Comments on: Christmastime Wishes: One Word

By: Carolyn Z

Carolyn Z — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 06:37:02 +0000

Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Continue to come here and discuss the important issues of the day relating to food! You don’t have to post to enjoy.

By: Made In the USA | Michael Ruhlman

Made In the USA | Michael Ruhlman — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:53:05 +0000

[...] at that, there it is again. Cooperating, working together, in the real world, what cooking food got us to do hundreds of thousands of years ago, holds, in [...]

By: Franklin

Franklin — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 22:56:04 +0000

Mr. Ruhlman, I’m all for celebrating cooking, but I have to agree that it’s hardly what “makes us human.” I’m not sure what that is, but I’d put language and self-awareness way above cooking. And by the way, animals do not “express language skills” — they communicate. Human language is a unique discrete combinatorial system (“grammar,” if you like) that’s completely unlike any non-human communication system. And if you’re going to bring up ToM (Theory of Mind) you should read a bit more about it. It’s not as if a species either has ToM or doesn’t have it. ToM is expressed in levels. While it’s true that chimps have shown very low levels of ToM (similar to human toddlers), no other creatures display it to anything approaching the levels adult humans do. Do some more research.

By: Tasha

Tasha — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 14:21:56 +0000

Dragons, obviously. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year!

By: ruhlman

ruhlman — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 04:35:45 +0000

oh, and if any one knows animals that cook food, please speak up here!

I certainly know that as soon as I see pigs grilling their corn, we’re in trouble.

By: ruhlman

ruhlman — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 04:34:41 +0000

Animals obviously use tools. They also express language skills, from bees on up. But they are also self-conscious, and more, have shown to have “theory of mind,” a fancy term for knowing what another animal might be thinking and how it might act given those thoughts. That’s more than an expression of self-consciousness. It used to be thought humans were the only species to have non-reproductive sex, but the bonobos figured that one out too.

However, no other animal cooks food.

By: Martin

Martin — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 03:42:30 +0000

When I was a kid it was using tools that “made us human.” Then folks watched crows and monkeys. Now it’s cooking. Uh, wrong.

It’s self-concousness and sophisticated language. Can’t get around it.

By: Janice

Janice — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 21:56:43 +0000

As usual, your words evoke truth and beauty. May the coming year be filled with both. Many thanks for inspiring me all year, in big and small ways.

By: Victoria

Victoria — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 13:32:22 +0000

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and thanks for everything (especially the spoon that allows me to make PERFECT poached eggs).

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 06:13:23 +0000

Merry Christmas to you and your family!!

By: diane

diane — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 05:15:37 +0000

this ancient rocker says it best:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi9kvO2zL2E

Feliz Navidad!

By: ruhlman

ruhlman — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 04:49:09 +0000

many thanks to you all. best wishes for a fruitful new year!

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 03:51:44 +0000

Michael, ditto all the above, and to all the prosperity of family and friends to relish and in the New Year!

By: Mary

Mary — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 20:34:40 +0000

Wonderful. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

By: Conna

Conna — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 18:16:33 +0000

Happy Holidays.
Enjoy your time with the beloved ones.
Kisses from Greece

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 16:11:34 +0000

Well said, Michael. Blessed Christmas and Joyous New Year to all.

By: NancyRing

NancyRing — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 23:05:33 +0000

Merry Christmas to you, your family and your readers. You and my fellow readers all enrich my life with your opinions and well chosen words!

By: Edwin

Edwin — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 23:03:17 +0000

Perfect message Michael, thank you so much for everything you do. Happy Holidays to you, your family, friends and to all the readers who post here, all the best for 2013. Christmas time reminds me of what the great OZ said:

” A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others”. PEACE! -Ed

By: Nancy

Nancy — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 20:51:07 +0000

This brings to mind something Frank Zappa (I think) said: “There is no progress without deviation.” And deviating from the status quo—whether by starting a revolution in the streets or daring to cook from scratch in an instant, over-processed, pre-packaged world—is a lot less intimidating when you know you have partners in crime, fellow collaborators, conspirators even. And someone thoughtful & articulate behind the bullhorn. (That’d be you.)

Thanks for all you do. Important stuff, that. And all the best for 2013.