2014 — 21 June: Saturday
Happily last night's low-pollen winning streak still seems to be in business this morning — I therefore won't jinx it by looking at a weather forecast as I listen to Brian Matthew and his "Sounds of the Sixties". And sup my initial cuppa. Is it midsummer yet? Have the Druids vacated1 Stonehenge?
It's been...
... quite some time (1,942 days!) since I installed the 60" Kuro plasma screen. I've just found out, the hard way, that its Indonesian remote control was still on its original set of Toshiba batteries — I've never bought any of that brand — as one of them went critical overnight... doing its best to glue the sliding battery cover shut with a white residue and leaking a sticky (probably unhealthy) fluid inside the case. All is now cleaned up, but it was a nasty moment.
I think that merits some breakfast.
I've never made...
... too much effort to get to grips with evolutionary biology. And I doubt this entertaining account counts...
... though I note I bought it the same day I did Stephen Jay Gould's final essay collection "I have landed", and the somewhat less elevated "Motley Crue: the dirt" by Neil Strauss. Actually, I have one other book by Mr Strauss, notable for this amazing "Warning" in tiny print on its back cover:
But that's a different story. [Pause] Where was I? Oh yes. Reading this not very satisfying piece on insights (if that's what they are) delivered by Game Theory into genetic diversity and fitness. Source and snippet:
According to the standard view of evolution, the further a generation lies in the past, the less impact it has on the present — your ancestors from 1,000 years ago probably had less effect on your fitness than your grandparents. But if the Berkeley team's insights hold up, "it shows us that every past generation contributes equally to what happens in the next generation," Stearns said. "That's an intriguing and wildly implausible claim from the standpoint of regular evolution."
A Game changer, perhaps? Not that evolution is even accepted by all too many members of what's laughingly called Homo Sapiens. I doubt other species spend that much time agonising about it, either...
It's also been...
... over seven years since I switched to Scottish Power. And well over three years since I left them. Look what arrived by snail mail today:
No hint of an apology, of course. Nor any interest. And when I phoned them (I knew their records wouldn't show my current bank) they still tried to get me back onboard.
I think that's the definition of 'chutzpah' :-)
I'm now ready...
... to tackle the second season of House of Cards — but not tonight! Beauty sleep (and a walk tomorrow) come first.