A Dark Side of Tolerance©

Tolerance is only complacency when it makes no distinction between right and wrong.

--Louise Erdrich 

I have been re-reading a bit of one of my favorite preachers–a Baptist named Vance Havner. He is two things I like very much in my authors. He is thoughtful and he is eloquent. In recent reading I was stirred up by some of his comments about tolerance, light, darkness, sin and evil. So stirred up that I was moved to share just a few sobering paragraphs with you. His comments about tolerance, however, have nothing to do with race or politics. He said:

The devil never had a greater ally than this modern atmosphere of genial, amiable, pleasant tolerance, in which nothing is bad, everything is good, and black and white are smeared into an indefinite gray. Nothing matters if everybody is in good humor. (1)

Hardly anyone these days asks where all this goodwill of uncritical and also unexamined tolerance leads?  Havner did! He suggests that it ultimately leads to darkness. Jesus said he was the Light of the World, but he came into darkness. If it was dark back then, how much more so now. Here is Havner:

We are living in the dark. The closing chapter of this age is dominated by the prince and powers of darkness. Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. The night is far spent; the blackness is more extensive and more excessive as it deepens just before the dawn. Mammoth Cave is not limited to Kentucky; it is universal! 

Strangely enough, man never had more artificial illumination and less true light. Bodily, he walks in unprecedented brilliance, while his soul dwells in unmitigated night. He can release a nuclear glory that outdazzles the sun, and with it he plans his own destruction. He can put satellites in the sky, and left to himself, he is a wandering star to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.(2)

A gloomy view to be sure. But isn’t the fact that we find it so gloomy in itself illuminating?  What does it illuminate? Perhaps how desensitized we are to the reality of the darkness which surrounds us. How dare Havner call our tolerant and urbane civilization darkness! How dare he! In our quieter and more contemplative moments, however, we know he is right. You thought the above was gloomy?  Hear Havner's description of today’s evil and notice how we got there–little by little:

We not only live in the dark, we get used to it. There is a slow, subtle, sinister brainwashing process going on and by it we are gradually being desensitized to evil. Little by little, sin is made to appear less sinful until the light within us becomes darkness–and how great is that darkness! Our magazines are loaded with accounts of sordid crime, our newsstands with concentrated corruption. We are engulfed in a tidal wave of pornographic filth. Television has put us in the dark with Sodom and Gomorrah–right in the living room. We get used to it, acclimated to it. We accept, as a matter of course, its art, its literature, its music, its language. We learn to live with it without an inner protest.(3)

We permit the slaughter of over 60 million fetuses in the name of personal choice and liberty and consider it no different than if we were cleansing the dust from the top of the table. Talk about desensitized! Talk about darkness! Talk about evil! How do we get used to such darkness?  

One may live in a twilight zone, in conditions of low visibility, until he finds the practices of this world less repulsive. He mistakes the stretching of his conscience for the broadening of his mind. He renounces what he calls the “Pharisaism” and “puritanism” of early days with a good word for dancing, smoking, and even cocktails now and then. Instead of passing up Vanity Fair, he spends his vacations there.(4)

Why no protest? Because we are a tolerant, accepting, nonjudgmental, and civilized society. We live in the age of “do your own thing” and nobody will protest. In fact, if someone does, what happens? The political correctness police move into action. The ones to protest are the ones on the side of darkness. Not unlike the civilized people at the University of California at Berkeley. A very liberal place which one would think would be the epicenter of  “free speech.” In reality, however, it is the epicenter of political correctness and darkness--hooded thugs who protest, then riot, burn, and destroy in opposition to a conservative slated to give an address on their urbane campus.  

Havner got it just about right. Tolerance can lead to a serious desensitization–a tolerance of evil which leads to the worst kind of darkness–darkness in the mind and soul.

Let’s think together again, soon.

Notes:

1.  Vance Havner, The Best of Vance Havner (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book, 1980), p. 81.

2.  Havner, pp. 84-85.  

3.  Havner,  p. 85.

4.  Havner, p. 86.

The Best Metallic Shimmer Eyeshadows For Mature Eyes

*Post originally written by Olivia J on The Unknown Beauty Blog. If you see this post elsewhere, it has been stolen.*
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Metallic or shimmer eyeshadows are everywhere.  All look great in the pan but once on the lid, the outcome can be different especially if you are in the category of mature eyes like Olivia Sr.  Metallic shimmers capture light like jewels on the lids but on mature lids, the lights are interrupted by the creases and crevices of wisdom.

I beg you, click to read more »

This Mesozoic Month: January 2017

In the News

Living on an island devoid of giant theropods, Hatzegopteryx was an azhdarchid pterosaur that acheived a status few of its brethren could hope for: top terrestrial predator. Read more about this "shoebill-hornbill-terminator" from Mark Witton and Brian Switek.

This year's edition of PaleoFest, held at the Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford, IL is coming up in one month. Head to the museum's site to download the registration form. LITC's own Victoria Arbour will be speaking there! And I *miiiiiight* be able to go.

Illustration by Danielle Dufault/© Royal Ontario Museum

One of the more obscure casualties of the Permian-Triassic "Great Dying" was the mysterious hyolith. Now, it's been given a place on the great tree of life: as a member of Lophophora, along with the relatively more famous brachiopods. Read more about the "tentacled ice cream cone" from Everything Dinosaur and NPR, Live Science, and the NYT. Danielle Dufault's illustration, above, is another wonderful example of how a good piece of paleoart makes the alien approachable.

It got pretty darned cold after the Chicxulub impact. Fernanda Castano writes about new research modeling the post-KT global climate.

The US state of Arkansas is one step closer to naming its own state dinosaur, the undescribed coeleruosaur foot known as "Arkansaurus." For her part, Rebecca Hunt-Foster, who initially examined the fossils in the early 2000's, is working on getting the critter described. Check out that link to see loveable rouser of rabble Brian Engh's illustration, too.

How long did non-avian dinosaurs incubate? New research looks into the question by studying growth lines in the teeth of Protoceratops and Hypacrosaurus embryos, among other methods. Their conclusion is that it's likely that the rapid incubation we see in living dinosaurs is a later development, and most Mesozoic dinosaurs developed slowly. Read more from Carolyn Gramling for Science and NPR.

Around the Dinoblogosphere

At Aeon, Alex Riley writes about recent efforts to understand what prehistoric worlds sounded like, touching on Vegavis, Parasaurolophus, and the bush cricket Archaboilus musicus.

At SV-POW, Mike Taylor cautions us not to rely on a photo to interpret a fossil.

Rebor has released three Deinonychus replicas as part of a larger Acrocanthosaurus and Tenontosaurus diorama, and they are quite lovely. Check out Everything Dinosaur's post on the set. Now, I look forward to the alternate universe version, in which a Tenontosaurus triumphantly bellows a victory song atop a heap of fallen theropods it has bested.

Lisa Buckley, inspired by some proselytizing door-knockers, decided to start making science-oriented pamphlets to hand out when the need arises, starting her "Science Tracks" series with OMFG Birds are Great!

How does one keep up with the ever-increasing amount of paleontological research? At the SVP blog, Dr. Darin Croft has some advice.

At Quartz India, Pranay Lal writes about the dinosaurs of Cretaceous greater India.

At Paleo-King, Nima brings our attention to an article from 2015 that reports the results of a paleoart survey of 115 paleontologists (of whom 100 responded). The article, published in Current Trends in Paleontology and Evolution, had the goal of creating a working definition of paleoart. One question was for respondents to identify paleoartists whose work they recognized, with interesting results (Doug Henderson and Greg Paul each had only 5 mentions apiece). It would be interesting to see this performed with a larger sample size and with more international participation: Spain accounted for 70% of the respondents. Direct PDF link here.

Sometimes a fossil in prep confounds one's expectations: so writes Anthony Maltese about a spectacular, unexpected Ichthyornis fossil he's currently working on.

If you're into turtles and you're into latitudinal diversity gradients, Jon Tennant has you covered, sweetheart.

Susie Maidment ran through hypotheses about the function of stegosaurian plates and spikes for the website Know it Wall.

Duane Nash wades into the great feathers vs. scales fracas at Antediluvian Salad.

We'll end with a little field trip to Mongolia, starting at Extinct, where Leonard Finkelman writes a metaphysical musing on the "ownership" of fossils, stemming from the debate over repatriating fossils from the American Museum of Natural History back to Mongolia. Also read the statment from Bolortsetseg Minjin, president of the Institute for the Study of Mongolian Dinosaurs, on the complicated matter. She also spoke to Palaeocast about it last year. While we're on the topic, head over to Prehistoric Beast of the Week and check out Chris DiPiazza's recent post featuring great illustrations of Mongolian dinosaurs..

Crowdfunding Spotlight

Plenty going on this month! If you're not able to donate to these campaigns, help spread the word. It really does help, and folks running campaigns do appreciate every share. A couple of campaigns are closing soon at Experiment, a science crowdfunding site.

First is The end of an Era: Resolving the dinosaur extinction and the beginning of the 'age of mammals' in northwest Argentina. Ending in less than a week, a University College London team led by Anjali Goswami and Agustin Scanferla "will intensively explore new fossil sites in Northwest Argentina, where we have recently discovered dinosaur, crocodile, and other fossils from this period."

Next up is Geology of the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of central Montana. A team from the University of Oklahoma led by Dean R. Richmond hopes to "describe the stratigraphy, sedimentology, and depositional facies of the Morrison Formation in central Montana." The crowdfunding effort will help cover the costs of analyzing a wealth of material that was collected in quarries last summer, including sauropod fossils, petrified wood, and freshwater and marine organisms.

Moment of Paleoart Zen

Artists Raven Amos and Scott Elyard, who run the excellent art and design firm Cubelight Graphics, are holding their ninth art show soon, taking place at Espresso Cafe in Wasilla, AK. They've held a successful Indiegogo campaign to fund printing of their art for the show, but it's still worth chipping in to help meet stretch goals - as well as to get some great perks, natch. So, I'll be sharing one of Raven's featured pieces, the wonderful Styracosarus Jungle. I'm not alone in my love for Raven's work, which often hearkens back to pop art and art deco.

Styracosaurus Jungle, © Raven Amos. Shared with the artist's permission.

Also check out the promotional video for the show shared below. Congratulations on the successful campaign and best of luck at the show, Raven and Scott!

Sunflower Seeds: Benefits

The health benefits of sunflower seeds

1. Sunflower seeds are a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals, and are eaten by many people as a health booster.

2. They contain a wonderful amount of Vitamin E. This antioxidant destroys free radicals in the body.

3. This can lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and colon cancer.

4. They can be used to make sunflower seed milk, which is fantastic for vegans those who have lactose intolerance and cannot drink dairy milk.

5. The Vitamin E also reduces the effects of asthma, and prevents hot flashes during the menopause.

6. They also contain phytosterols. These are compounds which lower cholesterol levels in the blood and boost immune response.

7. If you are trying to lose weight, eating a handful of these can be very filling and will help to prevent food cravings during a diet.

8. Eating them regularly can prevent atherosclerosis. This is where the arteries become hardened due to plaque. 

9. The healthy dose of magnesium in these kernels can also have a calming effect on the body, and maintaining healthy bones.

10. This also boosts energy levels and can prevent high blood pressure, muscle spasms, migraines and fatigue. 

11. Selenium, a trace mineral found in sunflower seeds helps DNA to repair itself, potentially preventing cancerous cells.

12. You can eat them raw, as they have a nutty taste with a firm texture. We recommend sprinkling these over a daily salad.

13. They also contain good doses of copper, vitamin B1, B3, B6, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, iron and folate. 

14. You may also find that eating these often, causes your skin to have a natural glow, also protecting the skin from UV damage to some extent.

15. If you suffer with acne or other skin problems, eating a balanced diet with healthy seeds and nuts will help to heal your condition.

16. The seeds are also cold pressed to create a healthy sunflower oil. You can use this as an alternative in cooking to get similar benefits.

17. They can be purchased all over the world, as they are some of the most popular seeds. 

18. Be sure to store these in the refrigerator in an airtight container so that they do not spoil and lose their nutrient content. 

Hemp Seed Oil: Benefits and Uses

The health benefits and uses of Hemp Seed Oil

1. Hemp Seed oil is made using a cold pressed method, and is commonly used as a natural remedy in Eastern cultures.

2. Some people confuse this with Cannabis Oil, but they are in fact very different, as hemp does not have drug like effects.

3. Organic Hemp Oil can be purchased from health foods stores all around the world and can be taken to boost heart health.

4. It contains a healthy ratio of Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids, which boost cardiovascular 

function, helping to prevent heart disease.

5. It has a nutty flavour, and can be taken on a regular basis to provide the body with protein, Vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, calcium, and phosphorus.

6. If you suffer with mood swings, you may have a hormone imbalance. Hemp oil contains gamma-linoleic acid, which balances out the hormones.

7. This works brilliantly for women who are in the menopause, or suffer with heavy periods.

8. Vegetarians and vegans can often become deficient in Omega 3 fatty acids, as this is usually derived from fish. Hemp oil is a great vegan alternative.

9. It helps to lower the cholesterol by boosting the metabolism and getting rid of fat deposits in the arteries.

10. Be sure to store this in a cool dark place such as the refrigerator, to keep it fresh.

11. If you suffer with skin problems such as psoriasis, taking hemp oil daily will help to oxygenate 

the skin, and heal the cause of the problem. 

12. Be sure to never heat hemp oil, as this will turn the healthy fats into saturated fats, making it far less healthy.

13. I recommend adding this to your salad dressings, with perhaps a little mayonnaise or lemon juice. 

14. It can be used to moisturize the skin directly, and is also anti-inflammatory. This will reduce redness and skin irritation.

15. To learn more about natural remedies, please see our other videos. 

Thank you very much for listening, a like is always appreciated and remember to subscribe for more healthy videos. I wish you great health, wealth and happiness

Attributes that Should Accompany Broadmindedness©

"He mistakes the stretching of his conscience for the broadening of his mind."

--Vance Havner

Yesterday I wrote about the neglected meanings of the word "discrimination." Today’s essay is a companion piece about a different phenomenon–the almost unthinking acceptance of the positive values given to the word broadminded and the neglect of its dangers and associated attributes which should accompany it in order to avoid its negative effects. The thoughts are not mine, however. Today this column is relinquished for reproduction of a short but thoughtful essay by a man whose intelligence, wisdom, and articulateness I greatly admire and respect–Richard L. Evans, the voice of radio’s “Spoken Word,” for forty years.

*********

“Broadmindedness” is a word that has much meaning and much to commend it. But “the question is,” said Alice in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, “the question is whether you can make words mean so many different things.”

We sometimes let words run away with us. If, for example, a stream is allowed to run too “broadly” it may dissipate itself in devious shallow courses instead of running full and effectively.  It is possible also for a person to become so “broad” that there is shallowness, that nothing stays fixed, that the mind is wide open for every breeze to blow through

It is good to be broad in understanding, but there is also a need for depth. It is good to avoid narrowness, prejudice, too have an open mind, but not so open that it doesn’t discriminate, not so open that it spreads out all over without convictions or principles or judgment or depth or definition. “Broad” is only one dimension. There are others equally essential.  Concerning an obsession with one dimension, Emily Dickinson said: “He preached upon ‘breadth’ till it argued him narrow, / The broad are too broad to define.”

One could conceivably become so indiscriminatingly [sic] “broad” that there would be no bounds to his thinking, no lines he wouldn’t cross, no principles he would be governed by, no direction he wouldn’t go. If a navigator were so “broad” as to ignore the safe channel, he would likely be wrecked.  If a pilot were so “broad” as to fail to follow the beam, he would hazard his own life and other lives also. To broadness must be added judgment, depth, definition and direction–broadness that is straight and true, broadness that includes principles and standards and character and competence.

This would be our appeal to young people: Don’t let a false and shallow kind of “broadmindeness” rule your lives or determine your decisions. Never let yourselves be run by a word without looking at its several sides. Broadmindedness can have much virtue, much strength, much understanding–but broadness without balance, broadness without standards, broadness without judgment, without moral qualities and character simply isn’t safe. We should never become so “broad” that principles are set aside.(1)

Let’s think together again, soon.

Notes:

1.  Richard L. Evans, Thoughts for One Hundred Days, Volume Five, (Salt Lake City: Publishers Press, 1972), pp. 176-77.

We Need More, Not Less Discrimination©

"Never let yourselves be run by a word without looking at its several sides." 

--Richard L. Evans

It is worth considering another point of view about the highly loaded word discrimination. In today’s world discrimination has been politicized and narrowed in meaning to the point of making the word nearly useless.We are obsessed with discrimination as an act of prejudice or a prejudicial outlook, or treatment, where discrimination in a perverse sort of way is categorical–stereotypical–rather than individual.  In other words, the finer, and I do mean finer points of the word’s meaning are perverted from truly discriminating to true prejudice.

The word is not useless, however, and its broader meanings and applications should not be overlooked or abandoned. Wikipedia tells us the etymology of the word is from Latin into English and meant to “distinguish between;” coming from a verb meaning to make a distinction. Discrimination means “the act of making or perceiving a difference,” but it implies the ability to ultimately make fine and important distinctions. 

The ability to discriminate or make subtle distinctions is a very essential element of our own education. Early on we begin to do two things–generalize and discriminate. Things we play with are called toys–a generalization. However, a child without clear distinctions may consider a loaded pistol as a toy. So we must learn to discriminate between toy and not-toy. As every parent learns, that process of refining our ability to generalize and discriminate is endless during childhood and indeed it continues through life especially as the categories become more complicated and abstract.

Like so many other wonderful words in our English language, discriminate and discrimination have been co-opted as largely a negative–in this case they have become a political bludgeon. I would here argue for the reinstatement of the admirable meanings of this very useful and important word. Consider how essential it is to discriminate between the following, and the consequences when such distinctions are not made:

Truth and error

Strong and weak evidence

Good and bad
 Character and persona

Dangerous and beneficial

Fact and opinion
 Foolish and substantive

Right and wrong

Ends and means
 Valid and specious

Intention and action
 Important and unimportant

Freedom and anarchy

Maturity and immaturity

It seems that many of today’s American politicians, journalists, pundits, commentators, and bloggers are almost constitutionally incapable of  discriminating between such things as:

Islam as a religion and radical versions of Islam

The value of the life of a child before birth and after birth

Living under the rule of law and lawlessness

Legitimate disagreement and prejudice and bigotry

Wealth and success

Fame and/or status and knowledge and intelligence

Facts and “alternate facts”

What is legal and what is moral
 Possessing educational degrees and wisdom

Actions and policies and consequences

Slogans and solutions

Superficially presenting “both sides” and true neutrality, objectivity

Information and education

High emotion and winning an argument

Civility and weakness

Sexual preference and perversions 

Sexual license and sexual consequences

 Sanctuary cities and civil disobedience

 Personal preferences and correctness
 Majority rule and personal rights

In the face of the philosophical diverseness, fuzzy and simplistic thinking, hyper-emotionalism, political correctness, deep partisanship, materialism, relativism, secularism, and a dozen other “isms” which dominate the American polity today, as a society we need to be more discriminatory than ever.

Let’s think together again, soon.

Black Garlic: Benefits & Facts

The health benefits and uses of black garlic.  

1. Garlic is one of the most powerful super foods known to man, and has a massive amount of health benefits for the human body.

2. Many people do not like the taste, and therefore black garlic is becoming a popular alternative, because of its sweet flavor.

3. It has double the amount of antioxidants than fresh garlic, and has been shown to lower the size of tumors even faster.

4. It was originally made in Korea as a health product. This is made by heating white garlic at 170 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 days, and then left to dry for another 45 days. The garlic cloves then become black and taste sweet like balsamic vinegar and soy sauce. 

5. The flavors are simply delicious, and it tastes completely different than regular garlic.

6. Allicin is one of the main compounds in garlic, and is known as a natural antibiotic for treating many diseases and infections.

7. It also contains over 100 different compounds which boosts the metabolism of the body, helping you to lose weight, and give you a great boost of sulphur.

8. Black Garlic contains a powerful compound known as SAC (S-Allycysteine ). This can reduce 

the build-up of cholesterol in the arteries, and protect your heart. 

9. It also contains excellent doses of calcium, phosphorus and protein, which are all beneficial for your health.

10. It works well in delicious stir fries, as it adds a sweetness which may compliment the dish.

11. In Thailand, black garlic is added to energy drinks, as it can boost the attention span and help to wake you up, if you didn’t get enough sleep.

12. It tastes delicious with roast chicken, especially for those who do not like the taste of smell of raw garlic.

13. If you still do not like the taste, you can purchase black garlic supplements, to supply your body with the healthy nutrients and compounds.

14. Garlic can also be placed under the pillow at night as a sleep aid, please see our other video on this to learn more

15. Eating black garlic will help you to get rid of phlegm and mucus if you have an irritating cold in the winter.

16. It can also improve the libido and enhance sexual drive and stamina.

17. Many people have also reported this to help with treating diarrhoea, and settling the stomach. 

18. Garlic has also been linked to preventing Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly, and improving memory and brain function    

Vintage Dinosaur Art: Dinosaurs (Herbert S Zim)

Yet another book scanned and sent over to me by Charles Leon (thank you!), Dinosaurs (by Herbert S Zim) dates from 1954, making it the oldest book featured in quite some time. It's essentially a product of the era, with grey, tail-dragging, fern-munching beasties hanging around swamps and hoping that it doesn't start getting too cold. Of course, there's always nifty stuff to be found if you look hard enough...

When reading books of this vintage, one expects the occasional blatantly Knight or Burian-based illustration, with of course not so much as a tip of the hat given to the original artist. However, that's not the case here. An acknowledgement from illustrator James Gordon Irving notes that he

"...wishes to express his gratitude to the American Museum of Natural History for making available its series of dinosaur models by W.P.A. workers and others. Many of the illustrations have been based on them."

I heartily encourage this attitude among modern day illustrators, although it would mean that huge numbers of Dorling Kindersley books would be filled with credits to Jurassic Park, Papo toys, and mangled stock 3D models of lizards.

Zim starts with what the reader will be familiar with. If you've picked up a dinosaur book, you've probably seen a mounted skeleton in a museum, and even if not, you'll certainly be aware that they inevitably the main attraction at natural history museums worldwide (not whales. Nope. Never). Hence this fetching and remarkably detailed illustration of a Brontosaurus skeleton, complete with retro fantasy skull. I do like that it's posed bending its neck down to human eye level, almost as if to match the inspecting gaze of the museum visitor.

Zim goes on to outline dinosaurs' place in the Tree of Life, and how reptiles became so superbly adapted to life on dry land. The above illustration depicting a nesting Styracosaurus with newly-hatched juveniles is quite unique for the time, and remains rather unusual; it's not a dinosaur that's often seen doing anything besides confronting tyrannosaurs or just standing around looking all resplendent and smug. I also like that the babies do not resemble miniature versions of the adult, although they do end up resembling tiny Protoceratops, purely by accident I'm sure.

Of course, the Tree of Life was imagined rather differently in the 1950s. These days, the case for birds being dinosaurs is so overwhelming, the people who continue to ignore it end up looking more than a little silly, or like they haven't read any scientific papers since the '60s (and some of them haven't, and it doesn't stop them giving lectures). Things were quite different back in the '50s, as we know - back then, the same stock of thecodonts were thought to have given rise to crocs, pterosaurs, birds, Saurischia, and Ornithischia, and no group was more closely related to each other than any other one. No way. No how.

But never mind all that - on to the good stuff! This beautifully shaded illustration of Brachiosaurus is ntoable for a number of reasons; primarily, because of how dignified it is for a '50s illustration of this animal. Not only is it standing quite happily on dry land, but it appears very muscular and surprisingly lithe. What's more, each hand, although inaccurate in shape, sports just the single claw. The suitably regal expression on the individual in the foreground reminds me very much of the Invicta Brachiosaurus toy from the 1970s - perhaps they shared a common source of inspiration.

As with the brachiosaurs, these stegosaurs aren't half bad by the standards of 1954 - again, the decent use of lighting and perspective points to the involvement of 3D models. The gently sloping, subtly realistic landscape and vegetation beyond 'you know, cycads' are also to be commended. We can argue later over whether that's intended to be grass.

Perhaps the most successful spread from a compositional standpoint features a group of Ornitholestes making a swift getaway from a prowling gang of allosaurs. Thankfully, the allosaurs are of the leaner, more Knightian variety, as opposed to being Zallinger-inspired fatties; as such, they take on an appropriately sinister air even without doing much, simply by virtue of their fearsome appearance. Many aspects of their anatomy, such as the horns (even if not quite right) and enlarged thumb claws, show an attention to detail that most illustrators didn't bother with at the time. Peculiarities include the four-toes-forward feet of both theropods, and the almost identical skipping pose of each Ornitholestes - it seems Knight's influence was important again here. "Almost birdlike," indeed...

Naturally, Brachiosaurus isn't the only beefy boy to put in appearance, with Brontosaurus and Diplodocus also making a contractually-obliged appearance. This illustration excellently emphasises the incredible, elongated forms of these animals over two pages, the languid curl of the Diplodocus' tail enabling easy comparisons with the length of its body. Of course, Brontosaurus is basically portrayed as 'fat Diplodocus' rather than the bizarre, chunky-necked beast it really was, but that's normal innit. I do like the swamp of conveniently even depth in the background, allowing each animal to stand on the bottom and stick its head out like a periscope.

On to the Cretaceous, and the illustration for Protoceratops feels very perfunctory. "Here is Protoceratops. Here is a nest. You know how it goes." The babies in the below illustration look almost like they're bursting through paper or out of a cake. Triceratops, meanwhile, looks rather odd, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it at first; sure, it's rather rotund even for the time, but that doesn't account for how...off it looks. Then it hit me - it's the lack of pointy jugals. Which, funnily enough, are present and correct on the Protoceratops opposite. Beautiful shading, all the same. I'm always fascinated by the tendency in older artworks to portray Triceratops' frill as being covered by an extremely smooth, continuous sheet of (presumably) keratin. Draw it like that these days and you'd get all kinds of funny comments on deviantArt, probably involving All Yesterdays and how scientists can never make up their minds, therefore evolution is an evil lie put about evil atheist scientists of evil. And raptors didn't have feathers.

And finally...Rexy of course! I've noted before how Rexy seems to often end up looking quite goofy in books that feature otherwise rather dignified-looking dinosaurs. That's certainly true of this ill-proportioned three-fingered beast. I do enjoy how aghast it looks, sticking its little hands up and retracting its head. Perhaps it can't abide by those little ankylosaurs (filthy creatures), even if, typical mid-century discrepancies aside (stumpy tail!), they're actually pretty well drawn.

But Herbert Zim's Dinosaurs doesn't end there - come back next time for much more quirky stuff, including a drawing of a dapper four foot man wielding a cigar! Oh yes.

Foods to Cure Acne

A list of healthy foods that you can eat to cure and prevent acne.

1. Acne is a common problem nowadays, because we tend to eat a lot of starchy and sugary foods.

2. This is a condition where the skin becomes inflamed and pimples appear on the face and other areas.

3. In order to get cure this, there are certain foods which you can eat which contain nutrients that your body needs to get rid of acne.

4. The following foods when eaten together regularly, will clear up your skin in no time. 

Onions: These are an excellent source of selenium which has been shown to reduce acne.

Brazil Nuts: Also rich in selenium, Vitamin E and A, which increases skin elasticity.

Garlic: One of the most powerful super foods known to man, destroys skin infections amongst other health problems.

Spinach: This is loaded with Zinc, another essential mineral required to prevent pimples. Be sure to eat lots of leafy greens.

Flax Seeds: The omega-3 fatty acids will bring down inflammation and help with scaring.

Sweet Potatoes: Eating these alongside onions is a perfect combination for reducing pimples.

Apples and Oranges: Replace sugary foods with these tasty sweet fruits to prevent the cause of acne.

Almonds: 6 of these nuts a day will soon show results with the high dose of vitamin E.

Avocado: A source of natural, healthy fats. Can also be applied to the skin as a paste to clear the pores

Amla: This super food is potent in vitamin C and boosts the immune system to clear out any underlying skin infections. 

Pumpkin Seeds: Yet another great source of Zinc, see our other video on these to learn more.  

5. It is also very important that you stop eating bread, and other foods which contain lots of yeast, as these could be making your acne worse. 

6. Avoid refined sugar as much as possible, and replace with raw manuka honey. The anti-oxidants in this will work to fight the acne, and also give your body some essential nutrients.

7. You can also apply skin products containing salicylic acid directly to the skin. This comes from willow trees and will clear acne quickly. Be sure to find a product that contains no alcohol or menthol.