Under My Umberella-ella ella eh eh eh

     Cyperus alternifolius, with the common names of umbrella papyrus, umbrella sedge or umbrella palm, is a grass-like plant in the very large genus Cyperus of the sedge family, Cyperaceae.  The common names for this species all contain the word Umbrella, undoubtedly because each stem is topped by 12 to 20 leafy bracts that droop in all directions from the stem apex giving the distinct appearance of an umbrella.

     The plant is native to Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean off Africa.

     Cultivation - Cyperus alternifolius is frequently cultivated as an ornamental plant worldwide. It is planted in gardens in the ground, pots, and in ponds, and as a house plant. It is hardy to USDA Zones: 9a-11b.

     The umbrella plant is just one species of over 600 in the genus Cyperus. Like most of its Cyperus relatives, this plant inhabits marshes, ponds, or slow moving streams, growing to a height of 1 ½ to 3 feet. It is a perennial in its native habitat, but when grown in areas having seasons with freezing temperatures, it is treated as an annual or grown indoors. The Umbrella plant was introduced into worldwide cultivation about 200 years ago for use in water gardens and as a potted plant.

     Besides propagation by seed, the Umbrella plant has an unusual means of vegetative reproduction. The plant’s stems are relatively weak and tend to crimp and bend over when subjected to even the slightest pressure. This results in the stem apex and leaves being submerged in water, or at least contacting the moist marsh soil. Soon after, the bent stem sends out roots and shoots from beneath its leaves, establishing a new plant. This can be easily duplicated at home by cutting a whole stem from the plant, removing the leaf tips and lower stem to make it more manageable, and placing what remains upside down in a glass of water. One can follow the development of the new plant over the next several weeks. Eventually potted into soil, the plant will grow rapidly into a graceful specimen. It is perfect for the indoor gardener who overwaters, since the Umbrella plant requires a saturated soil and does best if a saucer placed under the pot is kept filled with water.

     Special thanks to my neighbor who gifted me this plant, while simultaneously making me aware of yet another famous Extracted Resemblance.

Sources :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyperus_alternifolius
http://faculty.ucc.edu/biology-ombrello/POW/umbrella_plant.htm
http://natureloveyou.sg/Cyperus%20alternifolius/Main.html

Warm the cockles of someone's heart...it's Valentine's Day

Warm the cockles of someone's heart...it's Valentine's Day! Wait a second - 'cockles'? Indeed! Could it be because of the Resemblance a cockle shell has to a heart?!
Also possibly derived from the similarity in appearance of the heart valves to the cockle, a bivalve mollusk of the family Cardiidae.
The phrase may be more explained by the nature of the mollusk itself. Its natural environs are usually cold water shoreline areas. The mollusks have to open their shell to ambulate and feed yet, if disturbed or threatened in any way, the shell slams shut to protect its delicate organs.
If the "cockles" are exposed to warmth, especially a cooking temperature, the usually difficult to penetrate shell exposes its entrails and remains open.
The meaning can be interpreted as the "cockles of the heart" are warmed by an emotional experience that exposes the tender and warm side of the human experience, thus opening of the "heart". Src:Wikipedia

The Wave - Rock Formation Resembles Water Waves

     Jealous of Australia's Wave Rock? Shouldn't be...we've got The Wave in Arizona! Which gets its name from the amazing resemblance the alternating bands of stone have to water waves. It is a sandstone rock formation located near the Arizona and Utah border on the slopes of the Coyote Buttes, in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, on the Colorado Plateau. It is famous among hikers and photographers for its colorful, undulating forms, and the rugged, trackless hike required to reach it. 

     “The Wave” consists of intersecting U-shaped troughs that have been eroded into Navajo Sandstone of Jurassic age. The two major troughs, which comprise this rock formation. Initially, infrequent runoff eroded these troughs along joints within the Navajo Sandstone. After their formation, the drainage basin, which fed rainwater to these troughs, shrank to the point that the runoff became insufficient to contribute to the cutting of these troughs. As a result, the troughs are now almost exclusively eroded by wind as indicated by the orientation of erosional steps and risers cut into the sandstone along their steep walls.

UT Tower / Frost Bank Tower / Owl

Let's go local and talk about Austin's very own Resemblance - the University of Texas' Tower and its resemblance to an owl. If one orients themselves just right to the Main Building of UT - the faces of the clocks become eyes while the corner of the observation deck suggests a beak. The resemblance is so strong that students to this day orally pass on a fictitious story of how the architect of the Main Building and Tower was a graduate of Rice University and designed it to resemble their mascot the owl, as a rival's way of poking fun. Then, in 2004, the Frost Bank Tower came along, also resembling an owl but this time the eyes are made out of the Frost logos.   Here again, the resemblance so strong, only now it no longer mattered that the building wasn't on the UT campus (a key element in the drama of the tale), the story jumped over and became a legend for Frost's design but with some modifications: when he designed the building Rice and UT had a huge rivalry and he designed it this way to "humiliate" Austin and UT. I've also heard the architect was rejected from UT but accepted to Rice University, so when he was asked to design this building, he designed it to resemble an owl looking down over the UT campus.  The 307-foot UT tower was designed by Paul Philippe Cret and the Frost Bank Tower was designed by Duda/Paine Architects, LLP and HKS, Inc., none of which had Rice propaganda agendas.
About the author: the power of Resemblances inspired artist Ismael Cavazos to create the Old Man in the Peanut after recognizing the heart of a peanut resembles an old man's hooded head complete with beard.  He now brings you Remarkable Resemblances from around the World with the Replica Report.

A Cross Off The Old Chip

     By looking at Resemblances from a standpoint that they exist as opposed to why they exist, the power of Extractionism can be very useful.

     In this particular case, a family from Missouri has found it to be a comforting sign that aids them in the passing of their patriarch - James Hosterman.   Hosterman’s daughter Sharon Courtney- Hosterman was eating a snack a few days after the passing of her father when she noticed her chip had a cross in the center of it.  For Sharon it was a sign that "he went to the light".  For another family member it was James' way of getting the family to smile once again!

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: A Cross Off the Old Chip

 Resemblance: Cross

 Extractionist: Sharon Courtney- Hosterman

 Matrix: HyVee Potato Chip

 Location: Missouri

 Date: 19 Mar 2012

 Links:  http://fox4kc.com/2012/03/19/family-says-cross-on-potato-chip-is-a-sign-from-lost-loved-one/

Chicken McNugget More Expensive than Gold Nugget

Here's Rebekah Speight's story in her own words:

"Approximately 3 years ago, I treated my children to “99 cent McNugget Tuesday” and play time at our local McDonald’s. As I was cleaning up, I noticed one particular nugget and began to laugh. I picked it up for a closer look, and sure enough it was in the likeness of President George Washington. I decided to take it home and show my husband this hysterical find.

When he arrived home, I pulled it out of the freezer and he could not believe his eyes. We shared a moment of laughter as we joked about putting it on Ebay. Then back in the freezer it went.

This “President George Washington Chicken McNugget” became a show and tell item for friends and family who came to visit, and all have responded with awe and laughter over this remarkable find. We have shared many laughs over this “President George Washington Chicken McNugget”, but now he has been called to a higher purpose.

The students of Family Worship Center in Sioux City, Iowa are in the process of trying to raise $15,000 for Church Camp this summer. My husband and I felt led to auction this “President George Washington Chicken McNugget”as part of our fundraising effort. 100% of the money raised will go to Family Worship Center in Sioux City, Iowa.  

By bidding on this rare “President George Washington Chicken McNugget”… not only will you have an opportunity to be the new owner of this rare find, but you will be investing in the lives of children."

     The bidding closed today at a whopping $8,100 and is more expensive than a nugget of gold the same size - all because of it's Resemblance!

Link to the video.

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

     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

     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: Tsunami-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)

     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