News
Prehistoric Bird Named After Lucero
I know I'm not a scientist, but every time I hear that some new discovery was named after a band, a chilli dog, or a Friends cast member, I can't help but feel that the scientist profession has totally been harmed. I mean, I get that you love Monica, but naming a new bird you spent millions of research money identifying after her is about the easiest way to devalue your contribution to society.
Case in point: the discovery of a prehistoric bird in the Gobi desert that someone has gone and named Hollanda Luceria, after the family that funded the research and the country punk band Lucero. Lucero? You couldn't have chosen a band like Led Zeppelin or, I don't know, the Byrds instead? You needed to make sure that everyone interested in flightlest birds with turkey-like features is vaguely aware of Lucero? Way to ensure that no one takes your hard work seriously, scientists. [Daily Swarm]
Social Distortion, Lucero, & Chuck Ragan @ The Hollywood Palladium (Pics)
Drive-By Truckers, Lucero, Langhorne Slim, @ House of Blues, Boston (Pics/Review)
Lucero @ Webster Hall (Pics)
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Actually, Winistorfer would be a pretty solid name for a prehistoric bird. Just saying.
Actually, archaeologists and biologists name their living and pre-historic discoveries after all kinds of people places and things. It's their privilege to do so. Same with astronomers. Any number of musicians and actors have already been honored.
The Latinization of a common current name has NOTHING whatever to do with the importance of a discovery, and other scientists don't bat an eye at it. It livens things up over here among us dry ponderous intellectuals, As an anthropologist, I know this.
The most important hominid discovery of all time, Australopithicus Afarensis, is commonly call Lucy. Because they were listening to the Beatles when they found it. So you need to get over it.
We don't know which scientist did the naming. It was either the one from Ireland or southern California, since Lucero tours globally and has been to both places.
We do know that the find is closely associated with the roadrunner and southern screamer bird varieties. That's totally appropriate for Lucero.
If you have a hard on for the band, you need to stop being a hater. Maybe living in Madison will cool you out a little. Lotsa nice smart people there.
James Manning