Thursday, May 28, 2009

Straining at Gnats, Swallowing Camels

"This is the first link to all humans," Hurum, of the Natural History Museum in Oslo, Norway, said in a statement. Ida represents "the closest thing we can get to a direct ancestor." ~National Geographic
So, they're calling this little critter "Ida", lauding it as the "missing link".

Prior to this find, they knew they were looking for something, but had no clue as to its location, didn't know what it looked like, couldn't tell you how old it is, never saw it before, and had no proof of its existence; so what do they list it as? Missing!

Is that scientific?

Oh, but they found it now! Honest!

They've apparently kept it under wraps for two years while they studied it, just to make sure.

Well, pardon my... "skepticism", but isn't that a lemur of some sort, not an ape-man?
Honestly, it looks almost like a cat to me, but I know it is a monkey.

Evolution has always puzzled me, because I can't figure out how a grown adult of the Western culture can believe whales used to have legs but they fell off when they went swimming.

Or, giraffes have long necks because they stretched them so much while eating leaves.

The first giraffe had a short neck, didn't get to eat anything, so he died. Since he didn't have any offspring, it was the other giraffes who saw his shortcomings and decided to evolve longer necks.

Much effort on the part of the giraffes took place, but they slowly, over a few zillion years, got longer necks.

Ah, but a problem appeared! All the giraffes died because their hearts weren't big enough to get blood to their brains. Oh, except one, or I guess two, that saw all the other giraffes passing out, so they quickly, over a zillion years, evolved larger hearts to accommodate.

So they now have 22 pound hearts that pump massive amounts of blood to supply the brain.

Uh oh, another problem! All the giraffes' brains blew out their ears when they lowered their heads for a drink, due to the enormous blood pressure. Except one or two that didn't drink anything for a few zillion years so they can have enough time to evolve rete mirabile, the blood vessel system that uses "countercurrent blood flow ", basically a sponge, to maintain a stable amount of pressure to the brain.

Alright, the giraffes can now drink without fear of brain explosions!

Oh no, another problem! There's a pride of lions charging at the drinking giraffes! As soon as all the giraffes lift their heads to run, however, they die of heart failure because the sponge is still withholding a large amount of blood. Several giraffes did not lift their heads, seeing how dangerous it is to do so, and instead got eaten by the lions, except one or two that managed to be overlooked.

These remaining giraffes evolved, over only a half of a zillion years, the part of the sponge that drains the blood, thus maintaining perfect balance and pressure.

There was also a little spurt of evolution about their legs' capillaries bursting due to the extreme pressure on them, but Evolution, being a wise ol' fella, soon provided the giraffes with g-suit-like skin on their legs to keep them from exploding.

And Evolution isn't a faith?

Back to the topic at hand:

If this is the link, and I know it isn't, how can it be in the lineage of (according to "them") the most successful mammal on earth, but they've only found one in the entire history of paleontology? Where's the rest of them? Didn't he have a mother?

I think they should look for a tattoo.

"O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane [and] vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:"
~1 Timothy 6:20

"[Ye] blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel." ~Matthew 23:24

9 comments:

AdamS said...

Evolution, or at least natural variation, is manifest everyday in new virus and bacteria strains. We have also harnessed the ability to change entire species by selective breeding.

That said, do even the most ardent followers of Darwin truly believe life began as one single cell organism from which we are all descended? (incest! lol)

The chief problem with evolutionary theory is the absence of these wonderful transitional fossils that should be there to chart the progress of humans evolving, or lemurs changing into monkeys, or whatever else.

Any belief that is held because of presumption, and which doesn't need evidence, is religion; so I very much agree with you that belief in evolution is a religion.

Unknown said...

Thank you for your comment, Adam!

Yes, natural variations in the genetic code of animals has, of course, since the beginning of time.

And yes, we have been able to change specific characteristics of species within species through selective breeding, but every mutation within the genetic code is a loss of information, not a gain.

Bacteria have been found to mutate to become immune to certain chemicals, but such a mutation is a loss of DNA.

So, going from the beginning to now, the first creature on earth should have had very few mutations and very large amounts of room in its DNA for mutation.

There can be massive changes in DNA within kinds, but never cross-species evolution.

Rebecca said...

You know what's going to happen don't you? Doesn't it always happen like this? "Scientists" make this wowzer wonderful find and they say it's a "missing link." (speaking of which, I think there's a link or two missing in their brain)In a few weeks/months/years, the great find turns out to be either a fake, or a species of some other kind.

This missing link won't last long. It can't. It's a lie, and lies don't last forever.

Unknown said...

I absolutely agree, Rebecca!

We know it's not what they say it is, but they've admittedly had two years to concoct any excuse and tie every loose end; I'm just afraid the Creationists won't have the man-power or resources to refute it.

Unknown said...

Jayhawk,

I added you to my blogroll. Keep up the good work.

Rebecca said...

We can just sit back and laugh at them because we know that they will recant this red-faced after a while.

Unknown said...

Oh yeah! This will be another soon-forgotten attempt at proving the unprovable.

Anonymous said...

I can recall a missing link years ago. It was not a link to any thing. Except the evolution hoax.

Unknown said...

Was it the "Link to Nowhere"?

Oh my, I think I've started something!

Websites That Make This One Possible

Ideations of a Jayhawker: Blog Policies

Comments
No vulgar, obscene, vile, or inappropriate language or insinuation may be used, and comments are subject to editing or deletion at my own discretion.

Please use proper spelling, following the rules of grammar of the English language.

The elimination of comments due to an objectionable account image may also be used at my discretion. Links given in comments that direct one to a website containing evil or unsightly content will also be deleted at my discretion.

Advocating or promoting specific acts of violence isn't allowed, but the vitriolic spewing of rants and ravings is encouraged.

Content

Content found in this blog is public domain, and it may be used freely; permission to recreate is automatically given, I only ask that I be informed when it is copied on another website; though this is not required, it would be considered a kind gesture.

Content found at any other website that was linked to from this page is beyond my control. I strive to put out as little objectionable content as possible here, but if you do find something that you feel is inappropriate, please contact me via comment, and I will duly edit it to a degree I deem appropriate.

Quotes you may find are all sic, including spelling, grammar, etc.

Following
Followers of this blog are more than welcome, but if you have a website that routinely displays content that you wouldn't allow a child to view or read, do not follow this blog unless you have a blogger warning previous to entering your website.
Failure to do so may result in being blocked from the followers list.

A follower may also be blocked if your account image is found to be objectionable.