tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859259193408645592024-03-13T19:14:01.193-07:00A Voice from the WoodThe blog of Ross Wood Studlar - cartoonist and nature interpreter.Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.comBlogger221125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-19571786369702074682023-12-31T17:13:00.000-08:002023-12-31T17:13:20.469-08:00The Fire Lizard<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXolDG0Tl8AY5n87kHhqInJz85c6mNh67-anDB6BFIPgNKegS4rqNB6m8BUKVIgrSzBwdQcjEDydtXKmwQzj9t8CVtpIhVh7f_uEneMBpoCY3NEiXditB0YCYstDWfIDxB9Hex5WlusTBjBbNMTks317PKqof7Q2DZVwwpsHaMMelhCyvZd3GpJrgM1vQ/s1200/GoldenscaleAnole_1200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1200" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXolDG0Tl8AY5n87kHhqInJz85c6mNh67-anDB6BFIPgNKegS4rqNB6m8BUKVIgrSzBwdQcjEDydtXKmwQzj9t8CVtpIhVh7f_uEneMBpoCY3NEiXditB0YCYstDWfIDxB9Hex5WlusTBjBbNMTks317PKqof7Q2DZVwwpsHaMMelhCyvZd3GpJrgM1vQ/s320/GoldenscaleAnole_1200.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Fire-breathing lizard! I based this drawing on a photo of a goldenscale anole, a South American species that I’m not too familiar with. I kept green anoles as pets as a kid. Therefore, I know from direct observation that this is how a lizard feels after he wins a dominance contest with a rival.<br /><br />HAPPY NEW YEAR!</p><p> </p>Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-30714908597329424522023-11-24T16:54:00.000-08:002023-11-24T16:54:03.796-08:00For EVER food chain<p> Happy Thanksgiving Weekend! Here’s one from my sketchbook. Welcome to the Everglades, where the wild animals can eat each other in peace.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgSQ7B0oPBVTgPeu7GRWKUf8r4Z-xciv-1YcdQ-zTX9fiCGGn5fX5fL1ONO-got7VNCTjoC05bT0emMoct560zEk3p9qFbk5XcujCqifWNIs7wl3dkXQaCB2Twp3sve_1gARzRK0nYH8Y9lM-OjU3Q0dryRZ_eqp5-eVefQCjb48jPdcXip6cKdyELiU/s1200/everfoodchainbetter_1200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="1200" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgSQ7B0oPBVTgPeu7GRWKUf8r4Z-xciv-1YcdQ-zTX9fiCGGn5fX5fL1ONO-got7VNCTjoC05bT0emMoct560zEk3p9qFbk5XcujCqifWNIs7wl3dkXQaCB2Twp3sve_1gARzRK0nYH8Y9lM-OjU3Q0dryRZ_eqp5-eVefQCjb48jPdcXip6cKdyELiU/s320/everfoodchainbetter_1200.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-41889415534160210692023-11-12T17:35:00.000-08:002023-11-12T17:35:28.906-08:00A spider-web forged from string and glue<p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvINk8nyyrjwrnPrnPRgDe1cUbp1QBWdkIcSMcgstkDG4WGbOg4ZV3aUGycEbmBZskngrJY5NbffwhPSR9ggZy8BKvGfT9BpnWn_4W6niHSnhsJm3p2P3OnVkdThS5957cjvQPlfl8GK0q4O57GxzK3KIvDS1GfukgDj1u_GE3c5T6i3n0iFc2gjZqIg/s4032/SpiderWeb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvINk8nyyrjwrnPrnPRgDe1cUbp1QBWdkIcSMcgstkDG4WGbOg4ZV3aUGycEbmBZskngrJY5NbffwhPSR9ggZy8BKvGfT9BpnWn_4W6niHSnhsJm3p2P3OnVkdThS5957cjvQPlfl8GK0q4O57GxzK3KIvDS1GfukgDj1u_GE3c5T6i3n0iFc2gjZqIg/s320/SpiderWeb.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPHhtdny6Rz5wybp2r_mI0o0ThZ0ngQ50t5dtXL4tPSWZDGSWSdvWdx2s_sQZva_Uqbg6gSAHFbHiMnCTnc__8inAWhg-WCPw25ECLeCniBOSgUU7a1hig1E7rIs5I53ndPvOfl6J019QEgsYyJmm5-Uw3-spUlviSny828lZVmlxBDoFZ7pdxR48ybc/s4032/SpidersTable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPHhtdny6Rz5wybp2r_mI0o0ThZ0ngQ50t5dtXL4tPSWZDGSWSdvWdx2s_sQZva_Uqbg6gSAHFbHiMnCTnc__8inAWhg-WCPw25ECLeCniBOSgUU7a1hig1E7rIs5I53ndPvOfl6J019QEgsYyJmm5-Uw3-spUlviSny828lZVmlxBDoFZ7pdxR48ybc/s320/SpidersTable.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is a temporary exhibit that I made for the Everglades featuring our eight-legged friends. I'm still hoping to see an ogre-faced (net-casting) spider in the bush at night, but they are pretty elusive. </span><br /><br /><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Originally posted on </span><span class="x7l2uk3 xt0e3qv" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EvergladesNationalPark">Everglades National Park</a> and Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CyjqXu1uFnc/?img_index=1">@evergladesnps</a>:</span><br /><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">"At the Shark Valley Visitor Center, Ranger Ross made a temporary exhibit appropriate for the month of October: The Amazing Spiders of Everglades National Park. The exhibit features the real-life superpowers of these eight-legged hunters—including the super-strong webs of the golden silk orb weaver, the mighty leaps of the regal jumping spider, and the Okefenokee fishing spider’s ability to walk on water!</span><br /><br /><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The tremendous biodiversity of the Everglades includes spiders, and Florida has the greatest number of species of arachnids (spiders and their relatives) of any state east of the Mississippi.</span><br /><br /><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Come check out the exhibit and all that the Shark Valley area has to offer: www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/svdirections.htm</span><br /><br /><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">NPS Photos by Ross Studlar</span><br /><br /><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Alt Text Photo 1: Table with Everglades National Park green tablecloth featuring colorful photos and narrative text about five types of spiders native to Florida.</span><br /><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Alt Text Photo 2: Close-up of one aspect of the exhibit, a string and cardboard sculpture of a spider-web attached to tree branches.</span><br /><br /><span class="x7l2uk3 xt0e3qv" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">#WildlifeWednesday</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="x7l2uk3 xt0e3qv" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">#EvergladesNationalPark</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="x7l2uk3 xt0e3qv" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">#Everglades"</span></p>Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-78877601394096297492023-06-02T11:38:00.000-07:002023-06-02T11:38:57.435-07:00Not too old for a sporting duel<p> I was a fencer from ages 16-22.<br /><br />I made several sporadic returns to the sport in the years since.<br /><br />I made a semi-consistent return last year, after moving to South Florida. I have been practicing with the Davis Fencing Academy of Miami. Originally, I said that it was just for exercise and that I had no intention of competing. The good vibes at the club prompted me to reconsider.<br /><br />On May 27, 2023, I entered my first officially-sanctioned fencing tournament in almost 20 years. The Titan Open had a broadly defined senior division, born in 2009 or earlier. I competed primarily against teenagers and twenty-somethings, several of whom had earned Class E through B rankings through victories in prior tournaments.<br /><br />I finished tied for third place. I was over twice as old as the other medalists. <br /><br />Where else can you spend your Saturday hitting kids with a sword and not get in trouble with the law? <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglICiy-v0gBvBBRrdDGBfsFi85yXkoMywwepfPHx-HuWMj_t_kpqG597CuRr0W5d2PNnyL1SH01CycmM2o03eGqKjm5R4oZo9VALcCYzfO00fC_0626vkrDdrLZ3Ksd4-X4CE0iRsOUxhKP7zuROKAMLfGzjFZyo0GaWnnDMxYWJfcaoOIW6Npa4zY/s1600/01_WhatsApp%20Image%202023-05-29%20at%204.36.52%20PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglICiy-v0gBvBBRrdDGBfsFi85yXkoMywwepfPHx-HuWMj_t_kpqG597CuRr0W5d2PNnyL1SH01CycmM2o03eGqKjm5R4oZo9VALcCYzfO00fC_0626vkrDdrLZ3Ksd4-X4CE0iRsOUxhKP7zuROKAMLfGzjFZyo0GaWnnDMxYWJfcaoOIW6Npa4zY/s320/01_WhatsApp%20Image%202023-05-29%20at%204.36.52%20PM.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJSYvB39lji2zLCK_iQaiRWGEMWjhBKgxs09ZIdxARH_phB_H6ftCpabAJsu5-XGFKni1Lkq1oLdbn0-Tlp2dQETHDap88qm56-wY_-BrNiWqQmLvXNbXUSCMkXuekGyN4kBpgOyR4VJ-A_kv97pX-9igXZk8yT6jhDgNNg9FbrHEEDKJfZ-FNkbU/s1600/02_WhatsApp%20Image%202023-05-29%20at%204.36.37%20PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJSYvB39lji2zLCK_iQaiRWGEMWjhBKgxs09ZIdxARH_phB_H6ftCpabAJsu5-XGFKni1Lkq1oLdbn0-Tlp2dQETHDap88qm56-wY_-BrNiWqQmLvXNbXUSCMkXuekGyN4kBpgOyR4VJ-A_kv97pX-9igXZk8yT6jhDgNNg9FbrHEEDKJfZ-FNkbU/s320/02_WhatsApp%20Image%202023-05-29%20at%204.36.37%20PM.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUF3GxMESjPbzw4nd7azMRoRWFlk63LMnMbL0_WzBosWtWwjrNy6l7XYYlGgo0XIC9h331yc7Dw_cWHaChLGtiplUgH1mupCCRnXQopkKzJpCXrt1bosn_xSqWD_ngC487-GMGcHC69RdM27ug9aWtT2P05gf4_vEWmb3U7qNb8_hNHT7K5VBYyhT/s4898/03_IMG_1936.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUF3GxMESjPbzw4nd7azMRoRWFlk63LMnMbL0_WzBosWtWwjrNy6l7XYYlGgo0XIC9h331yc7Dw_cWHaChLGtiplUgH1mupCCRnXQopkKzJpCXrt1bosn_xSqWD_ngC487-GMGcHC69RdM27ug9aWtT2P05gf4_vEWmb3U7qNb8_hNHT7K5VBYyhT/s320/03_IMG_1936.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aoRAtnCuwumGC6SaEI-xJ5X0A4Exi3QU6E4Ob1Ek1JzYVs7PYNOyJuLqLNqs8MD3tFzg7m3Hd5eUppf3BsRhCYseyLb4H1kCSyksMs8G9bV8tYYUad2ON27v8nzenxPcPaXJkIEkBUxHCAGF5UoVoympItqb9COB-klv0rz47QNckXtB7sS2Wml8/s4898/04_IMG_2055.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aoRAtnCuwumGC6SaEI-xJ5X0A4Exi3QU6E4Ob1Ek1JzYVs7PYNOyJuLqLNqs8MD3tFzg7m3Hd5eUppf3BsRhCYseyLb4H1kCSyksMs8G9bV8tYYUad2ON27v8nzenxPcPaXJkIEkBUxHCAGF5UoVoympItqb9COB-klv0rz47QNckXtB7sS2Wml8/s320/04_IMG_2055.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYGN3aOviGR70U8C7FK_X0Fk3ZBap2DveNGwGrCBwRc66S71BSzJ8aAy3BMSMzDZlQctyIYpzIg-6tGzjQzWCQv3q5jr_Ya275GiSI-9Mj4lWdPp2lo-c9cy533H1A9oWO41hztEKYyq1jXhzAf4bHG6CmxclLopiOJF_cw1KJY3caEpCpzhSyJ7F/s1024/05A_3425aa3d-1a48-404a-b30d-a1e1401826c0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYGN3aOviGR70U8C7FK_X0Fk3ZBap2DveNGwGrCBwRc66S71BSzJ8aAy3BMSMzDZlQctyIYpzIg-6tGzjQzWCQv3q5jr_Ya275GiSI-9Mj4lWdPp2lo-c9cy533H1A9oWO41hztEKYyq1jXhzAf4bHG6CmxclLopiOJF_cw1KJY3caEpCpzhSyJ7F/s320/05A_3425aa3d-1a48-404a-b30d-a1e1401826c0.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismcLG870xqLJ0Pi3JEVzN0iOdd16rEeXTMY6Y9kdZxL6ZXd7sx122Kxe_v2ZZY8znEN0FcBIqK-Q8gtwP0lKDImJrcs8N3r4l7BgWcwdRZAg431FL7IQ_EihQP4hdWLFf2rDunxwF-oCfWGyUuFK_dm8BCLsFc2770ibkjqSqt-ghGGg9lgfGAZMD/s4898/06_IMG_2199.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismcLG870xqLJ0Pi3JEVzN0iOdd16rEeXTMY6Y9kdZxL6ZXd7sx122Kxe_v2ZZY8znEN0FcBIqK-Q8gtwP0lKDImJrcs8N3r4l7BgWcwdRZAg431FL7IQ_EihQP4hdWLFf2rDunxwF-oCfWGyUuFK_dm8BCLsFc2770ibkjqSqt-ghGGg9lgfGAZMD/s320/06_IMG_2199.jpeg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Reach advantage versus southpaw! Double touches (when both fencers score simultaneously) happen frequently in epee. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_P2ZngPPlS9wp2aCm7Rw1FgxFfcjJ4vy-7HSHgUofaE0oMHd16Zgib4aZ8AeLto8uGNtPqsAbB_JvwQy9QlAjwoH4AJWG3--mzf7nOpTYOmp1ojmKYGLesVdsfP0v4wRDOpmUr1mYbRpmj-DObDdzp-50bJCy2R6BswupjV3aDvrL9rruNa0F5ztU/s4086/07_IMG_2222.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2975" data-original-width="4086" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_P2ZngPPlS9wp2aCm7Rw1FgxFfcjJ4vy-7HSHgUofaE0oMHd16Zgib4aZ8AeLto8uGNtPqsAbB_JvwQy9QlAjwoH4AJWG3--mzf7nOpTYOmp1ojmKYGLesVdsfP0v4wRDOpmUr1mYbRpmj-DObDdzp-50bJCy2R6BswupjV3aDvrL9rruNa0F5ztU/s320/07_IMG_2222.jpeg" width="320" /> </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Another double touch. This was the match I went down on in the semi-finals. My opponent went on to win the tournament. </p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by and © as follows: 1-2: Jeff Davis, 3-4 and 6-7: Jenni Pfeiffer, 5: Jacquelyn Davis. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /> </p>Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-46893997674872440072023-03-04T08:57:00.003-08:002023-03-04T08:57:50.512-08:00Come see me at the Tampa Zine Fest! <p>Comics from the Wood is back! I will have at table. There will be live music and independent comics and zines of all kinds. The artwork was designed and belongs to a wise organizer of the fest. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TampaZineFest">See their FB page for more information.</a> #tampazinefest</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnoDqJdChGR3ZgiydHir4aAghNPI_2E7qmyJZYRWQMWykmjRUX_E9pj1ShS1pYSFZTyMbh0O6cvaaUjuzlUFY0pzdXtm8sTbKgKDVvsmbS9ujb5oDzlCDl28zOwoCnNGp70KNgiAsPwjz26G3LDtFQRXoqnHkHPQoWOdZYmEuIBiKuYHaOdrwricj/s502/TZF_2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="502" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnoDqJdChGR3ZgiydHir4aAghNPI_2E7qmyJZYRWQMWykmjRUX_E9pj1ShS1pYSFZTyMbh0O6cvaaUjuzlUFY0pzdXtm8sTbKgKDVvsmbS9ujb5oDzlCDl28zOwoCnNGp70KNgiAsPwjz26G3LDtFQRXoqnHkHPQoWOdZYmEuIBiKuYHaOdrwricj/s320/TZF_2023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-26482111263198649672023-01-02T18:48:00.000-08:002023-01-02T18:48:00.051-08:00The Beginning and the End of 2022--in Animal Art<p style="text-align: left;">Based on sketchbook chronology, I’ve made an educated guess that the baby alligator is my first drawing of 2022. Indisputably, the dragonfly naiad (larva) hunting a tadpole is my last drawing of 2022. A voracious predator with a quick-thrusting extensible lower jaw, the naiad is a real-life xenomorph. As a young woman on my guided walk at my other job as an Everglades Ranger put it, “Nature is metal!”</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUfiLwWjJY5DQw9gerZIWLQ6ETsZmTTn5PdbOt0jJ57HP2RLksS0lgV988KxWS5eIMSL-bwpjulMIEZwvDgP52UPYrPMSBUsaYYsNCxZaVRXhTx71LG-SxFCTWAYOidmAiBWP2Vc-oBbAWnLdA0DpMd7t5pZx1RljX5dtMW2Jdjbk_svijKCN885B/s1024/Naiad_BabyGator_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="1024" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUfiLwWjJY5DQw9gerZIWLQ6ETsZmTTn5PdbOt0jJ57HP2RLksS0lgV988KxWS5eIMSL-bwpjulMIEZwvDgP52UPYrPMSBUsaYYsNCxZaVRXhTx71LG-SxFCTWAYOidmAiBWP2Vc-oBbAWnLdA0DpMd7t5pZx1RljX5dtMW2Jdjbk_svijKCN885B/s320/Naiad_BabyGator_1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwN0BLG66E0e7cvfRkyWlzOB3tc20XnQI_EzHOI-c-eU_5I951yA6UZXvuE6BbvWkwX9Jg8tOdwz8CQ5lrgQdnKQFmGcwYM7JAf7DNaRKPLzepTpizIaTLfHYfL0kfywNmL9_ZdTWu65yTB4Lymde1fnpulc8bkftUiYCkTBw-w4izAPa3HMEEvBr/s1024/Naiad_1024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1024" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwN0BLG66E0e7cvfRkyWlzOB3tc20XnQI_EzHOI-c-eU_5I951yA6UZXvuE6BbvWkwX9Jg8tOdwz8CQ5lrgQdnKQFmGcwYM7JAf7DNaRKPLzepTpizIaTLfHYfL0kfywNmL9_ZdTWu65yTB4Lymde1fnpulc8bkftUiYCkTBw-w4izAPa3HMEEvBr/s320/Naiad_1024.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /> </p>Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-82417760928520031712022-08-11T13:24:00.001-07:002022-08-11T13:27:48.423-07:00The Mesozine #2, new dinosaur comic featuring work by me, Stephen Bissette, Denis St. John, and more<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxyMzAw5x5i4u3MZpLxzsjiS-t99YdvoK4_RuW0v770-kNqL6H72nxlJYMxcY73nFcyKiY6FryChBRdELpEp2tXHbdy1C6veofd46xeuU2cqtZOhly01WQYVHP7pfihCNB44fu0bWf2xpT9VRCT2FiCdbQ08bjWgDifkhqxpOvjy-R4oXWRQ52X_w/s1800/Mesozine%232FrontCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxyMzAw5x5i4u3MZpLxzsjiS-t99YdvoK4_RuW0v770-kNqL6H72nxlJYMxcY73nFcyKiY6FryChBRdELpEp2tXHbdy1C6veofd46xeuU2cqtZOhly01WQYVHP7pfihCNB44fu0bWf2xpT9VRCT2FiCdbQ08bjWgDifkhqxpOvjy-R4oXWRQ52X_w/s320/Mesozine%232FrontCover.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKT0HL1sYU53ETfia-XuRGRJ8zsbhSer-H26JmndmfV_Nl-4A350XXQfsC7ffYo34ipWxC1Ze7WnB-dnS364s8EIOykXrGAfNfPsb6DJB8M_gl0UR5CTeSC7pkBLNJhQ0O9dDbBE_KfvquxIscnU6uxPgbarovNKazZ1QebjysmF-1UbN4Zh_i2xc/s1813/Oviraptor_SampleForSocialMedia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1813" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKT0HL1sYU53ETfia-XuRGRJ8zsbhSer-H26JmndmfV_Nl-4A350XXQfsC7ffYo34ipWxC1Ze7WnB-dnS364s8EIOykXrGAfNfPsb6DJB8M_gl0UR5CTeSC7pkBLNJhQ0O9dDbBE_KfvquxIscnU6uxPgbarovNKazZ1QebjysmF-1UbN4Zh_i2xc/s320/Oviraptor_SampleForSocialMedia.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div dir="auto"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc ihqw7lf3 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_ia"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Collectors of my work, take note: online sales of <i>The Mesozine #2</i> are live! I contributed a two-page comics story and a one-page essay about the science behind my story to this eclectic anthology of fiction and nonfiction works about dinosaurs by diverse talents. Other contributors include my Center for Cartoon Studies colleagues <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 q66pz984 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/stephen.bissette.7?__cft__[0]=AZU6rMQiukrQfbPXARXNiTrKUvM2Gc319Un0b1jACdOqYN0SkiKqgltmtuWChpCv99szeohH-t_4DS5b9Fj4RYHj3ZnW7DPtw_harDr9B7dlRbh6FA7Z7PKiSIzTNfUqzRc0OIcQLGKk_1rCWB9tzkCol7YMWQiKMRfVP5saeDCs9g&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" tabindex="0"><span class="nc684nl6"><span>Stephen Bissette</span></span></a></span>, <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 q66pz984 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/MorganPielli?__cft__[0]=AZU6rMQiukrQfbPXARXNiTrKUvM2Gc319Un0b1jACdOqYN0SkiKqgltmtuWChpCv99szeohH-t_4DS5b9Fj4RYHj3ZnW7DPtw_harDr9B7dlRbh6FA7Z7PKiSIzTNfUqzRc0OIcQLGKk_1rCWB9tzkCol7YMWQiKMRfVP5saeDCs9g&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" tabindex="0"><span class="nc684nl6"><span>Morgan Pielli</span></span></a></span>, <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 q66pz984 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/bryan.stone.56863?__cft__[0]=AZU6rMQiukrQfbPXARXNiTrKUvM2Gc319Un0b1jACdOqYN0SkiKqgltmtuWChpCv99szeohH-t_4DS5b9Fj4RYHj3ZnW7DPtw_harDr9B7dlRbh6FA7Z7PKiSIzTNfUqzRc0OIcQLGKk_1rCWB9tzkCol7YMWQiKMRfVP5saeDCs9g&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" tabindex="0"><span class="nc684nl6"><span>Bryan Stone</span></span></a></span>, and our fearless leader for this volume, <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 q66pz984 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/DenisSt.John?__cft__[0]=AZU6rMQiukrQfbPXARXNiTrKUvM2Gc319Un0b1jACdOqYN0SkiKqgltmtuWChpCv99szeohH-t_4DS5b9Fj4RYHj3ZnW7DPtw_harDr9B7dlRbh6FA7Z7PKiSIzTNfUqzRc0OIcQLGKk_1rCWB9tzkCol7YMWQiKMRfVP5saeDCs9g&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" tabindex="0"><span class="nc684nl6"><span>Denis St. John</span></span></a></span>! <i>The Mesozine #2</i> is 44 pages total, selling for $10 plus shipping at <a href="https://www.deniscomix.com/"><span>https://www.deniscomix.com/</span></a>. It makes a lovely gift for yourself or for anyone you know who likes dinosaurs.</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Cover artwork and photo by Denis St. John. <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 py34i1dx" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.deniscomix.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1CdCNApK6igNh_c8VaL2KhC70Pibvyy3UeCgpZu3Te6PBftbyp6xT9i6w&h=AT0Jbxibxo92k4vsl6D1KgsTkaMY2RXrtHCvAROsxcPgYo0f_S0ZPXGs1X1d2eIPmfvBuXfi1K25gD54sOX9jQnclUQgt6MSfcHqTkX-ILpUdlH9VEwj6X0pCuzdzJravJ3ZytUWoAd4Mh9W-Cxt0Ik&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT2Ygu5pnuno_FywzyW21ixjfas-xE2gD_4noNUwqzNq_CyIP31b_mBvNMBlDzMJ7AhYQNhMHC8IXmvpW_nSlc-ecfQk97Kv0NPH8VJSvPj34148sAFjjMWcPO-ZhciBLdAqEN8sgKFPue2pYONnaSzaW4qVTBFlHObSNBU39M9cSHdp6-AsVQ" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.deniscomix.com/</a></span> @deniscomix, <br /></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Oviraptor sample artwork by me, <span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">© to respective creators.</span> </div></div></span></div></div></div></div>Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-63755808919450369732022-06-19T14:40:00.004-07:002022-06-19T15:03:07.064-07:00America loves watching an alligator try to eat a football<p><span>My eyewitness account and photograph of an alligator trying to eat a football and getting rescued, originally published on the Everglades National Park Facebook page, has gone viral! The Miami Herald, Newsweek, and the Belleville News-Democrat have picked up the story. I didn't think to include any football puns in my report because I don't follow the sport and don't speak football lingo. Luckily, the news outlets and public commenters can fill in with sporting humor. For example, Newsweek's headline: "Alligator Tossing Football Brings New Meaning to 'Go Gators' in Florida." :) </span><br /><br /><a class="gofk2cf1 t5a262vz py34i1dx" href="https://www.facebook.com/EvergladesNationalPark/posts/pfbid02CkYvKcp2gBFbFhRexd3ULikiRo4PcmLKBkpjTQwBuNnyyAHCD9m8hYeeA1VidZVl"><span>https://www.facebook.com/EvergladesNationalPark/posts/pfbid02CkYvKcp2gBFbFhRexd3ULikiRo4PcmLKBkpjTQwBuNnyyAHCD9m8hYeeA1VidZVl</span></a><br /><br /><a class="gofk2cf1 t5a262vz py34i1dx" href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article262615282.html"><span>https://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article262615282.html</span></a></p><p><span> </span></p><p><span>Here is the <a href=" https://www.facebook.com/EvergladesNationalPark/posts/pfbid02CkYvKcp2gBFbFhRexd3ULikiRo4PcmLKBkpjTQwBuNnyyAHCD9m8hYeeA1VidZVl">post as seen on the Everglades National Park Facebook Page:</a> <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Hgfb_EcpFgwf79sFRNizUMWPMpOosEBf4azSU2Xeevmsrt_RC86a9Lap_hozyHZeBUjxudfIckz6nJoyWGSNOMW9DgNzaFdxnn6uwGt9NR8YnoDTPO9-vp4zsKnB5kKY6DCDu86H9zbwqwL-bcg_7EOk-6HhP927R3_dmrGEgOmsTD1-X0cnAx5i/s2048/GatorVsFootball%231_2048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Hgfb_EcpFgwf79sFRNizUMWPMpOosEBf4azSU2Xeevmsrt_RC86a9Lap_hozyHZeBUjxudfIckz6nJoyWGSNOMW9DgNzaFdxnn6uwGt9NR8YnoDTPO9-vp4zsKnB5kKY6DCDu86H9zbwqwL-bcg_7EOk-6HhP927R3_dmrGEgOmsTD1-X0cnAx5i/s320/GatorVsFootball%231_2048.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvL0_Ju2cZebcUYQwiVnMEgOruiiat5fnGH2Rtkv3biUEHai1BUUOO7wioyvvYIewH_7-lXcn5MOsn7xdUe60pYulPs2SXchp9M7WEukIqdm0u1WQIP7a_4k16y79GQZjt4WWhMDA2zx4YW-WFXXhPMpFMQ-0r6br5eYcbR5L2bUiMULeWrK0BNFT/s960/DylanFootballPhoto.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvL0_Ju2cZebcUYQwiVnMEgOruiiat5fnGH2Rtkv3biUEHai1BUUOO7wioyvvYIewH_7-lXcn5MOsn7xdUe60pYulPs2SXchp9M7WEukIqdm0u1WQIP7a_4k16y79GQZjt4WWhMDA2zx4YW-WFXXhPMpFMQ-0r6br5eYcbR5L2bUiMULeWrK0BNFT/s320/DylanFootballPhoto.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><h3 class="gmql0nx0 l94mrbxd p1ri9a11 lzcic4wl aahdfvyu hzawbc8m"><span class="nc684nl6"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 oo9gr5id lrazzd5p" href="https://www.facebook.com/EvergladesNationalPark/?__cft__[0]=AZVX1PBWHDeSoVHxJaAWpy66rjaV3WApKg1wm8eEmw210jnUE9AqoWywyTJgDuEnDCUBxZG53XgTm-sF8WI0LRY_42HCLUwsaXOhtRYO40pDbvLGA1A3xn3K0C2Z_REFtQz84gqR-jZbBf0B-56c6VG1FW_cKztFl4tzSebfivxARg&__tn__=-UC%2CP-y-R" role="link" tabindex="0"><b><span>"Everglades National Park</span></b></a></span></h3></span></div><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn mdeji52x e9vueds3 j5wam9gi b1v8xokw m9osqain hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span><span><span class="tojvnm2t a6sixzi8 abs2jz4q a8s20v7p t1p8iaqh k5wvi7nf q3lfd5jv pk4s997a bipmatt0 cebpdrjk qowsmv63 owwhemhu dp1hu0rb dhp61c6y iyyx5f41"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gmql0nx0 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/EvergladesNationalPark/posts/pfbid02CkYvKcp2gBFbFhRexd3ULikiRo4PcmLKBkpjTQwBuNnyyAHCD9m8hYeeA1VidZVl?__cft__[0]=AZVX1PBWHDeSoVHxJaAWpy66rjaV3WApKg1wm8eEmw210jnUE9AqoWywyTJgDuEnDCUBxZG53XgTm-sF8WI0LRY_42HCLUwsaXOhtRYO40pDbvLGA1A3xn3K0C2Z_REFtQz84gqR-jZbBf0B-56c6VG1FW_cKztFl4tzSebfivxARg&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-y-R" role="link" tabindex="0"><span><span aria-labelledby="jsc_c_ba" class="j1lvzwm4 stjgntxs ni8dbmo4 q9uorilb gpro0wi8"><span class="t5a262vz nc684nl6 ihxqhq3m l94mrbxd aenfhxwr l9j0dhe7 sdhka5h4" style="display: flex; order: 0;"><span class="b6zbclly l9j0dhe7 sdhka5h4 zrhKlDk3 ddHf" style="order: 20;"></span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span class="g0qnabr5"><span class="tojvnm2t a6sixzi8 abs2jz4q a8s20v7p t1p8iaqh k5wvi7nf q3lfd5jv pk4s997a bipmatt0 cebpdrjk qowsmv63 owwhemhu dp1hu0rb dhp61c6y iyyx5f41"><span class="q9uorilb l9j0dhe7 bk00n993"><svg class="a8c37x1j ms05siws l3qrxjdp b7h9ocf4 py1f6qlh cyypbtt7 fwizqjfa" fill="currentColor" height="1em" title="Shared with Public" viewbox="0 0 16 16" width="1em"><g fill-rule="evenodd" transform="translate(-448 -544)"><br /></g></svg></span></span></span></span></span></div><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc ihqw7lf3 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">On May 31 at Shark Valley, a park visitor spotted an alligator with a football in his jaws off the Tram Trail near the visitor center. The visitor reported the situation to park rangers. </span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">This bull gator was familiar to the rangers as he is often seen at the start of tram tours with a female (or cow) gator he is courting and her young offspring. The gator held his head high in the air, with his jaws firmly gripping the football as though it were prey. He tossed the football and caught it again, adjusting his grip. The rangers called park crocodilian biologist Mark Parry. </span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Upon learning of the situation, the biologist headed to Shark Valley from park headquarters in Homestead, Florida. Luckily, the gator crushed his “prey” at a measured pace and was still working on it when Mark Parry arrived. Using two long poles and rope, he attempted to snatch the football; the gator dropped it and was thus saved from ingesting leather and plastic. </span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Shark Valley rangers have added the football to their collection of props for interpretive programs. We don’t know if the littering that caused this event was deliberate or accidental, such as from playing catch in an inappropriate location. The lucky alligator continues to delight visitors on the Tram Trail, as they walk, bike, or ride trams past!</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">NPS photo 1 by Ross Studlar</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">NPS photo 2 by Dylann Turffs</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Image 1: An alligator behind some vegetation with a football in its mouth.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Image 2: A hand hold up the recovered football covered in alligator bite marks.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 q66pz984 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/recreateresponsibly?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZVX1PBWHDeSoVHxJaAWpy66rjaV3WApKg1wm8eEmw210jnUE9AqoWywyTJgDuEnDCUBxZG53XgTm-sF8WI0LRY_42HCLUwsaXOhtRYO40pDbvLGA1A3xn3K0C2Z_REFtQz84gqR-jZbBf0B-56c6VG1FW_cKztFl4tzSebfivxARg&__tn__=*NK-y-R" role="link" tabindex="0">#RecreateResponsibly</a></span> <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 q66pz984 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/everglades75th?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZVX1PBWHDeSoVHxJaAWpy66rjaV3WApKg1wm8eEmw210jnUE9AqoWywyTJgDuEnDCUBxZG53XgTm-sF8WI0LRY_42HCLUwsaXOhtRYO40pDbvLGA1A3xn3K0C2Z_REFtQz84gqR-jZbBf0B-56c6VG1FW_cKztFl4tzSebfivxARg&__tn__=*NK-y-R" role="link" tabindex="0">#Everglades75th</a></span> <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 q66pz984 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/everglades?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZVX1PBWHDeSoVHxJaAWpy66rjaV3WApKg1wm8eEmw210jnUE9AqoWywyTJgDuEnDCUBxZG53XgTm-sF8WI0LRY_42HCLUwsaXOhtRYO40pDbvLGA1A3xn3K0C2Z_REFtQz84gqR-jZbBf0B-56c6VG1FW_cKztFl4tzSebfivxARg&__tn__=*NK-y-R" role="link" tabindex="0">#Everglades</a></span> <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 q66pz984 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/evergladesnationalpark?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZVX1PBWHDeSoVHxJaAWpy66rjaV3WApKg1wm8eEmw210jnUE9AqoWywyTJgDuEnDCUBxZG53XgTm-sF8WI0LRY_42HCLUwsaXOhtRYO40pDbvLGA1A3xn3K0C2Z_REFtQz84gqR-jZbBf0B-56c6VG1FW_cKztFl4tzSebfivxARg&__tn__=*NK-y-R" role="link" tabindex="0">#EvergladesNationalPark</a></span> <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 q66pz984 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/findyourpark?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZVX1PBWHDeSoVHxJaAWpy66rjaV3WApKg1wm8eEmw210jnUE9AqoWywyTJgDuEnDCUBxZG53XgTm-sF8WI0LRY_42HCLUwsaXOhtRYO40pDbvLGA1A3xn3K0C2Z_REFtQz84gqR-jZbBf0B-56c6VG1FW_cKztFl4tzSebfivxARg&__tn__=*NK-y-R" role="link" tabindex="0">#FindYourPark</a></span> <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 q66pz984 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/encuentratuparque?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZVX1PBWHDeSoVHxJaAWpy66rjaV3WApKg1wm8eEmw210jnUE9AqoWywyTJgDuEnDCUBxZG53XgTm-sF8WI0LRY_42HCLUwsaXOhtRYO40pDbvLGA1A3xn3K0C2Z_REFtQz84gqR-jZbBf0B-56c6VG1FW_cKztFl4tzSebfivxARg&__tn__=*NK-y-R" role="link" tabindex="0">#EncuentraTuParque</a>"</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span><span style="font-size: x-small;">NPS FB post and pictures are in the public domain.</span> <br /></span></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p><span> <br /></span></p>Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-57415893450980488982022-03-03T15:35:00.001-08:002022-03-18T08:29:49.300-07:00Spadefoot Toads: Summer of Love - NEW POSTER for sale on my Etsy site!<div><p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNa38BRuaRb3Br6tsJPaAutEiB6dyCL9pvr8AeWlyOEOm_QMUv1NCIlRMTkr8lHQ1wuPaTXUEMnTWhqowRIQuay091o3c2unlTxcZ-SuTjIxRPhFrluanQuq_XXmth4rFbM84yMGFkrsbIaoitnxVF6fTcsDMaDTluEgT3dq_Tt8Rq0OlGjPldHQld=s1024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="671" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNa38BRuaRb3Br6tsJPaAutEiB6dyCL9pvr8AeWlyOEOm_QMUv1NCIlRMTkr8lHQ1wuPaTXUEMnTWhqowRIQuay091o3c2unlTxcZ-SuTjIxRPhFrluanQuq_XXmth4rFbM84yMGFkrsbIaoitnxVF6fTcsDMaDTluEgT3dq_Tt8Rq0OlGjPldHQld=s320" width="210" /></a></div><div><p></p><p><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1175937814/spadefoot-toads-summer-of-love-poster?click_key=dd435bfcc638b386d1739729efe2a26bf7956a2e%3A1175937814&click_sum=e1ba491c&ref=shop_home_active_1&frs=1">This poster</a> celebrates the rugged desert amphibian, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1175937814/spadefoot-toads-summer-of-love-poster?click_key=dd435bfcc638b386d1739729efe2a26bf7956a2e%3A1175937814&click_sum=e1ba491c&ref=shop_home_active_1&frs=1">the spadefoot toad</a>,
and their courtship choruses after rainstorms! It makes a <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1175937814/spadefoot-toads-summer-of-love-poster?click_key=dd435bfcc638b386d1739729efe2a26bf7956a2e%3A1175937814&click_sum=e1ba491c&ref=shop_home_active_1&frs=1">wonderful gift</a> for anyone who likes frogs or animals in general. Give it for
Valentine's Day, Easter, Christmas, birthdays, or any occasion.<br /><br />From
my backyard in Carlsbad, New Mexico, I witnessed the spadefoot toads'
summer of love. Spadefoot toads survive the grueling desert heat and
drought by hiding in burrows for up to three years at a stretch. They
emerge for torrential rains and gorge themselves on termites and other
insects. Males sing their courtship songs (which resemble the bleating
of goats) and mate with females in ephemeral pools. The eggs develop
into tadpoles, then toadlets, then miniature spadefoot toads in only a
matter of weeks. The year 2021 had an unusually high abundance of
rainstorms in Southeast New Mexico, resulting in a productive year for
our spadefoots. It was remarkable to witness this miracle of life, from
cacophonous chorus to rapid metamorphosis! <br /><br />Couch's spadefoot
toad (Scaphiophus couchii) was the dominant species in my neighborhood.
Western green toads (Anaxyrus debilis insidior) also made some
appearances in autumn rainstorms, and I heard calls from New Mexico
spadefoot toads (Spea multiplicata stagnalis) during a spring storm.<br /><br />I
could write a book about the process of making this poster, from
painting it physically in layers of gouache paint and India ink to
modifying it extensively on my laptop computer. I commonly hit up
Duckduckgo image search for photo references for my artwork. This time,
I used mostly my own photos (and some by my colleague Tristen Gleason,
who rescued many spadefoot tadpoles from drying pools). The project
began in August 2021; it survived my December move to South Florida and
the December crash of my laptop computer. Like a spadefoot toad waiting
for rain, I persisted.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1175937814/spadefoot-toads-summer-of-love-poster?click_key=dd435bfcc638b386d1739729efe2a26bf7956a2e%3A1175937814&click_sum=e1ba491c&ref=shop_home_active_1&frs=1">FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING</a> on this item</p></div>Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-12315423593783161682022-01-14T14:01:00.000-08:002022-01-14T14:01:09.877-08:00I live in the Everglades now<p>I moved to the Florida Everglades in December 2021! It is perhaps the closest thing there is to a real Jurassic Park, with its abundance of big reptiles and birds, and conifers and palms. In my district, Shark Valley, there are zero sharks, at least two crocodiles, and more alligators than I can count. I am a sailor on horseback in this subtropical climate and miss huddling by the fire against the chill of winter.<br /><br />Photos #1-2 of this post: ©Ross Wood Studlar. Photos #3-10: NPS / Ross Wood Studlar</p><p> </p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFmKVVekE0q8LEu3f3zZm87_HQhBBl6Q9VdHX_2_Do0_w0hUhpfszGQ3pH9Pf7sI7xI2wX5NGU5DJ8udOjTcRVzd2Nj06v9aul3McGrW7kxLRgPjb-27g5Rc01v6JqatqJxlW4lFBdiBzd28Ztdl7-r6UhV47j2hFKDdP92Bn8lItO4cOU82lvW3Xp=s1024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFmKVVekE0q8LEu3f3zZm87_HQhBBl6Q9VdHX_2_Do0_w0hUhpfszGQ3pH9Pf7sI7xI2wX5NGU5DJ8udOjTcRVzd2Nj06v9aul3McGrW7kxLRgPjb-27g5Rc01v6JqatqJxlW4lFBdiBzd28Ztdl7-r6UhV47j2hFKDdP92Bn8lItO4cOU82lvW3Xp=s320" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>I drove to the Everglades from the west side through Big Cypress
National Preserve and met my first alligator in Florida outside the
Oasis Visitor Center. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgH_ZOed99vuZqLs7UMTg4JjBbnHRh3lyJdd_llkwZfnH2e_4JU90ltGbsWI1YCRJzgLf1K-qImqAgSG1OLArlqvZoAWg8SpYZ9_jqINgKYbuzQM74Oc3uU6cLHfC7dD1EeS12ZyFT8bmpBIbcMSop8a6q_rQMCc98iNQkUOSn5wFm-K4j0YY-YP11L=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgH_ZOed99vuZqLs7UMTg4JjBbnHRh3lyJdd_llkwZfnH2e_4JU90ltGbsWI1YCRJzgLf1K-qImqAgSG1OLArlqvZoAWg8SpYZ9_jqINgKYbuzQM74Oc3uU6cLHfC7dD1EeS12ZyFT8bmpBIbcMSop8a6q_rQMCc98iNQkUOSn5wFm-K4j0YY-YP11L=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><br />After an arduous move out of New Mexico and cross-country trek
and before the arduous task of getting moved in to South Florida, I
stopped at the entrance sign.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5YcFYodW5oj3oMKW4gcf-tag7KAhz3ewIfQQcpvL3CHEXllS90YQxb6xmP89Afri7Fl-I6Eeh-4W3_cYtEBGZJIp3M_j6frU5Qhk1ZJh26Ps7D0fC0Bn7IG4joRaET8-iNy-rOunyjs4xNDAu5qYGc5snQH2JXMzF8CdtHe9m0i6YuSztNqAnjtI3=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5YcFYodW5oj3oMKW4gcf-tag7KAhz3ewIfQQcpvL3CHEXllS90YQxb6xmP89Afri7Fl-I6Eeh-4W3_cYtEBGZJIp3M_j6frU5Qhk1ZJh26Ps7D0fC0Bn7IG4joRaET8-iNy-rOunyjs4xNDAu5qYGc5snQH2JXMzF8CdtHe9m0i6YuSztNqAnjtI3=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><br />I got introduced to the Everglades wildlife ….</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEZPqAaoQQ4mulwhSJfIKFosR-29Kxrg9MU-AzyU0sUn-ZPUi0VaISdF_OFgWrcG5B1yLmTb27ifXzvgV7gL6QfboQ8stlYaYRBV72xaQSWDu1pAPjC-llvVZ-bheHd6ls0NGK5G1jCFqcVkmfioxwUOIOa7a3JTgoEqwZk5K8Kq2nXW-zMb04R7gb=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEZPqAaoQQ4mulwhSJfIKFosR-29Kxrg9MU-AzyU0sUn-ZPUi0VaISdF_OFgWrcG5B1yLmTb27ifXzvgV7gL6QfboQ8stlYaYRBV72xaQSWDu1pAPjC-llvVZ-bheHd6ls0NGK5G1jCFqcVkmfioxwUOIOa7a3JTgoEqwZk5K8Kq2nXW-zMb04R7gb=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjynsUGlsyw41AzLPSUurcVOihOTgg3Igz_vnPeK39xENRjfeSfZ76d05yB8WA4WkZ08JEdrkwH3DtCnWwKsjcwadBqRhZO2LJkEN9qTHjdbIesn2-LIBQC6QsAnhZotdmkmwncAfkBw45SQEN-OKWiqSHxUUeABRxpa6OkQHSHul-kr_edHtl57soj=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjynsUGlsyw41AzLPSUurcVOihOTgg3Igz_vnPeK39xENRjfeSfZ76d05yB8WA4WkZ08JEdrkwH3DtCnWwKsjcwadBqRhZO2LJkEN9qTHjdbIesn2-LIBQC6QsAnhZotdmkmwncAfkBw45SQEN-OKWiqSHxUUeABRxpa6OkQHSHul-kr_edHtl57soj=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2ZgnSNIwL3EqceezzDEQPoSLAAY6Nu8p9-Oa_9-_a5e8bFceGGgYdC968ZDOuBy--K1tWJudN6F94Qlyc4EyhtXWQnihlNEyRLZu_W4fIyXLv92rkck38s9mejQE4tO8K8MjeGpKAIvCPJbRN1gfGLqsyaJ9tLXXR5NthtLhE6XSZanOxBoweIUnM=s1024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2ZgnSNIwL3EqceezzDEQPoSLAAY6Nu8p9-Oa_9-_a5e8bFceGGgYdC968ZDOuBy--K1tWJudN6F94Qlyc4EyhtXWQnihlNEyRLZu_W4fIyXLv92rkck38s9mejQE4tO8K8MjeGpKAIvCPJbRN1gfGLqsyaJ9tLXXR5NthtLhE6XSZanOxBoweIUnM=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1nfarMDaCS24V0BkBQq83r2t8pESELFSXXHrimq2nXr_FD2qcD4atsSd0OIDdDIQieQOq_yd5kNtPsAG5x9AN1IrbvscLriJXv0LBGazbQpLq83eWV_imtQ33_7WhTk3VICXT7r60fBLejQrZdZbWE4bEEAIYauiJIfJruCgdcgGj16i_tWW-VHYD=s1024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1nfarMDaCS24V0BkBQq83r2t8pESELFSXXHrimq2nXr_FD2qcD4atsSd0OIDdDIQieQOq_yd5kNtPsAG5x9AN1IrbvscLriJXv0LBGazbQpLq83eWV_imtQ33_7WhTk3VICXT7r60fBLejQrZdZbWE4bEEAIYauiJIfJruCgdcgGj16i_tWW-VHYD=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEju97FIMS3SLOoZ5ng-JGqAFZMlXPlRGRyj_9V5EZnl370Mh2TJXLzkmoAgWxnRrQoGNXgYVuiW12xR8p17cZ40gS6gt1ZnY4qHlqrYA-Z7V6GokzKuJuD3D6Cct0rv7lqOOQYlwSoJeu_wc-uq6R7cTprysvrC2idgSFBG3BmQT8QUrqtBrJikHDLI=s1024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEju97FIMS3SLOoZ5ng-JGqAFZMlXPlRGRyj_9V5EZnl370Mh2TJXLzkmoAgWxnRrQoGNXgYVuiW12xR8p17cZ40gS6gt1ZnY4qHlqrYA-Z7V6GokzKuJuD3D6Cct0rv7lqOOQYlwSoJeu_wc-uq6R7cTprysvrC2idgSFBG3BmQT8QUrqtBrJikHDLI=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilnGhe08bDPs7ca8N91cU76DBtZAtLOxLBfeHC8qFl_fiTFyXygCXOO4x4nMnaV__I4MCX-EhUp1raJFuw6tdoyMeAwGoQIKFCXcZCz7rLAOM5P4DAGdNXI1ShU_p9FPLxusR9EzDdXmZrjYV9rLN_Y-PVOgT4pKGhjkaXuWq-esYV0JnzKMKIM3jI=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilnGhe08bDPs7ca8N91cU76DBtZAtLOxLBfeHC8qFl_fiTFyXygCXOO4x4nMnaV__I4MCX-EhUp1raJFuw6tdoyMeAwGoQIKFCXcZCz7rLAOM5P4DAGdNXI1ShU_p9FPLxusR9EzDdXmZrjYV9rLN_Y-PVOgT4pKGhjkaXuWq-esYV0JnzKMKIM3jI=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieSkFUmilojkjKS5z4xzWFWolPgh5t0tDZpmWk4tDCxs7kBFOWhv39mGPJyx4mHQatq92TDFetSHG4cZXGtP3nVNEnts-lc2MZJDvNKk2FVFuU48Es1lmFY8unAvEQ4MDSTrfOY0aZcnyWc0w6Ssd7GWUzPKi7o9Jr4___PrJmtFx1H9dnJG3UK2w5=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieSkFUmilojkjKS5z4xzWFWolPgh5t0tDZpmWk4tDCxs7kBFOWhv39mGPJyx4mHQatq92TDFetSHG4cZXGtP3nVNEnts-lc2MZJDvNKk2FVFuU48Es1lmFY8unAvEQ4MDSTrfOY0aZcnyWc0w6Ssd7GWUzPKi7o9Jr4___PrJmtFx1H9dnJG3UK2w5=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /><br /></p>Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-79077256695633888082021-11-26T07:48:00.002-08:002021-11-26T08:15:18.161-08:00Unique Gifts for Animal Lovers<p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">For unique gifts for anyone you know who likes animals or likes stories with pictures, check out my Etsy site, Comics from the Wood: <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/rosswoodstudlar/?fbclid=IwAR0fgTVr0qv-dkWjKOEXV0TikPw9RPZ-GalLbHNsLP21FBb4vw22Etzpyac" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.etsy.com/shop/rosswoodstudlar/</a></span> Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!</span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7uncMRyTtY/YaEBg0vy35I/AAAAAAAAD40/ae-JP3bOv_4TBgQ0iehcBC1qSA7346JJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/AcrobatByNight_1024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="1024" height="179" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7uncMRyTtY/YaEBg0vy35I/AAAAAAAAD40/ae-JP3bOv_4TBgQ0iehcBC1qSA7346JJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/AcrobatByNight_1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-48634435182778191422021-10-01T09:19:00.000-07:002021-10-01T09:19:03.926-07:00Come See My Work at ABQZF10, Real-Life and Virtual<p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id" dir="auto"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dah3OPlzPT0/YVc0jOorZII/AAAAAAAADw8/4IYgqRJjO8sjfu7rAeuYcBb4QIAX3LXSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1863/Poster_for_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1863" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dah3OPlzPT0/YVc0jOorZII/AAAAAAAADw8/4IYgqRJjO8sjfu7rAeuYcBb4QIAX3LXSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Poster_for_web.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><p></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id" dir="auto">My
work will be featured at ABQ Zine Fest 10(!), although I will not be
there in-person this time. The event takes place tomorrow Saturday,
October 2, 11 AM- 5 PM at La Esquinta, 507 4th St SW, Albuquerque, NM.
There will be various workshops and a pop-up store, including my books
Frog Stories, Follow the Moon, and Can Jumping Spiders See the Moon?
ABQ Zine Fest is taking a hybrid approach this year, combining
real-life and virtual events. You can also check out the exhibitors
online. I am there under the banner of Comics from the Wood. Here is
their poster ©2021 ABQZF. <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://www.abqzf.com/?fbclid=IwAR1k1Eg14m4F--m3E8A92hJV9gyiww4VVOULtu1yUXGWk2CIzb2AIaqxyfQ" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.abqzf.com/</a></span> <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl oo9gr5id gpro0wi8 lrazzd5p" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/abqzf?__eep__=6&__tn__=*NK*F" role="link" tabindex="0">#ABQZF</a></span> <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl oo9gr5id gpro0wi8 lrazzd5p" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/abqzf10?__eep__=6&__tn__=*NK*F" role="link" tabindex="0">#ABQZF10</a></span> <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl oo9gr5id gpro0wi8 lrazzd5p" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/comics?__eep__=6&__tn__=*NK*F" role="link" tabindex="0">#Comics</a></span> <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl oo9gr5id gpro0wi8 lrazzd5p" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/zines?__eep__=6&__tn__=*NK*F" role="link" tabindex="0">#Zines</a></span> </span></p>Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-12025787492993121902021-08-16T20:49:00.000-07:002021-08-16T20:49:44.328-07:00Desert Tortoise versus Gila Monster<p> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cn6_Wnpwpb4/YRswug_l4kI/AAAAAAAADh0/xscSFHUYhLsvNZrXkRXkxbT1W3-bCO7dQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/DesertTortoiseVersusGilaMonster_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="1024" height="263" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cn6_Wnpwpb4/YRswug_l4kI/AAAAAAAADh0/xscSFHUYhLsvNZrXkRXkxbT1W3-bCO7dQCLcBGAsYHQ/w392-h263/DesertTortoiseVersusGilaMonster_1024.jpg" width="392" /></a></div> <p></p><p>As a follow-up to my <a href="http://rosswoodstudlar.blogspot.com/2021/07/tortoise-combat.html">previous desert tortoise scene,</a> I looked for an opportunity to draw a female in battle. I learned that while female tortoises rarely exhibit aggression towards their own species, they can be fierce in defending their nests and will even fight Gila monsters who want to eat the eggs. The only venomous lizard native to the United States, the Gila monster must be a foreboding opponent. But so is a reptilian battle tank with the temperament of a mother grizzly! <br /></p>Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-22462709552332558232021-08-06T12:15:00.003-07:002021-08-06T12:15:25.960-07:00The Song of Spadefoot Toads <p>Another rainstorm on Sunday the first night of August, and the Couch’s spadefoot toads were back in chorus! There were also a few western green toads in the flooded field. During an earlier rainstorm back in April, I heard the calls of New Mexico spadefoot toads. Quite a variety of amphibians for a patch of desert! (Scaphiophus couchii, Anaxyrus debilis insidior, Spea multiplicata stagnalis)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WVjComCX_3I/YQ2Flrp4n2I/AAAAAAAADgY/QB_O_pszA2oGvkFn-NXvnsUN1-BDZLdtwCPcBGAsYHg/s1648/SpadefootWithBodyInflated_1648.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="1648" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WVjComCX_3I/YQ2Flrp4n2I/AAAAAAAADgY/QB_O_pszA2oGvkFn-NXvnsUN1-BDZLdtwCPcBGAsYHg/s320/SpadefootWithBodyInflated_1648.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sv9dY21DocA/YQ2FlnPLkQI/AAAAAAAADgY/hdp9cIYrhLsMfwLNOQIk6b6C4GH3N_eKwCPcBGAsYHg/s1648/SpadefootWithVocalSacInflated_1648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="1648" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sv9dY21DocA/YQ2FlnPLkQI/AAAAAAAADgY/hdp9cIYrhLsMfwLNOQIk6b6C4GH3N_eKwCPcBGAsYHg/s320/SpadefootWithVocalSacInflated_1648.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzZk8O3MkBYf62n69H0UvLbpRvpeYjKmbMhCQkRTK6Vu8MXBYfiWb6l11vExYKxOLVz0Xq11tXbwxh8baIcwA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-54068630898021340802021-07-22T21:16:00.000-07:002021-07-22T21:16:21.183-07:00The glorious and scary lifecycle of spadefoot toads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--zWkFDoTI28/YPpBgSGPCwI/AAAAAAAADeM/2FeUXhmH7C4pM0Tj-sSkjNefhUnZUuHcACPcBGAsYHg/s2048/IMG_3516_Spadefoots%2521.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--zWkFDoTI28/YPpBgSGPCwI/AAAAAAAADeM/2FeUXhmH7C4pM0Tj-sSkjNefhUnZUuHcACPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_3516_Spadefoots%2521.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">My friend <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/14gletri?__cft__[0]=AZUiF2A_uqNg0x5uLZd5TltXlK0lxTTzgdCANPQaCHvcEFvAkkid8y2Qc6bo9VA-sQvFYALaoN97E_8-5zaOMrw0l1w-G9glsm8yDjYt8VpD1YY_sWEB8kMCoYyCSfz3eWw&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" tabindex="0"><span class="nc684nl6"><span>Tristen</span></span></a></span> rescued spadefoot toad tadpoles from a flooded road, which was not going to stay flooded for very long. She nurtured the tadpoles in a bucket and a pool, feeding them dried shrimp, baby frog formula pellets, and algae-based wafers. In two weeks, they grew into fully formed spadefoot toads. (These amphibians are supremely adapted to desert life and emerge from their burrows after summer monsoons to breed in ephemeral pools. The tadpoles metamorphose on hyperdrive.)</div></div><p></p><div class="" dir="auto"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc ihqw7lf3 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_cv"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">As the young spadefoots, one by one, hopped out of their pool and back into the wild, they inevitably suffered some casualties to birds!</div></div></span></div></div></div></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-149SjpiMQnw/YPpBgZUoLbI/AAAAAAAADeM/0l-6iBir5-88LrETMRaQpgnMPJUQOfElACPcBGAsYHg/s2048/IMG_3519_SpadefootTadpole.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-149SjpiMQnw/YPpBgZUoLbI/AAAAAAAADeM/0l-6iBir5-88LrETMRaQpgnMPJUQOfElACPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_3519_SpadefootTadpole.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-icl9M8hhFU8/YPpBgU4gsgI/AAAAAAAADeM/GO1Ne_qIPX4o4tjRtRMRNt9CAg31WM-9QCPcBGAsYHg/s2048/IMG_3521_SpadefootsSwimmin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-icl9M8hhFU8/YPpBgU4gsgI/AAAAAAAADeM/GO1Ne_qIPX4o4tjRtRMRNt9CAg31WM-9QCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_3521_SpadefootsSwimmin.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JsylsC8kW84/YPpBgTLkzcI/AAAAAAAADeM/wrCYDkaH6zAEI2068t0RQZ0xZoG6Y1OjQCPcBGAsYHg/s1884/IMG_3522_SpadefootsBirdsEyeView.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1884" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JsylsC8kW84/YPpBgTLkzcI/AAAAAAAADeM/wrCYDkaH6zAEI2068t0RQZ0xZoG6Y1OjQCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_3522_SpadefootsBirdsEyeView.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RuFD6ACQZJc/YPpBgb9njoI/AAAAAAAADeM/3kwAuojTtcUQlcg_MK-yQQRqeFHG7XjtACPcBGAsYHg/s1648/IMG_3528_SpadeyFroglets_1648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="1648" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RuFD6ACQZJc/YPpBgb9njoI/AAAAAAAADeM/3kwAuojTtcUQlcg_MK-yQQRqeFHG7XjtACPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_3528_SpadeyFroglets_1648.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eDrVt-x30yo/YPpBgVcS0nI/AAAAAAAADeM/dCCpGIHfKl4Vbi8MxN9KyG7jZCSZQxL9wCPcBGAsYHg/s1024/IMG_3523_SpadefootVsBird_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="888" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eDrVt-x30yo/YPpBgVcS0nI/AAAAAAAADeM/dCCpGIHfKl4Vbi8MxN9KyG7jZCSZQxL9wCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_3523_SpadefootVsBird_1024.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p>Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-4912652921412765992021-07-09T10:03:00.008-07:002021-07-09T12:36:14.687-07:00Tortoise combat<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vvabhiv4IpM/YOiA9CJk0dI/AAAAAAAADa0/8_oIo1ltmwIQu_LZxKnelG0638awz0qtwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/MojaveDesertTortoises_1024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1024" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vvabhiv4IpM/YOiA9CJk0dI/AAAAAAAADa0/8_oIo1ltmwIQu_LZxKnelG0638awz0qtwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/MojaveDesertTortoises_1024.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br /></div><p></p><p>In researching desert tortoises <i>(Gopherus agassizii)</i> for a new comics project, I learned that the males engage in fearsome combat for territory and access to females. Each tortoise digs at his opponent with the gular horn at the front of his plastron (lower shell) to flip the other onto his back! For defense, they stand tall on their four legs and become hard to flip. The tortoises can eventually right themselves, although being overturned must be stressful. If they knew that they are a threatened species, would they reconsider their dueling traditions? Inspired by the slow-moving warriors, I crafted this poster.</p>Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-49497109961086737882021-07-08T19:04:00.000-07:002021-07-08T19:04:27.268-07:00New comic book--Can Jumping Spiders See the Moon?--for sale on my Etsy site!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OvLZC6PQY2o/YOet0jb7f9I/AAAAAAAADac/7H0nfA-EnxQi8Xp5lKAuUsBMkpHa_n62ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1650/05_JumpingSpidersCover_1650_RWStudlar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1198" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OvLZC6PQY2o/YOet0jb7f9I/AAAAAAAADac/7H0nfA-EnxQi8Xp5lKAuUsBMkpHa_n62ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/05_JumpingSpidersCover_1650_RWStudlar.jpg" /></a></div>This science and nature thriller tells <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1048532259/can-jumping-spiders-see-the-moon-comic?ref=shop_home_active_1 ">stories of jumping spiders</a> using their real-life super powers of vision, intelligence, and long-distance leaping to hunt dangerous prey (and court dangerous mates)! In crafting this graphic narrative, I consulted a body of scientific literature about the amazing minds of jumping spiders, exhibited especially by their varied and adaptable hunting techniques. My intricate line art and dynamic narration illuminate the beautiful and merciless natural world.<br /><br />11" by 8.25" <br />12 pages<br />black and white<p></p><p>$4.95 plus $2 shipping </p><p><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1048532259/can-jumping-spiders-see-the-moon-comic?ref=shop_home_active_1 ">Buy this comic book!</a><br /></p><p> </p>Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-37607704110657124142021-02-19T21:18:00.003-08:002021-02-19T21:18:35.571-08:00Carlsbad Caverns Launches Podcasting Program with Cover Art by me<p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa fgxwclzu a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Carlsbad
Caverns National Park has launched it's <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cave/learn/photosmultimedia/three-sources-of-light-podcast.htm">Three Sources of Light</a>
podcasting series to satisfy your scientific and historic curiosity
about New Mexico's cave country! The first episode is out and more will
follow. You might even recognize the artist for the cover image. </span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa fgxwclzu a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fmq-8vfExVw/YDCasCKg2DI/AAAAAAAAC6A/bQJ_9ztw08c8UJarqwvtF760CqIgk5BzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/ThreeSourcesOfLightLogo_3000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fmq-8vfExVw/YDCasCKg2DI/AAAAAAAAC6A/bQJ_9ztw08c8UJarqwvtF760CqIgk5BzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/ThreeSourcesOfLightLogo_3000.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa fgxwclzu a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I made this picture while on Uncle Sam's payroll, so it is not copyrighted. </span><br /></span></p>Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-49504104221939617852020-11-11T19:46:00.000-08:002020-11-11T19:46:01.813-08:00The Mesozine Era, includes work by me<p> <span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa fgxwclzu a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8JuIqvyakLI/X6yuCbIrjeI/AAAAAAAAC2s/L72Wtit-iQkq3krODNu4k9nin-caSTMUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/MesozineEra_CoverbyDenisStJohn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1698" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8JuIqvyakLI/X6yuCbIrjeI/AAAAAAAAC2s/L72Wtit-iQkq3krODNu4k9nin-caSTMUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/MesozineEra_CoverbyDenisStJohn.jpg" /></a></div><br /> <br /><p></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa fgxwclzu a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><a href="https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/SREUT9QLKXPB4"><i>THE
MESOZINE ERA</i></a> is NEW and contains a single-page comics story by me
called "Fear the Oasis," which is set in Madagascar in the late
Cretaceous! I also contributed an illustration of a <i>Spinosaurus.</i> This
is the first time that I have been published in the same book as <a href="http://www.deniscomix.com/">Denis St. John</a> </span><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa fgxwclzu a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span></span></span><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa fgxwclzu a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">or <a href="https://bryanstone.wordpress.com/comics/">Bryan Stone</a>, which seems long overdue, given that we all attended
<a href="cartoonstudies.org">The Center for Cartoon Studies</a> at the same time and we all like
monsters. Denis edited this volume and evidently recruited some top
talent! <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/dinosaur?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZW_-mp79k3KOIpmTGD2Ql3rHHXRBK9ESgPc2ArjAuhceCXpYHCGQ0Cpgnha3s0rWv09593iqXCgK3NF8bQf2WI9ZTOjmA30szhIaXI5D3_GUj68TDgkin99HbDM7J4vRHMjZO2PI5UEOaDx5sIG8SGKTfj5pDGdkiM_0kmw_TbcC3jIjcX7KtIim0-loCqdi5U&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" tabindex="0">#dinosaur</a></span> <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/zine?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZW_-mp79k3KOIpmTGD2Ql3rHHXRBK9ESgPc2ArjAuhceCXpYHCGQ0Cpgnha3s0rWv09593iqXCgK3NF8bQf2WI9ZTOjmA30szhIaXI5D3_GUj68TDgkin99HbDM7J4vRHMjZO2PI5UEOaDx5sIG8SGKTfj5pDGdkiM_0kmw_TbcC3jIjcX7KtIim0-loCqdi5U&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" tabindex="0">#ZINE</a></span> <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/comicbooks?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZW_-mp79k3KOIpmTGD2Ql3rHHXRBK9ESgPc2ArjAuhceCXpYHCGQ0Cpgnha3s0rWv09593iqXCgK3NF8bQf2WI9ZTOjmA30szhIaXI5D3_GUj68TDgkin99HbDM7J4vRHMjZO2PI5UEOaDx5sIG8SGKTfj5pDGdkiM_0kmw_TbcC3jIjcX7KtIim0-loCqdi5U&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" tabindex="0">#comicbooks</a></span> <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/comicart?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZW_-mp79k3KOIpmTGD2Ql3rHHXRBK9ESgPc2ArjAuhceCXpYHCGQ0Cpgnha3s0rWv09593iqXCgK3NF8bQf2WI9ZTOjmA30szhIaXI5D3_GUj68TDgkin99HbDM7J4vRHMjZO2PI5UEOaDx5sIG8SGKTfj5pDGdkiM_0kmw_TbcC3jIjcX7KtIim0-loCqdi5U&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" tabindex="0">#ComicArt</a></span> <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/dinosaurart?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZW_-mp79k3KOIpmTGD2Ql3rHHXRBK9ESgPc2ArjAuhceCXpYHCGQ0Cpgnha3s0rWv09593iqXCgK3NF8bQf2WI9ZTOjmA30szhIaXI5D3_GUj68TDgkin99HbDM7J4vRHMjZO2PI5UEOaDx5sIG8SGKTfj5pDGdkiM_0kmw_TbcC3jIjcX7KtIim0-loCqdi5U&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" tabindex="0">#DinosaurArt</a></span></span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa fgxwclzu a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span><a href="https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/SREUT9QLKXPB4">Buy the book HERE.</a> <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #d0e0e3;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa fgxwclzu a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span><i>Mesozine Era</i> cover by </span></span></span></span><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa fgxwclzu a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span><span style="color: #d0e0e3;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="DINPA">©</span> Denis St. John</span></span> <br /></span></span></p>Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-36206907783320968612020-07-17T10:54:00.001-07:002020-07-17T10:54:59.691-07:00Jumping spider in the worksI’m working on a comic about jumping spiders! Here is a panel, which I will letter later.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jDGfgGP_9KM/XxHl3miSJZI/AAAAAAAACzs/TURKlhygVjgUAZH_6XwqAuVJ5j-fG6tHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/PortiaFimbriata_RWStudlar_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1024" height="276" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jDGfgGP_9KM/XxHl3miSJZI/AAAAAAAACzs/TURKlhygVjgUAZH_6XwqAuVJ5j-fG6tHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/PortiaFimbriata_RWStudlar_1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-56823479087029210132020-06-03T15:31:00.000-07:002020-06-05T14:56:44.956-07:00For the Love of Woman, Man, and Especially Child, Turn Down the Heat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RMRHBreqzD0/Xtq_E4L_AEI/AAAAAAAACyY/XSr_L-UN-es8fYHJHoR3nknmocAYfBYXACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/ForTheLoveOfChild_1648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1204" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RMRHBreqzD0/Xtq_E4L_AEI/AAAAAAAACyY/XSr_L-UN-es8fYHJHoR3nknmocAYfBYXACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/ForTheLoveOfChild_1648.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“Many more people are beginning to grasp that the fight is
not for some abstraction called “the earth.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are fighting for our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And we don't have twelve years anymore; now we have only eleven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And soon it will be just ten.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>—Naomi<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Klein, <i>On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal</i>, 2019</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I made this drawing for<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> a</span> friend in California.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She regularly has nightmares about climate change and awakens in<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">a</span> sweat to visions of raging <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">wildfires.</span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She cries about climate change, <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">in despair about<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>protecting her 3-year-old daughter from its
consequences.</span> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red;"></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The dizzying pace of climate catastrophe has made it difficult
for me to write a piece to accompany <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">my</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>illustration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The
inferno California wildfire season</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></i>in 2019 provided much of the impetus for my
image.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I learned that California
has already had <a href="https://www.fire.ca.gov/stats-events/">at least 1,506
wildfires in 2020.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had planned to<span style="color: red;"> </span>write about the bushfires of Australia in the summer
of 2019, when the world gasped at the heart-wrenching scenes of kangaroos
fleeing the flames in successive bounds and koalas wrapped in bandages after
getting torched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then a quick web search
revealed that the bushfires had continued into January 2020 (March in some
locales).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was so much smoke in
Sydney in December 2019 that their <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/sydney-air-soars-to-12-times-hazardous-levels-under-toxic-blanket-of-bushfire-smoke">air
quality was 12 times the “hazardous” level.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now, as the world's attention is focused on the Coronavirus pandemic,
2020 is on pace to be the warmest year in history and the western U.S. faces
megadrought, <a href="https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/no-climate-change-did-not-stop-due-to-covid-19-88bc6562b548">quite
possibly the worst in 1200 years</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Much of Africa deals with its <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/apr/13/second-wave-of-locusts-in-east-africa-said-to-be-20-times-worse">worst
swarms of desert locusts in 70 years.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The locusts devour crops like wildfires do trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They thrive in a warmer world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So do mosquitoes—the deadliest animals on Earth,
for their power to spread malaria, yellow fever, and other diseases. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And
if we don't take drastic action, this dizzying pace will <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">dramatically accelerate.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to some models, the Earth’s climate
will warm by <a href="https://climatenexus.org/climate-change-news/rcp-8-5-business-as-usual-or-a-worst-case-scenario/">4.3
degrees Celsius</a> by 2100 under a business-as-usual scenario.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Journalist David Wallace-Wells summarized
predictions by climate scientists <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">for</span>
this overheated future <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">in</span> his
book <i>The Uninhabitable Earth</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
said, “In a four-degree warmer world, the earth's ecosystem will boil with so
many natural disasters that we will just start calling them “weather”:
out-of-control typhoons and tornadoes and floods and droughts, the <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">planet</span> assaulted regularly with
climate events that <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">not</span> so long
ago destroyed whole civilizations.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Among Wallace-Wells's most frightening passages are those about heat
waves: “Since 1980, the planet has experienced a fiftyfold increase in the
number of dangerous heat waves; a bigger increase is to come.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a four-degree warmer world, “the deadly
European heat wave of 2003, which killed as many as 2,000 people a day, will be
a normal summer.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Due to physical limits
to the human body’s tolerance to heat and humidity, <a href="https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/19/eaaw1838.full">parts of
South Asia and the Middle East are on course to becoming unlivable</a> by the
time a child born today turns about 55.<span style="color: red;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I stayed home for the fiftieth Earth Day on April 22, 2020,
showing due diligence to the social distancing order from the governor of New
Mexico.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was hard <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">to miss taking part</span><span style="color: red;"> </span>in mass gatherings for this historic and momentous
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nonetheless, the legacy of the
first Earth Day in 1970—when 20 million people (including my mother) partook in
rallies and marches—lives on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Earth Day
co-founder Senator Gaylord Nelson's words still ring true: <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2020/4/23/as_earth_day_turns_50_imagine">“Our
goal is not just an environment of clean air and water and scenic beauty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The objective is an environment of decency,
quality and mutual respect for all other human beings and all other living
creatures.”</a></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My lofty hope is that the lessons of the Pandemic will
prompt us to passionately strive for<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></i>such an environment.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our response to the <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pandemic </span>and the resultant Great Depression 2.0 has been
mixed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have been plenty of
insanely rich individuals using this disaster to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/26/heads-we-win-tails-you-lose-how-americas-rich-have-turned-pandemic-into-profit">enhance
their wealth at the expense of everyone else,</a> following the disaster
capitalism model <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">articulated</span> by
Naomi Klein.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, national and state
governments have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/13/covid-19-made-unthinkable-reforms-a-reality-in-the-us-now-make-them-stick">made
proposals and taken actions for the common good, many unthinkable in the
pre-Covid-19 world.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The slowing of the world's economy due to Covid-19 has
caused an estimated <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmcmahon/2020/05/10/coronavirus-lockdown-caused-a-record-drop-in-emissions-at-a-record-cost/#56795ceb9a57">5%
drop in carbon emissions</a> for 2020.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">This is nowhere even remotely close to the
drop needed</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></i>to stave off the worst effects of climate change, and we
obviously do not want to attempt to save the climate by wrecking people's lives
and livelihoods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Generally, the Covid-19
lockdown has not had a major <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">impact</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></i>on <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/03/25/fact-check-coronavirus-crisis-benefiting-environment/2908300001/">humankind’s
long-term ecological footprint.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
indicates the magnitude of the task ahead of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need an ambitious Green New Deal to remake
our infrastructure and agriculture to work in harmony with the Earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The law professor Jedediah Britton-Purdy
explains: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red;"></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2020-2-march-april/feature/earth-day-for-life-earth-jedediah-britton-purdy">“Why
a politics of infrastructure?</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because the world makes hypocrites of us all. There are at least 2,000
tons of infrastructure for every human being—things like roads, buildings,
pipelines, and cables. We tap into it for everything we do: getting to work,
being with family, finding food, staying warm. As a species, we would hardly
exist without this technological exoskeleton. It determines our ecological
impact much more than individual choices can. I can choose my route through the
city, but the city itself determines my carbon emissions.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Luckily, we have the opportunity to refashion our
infrastructure for sustainability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
example, on the energy front, a<a href="https://www.salon.com/2017/12/23/100-percent-renewable-energy-worldwide-is-not-just-possible-it-is-more-cost-effective-than-existing-system_partner/">
study by Finnish and German researchers concluded that the world can transition
to 100% renewable power by 2050 and create 36 million jobs in the process.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have the technological knowhow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The question is whether we have the political
will to implement it on a massive scale.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Given the combined crises of Great Depression 2.0 and the
climate emergency, a Green New Deal which includes a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_Transition">just transition</a> should
be the issue that unites the American left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the past few years, <a href="https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/21252892/climate-change-democrats-joe-biden-renewable-energy-unions-environmental-justice">the
left has begun to unite to face climate change.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much has changed in between the televised
Democratic primary debates for the 2016 election and those for the 2020
election.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For 2016, when asked by a
debate moderator about the greatest threat facing humanity, Senator Bernie
Sanders was the only candidate who answered with climate change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the same question was posed for 2020,
many of the other candidates agreed with Sanders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For 2016, climate change received fewer than
six minutes of air time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For 2020, the
candidates participated in a seven-hour climate town hall, a two-day climate
forum hosted by MSNBC, and a Weather Channel special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The international environmental group Greenpeace
analyzed the climate action plans of the 2020 candidates and awarded letter
grades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/greenpeace-climate-ranking-update-as-cnn-climate-town-hall-approaches-democratic-candidates-scramble-to-improve-greenpeace-scores/">Senator
Sanders scored highest</a> with an A, but even Vice President Joe Biden
eventually earned a B+.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Greenpeace
awarded a D- to the climate plan that Biden had in April 2019.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After popular news media trumpeted this low
score, <a href="https://time.com/5598313/jo-biden-climate-change-report-card/">Biden
quickly replaced his initial plan with a more ambitious one.)</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Throughout all this, the Republican party led by President
Donald Trump continues to deny that anthropogenic climate change is real—an
unscientific position on par with saying that the Earth is flat or that viruses
don't exist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The general election is on <a href="https://www.usa.gov/voting">November 2, 2020.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we want to prevent the horrific
predictions of climate science from coming true, we must vote the Republicans
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then use every tool in the toolbox
to pressure Democrats to deliver a massive Green New Deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I <a href="https://www.sierraclubindependentaction.org/2020-plan-to-win">volunteer
to get out the vote</a>, I will be thinking of my friend's daughter, and all
the children I know.</span></div>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style>Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-227870416710014962019-10-31T14:52:00.000-07:002019-10-31T14:52:12.670-07:00Gojira on the beach<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e0aSo8tIEHo/XbtXW7bV2gI/AAAAAAAACuc/-dShyctbQ74E2elgO__Qv1FB73VIhtg7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/GodzillaOnTheBeach_1648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1600" height="250" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e0aSo8tIEHo/XbtXW7bV2gI/AAAAAAAACuc/-dShyctbQ74E2elgO__Qv1FB73VIhtg7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/GodzillaOnTheBeach_1648.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2l5f5-0-0"><span data-text="true">Happy Halloween, everyone! My housemates </span></span><span class="_247o" data-offset-key="2l5f5-1-0" spellcheck="false" start="42"><span data-offset-key="2l5f5-1-0"><span data-text="true">Max</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="2l5f5-2-0"><span data-text="true"> and </span></span><span class="_247o" data-offset-key="2l5f5-3-0" spellcheck="false" start="50"><span data-offset-key="2l5f5-3-0"><span data-text="true">Gabe</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="2l5f5-4-0"><span data-text="true"> bought this print of a palm beach sunset for $3 at an auction to support the Pecos Valley Grotto. To give some irradiated life to this beach scene, I painted in Godzilla, King of the Monsters! He now stands proudly on our mantle, risen from the sea and with an appetite for destruction. Artwork © me, Godzilla TM Toho Studios.</span></span>Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-77479919129605672992019-10-24T11:49:00.001-07:002020-02-24T20:53:58.274-08:00New Comic Book: Follow The Moon, for sale on Etsy<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5E8qzc6ncr4/XbHwdXbPSlI/AAAAAAAACuI/ybg02YuBTAg972SuRj5ArszSeANo-7tGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/FollowTheMoon_MiniComicLayout-page001.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="825" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5E8qzc6ncr4/XbHwdXbPSlI/AAAAAAAACuI/ybg02YuBTAg972SuRj5ArszSeANo-7tGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/FollowTheMoon_MiniComicLayout-page001.png" width="207" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/733460552/follow-the-moon-comic-book?ref=related-1">Etsy listing</a></div>
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A wise grandmother sea turtle gathers a crew of young mother turtles on the beach, and shares the story of how their kind came to be. She tells the misadventures of a mischievous land turtle, who learns the hard way about the importance of following the Moon. <br />
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This story was originally published in the anthology <i>Oh Comics! #27: Moon</i> by Back Porch Comics, 2019. I republished it as <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/733460552/follow-the-moon-comic-book?ref=related-1">this mini-comic</a>, which debuted at ABQ Zine Fest 9, in Albuquerque, NM.<br />
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This story is partly inspired by my grandmother, Evelyn Wood Moyle, who, in her elder years, frequently told a story about a bird dropping a turtle on her rooftop!<br />
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8.5" by 5.5"<br />
8 pages<br />
black and whiteRoss Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-67639022318866326492019-10-02T13:33:00.001-07:002019-10-02T13:33:55.154-07:00Come see me at ABQ Zine Fest 9<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A319AILophg/XZUJHpPNcxI/AAAAAAAACtI/00MGB1jPrFg9hM9w8tHng0NuaOC3gSS0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/LaurelLeahEmily_ReadingMyComics_1648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1600" height="183" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A319AILophg/XZUJHpPNcxI/AAAAAAAACtI/00MGB1jPrFg9hM9w8tHng0NuaOC3gSS0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/LaurelLeahEmily_ReadingMyComics_1648.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Evidence that comics by me are popular! :) <a href="https://www.abqzf.com/">ABQ Zine Fest 9</a> will be my singular convention appearance for this year. Saturday, October 5, 2019, 11 AM - 5 PM. National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 4th St SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102. Come see me if you can! #ABQZF9, #ABQZineFest<br />
<br />Ross Wood Studlarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741912315552479861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885925919340864559.post-30655085724749564712019-09-20T07:29:00.000-07:002019-09-24T18:06:22.337-07:00Guest author Raven fights for a habitable earth for her daughter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Sea is Rising and So Are We</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A parent finding hope in a time of climate crisis</span><br />
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by Raven Shade Brookner</div>
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Ever since I became a mother, I have been deeply troubled by the horrors of the world in a way I never was before. Before I had my daughter I could easily avoid the news, avoid processing the ills that are often too much for a sensitive person to bear. <br />
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When I was in college, majoring in Environmental Studies, I found out about climate change. I can’t forget the way I found out. It’s one thing to hear about it in an abstract way, to read about far away sea level rise, melting icebergs you have never seen or cared about, and imagine this danger will happen after your lifetime. But one particularly descriptive textbook captured the predictions of famine, drought, plague, extreme natural disasters, inescapable heat waves, and pestilence in raw detail. The timeline for extreme damage to begin (2050) was not something I could rationalize away. In response to this information, my eyes went wide, I was scared, shocked, and then… at some point I just kind of shut it away. I let it go, compartmentalized it to an area of my brain reserved for wars, mass shootings, and other disturbing information, so I could move on with my day to day. <br />
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Once I had my daughter, those timelines came rushing back. I knew I was bringing a child into a world that wasn’t safe, wasn’t guaranteed—and yes, those are facts for any new parent at any point in history. What makes this different is the scope. We can’t guarantee any life will be fully lived; people die all the time, and all we can do is enjoy our time, be our best selves, and try to minimize suffering by loving each other as best as we are able along the way. But, the now very realistic possibility that our entire species may become extinct in the course of my daughter’s lifetime—the heavy burden on our collective psyches as we head toward the collapse of the ecosystem that allows us to survive—is almost unbearable. It is now highly likely that if this isn’t addressed, we may literally not have enough oxygen to breathe, let alone food and water, by the end of my daughter’s life. I have awoken to nightmares of raging wildfires. I feel like the canary in the coal mine; as life continues on as normal for most people, I struggle to find a sense of calm. <br />
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It isn’t my style to proselytize. It’s generally ineffective and counterproductive. I also respect that people are wherever they happen to be upon their own paths, and I don’t like the conflict of political debates. However, I am choosing to make myself vulnerable at this point, about something I feel is worth it. I am doing this because I feel I have to do something and that what I’m doing, while significant, isn’t enough. <br />
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I am choosing to reject that fatalist attitude that is so prevalent surrounding climate change. Everywhere I look online, in the comments section, what I hear from people around me is that we’re doomed. It’s too little, too late. You can’t convince them all. Even if we change, they won’t, so why bother? But it is my belief that we shouldn’t go down without a fight, and that however small of a chance we have to mitigate the damage we have already incurred, it is still a chance, it is still possible. We stopped slavery. We pulled away from the tobacco industry. Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring stopped pesticide use that was killing insects and birds en masse. We have so many problems; we have so much corruption, but we also have a history of making change. These are small victories compared to what we now face, but the point stands that when people come together, when we say we’re done and demonstrate that with our actions, as a group we can change our fate. We need a radical Green New Deal yesterday. We need a new president with an aggressive plan to combat climate change, in spite of the filibuster that blocks progress in the Senate. We have to stop using fossil fuels. While we do need politicians, lawyers and new infrastructure, I am not content to do nothing while we wait around for other people to solve our problems and clean up our mess. Parents, children and families need to stop it, without waiting for permission. We need to demand change, and risk everything—in order to avoid losing everything. It is the greatest existential threat humanity has ever or will ever face and there is no later, there is only now. <br />
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There is so much we can do. My family drives a fully electric vehicle. We shop locally at farmers' markets and in the bulk section. We live in a very small, beautiful home. We plan to keep our family size small. We have gone zero waste, and reject all plastic products unless there really is no acceptable alternative. We eat a plant based diet. We buy non-toxic products made from sustainable materials. We buy less and make more. We started a garden and a compost pile. We offset our carbon use online. We are starting to be more vocal. It hasn’t been easy to change, but it has been rewarding and gratifying to do something. There have been so many unexpected benefits to a lifestyle built around less consumption, like more quality time together, better health, more beauty and more meaning in our lives. Before dismissing these tasks as something you can’t do, consider we were equally convinced we couldn’t do it before we started, and now it’s just what we do. We did one thing at a time, in a positive feedback loop, encouraged by our successes. Lastly, we all have to be activists. I am inspired to see young activists like Greta Thunberg leading acts of civil disobedience. We have to use our unique talents to reach as many people as possible; we have to vote; we have to march; we have to sound the alarm; we have to have hope. <br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Ross comments: In addition to Raven's suggestions for fighting climate change, I will add: divest from fossil fuels. This means choosing financial institutions, credit cards, and stocks that will not invest your money in fossil fuels. There is no way to completely avoid using fossil fuels in the civilization of 2019. However, investing in fossil fuels is another matter. Investments in fossil fuels are bets that our civilization continues to be powered by fossil fuels far into the future. Such investments work against a rapid transition to renewable energy. Banks like Wells Fargo, J. P. Morgan Chase, Bank of America, and Citigroup invest billions in companies that are aggressively expanding fossil fuel infrastructure. From the Dakota Access Pipeline to fracking to mountaintop removal coal mining, these banks have oil and methane and coal and blood on their hands. Luckily, alternatives to these climate-wrecking giants do exist! Many local banks and credit unions do not invest in fossil fuels. Several years ago, after attending some divestment rallies in Asheville, North Carolina, I got rid of my checking account at Chase Bank and replaced it with one at HomeTrust Bank, a local company which does not fund new fossil fuel infrastructure projects. I obtained a Sierra Club Visa and made it my primary credit card. The Sierra Club Visa is one of several types of earth-friendly credit cards available through Beneficial State Bank; these cards fund environmental causes instead of climate-disrupting energy sources. I still have more work to do to fully divest from fossil fuels, but these were important steps, and they were surprisingly easy. Beyond divesting your own money, the next step is to pressure cities, universities, and financial institutions to do the same. In recent years, many institutions—including Georgetown University, the City of Seattle, and the European Union Investment Bank—have committed to divest from fossil fuels, in response to public pressure. <br /><br />When I attended the Forward on Climate Rally in Washington D.C. in 2013, featured speaker Bill McKibben told the crowd, “you are the antibodies kicking in as the planet tries to fight its fever.” Although the fever is ferocious, the antibodies are stronger and more numerous than ever. The stakes are daunting, but the battle is not over. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Essay, comment, and illustration copyrighted to their respective authors. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">To learn more about saving the climate, 350.org is a good place to start.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">#climatestrike, #climateaction, #climatechange, #globalwarming, #science, #nature, #environment, #action, #carbon, #GND, </span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="_5afx"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz">#</span><span class="_58cm">climatestrike2019</span></span> <span class="_5afx"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz">#</span><span class="_58cm">grettathunberg</span></span> <span class="_5afx"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz">#</span><span class="_58cm">sunrisemovement</span></span> <span class="_5afx"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz">#</span><span class="_58cm">loveyourmother</span></span> <span class="_5afx"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz">#</span><span class="_58cm">fridaysforfuture</span></span></span></span></div>
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