Mcnugget or the omelette - a profound evolutionary dilemma (Jul/31/2007 )

Hi swanny,
Yeah, we are so way off from the original topic..I had to go to my first post to be reminded of it. And we can even use the gene analogy here…first there was fidelity then after a couple of rounds, voila a spontaneous mutation, then some manipulations here and there by scientists (and this forum is full of them) how did pernese put it.. whose “desire is to analyse, debate, fight over details and pointing out flaws in each others arguments” so finally we end up with a final product whose function is up to each individual to decide for him/herself...hopefully for therapeutic purposes which would surely beat the heck of a stint in the cold room

Thanks for expanding more on my condensed version of the trials and woes of the faithful living in a politically correct, technology-driven secular world, always struggling to find the relevance and meaning of their faith. But in fairness to the humanists, freethinkers, skeptics and the lot, if they are indeed true to their own beliefs, how they live their lives, their goals and aspirations shouldn’t be so different from those of the believers. It may be a very naïve pov but I prefer to wallow in my fantasy, insanity and now naivete. For those who’ve never read the humanist manifesto before here it is

cheers,

casandra

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So, maybe it's time for you to start up another thought-provoking thread (you do them so well). I mean, 71 posts (excluding this one), 5 pages of the thread, it's a pretty good run, no?

swanny

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Really, swanny? Seriously? You're not just teasin me are ya? Yeah, 72 posts (including this one) is not a small deal, although truthfully I have to take credit for almost half of them ... blame it on the adrenalin rush to get to the top 20 posters plus the mini competition with dpo. Thought-provoking topics, eh?..hmmm..and here I thought that I was providing entertainment...should I look a gift horse in the mouth ‘coz right now I'm thinking, brooding, analysing, suspecting, rationalising...now you're making me gush and blush!!! Alright...ok...vanity wins...can I quote you on the "thought-provoking...you them so well" bit..I wanna add them to my signatures…you see hobglobin wasn't so clear on the "interesting" part in his signature. So what were you asking me again? To start up a new topic? How about going back to a sciency track minus the chicken and the egg: Can natural selection alone explain away the sprouting of wings and the big brains of humans?

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You want to quote me? Feel free!!! The way this is going, your signature will be longer than some people's postings!

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Thought-provoking dud eh? I was hoping to fire up a discussion on postdarwinism or at least the controversial horizontal gene transfer theory, unfortunately no takers…but I don’t give up easily, I’m gonna attempt a different track but I’ll still stick to the circular cause and consequence theme of the chicken and egg: the big brain of homo sapiens as compared with those of the other extinct hominins and the Pan species has undergone what many scientists consider as intense evolutionary development within a short evolutionary period of time (perhaps an example of "punc eek").

This rapid increase in size and complexity, was it directly caused by switching to a diet rich in protein and DHA or the selection pressure of an increased social complexity/organization that the early humans inevitably resorted to f.i. to survive they have to become better scavengers or hunters, to hunt bigger game, they needed planning, foresight and cooperation as well as better tools and this in turn caused positive selection on genes which regulate brain size or is it the other way around..that the big brain is the cause instead of the result of the development of a more intricate social structure, language, trade, ritual, art iow culture? Speculations, anyone (plz…don’t make me do a monologue)?

casandra

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i have nothing to add to this thread except.... my neighbour has chickens.
and poutine is really nice.

V

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So you live in a farm? There ain't a lot of chickens clucking around in my neighborhood but I would love to wake up to the sound of the rooster crowing... that ain't happening at twenty degrees below zero . And wonder of wonders- poutine is an acquired taste!!! My estimation of you has gone up a notch .

to the glorified french fries,

casandra

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middle of the city, and on the main road... yet, my backyard looks like a rainforest, and there is a bush turkey that roams around... my neightbour has a bunch of chickens, a chiuauauwawa (rat-dog), and a 3 legged (0 eared) monster cat who has realised fighting with the chooks is a bad idea. leg and ears were not lost from chicken fights. that's another kettle of fish.
the rooster only comes over every few months, and i'm always up before he starts calling for the sun. what is funny is sitting in the kitchen on a sunday, and hearing the chickens calling out every time they lay an egg. i'm assuming laying an egg is actually quite painful, and they want the world to know.

V

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I'm now envious..how can you have the best of both worlds? Where can I find neighbors like yours? We only have pesky squirrels who dig and destroy our tiny urban gardens with impunity...they'll look you straight in the eyes and dare you..come and get me . Yeah, I think I would prefer the chickens and the sound they make while laying eggs? I'd rather imagine them as cries of euphoria...

casandra

PS So we're finally back again to the chicken and the egg....I think we've come full circle!!!

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I think you'll find that eggs are not circular, full or otherwise, but ovoid, he said wittily.

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