Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by doone on May 31, 2012 at 11:07pm

We need to use Standing Desks!

Ernest Hemingway's standing deskMAY 31

The internet is going through a bit of a thing with standing desks right now, fueled by yesterday's The Wirecutter article about them. One of the most famous standing desk enthusiasts was Ernest Hemingway.

The introduction of this 1958 Paris Review interview with Hemingway briefly describes Papa's upright working setup:

A working habit he has had from the beginning, Hemingway stands when he writes. He stands in a pair of his oversized loafers on the worn skin of a lesser kudu -- the typewriter and the reading board chest-high opposite him.

Most articles I've seen on standing desks recommend anti-fatigue mats to help with foot pain, but of course Hemingway would go with the hide of an African antelope that he likely killed himself.

Other famous users of standing desks included Winston Churchill, Lewis Carroll, Donald Rumsfeld, Charles Dickens, Otto von Bismarck, Henry Clay, Thomas Jefferson, John Dos Passos, and Virginia Woolf. (thx, megnut)

Permalink Reply by Adriana on June 1, 2012 at 7:26am

My first thought was....perhaps Americans need more room for all the air in their heads?

Body size has increased too, since the 1800, even if the % growth is different, not all parts of our skeleton have the capability to grow larger at the same rate. The Occam's razor-type hypothesis seems to be better nutrition. Remember that the head HAS to grow even when the rest of our body is not growing from malnutrition. Think of the enormous (in proportion) head that anorexics have, especially those that suffered from anorexia during the early teens.

The change in shape could be due to better nutrition in childhood. Slight developmental changes such as earlier puberty but also better nutrition as infants and toddlers can have pretty massive effects on bone shape and size. Remember that people who eat a hunter-gatherer-type diet, and have to chew tough vegetables have larger jaws, while people raised on the softer foods of an agricultural diet have smaller jaws (same ethnic group). The smaller jaw sizes of most of us modern humans who always eat softer foods, could be leading to overcrowded teeth. Genetics cannot catch up with environmental changes that quickly. 

Permalink Reply by Neal on June 1, 2012 at 7:35am

Thanks for the humor, and the extra data. Interesting adaptations. Later today will be out aggravating conservative christians for a little excitement. Going to read The Conservative Brain first for ammo and understanding, and I always like more data on evolution; pisses them off. =)

Permalink Reply by Davy on June 1, 2012 at 10:39am

Their skulls may be getting bigger but in some of them, their brains are getting smaller as a consequence!

Actually. When the English arrived in Auss they were shorties but their offspring the currency lads and lasses were much taller due to a better diet but not necessarily more of it,  and also they were not living crowded cities. 

Permalink Reply by doone on June 1, 2012 at 11:57pm

Harold Camping Totally Looks Like This Goat

Jun. 1, 2012

Harold Camping Totally Looks Like This Goat

Permalink Reply by Adriana on June 2, 2012 at 8:39am

LOLZ!

Permalink Reply by Davy on June 2, 2012 at 2:39pm

He looks like the goat but the goats got more brains!! 

Permalink Reply by doone on June 2, 2012 at 4:34pm

Poor guy, spending his time calculating the End Time Date and his goat like characteristics will be sure to turn off Jesus when it counts

Are You a Sheep or a Goat?

If your life would end today, would Jesus classify you as a sheep or a goat? Would you enter the Gates of Heaven or be thrown in the pit of darkness?

Matthew 25 tells the story about the end of the world, and how Jesus would separate the sheep from the goats. The sheep were those who fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, clothed the naked, welcomed the strangers and visited the sick and imprisoned. The goats on the other hand were those who fail to do so. In short, those who acted like Jesus and those who did not.

The sheep were welcomed into heaven while the goats went to hell.

Permalink Reply by doone on June 3, 2012 at 6:08pm

Epicute: Rainbows on Rainbows

Jun. 3, 2012

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a good super fancy, multi rainbow cake around these parts. Bask in its day-brightening glory.