Paging Scar, Scar please come to the Velociraptor thread.
I doubt we'll have anything more definite until it gets close to shipping.
Here. Sorry for my absence. I've had a lot going on in my personal life on a number of levels has kept my attention rather preoccupied at the moment. I've been skulking about whenever I have time, but it's been difficult to pop in for my typical more long-winded commentary.
Being the proud owner of every Dinosauria product to date I have to say I'm extremely disappointed in this dio. Sure, it may be an accurate representation [or at least accurate in the sense of the positioning of the two dinosaurs] of the two dino's engaged in battle, but it's not a composition I find appealling at all. And let's just say the feathered raptor isn't exactly working for me......
A feathered dromaeosaur isn't working for you? Mind if I ask why? I realize it doesn't look like the typical part of the scaly assassins we most commonly associate with theropods, but it's to the letter of scientific accuracy and would have been extremely negligent for them not to have depicted V.mongoliensis with feathers. We have a glut of evidence that dromaeosaurs and their kin were at least partially feathered. Amid dromaeosaur skeletons, particularly smaller organisms, we have demonstrable proof of proto-feathers and feathers alike. It's not a matter of believing what someone else tells you, its a matter of seeing it with your own two eyes and recognizing it for what it is. Not only the feathers and proto-feathers are proof to the point, but also the insoluble salts and amino acid compounds associated with pigmentation which is now allowing us to not only recognize the existence of feathers in said organisms, but to deduce their coloration as well. We've known the feathers to be there for some time, and now we're beginning to flesh out more definitively what they would have looked like when these creatures were alive. It's staggeringly cool stuff for we paleo-freaks to start to better determine what dinosaurs looked like when living.
But is he sharp enough to spot a pompous, elitist, snob?
You know, the type that think they are always right and resort to denigrating other's who disagree with them. Those scientists and wannabes alike who seem to have completely overrun the scientific community with their particular brand of intolerance......sound familiar?
Just so you know, I don't believe in the tooth fairy or the science [and I use that term loosely] behind Al "the debate is over" Gore's global warming scam video either.....sue me!
But isn't that just what you're doing by disparaging such people? No need for name-calling. It's just debate. Though I will say a person is usually identified as a "snob" if an individual believes said person to think him or herself to be better than others in some capacity; therefore calling someone a snob is an effort to make that person in question look badly and the individual doing the name-calling look comparatively better in the castigation. It's always seemed a bit disingenuous and circular to me. Can't call someone a "snob" without looking like a "snob" yourself. Just a thought. No offense intended. But pigeon-holing people as myopic, intolerant, lofty, and ultimately untrustworthy is a aspersive practice.
Those who dominate the
scientific community
should be
scientists. If not, then we went wrong somewhere.
It's the nature of academia that scientists rigorously cross-check the hypotheses and theories put forth by their fellow scientists. It's not barbarous or malicious, it's intended to make sure that what is being put forth is in fact sound and can lead to new and accurate realizations. Otherwise it's just moot and a waste of everyone's time. The scientist him or herself will obviously have a bias as to whether or not he or she finds the results of his or her own study to be cogent. Therefore they need their colleagues to put their feet to the fire for progress to be made. Not trying to change your mind, not trying to quibble, but just let's be civil and wait for each party to put forth their own point of view before we start name-calling.
I like the diorama a great deal. The pose doesn't have to be capturing exactly as these two animals were when they died, otherwise they may well have made it into a wall plaque as the Velociraptor would hardly have been visible. To have them in these dynamic positions which really only rotates the position of the Velociraptor is fine. Granted it's unconventional to have the Velociraptor depicted as the "bungler" in the pack, and I would personally like another dromaeosaur in maquette form with a backstory better evincing its intelligence and ferocity.
