Biosphere 2 is a semi-derelict bio-architectural experiment in the Arizona desert that was sold to private developers in 2007. I’d be surprised if this isn’t used for a film setting at some point.

You can check out even more photos on Noah’s website. (via Boing Boing)


(Photos: Noah Sheldon)
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Phaeton Group’s Dr. Michael Ryan with Albertaceratops nesmoi skull.

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My good friend, Dr. Michael Ryan of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Southern Alberta Dinosaur Research Group, and Phaeton Group, has described a new type of dinosaur, Albertaceratops nesmoi. The fossilized remains of the ancient Ceratopsian was discovered near Manyberries, Alberta about six years ago. I was fortunate enough to be able to witness some of the research that went into the discovery and was asked to photograph (above) Dr. Ryan and the fossilized skull for the press release and public relations use.

Michael has informed me that the photo has been featured in a press release and, beginning this weekend, has spread to newspapers and websites around the world courtesy of Associated Press.

Along with a front-page blurb and large article spread on A3 of the March 5 edition of the Calgary Herald, it has shown up on Yahoo! News, CNN, USAToday, CBS News, Science Daily, the International Business Times, and many more. You can find the articles by doing a search on ‘alberta dinosaur‘ in Google News.

If any of you wonderful DDM blog readers find the photo in your local paper, please send me a copy of the article. I can provide a mailing address when you contact me.

Though this isn’t the first time I have had something published internationally, I believe it may be the first photo of one of Michael’s discoveries I have had displayed in international newspapers and some major websites.

For more information on Albertaceratops nesmoi be sure to check out the Southern Alberta Dinosaur Research Group website.

Congratulations to Dr. Ryan and his palaeontological teammates and thanks to him for the photo recognition.

The first of these interviews is with the multiple award-winning (Eisner, Harvey, Spectrum, Inkpot, and Haxtur) author/illustrator Mark Schultz.

Schultz, who has been described by many to be “one of the nice guys in Comics,” has managed to tackle nearly every character we comic book and movie fans only dream of working with: Aliens, Conan, The Flash, The Terminator, King Kong, Luke Skywalker, Prince Valiant, Superman, Tarzan, and Tyrannosaurus rex to name just a few. However, he’s best known for the lavishly-illustrated Xenozoic Tales, an action-adventure series featuring old world mechanic Jack “Cadillac” Tenrec and the bold, beautiful Hannah Dundee. Of course, there’s more than a few classic cars and dinosaurs thrown in for fun.

Mark Schultz and myself at the 2001 San Diego Comic-Con.

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DDM: First of all, thanks for taking the time to chat. I know a lot of people are anxious to hear what you’ve been up to and what exciting projects you have on the horizon but let’s start with your own creation, Xenozoic Tales. I know it means a great deal to you, and readers are anxious to find out what’s going on with the series.

Q: As the creator of Xenozoic Tales, (later re-branded as Cadillacs and Dinosaurs for Epic Comics and the animated television show from Nelvana), you’ve not only written but illustrated most of the series yourself. How did the idea come about?

Schultz: Through long hours of career dissatisfaction while I was executing advertising illustrations and working as a security guard. I’d long dreamed of becoming a cartoonist and spent a good deal of time imagining what my ideal comic book would be, based on my love for Edgar Rice Burroughs, EC Comics, King Kong, and other adventure movies and stories. Those influences, mixed with my interest in man’s relationship with the natural environment gelled into what became Xenozoic Tales. Essentially, I was creating the type of comic adventure I wanted to read, but wasn’t available in the contemporary market.

Q: In reading Xenozoic Tales, we seem to discover a slyly disguised ‘message’ at its core about the Earth and the symbiotic relationships of the planet’s systems. Not many comics or graphic novels can get away with this, yet you seem to have pulled it off effortlessly. The time period inhabited by your characters is a direct result of their ancestors’ effects on the Earth. Did you start with that message and find a story or was it the reverse?

Schultz: These concerns are very important to me, but even more important is telling a good story. If I feel that I am being preached to while I am reading a story, well, the storyteller has lost me. I trust that’s the same for my readers. The message, if there is one, must be integrated and buried within the dramatic telling of the story or it will alienate any reader who isn’t already on board with the point of view being promoted. In the case of Xenozoic Tales, the environmental angle was actually one of the last ingredients that got mixed into what started as pure SF adventure, but it was the necessary element that, I think, elevated the series, and, at the very least, keeps me interested in creating new stories.

Xenozoic Tales Volume One: After the End. © Mark Schultz. Published by Dark Horse Comics.

Q: Because you are the creator of the series, you have control of what happens, and therefore no major production studio to second-guess your decisions. With the exception of the marketing and distribution help from Kitchen Sink, Marvel, Nelvana, and Dark Horse, you’ve been able to shepherd Xenozoic Tales through its different incarnations the way you want. Were there any drawbacks to overseeing everything and not just writing the story or illustrating the books?

Schultz: Actually, I always had marketing and promotional help with Xenozoic Tales, first with my publisher, Denis Kitchen, filling that role, and then with the agency of Kitchen and Hansen. I have very limited knowledge when it comes to promotion and marketing, as well as distribution, so I have always relied on others for the “business” side of the business. I’ve also been very appreciative of editorial suggestions as well—even though I’ve never had to work with an editor on XT, I feel it helps to have a sounding board—another perspective with different experiences—available. I could never do XT on my own—I’m just the guy who makes the final decisions.

Q: One of the opportunities that I’ve truly enjoyed in life, is participating in palaeontological excavations. One certainly gains deeper respect for the scientists and volunteers that work under challenging field conditions with awkward equipment (ranging from heavy-but-powerful jackhammers to light-but-exacting dental picks) all in the name of research. Have you ever had a chance to join a palaeo/archeological dig and has it helped you with your Xenozoic Tales work?

Schultz: Unfortunately I have never had the opportunity to fulfill that life-long dream. Someday, I hope. I have been lucky enough to visit some fossil-rich sites, such as the Red Deer River Valley, but I’ve yet to find the time to participate. So, in the meantime, I pick the brains of cooperative sorts like our friend Dr. Michael Ryan.

Q: What other kinds of research do you conduct for projects like Xenozoic Tales?

Schultz: Lots of reading–mostly laymen’s scientific magazines and books–visual material of any appropriate kind, travel. Asking questions of the experts. I’m not shy about asking questions.

Your early training must have helped with Xenozoic Tales, so let’s talk a bit about the beginning of your career.

Q: What career training have you received? Was it formal, informal, self-taught, or a little bit of everything?

Schultz: I graduated college with a BFA in Painting from Kutztown State University in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, the fundamentals of draftsmanship were not stressed like I now believe they should be, and as a result, much of my drawing ability, as it is now, formed through comic book on-the-job training. What I DID learn in college, and what I consider indispensable, was the ability to teach myself—to research and develop on my own accord.

Q: Do you recommend one method over the other for those hoping to follow in your footsteps?

Schultz: I don’t think there is any one right way. The unifying necessity is that you be passionate about what you are doing, immensely self-critical and unafraid to change as needed to become professional, and willing to push yourself harder than everyone else vying for the career you want. Success in the arts does not come to the faint of heart.

Q: Who were your creative influences growing up and why?

Top: Art by Winslow Homer. Bottom left: Art by Howard Pyle. Bottom right: Art by NC Wyeth.

Schultz: Visually, my work is strongly influenced by a love for classic American illustration. Winslow Homer, Howard Pyle, N.C. Wyeth, Daniel Smith, Dean Cornwell, Herbert Morton Stoops, and Frank Hoban are among the illustrators I’ve closely studied. My principal influences from within the comics field include Hal Foster, Alex Raymond, Roy Crane, Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, Wally Wood, and Al Williamson.

For visuals, as well as storytelling elements, the films of Howard Hawks, Alfred Hitchcock, John Ford, Val Lewton, and many other greats who worked primarily in black and white have had a strong effect on my work. Of course, Cooper and Schoedsack’s King Kong—there will never be a more complex, more visually and thematically rich film. Film and comics are two very different mediums, but if you look past the technical divides, they do share some important storytelling properties.

King Kong cover art by Mark Schultz. Issue 2 of 6. © 1990 Mark Schultz and Monster Comics.

For pure storytelling, the writings of Edgar Rice Burrroughs, Robert E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft and John Steinbeck have meant a lot to me.

Q: Are there any current creative influences you’re learning from or just admire for the work they’re doing?

Left: Styracosaur art by William Stout. Right: Hellboy art by Mike Mignola.

Schultz: While I don’t think there are any contemporaries who I’d call influences—Bill Stout being the exception—I admire the work of Gary Gianni, Mike Mignola, Dan Clowes—there are many others…

Left: Art by Gary Gianni. Right: Art by Daniel Clowes.

Q: Did you have any ‘big goals’ when you started into your career and do you feel you’ve been successful at achieving them?

Schultz: I had no expectations when I started my comic career. I didn’t even want to get my hopes up that I would be able to make a basic living. Everything that’s come surprises me to certain degree. What success I’ve had amazes me.

Q: You’ve spent a good part of your early career as an illustrator, yet lately you’ve built up quite the writing resume. Why the shift?

Schultz: Actually, I’m shifting back towards illustration now. I like diversity—I like to be able to go back and forth between drawing and writing. Plus, I take advantage of what the marketplace is offering me at the time. I think it’s very important, and I keep telling this to students, to become adept with as many different skills as possible—to both take advantage of the marketplace and to maintain as much control over your own properties as possible.

Q: Which do you find easier: illustrating or writing?

Schultz: Nothing’s easy. But I can write faster than I can illustrate.

Q: What artwork/story/project are you most proud of and why?

Schultz: Xenozoic Tales—because it’s my own, start to finish.

Mark recently completed the above Centrosaurus brinkmani depiction and another illustration for palaeontologist Dr. Michael Ryan.
Art © Mark Schultz from the collection of Dr. Michael Ryan.

– Continue to Part 2 of the interview! –

Photo of Dracorex hogwartsia © The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

The nearly complete skull was discovered by three friends from Sioux City, Iowa during a fossil collecting trip to South Dakota. More information can be found at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis Dinosphere website.

Be sure to check out the video interview with the donors of the fossil, the Museum President, and world-renowned paleontologist Dr. Robert Bakker.

Thanks to Atomic Surgery for the link.

A new dinosaur species discovered by my good friend, Dr. Michael J. Ryan, was officially announced recently.

From the press release:

“The new species of dinosaur, named Centrosaurus brinkmani, belongs to the group of dinosaurs related to the well-known Triceratops, but lived about 10 million years earlier. Remains of the dinosaur were discovered in bone beds in southern Alberta, the largest of which is in Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ceratopsian (horned) dinosaurs can be distinguished from one another by the ornamentation on their frills that extend shield-like from the back of their skulls.

Distinctive hooks and “spikelets” on the frill of Centrosaurus brinkmani allowed scientists to identify this dinosaur as a new species.“

Read more about the new dinosaur, who it’s named after, and feast your eyes on other beautiful illustrations of the species at Palaeoblog.

When you’re done, head over to CBC’s ‘Quirks & Quarks‘ website and listen to Dr. Ryan describe the new species.

Thanks to Dean for the CBC link!

Photo © 2005 Chad Kerychuk.

There seems to be an invasion of Ladybugs and Box Elder Bugs here in the Midwest. They’re not harmful, but they become annoying, sometimes flying right into one’s face, laptop screen, or nearby light source.

According to the ever-resourceful wikipedia though, Ladybirds or Ladybugs can be beneficial:

“In parts of Northern Europe, tradition says you get a wish granted if a ladybug lands on you. In Italy it is said by some, that if a Ladybird or Ladybug flies into your bedroom, that it is considered good luck.”

Perhaps they’re not so much of a pest after all.

3-year-olds Sam (Sulcata) and Ella (Box Turtle) enjoying some tomatoes. Photo from Lori.

Nicholas in the office. 43 lbs. 10 years old. Photo from Kerry.

Nicholas napping. Photo from Kerry.

Stanley and Nicholas. Best of friends. Photo from Kerry.

Morning Nicholas. Photo from Kerry.

Nicholas takes a bath. Photo from Kerry.

Thanks to friends and the post at BoingBoing.net, I’ve watched the hit count on this blog soar. Many thanks from me to all the linkers and readers! I hope I can continue to bring you interesting things to read and see.

One of the purposes I had in mind when I started this personal blog was to talk about subjects that interest me, including people and places near and far. I’ve always found that one of the most important ingredients in life is the people we meet and that any other benefit is secondary. I’ve based a good deal of my personal and business decisions on the people I have a chance to work with and who I feel can really bring something positive or challenging to the relationship. Sometimes it becomes a lasting friendship, other times they become excellent contacts for projects, and still other people bring that one bit of wisdom to your life that allows you to progress on a personal or professional level.

Rushing to and from work, or the shopping malls and restaurants, the little gems of stories might not surface if we don’t stop to talk to some of the more interesting people around us. Tragedies in life teach us that people can be gone in an instant and we should take every opportunity to meet the souls who make up our world. You may not get that second chance to talk to that girl at the bus stop, that artist you’ve watched sketching at the coffee shop, or the guy walking down the street with his pet tortoise.

The story I posted on Franklin the tortoise and his caretaker Jeff has helped one more interesting individual be introduced to the rest of the world. I had seen Jeff walking Franklin previously, slowed down to look, but then drove on. So when I saw him again the day I posted the story, I wasn’t about to pass up this second chance to meet him. Little did I know that others would also find the story of interest.

When people enjoy our tales, they’ll want to share them with friends and family, just as they would do when gathering around a crackling, summer campfire. The Internet, and blogs specifically, offer us a way have our own ‘digital campfires’ and regale our readers with our own thoughts, tales, and brilliant ideas. Often the stories are driven by themes but during other moments they’re completely random. Sort of like this blog, which serves a collection of my varied interests.

Of all the items I’ve discussed on here, I had no idea that the one of the most read postings to date would be about a man taking his tortoise for a walk. In addition to that, stop-motion animation, the Muppets, and movies have all proved popular reading material for visitors. Evidently, I’ve found topics that people enjoy and I’m pleased to be able to share my thoughts on them.

Through Luxo, a Pixar blog I collaborate on with my friend Ken Bautista, I was asked by a reader to contribute opinions for a magazine article about the animation studio. The Alberta Movie Guide has provided a venue for readers to inquire about the provincial film industry, and recently I received an invitiation to submit photos of the tortoise and his caretaker to the Greek edition of FHM Magazine. In the past few hours, I’ve also discovered that the Franklin story was featured on USATODAY.com’s Tech News & Web Guide.

Even with my limited contributions to the Palaeoblog, edited by Dr. Michael Ryan, I’ve been fortunate enough to share my interest in dinosaurs and meet like-minded individuals. Not only has it allowed me to discuss the latest palaeontological discoveries or newest video games, films, and comics showcasing the giant beasts, but it’s also directed visitors back to this site to learn about my other adorations.

Contributing to these blogs takes a tremendous amount of time but I truly enjoy all the various subjects I’m able to talk about. More importantly, and back to my initial statement, life is about the people you meet and I’m constantly fascinated by those I encounter. If these links from other blogs, websites, magazines, and papers help me meet new people and put a smile on our faces, then I believe I’m doing something right.

Thanks for all your support!

A big ‘thank you’ also goes to my wife who continues to indulge my many creative passions including writing for these blogs. She’s easily one of the most important people I’ve met yet!

Photograph courtesy T. Kubodera and K. Mori.

Photograph courtesy T. Kubodera and K. Mori.

The Japanese scientists estimated the animal to be an astounding 25 feet long but the longest giant squid on record measured 59 feet (18 meters), including its two elongated tentacles. Along with photos of the exciting discovery, National Geographic posted the story:

“The scientists say they snapped more than 500 images of the massive cephalopod before it broke free after snagging itself on a hook. They also recovered one of the giant squid’s two longest tentacles, which severed during its struggle.

The photo sequence, taken off Japan’s Ogasawara Islands in September 2004, shows the squid homing in on the baited line and enveloping it in “a ball of tentacles.”

Tsunemi Kubodera of the National Science Museum in Tokyo and Kyoichi Mori of the Ogasawara Whale Watching Association report their observations this week in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

“Architeuthis appears to be a much more active predator than previously suspected, using its elongated feeding tentacles to strike and tangle prey,” the researchers write.

They add that the squid was found feeding at depths where no light penetrates even during the day.”

Check out the link for the full story and more on the history of the Giant Squid!

This post seems like a fitting one to share one of my all-time favorite poster images. It was created by the great Disney Imagineers and can be seen in the book Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real.

Image courtesy of Walt Disney Imagineering.

If anybody knows where I can get a large-scale poster of the above image, please contact me. I think I see the Nautilus now!

A nice long sidewalk is the perfect place to stretch the ol’ legs.

That’s right. It’s a man taking his pet tortoise for a walk. Hey, they need exercise too right? A perfect time to do so while we’re having beautifully warm temperatures (finally) in Edmonton. I stopped by with my digital camera to talk to owner Jeff Billyard about the fascinating scene and learn more about his pet.

Easily mistaken for a radio-controlled car from a distance.

Jeff, who graciously took a portion of his time (the tortoise wasn’t racing away anywhere), told me that ‘Franklin’ is a 3-year-old African Spur Tortoise (or Geochelone sulcata as it’s known in scientific terminology) and that he’s cared for Franklin since he was smaller than the palm of his hand. Though, he wasn’t a cheap purchase, Jeff and his family consider ‘Franklin’ to be an excellent value for a pet, who will probably live longer than most of us. Apparently, Tortoises can live an average of 60-80 years, with some living over the ripe age of 100! Astoundingly, he already weighs in at around 25 pounds but can grow up to 200!

Purchased at a city pet store, Franklin is a treasured member of the family, attracting interest from all who see the pair. Jeff said he doesn’t mind the company of strangers when he’s taking Franklin for a walk, and educates the guests on the difference between a tortoise and a turtle. He finds it relaxing to take Franklin for a walk after a tough day at work.

What some of the local (and puzzled) dogs saw.

Surprisingly, Franklin moves quite fast. Not as speedy as an average dog or cat, but at the pace of a smaller canine. He had already moved forward several feet before my camera had a chance to focus on the hard-shelled creature.

It was also quite amusing to see parents walk by and say “Ohhh, you’re the man with the turtle! My son/daughter told me about you!” as if they didn’t believe their children.

Owner Jeff Billyard and Franklin.

The tortoise is a herbivore, meaning he eats fruits and vegetables. While Jeff had fed him lettuce and strawberries when I was there, Franklin found the grass and clover patches to his liking, rapidly devouring any tiny, white blossoms.

Stopping for snacks…

…of tasty clover…yummm!

Franklin seems pretty content. Who couldn’t love a face with a smile like that?

I got a chance to experience what Franklin’s legs felt like and they are quite unique. Though the ‘spurs’ look rough and sharp, they’re actually more like cartilage and feel rigid, yet soft. He has quite a long tongue as well with which he uses to get at vegetation.

I’ve seen Tortoises and Terrapins before, and even went snorkeling alongside Sea Turtles in the waters of Hawai’i, but this was certainly an interesting sight you don’t see in Edmonton, Alberta everyday. A welcome change from the usual four-legged friend! Ironically, I had saved 2 frogs from death by lawnmower earlier. It would seem that reptiles and amphibians were on the universe’s order of events for me that day.

You can find more about African Spur Tortoises here and here.

Note: Geochelone sulcata or ‘African Spur Tortoise’ is often confused with ‘African Spur-thigh Tortoise.’ From what I’ve just briefly researched, it seems that using the scientific name helps to distinguish the different reptiles.

Update: I’ve displayed some of the tortoise photos readers have sent me at this other posting.