Galaxies that Resemble the Letter "I"

Object ID # : 587741821065101540

       The Replica Report goes galactic this week looking at 4 galaxies whose shapes Resemble the letter 'I'. A galaxy is a massive, gravitationally bound system consisting of stars, stellar remnants, and a interstellar medium of gas and dust, and, it is hypothesized, an important but poorly understood component called dark matter. Examples of galaxies range from dwarfs with as few as ten million stars to giants with a hundred trillion stars, each orbiting their galaxy's own center of mass.
       Galaxies contain varying numbers of star systems, star clusters and types of interstellar clouds. In between these objects is a sparse interstellar medium of gas, dust, and cosmic rays. Observational data suggests that super massive black holes may exist at the center of many, if not all, galaxies. They are thought to be the primary driver of active galactic nuclei found at the core of some galaxies. The Milky Way galaxy appears to harbor at least one such object.
       Galaxies have been historically categorized according to their apparent shape; usually referred to as their visual morphology. A common form is the elliptical galaxy, which has an ellipse-shaped light profile. Spiral galaxies are disk-shaped with dusty, curving arms. Those with irregular or unusual shapes are known as irregular galaxies and typically originate from disruption by the gravitational pull of neighboring galaxies and are what make the alphabet series possible. Such interactions between nearby galaxies, which may ultimately result in a merging, sometimes induce significantly increased incidents of star formation leading to starburst galaxies. Smaller galaxies lacking a coherent structure are referred to as irregular galaxies.
Src : Wikipedia & http://cas.sdss.org/dr7/en/

Object ID # : 587731186736169172

Object ID # : 587733605330583801

Object ID # : 587739408392323129

Concorde Takes Flight Again

On this day that we look to the skies for a solar eclipse, The Replica Report looks up - at the clouds!  Extractionist Roy Peckham of Pontypridd, South Wales is the reason why this time as he has photographed a wonderful Replica.

 The Concorde was the first turbojet-powered airliner and was considered a marvel of engineering before it was retired in 2003, so, how could it be taking flight again in 2013?  Well it wasn't, it was the ghost of Concorde - a cloud that formed over the countryside in the shape of the grounded passenger jet.

Mr. Peckham, 66, spotted the plane-shaped cloud as it moved through the evening sky and said the cloud was coming from the direction of the Brecon Beacons.

He said: 'I saw the cloud and as it approached it became more and more defined.
'It looked like Concorde was flying across the countryside and about to land in Pontypridd.'

This story was first published by Sara Smyth on 5 May 2013.

Sources: http://www.meteoweb.eu/2013/05/pareidolia-in-galles-una-nube-che-ricorda-il-concorde-le-immagini/201608/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2319797/Ghost-Concorde-Cloud-forms-countryside-shape-grounded-passenger-jet.html

http://swns.com/

Juggling Jesus

The latest Extractionist art to be covered internationally is coming out of Europe.  UK resident Martin Andrews said an accidental spill of fabric softener on a T-shirt resulted in the now-viral photograph Metro reported last Wednesday.

“I showed my mates at work the picture, and one of them said, ‘I’ve heard you can find comfort in Jesus, but you’ve found Jesus in Comfort,” Andrews said, Comfort being the name-brand of fabric softener.

Andrews, the "creator" of the fabric softener Jesus stain, tweeted a photo of the T-shirt. He told Metro that finding the fabric softener Jesus is really a matter of perspective.


"When the T-shirt's the right way up it doesn't really look like anything... but when you look at it the other way up it's really Him," he said.


Here at the Replica Report we Recognize the Resemblance the stain has to a juggler!

Source : http://www.isciencetimes.com/articles/4986/20130422/fabric-softener-jesus-martin-andrew-sees-christ.htm

http://www.ibtimes.com/jesus-fabric-softener-jesus-appears-t-shirt-martin-andrew-florida-couples-finds-jesus-sonogram#

http://keyw.com/here-we-go-again-a-man-spotted-jesus-in-his-fabric-softner-stain/

http://cdn.inman.com/files/imagefield/juggler_shutterstock_91813157.jpg

Galaxies that Resemble the Letter "H"

Object ID # : 587733608561442856

       The Replica Report goes galactic this week looking at 2 galaxies whose shapes Resemble the letter 'H'. A galaxy is a massive, gravitationally bound system consisting of stars, stellar remnants, and a interstellar medium of gas and dust, and, it is hypothesized, an important but poorly understood component called dark matter. Examples of galaxies range from dwarfs with as few as ten million stars to giants with a hundred trillion stars, each orbiting their galaxy's own center of mass.
       Galaxies contain varying numbers of star systems, star clusters and types of interstellar clouds. In between these objects is a sparse interstellar medium of gas, dust, and cosmic rays. Observational data suggests that super massive black holes may exist at the center of many, if not all, galaxies. They are thought to be the primary driver of active galactic nuclei found at the core of some galaxies. The Milky Way galaxy appears to harbor at least one such object.
       Galaxies have been historically categorized according to their apparent shape; usually referred to as their visual morphology. A common form is the elliptical galaxy, which has an ellipse-shaped light profile. Spiral galaxies are disk-shaped with dusty, curving arms. Those with irregular or unusual shapes are known as irregular galaxies and typically originate from disruption by the gravitational pull of neighboring galaxies and are what make the alphabet series possible. Such interactions between nearby galaxies, which may ultimately result in a merging, sometimes induce significantly increased incidents of star formation leading to starburst galaxies. Smaller galaxies lacking a coherent structure are referred to as irregular galaxies.
Src : Wikipedia & http://cas.sdss.org/dr7/en/

Object ID # : 588023048016035879

Galaxies that Resemble the Letter "G"

Object ID # : 587741490911117326

       The Replica Report goes galactic today looking at 4 galaxies whose shapes Resemble the letter 'G'. A galaxy is a massive, gravitationally bound system consisting of stars, stellar remnants, and a interstellar medium of gas and dust, and, it is hypothesized, an important but poorly understood component called dark matter. Examples of galaxies range from dwarfs with as few as ten million stars to giants with a hundred trillion stars, each orbiting their galaxy's own center of mass.
       Galaxies contain varying numbers of star systems, star clusters and types of interstellar clouds. In between these objects is a sparse interstellar medium of gas, dust, and cosmic rays. Observational data suggests that super massive black holes may exist at the center of many, if not all, galaxies. They are thought to be the primary driver of active galactic nuclei found at the core of some galaxies. The Milky Way galaxy appears to harbor at least one such object.
       Galaxies have been historically categorized according to their apparent shape; usually referred to as their visual morphology. A common form is the elliptical galaxy, which has an ellipse-shaped light profile. Spiral galaxies are disk-shaped with dusty, curving arms. Those with irregular or unusual shapes are known as irregular galaxies and typically originate from disruption by the gravitational pull of neighboring galaxies and are what make the alphabet series possible. Such interactions between nearby galaxies, which may ultimately result in a merging, sometimes induce significantly increased incidents of star formation leading to starburst galaxies. Smaller galaxies lacking a coherent structure are referred to as irregular galaxies.
Src : Wikipedia & http://cas.sdss.org/dr7/en/

Object ID # : 587736979571343696

Object ID # : 587732156852601325

Object ID # : 587728918984786029

Penis Fish

 Urechis unicinctus - The Penis Fish 

      The Echiura, or spoon worms, are a small group of marine animals.  Urechis unicinctus is a species of marine spoon worm widely referred to as the "Penis Fish" (very easy to see the Resemblance reference here).  While the Urechis caupo is often called the "Fat Innkeeper" worm (not so easy to figure out the Resemblance reference here).

      Urechis caupo lives in burrows in sand and mud. It gets the name "fat innkeeper worm" because the tunnels it creates often contain other animals.  In fact, at least four other animals are known to live with the Fat Innkeeper Worm in its tunnel home (get the Resemblance to an Inn Keeper?).  Frequent guests of the Worm include a fish called a goby, a small pea crab, a clam and a scale worm. They feed on food that the Innkeeper Worm leaves behind.

      The Fat Innkeeper Worms are common in the sandy mud of the Elkhorn Slough. They live in a U-shaped tunnel or burrow and have a unique method of eating. It secretes a slime net, which serves to trap small food particles. The worm circulates water through the tunnel, trapping food in the slime net. When the mucus net becomes loaded with food, it is loosened from its attachments and the entire net with its burden of food is swallowed by the worm.

      Fat Innkeeper Worms are eaten by bat rays, leopard sharks and otters, who suck or dig them out of their burrows.

     The Penis Fish in the other hand is commonly eaten raw with salt and sesame oil in Korea and in parts of Japan.  In Chinese cuisine the worm is stir-fried with vegetables, or dried and powdered to be used as an umami enhancer. In particular, the worm is considered an important ingredient in Shandong cuisine and is used in numerous recipes.  It is also used for fishing bait.

     The Penis Fish is so popular it even has it's own Facebook Page : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Urechis-unicinctus/133153840057293?sk=wall

Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urechis_unicinctus

http://www.elkhornslough.org/sloughlife/inverts/fatinnkeeperworm.htm

http://www.wallawalla.edu/academics/departments/biology/rosario/inverts/Echiura/Urechis_caupo.html

 Urechis caupo - The Fat Innkeeper 

Penis Fish at market

Cross & Crown Cracker

     National news agencies are featuring the art of Extractionist Patti Burke.  She Recognized the Resemblances of Cross and Crown on a Goldfish cracker during Holy Week recently and Extracted the Resemblances by pointing them out and titling them - thus giving them meaning.

    “When I picked this one up, I knew he was special,” the Melbourne, FL woman said of her Holy Week discovery. “He had a cross on him, and he had a crown circle up by his head. Something I’ve never seen before out of all the Goldfish I’ve eaten.”

     Burke's art was even featured on Easter Sunday, when her pastor, D. Scott Worth, began talking about fish as a symbol of Christianity in front of the congregation of Presbyterian Church of the Good Shepherd in Melbourne.  “I think it’s a sign. I think it points to, I would hesitate to call it a miracle, but I think it points to THE miracle, which is Jesus Christ defeated death. And that’s what Easter is all about.”

     Burke hasn’t yet decided what to do with the cracker, so she carries it in an earring box padded by gauze. She tried to find out how the cracker — which is normally only printed with a smile — ended up with the cross and two circles. At first, she thought she’d won a special promotion.

     “I called Pepperidge Farm and said, ‘Hey, do you have some special promotion going on, I think I’ve got the lucky fish,’” she said. “They called me back and said there’s no way this could have been printed like that in the factory. ... They said it sounds like something miraculous happened and we don’t know how it happened.”

Watch the video here: http://bcove.me/edamgavh

     The Replica Report would like to add that there appears to be a third Resemblance - somewhat of a gonopodium!! (a modified anal fin (it looks rather like a thin rod) that allows male fish of the families Anablepidae and Poeciliidae to briefly hook into the vent of a female fish to deposit sperm.
This fin is normally held back and the male fish turns it down and forward just before mating)

Sources : http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130404/NEWS01/304040060/-Miracle-snack-no-fish-tale-Melbourne-woman?gcheck=1&nclick_check=1

http://gawker.com/5993845/florida-woman-finds-goldfish-cracker-with-a-cross-and-crown-claims-its-a-sign-from-god

Eat A Comb? Sure, If From A Cock!

     A comb is a toothed device used for styling, cleaning and managing hair and scalp. Combs are among the oldest tools found by archaeologists, having been discovered in very refined forms from settlements dating back to 5,000 years ago in Persia.  Combs consist of a shaft and teeth that are placed at a perpendicular angle to the shaft.

     With that in mind, the Replica Report looks at another comb (so named  because of it's Resemblance to the comb tool)- the fleshy growth or crest on the top of the head of gallinaceous birds, most notably turkeys, pheasants, and domestic chickens. Its alternative name cockscomb (spelling variations abound) is because combs are generally larger on males than on females.

      Scientists suggest that a chicken's comb has two important functions. The primary function is to help keep a chicken cool in hot weather, as chickens can't pant like other animals (such as dogs) are able to do. Blood circulates in dense networks of tiny blood vessels and capillaries from the chicken's comb to its wattles. This gives the comb its deep red color and allows the blood to be cooled by the air before traveling to other parts of the bird's body.

     The secondary function of the comb is to help a chicken attract a mate. A large, bright-colored comb is a sign of health and vitality. Often, in the pecking order of a flock, the bird with the biggest, brightest comb becomes the "alpha" rooster or hen.

    In cookery: Combs are used in cookery, often in combination with wattles or chicken kidneys.
    Combs were formerly used in French cuisine as garnishes. They were also used to prepare salpicons served in vol-au-vents, profiteroles, etc. in which they were often combined with other luxury ingredients such as truffles, sweetbreads, or morels in a cream sauce.

    In Italian cuisine, combs are an important ingredient in the famous sauce called Cibreo, which also includes chicken livers, wattles, and unlaid eggs. It is used as a sauce for tagliatelle and in the molded potato-ricotta ring Cimabella con cibreo.

     Combs are prepared by parboiling and skinning, then cooking in court-bouillon. After preparation, they are greyish.

     Rooster combs are often served in Chinese dim sum style dishes.

Source : Wikipedia

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

I Lost My Train of Thought

     A train is a connected series of rail vehicles propelled along a track to transport cargo or passengers. It is the "connected series" of the train that resembles the "connected series" of thoughts and as a result has given rise to the phrase "Train of Thought".

     The train of thought, stream of thought', chain of thought or trail of thought (Sarah Rickards) refers to the interconnection in the sequence of ideas expressed during a connected discourse or thought, as well as the sequence itself, especially in discussion how this sequence leads from one idea to another.

     When a reader or listener "loses the train of thought" (i.e., loses the relation between consecutive sentences or phrases, or the relation between non-verbal concepts in an argument or presentation), comprehension is lost of the expressed or unexpressed thought.

     The term "train of thoughts" was introduced and elaborated as early as in 1651 by Thomas Hobbes in his Leviathan.

     For your entertainment, I have included this link to a fun word game called Train of Thought:  http://www.wordgames.com/train-of-thought.html

Sources :
Wikipedia
http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/56835/train-of-thought

Do you have Hot Lips?

     The 'Hot Lips' plant or 'Sore-mouth' bush are two names given Psychotria poeppigiana because of the obvious Resemblance!
     P. poeppigiana is a large shrub - a plant species in the family Rubiaceae. The inflorescences are carried upright or semi-erect and are surrounded by large bracts, colored a conspicuous red, that attract pollinators. The flowers themselves are inconspicuous, with the small yellow petals and sepals forming a narrow corollar tube. Pollinators are mainly hummingbirds, namely small hermit (Phaethornithinae) species like the Black-throated Hermit (Phaethornis atrimentalis), Straight-billed Hermit (P. bourcieri) and Reddish Hermit (P. ruber). They do not insert their bills deeply into the small flowers, and thus the pollinators of the Sore-mouth Bush include curved- and straight-billed species alike.
      In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often (but not always) different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture. Typically, they also look different from the parts of the flower, such as the petals and/or sepals. Some bracts are brightly colored and serve the function of attracting pollinators, either together with the perianth or instead of it.
      Hot Lips ranges widely in the tropical Americas, from Chiapas, Oaxaca, Tabasco and Veracruz in Mexico to the very north of Argentina. It does not occur on the Pacific side of the American cordillera however, and is thus absent from El Salvador and Chile. It is probably also absent from Uruguay and Paraguay.

Sources : http://www.treknature.com/gallery/South_America/Colombia/South/Putumayo/photo188350.htm
&
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotria_poeppigiana

Galaxies that Resemble the Letter "F"

Object ID # : 587732771594960992

       The Replica Report goes galactic today looking at 4 galaxies whose shapes Resemble the letter 'F'. A galaxy is a massive, gravitationally bound system consisting of stars, stellar remnants, and a interstellar medium of gas and dust, and, it is hypothesized, an important but poorly understood component called dark matter. Examples of galaxies range from dwarfs with as few as ten million stars to giants with a hundred trillion stars, each orbiting their galaxy's own center of mass.
       Galaxies contain varying numbers of star systems, star clusters and types of interstellar clouds. In between these objects is a sparse interstellar medium of gas, dust, and cosmic rays. Observational data suggests that super massive black holes may exist at the center of many, if not all, galaxies. They are thought to be the primary driver of active galactic nuclei found at the core of some galaxies. The Milky Way galaxy appears to harbor at least one such object.
       Galaxies have been historically categorized according to their apparent shape; usually referred to as their visual morphology. A common form is the elliptical galaxy, which has an ellipse-shaped light profile. Spiral galaxies are disk-shaped with dusty, curving arms. Those with irregular or unusual shapes are known as irregular galaxies and typically originate from disruption by the gravitational pull of neighboring galaxies and are what make the alphabet series possible. Such interactions between nearby galaxies, which may ultimately result in a merging, sometimes induce significantly increased incidents of star formation leading to starburst galaxies. Smaller galaxies lacking a coherent structure are referred to as irregular galaxies.
Src : Wikipedia & http://cas.sdss.org/dr7/en/

Object ID # : 587739132954280095

Galaxies that Resemble the Letter "E"

587742953324216394

       The Replica Report goes galactic today looking at 4 galaxies whose shapes Resemble the letter 'E'. A galaxy is a massive, gravitationally bound system consisting of stars, stellar remnants, and a interstellar medium of gas and dust, and, it is hypothesized, an important but poorly understood component called dark matter. Examples of galaxies range from dwarfs with as few as ten million stars to giants with a hundred trillion stars, each orbiting their galaxy's own center of mass.
       Galaxies contain varying numbers of star systems, star clusters and types of interstellar clouds. In between these objects is a sparse interstellar medium of gas, dust, and cosmic rays. Observational data suggests that super massive black holes may exist at the center of many, if not all, galaxies. They are thought to be the primary driver of active galactic nuclei found at the core of some galaxies. The Milky Way galaxy appears to harbor at least one such object.
       Galaxies have been historically categorized according to their apparent shape; usually referred to as their visual morphology. A common form is the elliptical galaxy, which has an ellipse-shaped light profile. Spiral galaxies are disk-shaped with dusty, curving arms. Those with irregular or unusual shapes are known as irregular galaxies and typically originate from disruption by the gravitational pull of neighboring galaxies and are what make the alphabet series possible. Such interactions between nearby galaxies, which may ultimately result in a merging, sometimes induce significantly increased incidents of star formation leading to starburst galaxies. Smaller galaxies lacking a coherent structure are referred to as irregular galaxies.
Src : Wikipedia & http://cas.sdss.org/dr7/en/

588011502600847507

588023240743583771

588848900449566953

The Stone Mushrooms of Bulgaria

     We travel to Bulgaria today where the Replica Report looks at some interesting rock formations. The Stone Mushrooms is a rock phenomenon near Beli Plast village in Bulgaria, on the road between Haskovo and Kardzhali. They are about 2.5 metres tall. The 3 hectares area is declared as natural resource on May 13, 1974 according to №РД-552 bill of the Ministry of Environment and Water.
      The rock formations have the shape of natural mushrooms – their stalks are pink, and the caps are green. The height of the mushroom stalks and the width of the caps are up to 2.5 meters. They are made of rhyolite volcanic tuffs, which are the result of intensive underwater volcanic activity, dating back to the Paleocene. After the sea withdrawal and the consistent seabed rising, the influence of the erosion became visible. The lower, pink layer proved to be softer and more amenable to the effects of sun, wind and rain. The upper, green layer contains solid minerals, mainly volcanic glass.
      As with many large Resemblances a legend has arisen that says, the charcoal burner Raduil lived in the Perperikon fortress with his four beautiful daughters. One sunny morning they went outside the town walls to bring water. Suddenly, they saw a great horde of invaders at the hill near the river. They ran back to the fortress. A fervent, uneven battle started; many men were killed, most of the women were captured. The daughters of Raduil were among them.
      They were waged to the leader of the horde, astride a racial horse at the nearby river – to take a look at them and choose the most beautiful ones for him and to sell the others as slaves. Fury gripped the hearts of the girls as they approached him. They grabbed what they could – sticks, stones, and began throwing them at the rider. The horse got scared and stood on its hind legs. The unsuspecting rider fell on the ground, the four girls ran towards him and tore him apart and ran into the forest.
      The closest friend of the leader ran to pursue the girls and caught them at the end of the day, lashed out with his yataghan and cut off the first one’s head. As it fell on the ground, it turned into a stone mushroom. The same happened with the other sisters. Before the man cut the head of the last girl, she petrified. The terrified man tried to escape with his horse, but turned into a black rock at the first step. Nowadays people call the lonely rock near the mushrooms Karatepe.
Src : http://bulgariatravel.org/en/object/401/Kamenni_gybi