Re: Invulnerable logic [Was:Re: How Our Brains Ignore Unpleasant

On Jan 14, 7:42 pm, Jim Willemin <jim***willemin@hot***mail.com>
wrote:
Evopeach <keaton1...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote innews:e0ac52da-be78-4859-a3d8-b8c8f1d3a774@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:

On Jan 14, 6:17 pm, Jim Willemin <jim***willemin@hot***mail.com>
wrote:
Evopeach <keaton1...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote
innews:e6dac223-3b4c-45ac-9f3c-

b3aa3115e...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx





m:

On Jan 14, 11:20 am, John Harshman
<jharshman.diespam...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
<snip>

A transitional fossil is one that shows a state intermediate
between two other groups, and that thus tells us about the nature
of the transition. That's all. Archaeopteryx is an excellent
transitional form, which is why it gets mentioned so often.

IN other words I'll examine, reason, and not accept dogma.

That's an excellent idea. But I have not observed any signs in you
of either of the first two.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The latest fossils clearly illustrate it was a fully capable flying
bird and that's all there is to it.

um - last I looked birds didn't have jaws full of teeth, nor yet long
bony tails..  and I believe Archaeopteryx is missing a few features
that birds have nowadays - e.g. a keeled sternum.  I agree that
Archaeopteryx had feathers, and probably flew, but it sure wasn't a
modern bird.  In fact, it was sort of transitional...  But of course,
I defer to your expertise in paleontology - that was one of your
degrees, right?  - Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -
http://www.darwinismrefuted.com/natural_history_2_08.html
It is true that Archaeopteryx had claws on its wings and teeth in its
mouth, but these traits do not imply that the creature bore any kind
of relationship to reptiles. Besides, two bird species living today,
the touraco and the hoatzin, have claws which allow them to hold onto
branches. These creatures are fully birds, with no reptilian
characteristics. That is why it is completely groundless to assert
that Archaeopteryx is a transitional form just because of the claws on
its wings.

Huh.  I didn't mention the claws.  What about the long, bony tail and
jaws ( not a beak) full of teeth?  With those features, whatever else it
may be, Archaeopteryx doesn't look like a bird.  I believe there are
also some issues with its toes that make it different from birds.





 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3535272.stm

"We were fully expecting to find a dinosaur like brain," Dr Milner
told BBC News Online. "Instead, it was completely bird-like."

The computer-generated image revealed that the anatomy of the brain
corresponded very closely with that of modern flying birds.

It revealed well-developed semicircular canals in the inner ear, which
are used for balance, and enlarged optic lobes for vision. Both
essential features for efficient flight.

"The brain scan basically showed that the Archaeopteryx had all of the
structures that allow birds to fly," added Dr Milner.

Fairly conclusive

The findings present fairly conclusive evidence that Archaeopteryx was
once airborne, according to the lead researcher.

Dr Milner commented: "This all suggests that the development of the
bird brain goes hand in hand with that of the physical structures,
e.g. the wings, that allow it to fly.

"In fact, the brain is so bird-like, that the flying process must have
evolved much sooner than anyone thought."

OK, a bird-like brain in a body that is not that of a bird (at least as
we know birds).  This occurring in a critter that lived before what we
call modern birds appeared, and after a time in which there were no
bird-like critters at all.  Seems to me to be transitional, though
again, since you assert so positively and categorically that it isn't,
and since your resume shows your expertise is so clearly in paleontology
and taxonomy, perhaps I should ask you just why you say it is a bird,
and not a flying, feathered theropod, just so I can be clear on the
subject.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Because there are no flying feathered theropods, just birds , extinct
birds, extant birds, and extinct dinos.

And it's the evidence from the finds and not my interpretation that
matters, I just report the facts and watch your team shrivel, blather,
blubber, foam at the mouth, and retreat to their little dogma book.


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