By Bob Bakker and Paul Royer

Book 6: Phanerozoic Eon, Cenozoic Era

Freedom Road:

Miocene Epoch (26-5 MgY BCE)

The apes that were the ancestor of both chimpanzees and hominids evolved cultures some aspects of which are unique to mammals and, in some cases, to those of hominids and chimps: in the case of mammals, to protect against killing of young by bachelor males seeking to acquire mates of proven fertility; in the case of hominids and robust chimps,^1 to protect females, young, and invalids against psychopaths and cannibals among their own kind. We, their descendants and the heirs of their cultures, give those things up at peril of our total extinction. Yet, when turned outward, against formidable enemies, the same tendencies that produce psychopaths among the robust chimpanzees and hominidae become enormously valuable evolutionary assets, making our branch of Earth’s great ape species some of the finest warriors in the universe.

Consider:( Read more... )

Continued from previous post

Notes

^1Pan paniscus, the bonobos, or pygmy chimps, the gracile chimps of the Congo in Central Africa, who diverged from the robust chimpanzees somewhat after the chimpanzees and hominids took different evolutionary paths, found a different way. Though it is not clear exactly when these three different types of primate – Pan troglodytes, Pan paniscus, and the Hominidae – each came into existence, both biochemical (genetic and proteinaceous) and fossil evidence puts the inception of all three at between 4 and 6 million years ago.( Read more... )

I got back from a long day of shopping about an hour ago. First, I walked down the hill and purchased groceries at Grocery Outlet, some $15 worth -- which would have cost me at least $25 elsewhere. Then, after taking them home and scanning the grocery purchases for Shoppers Hotline, I took the bus from here to the Northgate Mall, where I bought a nice pair of shoes at Payless Shoe Source for around $25. I haven't purchased new shoes in over five years, and my feet are in terrible shape. These are blissfully comfortable, very sturdy, and equipped with skid-resistant soles, and should last for at least a year or year and a half, and when they wear out, guess where I'll go to get the next pair of shoes. Then, on the way home, I stopped at Albertson's and bought some more groceries, including organic whole milk, whipping cream, two chicken-fried beefsteak frozen dinners, and a bottle of Fruit Punch Powerade. Once home, I got on the Web and made yet another purchase, this one of a good-sized cat stroller which, including shipping fees, came to around $70.

My feet hurt. So do my eyeballs. So does my credit-card and bank-account.

Nanotechnology: Small science generates big questions

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/science/nanotechnology.html

http://spaceweather.com

NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS GO WILD: An intense display of noctilucent clouds (NLCs) lit up the skies of Europe and North America last night. Bright electric-blue tendrils were visible through fireworks during Bastille Day celebrations in France, while the clouds descended as far south as Nebraska in the USA. Sky watchers should be alert for a repeat performance tonight. Observing tips and photos of the July 14th-15th display may be found at these URLs:

Europe: http://spaceweather.com/nlcs/gallery2009_page12.htm

USA: http://spaceweather.com/nlcs/gallery2009_page13.htm

Please visit http://spaceweather.com for updates.

Just . . . go look. They're gorgeous. And it's all for FREE.

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/16jul_wideawake.htm?list737066

The day when Neil Armstrong took that "small step" onto the surface of the Moon, as 20 of us or so watched it via this tiny black-and-white TV in the apartment of somebody in Isla Vista, was the happiest day of my life.