The most recent update of my Mac Mini desktop computer has Siri which I can use to ask questions. I asked Siri a question about our evolutionary relationship with chimpanzees. Siri gave me some websites including this very interesting article about how long ago the common ancestor of chimpanzee apes and human apes lived.

Ancestors Of Humans And Chimps May Have Begun Diverging 13 Million Years Ago

I learned quite a bit about evolutionary clocks from this article.

Another article I found: Why Haven't All Primates Evolved into Humans?

"To say we are more 'evolved' than our hairy cousins is just wrong. (See how long you last naked in the Congo Heartland, and then tell me who's got the evolutionary upper hand.)"

A candidate for the Nebraska school board is a god-soaked anti-science stupid asshole who wants to destroy science education. I wrote a comment about it which was censored by the Nebraska newspaper. Nebraska is equal to North Korea. They love censorship.

And Bohlke-Schulte believes, while not a priority, creationism should be taught in schools if other theories of origin of life are presented. “It should be taught in science,” Bohlke-Schulte says.

Amazing stupidity. Magical creationism is not science. It's a moronic religious fantasy and it's child abuse to teach it. Evolution is the strongest fact of science and the foundation of biology. Evolution should be part of every biology lesson. And the ridiculous magical creation fantasy should never be taught in a science classroom or any other class.

Bohlke-Schulte is an uneducated idiot.

http://www.ketv.com/politics/neb-board-of-education-district-1-candidates-differ-on-sex-ed-creationism/42245894#comments

10/24/2016 What I wrote for Apple Computer Help about my 2 problems since the last Safari update. I will copy & paste from here. Or I could copy & paste from iCliplite.

Serial number: C07PF17VG1J2

Ever since the last Safari update I noticed 2 problems.
The 1st problem: I have system preferences set to announce the time on the quarter hour and I'm not hearing that anymore even though my speaker is set to a high volume.
The 2nd problem: On the sidebar reading list I am unable to delete what I have finished reading. Before there was something I could click to delete this stuff but that thing is gone.
Will these 2 problems be fixed?

After a 7 minute wait I got apple support. Suggestions were made for both problems. Both suggestions did not work. I'm going to try again. Copy and paste this stuff:

Case Id: 100051046404
I have a Mac Mini computer with all the Apple software updates. The computer was manufactured in late 2014.
The 1st problem with announcing time on the quarter hour not working: I tried what I was told to try - "for the date and time, we would simply want to reset that-you can shut off that settings, then restart the computer, then turn it back on. That should get that working again" I did that but I'm still not getting any time anouncement on the quarter hour even though my speaker is on a loud volume and even though I shut off the time announcement setting, then restarted the computer then turned back on the announcement setting. This has always worked perfectly for more than a year, then after the last software update from Apple it stopped working. Obviously to me that software update caused the problem. In any case I should not have to fight my computer for something as simple as getting the time announced.
The 2nd problem. This was recommended: "if you Right Click, or Option click on the item you are trying to remove you will see 'remove Item'."
I did that. I pressed and held the option button and clicked the reading list item I wanted to delete. I looked hard but nowhere could I find "remove item". Before the last Apple software update there was for each item which if I remember correctly was a small x in the upper right corner of every item on the reading list. All I had to do was click that x and the item was deleted. Ever since the last software update that x has been missing. It would be nice to have that x back some day. I should not have to fight my computer for something as simple as deleting a website from my Safari reading list.
Could you please tell your software guys to fix the 2 problems I think they caused. I can live without these things but it bugs me that something that was easy and always worked no longer works at all. And by the way despite these minor problems I love Apple. I worship you people.

UPDATE: I was able to delete items from reading list but instead of using option+click I had to use control+click because I have a Logitech keyboard. I was able to get time announcement working by repairing the disk, an idea I found with a google search. So both problems have been fixed. 10/24/2016.

Something I read which I agree with. It was well done. The difference between science and religious bullshit.

Science is about the relentless and unbiased pursuit of verifiable truth. It is based on testable, observable reality. It has no sacred cows. But it has one very powerful and invincible bull - verifiable truth. Because it is truth based, Science does not fear scrutiny. It does not seek to silence and censure those asking questions, those doubting its claims. On the contrary it thrives on such scrutiny and inquiry. Such scrutiny and inquiry proves the tested quality of its truths. 

Religion is not about the pursuit of truth. Religion is about the preservation of the power of religious institutions and their leadership through the preservation of ancient traditions upon which the religions are based. Religion also serves as an intoxicating drug, dulling the fears, frustrations and anguish of the masses who have not learned to accept their mortality and cope with reality that they live in a harsh, uncontrolled reality. So religious leaders' desire to preserve their power and the believers' unwillingness to give up the intoxicating effects of religion and learn to cope with reality, mean that religions work very hard to preserve their traditions at all cost.  

Their false beliefs must be protected at all costs so they devise the concept of faith to encourage blind acceptance of their unproven, false claims and to condemn those who express doubt. They seek to protect their false teachings from being unmasked by censuring those who question them or express doubt. Any kind of scrutiny that can unmask the errors of the religion is condemned as evil. Religion is inherently dishonest and self-serving. It does not value truth. It only values blind conformity to ancient traditions.

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20161010121050AAfIpZA

BOOK BY DAWKINS: The Ancestor's Tale: A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution

My comment about someone's review of The Ancestor's Tale: A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution by Richard Dawkins

"In his educational role, Dawkins must confront the insidious spread of Christian-inspired simplistic hype over evolution. He must take up space refuting its propaganda and invalid assumptions."

Neil Shubin's "Your Inner Fish, A Journey Into The 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body" had nothing in it about creationism stupidity. Perhaps that's a good thing. Just ignore the god-soaked idiots as if they didn't exist.

Dawkins, being who he is, of course could not resist criticizing the uneducated morons who prefer supernatural magic instead of science.

It's not just Christians who want to throw out all of biology, the Muslims have the same problem but for them the problem is worse. While there are some Christians who accept human evolution (they always stick their Magic Jeebus Man in there somewhere), virtually all Muslims are human evolution deniers. Some Muslims accept evolution for other creatures but they throw out the science that conflicts with their "Allah magically created humans" fantasy. All religions are brain damage. There is no cure.

Your review was excellent. Many thanks.

MY AMAZON REVIEWS

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visiter," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door—
            Only this and nothing more."

 [hide]

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore—
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore—
            Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
"'Tis some visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door—
Some late visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door;—
            This it is and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you"—here I opened wide the door;—
            Darkness there and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?"
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!"—
            Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore—
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;—
            'Tis the wind and nothing more!"

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door—
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door—
            Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore—
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
            Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning—little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door—
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
            With such name as "Nevermore."

But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing farther then he uttered—not a feather then he fluttered—
Till I scarcely more than muttered "Other friends have flown before—
On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before."
            Then the bird said "Nevermore."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore—
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
            Of 'Never—nevermore'."

But the Raven still beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore—
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
            Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet-violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
            She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee—by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite—respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore;
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"
            Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!—
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted—
On this home by Horror haunted—tell me truly, I implore—
Is there—is there balm in Gilead?—tell me—tell me, I implore!"
            Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us—by that God we both adore—
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore—
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."
            Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I shrieked, upstarting—
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!—quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
            Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
            Shall be lifted—nevermore!

—Edgar Allan Poe

A fantastic view of the Milky Way galaxy from Hawaii's Mauna Kea mountain on the Island of Hawaii.