(the conclusion of the farming series, http://shkrobius.livejournal.com/tag/farmingRead more... )

"Social Darwinism" is the term of abuse used (by those who, ironically, claim to be strong adherents of the Darwin's theory of evolution) against those who try to apply Darwinian ideas to understanding of the society. That is said to be grossly inappropriate. Surely, the Darwinian ideas may not apply to the society. There is no strong evidence that ( Read more... )

Then, churls, their thoughts (although their eyes were kind)
To thy fair flower add the rank smell of weeds:
But why thy odour matcheth not thy show,
The soil is this, that thou dost common grow.Sonnet 69 ( Read more... )

cont. from http://shkrobius.livejournal.com/242806.htmlRead more... )

The point of having leaves is collecting light for biosynthesis rather than forming huge apical buds (= cabbage heads) doing nothing. Some people have strange theories about cabbages, like that the heads benefit the plant by retaining water in a manner of cacti. This is like saying that cystic fibrosis favors its victim by allowing them to retain ( Read more... )

related to Why are we white? discussion ( Read more... )

The common answer is that up North there is no selective pressure to keep sun-blocking melanin in the skin whereas the pale skin enhances photogeneration of vitamin D. Whitening of European skin is very recent, just 6-12 kya; http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content ( Read more... )