Missing Link Found

"MISSING LINK" FOUND: New Fossil Links Humans, Lemurs?
May 19, 2009—Meet "Ida," the small "missing link" found in Germany that's created a big media splash and will likely continue to make waves among those who study human origins.

In a new book, documentary, and promotional Web site, paleontologist Jorn Hurum, who led the team that analyzed the 47-million-year-old fossil seen above, suggests Ida is a critical missing-link species in primate evolution (interactive guide to human evolution from National Geographic magazine).

(Among the team members was University of Michigan paleontologist Philip Gingerich, a member of the Committee for Research and Exploration of the National Geographic Society, which owns National Geographic News.)

The fossil, he says, bridges the evolutionary split between higher primates such as monkeys, apes, and humans and their more distant relatives such as lemurs.

"This is the first link to all humans," Hurum, of the Natural History Museum in Oslo, Norway, said in a statement. Ida represents "the closest thing we can get to a direct ancestor."...



Purported “Missing Link” Found
I guess someone had to post the obligatory missing link story. So, in case you did not hear, scientists have unveiled what they claim to be the fossil remains of a 47 million old skeleton that may explain the key link between early formed primates and modern Homo Sapiens. You can read more about the story here. The remains has both non-human and human-like features which may provide key evidence that human beings evolved from earlier form of primate like being. From the article:
It has, among other things, opposable thumbs, similar to humans’ and unlike those found on other modern mammals. It has fingernails instead of claws. And by examining the structure of its hind legs (one of which is partly missing), scientists say they can see evidence of evolutionary changes that would eventually lead to primates standing upright.
Okay, sounds convincing, but it sounds like there is some clear publicity going on as well. One of the scientists states: “‘Ida’s a direct human ancestor. But he said he was comfortable with the publicity surrounding it.”That’s part of getting science out to the public, to get attention,” he said. “I don’t think that’s so wrong.” The only question I have is, if this find is so amazing, why did it take them 20 years to bring it to the public’s attention. The fossil was found in 1983. It sounds more to me like scientists looking for more grant money and publicity, but I could be wrong...


Hotter Than Shawn Johnson Bikini Pics, Missing Link Found For NBA Winning Picks
The missing link was found for winning in the NBA playoffs a long time ago, though some bettors are still finding out about Stevie Vincent’s domination of the live odds for the NBA. Vincent is hotter than Shawn Johnson bikini photos and has more winner than Oscar Myer has weiners.

Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: LeBron James and the Cavaliers try to continue their march through the postseason, and the Rays take on the Athletics.

Tipping off on the hardwood . . .

The Cavaliers will be looking to keep their playoff winning streak intact on Wednesday night when they host the Magic in the opening game of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavs are coming off back-to-back sweeps of the Pistons and Hawks in the first two rounds of the postseason, closing out Atlanta with an 84-74 win on May 11. The Magic bounced the defending-champion Celtics in the second round, cruising to a 101-82 win in that series’ deciding contest on Sunday...


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