Hello Children. This is Hermit, the Taoist Dragonfly, with your daily dose of scientific history. And our topic today is: GRAVITY. (Hermit clicks on a notebook, and a picture of planet earth appears on the tv screen.)
As you can see, the planet we live on is round. Now, dear children, how can this be? Haven't we – no, you, hehe - all tried to stand on a soccerball some time, and found out that it is nearly impossible? Now, children, the answer is this: until eight thousand years ago (more or less), our ancestors were all staying on plants. These were buried deep into planet earth, as you can still see today, and our ancestors had to hold fast to them with at least one hand. With their other hand they could catch flies, bugs, and pick some leaves from their habitats. Or, like me, they were sucking grass 'n leaves when they didn't fly. Of course, that wasn't scientific. It was very inefficient and unhealthy, and most of our ancestors didn't last for more than one summer. Besides, countless ancestors lost contact with their plants and accidentally went into outer space.
Fortunately, the Chinese invented science. Eight thousand years ago (more or less), Taoist monks invented gravity. They also invented some things before, like doing things – while holding on to trees with one hand – that could make babies like you (but also make a lot of fun while avoiding making babies), but we will come to that later. Much later. When it has become a suitable topic for little buggers like you. Anyway, Chinese Taoist monks invented gravity.
Now we can all choose if we want to cling to trees and flowers, or if we want to walk mother earth, thanks to the Chinese. From the kindness of their hearts, they have never switched gravity off – not even when some hooligans pissed on their sacred olympic flame. But make sure that you never overstep the unknown limit of their patience (or if you do, make sure that you have one of your hands firmly on a tree).
Planes are an example of how to switch gravity off locally. The Chinese also invented planes. They allow people like you to fly.
Unfortunately, any science can sometimes be abused by evil cults. Falun Gong is such an evil cult. It is OK for dragonflies to fly, but Falun Gong even makes old commie grandmothers fly! Sometimes, these grannies lose orientation and fly into tunnel supports. Thanks to Chinese science, they often survive this abuse. When they survive, they get hospitalised, old cadres come to pay a visit to their sickbeds, cry with them and make them repent. Be very careful when people who claim that they are "scientific" tell you to fly! Don't fly unless you are a dragonfly! And don't try to stand on a soccerball because a stranger tells you to! It could be a bad uncle from the evil cult! Only try to stand on a soccerball if you feel like it!
OK, dear children. That much for today. Got to fly now.
(Wordpress.com, June 28, 2008)
Original texts from: http://justrecently.wordpress.com/2008/06/28/scientific-history-the-invention-of-gravity/
