Tyson on Cats

Not always a fan of Neal deGreaase Tyson’s style, he comes across at times as pedantic and arrogant. But he usually knows what he’s talking about. And he likes cats.

He tells us that “Evolutionary biology reveals cats are near-perfect hunters whose design has barely changed for millions of years. From lions to housecats, felines have evolved into a nearly flawless design—at least, according to evolutionary biologist Anjali Goswami.

Cats, she argues, are “evolutionarily perfect” because of their consistency: while other animals diversify and adapt in myriad ways, cats have mastered one ecological role—being sleek, solitary, hyper-efficient predators—and stuck to it. Whether it's a Bengal kitten or a Bengal tiger, the differences are mostly in size, not function or form. Even their skulls are virtually indistinguishable across species, signaling just how little cats have needed to change over millions of years.

This evolutionary stasis isn’t a sign of limitation—it’s a sign of success. In contrast to animals like bears, which have splintered into niche lifestyles from panda to polar bear, cats simply refine one model that works astonishingly well. Despite global habitat shifts and the emergence of rivals, few creatures can match their effectiveness. 

Evolution, Goswami says, doesn’t always reward variety. Sometimes, perfection is just doing one thing better than anyone else—for millions of years.”

Modern Techno Crap

There is, I think, a general acceptance that modern times involves technology which, despite making products more expensive, improves their position in our lives overall. One would have to be something of a Luddite to think otherwise. Between the technology itself, however, and the way business implements it, we seem to be reaching a point which might make an old man like myself begin to wish for the good old days. To give you a couple of examples.

My wife took her car in the other day to be “smog tested.” It passed, for the most part, and does not need any repairs to correct any issue, but it cannot be given a certificate allowing it’s license to be renewed for another year. To correct the problem, the car must be driven for approximately 3 hours per day for two days at 55 mph to “reset the catalytic converter.” 55 mph. No slower, and no faster. Precisely 55 mph, after which it will pass and may be licensed for another year.

Driving 55 mph on California freeways, by the way, where average speed is 75 mph, is scary as hell, and quite dangerous. One can get run over doing that. 

Anyway, the next day our water heater failed. Not leaking or anything, just not producing hot water. There is a light on the gas valve which is blinking red instead of blue. The water heater was installed just under 5 years ago, and when I saw the blinking light on the gas valve, I had a sinking feeling that thing was going to be a problem somehow. Yes, it certainly is. Turns out the valve cannot be replaced because it is no longer available. For a water heater manufactured five years ago. Parts for the valve are available, but they have to be shipped from afar and it takes two weeks or more to get them.

So we are replacing a water heater today, some ten years before the end of it’s design lifetime, because the gas valve on it failed and cannot feasibly be repaired. If the valve could be replaced the cost would be about $500. The new water heater is costing us about $1200 more than that.

This is becoming ridiculous.

Why?

Why does Goodyear spend a whole bunch of money to send its blimp to fly around and provide "aerial coverage" of a football game which is played in a domed stadium? The "aerial coverage" is not actually of the football game, which cannot be seen from outside the stadium, it is of the inanimate stadium itself, and could be provided at any time of day on any day of the tear.