Whenever I listen to this version of this song sung by Connie Francis it always gives me the chills and teary eyes. Such a bittersweet feeling...
Unfortunately, this is the only video I could find of this song that doesn't involve unrelated things.
September 30, 2009
September 28, 2009
Valerie a tyden divu (Jaromil Jires, 1970)
Also know as, "Valerie and Her Week of Wonders". This scene is perhaps one of my favorites ever.
The Symbolism Of Bats
The animal symbolism of the bat speaks of:-Illusion
-Rebirth
-Dreams
-Intuition
-Initiation
-Journeying
-Inner Depth
-Communication
The Native American animal symbolism of the bat comes from a keen observation of this magnificent animal. These people recognized that the bat was highly sensitive to their surroundings and so therefore was considered a symbol of intuition, dreaming and vision. This made the bat a powerful symbol for Native American shamans and medicine people. Often the spirit of the bat would be invoked when special energy was needed, like "night-sight" which is the ability to see through illusion or ambiguity and dive straight to the truth of matters.
It is a symbol of communication because the Native Americans observed the bat to be a highly social creature. Indeed, the bat has strong family ties. They are very nurturing, exhibiting verbal communication, touching, and sensitivity to members of their group.
If you have the bat as your totem you are extremely aware of your surroundings. Sometimes you can be overly sensitive to the feelings of others. Additionally, you are quite perceptive on a psychic level, and are prone to have prophetic dreams.
If you work with the bat as your totem, you will be put to the test, because it is demands only 100% commitment to spiritual growth. The bat will never accept half-hearted or lukewarm attempts at self-improvement. Indeed, if the bat senses that you are slacking in your psychic/spiritual training it will likely move on to someone else who is more willing to learn the lessons the bat has to offer.As with most of our hardest challenges, working with the demanding bat will reap some of the most profound rewards you could ever dream of. But be warned, the bat asks a lot of us, like:
-Dying to our ego
-Loving our enemies as ourselves
-Going within to touch our inner demons
-Exploring the underworlds of reality (which can be scary)
-Renewing our thoughts and beliefs on a moment-to-moment basis
All of these tasks can be harrowing experiences. This is why the Native American symbolism of the bat deals with initiation; because this creature takes us to outlandish extremes. But rest assured, the bat is never leaves our side while we are journeying.Furthermore, once we are tested to satisfaction, the devotion of the bat will never fade. It will eternally support us on our spiritual path - ever faithful and forever loving us on our journey to maintain our highest potential.
Mercury Turns Direct: Tread Softly for a While
Mercury turns direct in the sign of careful Virgo, in the early morning hours of September 29 and the third Mercury retrograde of this year will become history.Ever since Mercury turned retrograde in reasonable yet indecisive Libra earlier this month, (September 6 - 7), you may have changed your mind a number of times! And you have probably done a fair amount of fence-sitting as you have revisited some of your recent decisions and conversations. On September 17, when Mercury re-entered careful Virgo your analytical powers may have received a boost.
Now as this slow-moving planet turns direct in the midst of a fertile sextile to energetic Mars, anything you have to say to the world, your mate, children or spouse will get plenty of attention. So be extra careful and mindful to communicate your ideas thoughtfully and clearly.
Communications can unintentionally heat up and escalate due to Mercury’s connection with the ongoing Saturn/Uranus opposition, which locks in next week just after an emotional full harvest Moon in warrior Aries on October 3-4.
September 27, 2009
The Twelve Named Full Moons of the Year
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, there are typically twelve named full moons every year. The exception to this is, of course, the somewhat rarer Blue Moon. Those twelve named full moons are:January – Wolf Moon
February – Snow Moon
March – Worm Moon
April – Pink Moon
May – Flower Moon
June – Strawberry Moon
July – Buck or Sturgeon Moon
August – Fruit or Barley Moon
September – Harvest Moon
October – Hunters Moon
November – Beaver Moon
December – Cold or Long Nights Moon
These Full Moon names originated with the Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States. The full moons allowed the tribes to keep track of the seasons by giving names to each recurring full Moon. Basically, the entire “month” would be named after the full moon occurring that month.
Although there were a few differences between the names used by different tribes, mostly, they were similar. As European settlers moved in, they began to use the names as well. Since the Lunar cycle is only 29 days and our modern calendars have 30 or 31 days in a month, the dates of the full moon shifts from year to year, and occasionally allow that colorful Blue Moon.
September 25, 2009
Pegan Poetry
Perhaps one of my favorite songs and music videos of Bjork's. I love how simple yet beautiful the video looks, especially towards the end with her dressed in nothing but pearls. There's a sense of purity even though the video itself is rather sexual.
"The music video for "Pagan Poetry", directed by Nick Knight, which as stated on its making of page "is about a woman preparing herself for marriage and for her lover". It was also one of Björk's most controversial. It featured Björk in a dress designed by Alexander McQueen, covering only the lower portion of her body. The upper portion of the dress seems to be pearls laced through her skin. The video also included heavily distorted, close-up sequences of Björk and her partner Matthew Barney engaging in sexual intercourse and fellatio, which were shot by Björk per request of the director. The video also features a graphic display of body piercing, including a corset piercing on a model's back. The video was banned by MTV in the United States, but was eventually shown in unedited form on MTV2 in a presentation of the '20 Most Controversial Music Videos'."
-Wikipedia
"The music video for "Pagan Poetry", directed by Nick Knight, which as stated on its making of page "is about a woman preparing herself for marriage and for her lover". It was also one of Björk's most controversial. It featured Björk in a dress designed by Alexander McQueen, covering only the lower portion of her body. The upper portion of the dress seems to be pearls laced through her skin. The video also included heavily distorted, close-up sequences of Björk and her partner Matthew Barney engaging in sexual intercourse and fellatio, which were shot by Björk per request of the director. The video also features a graphic display of body piercing, including a corset piercing on a model's back. The video was banned by MTV in the United States, but was eventually shown in unedited form on MTV2 in a presentation of the '20 Most Controversial Music Videos'."
-Wikipedia
September 24, 2009
My two good friends, Vanessa Prager and Lizzy Waronker, are having an one night only art opening of their amazing art work! I can't wait to see how the space looks for I somewhat helped make the paper mache trees which is going to transform the place into a dark forest.
www.lizzywaronker.com
www.vprager.com
On Oct. 1, 2009 come experience Little Dream, an extremely temporary dual artist installation and exhibition featuring the art of Vanessa Prager and Lizzy Waronker. For one night only, you can immerse yourself in a largely paper mache, inside-out world of art and make-believe – with the installation taking place in an outdoor terrarium. Join the artists in their magical ephemeral forest, that envelopes paintings by Prager and assemblage sculpture by Waronker in an otherworldly, interactive, landscape.
Sponsored by WeSC and Nylon Magazine
Music by DJ Chris Holmes
Food Compliments of Whole Foods Beverly Hills
Drinks Compliments of Asahi Beer & Bear Flag Wine
Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009 7-11 pm
144 South Robertson Blvd.
LA, CA 90048
rsvpla@wesc.com
Make sure to RSVP!
www.vprager.com
On Oct. 1, 2009 come experience Little Dream, an extremely temporary dual artist installation and exhibition featuring the art of Vanessa Prager and Lizzy Waronker. For one night only, you can immerse yourself in a largely paper mache, inside-out world of art and make-believe – with the installation taking place in an outdoor terrarium. Join the artists in their magical ephemeral forest, that envelopes paintings by Prager and assemblage sculpture by Waronker in an otherworldly, interactive, landscape.
Sponsored by WeSC and Nylon Magazine
Music by DJ Chris Holmes
Food Compliments of Whole Foods Beverly Hills
Drinks Compliments of Asahi Beer & Bear Flag Wine
Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009 7-11 pm
144 South Robertson Blvd.
LA, CA 90048
rsvpla@wesc.com
Make sure to RSVP!
September 21, 2009
Fall Equinox
On September 22, the Sun enters Libra, marking the autumnal equinox in the northern hemisphere, and the vernal equinox in the southern hemisphere.
Days get gradually shorter as we near winter and the last quarter of a most difficult year. This year’s fall equinox occurs as Mercury connects with the Saturn-Uranus opposition, emphasizing the importance of weighing the pros and cons before you make important decisions during this period.
The word ‘equinox’ is derived from the Latin word that means ‘equal’ and Libra is a sign that is interested in fairness and equality. It is time to compromise, and those who know how to conduct themselves with poise will be miles ahead of everybody else. Meet people halfway when possible and seek common ground rather than highlight your differences. The Sun also squares Pluto now, intensifying all of your relationships. Yet, at heart, Libra is a social sign and relationship oriented, making this a perfect juncture to reach out and spend quality time with those you love!
This is also the time of the harvest -- a time of gratitude and abundance -- so look back on the past year and reflect on what you’ve experienced and learned. The equinox provides a perfect opportunity to release excess baggage and stagnant energy you may be carrying.
September 18, 2009
September 17, 2009
September 16, 2009
The Constipation Blues - Screamin' Jay Hawkins & Serge Gainsbourg
"According to the documentary, I Put a Spell on Me, upon liberation Screamin' Jay Hawkins blew his chief tormentor's head off by taping a hand-grenade into his mouth and pulling the pin." - Wikipedia
September 14, 2009
Saturn Opposite Uranus: Change is in the Air - Again
Change is in the air. Again! Saturn and Uranus will be exactly opposite each other again on September 15, forming what is known as an 'opposition' in astrology -- two planets positioned 180 degrees apart. This is the third of five such oppositions that started on November 4, 2008, and it will continue until July 26, 2010. These oppositions always come in a cycle, and happen approximately every 45 years. The last time these two planets formed oppositions was 1965 to 1967, and before that from 1918 to 1920. The Saturn-Uranus opposition that sent us on a roller coaster ride last fall and earlier this year returns for an encore to evoke more major shifts, both in your personal life and globally. Think back to November 2008 and February 2009 - what was happening in your life back then?
You may be in for another round of changes - this month and beyond - which will no doubt accelerate your personal growth. It isn't always fun, but it's sometimes necessary.
Saturn is the planet of authority and experience, and represents the tough and conservative disciplinarian, while Uranus is wild and unconventional -- the maverick planet of change. Saturn rules the status quo, while Uranus rules reform.
Saturn and Uranus are mortal enemies in mythology, and their combined energies in astrology signal tension and transformation. Issues that have been festering beneath the surface emerge, and the rules of the game shift. Uranus energy brings innovation through instability. Sudden and unexpected events shake our foundations and force us to look at things in a new way.
In order to make wise decisions during these times, we need to look at where Saturn and Uranus is located in our charts to help us assess where to make changes in our lives, and how to break out of established routines. Astrology shows us the themes that are in play, and guides us by providing important information. Yet, we are the ones who have to decide what to do with that data. Make sure you're not on the sidelines now. This is the time to get involved!
September 12, 2009
September 11, 2009
Fantasia (1940) - The Rite of Spring
Music score: Stravinsky
Part 1: Genesis
Part 2: Evolution
Part 3: Extinction
Part 1: Genesis
Part 2: Evolution
Part 3: Extinction
Fantasia (1940): Night on Bald Mountain
As a child, I was obsessed with this sequence from Fantasia...
Music score:
Modest Mussorgsky – Night on Bald Mountain
The Night on Bald Mountain segment is a showcase for animator Bill Tytla, who gave the demon Chernabog a power and intensity rarely seen in Disney films. The nocturnal Chernabog summons from their graves empowered restless souls, until driven away by the sound of a church bell. Noted actor Béla Lugosi served as a live action model for Chernabog, and spent several days at the Disney studio, where he was filmed doing evil, demon-like poses for Tytla and his unit to use as a reference. Tytla later deemed this reference material unsuitable and had studio colleague Wilfred Jackson perform in front of the cameras for the reference footage.
Chernabog is first seen when he awakes on top of Bald Mountain. It is Walpurgis Night and, using the powers of darkness, he raises ghosts, skeletons, demons, witches, harpies, goblins, and zombies from a nearby town and cemetery. He then summons fire and lava and makes the damned and the other creatures in his control dance and fly around, much to his delight, before he destroys them. In one part he picks up a patch of fire and transforms it into naked women, then into demonic animals, a fleet of imps and finally into fiery, blue satyrs. Ultimately, he drops them into the lava which seals their fiery doom.
Music score:
Modest Mussorgsky – Night on Bald Mountain
The Night on Bald Mountain segment is a showcase for animator Bill Tytla, who gave the demon Chernabog a power and intensity rarely seen in Disney films. The nocturnal Chernabog summons from their graves empowered restless souls, until driven away by the sound of a church bell. Noted actor Béla Lugosi served as a live action model for Chernabog, and spent several days at the Disney studio, where he was filmed doing evil, demon-like poses for Tytla and his unit to use as a reference. Tytla later deemed this reference material unsuitable and had studio colleague Wilfred Jackson perform in front of the cameras for the reference footage.
Chernabog is first seen when he awakes on top of Bald Mountain. It is Walpurgis Night and, using the powers of darkness, he raises ghosts, skeletons, demons, witches, harpies, goblins, and zombies from a nearby town and cemetery. He then summons fire and lava and makes the damned and the other creatures in his control dance and fly around, much to his delight, before he destroys them. In one part he picks up a patch of fire and transforms it into naked women, then into demonic animals, a fleet of imps and finally into fiery, blue satyrs. Ultimately, he drops them into the lava which seals their fiery doom.
John William Waterhouse: Powerful Women That Kill
The Modern Pre-Raphaelite.
(Click image to enlarge)
La Fileuse. 1874.
La Fileuse shows Fate spinning the destiny of man on her distaff. She holds the distaff in her hand, which is a spindle used to hold flax or wool for hand spinning the thread.
Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses. 1891.
Gauzy blue drapery. On the pavement at her feet violets are strewn. Behind her Ulysses advances, and his galleys are seen between the pillars.
On his return from the Trojan War, Ulysses sailed to the fantastic island of Aeaea inhabited by Circe, a beautiful but powerful sorceress. The land was crawling with swine, the metamorphosed forms of men seduced by her potent herbal brews.
Ulysses lost his entire crew to her charms, but armed with moly, a herb given to him by Hermes, he was able to withstand her spells and force her to release his men from their bestial shape.
Hylas and the Nymphs. 1896.
When the ship of the Argonauts reached the island of Cios, Hylas, the young and handsome companion of Hercules, was sent ashore in search of water. He discovered a fountain, but the nymphs of the place were so enchanted by his beauty that they pulled him to the depths of their watery abode, and in spite of the cries of Hercules which made the shores reverberate with the name Hylas, the young man was never seen again.
The Siren. 1900.
Waterhouse paints a Siren gazing regretfully at the drowning sailor she has drawn to his doom through her beautiful music.
"The sea-nymphs chant their accents shrill;
And the Sirens, taught to kill
With their sweet voice,
Make every echoing rock reply,
Unto their gentle murmuring noise".
Thomas Campion (1567-1620), In Praise of Neptune
Danaïdes. 1904.
The fifty daughters of Danaüs, King of Argos, were commanded in obedience to a prophecy to murder their husbands on their wedding night; all but one obeyed, and were punished by having to draw water in sieves from a deep well, or by pouring it endlessly into a vessel from which it continually escaped.
(Click image to enlarge)
La Fileuse shows Fate spinning the destiny of man on her distaff. She holds the distaff in her hand, which is a spindle used to hold flax or wool for hand spinning the thread.
Gauzy blue drapery. On the pavement at her feet violets are strewn. Behind her Ulysses advances, and his galleys are seen between the pillars.
On his return from the Trojan War, Ulysses sailed to the fantastic island of Aeaea inhabited by Circe, a beautiful but powerful sorceress. The land was crawling with swine, the metamorphosed forms of men seduced by her potent herbal brews.
Ulysses lost his entire crew to her charms, but armed with moly, a herb given to him by Hermes, he was able to withstand her spells and force her to release his men from their bestial shape.
When the ship of the Argonauts reached the island of Cios, Hylas, the young and handsome companion of Hercules, was sent ashore in search of water. He discovered a fountain, but the nymphs of the place were so enchanted by his beauty that they pulled him to the depths of their watery abode, and in spite of the cries of Hercules which made the shores reverberate with the name Hylas, the young man was never seen again.
Waterhouse paints a Siren gazing regretfully at the drowning sailor she has drawn to his doom through her beautiful music.
"The sea-nymphs chant their accents shrill;
And the Sirens, taught to kill
With their sweet voice,
Make every echoing rock reply,
Unto their gentle murmuring noise".
Thomas Campion (1567-1620), In Praise of Neptune
The fifty daughters of Danaüs, King of Argos, were commanded in obedience to a prophecy to murder their husbands on their wedding night; all but one obeyed, and were punished by having to draw water in sieves from a deep well, or by pouring it endlessly into a vessel from which it continually escaped.
September 10, 2009
One Of My Favorite Paintings: Virgin and Child Surrounded by Angels
Painting by Jean Fouquet
Agnès Sorel (1421 – February 9, 1450), surnamed Dame de beauté, was a mistress of King Charles VII of France.
The daughter of a soldier, Jean Soreau, and Catherine de Maignelais, Sorel was twenty years old when she was first introduced to King Charles. As reflected in art of the day, she was an extraordinarily beautiful young woman, and was also extremely intelligent. The French king was immediately smitten by her charms and he gave her the Château de Loches as her private residence, and took her as his mistress.
Soon, her presence was felt at the royal court in Chinon where her company was alleged to have brought the king out of a protracted depression. She had a very strong influence on the king, and that, in addition to her extravagant tastes, earned her a number of powerful enemies at court.
Agnès gave birth to three daughters: Marie de Valois and Charlotte and Jeanne de France. While pregnant with their fourth child, she joined Charles on the campaign of 1450 in Jumièges, wanting to be with him as moral support. There, she suddenly became ill and died on February 9 at the age of 28. While the cause of death was originally thought to be dysentery, scientists have now concluded that Agnès died from being poisoned by mercury, making it likely that she was a victim of murder, with suspects being unknown. She was said to be very kind and charitable, well-loved by those who had no political reason to hate her.
Charles' son, the future King Louis XI, had been in open revolt against his father for the previous four years. It has been speculated that he had Agnès poisoned in order to remove what he may have considered her undue influence over the king. It was also speculated that French financier, noble and minister Jacques Coeur poisoned her, though that theory is widely discredited as an attempt to remove Coeur from the French court. In 2005 French forensic scientist Philippe Charlier examined her remains and determined that the cause of death was mercury poisoning, but offered no opinion about whether she was murdered. Mercury was sometimes used in cosmetic preparations and this could therefore have been the reason for her death.
Franz Von Stuck
(Click image to enlarge)
Wild Chase. 1889.
Lucifer. 1890.
Fantasic Hunt. 1890.
The Murderer. 1891.
Mermaid. 1891.
Sin. 1893.
The War. 1894.
The Kiss Of The Sphinx. 1895.
Dancers. 1896.
Wounded Amazon. 1904.
Salome. 1906.
Inferno. 1908.
Tilla Durieux As Circe. 1913.
Magic Circle
"Tennyson's poem 'The Lady of Shalott' published in 1883 tells of a woman suffering under an undisclosured curse, and living isolated in a tower near King Arthur's castle. She is allowed to see the outside world only through its reflection in a mirror. One day she glimpses the handsome knight Lancelot reflected and cannot resist looking at him directly. The punishment that follows results in her drifting in her boat downstream to Camelot 'singing her last song,' but dying before reaching there. Waterhouse shows her letting go the boat's chains, while staring at the crucifix, placed in front of the three glittering candles. This imaginary figure is set in a highly naturalistic lanscape." - Description from Tate Gallery
Pluto Turns Direct: Accelerate Your Progress
Pluto, the planet of transformation, has been retrograde since April 4 of this year, and turns direct in Capricorn on September 11.
Pluto is a tiny, distant body, invisible to the naked eye. Yet, Pluto is incredibly powerful, a force for total transformation, regeneration and rebirth. Pluto asks us to go beyond what we know, redeem ourselves in the process and come out stronger as a result. Pluto represents how we direct our lives.
It takes Pluto a whopping 248 years to complete a single cycle of rotation around the Sun. On average, it spends 21 years in each sign and 5 months of each year in retrograde.
During a Pluto retrograde period, we will feel pressured to eliminate and release the old, outworn, outdated and obsolete in our lives. We will be urged to let go of attitudes, thinking or communication patterns, security drives, and rigid emotions that no longer serve us. This is an excellent time to undergo an internal form of house cleaning, and look into ourselves to determine exactly what we do and do not need.
Now, after being retrograde for five months, Pluto turns direct on the 11th. This will accelerate progress in all your financial dealings including mortgages and loans, business endeavors and health-related activities. It's time to put your personal power to work in a positive way, too.
Enlist the energies of your progressed chart to understand where to focus your energies for maximum return. The continual movement of the planets through your life affects the events that shape your future. A progressed chart locates the signs, the aspects and the house positions for each of the planets for any given year and tells you how long they will remain in those positions. These changes show you when to act on the potential revealed by your natal chart and when to embrace growth in your life. Awareness of your progressed chart helps you to make informed decisions about every aspect of your life. -astrology.com
Explore your dark side:
Pluto is the ultimate healer because it exposes the dark places that keep you from being all you can be. The really nasty stuff, like hatred, jealousy, dominance, revenge and subterfuge are manifestations of the negative side of Pluto. These behaviors are a quest for power by people who feel powerless. Even if you aren't struggling with such debilitating emotions, you probably have other quirks that keep you feeling less than powerful. Such issues may be family patterns that no longer serve you, low self-esteem that holds you back, problematic relationship patterns, inner blocks to manifesting prosperity, or the belief that life's a struggle and will always be a struggle no matter how hard you work. Whatever you're dealing with, retrograde Pluto will likely bring out some of your inner demons so you can eliminate them, which is a necessary step toward empowerment.
The best way to handle Pluto energy is to take a clear-headed assessment of your life, accept your imperfections and make a commitment to yourself to change what isn't working. If you've been putting off seeing a doctor, it's time to make that appointment and take care of your health. If you've been suppressing some anger with your spouse, it's time to have a heart-to-heart talk to resolve the problem. If you're stuck in a dead-end job (or have just gotten laid off), it's time to reassess your talents and values and focus on manifesting a job that aligns with your true destiny.
Spiders Named After Well Known People
David Bowie
Heteropoda davidbowie
German arachnologist Peter Jaeger has discovered 200 species of spiders in the past decade, and has now named one of his finds after singer David Bowie. The new species, a large yellow spider in Malaysia, is called Heteropoda davidbowie. Jaeger said he named the spider to draw attention to the discovery, and to raise awareness of the endangered status of many spiders. Bowie had a 1972 album entitled The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, and his 1987 tour was named the Glass Spider Tour.
Neil Young
Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi
Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi is a trapdoor spider first discovered in Alabama in 2007. It was described by taxonomist and spider systematist Jason E. Bond and Norman I. Platnick of the American Museum of Natural History. Bond named the creature for Neil Young because he enjoyed his music and respected his work as an activist.
Frank Zappa
Pachygnatha zappa
The orb weaver spider Pachygnatha zappa was discovered by Robert Bosmans and Jan Bosselaers during expeditions to Mount Cameroon in 1981 and 1983. They presented the species in 1994. They noticed markings under the spider’s abdomen that reminded them of musician Frank Zappa. His moustache in particular.
Orson Welles
Orsonwelles othello, Orsonwelles macbeth, Orsonwelles falstaffius, Orsonwelles bellum, Orsonwelles toledus & Orsonwelles ambersonorum
An entire genus of giant Hawaiian linyphiid spiders are named after filmmaker Orson Welles. There are several species in the genus Orsonwelles, including Orsonwelles othello, Orsonwelles macbeth, Orsonwelles falstaffius, Orsonwelles bellum, Orsonwelles toledus, and Orsonwelles ambersonorum. These names can be linked to roles he played or movies he made. You can thank biologist Gustavo Hormiga for naming these spiders.
Stephen Colbert
Aptostichus stephencolberti
Aptostichus stephencolberti was named for political satirist Stephen Colbert after he pretty much demanded the honor upon hearing that Neil Young had a spider named after him. Colbert’s is a California trapdoor spider first described by East Carolina University biologist Jason E. Bond, who was also responsible for naming Neil Young’s spider.
Nelson Mandela
Stasimopus mandelai
Stasimopus mandelai is a trapdoor spider found in South Africa. The species was named in 2004 by zoologists Brent E. Hendrixson and Jason E. Bond in honor of the former South African president.
Harrison Ford
Calponia harrisonfordi
The spider Calponia harrisonfordi was named for the star of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars in thanks after Ford narrated a documentary for the London Museum of Natural History in 1994. Arachnologist Norman I. Platnick discovered the spider in 1993. It is tiny, only around 5 millimeters in length, and lives in California.
Angelina Jolie
Aptostichus angelinajoleae
Aptostichus angelinajoleae is another species named by Jason E. Bond, this time in collaboration with Amy Stockman. It is a California trapdoor spider that is closely related to Stephen Colbert’s spider. In fact, there is some doubt about whether the two species are different.
Dizzy Dean
Mastophora dizzydeani
Mastophora dizzydeani is a bolas spider. It makes a sticky ball on a short thread from its silk. The spider swings the ball at its insect prey to trap them. This particular species was discovered by William G. Eberhard and named for baseball player Dizzy Dean.
(Since this spider’s livelihood depends on throwing a ball fast and accurately, it seems appropriate to name it in honor of one of the greatest baseball pitchers of all time, Jerome “Dizzy” Dean.)
Heteropoda davidbowie
German arachnologist Peter Jaeger has discovered 200 species of spiders in the past decade, and has now named one of his finds after singer David Bowie. The new species, a large yellow spider in Malaysia, is called Heteropoda davidbowie. Jaeger said he named the spider to draw attention to the discovery, and to raise awareness of the endangered status of many spiders. Bowie had a 1972 album entitled The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, and his 1987 tour was named the Glass Spider Tour.
Neil Young
Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi
Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi is a trapdoor spider first discovered in Alabama in 2007. It was described by taxonomist and spider systematist Jason E. Bond and Norman I. Platnick of the American Museum of Natural History. Bond named the creature for Neil Young because he enjoyed his music and respected his work as an activist.
Frank Zappa
Pachygnatha zappa
The orb weaver spider Pachygnatha zappa was discovered by Robert Bosmans and Jan Bosselaers during expeditions to Mount Cameroon in 1981 and 1983. They presented the species in 1994. They noticed markings under the spider’s abdomen that reminded them of musician Frank Zappa. His moustache in particular.
Orson Welles
Orsonwelles othello, Orsonwelles macbeth, Orsonwelles falstaffius, Orsonwelles bellum, Orsonwelles toledus & Orsonwelles ambersonorum
An entire genus of giant Hawaiian linyphiid spiders are named after filmmaker Orson Welles. There are several species in the genus Orsonwelles, including Orsonwelles othello, Orsonwelles macbeth, Orsonwelles falstaffius, Orsonwelles bellum, Orsonwelles toledus, and Orsonwelles ambersonorum. These names can be linked to roles he played or movies he made. You can thank biologist Gustavo Hormiga for naming these spiders.
Stephen Colbert
Aptostichus stephencolberti
Aptostichus stephencolberti was named for political satirist Stephen Colbert after he pretty much demanded the honor upon hearing that Neil Young had a spider named after him. Colbert’s is a California trapdoor spider first described by East Carolina University biologist Jason E. Bond, who was also responsible for naming Neil Young’s spider.
Nelson Mandela
Stasimopus mandelai
Stasimopus mandelai is a trapdoor spider found in South Africa. The species was named in 2004 by zoologists Brent E. Hendrixson and Jason E. Bond in honor of the former South African president.
Harrison Ford
Calponia harrisonfordi
The spider Calponia harrisonfordi was named for the star of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars in thanks after Ford narrated a documentary for the London Museum of Natural History in 1994. Arachnologist Norman I. Platnick discovered the spider in 1993. It is tiny, only around 5 millimeters in length, and lives in California.
Angelina Jolie
Aptostichus angelinajoleae
Aptostichus angelinajoleae is another species named by Jason E. Bond, this time in collaboration with Amy Stockman. It is a California trapdoor spider that is closely related to Stephen Colbert’s spider. In fact, there is some doubt about whether the two species are different.
Dizzy Dean
Mastophora dizzydeani
Mastophora dizzydeani is a bolas spider. It makes a sticky ball on a short thread from its silk. The spider swings the ball at its insect prey to trap them. This particular species was discovered by William G. Eberhard and named for baseball player Dizzy Dean.
(Since this spider’s livelihood depends on throwing a ball fast and accurately, it seems appropriate to name it in honor of one of the greatest baseball pitchers of all time, Jerome “Dizzy” Dean.)
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