Paleontologists Unearth Giant Fossilized Penguin 124
Ponca City, We Love You writes "The BBC reports that scientists have discovered the 36-million-year-old fossil of a penguin nearly five feet tall and almost twice the weight of an Emperor Penguin, the largest living species. 'The heavier the penguin, the deeper it dives,' says Julia Clarke, a palaeontologist at the University of Texas. 'If that holds true for any penguins, then the dive depths achieved by these giant forms would've been very different.' The bird, named Inkayacu paracasensis, or water king, lived during the late Eocene period and had a long, straight beak, much longer than that of its modern relatives. But, most surprisingly, the giant penguin's feathers were brown and gray, distinct from the black 'tuxedo'"
Reader SpuriousLogic notes that it's also getting easier to keep an eye on modern penguins, since Google has extended Street View to Antarctica.
Climate Change (Score:2, Funny)
Why aren't there giant penguins around today? It must be due to global warming...
And this relates to Linux... how? (Score:2, Funny)
And this relates to Linux... how?
clone it! (Score:5, Funny)
We need to clone it. We need 5ft killer penguins with long beaks and mean attitudes in our fight against proprietary software.
Re:Monty Python's giant penguin (Score:3, Funny)
and... (Score:2, Funny)
How soon... (Score:4, Funny)
...before we start seeing pictures of Jesus riding one of these?
Imagine a Beowulf cluster of those... (Score:3, Funny)
Imagine cleaning up after a Beowulf cluster of those...
Re:And this relates to Linux... how? (Score:5, Funny)
When they analyzed that penguin's DNA, they found that it contained a Linux kernel.
Brown and Gray Feathers (Score:5, Funny)
But, most surprisingly, the giant penguin's feathers were brown and gray, distinct from the black 'tuxedo
Why is that surprising? It was 36 million years ago. There were big furry elephants and lizards the size of houses in prehistoric times.
Finally (Score:5, Funny)
Finally, I have reason to point out that despite this being slashdot, I didn't choose this name because I like linux (although I do, the name came from before I started using it or signed up for slashdot), I chose it because I like penguins!
I have a degree in geology but never took any paleontology courses... I knew I should have, then I'd be able to comment on this important scientific discovery... er... make that, this important... linux development? I'm confused.
Re:Brown and Gray Feathers (Score:5, Funny)
Penguins were not as formal way back then and adopted much more casual dress of Brown double breasted suit with baggy cuffed trouser, a Huge 'Fedora' and wide tie.
Looks like (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Linux? (Score:4, Funny)
It's all related, man. Penguins... Tux... Linux... Linus.... The government doesn't want you to know The Truth. There's some bizarre shit going down with the penguins of the world. I think - based on years of academic research - that the REAL Atlantis was actually the Penguin Homeland. I think Linus knows, too. I think he was sent into the future - OUR TIME, MAN - to teach the world the firm-but-loving discipline of Penguinism. The Singularity will only be possible because of Linux. THINK ABOUT IT. Penguin-powered Singularity. News stories like this are just preparing the world to accept the fact that our planet was once dominated by Penguin Overlords. Haven't you ever seen the MEN IN BLACK? Don't they look like penguins?! They're coming back, man. MEN IN BLACK = TUXEDOS = TUX. They are the Penguin Overlords' invasion force. Ever see that episode of Star Trek Voyager "Distant Origin?" It's like that! But instead of dinosaurs, it's penguins. They're coming back, man. There's a distant planet filled with penguins and they are just waiting to come back and
Oblig.. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Oblig.. (Score:3, Funny)
Actually pretty old Giant Penguin Overlords...
Re:Linux?! (Score:3, Funny)
No, not Linux.
This is just a cover story. For beyond the giant penguins resides the Plateau of Leng, the long-forgotten city of the Elder Things.
Beware! BEWARE!!!
The best part about this is that someone modded you informative. I'm scared now...
Re:Brown and Gray Feathers (Score:3, Funny)