Monkey news is a strange thing. It seems that news stories about or somehow involving monkeys all happen at once and then there is a long drought of monkey headlines. All the following pieces showed up in close succession and are all small enough not to warrant a posting by themselves, but together, well, that is a monkey of a different color…
Part I
The ever diligent Mrs. Q pointed out an article to me in the Woodbury Bulletin (a community news paper in the Twin Cities metro) dated April 2, 2008. It is a small piece of local news, but it tickled me. Here is the thrust of the article: The Royal Oaks Elementary School U.S. Academic Triathlon (AT) team dubbed "The Monkeys", took first place in the regional meet held Friday, March 14 at Woodbury Elementary School. Team members are Joseph Letsche, John Letsche, Molly Gallahue, Erin Stevenson and Emma Betsinger, and coaches Tricia Gallahue and Megan Stevenson. According to Gallahue, "their academic skill, creative genius, and all around desire to have fun has led them to the Academic Triathlon state meet".
The state meet is on April 12th. I think the fact that there are kids out there who still like learning and are willing to dub themselves something cool like "The Monkeys" gives me hope yet.
Part II
Not too long ago this interesting link was sent to me. This tongue-in-cheek article highlights the achievements of seven lower primates in the areas of space travel, language, and tool making.
A couple highlights:
Baker (a squirrel monkey) and Able (a rhesus monkey), who on May 28th, 1959, were shot into a sub-orbit of the earth and were the first beings shot into space that survived the experience.
David Greybeard, the first chimp noted to use tools.
And of course Koko, the gorilla who used sign language.
Anyway, check it out if you want to learn more about monkeys (and apes, too).
Part III
And finally in this triumvirate of monkey minutia, a little slice of unadulterated monkey madness off of youtube:
