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Rick LeCouteur
Inviting young readers to marvel at the wonder of nature's creatures
Rick's Blog
#bunyipsbooksbeyond
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Nikola Tesla’s Pigeon: Love, loneliness, and a global vision (#277)
Nikola Tesla , the brilliant inventor whose name is synonymous with electricity and wireless technology, was a man of boundless intellect...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 17, 20253 min read
More Than a Story: Branding in children's picture books (#276)
Admiral William H. McRaven, renowned for his distinguished 37-year career as a U.S. Navy SEAL and leadership roles, including overseeing...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 16, 20253 min read
Elephants and Cancer: Peto’s paradox (#275)
Cancer is a disease that affects millions of species, including humans, yet some animals have developed remarkable resistance to it....
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 16, 20253 min read
Veterinary Business Practices: Lessons from the Boxer Rebellion (#274)
You have to know the past to understand the present Carl Sagan The Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901) was more than just an anti-foreign...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 14, 20255 min read
The First “Cat” Scan: A milestone in veterinary medicine (#273)
Cat positioned for the first CAT Scan of a Cat The introduction of computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanning, later called computed...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 13, 20254 min read
Whiskers and Worship: The Enigmatic Cats of Gokogu Shrine (#272)
Nestled in the coastal town of Ushimado, Japan, the Gokogu Shrine stands as a testament to harmonious coexistence between humans and a...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 12, 20253 min read
Feline Silk Road: How cats arrived in China over 1,400 years ago (#270)
The Silk Road was more than just a network of trade routes. It was a lifeline of cultural exchange, carrying goods, ideas, and even...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 12, 20254 min read
The Mammouse and Genetic Science: From fairytale to lab (#269)
Nature is full of surprises, but sometimes, the most intriguing creatures are the ones that exist only in our imagination. Enter the...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 11, 20253 min read
Biomimicry in Motion: The kingfisher that transformed high-speed rail (#268)
Japan’s Shinkansen , or bullet trains, are an engineering marvel, reaching speeds of over 320 km/h (200 mph) while gliding almost...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 11, 20252 min read
The Nostalgia Effect: How memories shape our well-being (#267)
There’s something about nostalgia that tugs at the heartstrings. A bittersweet feeling that blends joy with longing, and warmth with...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 9, 20253 min read
Forward Bound: Australia's Coat of Arms (#265)
Did you know that the Australian coat of arms holds a hidden message of progress? The design features two iconic native animals - the...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 6, 20252 min read
Failing Forward: A lesson, not a verdict (#263)
Failure is a universal experience, yet it remains one of the most feared aspects of life. We are conditioned to avoid it, to view it as...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 4, 20253 min read
Building America: The immigrant influence (#262)
The United States has long been a nation built by immigrants. Many who arrived on its shores seeking a better life went on to make...
Rick LeCouteur
Feb 28, 20253 min read
Dual Citizen, One Heart: My story as a proud immigrant (#261)
An immigrant to the United States is an individual who relocates from another country with the intention of residing permanently. Until...
Rick LeCouteur
Feb 28, 20253 min read
Veterinarians, Pigeons, and Unsung Heroes: A personal reflection (#259)
I recently watched an episode of All Creatures Great and Small (Season 5 Episode 7), where Tristan was assigned a special wartime...
Rick LeCouteur
Feb 25, 20253 min read
Mars Veterinary Health’s Sustainability Pledge: Progress or PR spin?(#255)
Mars Incorporated is a global powerhouse in the pet care, confectionery, and food industries, owning brands like Pedigree, Royal Canin,...
Rick LeCouteur
Feb 19, 20253 min read
If It Fits, I Sits: The mystery of cats and cardboard boxes (#254)
If you've ever left an empty cardboard box sitting around, chances are your cat has claimed it as their own. Whether it’s a shoebox, a...
Rick LeCouteur
Feb 18, 20252 min read
Zwitterions in Action: The science behind hydromorphone’s potency (#253)
Zwitterions are unique molecules that possess both positive and negative charges simultaneously, yet remain overall neutral. This dual...
Rick LeCouteur
Feb 18, 20253 min read
Humane World for Animals: A new era in global animal protection (#252)
In February 2025 , the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and Humane Society International (HSI) unified under a new name:...
Rick LeCouteur
Feb 16, 20252 min read
Abbondanza: A word rich in meaning and history (#247)
If you’ve ever traveled through Italy or dined at an authentic Italian restaurant, you may have come across the word abbondanza . Rolling...
Rick LeCouteur
Feb 9, 20252 min read
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