Janet D. Stemwedel (whose nom de blog is Dr. Free-Ride) is an assistant professor of philosophy at San Jose State University. Before becoming a philosopher, she earned a Ph.D. in physical chemistry. Email her at dr.freeride@gmail.com.
The Free-Ride offspring end up listening to a lot of public radio in the car; they can't control the radio tuner from the back seat. Since this listening includes Car Talk, both sprogs already think of cars as systems to trouble-shoot, even though the eldest is still seven years away (at least) from being a licensed driver.
And the Free-Ride offspring enjoy "the puzzler". However, they express the occasional quibble ...
Elder offspring: Was that Tom Magliozzi who was just talking, or Ray?
Younger offspring: Tom.
Elder offspring: Well, Tom said something that doesn't really make sense.
Dr. Free-Ride: Oh?
Elder offspring: When he said that the Summertime puzzler is also for kids on school vacation, so their brains aren't shriveled up when school starts again?
Dr. Free-Ride: Yeah?
Elder offspring: Healthy brains are supposed to have those wrinkles.
Dr. Free-Ride: They're called "convolutions" if my memory serves me right.*
Elder offspring: They make more room for neurons, so the brain can do more thinking.
Dr. Free-Ride: OK.
Elder offspring: Which means that really, the Summertime puzzler is helping keep kids' brains from smoothing out, not shriveling up.
* * * * *
Because a picture is worth a thousand words, the younger Free-Ride offspring offers a visual explanation of "why stone fruit has a butt-crack":
It starts growing like this
and then this
and then this
and then this
and then around like this
------
*I'm not sure I could properly distinguish convolutions and sulci if I met them at a cocktail party, though.
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Comments
Hmmm.
1. Have your kids considered the possibility that Car Talk is just a fiendish plot by the rest of the world to keep the US stupid? And hence the puzzler is designed precisely to stop kids' brains from wrinkling? "Non Impediti Ratione Cogitationis" may be their mission statement, not just a slogan.
2. A proper mathematician could tell you better, but I think stone fruit have butt-crack for exactly the same reason when you stroke a cat, the stroking action has to stop. I think it also implies they have to either have a parting or a bald patch.
Posted by: Bob O'H | July 25, 2008 1:21 PM
Thanks from Duke and Sally for a JIT (just in time ) visit from the Sprogs. Gotta leave now.
Posted by: Super Sally | July 25, 2008 1:30 PM
Also a good approximation of the brain's back-to-front developmental sequence ( Neuroscience for Kids)
Posted by: Tony Jeremiah | July 25, 2008 1:34 PM
Yea! FSNeuroB! awesome. and to add to your confusion, gyri is the term for the convex or bulgy bits...
Posted by: DrugMonkey | July 25, 2008 1:36 PM
Funniest thing - I read this with Car Talk playing on my radio. If I ever have children, I am so making them listen to Car Talk and other NPR shows, and I hope they're anywhere nearly as awesome as yours. :)
Posted by: Laura B | July 26, 2008 11:04 AM
"How a peach gets a butt crack" ZOMGZ=gasp=ROFL=wheeze=MAO=snort= I can't =coff= stand it!
I know I've said it a gazillion times before, but I'll say it again: WOOOOAAAAAHHHHHHHH your kids are SCARY! Glad to hear I'm not the only parent who's subjected my offspring's impressionable, wrinkled young minds to NPR, PBS, and other kinds of Geek Broadcasting(TM).
Posted by: themadlolscientist, FCD | July 28, 2008 1:20 PM