On 24 Nov 2009 at 8:10, Christopher D. Green wrote:
> Today is, I believe, the 150th anniversary of the publication of > Charles Darwin's Origin of Species. > Naturally, everyone is selected. :-) And to mark the occasion (in advance, actually) the People's Radio Network in Canada (the CBC) has been broadcasting on the program _Ideas_ a four-part series on Darwin's life. It has the clever title of "The Evolution of Darwin". http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/features/darwin/index.html Each episode is a leisurely presentation (each about 50 minutes long), liberally salted with readings from the letters of Darwin and others important in his life. In the first, for example, there's an excerpt from a erotic poem writen by Darwin's sex-obsessed grandfather Erasmus Darwin about the suffering of a fungus. In the second, there's a touching letter to Darwin from his wife Emma, concerned for his immortal soul. Charles was said to be "moved to tears" by the letter. It's probably not useful in class, except possibly for excerpts, but if downloaded to an ipod, iphone, CD, or Victrola, it could entertain and enlighten on a long commute home. (I wasn't kidding about the erotic fungus poem. I think this is it, about the the lonely fungus Tremella lamenting her secret love (see http://tinyurl.com/8blaa6 ): "Through her numb'd limbs the chill sensations dart, And the keen ice-bolt trembles at her heart. "I sink, I fall! oh, help me, help!" she cries, Her stiffening tongue the unfinish'd sound denies" -Erasmus Darwin, "The Loves of the Plants", 1789 ) Stephen ----------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: [email protected] 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
