#David Attenborough

[mysharona1987]

[entheognosis]

One acre of hemp produces 25 % more oxygen than one acre of forest and guarantees a cellulose supply that is approximately twice as high. One acre of hemp grows within 6 months, while a forest grows for decades before it is harvested. By making hemp paper, we could save millions of hectares of forest every year. Hemp can be used in textile production, construction and even as biofuel.

David Attenborough

[life-on-our-planet]

A keen sense of smell enables the pangolin to detect the presence of ants and termites in their nests beneath the sand. Her sticky tongue, some 30cm long, enables her to collect them from deep underground. David Attenborough | BBC Earth

[flock-of-cassowaries]

[ David Attenborough voice: ]

Here we see two exquisite specimens of the genus Gay Serialkillerus Messianicus - better known as Murder Spouses.

Observe the characteristic honey-blonde hair, the flat affect, and the devastatingly-fancy cheekbones.

You will notice that the female’s plumage is more drab than that of the male, which is typical of the species; but that their initial approach to their mates - Frump Lawenforcementicus Illadapticus, also know as Closeted Cops - is remarkably similar.

At first glance, one might even be fooled into thinking that g. serialkillerus is not a strongly dimorphic species; but if we keep watching, subtle differences will begin to emerge.

Did you see it?

While the female is bold and direct in her approach - even in f. lawenforcementicus’ home territory - the male is more furtive.

Despite his bright plumage - which, it is theorized, he uses to lure prospective mates to his elaborately-ornamented nest - the male is timid, approaching coyly and retreating immediately when f. lawenforcementicus offers resistance.

[cressidium]

Prehistoric Planet 2: Episode 1 - Islands

[somerandomjewelleryonthefloor]

For the ‘Humans are *insert word* here/alien fans fanclub’, I have another small headcanon:

I feel like most aliens (from aliens that travel planets, to aliens that are the embodiment of a nightmare, to aliens that are small and fuzzy),

would absolutely love David Attenborough. I mean they probably found out about Earth’s animals and how they live and stuff from watching his documentaries, because one human on a crewship put it on to help them fall asleep.

David Attenborough would be adored by all the cosmos I think.

[joyousjoyfuljoyness]

So much wholesomeness in one meme!

[transmechanicus]

You can literally watch the Planet Earth III doc for free on the BBC webbed site yayyyyyyyyyy

[mirtadraws]

Happy Attenborough day!! Sir David is 97 (!!!) years old today!

It's hard to choose which moment from his long career to depict, there is such an abundance of incredible and moving ones. This year, I drew him chilling with some manatees

[scientificpokedex]

I really need to share this with everyone

[citizenscreen]

Wishing a happy 98th birthday to Sir David Attenborough

[entheognosis]

The Japanese have been producing wood for 700 years without cutting down trees. In the 14th century, the extraordinary daisugi technique was born in Japan. Indeed, the daisugi provide that these trees will be planted for future generations and not be cut down but pruned as if they were giant bonsai trees; by applying this technique to cedars, the wood that can be obtained is uniform, straight and without knots, practically perfect for construction. A pruning as a rule of art that allows the tree to grow and germinate while using its wood, without ever cutting it down. Extraordinary technique.

David Attenborough

[life-on-our-planet]

The world’s largest burrowing animal is the aardvark. It has an extremely acute sense of smell and powerful arms with shovel-like claws to dig down five to six meters. David Attenborough | BBC Earth

[cinemaocd]

Op ed from 2016...

[cressidium]

Prehistoric Planet 2: Episode 4 - Oceans

[greenthena]

Why we won't have an Apology Dance in S3--or, why I'm choosing to start WW3

Much as I love the Apology Dance, I have a hunch that neither Crowley nor Aziraphale will perform it in S3. It's such a weird (affectionate) little mating ritual, and I cannot see it without thinking of David Attenborough's "Birds of Paradise" clip from Our Planet. (The little fuckers really get going around the 2:30 mark, if you're interested.)

S2 demonstrates so many of these bizarre little mating rituals. Specifically, I'm thinking about the "Don't hesitate to ask me if you have any questions" moment...

...I mean, Goddamn. Someone damn it. Aziraphale is about to climb that demon like a tree.

And the exchange about borrowing the Bentley...

...which is a battle lost before it's even begun because Aziraphale flashes those pretty eyes and Crowley's too smitten to really put up a fight.

Mah point is (dolphins). My point is that every aspect of their interaction, particularly in S2, is a dance, a courting practice, a mating ritual to which only these two weird (affectionate) little birds know the steps.

And the Apology Dance is one of the key steps in this ritual. We know how important it is because Aziraphale has memorized each year when he performed it for Crowley. 1650, 1793, 1941... And Crowley has now reciprocated. But for all the importance of the Apology Dance, we never hear an actual apology. The words, "I'm sorry" are never exchanged between the Ineffables.

Of course, Aziraphale has forgiven Crowley on multiple occasions (have a tissue), but the absolution is never in response to an apology.

Why does this matter, you ask? Because Crowley has never asked to be forgiven. It's one of his self-identifying traits.

And every time Aziraphale offers him forgiveness, it calls into question Crowley's whole identity. I think this is why Crowley initially refuses to do the dance. He doesn't "do the dance," because he doesn't apologize. Because what's the point? If you believe yourself to be beyond forgiveness, why even bother with an apology.

But that's not what's most interesting to me. See, outside of mending his relationship with Aziraphale, I don't think the demon could give a single fuck about forgiveness. On the cosmic level, it's just another carrot dangled by Heaven. The whole concept of forgiveness of sins demonstrates a pretty fucked up power differential. I mean, who gets to decide whether God has forgiven you when She's not even talking?

I think it's fascinating that despite their squabble, Crowley removes his glasses the moment he steps back into the bookshop, performing the Apology Dance in his "naked" face. It suggests that he knows before he even starts that everything is going to be okay. He can approach the situation in a state of vulnerability because he deeply trusts his angel. But the dance, the mating ritual, still has to be completed. It's similar to how Aziraphale knew Crowley would let him drive the Bentley, but they still had to negotiate their way through the motions.

We've called it the Apology Dance, despite the fact that no apology is offered and no forgiveness given. Remember, Aziraphale's response to Crowley's successful completion of the ritual is, "Very nice."

So here's the crux. All these rituals that they perform, the Ineffable dances, if you will, rely on one crucial element. The result of the ritual has to be established before the ritual has begun. They each have to enter the ritual in a state of vulnerability, knowing the outcome will be safe and satisfying. And I think that's why Aziraphale doesn't say, "I forgive you" after Crowley's elegant spin and bow.

Because forgiveness is something Aziraphale only offers the demon when he feels cornered, frightened and unsafe. Think about the two times he's said it. In both cases, the forgiveness was weaponized.

(Apology Dance incoming for this next gif.)

In a very real way, when Aziraphale forgives Crowley, he invalidates his best friend's lived experience. Crowley doesn't want to be forgiven. He wants to be accepted. Loved. Seen.

So as much fun as it is to speculate about who might dance for whom in S3, I truly hope neither angel nor demon apologize to the other. For me, the most meaningful conclusion would be for them to complete their mating ritual not with some dogmatic, pedantic, fucked up power differential where one forgives the other for perceived iniquities. Nah. Fuck that. I want them to accept and love and deeply see one another and fully embrace whatever that means.

Here. Have some tissues.