Jackass is an American television series showing irresponsible, dangerous, self-harming stunts such as kicking oneself in the head. Despite or perhaps because of it's adults-only classification, the Jackass television series and film (Jackass: The Movie) The television series inspired a world-wide teenage phenomena known as 'Jackass' in which bored, attention-seeking teenagers video themselves and their friends as they carryout dangerous and stupid stunts, and then publish the footage on web sites. A notorious British group of Jackass boys are known as 'Live Now Die Later', a group from the north West of England who formed around 2003, and soon afterwards lost one ten-year old member after he quit after he received major burns to almost his entire body. The type of stunts performed include spraying the hair with aftershave and then igniting it, having a large fishing hook placed through the ear lobe and then ripped out, setting light to oneself and then cycling into a river, and most popular leaping from tall buildings into a nearby tree - or not. Research Jackass
The hare (Lepus) is a genus of rodent quadrupeds similar to the rabbit, with long ears, long hind legs, a short tail, soft hair and a divided upper lip. The two fore-feet have five and the hinder four toes. They run by a kind of leaping pace. The young hare is called a leveret and are born in litters of between three and six leverets up to four times a year. The young leverets have their eyes open at birth.
The common hare (Lepus timidus) is found throughout Europe and some parts of Asia. It is tawny red on the back and white on the belly, and is about 60 cm long. The mountain hare or varying hare (Lepus variabilis), confined to Northern Europe and the mountainous regions of the south, is smaller than the common hare, and becomes white in winter. The former Lepus cuniculus, now, Oryctolagus cuniculus, is the rabbit, properly so called, distinguished by its smaller size and burrowing habits. The American hare (Lepus Americanus), not much larger than a rabbit, is found in most parts of North America. In North America there are also the polar hare (Lepus glacialis), a variety of the varying hare (Lepus variabilis), but of superior size and purer colour; and the prairie hare (Lepus campestris), one of the species known as jackass hares or Jack-rabbits, from their size and length of limb.
The hare is protected from its enemies mainly by the acuteness of its sight and hearing and its extraordinary swiftness of foot. Its voice is never heard except when seized or wounded, when it utters a sharp loud cry, not very unlike that of a child. Its flesh is rather dry, but is much prized for its peculiar flavour. Research Hare
Jackrabbit (shortened from Jackass-Rabbit) is the popular name given in North America to any of several large hares of the genus Lepus, with very long ears and legs. Research Jackrabbit
Kingfisher, is the name of a family of Insessorial birds distinguished by the elongated, stoutly formed, tetragonal bill, broad at the base, and terminating in a finely acute point; tarsi short, feet strong, toes somewhat elongated.
The common kingfisher, found in Great Britain (Alcedo ispida), has the upper part of the head, the sides of the neck, and the coverts of the wings green, spotted with blue. The back is dark green in colour, the lower back and rump being of a bright blue. The throat is white, and the under surface of the body a pale-brown colour. It frequents the banks of rivers, and, perched on the bough of a tree, watches for fish, When the prey is perceived it dives into the water, secures the fish with its feet, and carries it to land, where it kills the prey and swallows it entire. It is about 18 cm in length. This bird has been greatly celebrated in ancient poetic and legendary lore, and is the subject of many superstitions.
The American kingfisher (Alcedo or Ceryle alcyon) is of a bluish-slate colour, with an iron-coloured band on the breast, whilst the head bears a crest of feathers.
The spotted kingfisher (Ceryle guttata) is a native of the Himalayas, where it is called the fish-tiger. A large Australian species is known as the laughing-jackass . Research Kingfisher
The laughing jackass or settler's clock (Dacelo gigas) is a large Australian kingfisher so called from its peculiar gurgling cry. Research Laughing Jackass
Jackass: The Movie is a comedy starring Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O, Chris Pontius and Jason Acuna in a series of irresponsible, self-harming stunts such as kicking themselves in the head. Jackass: The Movie was directed by Jeff Tremaine in 2002. Research Jackass: The Movie
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
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