LISTS, APOLOGIES and ANOTHER STATUE

So, I've fallen behind in my duties this week as a purveyor of the cool and uncanny. Okay, mildly entertaining and occassionally provocative. I've been offered a managing-editor job for a nifty new publication and it's required a bit more of my attention than I expected. Mea culpa.

Today's statue is from Germany and is disturbingly vaginal in nature. I can't offer up much more than that. If you can identify it's origin and exact location, kudos. Please share. [site problems. photo will be added soon]

Today's blog centers around lists and the names of things. Starting off with my favorite topic... the names given to animal groupings (ie. pod of whales, flock of seagulls, corruption of Republicans... okay, I made that last one up). Some of these are poetic, some are delightful, most are strange and unexpected. All seem to fit. Enjoy!

A shrewdness of Apes
An obstinancy of Buffalo
A kindle of Kittens
A business of Ferrets
A tower of Giraffes
A bloat of Hippopotamuses (i?)
A cackle of Hyenas
A troop of Kangaroos
An exhaltation of Larks
A labor of Moles
A murder of Crows
A romp of Otters
A prickle of Porcupines
A crash of Rhinoceroses
A dray (or scurry) of Squirrels
A streak of Tigers
A pride of Lions
A wake of Buzzards
A dule of Doves
A convocation of Eagles
A charm of Finches
A stand of Flamingos
A cast of Hawks (if in flight: a kettle)
A scold of Jays
A deceit of Lapwings
A tiding (or murder) of Magpies
A parliament of Owls
A muster of Peacocks
A congregation of Plovers
An unkindness of Ravens
A host of Sparrows A
murmuration of Starlings
A mustering of Storks
A bevy of Swans
A rafter (or gang) of Turkeys
A descent of Woodpeckers
A bask of Crocodiles
An army of Frogs
A knot of Toads
A bale (or nest) of Turtles
A nest of Snakes
A shiver of Sharks
A hover of trout
A colony of Ants
A bed of Clams
An intrusion of Cockroaches (ain't that the truth)
A cloud of Grasshoppers
A smack of Jellyfish
A troop (or barrel) of Monkeys
A richness of Martens
A leap of Leopards
A band of Gorillas
A cete of Badgers
A pace of Asses
A shoal of Bass (some believe 'school' is a corruption of this term)

1. 50 things that only happen in the movies.
2. A list of full length public domain songs available on Wikipedia or the Commons.
3. 33 Names of Things You Never Knew had Names.
4. Trying to make sense of video game and movie sequel titles. (WARNING: Geeky guy cursing profusely... still amusing).
5. Ten GREAT movie title sequences.
6. Popular Science's top 100 inventions of 2006.
7. The 10 Best Functioning Democracies (guess who didn't make the list).
8. Hate groups in America.