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Say Hello To “Inuk”
An artist's depiction of "Inuk" A study of 4,000-year-old remains has allowed scientists to sequence the genome of an individual trapped in the permafrost of Greenland. From the remains and the genome...
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The Humble Comb
Today, after I woke up and got out of bed, and as I dragged my comb across my head, I thought briefly of the humble comb. An early Egyptian comb The earliest tools made by human ancestors go back...
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Starting The Day Off With A Troubling Jam
Today I’m holding my breath about getting to work, because yesterday’s morning drive caused me to realize, once again, that many of my fellow commuters are dangerous lunatics. Sometime early yesterday...
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The March Of Civilization, Writ Small (Cont.)
The Occupy Wall Street protests continue to teach us useful lessons about how civilization works and how individuals react in different social situations. The latest story is of the revolt of the OWS...
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“Toilet Gaming” And The March Of Human Progress
Just when you think we’ve reached the nadir in the arc of human social development, you read a story about “toilet gaming” — and you realize there are entirely new depths waiting to be plumbed by...
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Ample Asses And Ancient Graffiti
Anyone who has been to Pompeii knows that the ancient Romans were accomplished graffiti writers. So were many other ancient humans, from the cave-dwellers forward. More and more, bits of ancient...
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Into The Office Fragrance Cloud Of Death
For much of history, human beings were routinely exposed to a riotous collection of disgusting and offensive smells. Whether it was the reek of long-unwashed bodies, the pungent tang of rotting food,...
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Farmers On The Move
How did humans stop wandering and start farming? It’s a crucial question, because farming allowed our ancestors to move beyond itinerant lifestyles into more permanent cultures. When farming was...
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To-Do Lists And The March Of Civilization
My lovely wife keeps a to-do list. It’s several pages of single-spaced, detailed information about the duties ahead, designed to keep her on task and fully aware of all impending appointments. Most of...
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Losing The Pyramids And The Sphinx
Egypt is the latest Middle Eastern country teetering on the brink of chaos. Each day brings fresh reports of battles between the military and the Muslim Brotherhood and dozens of new deaths on the...
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The Horror Of Chemical Weapons
There is something particularly horrific about chemical weapons — which is why the reports of Syria’s use of chemical weapons against its own citizens are especially appalling. It seems odd to argue...
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No Enemy But Bread
Bread, thou art mine enemy! I came to this galling realization by the confluence of two events. The first was seeing a photo of LeBron James after following a low-carb diet for the summer. He’d lost...
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World Weary
“Everything worth saying has already been said; everything worth writing has already been written.” I’ve loved this quote ever since I first read it, in one of the Will Durant’s volumes on...
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