Squidblog!
Tony Blow, a longtime commentor on Collision Detection and publisher of Typescape, has just launched the Squidblog -- a blog for people "who are fascinated by giant squid and related semi-mythical creatures." There could be no task more noble. This thing is now a daily part of my news diet.
And this month was a hell of a propitious time to start a blog about squid, because of the recent invertebrate invasion! Last week, about 1,500 jumbo squid washed up dead on the shores of Orange County in California. As The Seattle Times reported:
"These things are invading, and we don't know what's going on," he said. "It may be they're following a warm California current. Oceanographers don't have a clue why a large population of squid like this is moving north or why they strand themselves."
One theory is that fisheries have sufficiently depleted the area of sharks and and big tunas that the squid can now "forage without a threat".
(Thanks to Tony for this one!)
Posted by Clive Thompson at January 22, 2005 03:50 PM
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Posted by: Jen at January 22, 2005 9:53 PM
So, are gigantic squid edible?
Posted by: J. Wallace at January 22, 2005 10:40 PM
Posted by: Jen at January 23, 2005 8:00 AM
What about a gigantic squid eating contest? Who's on?
Posted by: killingen telletilti at January 23, 2005 10:07 AM
Sadly, giant squid are not edible -- because of the high level of ammonia in their flesh. The ammonia makes them "neutrally bouyant": They neither sink nor rise in the water, which is how they're able to jet around so swiftly. But it also makes 'em pretty nasty to eat.
Posted by: Clive at January 23, 2005 2:01 PM
Yep - also makes the dead ones smell really, really bad...
Posted by: Tony at January 24, 2005 11:36 AM
I certainly hope squid information will continue here! I don't trust anyone better than Clive for that... Please don't surrender!
Posted by: gemp at January 24, 2005 3:05 PM
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Thanks Clive!
Posted by: Jen at January 22, 2005 9:53 PM
So, are gigantic squid edible?
Posted by: J. Wallace at January 22, 2005 10:40 PM
Dunno. Wanna try?
Posted by: Jen at January 23, 2005 8:00 AM
What about a gigantic squid eating contest? Who's on?
Posted by: killingen telletilti at January 23, 2005 10:07 AM
Sadly, giant squid are not edible -- because of the high level of ammonia in their flesh. The ammonia makes them "neutrally bouyant": They neither sink nor rise in the water, which is how they're able to jet around so swiftly. But it also makes 'em pretty nasty to eat.
Posted by: Clive at January 23, 2005 2:01 PM
Yep - also makes the dead ones smell really, really bad...
Posted by: Tony at January 24, 2005 11:36 AM
I certainly hope squid information will continue here! I don't trust anyone better than Clive for that... Please don't surrender!
Posted by: gemp at January 24, 2005 3:05 PM