Big screen thrills - COBRA WOMAN

Universal, 1944

Directed by Robert Siodmak

The voluptuous Maria Montez is what this film is about. She was born Maria Africa Vidal de Santo Silas, which was a bit lengthy for a theater marque. In real life/death she even died in a sexy way by suffering a fatal heart attack in her bath tub at the age of 31. Actually I do love this movie better than her other films. Though I was disappointed to learn that Sabu was not the lovable chimp, but was in fact some lousy teenager named Karapur Mysore, and Nadja (Maria M.) didn't turn into a real cobra and go on a killing rampage. There is a 1955 film called Cult of the Cobra in which Faith Domergue had the ability to turn into an actual cobra, but Faith, in my opinion, isn't nearly as alluring Maria.

RL

Animal of the Month - THE WATER BEAR

Water Bear

Hysibius sp.

Water Bears, aka Tardigrades, are microscopic creatures that mostly live in wet grains of sand or on plants in fresh water. They're less than 0.05 inches long and eat plants. During dry seasons, water bears shrivel up and remain dormant until moisture returns. They can remain dormant for over one hundred years. It would be all too wonderful if they were the size of Grizzly Bears. It seems like large water bears would be fun to have around.

RL