The first indication of Lovetron’s reality was in Mixed Up Files, when Pavane, having infiltrated the VR, mentioned it. Then, in the Hundred Dressed, the opossum scientists blasted off to it, namedropping Pavane on their way out. But it wasn’t until this arc that we learned that it was a genuine planet.
As for Tigerlilly, her presence in the mirror universe as a perfectly sane individual suggests that she’s quite human.
That’s a pretty long time to wait for intelligence and/or funnel cakes.
Interestingly, the same page above talks about an idea that the lineage of hominids that became humans might have gotten a boost from honey. It sounds kinda speculative, but there it is.
I was thinking the same thing. Perhaps they thought one of the dinosaur lineages would develop intelligence? If so the fact they got mostly-insectivorous birds instead makes it a spectacularly bad call. At least they got a lot of flowers out of it.
Typo – that should be “of any individual”. Anyway, they’re not totally immortal – a hive can die out – but as long as the species continues, there is continuity of the hive minds.
They see that the emergence of intelligent life has ceased. They see that we’ve become so “intelligent” that we’re now destroying the planet, so they’re leaving… and they’re taking the recipe for funnel cakes.
Bees like funnel cakes? Maybe I’ve been making them wrong.
Extra sugar works wonders.
I’m more intrigued by the implication that funnel cakes predated intelligent life.
Funnel cakes are a necessary indicator of intelligent life. Before that they’re just grunting lumps of meat.
Stealing that! (With a bit of modification.)
All intelligent life has cake.
http://www.vexxarr.com/archive.php?seldate=081005
Bold of you to assume they meant the intelligent *human* life.
Considering the number of bees that hang around the food vendors at the Arizona State Fair, I’m not surprised.
Guess I haven’t been paying close enough attention, because Lovetron being real and Bees being aliens is a surprise to me too.
….
So is Tigerlily actually Gavotte’s daughter in a anthropoid form?
The first indication of Lovetron’s reality was in Mixed Up Files, when Pavane, having infiltrated the VR, mentioned it. Then, in the Hundred Dressed, the opossum scientists blasted off to it, namedropping Pavane on their way out. But it wasn’t until this arc that we learned that it was a genuine planet.
As for Tigerlilly, her presence in the mirror universe as a perfectly sane individual suggests that she’s quite human.
Thanks for reviving memories of Berenice as a hot soccer mom.
Which also may make previous theories about alien possession more likely.
Well, it looks like Shaenon and Jeff *did* anticipate Doctor Who. Now to see if our heroes can locate the Lost Moon of Poosh…
“Who would want to steal Poosh?”
So did they find any intelligent life?
Probably one of the more relevant questions posted on this forum.
As best I can find, the oldest bee in amber dates to 100 million years ago.
That’s a pretty long time to wait for intelligence and/or funnel cakes.
Interestingly, the same page above talks about an idea that the lineage of hominids that became humans might have gotten a boost from honey. It sounds kinda speculative, but there it is.
I was thinking the same thing. Perhaps they thought one of the dinosaur lineages would develop intelligence? If so the fact they got mostly-insectivorous birds instead makes it a spectacularly bad call. At least they got a lot of flowers out of it.
When you are a collective intelligence, the hive mind goes on beyond the life span on any individual – they are effectively immortal.
Typo – that should be “of any individual”. Anyway, they’re not totally immortal – a hive can die out – but as long as the species continues, there is continuity of the hive minds.
Thing of it is, not all bees form eusocial hives.
I also have to wonder about related insects like wasps and ants (which can also form eusocial colonies/hives) — are they supposed to be aliens too?
As implied further down, this sort of thing gives evolutionary biologists a headache.
What are two of the primary causes of speciation?
Prolonged isolation of one population from another and genetic drift.
“Not all bees are aliens! Don’t be daft!”
To my ear that last panel sounds like Melissa is being facetious, pulling Dr. Lee’s leg..
“Did you hear that sound? It was like a million evolutionary biologists crying out in pain”
“Commander, yhose alien ‘observers’ have nearly complete control of Earth’s agriculture!”
It’s not that bad. If you get rid of the bees, man can still live by bread alone.
Random wild theory #47: Turns out “funnel cakes” overrides “blueberry waffles”.
Those little things hanging in the air around them… is Gavotte beginning to manifest in bee forms?
Fireflies… take my love, take my land, take me where I cannot stand…
I’m pretty sure they’re meant to be stars. Note that there are none when the background is the arcade and other buildings on the boardwalk.
The emergent of intelligent life (likely) *from* homo sapiens. Which may *to* hive intelligence and/or mad genius?
I’m sorry, was that supposed to make sense? Your comments are usually more coherent than that.
but not by much… sorry… if human are evolving, do the bees think we are evolving into mad geniuses, or a hive mind, or both?
They see that the emergence of intelligent life has ceased. They see that we’ve become so “intelligent” that we’re now destroying the planet, so they’re leaving… and they’re taking the recipe for funnel cakes.
Bees communicate by dancing. Probably “Lovetron” does sound better that way—you couldn’t hear it.
Yes, but these bees quite clearly communicate by speaking as well, and the term “mother tongue” implies that speech is involved.
ASL is many peoples mother tongue.
Since when do bees have tongues?
Far as I can tell, bees gather pollen with their proboscis. I might take that as “nose,” but it might be a stretch.
Don’t eat the glowing yellow irradiated snow – the lost rough drafts of Frank Zappa songs.
Yay, happy ending! There is no colony collapse disorder, just bees going home!
I wonder, is that “C’mon” as in “What did you think?” or as in “Follow me now”?
Also, I feel like I should be making an Oz connection with the bees, but it’s not coming to me.