10,000 BC

The movie 10,000 BC will be out on March 7, 2008.  Though the story line doesn't look terribly promising, the animals and CGI work looks very interesting, and well done.  Will this be the Jurassic Park for 2008?

Lunar Eclipse

Tonight there is a lunar eclipse, the last until 2011.  On nights such of these, I wonder exactly how the ancient cultures perceived these types of events.  Surely they saw it as a sign of some sort.  It is very easy to see how it could have been a negative sign, but is it possible they saw anything positive in it?

Another new dinosaur discover announced

Another new dinosaur species has been announced, this time coming out of Mexico.  Velafrons coahuilensis,  a duck-billed dinosaur with a "sail-shaped crest" on its head, made its home in the lush tropical environs of present Mexico  around 72 million years ago.  Paleontologists from the University of Utah and Utah Museum of Natural History, say this "beach bum" is the "most complete dinosaur ever found in Mexico," living there at the time that an inland sea divided the North American continent.

Source:  Yahoo News

The Rockies

Watched an interesting program on the National Geographic Channel last night about the Rocky Mountains.  The show discussed the formation of each phase of the Rockies and talked about them from the Northern Rockies in Canada, down to the Southern most region of them in New Mexico, including the Rio Grande Rift.

Saw today that there is a new species of winged dinosaur that has been found-- Nemicolopterus crypticus.  Looking at the skeletons, it was probably about the size of a modern robin, and lived in what is today China over 120 million years ago.  One of the smallest pterosaurs, it had curved feet, like modern birds, indicating it probably lived in trees.

Source: Yahoo News / National Geographic

Welcome

Welcome to The Lady Ranger.  What the title bar says is true.  I do work for the United States National Park Service.  In no way do my views reflect those of the National Park Service or other park service employees.  I am using this as a chance to tell the stories of a ranger, express my thoughts and opinions, ask questions, seek answers, and see what other people think about things that affect you, me, and our parks.  But this isn't just about the parks, but about our entire world.  I can't promise that this will be updated frequently, but I will do what I can.

Who am I?  I am a single female approaching 30ish, a college graduate with a BA in English and History {US, primarily SW}, MA in Interdisciplinary Studies (again English and History).  I have worked for the NPS since 2003 as a Museum Aide, Park Guide, Park Ranger, and Dispatcher.  I have worked in one park and one monument.  I put some of that information in because it is who I am and it does indicate how I might see our parks and the park service differently than someone else.  Along the sides I am trying to include links to sites that contain resources, information, and other blogs.  Please feel free to leave our comments and I look forward to hearing from you.