I have been collecting a number of very interesting links, all sent by readers, and would now like to lay them on you. There is quite a diversity of material here, but you will enjoy all of it.
Starting with a little Behavioral Biology, via Natalie: Fortune favours the brave; but the brave are motivated by favours of another kind
From the heroic 300 Spartans of Thermopylae to the Charge of the Light Brigade, history is littered with tales of the bravery of men who knew that death was as likely an outcome as glory.Such courage has always been recognised as a supreme asset by military strategists -- Carl von Clausewitz, the 19th-century Prussian theorist, described it as "above all things . . . the first quality of a warrior". For biologists, however, it poses a problem: humans simply should not have evolved to be heroic: the dangers to life and limb are too great.
Now, it appears, the solution to this evolutionary puzzle may lie in sex. ...
Yes, of course, sex is at the root of it all. But also, especially with male behavior, is simply being crazy. Many of the known examples of male bravery in times of war are linked to individuals ... the actual guys who threw themselves on the hand grenade, etc. .... who prior (or subsequently, in the case of those who lived) are linked to a variety of sociopathic or other personality disturbances, evidenced by criminal records and so on. Don' worry, I'm sure that if you are a medal recipient or know or are related to someone who is, this does not apply (Indeed, my own father got two medals in WW II ... but for intelligence, not bravery. Though he was very brave, of course.) I'm talking about the other guys.
How about this new idea:
I always suspected this. In fact the theory of human evolution through a gradual decent from trees causing our brains to evolve from the extra proteins of meat relatively makes less sense then aliens modifying our chimp brains. There are so many references in the bible about U.F.O's.
Read all about it here, on Joane's blog.
Computer Virus Travels Into Orbit, Lands on the Space Station (Hat tip: Virgil)
My brother Joe sent me a link to this Very Interesting Search Engine. There are a lot of different search engines and of course everyone uses Google. But this one looks like it is worth a look. There are some killer features.
Gay Republican Playing Cards, courtesy Janie
Museum defies pope over crucified frog (Hat tip: Virgil)
Add Tim Pawlenty to the ID ("teach the controversy") list... (Hat Tip: Salman) Check this out, there is a very disturbing video and everything.
From Rob: Massive police raids on suspected protesters in Minneapolis
Evolution vs. creation cartoon ... the one about the two guys sitting on the rocks. Thanks Natalie.
Dangerous Memes: Or what the Pandorans let loose (Hat tip: Joe)
Cultural evolution is a dangerous child for any species to let loose on its world. And the parent species, whatever it is like and wherever it arises, will have no insight into what it has done until its offspring is already grown and making its way in the world. By then it is too late to take it back. So I shall call this motherly species 'Pandoran', after the mythical first Greek woman whose box released all the evils of mankind. We humans are Earth's Pandorans, and have let loose cultural evolution, but on other planets quite different creatures might be playing this role.Opening such a box of tricks can even be lethal, and I suspect that there are several danger points. ....
And finally, I've lost track of who sent me this thing on Mullets:
Mullets: Party in the back not over yet
Out in Elk Lake, not far from me, there's a barber shop that advertises: Mullets Removed for Free!!!
