Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Z is for Zebra

So we enter the last day of the A-Z challenge with a whimper rather than a bang. It was good to meet some great new people who I hope will follow Brits for the rest of time. Thanks so much. You have been better at hopping than me. No pressure.

So how does one feel at the end of the challenge?

"Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge."

Maybe Wilfred Owen was a bit overdramatic for the circumstances, particularly as it describes a poison gas attack. Right now I feel deflated and underwhelmed. Will I do it next year? Probably not. I said that last year, though. Today I am having a hard time making up my mind on whether I am indecisive.



For Z I could have gone for something zany as opposed to the animal that every kid can think of. Oh sod it - it's the stripy horse.

Zebras look pretty damn cool but the rule of thumb here is don't try to ride them. There are three species of zebras: the plains zebra, the Grévy's zebra and the mountain zebra. The Grévy's zebra looks more like a stripy ass while the other two are horses; think nasty stretch pants at Wal-Mart.

So here's the burning question when it comes to zebras. Are they white with black stripes or black with white stripes?

It was previously thought zebras were white animals with black stripes, because some zebras have white underbellies. Embryological evidence, however, shows that the animal's background color is black and the white stripes and bellies are additions. So there.

 Mountain zebras and plains zebras, which are  live in groups, known as 'harems', consisting of one stallion with up to six mares and their foals. Giddy up partner...

Most attempts to ride zebras have failed because the zebra is more prone to panic under stress. However, zebras are more resistant to African diseases than traditional horses. In England, the zoological collector Walter Rothschild frequently used zebras to draw a carriage. And in 1907, Rosendo Ribeiro, the first doctor in Nairobi, Kenya, used a riding zebra for house calls.

Useless Fact About the Zebra

A zebra's stripes may be useful for warding off predators. When they mass together the patterns can confuse attackers. Experiments by researchers suggest the stripes are effective in attracting fewer flies, including blood-sucking tsetse flies and tabanid horseflies.

What Not to Say to a Zebra

It'll be all white on the night

34 comments:

  1. David. The A to Z challenge is like childbirth. The more distance you get from it, the less painful you remember it to be so you're willing to do it again. ;) This, however, is coming from a childless woman who has slogged her way through two of these challenges. I think you did a wonderful job and I looked forward very much to your posts. High five!

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    1. I know Mary - haven't had so many kids personally but do feel like it after 3 challenges. Thanks so much - high five to you to for getting through

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  2. Yay! You made it - congrats!!!
    P.S. On my recent visit to our local safari park, they told us that zebras are very aggressive, so they have to keep them separated from the rest of the animals. Otherwise they gang up on them. So I'd say you ended with a bang after all!

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    1. cool Amber - well if you read my rhino post there was reference to a rhino being chased by a zebra at the zoo so you may be right..

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  3. I'm feeling the same way and thinking there's no way I'll do this again. But I also said the same thing last year.
    It's been a crazy but fun month and I've gotten a lot of laughs from your posts. :)

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    1. well so glad I kept you entertained Julie - your Alaska theme was fab.

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  4. Come to think of it, I've never seen anyone ride a zebra! Go figure!!! Congrats on making it to Z! It was a little underwhelming this year, I agree. I am not sure I'll do it next year.

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    1. congrats to you too JoJo - yeah felt underwhelmed at times...

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  5. You made it! Congrats! I had fun this year and would probably do it again, assuming I can come up with a new theme by then.

    Thanks for sharing all your entertaining posts thoughout the month. :)

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    1. well thanks so much for becoming a regular Jean..yours was really interesting too.

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  6. Well Zebra might be something a child would come up, but...thus far your's is the first I've seen, and not one I even considered...soooooo maybe you're onto something.

    Yea...I'm not so sure I'll do it again either. Time will tell.

    A-Z

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    1. Great Sandy - congrats for completing - who knows. I may do it again. It gets easier..

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  7. A stripy horse, great description! I have really enjoyed your blog so hope you will keep blogging! I am definitely up for the challenge next year, this was my first time though so maybe I won't be saying that the following year, who knows!

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    1. you did great Rowena - glad I found yours through the challenge - yep will keep going; just not every day.

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  8. You made it! Hooray!
    I already know I'm doing it next year. It's the one challenge I make sure to do.

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    1. you too Patricia - thanks for becoming a regular visitor :)

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  9. Damned impressive. Good on ya.

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    1. you are most kind Molly - hope you are doing OK in um USA :)

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  10. Congratulations on making it to the end! I've enjoyed your A-Z this year.

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    1. thanks Daisy - thanks for stopping by regularly. Always like to keep it lighthearted.

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  11. yeah, I don't know about next year either - except I already have my theme all planned...

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  12. Congratulations David!
    Plans for next year -goodness, there's no need to decide till the day before it begins! Or don't join up and just tag along keeping to a different beat like I have. It's been much less stressful and I'm already up to U - for Unusual. The downside is no new followers to greet and the lack of camaraderie. But for the first time, I don't feel burnt out which is a relief.
    And I still remember how to do a hyperlink :)
    Sue

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    1. yay for that Sue - ha ha re the hyperlink - will check it out.

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  13. Wow this is interesting info about the zebra.

    Congrats on finishing the A-Z challenge! High five!

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    1. High five to you Dee - thanks so much for all your comments :)

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  14. I like your A-Z animal theme, David. Congrats on reaching the end of a zebra. God bless, Maria at Delight Directed Living

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  15. Thanks so much Maria and for stumbling on the blog on the last day..

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  16. I like Mary's comment comparing the challenge to childbirth. She has stumbled onto something! Next year, you'll have to take some sort of pain meds during the challenge and it will be all right. Wait, I didn't just encourage addiction to pain meds, did I? I just meant that an epidural during childbirth helps, so maybe pain meds...Oh, forget my babble.

    Have a beer. And challenge on next year.

    Still can't accept the black with white stripes thing. I can't go all embryonic level and what not.

    Jen Hemming and Hawing Again

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  17. I know the black and white thing is just not in black and white - yay for a beer and thx for the follow Jen HaHA :)

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  18. Zzzz..... I love Zebras. Little baba zeds David, you are now my new David Attenborough! You did an awesome job! I'm proud of ya! :)

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    1. nice to know I'm some old bloke in a sweaty safari suit Juliette lol - thanks mate - you did a massively impressive job.

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  19. I heart me some zebras. Not all, just some.

    I'm feeling a lot of the same way about A to Z. Wrecked. Sorry I didn't make it around to you very much, but I plan to catch up with you, and everyone else I've slighted, over the coming months. :-)
    Some Dark Romantic

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    1. yep Mina hearing them all would be overkill - lol look forward to it. Yours was great anyhow.

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On Blog PTSD

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