What explains the ascendance of Homo sapiens? Start by looking at our pets - The Boston Globe

This argument seems to put the cart before the horse, so to speak:

The centrality of animals in that early artwork has long intrigued anthropologists. Some have suggested that the animals were icons in early religions, or visions from mystical trances. Shipman, however, argues that the paintings serve a more straightforward function: conveying data between members of a species that was growing increasingly adept at hunting and controlling other animals. Lascaux, in this reading, was basically primitive Powerpoint. The paintings, Shipman points out, are packed with very specific information about animal appearance and behavior.

The important thing is not what the paintings depict, but the fact that there are paintings at all. The fact that we could use our imaginations to organize ourselves around activities like hunting and later agriculture.

Washed-Up Morrissey: Still Racist, Still Worshiped

The fact that people are upset about this quote proves that there's nothing that frightens Americans more than complex thoughts and complete sentences:

Did you see the thing on the news about their treatment of animals and animal welfare? Absolutely horrific. You can't help but feel that the Chinese are a subspecies.

The forceful deployment of languages against obvious wrongs only inspires the weak-minded to pieties and moralism.

What Morrissey said was rude. What those who abuse animals do is evil. Learn the difference.

The Night Visitor

We had a family of foxes in the backyard last night. Mom, dad, and two kits. Here's one of the young ones who is now just big enough for foraging expeditions.