OWJ, the fact that you know where to find a good therapist is a bit of a worry. As the old English saying goes, "All the world's mad save thee and me - and even thee's a little queer!"

Just to prove that stranger things than coloured llamas can happen on the other side of the Pacific - from the NY Times of Mar 19,

"Several Imax theaters, including some in science museums, are refusing to show movies that mention (evolution) - or the Big Bang or the geology of the earth..."

I give up - can't compete with that.

Dear LoveItaly.

Point me to that question about romantic hotels in Rome for under $100...I can answer it -- short answer, there aren't any! :) And the "real" Tuscany is anyplace someone hasn't written a book about!

Elendi has provided you with a link on wombats, so that should be cleared up now. I think they're my favorite Aussie critter...I find them adorable. Another term you'll hear for them is "ground bears" (as opposed to "drop bears", which I'm sure will be featured in Neil's NEXT posting)!

And, to the file of "More Information Than I Really Wanted to Know" you'll be astounded, I'm sure, to learn that the wombat "scat" is actually square. Yes, it's true. They are very fond of marking their territory on rocks, and "square" doesn't fall off...nature is an amazing thing, no?!

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist

Neil,

Don't be too worried about me. That good therapist of mine has really turned me around. You should've seen me before.

Where were those IMAX theaters located? I'm guessing the Midwest and the Southern US. The school district next to where I live has been in the news b/c their HS science texts had a sticker disclaiming evolution!!!

OWJ

Melodie--square poop? I'd love to share that strange fact w/my students but how does one bring that into a conversation ;)

OWJ, the article did say that it's not a lot of Imax theatres so far and I think only in the South. What part of the country do you live in? The people who instituted free, public and secular education in the 19th century must be spinning in their graves, mustn't they?

After reading Melodie's story I hope nobody will think that multicoloured llamas in a city car park is odd. In the (possibly) unlikely) event that it's true, isn't that a great example of the workings of natural selection, beginning with the first wombat who by pure chance got a breeding edge from being born with a square anus?

On second thoughts, something seems wrong with this story ...

Neil--
I live in the Southeast, in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. As an educator, the suppression of ideas is utterly frightening and personally I think religion has no place in our public schools.

There is a club called "Fellowship of Christian Athletes", for example, that holds meetings in school one morning a week and is run by one of our teachers who receives a $ supplement. IMO, that is wrong! I have no issues with the club itself but it should be outside of school and run without school funds. Can you imagine a similar club for Jewish kids, Hindus or Muslims? Rather divisive, wouldn't you agree?

And as for square anus', I'm quite worried that after my rantings above some will think I have either a square one or one that's been sewn shut....
OWJ

Neil,

Is it possible this was merely a pink llama being dyed green for St Paddy's Day. After all, there is (ick)
green beer.

I wore green on the 17th, why shouldn't aussie-irish llamas?

AndrewDavid

Just when I thought you Americans had trumped us, I open up today's "Herald" and discover that the Australian government has come to the rescue. 30 refugees held in detention centres as suspected illegal immigrants are to have their cases reviewed ... on the grounds that they've converted to Christianity. This follows representations by religious-right members of parliament. I am NOT making this up.

AndrewDavid, your explanation makes perfect sense to me. Another possibility is that it was indeed an alpaca, bred to produce pink wool using a genetic modification process that was accidentally contaminated by tree frog genes. No doubt Pat will advise if any woolly and uncomfortably warm tree frogs are spotted in the jungles of Far North Queensland.

Hi Neil,
Sounds to me like someone was pre-empting the necessity for dyeing the shorn llama wool, or is setting a new trend of buying the wanted wool-colour 'on the hoof', thereby ensuring less likelihood of running out before finishing whatever the wool is being used for!
And as for kangas tearing down the road; when we were driving around Canberra in 1990, our driver was forced to plant foot on the brake as a couple of kangas decided to cut across our tracks less than a couple of metres away.
Have enjoyed a good chuckle, 'posters'.
Dot

dotty,just over 3 hours ago I was driving around the big road that circles Parliament House, having just passed the US Embassy, when four sizeable roos bounded across the road in front of me. I won't ever again be able to laugh at the legendary visitors who expect to see kangaroos hopping along the streets in Australian cities. Not in Canberra, anyway - the place is rife with the pests. Incidentally, they were grey.

This thread should go in the Fodors Hall of Fame!

To One Wandering Jew,

as to how to bring up this amazing fact about the wombats to students, or in polite conversation, I don't think I can really advise you.....

it's taken me 2 years and this forum to find the "right" venue to share that little tidbit!

Regards,

Melodie