Origins

I have been rereading some stuff on human origins that I haven't read for a number of years. I guess its an attempt to find another line of thinking on "what is it to be human?"

I'm struck by the relative closeness (in evolutionary terms) of two developments; foresight, as evidenced by the manufacture of tools for future use, and burial of the dead.

We are the only species that has developed either of these traits and we developed them (relatively) simultaneously. Why?

Off to the opera

So its off to the opera for bear and lemur tonight. "Marriage of Figaro" at the Elgin. I've seen this production before but it should be fun and its hard not to enjoy Figaro. I'd love to see the fair Isabel sing Susanna but Paris and San Diego aren't on my schedule right now. I guess we have Nathalie Paulin tonight; not a bad option.

Time to go and wash up and put my glad rags on.