From: Michael M. Butler (mmb@spies.com)
Date: Fri Apr 04 2003 - 21:17:53 MST
On Sat, 05 Apr 2003 13:09:02 +1000, Damien Broderick
<damienb@unimelb.edu.au> wrote:
> At 01:13 PM 4/4/03 -0800, Reason wrote:
>
>> No, no, no...you don't need a complex physics theory when simple biology
>> will do to explain two common household problems: socks are the larval
>> form of coathangers.
>
> Another urban myth. It has long been known that the larval form of
> coathangers is paperclips. Many of them perish prior to metamorphosis, a
> tragedy that had caused David Pearce much anguish.
>
[clears throat]
I think it's pretty well established that at least one life form has
developmental phases that go paperclip--tubesock--wire coathanger. The
paperclip--coathanger jump hasn't been fully explained to my satisfaction.
It's possible that some environmental factors (e.g., household
contamination by feedlot hormones in farming communities) contribute to
substantial shortening of the tubesock phase. Or it might be actual
speciation.
But from a human (anthropocentric) perspective, the greatest tragedy is
that before metamorphosing from coathangers to "old" rusty bicycles, they
drain the extra iron they need from hapless humans. Predominantly males, of
course.
The discovery of giant tubesock colonies near some of the mid-oceanic vents
suggests that this iron-seeking might be relatively late in origin.
The horror. The horror.
-- I am not here to have an argument. I am here as part of a civilization. Sometimes I forget.
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