The Hobbits are Real

In 2004 archeologists stumbled upon some interesting human remains on a small island in Indonesia named Flores. They found 1 nearly complete skeleton and 8 more partials. What was so exciting about these? They appeared to be a brand new human species! These humanoids, named Hobbits, stood 3 feet tall and would have weighed around 65 pounds. But the fascinating part was that their brains seemed to be perfectly normal, even fairly evolved, except they were very tiny. Evidence of tools and a camp fire were found with the Hobbits.

Debates ran wild as some scientists tried to prove that Hobbits were a new Human species while others tried to prove they were simply diseased modern humans. Now formally named Homo floresiensis, scientists have striking evidence in their favor of being a new species. Not only are their brains well formed and not simply genetically diseased, but their feet also point to being a separate species. They are closer to a chimpanzee foot without the opposable toe, but show all the signs for upright walking.

Here are a couple articles: a summary and some more detail.

The species was wiped out 8,000 years ago when a volcano erupted on the island and decimated much of it's land.

On a related note: It is being debated that Chimpanzees should be reclassified as "homo" as they are more closely related to us then they are to other Great Apes.

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All Quiet on the Eastern Front

I've yet to finish my sweater! It's become so much fabric that I couldn't bring it to work any longer. So it sits at home and I do an hour here and there. It's actually really close to being done though, one sleeve, the trim, and the ties to go. With the way the weather's been I may just get away with wearing it with a skirt when I'm done!

What I have would be working on at work is my Christmas blanket. But, I've actually been pretty busy here the last few weeks! (It's kinda nice) That combined with the fact that I'm making it twice as big as what the swap called for means that I will probably finish it in time for Christmas, and not too soon. I'm 8 blocks away plus sewing them together. The original blanket was 12 blocks, I'm making it 20.

In non-yarn news: I joined a gym yesterday! Dearest has a discount from school and talked them into giving it to me as well. So I have him to drag me out of bed every morning (Even when the alarms go off in the rooms and call me every few hours from midnight-6AM) and get my butt there.

Let me tell you, this gym is phenomenal. It's very small and pretty quiet even at 7 in the morning. There's a steam room in the locker room, a rooftop pool, classes. I'm excited. On Saturdays there is a Pilates class I want to take; all the other times are 9 or 10 AM. For the housewives and other non working folk -.- Same with Yoga! Come on now.

Went to Hampton Beach weekend before last, pictures will be up once I nab them from Dearest's computer.

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