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Cake day: July 3rd, 2023

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  • Different social animals have different social structures. Wolves generally live in family units, led by the parents. Wasps and gorillas have complicated group politics, with alliances, betrayals and backroom deals. Some primitive ants have a ‘might is right’ system, with the strongest becoming the queen and fighting off challengers. Most ants have a highly democratic system, with decisions made using chemical ‘votes’ (cast by the workers; drones and queens don’t have a say).



  • Ah yes, the French Revolution …

    THERE were two “Reigns of Terror,” if we would but remember it and consider it; the one wrought murder in hot passion, the other in heartless cold blood; the one lasted mere months, the other had lasted a thousand years; the one inflicted death upon ten thousand persons, the other upon a hundred millions; but our shudders are all for the “horrors” of the minor Terror, the momentary Terror … A city cemetery could contain the coffins filled by that brief Terror which we have all been so diligently taught to shiver at and mourn over; but all France could hardly contain the coffins filled by that older and real Terror—that unspeakably bitter and awful Terror which none of us has been taught to see in its vastness or pity as it deserves.

    • Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court

    Source: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/989759-there-were-two-reigns-of-terror-if-we-would-but