#central coast rhinos

[sregnarkroywen]

You have pride tape on your stick for every single game. What is behind the decision to have that tape on your stick?

“I used to listen to a local podcast […] and one week they got sponsored by Pride Tape, so that’s pretty cool and I’ve just sort of seen it as a good opportunity to get a message out there that we, as players and as a sport, are also inclusive. One of my best friends is a member of the community and just seeing her face light up with pride as I put the pride tape out there is special to me.”

Jason Polglase talking about pride tape on the Net, Sticks and Chill Podcast

Photos: x / x / x / x

[puckpocketed]

hello my neighborhood AIHL reporter!

just found out the Central Coast Rhinos have a (what seems) kraken inspired uni. i love it!!!!!!!! do you have any thoughts on them as a team? thinking about following them just based on uniform alone hehe…..

hope you’re having a good day/night love u my sweet cheese <3333

hellooo mia . i have some (coughs up microplastics) News. they are. hrghh. Not Very Good i fear…! i love them very very much for this (sharks enjoyer) but if you plan to watch them to avoid the pain of our squids flopping, i will have to disappoint you </3

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

As far as i know. they have never been very good (cursed franchise) finishing last or close to last for every season of their existence </3 and between 2009-2012, and 2013-2021, they um. did not play at all. idk if they were relegated or simply non-operational but!! yeah sakajfkglh

wanna hear something incredible and very fucked up? This past week, they FINALLY broke a 5796 day home game winless streak. The last time they won at home was in 2008. against MY CBR Brave — who were actually operating under a different franchise name the Canberra Knights 😭👍 if you think the kraken loss streak was awful — can you imagine being fans in their home barn and not seeing a win since before the last recession <3

Listen to me my darling clam chowder do NOT let this stop you from loving them. I of all people don’t have a fin to stand on when it comes to supporting losers. 5/8 of my nhl teams were lottery teams this year!!!

They DID get a new coach this szn, and they’ve actually been doing a bit better!! despite the HORRENDOUS scores I’ve shown you jsjfjjg. they aren’t last in the standings as of writing (my Brave, hamstrung by having our best players poached for the national team, have this honour <3)

Here is their instagram

Here is their season preview from HockeyhypeAustralia

Here is a podcast interview (spotify) with Rhinos forward Mackenzie Bolger

@sregnarkroywen Charlie here is a KNOWN Rhinos enjoyer so please shoot them a follow if you do pull the trigger on loving this flop ass team <3 Charlie also covers the euro leagues and is currently rooting for our beloved Grubi on team germany 🥺 they are very nice, and they’ve been fighting the good fight (following the rhinos/aihl) for much much longer and would have much more info for you if you’re interested!

and to answer your last question — I am having the time of my life watching nhl playoffs, worlds, and my flop teams’ prospects in their playoffs games <3 no end to hockey in sight im a pig in mud im a worm in dirt im a shark in blood !!!!!!! thank u for popping in holding fins and tentacles and hooves forever weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[extraliga-related]

With everything that's been going on lately, here's a short non-comprehensive accumulation of things that could be called progress regarding relations between men's hockey and being queer:

The 🇦🇺 AIHL's Melbourne Mustangs, advocating for trans rights in sports since 2017, and the same team in 2023, donning pride jerseys designed by former goalie (and twin sister of Ty) Tia Wishart who is part of the LGBTQ community.

Jase Polglase of the AIHL's Central Coast Rhinos who puts pride tape on his stick every single game.

Robert Dowd and Marc-Olivier Vallerand having a dance after a win with the Sheffield Steelers.

Starting off with individual efforts, the 🇬🇧 EIHL has since extended their pride event to the duration of a full weekend following a conjoint initiative by the teams' fanbases in 2019.

Zach Sullivan, one of the few out queer athletes in the sport, felt supported enough by his team to come out as bisexual ahead of the Manchester Storm's pride game in 2020.

Danish goalie Jon Lee-Olsen came out as gay a year prior and was reportedly supported by his teammates.

The 🇸🇪 SHL lead the way, awarding the cause a full week since 2019 with elaborate campaigns and getting refs as well as coaches involved. It's a colorful sight.

While Pride Games are at present not an official part of the schedule, several 🇩🇪 DEL teams are joining in. Augsburg and Köln do their part, Berlin has one of the dedicated queer fanclubs and visibly stands against homophobia since at least 2016.

As of 2022 the entire league, as well as a growing number of clubs in the tiers below, cooperate with Hockey is Diversity e.V.. So does the Para Ice Hockey National Team, including Jörg Wedde, who also keeps pride tape on his equipment.

🇫🇮 Liiga's TPS added these stunning jerseys to the mix.

While all the aforementioned teams already wear the jerseys for at least one full game, IF Kiruna of the Swedish 3rd league stepped it up several notches. In 2014 they've decided to wear rainbow jerseys for a full season in support of the LGBTQ community. Since then they've made the rainbow a permanent fixture in their logo and club identity.

___

Plenty of clubs out there hosting events where queer people are given a platform and shown support in a multitude of ways that aren't merely empty words.

And even if it's not part of general discussions within a league, you've got voices who are willing to speak up.

[andiatas]

State visit from Tanzania: His Majesty The King´s speech

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Ministers, Excellencies, Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Karibu, Madam President! 

It is a great pleasure for the Queen and I to welcome you to Norway.

We have fond memories of our visit to Tanzania in 1981, which was our first visit to Africa. We had the honour of meeting then President Nyerere, and the beauty of your country made a deep impression on us. 

From the Serengeti plain to the Swahili coast, it was a wonderful introduction to the continent. And unforgettable – in so many ways. I can assure all of you:

If you ever experience to be chased by a rhino, you will never ever forget it – just ask the Queen. But we don’t blame him: We were after all not-invited visitors on his turf.

We left Tanzania with a great appreciation of the hospitality of the Tanzanian people – and most of the animals. 

Your visit brings warmth into our cold Norwegian February. Your visit also coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries.

In the years after independence, Tanzania led the way as a champion for the independence of all African nations, and Norway was proud to stand with you. Tanzania has always been a central meeting place, where people have come together in the spirit of unity. This has forged a uniquely hospitable culture – and Kiswahili as a language now connects people across national borders.  

Tanzania and Norway seek to reach decisions in the spirit of equality between nations. Both our countries support a multilateral system where all voices are heard, a system that is essential for maintaining peaceful relations between countries. 

Madam President,

You are known for your devotion and service to your people.  

You have shown great leadership and dedication in ensuring that all voices can be heard, including the voices of women and girls.

Your work to ensure the right of girls to an education is commendable. Tanzania and Norway share a commitment to safeguarding the rights of women and girls.

The prosperity of our nations is based on our natural resources, and climate change is a key challenge for both of us. In 2023 our countries agreed to continue to deepen our cooperation on climate action.

Both countries are blessed with abundant renewable and fossil energy resources. It is critical to find sources of energy to meet the needs of a growing global population while implementing a just and sustainable green transition.

The need for clean cooking solutions is another area of critical importance, and we would like to congratulate you on the launch of the African Women Clean Cooking Support Programme this past December.

I am also pleased to see that major Norwegian companies are showing an interest in increasing cooperation with Tanzania in the area of green energy.

Madam President,

Tanzania and Norway are both fantastic tourist destinations, and the tourist industry is vital to our economies.

At this time of year, I am confident that sun-worshippers dream of Zanzibar’s beaches – whereas Norway can offer passionate skiers and snowboarders fulfilment of their dreams.

Tonight, we have gathered here in Oslo in recognition of our deep respect for each other – and with an optimistic view on what we can achieve together.   

I ask you all to join us in a toast to Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan, to the people of Tanzania and to the close and friendly relations between our two countries.

Skål!

Speech given by His Majesty King Harald during the gala dinner at Oslo Royal Palace in honour of the state visit from the United Republic of Tanzania 13 February 2024.

[beni75]

Photos and texts: @joelsartore

1-. A bobtail squid at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

2-. A breeding pair of endangered Limosa harlequin frogs at the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project

3-. A brown-throated sloth at the PanAmerican Conservation Association in Gamboa, Panama

4-. A Cape fox at the Plzen Zoo in the Czech Republic

5-. A critically endangered Ridgeway's hawk from my trip to the Dominican Republic

6-. A critically endangered, six-week-old female baby gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo

7-. A endangered Matschie's tree kangaroo at the Lincoln Children's Zoo

8-. A federally endangered yellow-footed rock wallaby at Omaha Zoo's Wildlife Safari Park

9-. A fennec fox named Sophie at Chattanooga Zoo

10-. A four-toed jerboa at the Plzen Zoo in the Czech Republic

11-. A fruit bat from Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea

12-. A Gambian epauletted fruit bat at the Plzen Zoo in the Czech Republic

13-. A grizzly bear in fall color at Denali National Park, in Alaska's interior

14-. A horse at the Sandal Ranch near Howes, South Dakota

15-. a kinkajou at the New York State Zoo. This animal is naive to Central and South America

16-. A little owl from the Budapest Zoo

17-. Polar bears at the Columbus Zoo

18-. Rajah, an endangered male, white Bengal tiger at Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

19-. Ridgeway's hawk

20-. The view of the Palouse hills as seen from Steptoe Butte in eastern Washington

21-. Twin three month old red pandas at the Lincoln Children's Zoo

22-. a freshwater stingray lies partially hidden in the sand of a flooded country road in Brazil's Pantanal

23-. A king penguin rookery from South Georgia Island's St. Andrews Bay

24-. Nabire, one of just five northern white rhinos left on the planet. RIP

25-. jaguarundi

26-. A 1-year-old fossa as the Omaha Zoo. This is Madagascar's largest mammalian predator, and its numbers are declining in the wild

27-. a 24 day-old bengal slow loris at the Endagered Primate Rescue Center in Vietnam. Is named Captain Hook, because he is missing a hand

28-. baby viscacha stretches out after a nap with mom in Chile's Atacama Desert

29-. A black swallowtail butterfly, wich is native to Nebraska, at the Lincoln Children's Zoo

[mitchbeck]

HARTFORD WOLF PACK REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK

By: Gerry Cantlon, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT - The Hartford Wolf Pack announced their home game promotional schedule for the 2023-34 season. It features the return of last year's successful "Pucks and Paws" event, where fans can bring their beloved dogs to the game. The date for the "Pucks and Paws" game is December 22nd against the Bridgeport Islanders. That date is one of the season's 72-game schedule featuring 36 home dates. Another favorite returning is "Hops and Hockey Night" on December 30th, also against the Islanders. HARTFORD RELATED PLAYER MOVES Ex-Pack goalie Keith Kinkaid has dissolved his association with the Chicago Wolves. He signed a one-year, two-way deal with the New Jersey Devils and their AHL affiliates, the Utica Devils. The contract pays $775K in the NHL and $350K for games in the AHL. There are reports he could still be assigned to Chicago if he is reassigned to the AHL. A trusted West Coast NHL team source said of Kinkaid, "He can play well. We talked with two teams he has played for. We got a thumbs down on him. He's not a good locker room guy. So, we opted not to sign or offer him a deal." Rayen Petrovický, the son of former Hartford Whaler/Ranger Róbert Petrovický, signs with HC Liberec (Czechia-CEL). He was then loaned to VHK Vestin Czechia (Czech Republic) Division-II. The move makes him eligible to play for both teams next season. CONNOR BLEACKLEY Connor Bleackley, another ex-Pack, moves on from the Maine Mariners (ECHL), who are coached by ex-Pack Terrance Wallin (Hotchkiss Prep), to the Rapid City Rush (ECHL). Incidentally, Bleackley was the last Wolf Pack player signed before the pandemic hit. The Pack were severely shorthanded for a game against the Providence Bruins. Bleackley was signed after the Pack saw three players suspended from a brawl in Springfield against the Thunderbirds a few days earlier. Those three were Vinni Letterieri, now with the Iowa Wild, Mason Geersten, playing for the Henderson Silver Knights, and the retired Matt Beleskey. Then there were injury issues in New York, and then captain Steve Fogarty was on an emergency recall in Colorado by the Rangers, which necessitated the signing of Bleackley. After the loss to the Bruins, then Pack Danny O'Regan told Howlings in his post-game comments, "You can't construct a lineup in 36 hours and expect to win." EX-BRIDGEPORT PLAYERS ON THE MOVE Some ex-Sound Tigers get some new addresses. Casey Bailey signs a PTO deal with Ottawa. Connor McCarthy, who played part-time over the last two years with the Islanders after training camp, was dropped by HC Banska Bystrica (Slovakia-SLEL). He signs with St. Georges-de-Beauce (LNAH). Kieffer Bellows signs a deal with the Carolina Hurricanes, and Mark Louis, who played briefly in Bridgeport, departs Cardiff (Wales-EIHL) and signs with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (ECHL). CASSELS FAMILY STAYING ACTIVE Cruz Cassels, the youngest son of former Whaler Andrew Cassels, is with the Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets U-14 AAA (T1EHL). Birk, his second son, is also with their program. He plays with the Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets U-18 AAA (T1EHL) and is an Ottawa 67's (OHL) 2022 Draftee. His oldest, Cole, played with both Södertälje SK (Sweden-Allsvenskan) and the Belleville Senators last year. He just signed a one-year deal with San Jose Barracuda (AHL) for next season. Their cousins are in the NHL. Justin Barron is with the Montreal Canadiens, while ex-Pack Morgan Barron is with the Winnipeg Jets. Morgan signed a two-year extension earlier this summer. ROB MALLOY Cheshire native and former Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack, Rob "Bert" Malloy, confirmed via e-mail from New South Wales that he is happy to decompress from his one-win season for his local AIHL expansion team, the Central Coast Rhinos. Malloy hopes to return next season for a better season in the league's 23rd year. He finished second in team scoring with ten goals and 31 points in 19 games. Malloy hopes to get one more crack at the Australian National team in April when they play at the IIHF Group A Division II tournament in Serbia. He will hope to start with a three-game series against neighbor and Southern Hemispheric rival, New Zealand, and looks to lengthen his play from last year's tournament in Madrid, where he suffered a broken jaw in their game against Israel. That led to a harrowing experience in a Spanish hospital where nobody spoke English. 16 native Australians are on the national team. Malloy hopes in his post-season career, whenever it starts, to coach at the junior level with the Central Coast Stingrays team and help grow the game in Australia. NHL DOWN UNDER Malloy, like others, is anxiously waiting for the NHL exhibition games to be played this week in the Land Down Under at the Rod Laver Arena. They will be the first two NHL games ever to be played there. The two games will air the pair of Los Angeles Kings - Arizona Coyotes contests on the NHL Network. The games will be played on Friday, September 22nd, and September 23rd at 9 p.m., 17 hours ahead in the Pacific time zone, where they will be played at 2 p.m. local time. Melbourne's ice hockey rink seats only 1,500. The Henke Rink at the O'Brien Icehouse in the Dockland's precinct of Melbourne is home to two AIHL teams, the Ice and Mustangs. A building only seating 1,500 is not suitable for NHL hockey. The first Australian to score an NHL goal was Nathan Walker, now with the St. Louis Blues. "Stormy" Walker scored in his NHL debut on October 7th, 2017, with the Washington Capitals. He was born in Cardiff, Wales, but raised in Sydney, Australia. Jorden Spence of the LA Kings will be on one of the teams as an Australian native born in Manly, New South Wales - NSW, Australia. His family moved to Osaka, Japan, and eventually landed in Cornwall, PEI (Prince Edward Island), Canada. The first Australian ever drafted was Darren Gani (Perth, AUS). He grew up in Scarborough, Ontario, and back in 1984, he participated in the Edmonton Oilers' training camp. MORE AUSSIE NEWS One of the other three players with a little Aussie in them includes ex-Pack and current Ranger Bryce Harpur. He is a dual-born citizen; his mother, Margery, is Australian. Ex-King, who played briefly with the Wolf Pack, Steve McKenna, played in the AIHL (Adelaide Avalanche) and coached the Australian national team for a few years. No Australian has his name on the Stanley Cup. Just one Australian player is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Tommy Dunderdale of Benalla, AUS, was inducted post-humously in 1974. He was credited with the very first penalty-shot goal in NHL history. He was a prominent player in the early 20th century as he skated with the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA). Dunderdale grew up, learned hockey in Winnipeg, and played against the Montreal Canadiens before they were in the NHL. The 114-year-old Goodall Cup is awarded each season to the AIHL champion. Two weeks ago, it was awarded to the Melbourne Mustangs. The Goodall Cup is the fifth oldest trophy competed for in hockey. Three Southern Hemisphere countries are full members of the IIHF in ice hockey. They include South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Just seven NHL players in league history have been born in that hemisphere. The Arizona Coyotes, at its temporary home in Tempe, the Mullett Arena at ASU (Arizona State University), is 8,227 miles from Melbourne. The LA Kings will travel 7,932 miles to play the game. The Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) have Alec Nasredinne, the son of former Sound Tiger player and current Dallas assistant coach Alain Nasredinne. They also have Brady Schultz (Monroe, CT), the grandson of former Whaler Norm Barnes, and Liam Kilfoil, formerly of Selects Academy at South Kent Pre,p on their lineup as the junior season gets underway. In other moves, Pat Harper (AOF/New Canaan) signed a training camp Professional Try-Out (PTO) contract with the Arizona Coyotes. Connor Stokes, with the Selects Academy at South Kent Prep program, commits to the Sault Ste. Marie Eagles (NOJHL). HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

[sregnarkroywen]

vs Newcastle Northstars, 16.03.2024 | Credits: x

[puckpocketed]

how are my beloved rhinos doing this weekend? <3 let’s see !!

oh they WON !!! <3 yay …

it’s a back-to-back? i’m sure they’ll close out with, if not a win, then another competitive gam—

RHINOS.

RHINOS UOUR GOAL DIFFERENTIAL…

[dailyrugbytoday]

RLWC 2022: Tonga play against Papua New Guinea

New Post has been published on https://thedailyrugby.com/rlwc-2022-tonga-play-against-papua-new-guinea/

The Daily Rugby

https://thedailyrugby.com/rlwc-2022-tonga-play-against-papua-new-guinea/

RLWC 2022: Tonga play against Papua New Guinea

Complete Guide on How to Watch Rugby League World cup Tonga vs PNG Live Stream 2022 via pc and mobile device – Get RLWC 2022 Latest Updates, News, Schedule, Worldwide TV Channels & Broadcaster List.  For the first time in RLWC history, the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments will take place together in 2022.

How to watch the Rugby League World Cup

Fox League will hold exclusive rights to the 2022 Rugby League World Cup in Australia.

Spark Sport will broadcast all games in New Zealand, with Channel Three and ThreeNow to show Kiwis games live.

BBC will host the RLWC in the UK, with games to be held on their main channel and streaming services.

Mate Ma’a Tonga vs PNG

Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helen’s

WEDNESDAY 19TH OCTOBER

How to watch Rugby League World Cup 2022 ” When does it start, Live streams and schedule”

Papua New Guinea: Wellington Albert (London Broncos), Jacob Alick (Gold Coast Titans), Keven Appo (PNG Hunters), Watson Boas (Doncaster), Xavier Coates (Melbourne Storm), Edene Gebbie (Townsville Blackhawks), Edwin Ipape (Leigh Centurions), Zev John (Central Capras), Alexander Johnston (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Lachlan Lam (Leigh Centurions), Kyle Laybutt (Townsville Blackhawks), Nene Macdonald (Leigh Centurions), Rhyse Martin (Leeds Rhinos), Sylvester Namo (PNG Hunters), Jimmy Ngutlik (Wests Magpies), Justin Olam (Melbourne Storm), Nixon Putt (Central Capras), Daniel Russell (Brisbane Tigers), Jeremiah Simbiken (Redcliffe Dolphins), Rodrick Tai (PNG Hunters), Sherwin Tanabi (PNG Hunters),

Wesser Tenza (PNG Hunters), Emmanuel Waine (PNG Hunters), Mckenzie Yei Ketepa (Central Capras).

Mate Ma’a Tonga: Talatau Amone (St George Illawarra Dragons), David Fifita (Gold Coast Titans), Addin Fonua Blake (Warriors), Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans), Siliva Havili (South Sydney Rabbitohs), William Hopoate (St Helens Saints), Konrad Hurrell (St Helens Saints), Isaiya Katoa (Penrith Panthers), Sione Katoa (Cronulla Sharks), Felise Kaufusi (Melbourne Storm), Keaon Koloamatangi (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Toluta’u Koula (Manly Sea Eagles), Tuimoala Lolohea (Huddersfield Giants), Soni Luke (Penrith Panthers), Ben Murdoch-Masila (Warriors), Tesi Niu (Brisbane Broncos), Haumole Olakau’atu (Manly Sea Eagles), Will Penisini (Parramatta Eels), Moses Suli (St George Illawarra Dragons), Siosifa Talakai (Cronulla Sharks), Tevita Tatola (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Siosiua Taukeiaho (Sydney Roosters), Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys), Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters).

[academyguide]

Hamilton, New Zealand's largest inland city is situated on the banks of the Waikato, the country's longest river. The rich history and welcoming spirit of Hamilton make it a popular tourist destination. Because it is located in the hub of the central North Island, visitors can conveniently access iconic landmarks such as the Waitomo Caves, Hobbiton, Raglan's surf coast, the historic Te Aroha Mineral Pools and others.Availing of a car rental in Hamilton offers you the flexibility to move around and explore the delights of the city as per your convenience. To be sure of having a comfortable and smooth driving experience, make sure you book a vehicle from a reputed company well in advance.Things to see and do:Hamilton Gardens - This is one of New Zealand's must-see tourist destinations. In the Paradise Garden Collection you can explore unique gardens that are inspired by classic designs from different eras and cultures including the Italian Renaissance, American Modernist and Indian Char Bagh among others.Waikato Museum - A visit to this museum on the banks of the Waikato River is truly an inspirational experience. The exhibitions and activities tell stories about the region and include visual art, science and social history.Waikato River Walkway - This walkway stretches 11km along both banks of the Waikato River which runs through the center of Hamilton. It is ideal for walking and cycling enthusiasts. Whether you want to watch boats on the river, burn some energy with a jog or simply relax and unwind, this is the perfect place.Waitomo Caves - These are one of New Zealand's oldest tourist attractions. Wondrous limestone formations in the underground darkness are illuminated by the sparkling lights of innumerable glow worms. You can simply stand and watch in admiration or if you're feeling adventurous, you can try climbing, cave exploration and black water rafting.Hamilton Zoo - This zoo houses over 600 species of native and exotic animals. These range from red panda, chimpanzees and Sumatran tigers to lemurs, rhinos and giraffes. In addition, the zoo has the largest walk-through aviary in Australasia. The landscape comprising of native plants, pretty garden settings and paved pathways make it the ideal destination for a recreational and relaxing visit.Classic Car Museum - This one-of-a-kind car museum is a favourite with vintage car lovers. Looking at the cars of yesteryears is sure to bring back fond memories. There are over 100 cars on display which include an extensive collection of petrol and pedal cars. You can even see early pin ball machines here.With so much to see and do in Hamilton, make the most of your holiday by hiring a vehicle. This will help you save precious time and without needing to depend on local transport, you spend more time visiting rather than waiting. A car rental in Hamilton gives you a sense of freedom and you can go where you want, when you want. If you suddenly want to change your plans, you can do so easily if you have a hired car. This flexibility might not be possible if you're relying on pre-booked tours for sight-seeing. Source by Ayesha Saini

[alphynix]

What's the most unexpected fossil you'd think could be found on the island of Jamaica?

How about an ancient rhino?

Hyrachyus here was an early member of the rhinocerotoids, a lineage of odd-toed ungulates that also includes the true rhinoceroses, the tapir-like and hippo-like amynodontids, the long-legged hyracodontids, and the giant indricotheriines.

This particular genus was very widespread for much of the Eocene, found across Europe, Asia, and North America, crossing back and forth between the continents via the North Atlantic land bridge.

The Jamaican Hyrachyus lived during the mid-Eocene, around 45 million years ago, and was very anatomically similar to the North American Hyrachyus affinis – with the known fossil material not being considered distinct enough to be assigned to a new species yet. It was also about 15-20% smaller than its mainland relative, standing only 25cm tall at the shoulder (10"), but it's not yet clear if this was a case of insular dwarfism or not.

Its presence in ancient Jamaica suggests that there may have been some sort of land connection between the proto-island and Central America during the early Eocene, when a chunk of what would eventually become western Jamaica was located much closer to the coasts of Honduras and Nicaragua. It's the only fossil ungulate known from the Caribbean, and one of only a few terrestrial mammals in the region with North American evolutionary roots (the others being the extinct rodents Caribeomys merzeraudi and Oryzomys antillarum, and modern solenodons).

Unfortunately these little rhinos didn't get much time on their island home. Jamaica subsided fully underwater about 40 million years ago, drowning its unique Eocene ecosystem entirely, and wouldn't re-emerge and be re-colonized until much later in the Cenozoic.

———

Nix Illustration | Tumblr | Pillowfort | Twitter | Patreon

[e350tb]

Red Alert - Chapter Seven

ACT TWO: BATTLEFIELD AMERICA Chapter Seven: Hostile Shores

Soviet Airship V. I. Lenin, 25 miles east of Palm Beach, Florida Day Three

“This is an absolute mess.”

Major-General Khabarov massaged his temples as he studied the map on the war room table, Zofia standing across from him. Red and blue models were positioned on top of the map - red for the Soviets, blue for the Americans.

“Vladimir landed the bulk of his troops in and around Miami,” said Zofia, pointing to the red counters, “but he was repulsed by elements of the 7th Infantry Regiment. Now he’s fighting them block to block on a front from the Keys up to Fort Lauderdale.”

“But the Yankees can still move supplies in along their I-95 highway through Orlando,” grumbled Khabarov. “This supply route should have been severed first.”

“Intelligence indicates that the Americans have gathered a scratch force of armour at Jacksonville and are rushing them south,” continued Zofia. “Vladimir’s forces are comparatively light; they could roll them up.”

“And as long as the Americans get food and supplies from their depots, they’ll hold on,” nodded Khabarov. “How’s their morale?”

“Shaky, but they’ve been buoyed by repulsing our troops,” replied Zofia.

“But if they knew they were trapped…” mused Khabarov.

He leaned back, exhaling.

“We need the port facilities in Miami to funnel through supplies from Cuba,” he said. “Otherwise our advance into the southeast towards the Mississippi will bog down. Vladimir should know this - where is he?”

“Observing an armoured thrust towards Atlanta,” said Zofia.

“Of course he is, damned glory hound,” grunted Khabarov. “He goes for the prestige prize while leaving the strategic targets to others.”

He scratched his chin.

“Can we land Rhinos? The heavy helicopters can manage that, right?”

“Yes, but the Americans will still outnumber them,” replied Zofia.

“Positioning, then,” said Khabarov. “Block the road. The ground is too soft to go around. Support the Rhinos with Hinds and have a missile cruiser off the coast to deal with any stragglers. Put them… here, on the bridge over the Loxahatchee River. They won’t be able to go around. Gather up some infantry too, in case they have any of theirs riding the tanks. It won’t be a difficult operation…”

He sighed heavily.

“…but we shouldn’t have to do it at all.”

“Comrade General!”

Khabarov turned to the door - his sergeant was gesturing to him.

“The deputation has arrived from Moscow, sir,” he said.

“Thank you,” nodded Khabarov. “Zofia, you can handle the execution of the battle plan.”

“It will be done.”

“I know it will,” said Khabarov. “Dismissed.”

He turned and marched out the door, the sergeant following him. The sunlight was pouring in the windows of the observation deck - it was almost too beautiful a day for combat. He could see the navy in the sea below - some of the newer heavy battlecruisers had arrived, their brick-red decks contrasting their dull metal hulls. He could see them, but he knew the submarines lurked below the waves - both the new Typhoon attack subs, and the big transports that carried their strike forces.

The subs couldn’t carry everything, of course. Their heaviest units were waiting in Cuba and the Azores Islands (which had quietly occupied without resistance on the first day of the attack), ready for the ports to be opened so they could land. And while those ports had been opened on the north east and central coasts, most of their supply lines in the south remained precarious. The taking of Miami was behind schedule, and Vladimir had bypassed most of the Georgian and northern Floridian ports to hit major population centres. The result, if not cleared soon, would be a bottleneck, slowing the effort to link up with forces advancing east from the Rio Grande.

Supply, supply, supply; that’s what won wars. Sometimes it felt like nobody understood that anymore.

He entered the conference room - until recently, this had belonged to General Cherdenko, which one could tell by the smell. The Lenin had been Kharborov’s reward for capturing Dugan, but he had to admit that a floating, mobile command post was a useful thing to have. The conference room contained a long wooden table with a giant screen at the end, decorated tastefully with wood panelling, red carpets and a few strategically placed red banners.

Yuri sat at the table, rapping on the oak surface and looking deep in thought. Across from him was General Vladimir, who looked distinctly annoyed to have been dragged here, and next to him was General Topolov. Yuri’s top agent, Afina, stood behind him, hands tucked behind her back, her expression firm and emotionless. On the screen was Premier Romanov himself, seated at his desk at the Kremlin.

“Comrade General!” Romanov exclaimed jovially. “Congratulations on the capture of President Dugan! I hear he is still aboard your vessel?”

“Thank you, Premier,” replied Khabarov. “He’s in the brig.”

“Squeezing information out of him, I hope?” growled Vladimir.

“I was ordered not to harm him, sir,” replied Khabarov. “I was of the understanding that you were in Georgia?”

“I was dragged away from my victory parade in Atlanta for this meeting,” Vladimir replied grumpily.

“Perhaps while you are here, I can report on my plan to open the port at Miami,” suggested Khabarov.

“Bah!” Vladimir leaned back, crossing his arms. “I don’t have time to worry about security in the rear, so long as my grand strategy proceeds as planned!”

“The extent of your advance has made us all proud, General Vladimir,” said Romanov warmly. “Your swift capture of Atlanta defied all our expectations.”

Meanwhile his supply lines are a mess that have to be cleaned up by others, thought Khabarov, but he held his tongue.

“After this meeting is over, you will proceed to Moscow,” continued Romanov, “There is an Order of Suvorov with your name on it! And once that has been awarded, comrade, we will discuss your new command.”

Khabarov wrinkled his nose, but again he bit his tongue.

“I was unaware General Vladimir was to be reassigned,” he said evenly, hoping that perhaps there was a garbage disposal facility in Belarus that needed a new manager.

“Our advance in the north has not been as swift as we had hoped,” replied Romanov. “We took severe losses at New York City, including two battleships and an entire rocket battery.”

“I had heard of that,” nodded Khabarov. “General Fydorovich’s command, I believe.”

“The Northern Front needs fresh leadership,” continued Romanov. “Vladimir will be replacing Topolov immediately, who will be taking a well-earned retirement.”

“Retirement?” Khabarov looked at Topolov, who shrugged and smiled sadly at him. “Comrade Premier, Topolov is one of our foremost war heroes, and…”

“General Khabarov, I appreciate your support,” replied Topolov softly. “But the Premier is right. It is time for younger men to take charge.”

“I will be shaking things up in the north,” said Vladimir. “Taking men I trust to light a fire in the Northern Front. Premier Romanov has insisted you join us, so you will be taking over Fydorovich’s corps. You will bring your division along to replace casualties.”

“Of course,” said Khabarov. “I will proceed as soon as Miami is taken.”

Yuri looked up.

“I would have thought Miami would already have been secured, General Vladimir,” he said, “It was a day-one objective, after all.”

Vladimir gulped and adjusted his collar.

“Yuri, please, not everything can go to plan!” said Romanov. “Even our best commanders make mistakes, isn’t that right, Vladimir?”

“Of… of course, Premier, of course,” replied Vladimir. “And, as I have planned, Major-General Khabarov is dealing with it.”

“Of course, if Khabarov is to command a corps, he’ll need a promotion,” continued Romanov. “Congratulations, Colonel General.”

Vladimir’s face turned red.

“Yes,” he growled. “Congratulations, Khabarov.”

“It is an honour, Premier,” said Khabarov, saluting.

“Now, I’ll let you get back to it,” said Romanov. “The Yankee Imperialists won’t defeat themselves, da? Good luck and, as they say, happy hunting!”

The generals saluted and the screen went dark.

Vladimir shot out of his chair, glaring daggers at Khabarov as he stormed out of the room. As he did so, Yuri stood up, walking over to the newly-promoted Colonel General - Afina close behind him.

“It is shameful for men like him to get parades and medals while better men clean his messes,” he said softly. “You have my sympathy, Khabarov.”

“Thank you, comrade,” replied Khabarov, surprised.

“Time will weed them out,” continued Yuri. “I have a task for you, General, though it will not be easy. We have received word that Carville will soon be on the move again.”

“Where to?”

“Columbus, in the state of Ohio,” replied Yuri. “The capitalist government has moved there so that it can remain close to the front. They wish to fool the American people into believing they are willing to share their dangers.”

“Taking Columbus would be a challenge,” said Khabarov.

“Which is why you take Pittsburgh instead,” replied Yuri. “There I will construct a psychic beacon, and capture their entire civilian and military command without firing a shot.”

“Surely they wouldn’t be stupid enough to put their entire command staff in one city?”

“No, they won’t be,” agreed Yuri. “But think of it; we will be able to transmit orders to surrender from both their President and their ranking General. Do you think, comrade General, that the average fighting soldier knows a thing about psychic beacons, or mind control?”

“Before they learn the truth, we’ll be able to capture and disarm thousands of them,” nodded Khabarov. “We could halve their fighting strength in a moment!”

Yuri nodded.

“Get it done, General,” he said. “In the meantime, Afina and I will be relieving you of President Dugan. He will dance to our violin soon enough, comrade. Good luck with your mission.”

He walked out, Afina following. Khabarov found himself shivering despite himself.

“I suppose I ought to be leaving too.”

Topolov had gotten up, and Khabarov realised just how old he looked. He seemed hunched and tired, and yet he was still smiling sadly.

“I can appeal to the Premier, comrade,” said Khabarov. “With Vladimir leaving the Southern Front, you could…”

“General Kravchenko is to take command here; I wouldn’t want to steal his promotion,” replied Topolov. “Besides, I have been a soldier for a long time. It is time for me to go.”

“But…”

“When I was a boy,” said Topolov, “I fought in Siberia against Kolchak. I was an advisor in Spain, and I fought through the entire Second World War. All of my contemporaries either died in battle or were killed by Stalin. I would rather not be replaced by that perverted toad, but there’s been a dacha with my name on it for a long time.”

He chuckled.

“Besides, at least I am not Fydorovich!” he exclaimed. “He was shot!”

“He did that badly?” asked Khabarov.

“An entire infantry regiment escaped New York,” replied Topolov. “His corps has been badly shaken, they’re struggling to crush the scratch force still holding in Manhattan. They fight block to block.”

“They shouldn’t fight at all,” snapped Khabarov. “They should encircle them and starve the Yankees out.”

“This is why you will do better,” said Topolov, clapping a hand on Khabarov’s shoulder. “Now, Pittsburgh, that will be a tough nut to crack, comrade. You have the Appalachians in your way, but most of their remaining forces are light, so I’d say speed and armour will be your best weapons. Of course, it is up to you, comrade - best of luck to you.”

“I’m sorry to lose you, sir,” said Khabarov, saluting.

“I will be thinking of better times, comrade,” replied Topolov, returning the salute. “Do svidaniya.”

He walked slowly out, closing the door behind him and leaving Colonel General Leonid Viktor Khabarov alone.

[mitchbeck]

NHL HEADS TO AUSTRALIA TO START THE 23-24 SEASON

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - After much prep work, the NHL announced that it would officially kick off the 2023-24  season with its "Global Series" featuring a pair of games on September 24th and 25th in Melbourne, Australia between the Arizona Coyotes and the Los Angeles Kings. The Western Conference games will be played at the Rod Laver Arena. The Rod Laver Arena, named after the Australian tennis legend, is the home of the Australian Open, international basketball events, and concerts in Victoria, Australia. This will be the first set of NHL games played in the Southern Hemisphere. It's safe to expect some tie-ins with the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). The AIHL is set to start its regular season play this weekend. Expect either team to sign free-agent-to-be and the first Australian to play and score in the NHL, Nathan "Stormy" Walker, who left home at 13 with his parents' blessing to pursue his hockey dream. Walker played with the St. Louis Blues and spent some of last year in Springfield with the Thunderbirds. Another current AIHL player in what will be his tenth and likely last season will be Cheshire, Connecticut native Robert "Bert" Malloy, a dual citizen playing with the expansion Central Coast (Evina, NSW-New South Wales, AUS) Rhinos. However, next week, he will first play for the Australian National team - The Mighty Roo - in the IIHF Division II Group B play in Madrid, Spain. The other countries in the field include; Croatia, the nation of Georgia, Iceland, Israel, and host Spain. The AIHL plays a short season. Their championship, The Goodall Cup Final, will be held two weeks before the NHL games in Melbourne. NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE HOME Read the full article

[lightdancer1]

Since almost all of them occur toward the tail end of the war the outline is also the same in all of the AUs at a broad scale

Sozin starts a war that he didn't intend to become a world war by a genocide of the Air Nation. He is committed into a war with the Southern Water Tribe and the Earth Kingdom that slowly expands, establishes the colonies by a mixture of ethnic cleansing and subordinating the people he allows to remain in all AUs but the Fire and Water and Earth and Air one (where the Fire Nation quite literally expels all of the Earth Kingdom people and they actually do manage all of them because the ones that try to remain get executed and dumped in anonymous graves). The Southern Water Tribe starts off as a powerful centralized state that also takes on the trappings of monarchy and in their case the title of King and Queen specifically to get one up on their Northern neighbors who use the title of Princess or Prince but not the other.

Sozin successfully annexes the west coast of the Earth Kingdom in a viciously fought campaign that produces the first visible successes and some relief of the demographic issues. Then his army commits itself to a major assault on the Southern Water Tribe, which backfires and at the First Battle of Inuk (the name I give Sokka and Katara's home village) the entire army is routed and the Waterbenders of the South wreck the fleet so totally that the scale of the disaster takes time to filter all the way to Caldera.

When it does it's what triggers Sozin's death by despair, ala Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, and leads him to realize exactly what he'd done and thus is why he has his deathbed repentance and a death that gives him great suffering mentally and emotionally.

Azulon takes over and dedicates himself to expanding the conquests in the Earth Kingdom (which he does, establishing units like the Rough Rhinos and the Destruction Battalion to help further this conquest) and to the annihilation of the Southern Water Tribe in vengeance for the destruction of the first great army sent there. The destruction of the Southern Kingdom sees fifteen years of bloody battles and attrition that ultimately culminates in the Fourth Battle of Inuk where the Southern Kingdom finally cracks and there it changes to the slow death of the Southern Raids as he devotes his full attention to the Earth Kingdom side of the war.

The Destruction Battalion's first major battle was the Fourth Battle of Inuk and it ripped through the Southern Kingdom's army with an unrelenting force that earned it the name and started its growth from battalion to understrength corps and its assignment to the hardest and bloodiest tasks and a reliable history of spearheading victories in them.

Azulon raises his son Iroh as a prodigy who is constantly drilled in Firebending, taught a driving perfectionism and contempt for everyone beneath him and Firebending Supremacy, sends him off to war at 14 and Iroh spends the vast bulk of his life in the middle of war. If this sounds familiar Iroh is basically Azula 1.0 in his childhood and much of his distaste for his niece insofar as he thinks of her existence is projecting his own resentments and traumas from his own past onto her and fearing she'd be just like him as he actually was versus what he professes to be.

Iroh develops the Ulysses S. Grant method of unrelenting force, converging columns, and essentially combined arms in all but name (his use of airships as observation eventually slackens when the Earth Kingdom is all but broken by the time of the First Siege of Ba Sing Se as it's no longer needed but did much to ensure his armies could be beaten at a local level but almost never taken by surprise. Sometimes, as in real war, all the intelligence advantages in the world don't help if the general doesn't believe it but he learns that lesson the hard way).

By the time Iroh wins his greatest victories in the war for the Hu Xin Provinces and comes close to the outright decisive triumph, the war in the Fire Nation's view is all but won. A few nomadic tribes in the desert can inflict painful pinpricks but no more than this at the very most generous assessment of their capabilities. Omashu may or may not hold out and so long as it does it means that the southernmost territories seen as mostly jungles and one potentially dangerous nuisance can be safely ignored and then crushed with the Iroh Method when the time is right.

After the Siege of Ba Sing Se fails regardless of Zhao or not the Fire Nation decides to crush the Northern Tribe before it realizes that it had better get into the war or the war gets into it and takes the actions it needs to strengthen itself, the attempt failing with or without Zhao because entire generations have gone without seeing Waterbending used on a grand scale in war and the army is unsuited to face the very thing it called up to begin with.

They're all alternate histories but in all of them the changes that really alter the setting occur very late in the war, so its fundamental details do not alter very much until/around the aftermath of the First Siege of Ba Sing Se.

[raeynbowboi]

Dating Disney: Tarzan

Somebody asked me to cover this movie, and considering the annoying fact that people honestly believe the Tarzan/Frozen connection theory to be true, I’m more than ready to nail down every single reason why this movie and Frozen aren’t connected.

Fashion

Tarzan’s mother is wearing her hair in a ringlet ponytail style, which exploded in popularity during the Victorian Era (1837-1901). The father is wearing a simple three piece suit as seen in the official family portrait. Tarzan’s father has the same mustache style as The Grand Duke in Cinderella, an A La Souvarov, named for Alexander Souvarov, a Russian military leader who lived from 1730-1800.

The mother’s dress resembles this one from 1890. Given that Tarzan is about 20 years old and she’s wearing this when he’s a baby, this should place the movie in 1910.

Jane Porter arrives in the Jungle wearing a yellow dress with a prominent bustle which were popular from the 1870s through the 1880s. We can see her wearing short gloves, a collar and ascot of some sort, and what she addresses as her boots, but could potentially be high heel shoes with high spats on them, which emerged in the late 19th century and fell out of fashion in the 1920s.

Technology

Around the human camp, we see many Victorian era inventions. There’s a grandfather clock (invented 1680), a phonograph with a 1907 design, typewriter with a 1911 design, a vanity mirror likely with silvered glass (1835), a blackboard (16th century), a penny farthing bicycle, popular in the 1870s and 1880s, and especially the Magic Lantern, a late 19th century educational tool.

Culture

Jane teaches Tarzan to read English with “See Jane. See Jane Run” an homage to Dick and Jane books used to teach children how to read created by William Scott Gray in the 1930s. Clayton mentions that he taught a parrot to sing “God Save the Queen”, first created in 1745. While flipping through images, we see images of the Statue of Liberty (1886) and the Eifel Tower (1889). When Tarzan agrees to go to England, the Professor and Jane exclaim that many people will want to meet him. Kings, scientists, and famous writers. The professor name drops Darwin, Kipling, and Queen Victoria. He is referring to Charles Darwin (1809-1882), Queen Victoria of England (reign 1837-1901), but the outlier and trouble maker being Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936). If the Professor expects Tarzan to meet Darwin, then Darwin must still be alive (at least when they leave England) but they’re likely not in Africa for more than a year, and even if the movie was set shortly after Darwin’s death, Rudyard Kipling is barely 20 years old himself when Charles Darwin died, and was still in school in the 1880s. His most famous work “The Jungle Book” wasn’t even written until 1894, twelve years after Darwin’s death.

Biology

The gorilla seen in the film seem to resemble the Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). Yes, that’s the real scientific name for this subspecies.

The Western Lowland Gorilla is native to Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo. They are also touch slightly into Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of the Congo, but neither of those countries are coastal, and Tarzan clearly takes place in a coastal African rain forest with Western Lowland Gorilla. Jane is chased by a troop of Mandrill Baboons whose habitat is nearly identical to the Western Lowland Gorilla. African Elephants are found in the same area, but most abundant in Gabon, and Hippopotamus used to be found all over southern Africa but now only live in scattered clumps. Nile Crocodiles can be found over most of Africa, and in every country where the Western Lowland Gorilla lives. Leopards like Sabor are also native to this region of Africa, but Mound-Building Termites are native to the south and northeastern parts of Africa, and are not in Tarzan’s neck of the rain forest. We see a Rhinoceros sharpening its horn, but Rhinos don’t live or even wander to that part of Africa. The Black-and-White Colobus monkeys we seen in “Son of Man” are not direct neighbors of Tarzan, but live close enough that him running into them isn’t too far fetched.

While searching for Gorillas, Professor Porter mentions heading west, following the Ganoderma Applanatum, a large fungus that grows on trees. However, it’s clear the Professor doesn’t always know what he’s talking about. When Jane is describing the baboon chase to her father, he cites them as being Theropithecus Baboonus, a scientific name that doesn’t exist, and the only animals with Theropithecus are all extinct.

Conclusion

Due to Professor Porter expecting Tarzan to meet Charles Darwin, the Porter party must have left England in, before, or shortly after 1882 when he passed away. Because of the equatorial rain forest climate, it’s hard to tell the passage of time. They could have been in Africa for a week, a month, or a year. Aside from characters not visibly aging there’s nothing we can really go by in terms of time frame. But unless they’ve been in the jungle for a decade, the Professor would likely know that Darwin was dead before the 1890s. This strongly indicates an 1882 to 1883 time frame. There’s definitely a lot of technological and fashion anachronisms in this movie, but the clearly defined lifespans of real people makes placing an era easier.

Setting: West Coast of Subsaharan Africa Year: 1882-1883 Period: Victorian (1837-1901) Language: English Tarzan’s Birth: Approx. 1862-1864

[sregnarkroywen]

vs Newcastle Northstars, 16.03.2024 | Credits: x