be updated as soon as I can) click here.

]]> http://loupie.co.uk/library-thing/feed/ 0 Goth who walks fiancée on a leash is banned by bus driver who told him: ‘No dogs allowed’ | the Daily Mail http://loupie.co.uk/goth-who-walks-fiancee-on-a-leash-is-banned-by-bus-driver-who-told-him-%e2%80%98no-dogs-allowed%e2%80%99-the-daily-mail/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=goth-who-walks-fiancee-on-a-leash-is-banned-by-bus-driver-who-told-him-%25e2%2580%2598no-dogs-allowed%25e2%2580%2599-the-daily-mail http://loupie.co.uk/goth-who-walks-fiancee-on-a-leash-is-banned-by-bus-driver-who-told-him-%e2%80%98no-dogs-allowed%e2%80%99-the-daily-mail/#comments Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:39:42 +0000 Loupie http://loupie.co.uk/?p=21 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...

Pet Human Goth Dani Graves Tasha Maltby

]]> Cecile pointed this out to me, from the Daily Mail.

Personally I am disgusted by the driver’s behaviour. As I said on the Mails site (not sure if they’ve approved my comment yet) if it was an issue of race or religion he would never have got away with it.

Pet Human Goth Dani Graves Tasha Maltby

]]> http://loupie.co.uk/goth-who-walks-fiancee-on-a-leash-is-banned-by-bus-driver-who-told-him-%e2%80%98no-dogs-allowed%e2%80%99-the-daily-mail/feed/ 0 I’m so worried — Monty Python http://loupie.co.uk/im-so-worried-%e2%80%94-monty-python/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=im-so-worried-%25e2%2580%2594-monty-python http://loupie.co.uk/im-so-worried-%e2%80%94-monty-python/#comments Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:26:44 +0000 Loupie http://loupie.co.uk/?p=14 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]>

Just had this song come up, according to Last.FM it’s dated 11 Dec 1989. Just shows how things don’t change. Especially the bit about Heathrow! I’m so worried about what’s hapenin’ today, in the middle east, you know And I’m worried about the baggage retrieval system they’ve got at Heathrow I’m so worried about the fashions today, I don’t think they’re good for your feet And I’m so worried about the shows on TV that sometimes they want to repeat

I’m so worried about what’s happenin’ today, you know And I’m worried about the baggage retrieval system they’ve got at Heathrow I’m so worried about my hair falling out and the state of the world today And I’m so worried about bein’ so full of doubt about everything, anyway

I’m so worried about modern technology I’m so worried about all the things that they dump in the sea I’m so worried about it, worried about it, worried, worried, worried

I’m so worried about everything that can go wrong I’m so worried about whether people like this song I’m so worried about this very next verse, it isn’t the best that I’ve got And I’m so worried about whether I should go on, or whether I should just stop

I’m worried about whether I ought to have stopped And I’m worried about, it’s the sort of thing I ought to know And I’m worried about the baggage retrieval system they’ve got at Heathrow

I’m so worried about whether I should have stopped then I’m so worried that I’m driving everyone ’round the bend I’m worried about the baggage retrieval system they’ve got at Heathrow

]]> http://loupie.co.uk/im-so-worried-%e2%80%94-monty-python/feed/ 0 South Africa – part 1 http://loupie.co.uk/south-africa-part-1/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=south-africa-part-1 http://loupie.co.uk/south-africa-part-1/#comments Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:14:53 +0000 Loupie http://loupie.co.uk/?p=115 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> I promised you updates and as I have been here for a week I should probably deliver.

Journey here was good though incredably long. Dispite leaving home by 3 on Thursday afternoon, I didn’t get to the park until 6 on Friday evening. Partly due to a 5 hour drive from the airport to the park. We ae in the middle of nowhere. Though that is not a bad thing. the drive was actally quie nice, I got to see quite a lot of the local country side which is a lot different to back home. Though I was reminded of Dartmoor as the local villages just let their cows and goats roam freely, even if that means across the roads. Was most amused when we got nearer to Tembe and found a road sign, ‘Beware hippo’ now theres definately something you don’t get in England!

Made it into the research camp just as it was getting dark so didn’t really see anything of the park, except some nyala, a type of antelope just as we got through the gate. I was reliably informed they are like sheep and it appears they really are. Everywhere you go in t6he park there are hundreds of them.

Went out for my first monitoring session the next morning, exciting. Several of the lions in the park have radio collars fitted to help track their movements. Picked up a few beeps but didn’t see any lions, however did see a huge bull elephant. He was just standing calmly at the side of the road and didn’t seem  bothered by us at all. Really wish I’d thought to grab my camera before going out. Also saw lots of antelope of several different varieties and a black rhino. the more endangered of the two types.

More soon…

]]> http://loupie.co.uk/south-africa-part-1/feed/ 0 South Africa – part 2 http://loupie.co.uk/south-africa-%e2%80%93-part-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=south-africa-%25e2%2580%2593-part-2 http://loupie.co.uk/south-africa-%e2%80%93-part-2/#comments Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:16:29 +0000 Loupie http://loupie.co.uk/?p=118 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]>

Since the first day things have kind of fallen nto a routine here. We go out lion monitoringat 5:30 every morning. Check the swamps to see if it is safe for the local women to come in to gather reeds then head back for a quick break before going out elephant monitoring at about 10.

I have seen loads of wildlife here. Not just lions and elephants but mongooses, warthogs, buffalo, black and white rhino, giraffe, zebra as well as the aforementioned antelope. Also yesterday saw some monkeys hanging around camp. I made the mistake of leaving some oranges on the puicnic table outside and came back out to find one of them tucking in!

Also seen loads of birds. This place is a bird watchers paradise. Hornbills (like Zazu from the lion king), doves, rollers, kingfishers. Some of them are just the most amazing colours.

Oh and I just wanted to let you know that the park I am staying in has a webcam in one of the hides. I have seen loads of animals from there; I can’t remember the URL currently but is you google Tembe Elephant Park you’ll find it.

]]> http://loupie.co.uk/south-africa-%e2%80%93-part-2/feed/ 0 South Africa – part 3 http://loupie.co.uk/south-africa-%e2%80%93-3/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=south-africa-%25e2%2580%2593-3 http://loupie.co.uk/south-africa-%e2%80%93-3/#comments Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:18:05 +0000 Loupie http://loupie.co.uk/?p=120 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Right so this is offically my last full day in Tembe, then I go to Cape Town for a week for a tour round the Western Cape.

So what has been happening here. Loads. Last Thursday was probably the best day so far. We saw so many animals. Antelope, monkeys, including a type I have never seen before, loads of birds (there are so many birds here, apparently most of the ones found in this region can be seen in the park), lots of zebra, warthogs, lions, buffalo, 4 white rhino, elephants. In fact one day, it may have been Thursday I can’t remember, we saw three breeding herds and a bull elephant at the water hole all at the same time, thats a total of twenty eight elephants all in one place!

Other cool things I’ve seen are a suni, also known as a Livingstone’s antelope, the smallest one in the park and very endangered, two side-striped jackals, a crocodile, several different types of mongoose, wild dogs and puppies, and on Saturday we saw a lion that the park had no record of. It had been missed when they logged all the others.

For those asking I have taken loads of pictures, over 400 so far and wil upload some as soon as I can, this computer doesn’t seem to want to let me. Miss you all and wish you could have come too. This place is simply amazing.

]]> http://loupie.co.uk/south-africa-%e2%80%93-3/feed/ 0 South Africa Pictures http://loupie.co.uk/south-africa-pictures/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=south-africa-pictures http://loupie.co.uk/south-africa-pictures/#comments Sun, 16 Jan 2011 21:35:25 +0000 Loupie http://loupie.co.uk/?p=124 I know you have all been waiting for me to post these so here you are. All taken in the Tembe elephant park.

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