Replica Report

Fly with Golden Booty Resembles Beyonce's Prominent Butt

2012-01-17T20:50:00.000-08:00

Bryan Lessard is a 24-year-old researcher at Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization who is working on his PhD studying the who, what and where of horse flies, or scientifically speaking, the taxonomy, systematics and biogeography of the Tabanidae.
While studying un-named species that had been sitting in a fly collection of CSIRO, Lessard's interest was piqued by one particular fly, one with dense golden hairs at the fly's rear end.
It was then that Lessard was reminded of another prominent rear, that of pop star Beyoncé, a singer who boasts about it in a song entitled Bootylicious.
So while the world is full of talented singer/performers just as the world is full of important pollinating horse flies, it is those with special assets that get a distinction. It was this Similarity that Lessard Recognized and ran with, naming the insect Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae. Never mind that this fly was first captured in 1981 - the same year the former Destiny's Child singer was born!
Lessard says the fly's spectacular gold color makes it the "...all-time diva of flies. It was the unique dense golden hairs on the fly's abdomen that led me to name this fly in honor of the performer Beyonce as well as giving me the chance to demonstrate the fun side of taxonomy - the naming of species."

The rare Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae horse fly was collected in 1981 from the Atherton Tablelands. "Most Australian Scaptia species have been described. However, these five new species of a sub-group [Plinthina] have been housed in Australian collections since the group was last studied in the 1960s," Mr Lessard said. It's unknown if the rare species is a bloodsucker like many female horse flies. The description of the fly was earlier published in the Australian Journal of Entomology, but the results were announced two weeks ago. "It's extremely important to name all the undescribed species so we can measure our human impact on the environment and hopefully protect it for future generations to enjoy. Here is a video of Lessard talking about the Resemblance he has Extracted:

Title: Fly with Golden Booty Resembles Beyoncé's Prominent Butt

Resemblance: Beyoncé Giselle Knowles' Prominent Rear End

Extractionist: Bryan Lessard

Matrix: Horse Fly's Rear Abdomen

Location: Atherton tablelands in Queensland, Australia

Date: 13 Jan 2012

Links: http://www.abc.net.au/rural/qld/content/2012/01/s3407573.htm

http://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/weird/fly-named-after-singer-beyonce-because-of-butt/story-e6frep26-1226243518546

Virgin Mary Visits Hamburger Mary

2012-01-10T11:30:00.000-08:00

It took ten days but the first religious Resemblance of 2012 has shown up in Tampa, Florida. Ybor City is a historic part of town with a hamburger joint by the name of Hamburger Mary's Bar & Grille. It is here that, over the past weekend, a couple of customers Recognized a stainless steel plate on the wall near the kitchen had a Resemblance on it - one of the Virgin Mary. And while this Resemblance is more a Similar than a Replica, it makes the grade for the Replica Report as it has been covered by Christopher Collette of News 10 WTSP. This Resemblance appears on a Type II Matrix - man made but inadvertant or unintentional.
Pareidolia is a word often used when reporting on such stories. The word was first used by Goldstein in 1994 despite other vocabulary words existing such as apophenia synchronicity & simulacra and is limited in scope when discussing Resemblances.

Title: Virgin Mary Visits Hamburger Mary

Resemblance: Virgin Mary

Extractionist: Customers of Hamburger Mary's

Matrix: Stainless Steel Plate (Type II)

Location: Ybor City - Tampa, Florida

Date: 10 Jan 2012

Links: http://ybor.wtsp.com/photo-gallery/news/99506-virgin-mary-spotted-restaurant?page=5

http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/life/2012/jan/10/1/memeto3-image-of-virgin-mary-seen-by-some-at-drag--ar-345568/

If It Walks & Talks Like a Duck, Then It Is a Potato!

2012-01-06T12:23:00.000-08:00

What a great way to start the year in the world of Resemblances as a Replica raises its head (and it's not a Jesus nor a Mary) in Cardiff, Wales. This Resemblance was given life by Extractionist Emily Gaffney when she decided not to cook and eat a potato she found to resemble a duck! It wasn't easy for Gaffney to decide on the exact Resemblance as she fluttered between puffin and duck. Once she decided it wasn't long before he had a name - Bill.
Gaffney Recognizes three points of reference on Bill - wings, a breast, and beak and I might add there is an eye, tucked-neck, and tail. If one argues that his missing webbed feet are tucked into his body, he is a complete Replica! It will be difficult to top this non man-made Replica this year.
Pareidolia is a word often used when reporting on such stories. The word was first used by Goldstein in 1994 despite other vocabulary words existing such as apophenia synchronicity & simulacra and is limited in scope when discussing Resemblances.

Title: If It Walks Like a Duck and Talks Like a Duck, then it's a Potato!
Resemblance: Duck
Extractionist: Emily Gaffney
Matrix: Potato (Type I - not man-made)
Location: Cathays Cardiff, Wales
Date: 5 Jan 2012
Links: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2082745/Student-finds-duck-shaped-potato-local-shop-names-Bill.html

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-news/2012/01/06/student-finds-vegetable-shaped-like-a-duck-91466-30068315/

Tsunami-Shaped Clouds

2011-12-20T13:42:00.000-08:00

The Replica Report is proud to be the first content outlet to bring you this story of Tsunami-Shaped Clouds under the heading of Extractionism or what some call simulacra / pareidolia. The first Extractionist, or person who noticed the resemblance these clouds bear to water waves, is impossible to discern and more than likely happened simultaneously throughout the town.
On the morning of December 16 residents of Birmingham Alabama were treated to Kelvin-Helmholtz Wave clouds. Of course everyone began photographing the event, something that would never have happened if not for their Resemblance to water waves. In fact, there is a good chance that not one person would have photographed those clouds intentionally that day. Also, it is because of the Resemblance that news outlets all over have given time to a series of clouds complete with references such as " a surfer's dream".

Title: Tsuami-Shaped Clouds
Resemblance: Tsunami Waves
Extractionist: Town Residents
Matrix: Clouds
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Date: 16 Dec 2011
Link: http://www.livescience.com/17545-giant-tsunami-shape-clouds-roll-alabama-sky.html

2011 Review of Replicas (pareidolia playlist)

2011-11-26T13:52:00.000-08:00

This list is the first of its kind to look at the field of what some call pareidolia in a unique and introspectful way by categorizing a cursing baby doll with a devil finding Roman art restorer. Exciting Replicas of 2011 include such fields as Cryptozoology, Archeology, and Pre-Renaissance Art as well as such personalities as Kate Middleton, Gandhi, and Hitler.

January

Title: Icy Virgin
Resemblance: Virgin Mary
Extractionist: Jennifer Bloomer
Matrix: Ice
Location: DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich.
Date: 01/26/2011
Link: http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/wayne_county/photos-appear-to-show-likeness-of-virgin-mary-in-ice

March

Title: Virgin Mary on the Rocks
Resemblance: Hooded Virgin Mary
Extractionist: Caroline Gray
Matrix: Cliff
Location: Newquay's Western Beach, Cornwall
Date: 02 Mar 2011
Link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8358666/Image-of-Virgin-Mary-spotted-in-Newquay-cliff.html

Title: Baked Jesus and Mary
Resemblance: Jesus and Mary
Extractionist: Josh Mather
Matrix: Pizza Oven Diffuser
Location: Mansfield, Boston
Date: 10 Mar 2011
Link: http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/man-sees-jesus-mary-on-side-of-pizza-oven-20110309

Title: Google Map Virgin Mary
Resemblance: Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus
Extractionist: Steve Hirst and Carl Richards
Matrix: Google Map Photo of Sand
Location: Lancashire, Brittain
Date: 18th March 2011
Link: http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/8918183.Image_of__Mary_and_Jesus__at_Lancashire_construction_site/

Title: Lord Cheesus
Resemblance: Jesus
Extractionist: Maree Phelan
Matrix: 3 Cheese Pizza
Location: New Farm, Brisbane
Date: 30 March 2011
Link: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/the-other-side/face-of-jesus-christ-appears-in-three-cheese-pizza/story-e6frfhk6-1226030824138

Title: House of Hitler
Resemblance: Adolf Hitler
Extractionist: Charli Dickenson
Matrix: House facade
Location: Port Tenant, Swansea, Wales
Date: 30 Mar 2011
Link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8414149/House-that-looks-like-Hitler-catches-eye-of-Twitter-users.html

April

Title: Kate Middleton Spotted on Jelly Bean
Resemblance: Kate Middleton
Extractionist: Wesley Hosie
Matrix: Jelly Bean
Location: Somerset, England
Date: 14 April 2011
Link: http://abcnews.go.com/International/Royal_Diary_Blog/jelly-bean-resembling-kate-middleton-auctioned-500/story?id=13374818

June

Title: Gandhi is Out of this World
Resemblance: Mahatma Gandhi
Extractionist: Matteo Ianneo
Matrix: Photo of Planet Crater
Location: 33°12'29.82"N, 12°55'51.21"W, Mars
Date: 13 June 2011
Link: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/06/14/scitech/main20071013.shtml

Title: The Lord's Name in Vein
Resemblance: Letters: G-O-D
Extractionist: Audreanna Phelps
Matrix: Varicose Veins
Location: Kansas
Date: 15 Jun 2011
Link: http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/offbeat/kansas-woman-sees-gods-name-in-vein-20110615

Title: Kudzu Christ
Resemblance: Jesus on a Cross
Extractionist: Kent Hardison
Matrix: a vine in a growth of kudzu on a local utility pole
Location: Kinston, N.C.
Date: 29 June 2011
Link: http://www.myfox8.com/news/wghp-story-jesus-kudzu-kinston-110629,0,5202853.story

July

Title: Receipt Jesus in your Heart
Resemblance: Jesus
Extractionist: Jacob Simmons
Matrix: Receipt
Location: Anderson County, S.C.
Date: 15 July 2011
Link: http://www.wyff4.com/video/28568636/detail.html

Title: Keep it Clean around Virgin Mary
Resemblance: Virgin Mary
Extractionist: Gary Burrell
Matrix: Bathroom 3-inch stone tile
Location: Moore, Oklahoma
Date: 20 July 2011
Link: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=18&articleid=20110720_18_0_MOEWea99930

Title: Jesus is DiVine
Resemblance: Christ during the crucifixion
Extractionist: Don Taylor
Matrix: Vine on Telephone Pole
Location: Littleton, Colo.
Date: July 25, 2011
Link: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/28663662/detail.html?hpt=us_bn7

August

Title: Mary and the Missing Limb
Resemblance: Virgin Mary
Extractionist: Marce Suarez
Matrix: Mesquite Tree
Location: 3½ miles west of Anson, Texas
Date: 3 Aug 2011
Link: http://www.reporternews.com/news/2011/aug/03/virgin-mary-image-found-in-tree/

Title: A Head in the Clouds
Resemblance: A Face
Extractionist: Denis Laforge (Denis Farmer)
Matrix: Cloud
Location: Grand Falls in New Brunswick, Canada
Date: 4 Aug 2011
Link: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1038285--video-ghostly-cloud-faces-appear-over-new-brunswick

Title: Mary Mango
Resemblance: Virgin Mary Praying
Extractionist: Male Yuma Teen (Jon Archuleta)
Matrix: Dried Mango Slice
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Date: 5 Aug 2011
Link: http://www.king5.com/video/featured-videos/Virgin-Mary-on-a-dried-mango-126866648.html

Title: Mary & Jesus are not Shellfish
Resemblance: Virgin Mary & Baby Jesus
Extractionist: Felicia Avila
Matrix: Seashell
Location: just outiside Los Angeles in Norwalk, California
Date: 16 Aug 2011
Link: http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=652185#.Ts14flb4IcF

Title: Concrete Christ
Resemblance: Jesus Christ's Face
Extractionist: Mary Vasquez
Matrix: Concrete Patio Floor
Location: Mishawaka, Indiana
Date: 30 Aug 2011
Link: http://articles.southbendtribune.com/2011-08-30/news/29947840_1_patio-pentecostal-jesus

Title: Fertility Acupuncturist Births Baby Carrot
Resemblance: Alien Baby
Extractionist: Yvonne Darnell
Matrix: Carrot
Location: Burgess Hill, West Sussex
Date: 31 Aug 2011
Link: http://www.metro.co.uk/news/873966-the-carrot-baby-of-west-sussex

September

Title: A Cross Face
Resemblance: Face of Jesus
Extractionist: Clay Perry
Matrix: Wood Bark
Location: Newnan, GA Coweta County
Date: 1 Sept 2011
Link: http://newnan.11alive.com/news/news/80094-newnan-face-jesus-bark-handmade-cross

Title: Mary Rocks Baby Jesus
Resemblance: Virgin Mary holding Baby Jesus
Extractionist: Tammy Tollett’s son
Matrix: Rock
Location: Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada, USA
Date: 2 Sept 2011
Link: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/ktxl-lake-tahoe-woman-says-she-found-virgin-mary-on-rock-20110901,0,1968917.story

Title: The Scream
Resemblance: Screamig Head
Extractionist: Susan De Vanny
Matrix: Photograph of Water, Light, Oil Combination
Location: USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Date: 27 Sep 2011

Link: http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/Mystery-figure-appears-in-photo-taken-by/trp5Plb7SES-CqZYRL4ArQ.cspx

October

Title: Squid Self-Portrait
Resemblance: The pattern of sucker discs on a cephalopod tentacle, with each amphicoelous vertebra strongly resembling a coleoid sucker.
Extractionist: Mark McMenamin and Dianna Schulte-McMenamin
Matrix: Ichthyosaur Bones
Location: Central Nevada, Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park
Date: 10 Oct 2011

Link: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/the-giant-prehistoric-squid-that-ate-common-sense/

Title: This is Nuts!
Resemblance: Face Aghast
Extractionist: G. Gregory Roberts and Naji J. Touma
Matrix: Ultrasound of Testicular Tumor from Dec 2009
Location: Queen's University in Ontario, Canada
Date: 31 Oct 2011

Link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8860498/Face-discovered-in-testicular-tumour.html

November

Title: Devil in the Details
Resemblance: Devil's Profile with Horn
Extractionist: Chiara Frugone
Matrix: Giotto Fresco No. 20
Location: In the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Rome, Italy
Date: 6 Nov 2011
Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45182628/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/devil-details-hidden-famous-giotto-fresco/

Title: Christ Cliff
Resemblance: Jesus Christ
Extractionist: Fiona Fay and Sandra Clifford
Matrix: Rocks and Vegetation
Location: Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, Ireland
Date: 12 Nov 2011
Link: http://thedailyedge.thejournal.ie/us-tourist-photographed-image-of-jesus-on-irish-cliffs-278007-Nov2011/

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/US-tourist-says-she-captured-image-of-Jesus-on-Cliffs-of-Moher-133715288.html

Title: Crazy Talk
Resemblance: "Okay, crazy bitch!"
Extractionist: Unknown
Matrix: Audio Baby Babble
Location: Plastic Baby Doll
Date: 17 Nov 2011
Link: http://www.fox23news.com/news/local/story/Toy-doll-may-swear-you-decide/rIT19c5XYECalO9pwXeBjw.cspx

http://boingboing.net/2011/11/21/cursing-baby-doll.html

Title: Cross an Angel
Resemblance: the shape of a cross or possibly a winged-angel crowned by a halo
Extractionist: Jim Rants with one of his workers
Matrix: Wood Logs, Cross-sectioned
Location: First Congregational Church of Escondido 1800 North Broadway, Escondido, CA

Date: 23 Nov 2011

Link: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/SD-Cross-Revealed-in-Tree-Trunk-134433868.html

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/11/tree-cross-image-church.html

December

Title: Tsuami-Shaped Clouds
Resemblance: Tsunami Waves
Extractionist: Town Residents
Matrix: Clouds
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Date: 16 Dec 2011
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/12/20/144010831/cool-video-massive-cloud-waves-roll-over-alabama