I pause today in the middle of editing my Chiapas story from this spring, to mourn the death of Sombra, a magnificent, enormous black jaguar that last lived in the Zoomat in Tuxtla Gutierrez. Janet Schwartz and I visited him in June. It gave me shivers to see him pacing back and forth behind glass in an open area, just a foot away and apparently stalking us. He died after an escape when he failed to wake up from a tranquilizer dart.
(I will look to see if I have a clip. It was difficult to shoot him through the glass)
El Heraldo de Chiapas - Consternacion por la muerte de Sombra
Flora and fauna of Chiapas. Just down the new highway, 45 minutes away.
Instituto de Historia Natural y Ecología - Zoológico Regional Miguel Álvarez del Toro
Does anybody know what Maya site this came from?
UPDATE: No one knows. It's apparently a looted pot with no clear provenience. Says Charles Golden: "It's 'Codex Style' meaning only that it comes from the northern Peten, Calakmul/Nakbe region."
Here is the page in the Kerr Mayavase Database:
A beautiful mystery.
This one's for Alfonso in Palenque, not that he needs more info on it. He's already an expert. Here's hoping he enjoys it this year.
El Universal Online - Carnaval de Tenosique
It runs fast on my iBook, but apparently there are some quirks.
MacFixIt - MacFixIt Special Reports Index
So I can find this later. Facing updating and maintaining not just my Mac but all the Macs in the organization that is currently camped in my living room. Fun!
MacSlash | Drive Imaging Software On The Mac?
FromMacSlash:
Big cats not a tall tale - National - smh.com.au
...a Central Coast family approached NSW Agriculture last month with claims that a huge black cat was "openly roaming" their newly purchased Mudgee weekend holiday home.
Speaking to The Sun-Herald, Chris, who refused to reveal her surname through fear of would-be hunters overrunning her property, said: "We've watched it stalk wallabies, we've seen it sitting high up in a tree. It roams around like a large family dog that thinks it owns the place."
She added: "There is absolutely no disputing what it is. The kids are terrified and, to be perfectly honest, so are we."
Another review/preview of Panther, aka Mac OS 10.3.
Preview: What to Expect from Mac OS X Panther 10.3 - OSNews.com
Yes, I've already ordered it. The new Mac operating system. And here are some of the best new features according to one writer. I'll check them out when I get it.
O'Reilly Network: Ten Things I Dig About Panther [Oct. 10, 2003]
The new OS X for Macintosh (10.3) will be out on October 24. This page on Apple's site lists some new features useful to system administrators. If I only understood them.
Apple - Mac OS X - New Features - System Administrators
And new features for creative professionals. That's more like it.
Apple - Mac OS X - New Features - Creative Professionals
For all your jaguar photographing needs.
Game Scouting Trail Cameras - Camtrakker
A new book from University of Texas Press, by Victoria Schlesinger.
Schlesinger: Animals and Plants of the Ancient Maya
"Part field guide, part book of vignettes discussing the animals and plants most commonly seen in the Maya area, this fine guide provides a fresh synthesis of anthropological and biological research that will serve as an engaging and practical resource for visitors, students, and burgeoning naturalists."
—Paul R. Ehrlich, President, Center for Conservation Biology, Stanford University
(Thanks to Roan McNab for the link)
Let's hope that jaguars become the new focus of conservation. That would benefit protection of the Usumacinta River, since at least one place on its banks is a high population jaguar habitat, according to Roan McNab. In any case, a world without jaguars would be a sad place indeed. (photo by Christian Kallen)
Jaguar Could Be the Conservation Movement's Next Star
Chalchiteco, which means "tiger's children".
Guatemala recognizes Mayan tongue as its 22nd second language
Here's a first glimpse of the new find at Temple XXI in Palenque. It's a were-jaguar on a fragment of the "throne" that has been discovered. Click on the thumbnail for a larger view.
Joel at Mesoweb has more photos and more analysis.
Will I ever do this myself? Doubtful, as long as my pal Jason is running the server for me. But nice to think I could, thanks to O'Reilly Network: Setting up a Site Server with Jaguar.
There's a weblog archive of one person's Jaguar (Mac OS X 10.2) experiences and tips at raelity bytes.
And a large OS X section at the O'Reilly publishers website, the MacDevCenter.
Sorry for the detour from the Maya dams effort. This is a note to myself and others considering Apple's new operating system. It's a detailed guide to installing Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar.
No, this isn't some Von Daniken, New Age Maya apocalypse theory. It's an Apple and Macintosh history site, The Mothership!
According to MacMinute.com
the next version of MacOS X will be called "Panther". Previous versions were Cheetah (10.0), Puma (10.1) and Jaguar (10.2).
Sorry all you PC users. I just have to harp on Macs again.
A surprising article in PC World magazine extolls the virtues and innovations in Macs. Now what's the market share, 5% ?
This is for the other Mac users out there. A good summary of why it's nearly time to upgrade to Mac OS 10.2, other than the cool jaguar-skin logos. It's in a weblog with a great name, Backup Brain, July 31st entry.
But has Amazon raised its price back up to list, $129? This link from Backup Brain was supposed to be $79. Maybe all the fuss in the last few days made them change it. Think I'll wait a little longer...
I am a Mac guy. Have been Apple only since I wrote Steve Jobs in 1979 to ask if he'd lend me an Apple II to show to crazy video artists. By God, he sent it to me. I recently upgraded to Mac OS X and am happy it runs well on my aging Powerbook.
Tomorrow begins the annual MacWorld here in New York. No new things expected according to the rumor sites, but they could surprise us. Aaah what I live for...