Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Kosh · 07-06-2002, 04:27 PM

So today this cute little english college student shows up the door, peddling some kind of educational books for "the lit'l ones". After I told her we weren't interested, she still wanted to show me one of the books. She pulls out this picture book like ones we've got that is bascially a bunch of quick "science" facts. You know, picture of an animal, then some interesting fact about it, designed to keep the interest of "the lit'l ones".

Her: Do you know why flamingos are pink?

Me: Natural selection?

Her: No, it's from their diet of shrimp! If they don't eat enough pink shrimp, they turn grey!

Me: <pause as the critical thinking kicks in>
But.... shrimp are only pink AFTER you cook them!
They're grey before hand. Some salt water species are bright red in their exoskeletons but that wouldn't affect the color of the flamingo!

Her: Really?

I looked it up. Flamingos are pink due their high intake of beta-carratine (sp?), which does come partially from mollusks.... but I think this is a good example of facts can get twisted....

DaveGE · 07-06-2002, 04:34 PM

<a href="http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010518.html" target="_blank">The Straight Dope</a> thinks otherwise.

Kosh · 07-06-2002, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DaveGE:
<a href="http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010518.html" target="_blank">The Straight Dope</a> thinks otherwise.

As I said, it's not because the shrimp they eat are pink...

Duvenoy · 07-06-2002, 05:55 PM

Damn! Another near miss! I was gonna jump all over this one, 'till I got to the end of it.

But it is a spectacular example of a superficial effect an animal's diet can have on it. Flamingo's are filter feeders, not unlike the great whales. They constantly work water through their specialized bills, straining out food. The bill has an odd, downward bend in it to facilate the process. That's the obvious example of natural selection.

The 'shrimp' are not the kind you'd find in a cocktail. Rather, they might be compared to plankton. In Africa, these unique birds can be found at salt lakes, where nothing survives but species of brine shrimp. And the flamingos that feed on them.

Doov

[ July 06, 2002: Message edited by: Duvenoy ]

Kosh · 07-06-2002, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Duvenoy:
[QB][/QB]

You are da man doov! But can you tell us why Harley's are called "Hogs"?

liquid · 07-07-2002, 03:23 AM

brine shrimp.... sea monkeys....

Duvenoy · 07-07-2002, 04:03 AM

You are da man doov! But can you tell us why Harley's are called "Hogs"?

-------------------------------

Indeed I can!

This term first came into usage when the British iron began to become popular, I think in the late '40s. These rides were light and agile compared to the Knuckle and Flathead Harleys, and their riders began to refer to the HDs as, "hogs," that is, clumsey, wallowing, and slow. Needless to say, the Hog riders quickly adopted it for their own.

I've been told that the company has taken out a copywrite on the term as used for motorcycles, don't ask me why. Seems sorta silly to me.

doov, the historian.

Kosh · 07-07-2002, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Duvenoy:

This term first came into usage when the British iron began to become popular, I think in the late '40s. These rides were light and agile compared to the Knuckle and Flathead Harleys, and their riders began to refer to the HDs as, "hogs," that is, clumsey, wallowing, and slow. Needless to say, the Hog riders quickly adopted it for their own.

I hadn't heard that one. There was a page on the H-D site which claimed it was due to the first H-D track racing team adopting a pig as their mascot.

But we're way off topic now.... There's a possibility I might get to Sturgis (my neighbor reserved a room already). So we'll have to settle it over a beer!

Duvenoy · 07-07-2002, 07:47 AM

If I can make it, yer on!

doov (aka: Filthy Phil)

The Lone Ranger · 07-08-2002, 08:18 PM

Trivia for today:

Most zoos add red food coloring to their flamingos' diets, to keep them from going gray. Or so I've been told.

Cheers,

Michael

07-06-2002, 04:27 PM	#1
Kosh Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Orions Belt Posts: 3,911	Misconceptions and the battle we face.. So today this cute little english college student shows up the door, peddling some kind of educational books for "the lit'l ones". After I told her we weren't interested, she still wanted to show me one of the books. She pulls out this picture book like ones we've got that is bascially a bunch of quick "science" facts. You know, picture of an animal, then some interesting fact about it, designed to keep the interest of "the lit'l ones". Her: Do you know why flamingos are pink? Me: Natural selection? Her: No, it's from their diet of shrimp! If they don't eat enough pink shrimp, they turn grey! Me: <pause as the critical thinking kicks in> But.... shrimp are only pink AFTER you cook them! They're grey before hand. Some salt water species are bright red in their exoskeletons but that wouldn't affect the color of the flamingo! Her: Really? I looked it up. Flamingos are pink due their high intake of beta-carratine (sp?), which does come partially from mollusks.... but I think this is a good example of facts can get twisted....

07-06-2002, 05:55 PM	#4
Duvenoy Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Just another hick from the sticks. Posts: 1,108	Damn! Another near miss! I was gonna jump all over this one, 'till I got to the end of it. But it is a spectacular example of a superficial effect an animal's diet can have on it. Flamingo's are filter feeders, not unlike the great whales. They constantly work water through their specialized bills, straining out food. The bill has an odd, downward bend in it to facilate the process. That's the obvious example of natural selection. The 'shrimp' are not the kind you'd find in a cocktail. Rather, they might be compared to plankton. In Africa, these unique birds can be found at salt lakes, where nothing survives but species of brine shrimp. And the flamingos that feed on them. Doov [ July 06, 2002: Message edited by: Duvenoy ]</p>

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07-06-2002, 04:34 PM	#2
DaveGE Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 79	<a href="http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010518.html" target="_blank">The Straight Dope</a> thinks otherwise.

07-07-2002, 03:23 AM	#6
liquid Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: UK Posts: 1,440	brine shrimp.... sea monkeys....

07-07-2002, 04:03 AM	#7
Duvenoy Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Just another hick from the sticks. Posts: 1,108	You are da man doov! But can you tell us why Harley's are called "Hogs"? ------------------------------- Indeed I can! This term first came into usage when the British iron began to become popular, I think in the late '40s. These rides were light and agile compared to the Knuckle and Flathead Harleys, and their riders began to refer to the HDs as, "hogs," that is, clumsey, wallowing, and slow. Needless to say, the Hog riders quickly adopted it for their own. I've been told that the company has taken out a copywrite on the term as used for motorcycles, don't ask me why. Seems sorta silly to me. doov, the historian.

07-07-2002, 07:47 AM	#9
Duvenoy Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Just another hick from the sticks. Posts: 1,108	If I can make it, yer on! doov (aka: Filthy Phil)

07-08-2002, 08:18 PM	#10
The Lone Ranger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Eastern U.S. Posts: 1,230	Trivia for today: Most zoos add red food coloring to their flamingos' diets, to keep them from going gray. Or so I've been told. Cheers, Michael

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