sundries

[rm]

I really loathe April Fool's Day on the Internet. I've already been taken in by that horrible report about an order for 13 eps of Torchwood US, involving Gwen's cousin. Yesterday, a whole mailing list I was on fell for something that Patty debunked via Snopes. I will not even address the legion of surprise pregnancy posts. I AM DOUR AND FORMAL AND NOT FUNNY, AND I HATE APRIL 1 ON THE INTERNETS, AND YOU CAN'T MAKE ME CHANGE MY MIND.

In other delightful Torchwood news, there's a contest to have a TW short story pbulished in Torchwood Magazine. You must have never received payment for fiction in the past and you must be a UK resident, which rules out nearly everyone I know, which means I can pop popcorn and kick back over this baby.

Werewolves are almost done. And they are good! Tonight, it should be FINALLY off to the editor. I'm thinking I should be done in time for Project Runway.

Hey, Anna Paquin's bisexual, although I feel like I already knew that.

Can animals be gay? Also, is this good or bad for queer humans and will the whole debate eventually drive scientists out of their minds?

Comments

[xtricks.livejournal.com]

I don't understand why the whole thing about animals -- espeically pair bonding birds -- having occasional same sex pairings is such a surprise ... over and over again. I see these articles every few years.

Animals with complicated courtship behaviors court via instinct driven call and response ... both males and females can recognize both sexes responses (otherwise they couldn't complete their half) and if a quirk in behavior, accident of coloration, or even an accident of movement triggers the entire display between two of the same sex then the birds are going to pair bond. They don't have any way to determine the actual, physical sex of another animal.

[liminalia.livejournal.com]

And just like humans, there can be intersexed animals who may be one sex or the other chromosomally but who have developed secondary characteristics or behaviors common to the other sex because of hormone imbalances, environmental influences, developmental quirks, genetic changes, etc.

[gement.livejournal.com]

And, y'know, they might just be into it because it feels good and is a fun way to spend the afternoon when their food and protection needs are met.

[bugeyedmonster.livejournal.com]

Especially since they don't have TV or sports bars. (Now has image of a bunch of seagulls in a sports bar watching basketball on a big screen TV.)

[moljn.livejournal.com]

My first reaction was "That's so 1990's", but the article isn't your typical sensationalist write-up. It actually asks some interesting questions about how to interpret homosexual behaviour in different species, and mixed signals isn't the only (or even primary) cause. For instance, the Laysan albatross f/f pairs apparently don't mate with each other, but with outside males.

Anyway, thanks to rm for the link. I'm glad I decided to read it.