Distant Relatives

Maybe it was because it was so late at night and my brain was getting a little loopy, but I found this section of my Anthropology book to be quite hilarious. The whores of the nonhuman primate world. I believe the phrase should be, "going at it like bonobos."

"Bonobos have the highest rates of sexual contact of all nonhuman primates. Sexual contact occurs among all possibly sex and age combinations, although rarely between close relatives. Bonobos thus have high rates of social or recreational sex, and this pattern is related to lower rates of conflict compared to chimpanzees. Bonobos use sexual contact to prevent conflict and to resolve post-conflict situations. Attractive food, or almost anything of interest to more than one bonobo, sparks sexual interest. The two bonobos will suspend potential competition for the item of interest and briefly mount each other or participate in what primatologists refer to as G-G (genital-genital) rubbing. G-G rubbing is unique to bonobos and may qualify as a cultural innovation. This activity appears to distract the two parties are reframe the relationship as one of alliance and cooperation rather than competition and conflict. In one example of conflict prevention, when one mother struck another mother's infant, the two females participated in intense G-G rubbing rather than hostility, and peace was the outcome."

-Barbara Miller, Cultural Anthropology

Sum-Sum-Summa Love

Around this point in time in the Winter season I start to fantasize about Summer. Oh, beautiful, glorious Summer. Days spent outside reading books or enjoying a walk in the pleasant warmth that enfolds you. During these cold, dark days I always seem to forget the days I spend bemoaning my inability to stop sweating, the bugs... and my general unpleasant behavior once I have overheated.

I still would take the heat over cold any day. Only 4 months and a few days away...

Summer, you are dearly missed.

Love/Hate Relationship

It's that time of day again. The sun is starting to disappear behind the skyline.

In the Summertime this is the part of the day I enjoy the most. I can look forward to a little relief from the heat, people come out and explore, life feels more vibrant. During Winter it's the complete opposite feeling; I abhor this time of day. The cold gets colder, people are cranky, sullen, and keep to themselves. Things get quiet- really, really quiet. Where did everybody go? Hibernation isn't just for bears. People do it too.

I wonder if the Sun would listen to my argument- less dark, more light. Then again he is a travellin' fool. And I don't think he has ears. Lose/lose.