As some of you may have noticed, I have started posting more short stories, with little in the way of commentary. That means more updates for you, but it also means fewer open threads, as I don't have these stories lying around any more. So, on the premise that everybody love kittens, I give you this, courtesy of Cute Overload:
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| The Design Matrix: A Consilience of Clues by Mike Gene |
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| Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body |
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| Catalyzing Inquiry at the Interface of Computing and Biology |
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| System Modeling in Cellular Biology: From Concepts to Nuts and Bolts |
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| The Plausibility of Life By Marc W. Kirschner and John C. Gerhart |
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| Agents Under Fire by Angus Menuge |
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| Life's Solution by Simon Conway Morris |
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| Information Theory, Evolution and the Origin of Life by Hubert P. Yockey |
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| The Fifth Miracle by Paul Davies |
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| Nature, Design, and Science by Del Ratzsch |
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| Origination of Organismal Form by Muller & Newman |
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| Biased Embryos and Evolution by Wallace Arthur |
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| Rare Earth by Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee |
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| The Privileged Planet by Guillermo Gonzalez and Jay Richards |
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| The Way of the Cell by Franklin Harold |
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| The Volitional Brain by Benjamin Libet |
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| Evolution in Four Dimensions by Eva Jablonka & Marion Lamb |
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| The Evolution-Creation Struggle by Michael Ruse |
February 28th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
How about this little fella?
Comment by Doug — February 28, 2007 @ 5:29 pm
February 28th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Anyone here into boxing? any takers on the Mayweather/De La Hoya match?
Comment by Doug — February 28, 2007 @ 5:36 pm
February 28th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
I have a terminology question. Generally in the blogosphere it seems like the term "blog", when used as a noun, refers to a website where entries are continually added and are organized by time, with the most recent entries first.
That usage is reflected by this statement, which appears under the TT banner at the top of each page:
On the other hand, I see TTers sometimes referring to individual blog entries as blogs, as in Mike's comment a short time ago:
As far as I can remember, I haven't seen this usage elsewhere, and it doesn't appear in the handful of definitions of "blog" that I looked up via Google.
Is anyone else aware of this terminology being used elsewhere, or is it idiosyncratic to TT?
Comment by keiths — February 28, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
February 28th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Awwww! Looks just like Buster Kitten when he was just a wee guy… sigh!
Keith - On blogs I've seen that include more than one blogger, each front-page post is a blog entry (shortened to "blog") from that author. Some sites also offer "diaries" for contributors. But to distinguish between message boards and blogs is mostly a matter of software titling and hosting labels, far as I can tell.
Comment by Joy — February 28, 2007 @ 7:10 pm
February 28th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Keith,
I've never seen it used anywhere else - the term for an individual blog entry is pretty mush always "post".
Comment by Mesk — February 28, 2007 @ 8:16 pm
February 28th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
So…
Poll? What's the "correct" designation? "Blog," "Post," or "Entry?" Since each entry entails its separate thread of commentary (just like a message board), is it a matter of how things are displayed [software], or a matter of the fact that it's a single string of front-page "Posts/Blogs?"
Comment by Joy — February 28, 2007 @ 8:29 pm
February 28th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Actually the single word "blog" is commonly used to mean an individual post as well.
Comment by Guts — February 28, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
February 28th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
My preference is to keep a single meaning for each term when possible, and to match the prevailing usage.
For those reasons, I use "post" or "entry" to refer to an article posted by a contributor to which comments may (optionally) be appended by readers. "Entry" is nice because of the parallel with an entry in a ship's log or in a pilot's logbook, but "post" seems to work well also.
If "entry" and "post" are used this way, then "blog" can be reserved for the whole collection of entries. It is, after all, short for "weblog", and it would seem strange to use "weblog" to refer to a single entry.
I've also noticed that some people refer to comments as "posts". I try to avoid that so as to prevent confusion between "post as comment" and "post as entry".
Comment by keiths — February 28, 2007 @ 9:06 pm
February 28th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
Keith,
That's my favoured terminology as well, since it completely avoids ambiguity.
Guts - OK, perhaps lots of people use the phrase that way in the broader blogosphere, but I've never seen it in the science-related blogs I visit. I'm pretty sure I would have noticed as it grates on me so much whenever I see it on TT.
Comment by Mesk — February 28, 2007 @ 9:16 pm
March 1st, 2007 at 12:55 am
I always call a post or entry a "post" or an "entry", a comment a "comment", and a blog a "blog". That should clear it up.
Comment by Krauze — March 1, 2007 @ 12:55 am
March 1st, 2007 at 1:17 am
But do you call a spade a spade?
Comment by keiths — March 1, 2007 @ 1:17 am
March 1st, 2007 at 1:34 am
…but do you know the difference between a shovel and a spade?
Comment by Joy — March 1, 2007 @ 1:34 am
March 2nd, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Does anyone know if the Dennett/McGrath debate took place?
Comment by Doug — March 2, 2007 @ 1:09 pm
March 2nd, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Kittens are evil. They grow up to be cats.
Comment by Douglas — March 2, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
March 2nd, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Cats are great! I knew my mom was a sucker for cats. So when I was in high school (and college (and post college)) I would bring a stray home and say "I found this little guy on the interstate…. he was about to get ran over by a car. If you don't want him I'll go put him back". When in actuality I was taking the cats from my girlfriends barn (primarily) that her parents owned.
Comment by Doug — March 2, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
March 2nd, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Hi Doug,
Cats are great.
I recently taught my two cats (ages 13 and 14) to give high-fives in exchange for treats.
I don't know about dogs, but you can teach an old cat new tricks.
Comment by keiths — March 2, 2007 @ 5:00 pm
March 2nd, 2007 at 5:10 pm
I have this one very fat light-taby colored cat. We call him Wiggum (from the Simpsons 'Police Chief Wiggum').
He's a beast. Not just fat, but a big male cat. He's the oldest right now (I had a cat that lived to 23 years old…. died 1 month after my mom died).
Anyway, it's crazy because whenever there is a new kitten brought to the house he always looks after it. Its the other female cats that will hiss at the new kitten and try to attack, but he'll chase them off. He rarely will let the little kitten out of his site. Take the kitten to bed with him, cleans him, makes sure the other cats haven't eaten his food.
It's crazy, he's done this quite a few times.
Comment by Doug — March 2, 2007 @ 5:10 pm
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:11 pm
keith,
Hah. I taught my mother's Bichon Frise puppy to give high-fives for treats before he was 7 months old. And dogs don't need litter boxes, so there.
Comment by Douglas — March 2, 2007 @ 8:11 pm
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Doug,
Lying to one's own mother - a clever ploy.
Comment by Douglas — March 2, 2007 @ 8:11 pm
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Douglas wrote:
Yes, Douglas. Dogs are better than cats.
It was for a good cause.
Comment by keiths — March 2, 2007 @ 8:41 pm
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:54 pm
keith,
You realize I'm just joshing about cats and dogs, in that I don't really think cats are evil, or that dogs are better than cats. (Though, of course, I myself prefer dogs.)
Comment by Douglas — March 2, 2007 @ 8:54 pm
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Douglas,
Sure, you're just trying to lull me into a false sense of security so you can sic your Bichon Frise on me.
Comment by keiths — March 2, 2007 @ 8:59 pm
March 3rd, 2007 at 4:17 pm
More here(some are pretty funny).
Comment by MikeGene — March 3, 2007 @ 4:17 pm
March 3rd, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Douglas:
That's a relief. I was afraid Keiths might start arguing that cats disprove the existence of God.
Comment by MikeGene — March 3, 2007 @ 4:19 pm
March 3rd, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Well, my cat thinks he IS God! …and he herds the she-dogs around as if they believe him, too.
Comment by Joy — March 3, 2007 @ 4:29 pm
March 3rd, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Are you kidding? Cats are obviously designed.
Comment by keiths — March 3, 2007 @ 4:33 pm
March 3rd, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Dog theology: "The humans give me shelter and food - they must be gods."
Cat theology: "The humans give me shelter and food - I must be a god."
Comment by Krauze — March 3, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
March 3rd, 2007 at 4:41 pm
That does it. I'm coming back as a cat next life! I'd be a pampered Persian, but the thought of hairballs is really gross, and how do they even breathe through that sunken nose? Something in a shorthair (but not poor bald Mr. Bigglesworth).
Comment by Joy — March 3, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
March 3rd, 2007 at 5:01 pm
People change, Douglas.
Comment by Doug — March 3, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
March 3rd, 2007 at 5:27 pm
From http://www.misscellania.com/mi... ("Dogs and Cats"):
A Dog's Diary:
7 am - Oh boy! A walk! My favorite!
8 am- Oh boy! Dog food! My favorite!
9 am- Oh boy! The kids! My favorite! Noon- Oh boy! The yard! My favorite!
2 pm- Oh boy! A car ride! My favorite!
3 pm- Oh boy! The kids! My favorite!
4 pm- Oh boy! Playing ball! My favorite!
6 pm- Oh boy! Welcome home Mom! My favorite!
7 pm- Oh boy! Welcome home Dad! My favorite!
8 pm- Oh boy! Dog food! My favorite!
9 pm- Oh boy! Tummy rubs on the couch! My favorite!
11 pm- Oh boy! Sleeping in my people's bed! My favorite!
A Cat's Diary:
Day 183 of my captivity:
- My captors continued to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from clawing the furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another house plant.
- Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded. Must try this at the top of the stairs.
- In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair. Must try this on their bed.
- Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body in an attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear in their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was. Hmmm, not working according to plan.
- There was some sort of a gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the food. More important, I overheard that my confinement was due to my powers of inducing "allergies." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage.
- I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird, on the other hand, has got to be an informant because it speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured. But I can wait. It's only a matter of time.
Comment by Douglas — March 3, 2007 @ 5:27 pm
March 3rd, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Hey Mike,
Comment by Crandaddy — March 3, 2007 @ 8:59 pm
March 3rd, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Crap! Why didn't it work? There was supposed to be an image.
Comment by Crandaddy — March 3, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
March 3rd, 2007 at 9:03 pm
Damn it! here's the image that was supposed to show up.
Comment by Crandaddy — March 3, 2007 @ 9:03 pm
March 3rd, 2007 at 9:13 pm
LOL. Here's another
Comment by MikeGene — March 3, 2007 @ 9:13 pm
March 3rd, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Since it's an open thread, let's change animals:
Comment by MikeGene — March 3, 2007 @ 9:15 pm
March 3rd, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Let's try this one more time.
Comment by Crandaddy — March 3, 2007 @ 9:34 pm
March 3rd, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Sigh! I give up for now.
Comment by Crandaddy — March 3, 2007 @ 9:34 pm