2009: Keep Evolving

From Steven Pinker "Have Humans Stopped Evolving?":

New results from the labs of Jonathan Pritchard, Robert Moyzis, Pardis Sabeti, and others have suggested that thousands of genes, perhaps as much as ten percent of the human genome, have been under strong recent selection, and the selection may even have accelerated during the past several thousand years. The numbers are comparable to those for maize, which has been artificially selected beyond recognition during the past few millennia.

We're still evolving, fast as maize in fact. All of which suggests that maize mazes will pose little trouble in the future. But don't get too excited:

The other is the empirical fact that human races and ethnic groups are psychologically highly similar, if not identical. People everywhere use language, get jealous, are selective in choosing mates, find their children cute, are afraid of heights and the dark, experience anger and disgust, learn names for local species, and so on. If you adopt children from a technologically undeveloped part of the world, they will fit in to modern society just fine. To the extent that this is true, there can't have been a whole lot of uneven psychological evolution postdating the split among the races 50-100,000 years ago (though there could have been parallel evolution in all the branches).

This is from the Edge World Question Center with the question "What have you changed your mind about?" These books are always great reads, here is the link.

(image credit: Maize Maze, bbc.co.uk)

2009: The Year to Be Predictions

Politics: Obama's transformation from a dashing if irrelevant leftward Senator to Rushmore Candidate sees him take increasingly Centrist positions, alienating his original base, but winning plaudits from rational Republicans as the Fox-focused coalition-that-was further disintegrates.

GeoPolitics: Iran enriches enough uranium for a bomb, still claims peaceful purposes, but the crisis escalates. Iraq's level of violence rises, reigniting the debate about how and when to withdraw. Afghanistan nevertheless becomes the focus of American warmaking, with modest gains and spectacular news coverage. The global slow-down hits China and India harder than predicted, leading to a reassessment of the Communist Party's wisdom in China and increasing tensions on the subcontinent. Russia plays dangerous games with energy and drives wedges between Europe and the U.S., especially the U.S. and France, Sarkozy and Obama'a honeymoon ends with public ugliness.

Science: Researchers clone human being. Nanotechnology dominates medical advances. Research totally changes our understanding of dark matter.

Wish list: Creation of Palestinian State. Timeline set for international mission to Mars to create permanent colony. Cure for Cancer. Cold Fusion.

Western New Year in the East

The Western new year has come to China, with limited celebrations in Beijing. The Chinese New Year is celebrated on the first day of the first lunar month - January 26 this year.

Kiritimati (Christmas Island - discovered by Captain Cook on Christmas Eve, 1777), a Pacific Ocean island with a population of about 6,000, is the earliest home to the new year. The new year came to Kiritimati at 5 am US eastern time.

(image credit: Chinese New Year from Meizhou, China, Anthony Hartman)

Time Travel and More

2008 was a big year in little physics. Quantum mechanics describes the tiny, bizarre world of particles, a world very much at odds with our meager perceptions. New Scientist reviews the year in the quantum world including the conjecture that the Large Hadron Collider could initiate time travel. The massive consolidation of energy produced by the LHC could theoretically lead to time loops. These loops, first found in Einstein's relativity by his friend Kurt Godel, could be exploited in the future to travel back to our time. There are, of course, plenty of practical and theoretical problems with these possibilities. But it's conceivable that the LHC could usher in the era of time travel and introduce us to people from the future. That is, once CERN turns it back on.

(image credit: newscientist.com)

2008's Worst Predictions

A top 10 of worst predictions from Foreign Policy. Bill Kristol, who's made a career of being wrong, is the unsurprising #1:

“If [Hillary Clinton] gets a race against John Edwards and Barack Obama, she’s going to be the nominee. Gore is the only threat to her, then. … Barack Obama is not going to beat Hillary Clinton in a single Democratic primary. I’ll predict that right now.” —William Kristol, Fox News Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006

(image credit: wrong is depicted, nytimes.com)

Song of the Day - Shearwater

Shearwater is the rare band fronted by an ornithologist.

Shearwater - The Snow Leopard
the way is to climb
the way is to lie still
and let the moon do its work on your body

Blago's Kipling Surprise

Earlier today, embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich celebrated Rudyard Kipling's birthday with a surprise political appointment. The appointment of former Illinois AG Roland Burris as President-elect Obama's replacement in the Senate was met with immediate criticism from just about everyone. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that Burris won't even be seated in the 111th Congress.

This is the second time in as many weeks that Blagojevich can, in some way, be linked to Rudyard Kipling, the English writer and Nobel Laureate who was born on December 30, 1865.

On December 19, Governor Blago recited most of the first stanza of Kipling's poem If when asserting his innocence over federal corruption charges. Below is a video of that famous press conference.



(photo of Rudyard Kipling from www.poemofquotes.com)

Baby Einsteins

Babies are born arithmeticians and other observations from The Economist.

(image credit: illustration by Jon Berkley, economist.com)

Anti-Produce Jihad?

An anti-juice/Zionist protester at a recent pro-Palestinian demonstration in NYC. Seems about right. (photo credit: www.buzzfeed.com)

Deadliest Infection in History Solved

The 1918 flu pandemic killed nearly 50 million people worldwide. The H1N1 influenza strain was incredibly virulent, taking mostly healthy victims and killing 2.5% of all those infected. Now researchers have isolated the group of 3 genes responsible for H1N1's stunning virulence. Those mutated genes caused many more deadly lung infections (pneumonia) than typical flu viruses, accounting for 1918's devastation.

(image credit: Seattle police wear masks during 1918 flu pandemic, Reuters)

Born Smilin'

A new study suggests that smiling is inborn rather than learned. The study, scheduled for publication in the January 2009 issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, compared the facial expressions of sighted and blind athletes from thousands of photos. The research demonstrated that both groups modified their facial expressions similarly depending on the social context. Everyone smiled when appropriate, with or without the ability to see.

(image credit: jester-records.com)

U.S. Leads in Wind Power

Move over, Germany. The United States is now the world's greatest producer of wind energy according to the American Wind Energy Association.

The U.S. now has over 21,000 MW of wind capacity which should generate over 60 billion kWh of electricity next year. This will be enough energy to serve over 5 million homes and eliminate the need for 91 million barrels of oil.

The Guinean Coup

Much has been happening in Guinea, one of the world's poorest countries, since its longtime President Lansana Conte died last week.

Hours after Conte's death, Capt. Moussa Camara led a military coup d’état, took control of the airwaves, and declared himself Guinea's new president. Thus far, the majority of Guineans have welcomed the move while government officials have apparently submitted to Camara's junta. Today, coup leaders took the bold step of demoting all military generals from Conte's regime.

The late Mr. Conte seized power through a military coup of his own in 1984 after the death of President Touré. The authoritarian leader, quoted last year as saying "I am the boss, others are my subordinates," was only Guinea's second president since the West African nation gained independence from France in 1958.

Here is more about the situation in Guinea from blog.foreignpolicy.com.

(image credit: www.un.org)

Zimbabwe's Suffering Continues

The United Nations now reports that over 1500 Zimbabweans have died from the cholera epidemic that is devastating the south African nation. Over 26,000 cases of the disease have been recorded since the outbreak started in August.

Several weeks ago Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, one of the most evil men alive today, declared that the cholera epidemic had ended.

Here is an earlier post for more on Zimbabwe's agony.

(image credit: www.cia.gov)

2008: A Space Odyssey

The past year was an incredible year for space exploration. The Phoenix Mars Lander discovered ice on Mars and NASA launched its most shuttle missions in six years. Here is a list of the top 10 space stories of 2008 from Space.com.

(image credit: www.history.com)

China Joins the Fray

In a landmark display of international cooperation, China yesterday sent two destroyers to the Gulf of Aden joining India, Russia, the European Union, and the United States in the battle against Somali pirates.

This follows the unanimous adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1851 that authorizes nations to pursue land operations against pirates inside Somalia. The resolution states that member states now have the power to "take all necessary measures that are appropriate in Somalia" and to suppress "acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea."

(Chinese navy special forces participate in Christmas Day anti-piracy drills; photo from Xinhua News Agency)

Taking Care of Business

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice received over $300,000 worth of jewelry from Arab monarchs in 2007 according to an inventory from the State Department’s Office of Protocol. The same leaders gifted President Bush with goodies worth one third of Queen Condi's take.

However, not all gifts received in 2007 by members of the Bush administration were opulent. The Dalai Lama presented First Lady Laura Bush with a $6 assortment of nuts and dried fruit and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates received a $345 dagger from King Abdullah II of Jordan.

Whatever the value, U.S. beneficiaries won't be able to keep their presents for long because most personal gifts must be turned over to the General Services Administration in accordance with federal law. (Unless, of course, they have already been eaten).

Saturn's Christmas Tilt

If you looked into a telescope early this morning you might have been greeted by Saturn's Christmas surprise.

Once every 14-15 years Saturn turns its characteristic rings edge-on to Earth as it orbits the sun. This phenomenon, known as ring-plane crossing, gives the planet a most unique appearance. Its rings seem to disappear when viewed through a telescope.

Hopefully some of you were able to spot Saturn's Christmas Day exhibition because the next time that the planet lets loose and gets visibly naked won't be until 2038.

(photo of 1995 Saturn tilt from www.hubblesite.org)

Iraqi Yuletide

The Associated Press reports that Iraq has declared Christmas an official holiday for the first time in the nation's history. This follows Baghdad's first public Christmas celebration earlier this week.

Positive news for Iraqi Christians whose numbers have significantly decreased during the U.S. presence in Iraq. Since 2003, sectarian violence has forced hundreds of thousands of Christians to flee their homeland.

(photo credit: Iraqis observe Christmas Mass in Baghdad; from AFP)

Christmas in the Gulf of Aden

Merry Christmas from the pirates of Aden.

Earlier today, a German warship thwarted an attempt by Somali pirates to hijack an Egyptian vessel and its 31 crew members in the Gulf of Aden. The pirates had the ship surrounded and were firing upon it when the Germans came to its rescue. One crew member was injured during the assault.

An official with the International Maritime Bureau reports that Somali pirates have been busy this year. In 2008, at least 110 ships were attacked and 42 hijacked by the pirates. 14 are still being held for ransom. Yemen recently announced plans for a regional center to help coordinate international anti-piracy efforts.

(photo credit: www.businessfacilities.com)

Christmas Images

Enjoy these extraordinary Christmas photos from across the world.

Merry Christmas

In 1897 Francis Pharcellus Church, who had been a war correspondent during the Civil War, was an editor at the New York Sun and answered a question from an 8-year-old girl. That editorial follows:

We take pleasure in answering at once and thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:

"Dear Editor:
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon"

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Song of the Day - Fairytale of New York

The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York
Got on a lucky one
Came in eighteen to one
I've got a feeling
This year's for me and you
So happy Christmas
I love you baby
I can see a better time
When all our dreams come true

Music and Evolution

The Economist reviews thoughts on why we make and love music. Sexual selection and group binding are very dubious explanations to me - enjoyment of music seems very unlikely to be an evolutionary adaptation. Steven Pinker's contention that music is something like auditory cheesecake - our brains, exquisitely wired to interpret sound, rejoice in the abundances of music - is more appealing. Whatever its evolution, human love of music is clearly wired. The enjoyment of rhythms comes early - rhythmically patting an infant to simulate a mother's heartbeat works like a charm.

Neuroscientist Peter Cariani made a great comment on the article, discussing music's pleasing neural stimulation as the result of neural activity mimicking. I like this explanation best and Pinker's explanation seems consistent with or part of this explanation. Cariani draws a nice comparison between the tension building and relief in music and that in playing catch (uncertainty, relief, repeat) and to sports and drama generally. I've often thought of sports in this way. Most people are familiar with the cognitive calm and pleasure found in the monotonies of catch or ping pong or basketball. And there's no doubt that, in general, sports evoke our evolutionary instincts. The comparison with music nicely frames the strange synchronies often experienced in sports as "the zone".

(image credit: economist.com)

Minnesota Senate Race 2009

It's official. Minnesota's extremely tight Senate race between incumbent Norm Coleman (R) and challenger Al Franken (D) will not be decided in 2008. In fact, a winner probably won't be declared before the 111th Congress begins work on January 6, 2009. Al Franken currently holds a lead of 47 votes.

New Hampshire owns the record for the longest and closest Senate election in history. In 1974, John Durkin (D) and the late Louis Wyman (R) battled all the way to the following September of 1975 before a winner was decided by a special election.

2008's New Creatures

Wired lists the top 10 organisms discovered in 2008. The ultra-small bacteria Chryseobacterium greenlandensis was found alive and well despite being frozen in 2 mile deep ice for 120,000 years. That's pretty old bacteria. But bacteria at lower levels of the glacier are thought to have survived even longer. For perspective, mitochondrial DNA studies have traced the common female ancestor of all living human beings to 160,000 years ago in Africa. Y chromosome studies have put the common male ancestor in Africa 60,000 years ago. This bacteria has survived in ice twice as long as the present human male line has existed.

(image credit: scanning electron microscope image of Chryseobacterium greenlandensis, Jennifer Loveland-Curtze, Penn State)

Chameleon Paper

A new synthetic material can change to any color when small voltage is applied.

Anniversary: First Modern Novel

The Tale of Genji, written by Japanese noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu 1,000 years ago, is sometimes considered the first novel. The distinction of first novel is much debated and The Tale of Genji is often described as the first modern or psychological novel, though that characterization is also disputed. I prefer to consider 2nd century Lucius Apuleius's The Golden Ass as the first novel on no other basis but its name (which is actually Metamorphoses but The Golden Ass is much better).

The Tale of Genji is a giant of the Japanese literary canon (and not just because it's enormous - well over 1,000 pages). Nobel prize winning novelist Yasunari Kawabata considered it "the highest pinnacle of Japanese literature". It's a book primarily about love and sex and as such represents a suitable origin for the modern novel. But, notably, it does not feature a man trying to turn himself into a bird and instead turning himself into an ass.

(image credit: 11th century handscroll of The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, wikipedia.org)

Longest Night of the Year

Last night was the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere. Yesterday was the winter solstice, marking the official beginning of our winter and heralding the return of light and increasingly longer days until the summer solstice, June 21 of next year. The solstice has been of great practical and symbolic importance to human beings for millennia.

The Norse god Odin (pictured) and his brothers killed the frost giant Ymir and used his body to create the earth - Ymir's brains, interestingly, became the clouds. Odin has long been associated with the Yule winter celebration and has some striking similarities to old Saint Nick.

I've been listened to the band Fleet Foxes's self-titled debut album a lot lately and their great song White Winter Hymnal suggests, rather ominously, the twin solstices - the hints of summer in winter's harshness. It's hard not to consider human solidarity in the chorale. The video for the song, directed by Sean Pecknold, is below.



(image credit: 18th century Icelandic manuscript shows Odin, who slew the frost giant Ymir, wikipedia.org)

Christmas in Baghdad

A nice story about the first public Christmas celebration in Baghdad. (photo credit: CNN)

Science Fight

John Tierney is not impressed with Obama's new science adviser John Holdren. He really goes after the guy but I especially like the criticism that Holdren badly lost a bet - it's great when people remember bets. Here's the link to the Long Bets site again, it's fun to read through the predictions, like this one "There will be a casino on the moon by 2040." I say no.

South Korean Slobberknocker

Below is a video of the South Korean Parliament brawl on December 18, 2008. The fight broke out when the majority Grand National Party (GNP) used furniture to barricade themselves inside a committee room for the purpose of introducing a free trade bill with America in the absence of opposition. Members of the opposition Democratic Party used sledgehammers to try and break through the doors. The video begins with GNP members spraying sledgehammer wielding Democratic Party members with fire extinguishers. Communism, eat your heart out.

Humans and Naked Mole Rats

When it comes to the sanitation systems of animals, humans rank right with the naked mole rat (pictured). A new paper examines the link between social behavior and waste management. Some species have removed the matter of waste altogether. Some parasites, bees, wasps and ant larvae possess a blind gut - a closed digestive system in which no waste leaves the body. The authors of the study hypothesize that this highly effective sanitation system (no waste) facilitated the complex, structured social systems observed in bees and ants.

Humans have developed external means to remove our waste, similar to the naked mole rat, which builds latrines in underground tunnels. Interestingly, the naked mole rat is the only known mammal to exhibit eusociality - the reproductive class social system (queens and workers, etc) well-known in ants, wasps and bees. Also of note, the rat is nearly blind, almost cold-blooded and has no pain receptors in its skin - all seemingly conducive to an active subterranean social life and leaving only the question, why is the naked mole rat so good-looking?

(image credit: Trisha M Shears, wikipedia.org)

Obama Adds Scientists

The President-elect named four prominent scientists to his incoming administration. Harvard physicist and climate expert John Holdren will be his top science adviser. Also named are another climate expert, marine biologist Jane Lubcheno, and biologist Eric Lander and Nobel winner Harold Varmus. Holdren, Lander and Varmus will co-chair the president's Council of Advisers on Science and Technology. Obama said in his radio address: "Today, more than ever before, science holds the key to our survival as a planet and our security and prosperity as a nation". This is all very welcome news and almost makes up for this.

The Sausage Conjecture

That could be the title for any number of posts. But this one is about the mathematical efficiencies involved with packaging shapes. Here is a strange, enjoyable Christmas-themed article on that concept. It's a scientific guide to gift wrapping if you have enormous numbers of spheres or circles that must be wrapped together. Yep, the sausage conjecture. It has nothing to do with this.

(image credit: newscientist.com)
 

Dragon Millipede

The bright pink dragon millipede (pictured) is one of over 1,000 new species discovered in the Mekong Delta during a 10 year project. Other species found include the Laotian rock rat and a bright green pit viper. (h/t DJ) The pink dragon made #3 on National Geographic's Top 10 New Species of 2007.

(image credit: International Institute for Species Exploration/Arizona State University, nationalgeographic.com)

Somali Pirates, continued

Somali pirates will receive a huge ransom for the ammunition-laden ship MV Faina that they captured in September. The ship's crew (including the body of the captain who died of a heart attack) has been held by the pirates since the hijack. The United States Navy has closely monitored the vessel, which contains a significant collection of weapons including tanks, artillery and small arms. The modern-day pirates have generally been successful in exacting ransoms.

(image: pirates guard the MV Faina, US Navy/Getty)

Who's the Boss? (Week 16)

A complete disaster last week, as I went 4-10-2. The Boss was also bad, 5-9-2. I need a huge comeback the next 2 weeks to win the Danza.

"In an earthquake, I shouldn't run out of the house - I should run into it." - Tony Danza

Jacksonville (+7) at Indianapolis (B)
Baltimore (+4) at Dallas (B)
Pittsburgh (B) (-2) at Tennessee
Miami (B) (-4) at Kansas City
Arizona (B) (+8) at New England
Cincinnati (+3) at Cleveland (B)
San Francisco (B) (-5.5) at St. Louis
New Orleans (-7) at Detroit (B)
San Diego (B) (+3.5) at Tampa Bay
NYJ (B) (-4) at Seattle
Houston (B) (-7) at Oakland
Buffalo (B) (+7) at Denver
Philadelphia (-5) at Washington (B)
Atlanta (+3) at Minnesota (B)
Carolina (+3) at NYG (B)
Green Bay (+4) at Chicago (B)

Mike season: 72-76-3 (.486)
Boss season: 55-49-2 (.529)

Tactile-Emotion Synesthesia

There are now two confirmed cases of tactile-emotion synesthesia, a newly documented class of the well established phenomenon. People with tactile-emotion synesthesia experience touch emotionally. The newly confirmed synesthetes, both young women, have been evaluated by researchers V.S. Ramachandran and David Brang and their unique perceptions have been scientifically confirmed. One of the women experiences denim as depressing and disgusting. She probably watches Letterman (see photo).

(image credit: mysupersweetdiary.blogspot.com)

Immigrant Flow

An animation of immigration by region over time. Each dot is 100 people. (h/t Andrew Sullivan)



Immigration to the US, 1820-2007 v2 from Ian Stevenson on Vimeo.

Anniversary: Powered Flight

On this day in 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright accomplished the first powered flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. They flew 3 successful short flights (the longest 200 feet at 10 feet off the ground) in their Wright Flyer I - a spruce airplane with an engine built in their bicycle shop. They had intended the flights for September but delays pushed the tests until mid-December. The conditions for the first powered flights were horrible - freezing cold with 30 mph winds and icy sand.

(image credit: Orville flying, Wilbur running alongside, photo by John T. Daniels)

TIME Person of the Year

The incoming 44th President, Barack Obama. Runners-Up: Paulson, Sarkozy, Palin and Chinese film and Olympic ceremony director Zhang Yimou.

(image credit: Out of Many, We are One, Anne Savage.)

Natural Hazards

A new study demonstrates where nature has killed people in the United States over a 34 year period. Heat and drought accounted for the most deaths, nearly 20% of the total.

I guess Chuck Norris doesn't count as part of nature because, as chucknorrisfacts.com points out, "The leading causes of death in the United States are: 1. Heart Disease 2. Chuck Norris 3. Cancer."

Also, this is worth noting: "Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table, because he only recognizes the element of surprise."

(image: yooryou.com)

Biggest Financial Fraud in History

Why not the biggest financial fraud in history during the worst global financial crisis since the Great Depression? The Economist on Bernie Madoff's enormous pyramid scheme and Nouriel Roubini updating the recession below.

What Killed the Dinosaurs?

The asteroid impact theory of dinosaur extinction has gained prominence since Luis Walter Alvarez proposed it 1980. But the debate over what killed the dinosaurs has continued with volcanic activity long considered another likely suspect. Now new studies have put deadly volcanism, effecting atmospheric and temperature changes, back in focus as a primary cause.

(image credit: illustration Nicolle Rager, National Science Foundation, livescience.com)

Synthetic Genomics

Craig Venter talks to The Economist about the biological industrial revolution. Venter is featured as #3 in Time's Top 10 science stories of the year (LHC #1). Time put together a strange and enjoyable Top 10 Everything of 2008.

Anniversary: Basketball

On this day in 1891 Canadian coach James Naismith introduced the game called "Basket Ball" at Springfield College in Massachusetts. Naismith laid out 13 rules and the original game used a soccer ball and a peach basket (see photograph). "Running" with the ball was counted as a foul until 1922. Without a rule change, Patrick Ewing would have been the most prolific fouler in history.

(image credit: the first basketball court, with peach basket, at Springfield College)

FLUNKING LUNCH

I know a good number of Duke University graduates read this blog (Duke is my alma mater, 1999). I am happy to present a story about Duke from fellow Duke grad Bob Williams. Bob wrote this great account of his experience with Duke physical education in 1966. Enjoy.

FLUNKING LUNCH by Bob Williams

There were many things about college life that puzzled me: micro-economics; the poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins; calculating water potential in plants; identifying meat in the cafeteria – to name just a few. But of all the institutional curiosities, none was more bewildering to me than physical education. I mean, what was the point? At the time, I thought the only reason for requiring it was to justify all the coaches that were necessary for one sport or another. But now, looking back, I wonder if p.e. was in the curriculum for another purpose altogether. Perhaps it was there as a Machiavellian ploy to intensify the intellectual experience by contrast, if you will. Perhaps not. Whatever the case, the Physical Education Department at Duke in the 1960s offered ample opportunities for us to forget, at least for a while, that we were in a place of higher learning.

When I entered Duke in 1966, students were required to pass four semesters of p.e for graduation. The only exceptions to that rule were the jocks. All other freshmen were given a physical aptitude test and, according to the results, were placed in either the regular p.e. class or Individual Development. The regular class comprised a sampler of activities, including swimming, rebound tumbling, volleyball, and wrestling. The Individual Development course was designed for those who were physically challenged by injury, birth defect, or an inability to walk and chew gum at the same time. Its main objective was to keep students from hurting themselves or each other.

CONTINUE FLUNKING LUNCH