Up, Up, Up,... OVER

[furrbear]

A Mexican newspaper reports that bored Royal Air Force pilots stationed on the Falkland Islands have devised what they consider a marvelous new game. Noting that the local penguins are fascinated by airplanes, the pilots search out a beach where the birds are gathered and fly slowly along it at the water's edge. Perhaps ten thousand penguins turn their heads in unison watching the planes go by, and when the pilots turn around and fly back, the birds turn their heads in the opposite direction, like spectators at a slow-motion tennis match. Then, the paper reports "The pilots fly out to sea and directly to the penguin colony and overfly it. Heads go up, up, up, and ten thousand penguins fall over gently onto their backs.

-- Audobon Society Magazine

Comments

fun!

[theevilnub.livejournal.com]

I guess if you're stationed in the Falklands & have nothing else to do... shit, it's what I would do.

[danthered.livejournal.com]

Extra Credit: How much oil is being squandered in this little game?

[grandiva1968.livejournal.com]

But hey, at least the Brits have their healthcare paid for already.  They have to do something with the rest of the tax money, no?

[cipherpunk.livejournal.com]

The RAF overflights are an urban legend that simply refuses to die. :) Not true, but a wonderfully fun folk fable.

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

Whether true or not, Opus referenced this idea in a Bloom County strip years ago. ;)

[terpsichord.livejournal.com]

I wondered where that story was going, and a sense of dread built slightly...but I was rewarded with a big smile and a chuckle.

[grizzlyzone.livejournal.com]

Verily. http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/penguin.asp

[happygoatee.livejournal.com]

I would love to film that and submit it to Animal Planet for 100 bucks.

[strongaxe.livejournal.com]

High-tech cow tipping! :)