Oct 2 2009 One Step Closer To Evolutionary 'Missing Link'
Scientists believe they're one step closer to human evolution's "missing link" with the discovery of new skeletal remains in Ethiopia.
Humanity has a new older sister. A fossilized skeleton of Ardipithecus ramidus or "Ardi" predates Lucy by over a million years. The discovery has led to new insights about human evolution, suggesting previously unknown relationships to our chimpanzee brethren.
The paleobiologists studying Ardi identify hers as an "intermediate" form, one that is bipedal, but at the same time capable of walking on all forms and traveling through trees. Still, although she represents a point past hominids' evolutionary break with gorillas and chimpanzees, she is very different from modern apes. For example, Ardi's had flat hands and feet and flexible wrists, and engaged in a form of locomotion called palmigrady, which is a trait of ancient apes and unlike gorillas and chimpanzees, which are stiff-wristed knuckle-walkers. This suggests that gorilla and chimp ancestors developed their knuckle-walking long after their evolutionary break with hominids.
Interesting. And by interesting I mean Ardi looks like your mom but with nicer tits. AND trim.
New Fossil Discovery is the Closest We've Come to the Missing Link [io9]
Thanks to Julian, who would hit anything with opposable thumbs.
Dec 2 2008 Mystical Fire Powder Turns Your Fire Different Colors, Is Probably Mad Carcinogenic
$2.29 will get you a 25 gram sachet of Mystical Fire Powder. What is Mystical Fire Powder? It's powder. That you toss in the fire. To make it all mystical and shit. Sorcery yo, sorcery. The stuff makes your fire burn with all sorts of crazy colors and will stunt your growth if you eat too much of it. But it's so good! If you're a cheapskate and don't want to drop a whole nine quarters and four Canadian pennies on the powder, I'll tell you what else makes fires turn cool colors: burning witches! And remember: a woman is every bit the witch you accuse her of being. Accuse often. Yelling helps. Also, brandishing a pitchfork and getting the townspeople riled up.
One more of a sweet blue flame after the ja-ja-ja-jump.
