The article hints at it but doesn't mention explicitly that there's also evidence in the fact that not all sperm are actually in the business of seeking out and impregnating the ovum; some of them just stick around in case a rival's sperm happens along. Then they have a SPERM FIGHT.
The article's statement that "once inside a partner's body, sperm must often battle those of a rival" doesn't really capture that--it's not that the sperm are all engaged in the same pursuit, and strife just happens to crop up; some sperm are there specifically in order to halt the progress of a rival's.
You mean there are different kinds of sperm? Or some sperm have different instructions? Or just that the sheer number of sperm ensures that some will be joined in battle?
Baker describes at least three types of distinctly different sperm, each with an apparently different mission. The "egg-getters," those who match our usual characterization of the typical sperm, in actuality comprise only 1% or less of the sperm in a man's ejaculate. Other sperm appear to function as "blockers" of women's cervical crypts or "egg-killers" who attack foreign sperm.
Unf and I were driving along a few months ago with another friend, and that came on. We tried to each learn one of the parts, but didn't get very far. But you don't have to get very far with an Iranian, a white dude, and a Chinese guy trying to sing Rapper's Delight to have way too much stupid fun.
Wasn't the weaker pro-Kassian claim was that men and women, in the main, approach sex and relationships differently. That seems not such a terrible bet.
Further, evidence that mammals differ (gorillas: small balls!) in their orientation to monogamy/polygamy seems to support a Kassian project of using nature to inform social institutions.
Background: Rapper's Delight came out when I was in the sixth grade, and Jimmy Barnhill and I sat in front of a turntable, patiently lifting the needle again and again until we transcribed the whole damn thing. To this day I can still rattle it off.
When I first started using Napster and filled my hard drive at work, I dumped about 200 songs onto a CD to clear space back out. I put the CD in a drawer and didn't think about it again until about a year later when I was cleaning out the desk on my last day at that job. As I was driving away, I slid it into the CD/mp3 player in my car to see what was on it and hit 'Shuffle'. Rappers Delight came on about the third song, and I was transported, I tell you. Cranked it up, started hollerin' along and dancin' in my seat, which is what I do pretty much no matter what song is playing.
I was at a stoplight when it dawned on me that the rest of the viewing public was still there. Since I smoke, the window was down. I turned to look to the left and a car with four black guys in their early twenties was idling beside me, and all four were enjoying the show, doubled over with laughter, tears running down their cheeks.
I grinned sheepishly, because what else is there to do in that situation? The one guy in the passenger seat gave me a thumbs up and shouted, "Kick it, Vanilla Ice!"
The article hints at it but doesn't mention explicitly that there's also evidence in the fact that not all sperm are actually in the business of seeking out and impregnating the ovum; some of them just stick around in case a rival's sperm happens along. Then they have a SPERM FIGHT.
The article's statement that "once inside a partner's body, sperm must often battle those of a rival" doesn't really capture that--it's not that the sperm are all engaged in the same pursuit, and strife just happens to crop up; some sperm are there specifically in order to halt the progress of a rival's.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 11-10-04 3:04 PM
You mean there are different kinds of sperm? Or some sperm have different instructions? Or just that the sheer number of sperm ensures that some will be joined in battle?
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 11-10-04 3:07 PM
You mean there are different kinds of sperm?
Well, of course. Don't you remember Rapper's Delight?
"He may satisfy you with his little worm,
But I'll knock you out with my SuperSperm."
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 11-10-04 3:19 PM
Ok, I just found this:
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 11-10-04 3:23 PM
Do I remember it? Man, it's on my workout mix.
Unf and I were driving along a few months ago with another friend, and that came on. We tried to each learn one of the parts, but didn't get very far. But you don't have to get very far with an Iranian, a white dude, and a Chinese guy trying to sing Rapper's Delight to have way too much stupid fun.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 11-10-04 3:23 PM
B-wo, that's the coolest thing I've read in years.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 11-10-04 3:26 PM
Don't worry, ogged, I feel the love!
Wasn't the weaker pro-Kassian claim was that men and women, in the main, approach sex and relationships differently. That seems not such a terrible bet.
Further, evidence that mammals differ (gorillas: small balls!) in their orientation to monogamy/polygamy seems to support a Kassian project of using nature to inform social institutions.
Yours in patriarchy!
Posted by baa | Link to this comment | 11-10-04 3:54 PM
Background: Rapper's Delight came out when I was in the sixth grade, and Jimmy Barnhill and I sat in front of a turntable, patiently lifting the needle again and again until we transcribed the whole damn thing. To this day I can still rattle it off.
When I first started using Napster and filled my hard drive at work, I dumped about 200 songs onto a CD to clear space back out. I put the CD in a drawer and didn't think about it again until about a year later when I was cleaning out the desk on my last day at that job. As I was driving away, I slid it into the CD/mp3 player in my car to see what was on it and hit 'Shuffle'. Rappers Delight came on about the third song, and I was transported, I tell you. Cranked it up, started hollerin' along and dancin' in my seat, which is what I do pretty much no matter what song is playing.
I was at a stoplight when it dawned on me that the rest of the viewing public was still there. Since I smoke, the window was down. I turned to look to the left and a car with four black guys in their early twenties was idling beside me, and all four were enjoying the show, doubled over with laughter, tears running down their cheeks.
I grinned sheepishly, because what else is there to do in that situation? The one guy in the passenger seat gave me a thumbs up and shouted, "Kick it, Vanilla Ice!"
That scene is totally going in my movie...
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 11-10-04 4:09 PM
That, is hilarious. I'm doubled over.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 11-10-04 4:14 PM
What's fantastic is that the singles bar is recreated at the micro level: even sperm need wingmen. What's that about phylogeny?
Posted by FL | Link to this comment | 11-10-04 7:02 PM
apostropher: that's fucking awesome.
Posted by belle waring | Link to this comment | 11-10-04 7:09 PM
Check out the hook while the apostropher revolves it. This is why you're my hero.
Posted by FL | Link to this comment | 11-11-04 9:05 AM
See also The Evolution of Ape Ejaculate.
Posted by niucons | Link to this comment | 11-11-04 2:17 PM
This has gone far enough.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 11-11-04 2:20 PM
Can ejaculate go too far?
Posted by Anonymous | Link to this comment | 11-11-04 3:00 PM
Anonymous wins!
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 11-11-04 3:17 PM