Dec 12, 2014

On This Day - Dec. 12

1939 CE - Finnish forces defeat their Soviet counterparts at the Battle of Tolvajärvi in their first major victory of the Winter War.




Photo of the Day
Permian through Jurassic stratigraphy of the Colorado Plateau, southeastern Utah.




In the News




Quote of the Day
"Only a fool would refuse to enter a fool's paradise -- when that's the only paradise he'll ever have a chance to enter". --Jessamyn West




Song of the Day
Artist - Weezer
Album - Weezer




Film of the Day
Director - Scott Kalvert




Wiki of the Day
Baleen is a filter-feeder system inside the mouths of baleen whales. The baleen system works when a whale opens its mouth underwater and the whale takes in water. The whale then pushes the water out, and animals such as krill are filtered by the baleen and remain as food source for the whale. Baleen is similar to bristles and is made of keratin, the same substance found in human fingernails and hair. Some whales, such as the bowhead whale, have longer baleen than others. Other whales, such as the gray whale, only use one side of their baleen. These baleen bristles are arranged in plates across the upper jaw of the whale. Baleen is often called whalebone, but that name also can refer to the normal bones of whales, which have often been used as a material, especially as a cheaper substitute for ivory in carving.
Depending on the species, a baleen plate can be 0.5 to 3.5 metres (1.6 to 11.5 ft) long, and weigh up to 90 kilograms (200 lb). Its hairy fringes are called baleen hair or whalebone-hair. They are also called baleen bristles, which in sei whales are highly calcified, calcification functioning to increase their stiffness.[1][2] Baleen plates are broader at the gumline (base). The plates have been compared to sieves or Venetian blinds.


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