That's nonsence.We did not develope from monkey. We were wonderfully and fearfully made. You are too sophisticated being compared to them -they are just animals and always will be. You are cooking well because you are smart:-) I am not going to start a discussion about it(it is a cooking Forum), just the thought of people comparing themselves to animals make me cringe:-(
No offence, please, I do respect your right to have your own opinion;-))

Yes, definitely what natalija_gardener said ! ! ! !

Rusty

It's an interesting presentation, but seems too simplistic. But then I find both evolution and creationism theories over-simplisitc.

Heck, I wouldn't bother to argue with anyone who complains about dinner. I just say the same thing my mother and grandmother did. "This is what we're having. You don't like it? Do without. More for the rest of us."

What an interesting post to open. I agree with you also natalija, that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139) except that I like most animals more than quite a few people.

I didn't think this through before posting it - apologies.

I will say that I suspect cooking does make you smarter - most of the folks I know that enjoy it are smarties!

I think that is absolutely fascinating. Please don't apologize for sharing that wonderful bit of research. I will remember that argument, although I will say that when I cook it is appreciated -- I just don't cook much.

Barnmom -- love it.

Very interesting, and certainly a lot of truth to these ideas of how we humans have evolved. It's the bits and pieces, the adaptations and changes, one leading to another, that make us what we are today. Truly amazing. I hope the show will be on BBC America soon.

Don't apologise, alyssainca, I was very interested to read that article. Natalya, next time you feel the need to chastise another post to promote your religious views, I suggest you scroll on by.

Momj47, I saw a notice at the end of the aritcle that the show will be available on the BBC viewer for the whole week starting March 3.

Alyssainca, please, you've done nothing that requires apology. It's an interesting theory. IMO, cooking is just one of many many innovative leaps that defines humans, but certainly one of the more fascinating ones.

Barnmom.... if they make that in a bumper sticker I've got to have it! It's great! The article was interesting.

Interesting article. I'm surprised the "raw food" fanatics aren't also popping up to complain.

Bobby, I emailed you.

Credit where credit is due.

Here is a link that might be useful: Scroll down.

I agree with Colleen, but like Cooksnsews, I am surprised that the "raw food" fanatics are not complaining - I think that is a much more valid argument against the article. I've been reading about Neanderthals lately (as well as early civilizations in Mesopotamia), and I found it interesting that Neanderthals only had a lifespan of about 40 years and did indeed have very different teeth from ours because of a largely vegetarian diet. I'm not sure that I agree with the cooked food leads to larger brain size theory, however, and I might side with the raw food fanatics, if and when they show up! It's very difficult to prove cause and effect in that regard, since there are so many other factors at work, as has been suggested.

Alyssainca, I'm very sorry that you are not feeling appreciated for your efforts. I get that feeling a lot myself, and I think it has to do with training or upbringing, and I should know, since I live with my brother! No one in my family is good at showing appreciation, and so that might be the case in your situation.

Lars

I agree with Colleen. Dismissing someone's ideas with "that's nonsence" is offensive and rude. Particularly when used to promote a religious belief. People on this forum used to be able to engage in intelligent discourse in a respectful manner and religious discussions were specifically avoided because they so often disentegrated into disrespectful comments.

Interesting link - thank you for posting it. I can't wait to see the entire thing.

AM

Interesting. Like all the other hypotheses about what caused evolutionary changes, it is speculative; the article doesn't claim more. (And just as a nitpick with the article: no scientist claims we descend from chimpanzees, as the writer implies.)

Here's the obvious problem: if you're making fires, aren't you already in some sense human?

Those of you who believe this article should definitely read up on the Pottenger Cat Experiments done back in the 1930's by Dr. Francis Pottenger. It is based upon actual proven facts rather than theory. Yes, it's about the health and longevity of the animal - but there is a direct link between our health and intelligence.

As for this bbc article, even if I weren't Christian, I would have found it insulting to my intelligence. Too many ridiculous statements in it. 'big gut because we ate raw food'... oh come on! Do they have some sort of prehistoric snapshot showing these people with big guts?!? Or the part about eating cooked meat making you more intelligent because of the increased amount of proteins... Sorry, that's trash.

I like that our brains use 20 percent of our calories to function. So now if I sit on the sofa and THINK REALLY REALLY HARD, I will lose weight!

Thanks, dedtired. I'll try that! LOL

jude

* Posted by natalija_gardener (My Page) on
Wed, Mar 3, 10 at 17:52

That's nonsence.We did not develope from monkey. We were wonderfully and fearfully made. You are too sophisticated being compared to them -they are just animals and always will be. You are cooking well because you are smart:-) I am not going to start a discussion about it(it is a cooking Forum), just the thought of people comparing themselves to animals make me cringe:-(
No offence, please, I do respect your right to have your own opinion;-))

Uhhh, just what do think humans are, biologically?? Yes, that's right, ANIMALS!! And I hate the term "just animals", usually used by people to justify their mistreatment or lack of compassion.

Another firm believer in evolution here and since I just watched a marathon on Discovery channel about dinosaurs I just wanted to throw in that you do, indeed, need a very large "gut" to digest large amounts of plant materials! Granted, there's nothing the size of a 5 ton dinosaur walking the earth today, but it's theorized that one of the reasons they grew so large, was to accomodate the digestive tract needed to digest the tons of plant material they needed to consume. I can't speak about proteins!

Just a little dinosaur fun fact in case anyone's interested lol!!

Lisa

We are remarkable, wonderful beings. We are not diminished one bit spiritually or intellectually whether we appeared in one abracadbra moment from the hand of God or we evolved from some primordial goo that was struck by lightning millions of years ago. I'm amazed either way.

Try watching some documentaries on these 500 and up pound people who can't get out of their beds much less get around. Then try watching The Biggest Loser and listen to the doctors and what they say this does to the bodies. How it shortens the life span of these people. Our bodies weren't designed for carrying around that excess weight and we don't need to. 5 half cup servings of dense vegetables a day or 10 cups of loose leafy vegetables a day are all our bodies need to be healthy. That amount of food is never going to make you a big gut - in fact, it will trim you down because there's no harmful fats in it.

And a little dinosaur fact, those big carnivores had little bitty brains..

I just got the book today from Amazon.."Catching Fire" sounds fascinating...Just up my alley too! I love science type books written for us regular people.
Joann

dirtgirl, are you being deliberately obtuse? "Big gut" means "really long intestine", not "fat stomach". Plant material needs a lot of digesting, so long intestine, multiple times through the intestine, or else the animal doesn't eat enough for strenuous activity, in the case of three-toed sloths and pandas, for instance.

What collenoz said - I think people are translating "gut" into meaning a fat beachball stomach. The "gut" means the digestive tract. And btw, dirtgirl, I agree - carrying around that massive amount of weight wreaks havoc on every system of our bodies. And yup - the very largest dinosaur had a brain that, if you translated it to a human comparison, would amount to us having a brain the size of a pea. Guess when you're THAT big, you don't need much smarts!

Lisa

What Petra said.

All we need is the Intelligent Design folks and we'll have a real party on our hands

Ah Jessie.. now what is that nickname of yours?! :) Stir that pot girl!

Never mind the religious aspects, this article is so full of naive, pseudoscientific ideas I don't have time to deal with them individually. Must we think that all human advancement began by someone dropping something into the fire? Puhleeze!!!

If we are supposed to be tolerant of half-baked, so-called "science" produced by lazy intellectualism, it's only fair to be tolerant of creationism, etc.

Jim

Jessy, I just realized how my post sounded!! LOL, I meant stirring things up - and it made my day! Please don't think it was being mean.

dirtgirl - no worries, not taken that way, and even if it was intended to be mean, you know the saying 'if you dish it out, you gotta take it' etc.

- Evil Jessy

(I haven't read the article.....hanging head in shame)