Homo Carnivorous
A compelling presentation is generally one you agree with in advance: a conclusion I reach from moderate introspection, generously projecting it onto everyone else. As they say, the internet isn’t where we go to find information that helps us make up our minds most times. In stead, it is the place we go to confirm the things we have already decided we’d like to believe. (They also say that on the internet, no one knows you’re a dog. Woof.)
So for today’s exercise in extroverted displays of confirmation bias, we consider a video in which Barry Groves presents the strongest available arguments that homo sapiens is designed to be carnivorous. That is, our evolved digestive systems more closely resemble those found in other carnivores. Also, our nearest existing hominid relatives who are vegetarians have digestive tracts that are very different from our own. Their digestive tracts are much more complex, since a complex digestive tract is required to wring nutrients out of vegetable matter. They do this mainly by providing a lot of space to co-evolved microbes that are capable of converting masses of plant matter into essential dietary goodies.
The evolutionary case looks at our herbivorous relatives and considers what a complex biochemical process it is to get fuel from plants. It requires eating lots and lots, for instance, and having a specialized digestive microbiome. It requires very strong jaws and teeth for chewing up tough plant matter. The way we eat and digest food does not look like how they do it. (And some of them will at times go for a meal of animal meat if they have the chance.)
It is a very compelling set of arguments, at least if the information conforms to what you believe already, if you have any beliefs about these issues. The case begins with the evolutionary comparisons of other mammals and hominids, and ranges to the prehistoric and historic records from sources including the Bible, all the way to the modern-day observation that we and our domesticated pets are the only known animals to suffer from chronic disease. See what you think—and then enjoy your breakfast, whatever your diet.
Hmmmm… interesting.
Unfortunately, I like potatoes (and various vegetables and fruits) too much to give them up.
Also, good afternoon! The weather has decided to raise the temperature to the low 90s, with temps in the high 90s predicted later this week. 104 degrees is predicted next Wednesday. 😧
It's been a little while since I posted some German compound words. This time, rather than collecting them from Swiss newspaper stories about the Ukraine war (to which I will return next time) I was inspired by Jonah's recent twit post (I can still sort of hack these, though who knows what'll happen when they finish rolling out that stupid new X logo which I'm not sure won't turn out to be a joke and be taken back) about visiting a cat cafe in Munich, called the Katzentempel. I found the website (in German of course), spotted several interesting terms, and looked up the translations. Results:
katzentempel = cat temple
wissenschaftlich = scientific
entspannenden =relaxing
Naschkatzen = person with a sweet tooth (a play on words? Nasch is snack)
Wohlfühlatmosphäre = feel-good atmosphere
Herzensangelegenheiten = matters of the heart
Zusammenarbeit = cooperation
Tierschutzorganisationen = animal protection organizations
aus Schlafen, Spielen und Schnurren bestehen = consist of sleeping, playing, and purring
hab’ eine schöne Zeit und erlebe den Miau-Effekt! = have a good time and experience the meow effect! (not a compound word but I love it as a slogan)