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What Birds See [evolution of the eye]
Scientific American ^ | July 2006 | Timothy H. Goldsmith

Posted on 07/03/2006 10:05:56 AM PDT by doc30

We humans customarily assume that our visual system sits atop a pinnacle of evolutionary success. It enables us to appreciate space in three dimensions, to detect objects from a distance and to move about safely. We are exquisitely able to recognize other individuals and to read their emotions from mere glimpses of their faces. In fact, we are such visual animals that we have difficulty imagining the sensory worlds of creatures whose capacities extend to other realms--a night-hunting bat, for example, that finds small insects by listening to the echoes of its own high-pitched call. Our knowledge of color vision is, quite naturally, based primarily on what humans see: researchers can easily perform experiments on cooperative human subjects to discover, say, what mixtures of colors look the same or different. Although scientists have obtained supporting information from a variety of other species by recording the firing of neurons, we remained unaware until the early 1970s that many vertebrates, mostly animals other than mammals, see colors in a part of the spectrum that is invisible to humans: the near ultraviolet. ...

(Excerpt) Read more at sciam.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: bird; creationism; evolution; eye; ignoranttheocrats; kindastupid; ludditefundies; lyingforthelord; paganjunk; pavlovian; roadtohorseshitpaved; saganscience; youngearthcultists
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To: Skooz
Christians reject modern medicine? Who knew?

Not all of them, just the crazy ones.

81 posted on 07/03/2006 12:51:21 PM PDT by balrog666 (There is no freedom like knowledge, no slavery like ignorance. - Ali ibn Ali-Talib)
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To: Tokra

Now I didn't say 'evidence', did I? I said *unique evidence*. Do you know the difference?

As for 'vestigal' organs, do you think that 'loss of function' is evidence *for* evolution? That's decline. Much more consistent w/ creation than evolution.

Any way to convince someone like you (who believes that loss of function = evolution) that 'evolution' isn't true?

Doesn't look like it.

You aren't bright enough to realize that your own examples are inconsistent w/ your beliefs.


82 posted on 07/03/2006 12:51:36 PM PDT by GourmetDan
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To: Skooz

Your no attorney, and yes you are defending those ignorant people because you damn well know the ignorant racists that would drive everyone out of the Republican party except white christians are the ones I was talking about from my first post. I was quite clear in each and every post and you in your zest to defend such human filth are their willing collaborator.


83 posted on 07/03/2006 12:51:51 PM PDT by Sentis (You said the world doesn't need salvation so why do I hear it calling out for a Savior.)
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To: balrog666

I know and have known many hundreds of Christians. Maybe a few thousand. Not one has ever rejected modern medicine.

Maybe you know some that do.


84 posted on 07/03/2006 12:54:38 PM PDT by Skooz (Chastity prays for me, piety sings...Modesty hides my thighs in her wings...)
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To: Sentis
Your no attorney,

You, sir, are correct. If I were I would probably be driving a much nicer car.

and yes you are defending those ignorant people because you damn well know the ignorant racists that would drive everyone out of the Republican party except white christians are the ones I was talking about from my first post. I was quite clear in each and every post and you in your zest to defend such human filth are their willing collaborator.

You, sir, are deranged.

85 posted on 07/03/2006 12:56:20 PM PDT by Skooz (Chastity prays for me, piety sings...Modesty hides my thighs in her wings...)
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To: newguy357

*If* human eyes have 'devolved', how does an evo think that it is evidence that these *higher forms* of eyes 'evolved'?

Decline (that supposedly doesn't exist) is now considered evidence *supporting* evolution.

That's one confused set of believers.


86 posted on 07/03/2006 12:56:28 PM PDT by GourmetDan
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To: Central Scrutiniser

LOL! Great cartoon.


87 posted on 07/03/2006 12:59:11 PM PDT by Wolfstar (Where you go with me, heaven will always be.)
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To: Sentis

Your set of assumptions and generalizations is truly breathtaking, in addition to being unnecesarily rude and exclusionary. I will assume that you're having a bad day and don't really believe what you are writing.

If you were at all familiar with Christian history, we have some shameful antecedents but the Bible is, and Bible-believing Christians are generally, on the side of treating every individual as worthy of respect and the love of God - Buddhists, atheists, Hindus, street people or whatever. These groups are excluded neither from conservatism, the opportunity to be served by those Christians, nor acceptance of Christ (the one and only Savior whose sacrifice provides the only way for us to approach a holy God.)

What tends to crank folks off is the Bible's claim to be absolute moral truth (which is either true or not - can't be both and can't be true for some and not others).

I would also venture that those who take the Bible seriously are more likely to be assisting in needy and diverse communities, donating to various relief efforts, and caring about folks like you.

The party that wants to see themselves as an enlightened advocate for minorities, the poor and downtrodden, etc. wants everyone else to give to their chosen causes. Its members, particularly its leaders rarely do so on an individual basis, and though many of their theories are destructive, they continue to "preach" them - every child a wanted child - welfare without accountability - value and restriction free sexual mores.

The contrast to the liberal viewpoint occurs in primarily the conservative/Republican arena. A good portion of the conservative base is made up of Christian conservatives, who take the Good Samaritan story to heart; believe that resources should be stewarded - financial, environmental; the proper role of government should be limited; individual responsibility and person to person assistance and accountability emphasized, rather than institutional, government largesse; individuals/businesses are entitled to benefit from their efforts; that people who are physically/mentally capable must work for a living; and wrongdoers should be punished.

I'm surprised you have a problem with that.

Blessings,


88 posted on 07/03/2006 1:01:22 PM PDT by Wicket (God bless and protect our troops and God bless America)
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To: Windsong; Central Scrutiniser
You do know that this is a Conservative site, right?

It may be a politically conservative site, but it is not a religious site. It is also an open forum and until that changes, I see zero wrong with the cartoon. I suspect you do because it makes the point wonderfully.

89 posted on 07/03/2006 1:02:42 PM PDT by Wolfstar (Where you go with me, heaven will always be.)
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To: Sentis
No,no,no,no,no!!! I real conservative is one who will say to Jesus "Hell yeah I'll cast the first stone!".
90 posted on 07/03/2006 1:05:20 PM PDT by BJClinton (What happens on Free Republic, stays on Google.)
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To: Wolfstar

Cartoons are for those who can barely think at grade-school levels.

Glad you thought it was wonderful.


91 posted on 07/03/2006 1:09:00 PM PDT by GourmetDan
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To: Wolfstar

I think the problem Windsong had with the cartoon was not so much its content but the fact that it is the product of an extreme, leftwing, conservative-hating cartoonist.


92 posted on 07/03/2006 1:11:13 PM PDT by Skooz (Chastity prays for me, piety sings...Modesty hides my thighs in her wings...)
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To: GourmetDan
As for 'vestigal' organs, do you think that 'loss of function' is evidence *for* evolution? That's decline. Much more consistent w/ creation than evolution.

How do you figure "loss of function" is "more consistent" with creationism? Evolution means change. Snakes obviously had legs at one point and through evolution, lost them. How do you explain why some snakes have vestigal legs without resorting to "God made them that way". And if he did - why????

93 posted on 07/03/2006 1:11:37 PM PDT by Tokra (I think I'll retire to Bedlam.)
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To: GourmetDan
Cartoons are for those who can barely think at grade-school levels. Glad you thought it was wonderful.

And I'm glad to learn you think humor is only for the inferior among us. Most revealing.

94 posted on 07/03/2006 1:13:32 PM PDT by Wolfstar (Where you go with me, heaven will always be.)
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To: doc30
We humans customarily assume that our visual system sits atop a pinnacle of evolutionary success.

Not this human. Tis our brains and consciousness that sit atop a pinnacle, not our physical capabilities. I thought pretty much every adult knew our eyes aren't the best - neither is our sense of smell or hearing.

95 posted on 07/03/2006 1:15:32 PM PDT by D-fendr
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To: GourmetDan
The truth is, there is no evidence that uniquely supports an evolutionary model; therefore, you cannot say that evolution is a 'fact'. It is merely 'defined truth'.

The truth is - you're wrong. There HAS been definitive proof of observed evolution. A new fruit fly species (not just a different breed of fruit fly - but an entire new species)was evolved in the laboratory in 1971. Check out the research yourself - then close your eyes and tell yourself that it is all an illusion.

T. Dobzhansky, & O. Pavlovsky, "An experimentally created incipient species of Drosophilia", Nature 23, P. 289-292 (1971)

96 posted on 07/03/2006 1:18:10 PM PDT by Tokra (I think I'll retire to Bedlam.)
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To: Skooz
I know and have known many hundreds of Christians. Maybe a few thousand. Not one has ever rejected modern medicine. Maybe you know some that do.

Stop by the crevo threads and meet them sometime.

97 posted on 07/03/2006 1:19:08 PM PDT by balrog666 (There is no freedom like knowledge, no slavery like ignorance. - Ali ibn Ali-Talib)
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To: doc30
As a parrot owner, this was interesting reading. I have read that parrots accept or reject food based on some UV coloring. It explains why they are such messy eaters because they will eat, say, only the freshest parts of a fruit and discard the rest of it. We humans look at that and see messiness and wastefulness. The bird, however, sees it like we would if we were trimming fat off a steak. mmmm...steak....
98 posted on 07/03/2006 1:19:40 PM PDT by Tall_Texan (I wish a political party would come along that thinks like I do.)
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To: GourmetDan
Cartoons are for those who can barely think at grade-school levels. Glad you thought it was wonderful.

Gee - I'll have to remember that the next time I laugh at some of the cartoons posted by Pooky. I guess I better not look at them any more since my enjoyment of them must prove that I can barely think at a grade-school level.

99 posted on 07/03/2006 1:21:42 PM PDT by Tokra (I think I'll retire to Bedlam.)
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To: Wolfstar
And I'm glad to learn you think humor is only for the inferior among us. Most revealing.

Yep, they always "out" themselves, don't they?

100 posted on 07/03/2006 1:23:20 PM PDT by balrog666 (There is no freedom like knowledge, no slavery like ignorance. - Ali ibn Ali-Talib)
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