tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post5128278634758136154..comments2024-03-18T21:52:45.757-07:00Comments on CONTRARY BRIN: Another look at EARTH: 22 years later. Plus a Reader's Guide!David Brinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-70071516971020727212012-12-09T11:25:20.568-08:002012-12-09T11:25:20.568-08:00Locumranch: "deliberately" should be avo...<br />Locumranch: "deliberately" should be avoided. Also plants do not emit oxygen to poison neighbors. Oxygen is released in the creation of carbohydrates to store energy and the plants need to take it in again when then use the carb-energy to do other things.<br /><br />We are capable of change in our perceived self-interest. Because we perceive.<br /><br /><br />-->onward!David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-66942261372784998722012-12-09T10:46:07.304-08:002012-12-09T10:46:07.304-08:00Excepting the teleological implications, Dr. Peter...Excepting the teleological implications, Dr. Peter Ward is one smart dude. He is spot on with the assertion that different life forms deliberately poison their immediate environment in order to obtain competitive advantage.<br /><br />This is how we obtain antibiotics. Our little friends the fungi secure their territory by producing chemicals to kill off & limit the competitive infringement of bacteria. <br /><br />We also tend to forget that oxygen, produced by our "buddies" the plants,is actually an environmental toxin designed to disadvantage competitive plant species.<br /><br />But it doesn't end there. More complex plant species tend to evolve chemical poisons specific to certain insect and/or animal predators, often trapping predator & prey into a cycle of dependency. <br /><br />This principle could even explain the universal human compulsion to clear-cutting, monoculture & parking lots, environment changes that (unconsciously and/or deliberately?) disadvantage our designated predators or competitors. <br /><br />Lions, wolves & bears can't spring at us from concealment (long grass, brush or forest) if there is no cover (concealment) for them to hide in. Which gives us the advantage.<br /><br />At a stretch, it could even explain human participation in climate change because it (CC) will allow us to kill off our competitors in a much more efficient manner. After all, those polar bears are a lot easier to avoid & kill now that don't have anywhere to hide.<br /><br />We may as well paint a target on their chests.<br /><br />Best. locumranchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-70207970530605763622012-12-08T18:37:33.821-08:002012-12-08T18:37:33.821-08:00Pretend To Be a Time-Traveler Day will be celebrat...Pretend To Be a Time-Traveler Day will be celebrated last week, once we get it organized...Jonathan S.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-11485909028874636392012-12-08T18:31:42.579-08:002012-12-08T18:31:42.579-08:00While "Existence" has the advantage of a...While "Existence" has the advantage of an older, wiser, more experienced author, "Earth" still works better for me in terms of the plot and setting "grabbing" me. Not to take away from the later work, but "Earth" holds up quite well two decades later.<br /><br />And just so everyone "here" knows, I haven't been "showing" my "face" as often for only one reason--my workplace has finally managed to adequately block the site (not Brin in particular, but all "personal" websites). So it's strictly off-hours for the forseeable future.LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-22794242633111589062012-12-08T16:13:14.290-08:002012-12-08T16:13:14.290-08:00I know and have debated Ward.I know and have debated Ward.David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-64267865947107788812012-12-08T14:31:47.572-08:002012-12-08T14:31:47.572-08:00http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2...http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2010/01/13/paleontologist-peter-wards-medea-hypothesis-life-is-out-to-get-you/<br /><br />needs to be considered, given the evidence that's been developing.Hank Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07521410755553979665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-11603248407577398922012-12-08T13:05:11.241-08:002012-12-08T13:05:11.241-08:00RE future insights found in "Earth"...
...RE future insights found in "Earth"...<br /><br />While the Helvetian War may be presented in metaphorical terms (an invasion of Switzerland is a longshot)...<br /><br />I no longer doubt its inevitability (though possibly but not necessarily a war of physical violence).<br /><br />The only question is what form it takes.<br /><br />At least that's my view... but it makes a good 'study question'!<br /><br />Tom Crowlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04444476865484424912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-80966960927734912432012-12-08T12:41:34.552-08:002012-12-08T12:41:34.552-08:00I always thought Pretend to be a Time Traveller da...I always thought Pretend to be a Time Traveller day was tomorrow.Tony Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14578160528746657971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-61166864004024876152012-12-08T11:41:43.172-08:002012-12-08T11:41:43.172-08:00There's also a Pretend to Be a Time Traveler D...There's also a Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day on September 12, but December 8 is the original-and-still-valid date: <br /><br />http://dresdencodak.com/2009/09/10/pretend-to-be-a-time-traveler-day-this-weekend/<br /><br />Thatis - it WAS the official date until 2114 when everything changed. Sigh.David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.com