Evolution for Dummies and Christians

Chiroptera, this is a bit OT, but I have to share.A few years ago the Peabody Museum in New Haven featured a fantastic exhibit of the feathered fossils from China.My wife and I spent several hours spellbound by the central exhibit of actual fossils. Then we heard an elderly, self-assured voice saying, "You see, this is how the wing works..."We peered around the circular display case. There stood (the recently late) John Ostrom, escorting VIP guests, leaning forward from the waist and demonstrating the avian wing stroke with great aplomb, accompanied by his own expert commentary. We affectionately refer to this as the day we saw the great man do the funky chicken.We were stunned at our good fortune. We followed them through the museum for the next hour--he knew what we were doing (he twinkled at us), but the VIPs were oblivious. What a wonderful day!

Don't mind at all, Chiroptera: I am pleased you found an application for the story beyond its anecdotal fun--makes me feel a little less OT. I agree whole-heartedly with your characterization of Archie as the quintessential transitional.I might add that John Ostrom was a voice in the wilderness in the 1960s when he picked up Huxley's 19th century ideas about dinosaurs being more like flightless birds than lizards; he also discovered the intimidating Deinonychus, that leaping, slashing raptor that so captivates Hollywood, in 1964, helping to shake off the notion of dinosaurs as lethargic, lumbering lizards, and paving the way for his student, Robert Bakker, to argue for their warm-bloodedness.BTW, my recollection from chatting with Ostrom is that the Haarlem Archie was actually on display as a pterosaur when he came upon it, though I may be mistaken. He maintained a child-like wonder and excitement about his work into his later years, a trait I have observed in both scientists and artists.

Me, too--but only if it is sexual.

I'd say megabytes--lot of money in size.