But Richard, why are you talking about fossils on this thread. This is about epistemology. I try to avoid trilobyte's technical posts like "fossils" (but sometimes it's just too easy to jump in). I don't really care much about evolution either, except in that it is a very good model of how a theory works and allows me to delve into the epistemological aspects of theories in general.
Don't get me wrong, I like evolution theory as much as relativity theory (rises to the level of "~truth" in my mind), but I guess I don't see it as important to my daily life as things like climate change.
So, I'll go back and read your posts later; but for now, hope this clears it up a bit.

Thanks much,
~~Sam

P.S. this "~truth" term means GRATIS: Generally Recognized Assumed Truth, In Situ.
~S

Pyrolysis creates reduced carbon! ...Time for the next step in our evolutionary symbiosis with fire.