Great Turtle Race
April 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment
When I first heard about The Great Turtle Race on the Colbert Report, I was intrigued. Heck they named a turtle Stephanie Colburtle, how could you not check it out? After visiting the site once, I’ve been hooked ever since.
11 leatherback sea turtles are traveling from the shore of Costa Rica back to their home waters surrounding the Galapagos Islands. A series of conservationist groups have geo tagged the turtles so they can be tracked across their 500+ mile journey. Each 7 foot long, 2,000 pound turtle has been named and sponsored by a different group including: Yahoo, Travelocity, Drexel University, etc.
I’ve eagerly watched throughout each day as the race results are updated every ten minutes or so. Currently Billie is on the verge of victory with a mere 17 miles to go, while fan favorite Stephanie Colburtle holds second at 41 miles out. I’m still pulling for Stephanie, hoping Billie will take a nice deep dive at the end of this trip.
The sad truth behind this exciting public event is that the leatherback turtles are in real danger. The depressing slogan of the site is “going faster than you think”. The irony is these turtles are racing not only towards home, but also toward likely extinction. Check out the Leatherback Trust for more information on what you can do to help protect these amazing animals.
I’m happily surprised to find myself so eagerly awaiting these turtles next migration. In the meantime, I’ll be reading about how their baby’s are doing and learning about what needs to be done to get their population back on the rise.
Update 4/26/07: Billie is the winner!!
Tags: billie, colbert report, conservation, costa rica, extinct, extinction, galapagos, galapagos islands, great turtle race, leather back, leatherback, leatherback turtle, pacific, stephanie colburtle, stephen colbert, tortoise, turtle, turtle race
Monkey Washing A Cat
April 20, 2007 | 3 Comments
Most people will have seen this clip by now. It is a favorite of both The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. As far as I’m concerned, there isn’t much funnier than this video of a monkey washing a cat. In fact, I can’t help but giggle every time I watch it…
Tags: cat, colbert, colbert report, Daily Show, monkey, monkey washing cat, video, washing
Stephen Colbert on the Death of Captain America
March 15, 2007 | 3 Comments
I recently reported on the tragic death of Captain America. Being such a large event, it spilled over into some more conventional media spaces. Below is Stephen Colbert’s “The Word” segment titled “Comic Justice” about Captain America’s death.
As a follow up to this segment, Marvel got involved, more specifically editor-in-chief at Marvel, Joe Quesada.
From the Marvel press release:
Cap’s shield has resurfaced and is now in the hands of Stephen Colbert, host of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report.”
As you’ll see in the video below, Colbert claims to have received a letter from Marvel EIC Joe Quesada, presenting the shield to the late night talk show host. Quesada’s letter states that Steve Rogers bequethed the shield to Colbert in his Will, which was read last Friday.
After reading the letter, Colbert’s staff brought out the shield and the bespectacled host hefted the legendary weapon, stating, “Cap? I hope I make you proud.”
S.H.I.E.L.D. is currently investigating the Will, as well as the validity of the letter. Quesada, admitted “friend of the show” says Colbert’s on the up and up and gave us the full story.
“I must confess that I am the culprit,” states Quesada. After reading Cap’s Last Will and Testament, I quickly snuck out of the Marvel’s offices with the shield. As so many of you know, Steve Rogers was a humble man and wanted his last remaining wishes to be carried out as privately as possible.
“After a small “transfer of power” ceremony occurring on the Avenger’s Quinjet, followed by several intense hours of introspection and deliberation with Mr. Colbert, we both felt it would be best to make a public statement of his inheriting the shield. Not as way of raising Mr. Colbert’s status even further (How is that even possible?), nor as a cheap ratings stunt, but rather to let evildoers across the globe know that even with Cap’s demise, there is no still place for them to hide. A clear message had to be sent that the mantle had been passed and that the Marvel Universe has gained a new (Colbert) Nation and remains secure.”
It is of course well known that Colbert is a geek at heart. His on screen relationship with Quesada originated when Quesada visoted the Colbert Report last year to promote the start of Civil War. You can view that interview in two parts: Part 1 and Part 2.
Tags: avengers, cap, cap's shield, captain america, colbert, colbert nation, colbert report, joe quesada, quinjet, shield, stephen colbert, steve rogers