Neocortices, Impulse Control, and Why We're Not Baboons

Go read this article: A Bozo of a Baboon.

Now, y'all know I dislike the 'argument from nature' ~ that's where someone defends their pet theory of human nature or behavior by pointing out that whatever egregious generalizing they're doing is supported BY SCIENCE. And maybe it is. Today. Partially. Or totally not.

Still, the article (which by the way is on the Edge site, which I highly recommend) is certainly suggestive about some facets of *cough* human nature. See what you think.

Now even though, as No-sword points out, the author totally looks like the Unabomber, he comes across as being wicked smaaht, quite the humanist, and with a good sense of humor to boot.

One final note... I found this article through an unusually long chain of interesting links, starting with Caveat Lector, and going through Language Hat to No-sword. Thank you, blogging people.

Bladder Googlers

Half my hits these days come from searches on such delightful phrases as 'pain when peeing,' 'honeymooner's disease,' 'medications for bladder infection,' 'UTIs' and so on. So as a public service, I'm offering the solutions I've derived so far from experience and my doctor.

1. See a doctor. Learn to recognize the symptoms and hie thee to a doctor for antibiotics early. You will suffer a lot less this way. Also, you want to give them a urine sample so they can be sure they've given you the right antibiotic for your particular bug (although you should start taking it right away).
   
   
2. Take Uristat. Yeah, the box says you should stop after two days, or if you see blood in your urine, and consult your doctor. But you've already MADE an doctor's appointment as per item 1, right? So just take this stuff, because it will relieve the pain, urgency, and cramping, so that you feel more like living than dying.
   
   
3. Pee right before sex.
   
   
4. Pee right after sex.
   
   
5. (What you do during sex is your call, I really don't care.)
   
   
6. Moderation. Yeah, everyone loves getting all hot and bothered and having tons of wild monkey sex (or crazy rabbit humping or whatever you want to call it). But. The bladder gets a lot of unusual jostling that way, making it more susceptible to inflammation, and the E. coli has many more than average opportunities to make its way to a happy home in your urinary tract and eventually kidneys (yeah, you'll love that, believe me). So go easy, build up your stamina gradual-like. Remember, ultimately the answer to whether you'll have plenty more sex in the future is in creating a positive feedback loop. I'm sure you can appreciate it when I tell you that a urinary tract infection does NOT count as positive feedback. It's more like a "Oh my god no sex on this planet is worth this as a recurring misery" kind of feedback.
   
   
7. In a further note on the positive feedback loop concept: Gents, while the lady is recovering, please refrain from pouding away on her like a jackhammer. That's just not helpful. A little consultation on what works at this delicate moment and what doesn't goes a long way.
   
   
8. Drink a giant glass of cranberry juice in the morning and another before bed at night. Maybe it's an old wive's tale, but it seems to help me.
   
   
9. Hygiene. Wash up, kiddies. That includes you, guys. And your hands too. And y'all know you're supposed to wipe front-to-back, right?
   
   
10. If you have more than 3 infections in a 6 month period (and, baby, if you do I feel for you), get an after-sex antibiotic pill prescription. The concept is it sterilizes your bladder contents overnight. I haven't yet done this, but if I get another infection in the next 4 months, I'm soooo there.
    
    

That's it. Pretty basic stuff. Hope it helps.