[VadeRetro]

What did I say to bring that on? ["Feel free to explain a woodpecker."]

Mantra for the threatened worldview. Think of a terrified ingénue menaced by a vampire. Instead of a crucifix, she whips out ... a woodpecker. Somehow, somewhere, you scared the poor silverback. Evidently not a silverback gorilla.

I can remember once having to admit I didn't know how the poor woodpecker got his tongue all twisted up like that, but nevertheless citing Dawkins that "Evolution is smarter than you are." (Which is always taken by creationists to mean that Evolution is some kind of anthropomorphic God to the evos after all.)

The evolution of the woodpecker's tongue.

[js1138]

The better to Kiss you with.

[Mr. Silverback]

Ah, yes, another "debunking" by evolutionists that doesn't really debunk anything. One reason the woodpecker is used is not because the tongue is so cool, but because it exhibits a number of structures that needed to appear fully formed and/or at the same time to confer genetic advantage. The tongue, the brain "shock-absorber," the musculature that drives the drill...each can have a separate "debunking," but the whole is more trouble. How would the ability to drive the head forward repeatedly under great force confer advantage if the brian turns to mush? Why would the shock absober confer advantag with no shocks to bsorb? Why would a long and/or sticky tongue confer advantage if there were no holes to reach into? and most importantly, how would a "proto-woodpecker) with a slightly longer tongue, slightly more cushioned brain and slightly bulked up neck muscles get any advantage from these useless mutations? Of course, this all assumes that there is such a thing as a beneficial mutation...seen any yet?

Threatened worldview my tuchis.