The BBC will be broadcasting the world’s first film shot entirely by chimpanzees. Your Mandarin was under the impression that this was how the majority of television shows were created here in the United States.

According to the article, primatologist Betsy Herrelko introduced specially designed chimp-proof cameras into their habitat at the Edinburgh Zoo to study how the chimps interacted with the technology. The article states, “Initially, the chimps were more interested in each other than the video technology, as two male chimps within the study group vied to become the alpha male, disrupting the experiment.” Wow, are they sure they put the cameras in the chimp habitat and not in some Hollywood sound stage?

Say what you will, but this will never live up to Roddy McDowall’s performance in Planet of the Apes.

The Mandarin

The Mandarin, whose real name is 吏恆, joined the order in 1309, and introduced the Gormogons into England during the 18th Century.

The Mandarin enjoys spending time with his pet manticore, Βάρἰκος, or Barry (who can be found in the Bestiary). When not in the Castle…well, frankly, nobody is quite sure where he goes.

The Mandarin popularized the fine art of “gut booting,” by which he delivers a powerful kick to the stomach of anyone that annoys him. Although nearly universal today, the act of gut booting or threatening someone or something with a gut boot is solely due to him.