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Article: Thumbs Up; After Eons Spent in Its Siblings' Shadow, the Dumpy Digit Finally Counts
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- June 24, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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The thumb. Admire its tender opposable beauty. Not only can it
bend -- it can swivel! See that? What a saddle joint! And its
strength -- whoa mama! Catch those powerful muscles at the base?
Babies know this instinctively; they can grab your hair and not let
go. Try this: Turn your thumb in and bend your index finger to touch
it, making an O. This is the byproduct of millions of years of
evolution -- perfect, intimate unity between fingertips. How fitting
that this gesture, the calling card of a species at once blessed and
cursed by consciousness, means it's okay, everything's gonna be all
right. (Except in Brazil and a few other countries, where the gesture
is an insult that might get you ...