Animal Intelligence. And More David Bowie

I have decided that humans are not the smartest animal on earth. Watching "Life" on the Discovery channel has convinced me. Most mammals, though well adapted to their surroundings, have to learn behaviors instead of having innate senses, like reptiles.

I watched Capuchin Monkeys break open nuts using tools. Tools! And they know which rocks to use to break the nuts, and how long to let them sit in the sun so the husks get brittle.

A set of dolphins near the Florida keys have learned to kick up mud to scare the fish. The fish then jump out of the water and straight into the dolphins' mouths! This is not an innate ability. Only these dolphins in this spot do this. But, other dolphins have the potential to learn the trick.

Humans have created myriad ways to make life "easier." But I wonder if technological ingenuity is going to take the place of actual ingenuity. How many people can live without cell phones? Or, more accurately, how would we communicate without cell phones. What worries me is the idea that we have lost the ability to problem solve. It is so easy for a child to just look online to answer a question. How many generations of evolution can pass before we lose the skill to adapt to surroundings?

I think I am being reactionary.

This guy was cool:


They call him the Jesus lizard because he walks on water.

Anyway...look what I got at the street fair!!!!!!!!



And here is a picture of Candy:


AWWWWW. I love my baby!