Category Archives: Discursive Detours

A catch-all category

Half-Million-Year-Old Structure: Rethinking Cavemen, Origins

Wood generally doesn’t last long if left out in the open. That’s why finding interlocking logs near the Kalambo River is such a big deal. Well, part of the reason. They’ve been submerged, it that’s the right word, in wet … Continue reading

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The Cabrières Biota: an Ordovician Snapshot

When I saw “epic importance” and “fossils” in the same headline, I figured whatever’d been found would be at least somewhat out of the ordinary. I’ve learned to take journalistic puffery with at least a few grains of salt. But … Continue reading

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Capital Punishment: It Could be Worse

It seems that, no matter how bad things are: they could be worse. Take Alabama’s recent execution of a Mr. Smith, for example. There’s been discussion of whether or not using nitrogen gas was okay, along with the ongoing capital … Continue reading

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Doom, Gloom, and Dystopias: But Hope is an Option

This week I’ll be talking about what’s changed over the last century, what hasn’t, and why I think progress isn’t inevitable. On the other hand, I don’t think we’re doomed. That last may take explaining. Yesterday’s Future It was the … Continue reading

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T. Rex, or Not T. Rex, That is the Question

Headlines about Tyrannosaurus rex, scientists, and “what we thought we knew” being wrong started showing up in my news feed last week. It’s been a while since I talked about dinosaurs, and I found Nicholas R. Longrich and Evan T. … Continue reading

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