Evolution, through the eyes of a metaphorically inclined computer programmer:
Old age is a feature, not a bug. With less turn-over it would be difficult to life as a whole to adapt to changing environment. It has drawbacks as knowledge lost by the dead individual. Advanced life forms overcome that with culture. Earlier simpler life forms probably lacked the aging feature, and were superseded by others who had it.
Thank you, Wiley, for passing that along. Your ability to stay current with the Slashdot comments is both a mystery and an inspiration.
A few days ago, the Texas Board of Education met to discuss the possibility of repealing a rule that requires that the "strengths and weaknesses" of all scientific theories be taught.
At the center of the debate is evolution. Creationists love the rule because it gives them opportunities to get weird in classrooms. People afraid of fundamentalist religious lunatics love the proposed repeal because it would eliminate some opportunities for creationists to get weird. In state sponsored schools. In front of children. Here's an excerpt from an article about the lead up to that meeting:Protesters and activists gathered nearby, fervently arguing their sides of the debate.
"My grandfather was not a monkey!" one woman shouted at a crowd before the meeting began.
I think I need to talk to the reporter. Fervently arguing one side of the debate? Pointing out that her grandfather was not a monkey is fervently arguing her side of the debate? The woman clearly thinks so, and fair enough to acknowledge that. But. I think the words argue and debate might be feeling a little taken-advantage-of, no?
