Video of a pouncing red panda

Watch a red panda absolutely dominate a pumpkin. Via these sites.

Glow worms

Glow worms:

The larva spins a nest out of silk on the ceiling of the cave and then hangs down as many as 70 threads of silk (called snares) from around the nest, each up to 30 or 40 cm long and holding droplets of mucus. The larvae can only live in a place out of the wind, to stop their lines being tangled, hence caves, overhangs or deep rainforest. In some species, the droplets of mucus on the silk threads are poisonous enhancing the trap's ability to subdue prey quickly.

The larva glows to attract prey into its threads, perhaps luring them into believing they are outdoors, for the roof of a cave covered with larva can look remarkably like a starry sky at night. A hungry larva glows brighter than one which has just eaten.

A couch full of white pug puppies

Three minutes of pug puppies. Via.

New red panda cub video

New red panda cub video courtesy of the Perth zoo. Via.

Link roundup

1. Apple's free guide to developing iOS apps. Via.

2. A look at the wild parrot population boom in Los Angeles.

3. I love video game review site Action Button, but I was awfully disappointed with the just recommended iPhone game Ziggurat. (I like Action Buttons reviews so much that I feel betrayed.)

4. On the other hand, I greatly enjoyed Leviathan Wakes by Daniel "James Corey" Abraham. It's excellent pulpy retro-scifi about an oddball crew jetting throughout the solar system to unravel a conspiracy that threatens all humanity.

Link roundup

1. I wonder what the overlap is between people complaining about the new Watchmen comics and people complaining that George Lucas won't let other directors make new Star Wars movies.

2. You can preorder at Amazon a free digital download collection of short stories that have been featured on Tor. Via.

3. The White House isn't going to respond to the petition to investigate Chris Dodd.

4. I've featured Bradley Schenck's work many times in the past. He has a new Kickstarter.

5. Nightmare fuel.

Link roundup

1. Incredible video - - watch a stoat (looks a little like a squirrel) chase down and kill a rabbit ten times its size. Via.

2. "Watch Tennis Player Stanislas Wawrinka Cop A Feel On An Unsuspecting Lineswoman." Awkward.

3. "Alaska's First Olive Garden to Open, Alaskans Rejoice."

4. Too bad about the new super generic Grantland redesign. I guess the original design was too classy and user friendly.

5. If you missed it, here's this week's ebook giveaway.

Supercut of Great Danes being frightened by things

Supercut of mostly full-sized Great Danes being frightened by things. Via these sites.

Baby sloths seem to really like taking baths

Watch baby sloths enjoy a bath. (They make some pretty cute noises, too.) Via.

Little girl versus lion

"Wellington Zoo is a magical place of learning and fun, leaving visitors with a sense of wonder and respect for nature and a belief in the need for a sustainable co-existence between wildlife and people." (That lion looks so angry.) Via.