#Labrea tar pits (help!)
10 messages in this thread
I don't know if this is the place to ask, but here goes anyway…
I have a friend whose neighbor's 4th grader was given the assignment to do a
three minute speech on the Labrea tar pits in California. They tried the
library where the found a couple of sentences on the subject.
I searched the CIS reference section's encyclopedia – no luck. I don't know
where else to look.
Is there anyone who can point me in the direction of more information to help
out with this bewildering assignment?
Thanks in advance,
Glenn Trimble
Glenn,
None of my references here at home have much on the tar pits, but if I were you
I'd go to the nearest good library and look for books about the Cenozoic Era
and its lifeforms. Any book about recent mammals is likely to mention the tar
pits, because they provide some of the finest fossils known for Recent mammals.
You might also post this message in the Dinosaur Forum, where a number of
amateur and pro paleontologists will see it.
Jon W.
Thanks for your help.
Glenn
Glenn,
I don't know if you're the one who created the original message, but I
fantasized that it was from someone who was sinking into the tar pits, and in
desperation called up CompuServe on his cellular sub-notebook in attempt to
keep from joining the saber-tooths.
Just kidding, of course.
Leland in Houston (where the only tar pits are
found in the streets) <G>
Leland,
Yep, it were me from my ball&chain at home. Every once in a while I get the
opportunity to explore and see just how vast CIS is. This opportunity could not
pass. I will certainly keep on the move so that my feet don't get sticky.
Glenn
Glenn…
How soon do you need the info, and where are you located. I'm in Long Beach, I
could take a ride up there and pick up whatever they hand out in the way of
pamphlets at the tar pits. Would a video tape walkthrough be any fun??? It
would of course NOT include the "view" as seen from the middle of any of the
pits however…8-)
I'd need say a couple of weeks to assure time to run up there. On the other
hand, if time is of the essence you might try calling the Page Museum, that's
the name of the museum on the site. It's affiliated with the LA Natural History
Museum.
Good luck
-Russ (who has always had a fond spot in his heart for the La Brea Tar Pits)
Russ,
Thanks for the reply, your kind offer is not taken lightly. The report however
is due this Wednesday. The people are very grateful for all of the help and
answers.
This is a real sales pitch for them as it is their first encounter with CIS. I
have used it for business now for several years and have not had the
opportunity to venture into the more interesting places. I am glad I finally
did.
Glenn
Hello! There is a beautiful general book about Rancho La Brea entitled
Rancho La Brea: Treasures of the Tar Pits by Harris & Jefferson, available
directly from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles Co. They also have
other publications on the subject. I've lost the number but information can
track
it down and the museum takes phone orders. If there is not enough time for
that,
the book may be available in your local university library-I first noticed it
in the
library of Florida Atlantic University. Any of the larger Encyclopedias should
have
something but probably not enough for 3 minutes of presentation.
Good luck!
You might contact the Los Angeles Times. From time to time they do excellent
articles on the La Brea pits and for about $6.00 they will dredge up a good one
for you and fax it to you! Ask for their 'research' service.
I did this recently regarding a reference to a little known acronym for a CA
state agency which administers home loans. They reccommended an article called
"25 Ways to Turn $10,000 into A House". Sounded interesting so I gave them my
credit card number and an hour later I had a fax with the whole story. I love
it! Sorta depends on what value you place on your time, though. A retiree with
nothing but time on his hands would consider this a frivolous waste of money.
Diff'rent storks…..as the ornithologists say.
Fred,
Thanks for the reply. I never realized that a newspaper would have such a
service. I will pass this along and definitely take advantage of this for
myself in the future.
> "25 Ways to Turn $10,000 into A House". <
That does sound intriguing.
Glenn