You know, I've saved lives. Dozens. Maybe hundreds. I reattached a girl's leg. Her whole leg. She named her hamster after me. I got a hamster. He drops a box of money, he gets a town.

Simon ,'Jaynestown'


Natter 69: Practically names itself.  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Cass - Dec 22, 2011 8:12:36 pm PST #12750 of 30001
Bob's learned to live with tragedy, but he knows that this tragedy is one that won't ever leave him or get better.

PZ Myers once gave a talk in which he said (paraphrasing) that if we can't manage to communicate with a squid, how can we expect to communicate with some aliens on another planet out there?

I always wonder about that but teevee tells me that all aliens (except the illegal ones from Mexico) speak English. Which will be a relief, I'm sure.

The other thing I wonder is why we always define the parameters of Places Life Can Exist based on just what we're used to seeing here. First, that is what exists here because it evolved here. I suspect evolution can go many ways. Partially because, hey, fossil records show it but also because we keep finding new life and boggling at the extremophiles that we're certain can't live where they live.


beth b - Dec 22, 2011 8:13:49 pm PST #12751 of 30001
oh joy! Oh Rapture ! I have a brain!

this is awesome

have you seen it billytea?

[link]

gorilla pets human


Cass - Dec 22, 2011 8:17:11 pm PST #12752 of 30001
Bob's learned to live with tragedy, but he knows that this tragedy is one that won't ever leave him or get better.

I love this kind of stuff.

It is really one of the coolest things ever. Second to how every element beyond hydrogen and helium exists because stars exploded.

Sea snakes freak me out. Land snakes do too. Sea snakes have a whole extra dimension of mobility. That is just not okay with my lizard brain. (Planet Earth reruns)


Allyson - Dec 22, 2011 8:20:18 pm PST #12753 of 30001
Wait, is this real-world child support, where the money goes to buy food for the kids, or MRA fantasyland child support where the women just buy Ferraris and cocaine? -Jessica

I wonder is why we always define the parameters of Places Life Can Exist based on just what we're used to seeing here.

It narrows down the targets for search. Since we already know that like can exist within our parameters, we look for places that match up with us, increasing our chances of finding life.


Allyson - Dec 22, 2011 8:27:56 pm PST #12754 of 30001
Wait, is this real-world child support, where the money goes to buy food for the kids, or MRA fantasyland child support where the women just buy Ferraris and cocaine? -Jessica

gorilla pets human

It all could have gone so wrong. Our primate cousins scare the bejeesus out of me. Especially when their gaze is fixed right on the camera. It's like they're saying, "you guys are such fucking jerks."


javachik - Dec 22, 2011 8:28:22 pm PST #12755 of 30001
Our wings are not tired.

For the record, this is my favorite kind of buffistas conversations. Especially the "texting" and "squid have 4g?" insertions.


Allyson - Dec 22, 2011 8:29:39 pm PST #12756 of 30001
Wait, is this real-world child support, where the money goes to buy food for the kids, or MRA fantasyland child support where the women just buy Ferraris and cocaine? -Jessica

It's not quite Dogs in Elk, but it will do.


sarameg - Dec 22, 2011 8:32:40 pm PST #12757 of 30001

I love you guys.

My brother and I just had a drunken convo about quorum sensing, bacteria and cancer and the mice I helped him irradiate yesterday to undo the tumors inflicted on them ( they were cute and had personalities. #93 was a whiney badass. It's for cancer curing, wee warrior mice!)

Anyway....


aurelia - Dec 22, 2011 8:39:00 pm PST #12758 of 30001
All sorrows can be borne if you put them into a story. Tell me a story.

I love sciency stuff!

I also love my family but they are driving me crazy after only 2 days. My mother won't stop talking and my father can't hear. And I am far too accustomed to spending most of my time alone with the cats.


msbelle - Dec 22, 2011 8:44:23 pm PST #12759 of 30001
I remember the crazy days. 500 posts an hour. Nubmer! Natgbsb

silverbacks are scary like woah. apes in general I have no desire to be near. monkeys are a whole different vibe.