Of various items, including zombies and living in trees

I have mentioned in previous posts about how a certain over-educated daughter of mine is fascinated with the idea of a zombie apocalypse. We happened to share a meal this evening after a karate class and in due time she explained her latest theory about how such zombie eruptions were to be endured.

Her theory suggested that humans revert to living in trees, which presumably zombies would be too stupid to climb. She reasoned that people living there could "pick fruit and catch birds." Again, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.


IT'S OFFICIAL. Some chimps like iPads and computer games.

THE NICER APES. Here's a look at bonobos, who are probably the nicest branch of the great ape tree (which includes us). Too bad we're not descended from them.

TAI CHI can be good for Parkinson's patients.

GOAT ROPE ADVISORY LEVEL: ELEVATED

Doesn't everbody do barnacles?

One of the things that makes Charles Darwin admirable as a scientist was his ability to do detailed grunt work as well construct groundbreaking big picture theories. He also belonged to the last generation of gentleman naturalists, i.e. non-academic private individuals of some means doing scientific work in their Victorian homes.

As a prime example of detailed grunt work, Darwin spent fully eight years engaged with a study of barnacles, eventually producing four large volumes on the subject. I get bored just thinking about it.

The barnacle business was such an accepted part of the growing Darwin household that his children came to believe that every adult male did the same in his spare time. There is a great anecdote that his son Francis once asked his friend, "Where does your father do his barnacles?

A WAY OUT? Here's an op-ed by a friend of mine on the economic mess and how to get out of it.

COUNTRY LIVING. This item about country living in the New Yorker seemed familiar to me.

SOFT STYLE. Score another therapeutic point for tai chi.

ZOMBIE ANTS, ANYONE? This is just plain weird.

GOAT ROPE ADVISORY LEVEL: ELEVATED