The life of married nerds-a case study
Some couples argue about money or sex or in-laws or child rearing. Aryn and I argue about mass extinction events. Last night we had a fairly lengthy discussion about the Permian-Triassic extinction. In particular, we argued about whether or not this particular mass extinction event killed off the trilobites and what role (if any) the eruption of the Siberian Traps had in causing the extinction. I can't say that it was a particularly heated discussion, although we did reach a point where both of us were like, "Fine! If you don't believe me, I'm going to Google it and prove you wrong!"
As it turns out, we were both right... Sort of... If Wikipedia can be believed, the trilobites were already in a severe decline before the Permian-Triassic extinction event, and it is unknown if they finally went extinct during that particular event or if they had already died out before then. And while the eruption of the Siberian Traps did occur at around the same time as this extinction event and it probably contributed at least somewhat to the catastrophe, but extent of that contribution is highly unclear. I'm sure that you will all sleep better at night now that you have this information. Aryn and I are both very happy that we spent 20-30 minutes discussing this (at about 12:30am) instead of making dinner. Yes, it was a bit of a sacrifice, but we do what we have to do for the betterment of mankind. I mean, we couldn't have people believing that the trilobites survived the Permian-Triassic extinction event or that the Siberian Traps caused a different mass extinction, now could we? ;)
I went to dinner and a movie with Aryn last Saturday. As we walked by theater, we saw a poster for "Jennifer's Body" and Aryn asked me if I really thought she was hotter than Megan Fox. I said "yes." She smiled, although I don't think she believed me. I was being totally sincere, but I guess when women are taught to hate their bodies their entire lives that isn't easy to overcome. Well, even if Aryn doesn't believe me when I say I think she is "hotter" than Megan Fox, I think I can say quite confidently that I could not have a discussion about mass extinction events with Megan Fox. ;) And I have always said that the brain is far and away the sexiest part of woman's body. :)
Seriously, what is the big deal with Megan Fox? Why am I supposed to find her so "hot"? She's physically attractive, I guess, but I see physically attractive people every day. I don't see why that's so special. And am I the only one that is disturbed by the fact that this actress (who does not strike me as particularly talented) can get a ridiculous amount of media coverage just because she is "hot"? Thirty years after feminism are women still just the sum of their body measurements? Especially when this criteria for "hotness" strikes me as completely arbitrary... It's like Megan Fox is supposed to represent this perfect ideal for female hotness and I'm supposed to start salivating every time I see her... Except that in reality I get a stronger reaction when I see my wife (or any number of other women I have known, for that matter). (And Aryn has the added bonus of being able to discuss mass extinction events events with me. ;) ) Who decided that Megan Fox was "hot" and that I'm supposed to be attracted to her? It definitely wasn't me... I prefer my wife, thank you very much.
If the last paragraph made anyone feel less insecure about their body, then mission accomplished, I guess... If it just made you want to gag, then I apologize... Next blog post will contain 500 pictures of our kids. Then you will really want to gag. MUHAHA! ;) (I guess that threat would be scarier if we actually had kids, huh? Hmmm... I guess I could post 5 million pictures of our house... Actually, I kind of like that idea as an ironic post. Maybe that will give me something to do if I got bored this weekend. xD )
As it turns out, we were both right... Sort of... If Wikipedia can be believed, the trilobites were already in a severe decline before the Permian-Triassic extinction event, and it is unknown if they finally went extinct during that particular event or if they had already died out before then. And while the eruption of the Siberian Traps did occur at around the same time as this extinction event and it probably contributed at least somewhat to the catastrophe, but extent of that contribution is highly unclear. I'm sure that you will all sleep better at night now that you have this information. Aryn and I are both very happy that we spent 20-30 minutes discussing this (at about 12:30am) instead of making dinner. Yes, it was a bit of a sacrifice, but we do what we have to do for the betterment of mankind. I mean, we couldn't have people believing that the trilobites survived the Permian-Triassic extinction event or that the Siberian Traps caused a different mass extinction, now could we? ;)
I went to dinner and a movie with Aryn last Saturday. As we walked by theater, we saw a poster for "Jennifer's Body" and Aryn asked me if I really thought she was hotter than Megan Fox. I said "yes." She smiled, although I don't think she believed me. I was being totally sincere, but I guess when women are taught to hate their bodies their entire lives that isn't easy to overcome. Well, even if Aryn doesn't believe me when I say I think she is "hotter" than Megan Fox, I think I can say quite confidently that I could not have a discussion about mass extinction events with Megan Fox. ;) And I have always said that the brain is far and away the sexiest part of woman's body. :)
Seriously, what is the big deal with Megan Fox? Why am I supposed to find her so "hot"? She's physically attractive, I guess, but I see physically attractive people every day. I don't see why that's so special. And am I the only one that is disturbed by the fact that this actress (who does not strike me as particularly talented) can get a ridiculous amount of media coverage just because she is "hot"? Thirty years after feminism are women still just the sum of their body measurements? Especially when this criteria for "hotness" strikes me as completely arbitrary... It's like Megan Fox is supposed to represent this perfect ideal for female hotness and I'm supposed to start salivating every time I see her... Except that in reality I get a stronger reaction when I see my wife (or any number of other women I have known, for that matter). (And Aryn has the added bonus of being able to discuss mass extinction events events with me. ;) ) Who decided that Megan Fox was "hot" and that I'm supposed to be attracted to her? It definitely wasn't me... I prefer my wife, thank you very much.
If the last paragraph made anyone feel less insecure about their body, then mission accomplished, I guess... If it just made you want to gag, then I apologize... Next blog post will contain 500 pictures of our kids. Then you will really want to gag. MUHAHA! ;) (I guess that threat would be scarier if we actually had kids, huh? Hmmm... I guess I could post 5 million pictures of our house... Actually, I kind of like that idea as an ironic post. Maybe that will give me something to do if I got bored this weekend. xD )