4B - The Michigan Daily Weeken Magazine -Thursday, December 5, 1996 w -f 7r The Michigan Daily Weekeni SCommunity Feature r Nat Sd Museum offers Jurassic PakatteU By Juno Wenzel For the Daily Time travel is at our fingertips. Neither Mr. Wizard nor a galactic phone booth are required, however. Indiana Jones attire is optional, though durable walking shoes and perhaps a crunchy peanut butter and jelly sandwich may complement this expedition, a journey into the vast natural history of the earth. The renowned black pumas are the gate- keepers to this Narnia-like nook on campus, which is officially known as the University of Michigan Exhibit Museum of Natural History, or the Alexander G. Ruthven Museum Building. The structure was erected in 1928 and is actually a collaboration of the zoology, pale- ontology, anthropology, and exhibit museums. The Nfurl museum, also known sim- ply as "the Ruthven," was Mui named for the director and ~ Where: 110 curator of the University museums between 1913 eours: Mont and 1936 and also served m p.m.; S as president of the University from 1929 . Phone: 764 through 1951. The build- ing is comprised of exhibits, offices, laboratories, libraries, classrooms and millions of specimens. Journey to the second floor and gape at the Sakstrup Mastodon tooth that is larger than an adult fist. Count the rings on a 200-mil- lion-year-old petrified tree trunk. Quiver beneath a towering Allosaurus and imagine cracking open the egg of an elephant bird. Pay homage to the encased Wolverine and blink at the walnut-size birds, the stinkpot turtle and the four-toed salamander on the third floor. This floor has recently been reno- vated and is now open to explorers. Onward and upward to the fourth floor, don't neglect the endangered species exhibit that unfurls elephant-skin boots, a lizard-skin purse and a sea turtle wallet. Once there, behold an Ottawa burial ceremony scene and a Potawatomi fall harvest model. Regard the Asian porcelain vase with the ox-blood glaze, Inuit wooden snow goggles, Plains Indian rawhide rattles, Northwest Coast Indian carved ivory charms, East Woodland Indian bone drills and Southwest Indian Navajo weaving. Electron microscopes enlarge a hairy spider and the larval ant lion thousands of times. Press buttons and watch the pancreas, the small intestine and the lar- ynx light up in the human body model. The fourth floor is also home to the plane- tarium. The dark entrance is intriguingly adorned with images of glowing planets, solar systems and comets. There are current- ly two shows, "Tle'ehoonaa'ei: The One Who Governs the Night" and "The Four Seasons," playing through Dec. 15. Administrative associate Daniel Madaj said creating a display takes a "surprisingly long time." "Detective work," Madaj says, reveals how compressed bone should be remolded or restructured in the construction of a dinosaur, for example. Hundreds of hours are put into painting the backdrop of a display, such as the ium Edmontosaurus display on Geddes>Av>. the second floor. Paleobotanists aid in the y-$aturday, 9 painting and inspecting of day 1-5 pm. the vegetation and foliage to ensure that the plants 47S existed during the dinosaur's lifetime. Displays are always being updated as new information is gained. Current studies indicate that dinosaurs and birds are linked in evolutionary lineage, both sharing traits such as an elevated claw. Further investigations may reveal that dinosaurs had feathers, which would result in the transformations of the reptile dino into a more bird-like dino, jokingly termed a "big chicken" by Madaj. The museum holds a significant amount of regional Michigan artifacts and fossils from past "digs in the backyard," explained Madaj. Focusing on the area, the newest exhibit, titled the "Mastodon Trackway," is the result of a farmer in Saline, Mich. unearthing large bones and discovering a series of imprints in the soil. Since Nov. 22, visitors have been able to view the 40-foot. long cast of Mastodon footprints. "By looking at the footprints, you could see that its hind legs followed its front legs in an identical step. It looks as if the Mastodon had only two feet," said Brook McGiness, a See MASTODON, Page 15B DOMINO'S Continued from Page 16B beauty. When strolling through the Celebration of Trees corridor, one notices twinkling bulb ornaments hang- ing from festive red and green strings in the ceiling. Adding to these delightful decorations are enormous cosm matching red Upc Im i and green vel- Domino vet bows with V Tomorrow: 25 hot gold trim that up by 20-foot-tall fla have been These balloons will placed on hall- in the night. way doors - making them V March, April andf look like large, dinosaur exhibit, on w r a p p e d will collect moneyfo Christmas pre- sents. Also lin- V Summer: The Pet ing the hallway - also a nonprofite are nearly life- sized moving reindeer, moving Eskimos that are attached to their sled dogs, and a mechanical Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. And if this isn't enough to keep one amused, nativity scenes from all over the world are enclosed in light- ed glass cases. g Events at 's Farms: t-air balloons will be lit: ames, from 6 to 7 p.m. appear to be glowing May: An indoor tour for three years, or charity. ting Farm will be open entity for charity. Ann Arbor resident Barbara Behling regrets not having visited Domino's Farms' Celebration of Trees earlier. "It's great. I have been trying to get out here for years, actually. I've lived in Ann Arbor for years and this is the first time I have actually had a chance to come here. It's really cool. Plus, I didn't know it was for char- ity, which I think makes it that much more worth it. I should have come out here much earlier and with a lot more people," she said. So with final exams and term papers looming as the end of the term draws near, many students desperately seek a way to taste a bit of contagious holiday spirit. Don't fall into the jaws of the Scrooge syndrome without visiting Domino's Farms' charitable holiday light display. It helps make Ann Arbor a genuine city of lights this Christmas. A giant goodwill message Illuminates the sky over the Domino's F 'Mars Attacks' the Natural Science Get your free passes at the This past week marked the opening of Tim Burton's latest science-fiction comedy "Mars Attack Bening, Danny DeVito and stud-man Michael J. Fox. So ... now you will have the chance to celel screening at the Natural Science Building at 7:30 tonight. By the way, did we mention that It's at 7:29 p.m. outside the Natural Science Building, just stop by the Daily Arts office. We're loca Building (420 Maynard St.). After 1 p.m. today you can pick up your very own FREE pass. Now, tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, and supplies are limited. So get her . . . . . . .. . rcat Pe~fonnaceFeaturin~g cio ,Kith Spec guest c ssor of Music, U-M) December 11th 7:00 P.M. > N 663-3381 n Blvd Ann Arbor, MI 48104 JULLY PARK/Daily Three-year-old Zachary Meyer shows his mother where the teeth are and where the eyes are on the fossil. m U Grade A NoteTakers are Seniors and Grad Students. They attend class and take accurate complete lecture notes. These notes can make great supplemental study guides. Anthrg.Bio 364 Geo Set 101 Pal Scd 140 Anthro Cult 385 Geo SI 111 Pol Sci 395 Biostat 503 German___ Psych 330 _ Chem 210 Hst 21 Psych 350 Ecoh 101 Phys 125 Psych_400/ Econ 102 Phys126 Slav 395 Engllsh 313 Phys 140 Women's td.220_ $5 OFF Full Set Tip Overlay Reg. $29 " May not be combined with any othe offer. Expires 12/31/96 FREE Airbrush Designs ($8 valu With purchase of full s tip overlay At regular price. May not be combined with any oth offer. Expires 12/31/96 INSIDE BRIARWOOD MALL e) Across from Big Boy Restaurant et Choose from Ea D of custom made airbrush designs. F 6 Professional Nail Care for Ladies and Gentlemen. 9 Appointments 31/96 Vai Nhr. RE $8 OFF Manicure & Pedicure Combination Reg. $40 " Special Combo Price of $32 with coupon. Expires 12131/96 $2 OFF Manicure Reg. $15 " Expires 12/31/96 $3 Off Pedicure eg. $25 + Expires 12/31/96 1 Dis coL fI Otu BOOKSTORE 649 E. University 741-9669 49 ekert em duc 1ENL LOCATINSL 317S.Stat. 665-4990 1677 PI} Located in t