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What’s Happening Wed: New mammalian species discovered

Scientists have recently discovered a new mammalian species in South America. Called the olinguito, it is related to the olingo. In fact, an olinguito has been on display at the Smithsonian for many years, hiding “in plain sight” before scientists realized that it is a smaller (and dare I say cuter?) species than the olingo. They are calling it a cross between a teddy bear and a cat, and that sounds pretty accurate to me, with maybe a bit of Ewok thrown in.

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Nitpicking the scientific inaccuracies of the Coke Bears movie

Coca-Cola has produced a short film starring their famous polar bears on a journey of discovery. People are having a field day picking apart its many scientific inaccuracies, including the fact that male polar bears are more likely to kill and cannibalize their cubs than they would be to parent them.

Personally I’m just grateful they didn’t include penguins. Showing penguins and polar bears together is one of my big pet peeves.

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Saunders, CF … as Hitter

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Q.  Supposing that Michael Saunders WERE a +0 UZR center fielder.  That means ... What. to me?

A.  It would mean that you have a +3 WAR center fielder, in house, first year arb eligible.  And that's if he doesn't improve with the stick.

With no other changes, other than better defensive charting and better pitching, your young CF might "suddenly" emerge as a Kyle Seager-like asset.

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Q.  3 WAR, how do you figure.

A.  Well, he already scored +2.4 WAR in 2012 -- 139 games -- after docking him significantly for defense.

He's got a 108 and 106 OPS+ the last two years.  A center fielder who hits for that is going to get you 3 WAR.  Gutierrez' OPS+ was 105, the year he scored 6 WAR (heh!)

In center field, Michael Saunders' peers are not Jose Bautista and Giancarlo Stanton.  His peers are Denard Span and Brett Gardner.  He already hits as well as most quality CF'ers in the game.

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Q.  Why doesn't it seem like he hits as well as Span and Gardner?

A.  He hits very differently than most center fielders.

Let this saying sink into your ears, gentlemen:  the human brain does not like unfamiliar things.

(Side note on that topic:  psychologists have been puzzled as to why human males react well to Barbie-doll proportions in CGI women -- proportions that would leave women unable to get pregnant.  From an evolutionary standpoint, men should hate 18" waists on women.

But psychologists realized:  Barbie-doll proportions create an image that is easy for the male brain to process at a glance.  And the brain then reacts to the situation as "friendly.")

Our primitive, emotional response to Michael Saunders is that there's something wrong with him.  But this creates an opportunity for the non-primitive analyst.

Give the Mariners credit.  One thing they have done, is remain open-minded and friendly towards "weird" players.  Wilhelmsen, Sherrill, Farquhar, Ackley at 2B, and Japanese catchers, and 41-year-old outfielders ... lots of people.

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Five of the Toughest Ladies in Sci-Fi

There’s a long legacy of men in science fiction films and television series that are born-and-bred bad-asses.  Although the sci-fi and fantasy genres tend to be a little more balanced between the genders, there still seems to be a distinct lack of strong female characters in the media as a whole.  Writers still feel the need to relegate women to damsels in distress, support characters or place them in the more “traditional” roles of mother and wife.  While these types of characters certainly have their place in all works of fiction, it’s always nice to see a female character step forward and start owning the room.  I’m not talking about the strong-willed ladies that talk tough and get things done, but those true bad-ass females - the ones that carry guns, fight like kung-fu masters and are willing to kill anyone that gets in their way.  Though there are plenty more out there, here I’ve gathered up five of my favorites, some of the biggest and baddest of the tough ladies of my generation.

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The amazing variety in the body shapes of athletes

We tend to have a fairly uniform idea of what a "physically fit" body looks like, thanks to advertising and the media. But the truth is that the actual bodies of athletes come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and physiques. Check out this amazing series of comparison photos of male and female athletes from all corners of the sports world.

It's an amazing reality check, and it makes you realize how badly our perspective is warped by the media.

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Great interview with Allie Brosh of Hyperbole and a Half

Hyperbole and a Half is one of the best webcomics out there, although it has seemingly stalled in the last few years. Creator Allie Brosh has been candid about her struggle with depression, and she's also been working on a book (which was just released this week). So it's not like she's been slacking! But if you are craving more Allie Brosh (who wouldn't?) check out this great interview at Salon.

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Meet P22, LA's resident mountain lion

Griffith Park is just outside downtown Los Angeles, and among many other animals, it is home to the most urban mountain lion currently known to exist. Named only P22, this male mountain lion is being carefully tracked and monitored by GPS. But one blogger grew curious about what P22 has been eating, and ventured into the park to track down P22's meals. Fascinating stuff!

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Welcome to Banned Books Week!

It’s Banned Books Week. What are you reading?

Before you reply, “Not a banned book,” like my husband did, are you sure? If you are reading The Hunger Games series, a classic Twain novel or even Harry Potter or Captain Underpants with your kids, you are reading books that are currently or have been banned. Oh, and of course, if you use the Dictionary. It’s been banned as well.

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