ClaireSheller

Several comments here, but before I get started, Love the site- I've read/listened for years.I should also say that I'm a primatologist with a doctorate and I'm a lady. Shocking, but I am a lady Cracked reader/podcast listener. We totally exist, but I digress. First, a group of monkeys is generally referred to as a troop. We also call them groups, or more specifically, social or natal (meaning they were born into it) groups. Second, Jason is kinda correct about Dunbar's number, but it is a (likely necessary for podcasting) grand oversimplification. Generally the size of the neocortex (a small glob at the front of your brain responsible for a lot of what makes you, YOU) correlates to the overall size of a social group. This doesn't necessarily translate to greater intelligence overall. You have to consider the size of the neocortex in relation to the brain as a whole. Humans, chimpanzees, bonobos, and capuchins all have similar neocortex/brain mass ratios. Keeping social tabs is ESSENTIAL to living in a cooperative society. Humans are way more cooperative than they are selfish and divisive, regardless of what old Ayn Rand wanted to think. We despise cheaters and rule breakers. We'd rather pay to punish the deceivers than profit from their gains...well, most of us....in theory at least. Fact of the matter is, there will always be Trumps*** and Cheneys, Coulters, Khans, Dr. Lauras, Putins, and Hearsts. You can thank Jeebus that those douche nozzles are actually in the minority! Other true fact, we can accomplish WAY more working as a team than we can being selfish, violent, pricks. We've probably missed the cure to cancer or to cold fusion because we were blinded by greed, or its uglier cousin, tribalism. Tribalism is greed on behalf of the self and that which gives the self identity. **this list is a random assortment of oxygen thieves that are not ranked nor should be considered equivalent in terms of intelligence or sheer evil inflicted upon the earth. People are good because most people believe they are acting out of good intentions with a pure heart. The road to hell is paved with good intentions because what is pure and good for one is disgusting and evil for another. First we need to get on the same page as to what good and evil are, or if they even really exist. In the mean time, just try not to be a jerk to people and communicate your needs and boundaries with diplomacy and honesty. When in doubt be kind, be patient, don't forget to breathe out. The take home message is this episode is on the nose about the need for real social connections. Our true contentment is rooted in the contentment and happiness of those around us. There needs to be a change. HOWEVER, the second part to this message should be that people are generally good. You should give them more credit. They can be taught. They can evolve. Oh, and sweet merciful McGillicutty....MONKEYS HAVE TAILS (even if they are stumpy) APES DO NOT! Apes = humans, bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans Monkeys = capuchins, baboons, macaques I'm a nerd and realize most of you don't give a shit. Monkey is a way better word aesthetically and in an audiovisual sense...maybe primatologists need to evolve.

I second that emotion. OMG OMG OMG! How can you say no to this?

This is also interesting- Steve Buscemi's character references the 1977 plane crash that killed multiple members of Lynryd Skynyrd. The type of plane they were flying in? a CONVAIR CV-300.

I legitimately loved this movie as an adolescent. SO many quotable quotes in this thing. Danny Trejo (sans his signature handle bar mustache): Do you know what I am? Cage: Ugly all day long. Baby-O: What's wrong with him? Cage: My first guess would be, a lot. Those things being said, this movie defies the laws of physics. In the final fire engine chase scene (which by the way, Poe's like fuck my family, and fuck asking ANY of these hundreds of law enforcement officers for help, let's steal these motorcycles and go after them on our own!) both John Cusack and Nic Cage fly upwards of 25ft through the air and land soft as feathers, within walking distance of the original plane crash site. Both are in pristine condition, ready to offer up disgusting sewer bunnies to their estranged children or reconcile with a genuinely talented Irish actor, clinging to his America accent for dear life. Baby-O is also dying for about 3/4 of the movie. As soon as he gets his insulin injection, he is almost immediately shot in the belly. Never a dull moment in this winning film.

Ok I waited through the footnotes to see if you would say anything, buuuuuuut it's Mary Todd, not Martha. Martha was George's wife... Y'all should do an extension of this episode that discusses historical moments that were horrific at the time but then completely forgotten by subsequent generations. E.g. The Wreck of the Sultana, the Peshtigo fire, the Parsely massacre etc. I always enjoy the podcast! Keep up the good work!

Oh do go on! I'd be thrilled :-) Primates Talking Primates, or some such thing.

Ha! I was so tickled to hear you read my original comment. Funny thing is, I know for a fact I'm not the only primatologist that listens regularly. One of my best friends is also a primatologist and actually turned me on to the show in the first place! Incidentally, she worked with me in Suriname (also can be spelled Surinam), which is a country in the north east corner of South America. Ok, I don't know that I will concede that "Monkey Shines" is real- injecting frozen brain shavings directly into the blood stream would basically do nothing of benefit- monkeys are definitely capable of all the basic physical things you see in the film. There are great apes (like Kanzi the bonobo) who have been trained to build fires. I'm not talking about just flicking a lighter, I mean he goes out and gathers wood and tinder/paper and builds an actual camp fire. While I don't buy into the psychic abilities (like Ella being able to navigate her way to where Northern Exposure and the Tucc are cuddled up), monkeys are wicked smart and capuchins in particular are naturally mischievous. If they can find a way to scam you (like Ella just grabbing and stashing the box of treats rather than waiting for the reward to be dispensed), they absolutely will. With capuchins, they might not be able to kill you, but they can certainly maim you beyond recognition. I wouldn't want one in my house and even less so if I was incapacitated in some way. I can't think of a worse pairing than a monkey and someone who can't move their arms and legs! I've worked in monkey sanctuaries before and the Helping Hands program is controversial and problematic at best. I won't rant about it here, but suffice to say when it comes to nonhuman primates in captivity, it isn't a question of IF they will turn, but WHEN. Then you end up with a real life horror show, like what happened to Charla Nash and Travis the chimpanzee. Bottom line, nonhuman primates have little to no impulse control. They have great intelligence and all the emotional ups and downs of a child in the terrible twos with zero of the social taboos against acting out in violent or disgusting ways. Hence throwing poop when they are in captivity (this is something they NEVER do in the wild). Capuchins don't pee to mark their territory, but they do urine wash, i.e. pee on their hands and then rub it all over their bodies. There is an ecological reason for this that I won't bore you with as I've babbled for too long. If you ever need a primatological consult in the future, please don't hesitate to ask! Looking forward to Rhinestone!!! Thank goodness my parents have a copy on VHS!?!! MONKEYS HAVE TAILS, APES DON'T!!!!

I love y'all and this episode is great! FYI though, human beings ARE primates! That is our taxonomic order. We are classified down to the sub-family level with chimpanzees. I'm a primatologist, and while I'm not crazy about nonhuman primates in entertainment, this movie was well worth the watch. Plus, it might surprise June to know that most scientists working in the wild tend to name their subjects. In fact, I worked in Suriname where we had a brown capuchin (same species as Ella) named June! She was sister of the alpha female.