16.08.2005 - 10:43 PM
La Tigresa is BACK, bitches.
Instead of being a diary site, this'll be more of a news site, so that all you fabulous Posse can see what is going on in this world. Not exactly the most spectacular comeback, but hey. So here we go! Today's headlines:
Web trade threat to rare species
There is nothing the internet cannot do, apparently.
The illegal trade in wild animal products over the internet is driving the world's most endangered species to extinction, wildlife campaigners claim.
Why does this not surprise me?
An International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw) probe found 9,000 live animals or products for sale in one week on trading sites like eBay.
Damn them, why can't they just stick to things like antique Elvis statues and crusts of toast eaten by Justin Timberlake?
During a three month investigation, Ifaw found some of the world's most endangered species for sale online - almost all being traded illegally.
These included a live gorilla for sale in London and a Siberian tiger and four baby chimps on US websites.
Honey, I'm getting you a tiger for Christmas like you always wanted. Off of Ebay. Sure it's guaranteed.
Animal body parts included hawksbill turtle shells, shahtoosh shawls from the Tibetan antelope and taxidermy specimens of lions, and peregrine falcons - protected by British law.
Ivory items and traditional Asian remedies containing parts of endangered tigers and rhinos were common place.
I once read tiger brains make a great remedy for zits. No, really.
Good lord. The internet.
Cells made to haul tiny cargoes
As if progressing from the shoulders to the ox to the Caterpillar wasn't enough, we've now pro(?)gressed from the Caterpillar to the amoeba...
Scientists in the US have managed to get single cells to ferry objects up and down tiny chambers.
Harvard University experts say, in future, cells could be harnessed to perform micro-scale mechanical work.
Like what? Oil changes on our mitochondria?
The researchers attached a cargo of polystyrene beads to the backs of green algae cells and used light to guide them up and down the chambers.
"We have basically developed the system of moving objects with micro-organisms," co-author Douglas Weibel, of Harvard University told the BBC News website.
This is really a step for science. Piss on curing cancer, let's train microorganisms to do our bidding.
"We harness their motors to make them perform unconventional tasks."
No, unconventional would be circus tricks.
The team have coined the term "microoxen" for the load-bearing microbes.
How quaint.
Happy day, Posse.
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