Why is the human species the way it is, and could it be changed?
The human species is the way it is, because our fates were sealed the moment the “serpent” was created. And as far as change goes, our inability to learn from mistakes tells us it could only ever be for the worst.
R De Braganza, Kilifi, Kenya
• It is the way it is because of junk food, which has begun changing the human species into a sedentary form, a condition to which smartphones are contributing ...
Philip Stigger, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
• We’re the way we are because that’s the way we evolved; change will come when we’re extinct: the vast majority of living things on earth are hoping that time will be sooner rather than later.
Stuart Williams, Kampala, Uganda
• Keep reading the Guardian and find out.
Richard Orlando, Westmount, Quebec, Canada
• Because it has changed. Thanks be to Darwin ...
Edward Black, Pauanui, New Zealand
• Years ago, a friend swapped her “Save The Whales” button for one that said “Save the Humans”. Amen.
Donna Samoyloff, Toronto, Canada
• An American cosmologist once opined that while creating mankind, God must have been cutting his or her toenails. If that is the case, maybe the only hope for improvement lies in finding a well-qualified celestial podiatrist.
Harvey Mitchell, Castlemaine, Victoria
• The human species has come to its present state through the normal process of evolution. Regrettably, it may soon be possible to change it by genetic manipulation, but not necessarily for the better.
Joan Dawson, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Aggression must have had an evolutionary advantage. We now fight fewer wars than ever, so let’s hope natural selection favours peace for our continued survival. Women leaders would help.
David Isaacs, Sydney, Australia
Loaves’ labours lost
What is the best thing since sliced bread?
Handcut, homemade sourdough bread.
Margery Webster, Woodend, Victoria, Australia
• The automatic toaster.
Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia
• The resurgence of freshly baked traditional breads.
Gillian Shenfield, Sydney, Australia
• Finding something to put between it.
Jennifer Rathbone, Toronto, Canada
• The hyperlink.
David Tucker, Halle, Germany
• Sliced bread very nearly ended civilisation for me, but bread mix and the home bread oven saved it.
Ted Webber, Buderim, Queensland, Australia
• The unsliced loaves in our local Greek-owned bread shop. So I never have to buy one of those pesky breadmakers, which usually sit unused in the cupboard after the novelty of using it has worn off.
Margaret Wilkes, Perth, Western Australia
Hailing taxis is very common
We all know it rains cats and dogs. Can it ever rain fish and prawns?
I have never experienced raining cats, dogs, fish or prawns. However, over many years and in divers places, I have experienced hailing taxis.
Christine McDougall, Cote St Luc, Quebec, Canada
• I have lived over 90 years and I have never heard of a verifiable occasion of it raining cats and dogs. So I would give the same probability to it raining fishes and prawns.
Daan Zwick, Rochester, New York, US
Any answers?
What’s required to be the world’s most fortunate person? Who is it?
Richard Sealock, Berwick, Victoria, Australia
Is it the cream or the scum that rises to the top?
Norman Temple, Edmonton, Canada
weekly.nandq@theguardian.com or Guardian Weekly, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU, UK
