Thursday 13 November 2008

Charles Darwin's Beard

Charles Darwin wrote iconic works that are still making waves today as creationists attempt to get their ideas in to the science curriculum alongside his famous theory of evolution.

But its Charles Darwin's beard not his writing that's causing a stir at London's Natural History Museum where hair from his famous beard has gone on show to the public.

By all accounts its just a few strands rather than the whole beard that are on show which is a shame as the whole thing would have been a wonderful thing to see. If only someone had had the foresight to 'scalp' his beard after death it would have made a marvelous interactive exhibit. Imagine the fun of trying Charles Darwin's beard on.

I believe that not only children but adults and even some famous scientists such as Richard Dawkins for instance who seems to have been wearing Darwin's metaphorical beard for some time, would enjoy trying it on. Now Dawkins sporting Darwin's beard would be worth seeing - in fact I'd pay to see that.

In the great age of science that Darwin inhabited no real scientist worth their salt (even the women I'm told) would dream of not wearing a beard but these days many scientists look so normal that I immediately begin to mistrust them and their science, begin to think that they are not real scientists at all but wanna-be celebrities who see their science as a way to make big bucks through populist quasi-scientific books rather than discovery.

Yes, give me a scientist with an eccentric beard, strange dress sense and syntax to match and I'll return to my studies. I might even stop shaving.

something moves
in grandad's moustache
winter supper

Saturday 8 November 2008

Foreplay

A survey of over 2,300 women comes to the conclusion that foreplay as an aid to orgasm has little or no significance. It also reveals that intercourse for Europeans is on average about 16.2 minutes whilst Americans come in on an average of 7 minutes.

The researchers speculate that: "It could be that this reflects, a greater appreciation of intercourse and sensuality by Europeans than by Americans."

Many people suffer mental and general health problems when they feel that their sex life or performance is not up to what ever standard the most recent style magazines suggest and whereas this type of research might refocus some away from having to perform the greatest foreplay it now places an emphasis on length of intercourse.

Scientists and lifestyle gurus conspire to bringeth us up and putteth us down again.

As to the American vs European intercourse time trial - well people live fast lives in America and maybe its like in skiing - the 'adrenalin junkies' do the downhill and the 'skills that kills' folks do the slalom. The important thing is that they both get to the finish line - just in different ways.

clocking off
the first snow of the year
slides off the roof

paul conneally