Aliens, Evolution, and Stories

Another week, another must-see link to Ted.

In this talk, Susan Blackmore, talk about memes, the spreading of ideas. Like genes, memes spread through us, through our contact with others. Ideas are spread through language (which itself evolves in response to memes) and of course, through stories.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/269

Susan also touches on the newer concept of ‘temes’ which is self-replicating technolgies, made possible through computers and the internet. Technology that replciates and spreads itself throuyh us. We have no more choice in this than we do through the transmission of genes, language and ideas.

Susan briefly touches on the subject of extra-terrestrials. Any such species, having come through an evolutionary process, will see us as somewhere to spread their genes, memes and temes. And vice versa.

I think that should aliens arrive in their silver-shipped glory, they will not come to conquer or steal our water. They will come to tell us their stories, and to hear ours in return. It’s a shame space is so big, really.

Birds Are Wierd by Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik

The grandiose titles of the first three Penny Arcade collected editions give way here to a more straightforward statement. Are they? I’d never really thought about it.

This is my favourite of the collections so far, and because of the art rather than the writing. Gabe experiments with several different styles. There is the first page of The Wandering Age. The sketchbook moments are a treat too, especially the dancing robot. He really doesn’t know what time of year it is.

Highlights other than the dancing robot? The Prince of Persia cartoon, plus the Knights of the Old Republic. Just excellent.

Again, you don’t need to be an aficionado of the website to pick the up – the narrative assumes a knowledge of computer games, that is the main entry requirement, the shared understanding that is the basis for the strip.