The Big 150

So, today - November 24 - is the 150th anniversary of the publication of "On the Origin of Species."

I could rhapsodize about the awesomeness of Darwin's book, but instead I'll just point you here, to give you a little sense of how important Darwinism is to modern biology. Whatever the haters* tell you, Darwin's theories continue to provide the foundation for our understanding of life on Earth. So thanks, Mr. Darwin. We owe you one.

Oh, and while we're on the subject, here's your daily dose of irreverent (Darwinist) humor:

(H/T Sam)



*Oh, and as for the other kind of haters - not the Bible-beaters but the Alfred Russell Wallace Fan Club who insist that Darwin was a plagiarist - I say unto thee, "Pffffbbbbtt."

Hippocampus Synapse

So, I was searching the web for retrofuturist images to put in my latest physics lab report, and I stumbled on this:



I felt compelled to share. You can read more about it at Kilmer House, a blog that is apparently about the early days of Johnson & Johnson. It looks fascinating, but I have not explored it yet. If anyone else does, please tell me about it.

Serotonin Synapse

What makes me happy?
This Chinese rap about Ben Cao Gang Mu (or Materia Medica), an ancient text of herbal medicine -- complete with scantily-clad ladies and the invaluable advice not to cut the deer horn too thin when preparing... well, some unspecified herbal remedy, I guess.

What makes me happier?
That I discovered it on the awesome (and heretofore unknown to me) blog of an erstwhile colleague and friend from my alma mater, "String between Pearls." This bloggeuse is one of the most impressively yet unassumingly intelligent people I have had the honor of knowing, and her knowledge of eunuchs alone is devastating in its berth.

Further Synapses

Saw this and couldn't pass it up:
Dr. Warren, the fighting doctor whose ideals proved stronger than any temptation, is an inspiration to all of us pre-meds.

(Via Pop Sensation)