Monday, April 23, 2007

Stephanie Colburtle out in front!


A group of 11 leatherback turtles began a journey a few days ago, a scientific trip that has wedged the 100-million-year-old endangered species into the conscience of America and much of the world.

Led by none other than Stephanie Colburtle, an artistically named leatherback with a score to settle in the cold Pacific waters, this group is racing to the Galapagos Islands and trying to outrace extinction by engaging the nation with the race -- and what sadly might turn out to be a final chapter in their storied history. (Anything that outlives after the dinosaurs and still exists is storied, as far as I'm concerned. I guess that means we as humans are but an insignificant footnote amid a library of texts.)

If Stephanie Colburtle wins (she's currently in the lead by a shell), it might be enough to stave off eternal death from fame garnered on The Colbert Show alone, which no doubt has been on pins and needles pulling for their new mascot.

Stephanie Colburtle could go down as an icon, as far as turtles go. I'm not sure what that means, but she'll probably have some kickin' parties with Stephen Jr.

An interactive, updated map of the race can be found here. http://www.greatturtlerace.com/

Ms. Colburtle (the one in reddish-brown on the map) is racing for the finish, as determined a turtle as I've ever seen! Look at her direct trajectory to the Islands. Her ability to pinpoint the zone, as I see it, is uncanny. It's so precise it could be rigged.

Stay tuned... Stephen Colbert might have a scandal on his hands. Sounds contentious, President Bush could only hope! We could see the Justice Department dropped for a turtle...

We also could see me overreacting.

1 comment:

sarasel said...

You are too funny. Colbert was talking about this last night.