Darwin Day!!!

Darwin Day!!!
Happy Holiday!
It was Darwin's 200th Birthday on Feb. 12th!To all the scientifically minded people (many who hold religious beliefs), atheists, and agnostics have a day to celebrate, Darwin Day! All over the world there were celebrations and events. Charles Darwin was a scientist famous for his theories on natural selection and evolution, culminating in a book he published in 1859 of "On the Origin of Species". Celebrate!1) Cheers once for Darwin’s inspiration;
He once said, " My theology is a simple muddle: I cannot look at the universe as a result of blind chance, yet I can see no evidence of beneficent Design"Clearly his logic told him that there has to be an explanation for all that was created2) Cheers twice for Darwin’s intelligence/curiosity. It helped him to discover the theories of evolution and natural selection.His observations and experiments allowed him to come up with conclusions that made sense about how all things were made.3) Cheers thrice for Darwin’s courage w/o his determination

to get his work out there despite criticism from some church officials and other individuals. For his ideas he was labeled as a "heretic" by some. The Church of England attacked him clamorously. Fun Facts

1. Darwin had a zeal for strange food. He once ate an owl which he found "indescribable."armadillos and agoutis (the rodents were "best meat I ever tasted," he said). 2. Darwin dreamed of becoming a doctor, but he could not stand the sight of blood. Therefore, he studied divinity and became a rural cleric.3. Darwin’s' nose almost cost him the voyage on the Beagle.4. A Mountain was named after Charles Darwin.5. The full title of "On the Origin of Species was On the Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life.6. Darwin did not coin the phrase" Survival of the Fittest" It was actually Herbert Spencer7. Like Einstein, Darwin married his cousin, his first cousin to be exact.8. Darwin lost his faith in Christianitydue to the fact; he could not understand why God could allow such inhumanities as he witnessed such as slavery and the awful living conditions of the Tierra del Fuego
9. Darwin was a Backgammon enthusiastEvery night between 8-8:30 pm Darwin would play 2 games of backgammon with Emma. For years, he kept score of the game.
10. The Church finally apologized to Darwin.

When Darwin’s’ work was finally accessible to the public the church attacked him clamorously. Though, 126 years after his death, the Church of England finally apologized to Darwin.

It's the Ice Age!!!

Tonight, it will feel like the Ice Age!!! It will be South Florida’s coldest temperatures of the year !!! Remember to water your plants. Fortunately, the weather will be back to normal by the weekend. Dress warmly. Wear lots of clothing. Also, here is a little tip; rub your hands together to produce heat, it helps. Our prehistoric ancestors, the Neanderthals whom existed 100,000 to 40,000 years ago during the ice age adapted to the cold similar to how we currently adapt by using fire, dwelling in caves, and using clothing. The difference is that access to protect ourselves from the cold is much easier due to technology. We have electrical houses for heaters and we do not have to hunt for fur on animals anymore. We have shopping stores nearby that we can purchase them from. Last but not least, we have invented a hot beverage called hot tea to help us keep warm!!! See how much we have evolved.

In fact, not only do tools help us adapt to extreme climate, but so does our physiology. According to Bergmann's Rule he observed that within the same species of warm blooded animals, populations having less body massed individuals are more often found in warmer environments, while those with more body mass live in colder locations.. Joel Allen went further in his study than Bergman by observing that the length of the limbs and other body parts helped them cope in certain environments. Long limbs help ward off heat in warm climates and short limbs and a stocky body help retain heat for cold environments. Last but not least, our biological responses help us adapt to the environment. Muscle activity increases when we shiver and results in heat production. Our basal metabolism rate increases, fat insulates in our organs, and/or our blood flow pattern changes. Warm Climates; sweating is a mechanism for the clearing of too much body heat. Humans have many mechanisms to cope in cold weather thanks to our intelligence and adaptability. As Gloria Gaynor sang “I WILL SURVIVE” and so will you!!!

Careful, it's a jungle out there!!! You could get eaten.

Miami is a perfect combination of a tropical paradise and an urban oasis. It, like other cities is reminiscent of a jungle, because of the variety of people that inhabit the city and how we all our competing to survive; akin to animals. Darwin had a theory that the progression of evolution was based on his theory natural selection. Basically, the term was later coined “survival of the fittest”. Darwin said that "In the struggle for survival, the fittest win out at the expense of their rivals because they succeed in adapting themselves best to their environment."

Those who adapted the best will be able to thrive and create more offspring. Humans are unique to other animals in that we have evolved in a way where we have developed mechanisms in which we use to not only to survive but experience a better quality of life; also more so than others in our kind . In essence, our wit has allowed us to claw our way to the top in a less dangerous manner. However, despite rules and mechanisms there are people who will break them and will pounce on you when you are vulnerable; hence, yes, humans are animals too. We have come a long way since the cavemen days, but be wary there are people who can’t tame the beast within.  It’s a jungle out there!!!You could get eaten.

            For instance, we have evolved to the point where we have developed evolutionary mechanisms that tend to restrain aggressive behavior because it is dangerous and can be deadly. The other day I was cut off by a driver in the street. His car crashed into to mine. I was angry and like what most people would have done in my situation I did not react violently, since there were other means to solve the situation. I called the police and filed a police report, so that the perpetrators would be fined and would have to pay for the damage. We have evolved where many matters can be dealt with through communication. Contrary to our prehistoric ancestors, they would have probably reacted in a physically volatile manner that may have resulted in their deaths. Now, that we are more sensible beings we can prevent less harm by using our wit (evolutionary mechanisms).