The Food of the Gods
Various ambrosia to sip:
(I say ambrosia, because we don't want to upset the tummies of Mr. Chairman and Senator Irving.*)
December 16 is Arthur C. Clarke's birthday. You can go here to send him birthday wishes.
It's also Ludwig van Beethoven's birthday.
Biologist Ken Miller gives an explanation of the significance of the recently-published Chimpanzee genome here:
And PZ explains it here. (Warning: Casey Luskin aftertaste.)
Shimmies to Pharyngula and, of course, Ken, Ludwig, and Sir Arthur.
*"Until a few centuries ago, the favourite food of almost all men was meat – the flesh of once living animals. I’m not trying to turn your stomachs; this is a simple statement of fact, which you can check in any history book…
"Why, certainly, Mr. Chairman I’m quite prepared to wait until Senator Irving feels better. We professionals sometimes forget how laymen may react to statements like that. At the same time, I must warn the committee that there is very much worse to come. If any of you gentlemen are at all squeamish, I suggest you follow the Senator before it’s too late…"
—Arthur C. Clarke, “The Food of the Gods”
(I say ambrosia, because we don't want to upset the tummies of Mr. Chairman and Senator Irving.*)
December 16 is Arthur C. Clarke's birthday. You can go here to send him birthday wishes.
It's also Ludwig van Beethoven's birthday.
Biologist Ken Miller gives an explanation of the significance of the recently-published Chimpanzee genome here:
And PZ explains it here. (Warning: Casey Luskin aftertaste.)
Shimmies to Pharyngula and, of course, Ken, Ludwig, and Sir Arthur.
*"Until a few centuries ago, the favourite food of almost all men was meat – the flesh of once living animals. I’m not trying to turn your stomachs; this is a simple statement of fact, which you can check in any history book…
"Why, certainly, Mr. Chairman I’m quite prepared to wait until Senator Irving feels better. We professionals sometimes forget how laymen may react to statements like that. At the same time, I must warn the committee that there is very much worse to come. If any of you gentlemen are at all squeamish, I suggest you follow the Senator before it’s too late…"
—Arthur C. Clarke, “The Food of the Gods”
Labels: birthdays, evolution, frolic, science, science fiction
posted by Kristine | Monday, December 10, 2007
4 Comments:
According to the April '05 "National Geographic," Meat-eating may have been the key to survival for our ancestors outside of Africa. That is to say, had our distant foreparents not taken to the carnivore life, we'd still be munching veggies in the trees. I read somewhere that a hominid could get its daily protein needs in half an hour from devouring flesh, while foraging for the occasional grub could take the livelong day. With meat in one's belly, one had time to travel, to explore distant vistas.
Rats!!! Forgot to sign my comment.
Scotius
As good as the video of course is (I've seen it before), you have to really see Ken Miller in person to appreciate his skill as a presenter, his enthusiasm for teaching evolution. I got to see him speak in Modesto about a year ago, and the experience was unforgettable. He talks briskly, yet you never feel overwhelmed. He moves fluidly from topic to topic, yet weaves a thread of narrative that ties it all together. And his debunking of creationism is never mean-spirited, always humorous, always persuasive.
Here's hoping everyone has a chance to see him do his thing in public!
That is to say, had our distant foreparents not taken to the carnivore life, we'd still be munching veggies in the trees.
I agree. And we wouldn't have barbeques! ;-)
you have to really see Ken Miller in person to appreciate his skill as a presenter
I wish I could. But I checked his schedule, and it doesn't look like he's coming anywhere near me soon.
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