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Mon 14 Jan, 2008 05:48 pm
Today, on a dare of sorts, I went to the piercing salon and had my ears pierced. I'm 47 and therefore a bit behind the curve.
The reason I did it is because, as I've said before, Mo, my seven year old son wants to have his ears pierced so I wanted to see what it was all about before I would agree to mutilate him.
And yeah, it hurt. But according to the woman who did the jabbing I have really super fat earlobes (as if I didn't have enought to worry about) and she had to use the big needle.
I spent the rest of the day wondering about earlobes.
What is their purpose?
Why are some attached and some detached?
Why do we decorate them?
Do you decorate yours?
Do your earlobes have something that would make them distinctive?
Thanks for participating in my very scientific journey into earlobe studies!
The TGF-Beta genome study has listed the following traits that are genetically identifiable in both the chimpanzee and human genomes(includes earlobes)
Quote:
LIFE HISTORY ORGAN PHYSIOLOGY NUTRITION COGNITIVE CAPACITY
Secondary Altriciality Aldosterone Response to Posture Frugivory Declarative Memory
Helplessness of the Newborn Salt-Wasting Kidneys Carnivory Imitative Learning
Prolonged Helplessness of Young Ability For Sustained Running Aquatic Foods Teaching
Extended Care of Young Voluntary Control of Breathing Underground Foods Symbolic Representation
Childhood Ability to Dive Underwater Cooking Awareness of Death
Adolescence Diving Reflex Awareness of the Past
Age at First Reproduction Ability to Float/Swim NEUROANATOMY Awareness of the Future
Longevity Emotion Lacrimation Relative Brain Size Theory of Mind
Salt Content of Tears Direct Cortical Projections Theory of Other Minds
REPRODUCTIVITY BIOLOGY Olfactory Sense Relative Volume of Frontal Cortex Empathy
Concealed Ovulation Relative Volume of Corpus Callosum Numeracy
Virgin Breast Development CELL BIOLOGY Relative Volume of Cerebellum
Female Pituitary Menopause No Differences Are Known? % of Brain Growth Complete at Birth COMMUNICATION
Placentophagy Rate of Postnatal Brain Growth "Parentese" Sounds
Female Labia Majora BIOCHEMISTRY Infant "Protoconversations"
Vaginal Hymen Placental Alkaline Phosphatase NEUROBIOLOGY Gestural Communication
Baculum (Penis Bone) N-Glycolylneuraminic Acid Expression Population Distribution of Handedness Symbolic Communication
Sperm Count Alpha 2-6-Linked Sialic Acid Expression Semantics
Copulatory Plug Postnatal Dendritic Growth Grammar and Syntax
ENDOCRINOLOGY Postnatal Synapse Formation Recursion
EMBRYOLOGY Thyroid Hormone Metabolism Cortical Synapse Density Writing
Early Fetal Wastage/Aneuploidy Cortical Neuron Density
Hydatiform Molar Pregnancy PHARMACOLOGY Dendrites Per Neuron
Umbilical Cord Length Methylation of Inorganic Arsenic Synapses Per Neuron SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
Adult Neurogenesis Institutions
PREGNANCY/PARTURITION ANATOMIC PATHOLOGY Cingulate Cortical Spindle Neurons Social Conventions
Cephalo-pelvic Disproportion Cortical Neurofibrillary Tangles Finger Tip Sensory Nerve Endings Governments
Duration of Labor Enforcement Through Sanctions
Maternal Mortality in Childbirth CLINICAL PATHOLOGY NEUROCHEMISTRY
Pain During Childbirth Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Brain Aromatisation of Testosterone
Need for Assistance with Childbirth Serum Alkaline Phosphatase Level Tyrosine Hydroxylase Heterogeneity CULTURE
RBC and Serum Folate Composition of Art
Neonatal Cephalhematoma Serum Vitamin B12/B12 Binding MENTAL DISEASE Composition of Music
Total Leukocyte Count Schizophrenia Composition of Rhythms
POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT Absolute Neutrophil Count Bipolar Psychosis Death Rituals
Late Closure of Cranial Sutures Absolute Lymphocyte Count Autism Clothing (Covering of Body Parts)
Duration of Infant Arousal Suicide
Inconsolable Infant Crying DENTAL BIOLOGY/DISEASE Rites of Passage
Infant-Caregiver Attunement Canine Tooth Diastema BEHAVIOR Genocide
Maternal-Infant Eye-To-Eye Gaze Canine Tooth Dysmorphism Control of Facial Expressions Competitive Sports
Tooth Enamel Thickness Planning Ahead Practicing of Skills
ANATOMY Retromolar Gap Intentional Deception Physical Modifications of the Body
Sagittal Crest of Skull Third Molar Impaction Deliberately Delaying Gratification
Brow Ridge Dental Eruption Sequence/Timing Long-Range Transport of Materials Inheritance of Resources and Status
Protuberantia Menti (Chin) Secondary Tool-Making
Length of Sphenoid Sinus MEDICAL/SURGICAL DISEASES Mechanical Multi-Tasking Rythmic Dance
Choroid Plexus Biondi Bodies HIV Progression to AIDS Physical Abuse of the Young Sculpture
Inner Ear Canal Orientation P. falciparum malaria Torture Belief in Supernatural/Religion
Apical Phalangeal Tufts Viral Hepatitis B/C Complications Organized Warfare
Age of Pelvic Bone Fusion Influenza A Infection Severity Adult Play Body Adornment
Bone Cortex Thickness Incidence of Carcinomas Symbolic Play Childbirth Customs
Laryngeal Position Hemorrhoids Abuse of Other Animals Sexual Intercourse in Private
Pharyngeal Air Sacs Varicose Veins Inter-Group Coalition Formation Gift-Giving
Ear Lobes Pelvic Phleboliths Use of Containers Hospitality
Sexual Body Size Dimorphism Foamy Virus (Spumavirus) Infections Care of Infirm and Elderly Intertwining (e.g., weaving)
Lacrimal Gland Structure Sexually Transmitted Diseases Grandparenting
Visible Whites of the Eyes Home Base Meal Times
Small/Large Intestine Length Ratio IMMUNOLOGY Control of Fire Poetry
Meningeal Artery Source Sialoadhesin on Macrophages Food Preparation Property
Organized Gathering of Food Construction of Shelters
BIOMECHANICS SKIN BIOLOGY AND DISEASE Domestication of Animals Taboos
Bipedal Gait Eyebrows Domestication of Plants Taxonomy of Species
Adductive Thumb Eccrine Sweat Glands Altruistic Punishment Trade
Skeletal Muscle Strength Acne Vulgaris Peace-Making Measurement of Time
Hand-Eye Coordination Subcutaneous Fat Somnambulism Weapons
Fine Motor Coordination
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Body Lice
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Mind-Altering Drug Use
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Toys
I dont know about the cooking though. I dont think science has ever found any chimpanzee recipes.
And now an opposing (well, not opposing, just different) viewpoint.
The earlobe is where I first found out I had a nickel allergy. It's manifested in itchy sides of fingers and bottoms of feet, and itchy infected earlobes that don't heal. To this day, I cannot have earrings in my ears of any kind, even super pure kickass gold. Nuffin'. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Etc.
So if Mo has any kind of metal allergy or seems to (e. g. if he gets welts from snaps next to his skin), have him checked for a nickel allergy and ixnay on the iercingspay.
Hey! My lobes are probably gorilla style. I was looking at other lobes today and that lady wasn't kidding -- mine are big!
I did have my ears pierced before, many many years ago, without compications. I had some beautiful diamond earrings that Mr. B bought me back before he was even Mr. B that I wanted to use as my "starters" this time which is why I had to go to the fancy place to have them done. The mall places wanted you to buy their earrings. Even if you were willing to pay for their earrings and use your own they still insisted that you use their earrings. Weird.
Obviously I'm not a big fan of piercing anything. I had an earlier thread about "should I let Mo get his ears pierced?" wherein I decided my "NO" was the appropriate answer.
I waffle, however, since months later he is still asking.
Interesting though, isn't it, that lobes don't really have a purpose.
Human plumage, perhaps?
I remember from high-school biology that attached lobes are actually dominant. There's just way too many unattached recessives out there for them to take over.
Ms. Osso Allergic Phenomenon got keloids when she had her ears pierced by her dermatologist and only wore the best metals, etc. Thus followed cortisone shots...
and I love earrings - it's some febrile rejection of my prim upbringing. I used to buy earrings from the walls of Reckless Woman, a store at Venice Beach, dollar a pair. Damn, I still have some of that place's jewelry. You should see my sequined rubber palm tree pin...
Alas, that store is long ago out of business.
I've read that there is an accupuncture site on the earlobe which depresses appetite.
Since that time I've tried to remember to pinch my earlobes firmly before heading for the refrigerator or the goodie cupboard.
Ya oughta cut hair and see all the different types of ears and earlobes. LOL
Fat, skinny, attached, unattached....hairy.....its the same thing with how the hair grows around the ears, such as down onto them, and way up....to the shapes, elephant ears- spock ears...elf ears...no two seem to be the same and some are harder to cut hair around then others.
I've seen some that I'd like to tape flat to the sides of their heads so I could get the clippers around...lol
But on piercings, I have three on each ear. Two on the lower and one on the upper on both sides. >shrugs shoulders< I don't think I've wore earrings in the last few weeks for some reason or the other....
The reason the mall places make you use theirs is that theirs fit into their "gun" that they use to pierce with, and the end of the shaft is pointed. Using your own earrings, they'd have to use the gun, take those out, and install yours.
Before the ear heals, the front and back holes "float" in reference to each other. So you put the stud in from the front and then have to search for the hole in the back.... what a pain! The gun method with piercing-and-healing studs is much better!
boomerang wrote:Hey! My lobes are probably gorilla style. I was looking at other lobes today and that lady wasn't kidding -- mine are big!
I did have my ears pierced before, many many years ago, without compications. I had some beautiful diamond earrings that Mr. B bought me back before he was even Mr. B that I wanted to use as my "starters" this time which is why I had to go to the fancy place to have them done. The mall places wanted you to buy their earrings. Even if you were willing to pay for their earrings and use your own they still insisted that you use their earrings. Weird.
Obviously I'm not a big fan of piercing anything. I had an earlier thread about "should I let Mo get his ears pierced?" wherein I decided my "NO" was the appropriate answer.
I waffle, however, since months later he is still asking.
Interesting though, isn't it, that lobes don't really have a purpose.
Human plumage, perhaps?
Schniff...I have long, FAT lobes, too.
Although they are supposed to be a sign of enlightenment and nice stuff in Buddhism....purrr....
Why does the Buddha have big ears?
Zen Master Dae Kwang
Recently at a talk, someone pointed to the Buddha statue and asked me, "Why does the Buddha have such big ears?" Buddhas and bodhisattvas are always portrayed as having large, pendulous ears. In Western culture small ears close to the head are thought to be the most beautiful, but in the Orient large ears are looked upon as auspicious because they indicate wisdom and compassion. So, the Buddha is depicted as having big ears because he is the compassionate one. He hears the sound of the world - hears the cries of suffering beings - and responds. The important thing for us is not how large our ears are, but how open are our "mind ears."
wy- Also, it seems to me that the shaft of the earing that the gun inserts is a bit thicker than the shaft on the average earring. That would ensure that he hole that the gun makes, after the wound is healed, is large enough to accommodate just about any kind of earring.
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