All Our Junk

Today I learned more about junk DNA, and how crazy much of it we have. Over 90% of human DNA is extra! leftover! historical! What gives? That's a heap of (unused?) information right there -- and megafoundation to evolutionary processes. Going 'small' is one way to get to the hub of biological data-passing. And who's got the longest DNA strain? Not us, by far: ready? Salamanders. No other beast comes close to holding so much extra info. What gives there? Also, today I learned Wagner's Tannhauser is not Total Wagner. That is, he didn't get into his full-voiced multi-tongued full-throttle assault til Tristan. Those before were more linear, and although the overture to Tannhauser remains my favorite, the rest of it seems almost listless compared to how he grew later. Now, he did go back and re-write some sections, but that only serves in bringing the frustrations to the front: you can hear his easy old style backed right up against some complex future combinations of melody. He stuck the ballet in the beginning, thereby upsetting the French. Also, the only real versions should be performed nude (the first bit, the humping of the satyrs). Georg Solti's 1970 recording is the best to get for this.