Open Thread
By bluegal Monday Nov 24, 2008 8:30pm
This Day in Peace History: On this day in 1859, "British naturalist Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species, which explained his theory of evolution. The basis for the theory is natural selection, the process by which organisms change over time as a result of changes in heritable (genetically based) physical or behavioral traits.
Such changes allow an organism to better adapt to its environment and help it survive and have more offspring.
Evolution is now universally accepted among scientists, and is the organizing principle upon which modern biological and related sciences are based."
Open thread below...
Login or Register to post comments.
"as a result of changes in heritable (genetically based) physical or behavioral traits." isn't quite right. The latter reference -- behavioral traits -- is Lamarckism, a predecessor to Darwinian thought and now debunked. We know now that natural selection occurs as the result of two factors: genetic mutations and environmental factors. It's a Drawin/Crick and Watson combo.
then they are talking about, ..if a newt loses a tail, then its offspring will be born without tails and yes, that was proven wrong. However, if an animal without a long neck can't eat the food high in the tree, that's a physical limitation. If the animal has a long neck and does not eat the food high in the tree, then that's behavorial. But these factors are small bits in the larger puzzle of natural selection and can be linked to "nuture vs. nature" arguments; all still relevant to evolution and natural selection, IMHO
THAT's how I got here!
Evening all!
One more and then I'll put away the textbooks. You're here because your mother and father copulated. Natural selection occurs at the species level not the individual level.
since I don't exactly look like Homer Simpson...I think I had a general idea that I didn't exactly take that route.
I followed up on your pissing match with the asshats yesterday. When they get out of hand I just ignore them. Hope that will work out better for you. I'm not going to let them rain on my parade.
Everyone thinks I am some Obamabot or Obamaholic...what I am is an American who is hopeful and willing to see what they are going to do. I am not going to overreact to what they might do or what is being said now...I am waiting for action. I realize that often things get said because they need to be. I also realize that most of the people who have the experience to get things done do not make everyone happy.
But until they actually do something, I am withholding judgement and my own bitching.
What I will not stand for is to have people who do not live here saying that we are a bunch of dumbfucks who don't have a bloody clue about anything, are generally dumb as stones, and can't do anything right. I will not tolerate that for one second.
While there are many stupid people in this country, most of the people here do not fit that mold and to have someone who doesn't live in this country say so...full wrath of Joanne upon them...and a pox on their house, too. :-)
China continues to oppress Tibet. Canadian fatties can finally have the right to a two-seater. Bush continues to be delusional. Carter says Zimbabwe's as bad as we heard, and more. Employees are more wary of investing in 401(k) plans nowadays, for some reason. They're also unable to pay for their own lawyers. Obama takes top 1% tax increases off the table for the time being.
Bush likes to pardon druggies and environmental
rule-breakers, among others.
about the pardons earlier. What a joke they were. And just think...he has another eight weeks to pardon, pardon, pardon.
Expect Libby to be on the Xmas list.
"At the same time, Obama advisers say there is little — if any — chance that his administration would bring criminal charges."
Earlier today. Made me fucking sick.
The precedent has now been set.
did you hear it. I thought he said he would not stand in the way of any investigations. He isn't a prosecutor so maybe, they were just laying it out there to throw the criminals off.
this is exactly how they planned it
make the world such a fucked up place that going after any of them would be a tasteless, thankless job
i believe in karma...i believe that bush and the rest of his crime syndicate will get it in the end
this man will never get the rehab treatment that nixon got...you can count on that
that stupididty reigned. ignorance in the name of personal self advancement was always the version of science that was what we had, but a version of science that elevated every one was never popular.
The repugs haven't evolved as far as we have.
Sec_Humanist, good catch.
If we accept the credibility of DNA evidence in a courtroom murder case or paternity case, then we also accept evolution.
http://www.iamdarwin.org/
Get your McCain 1908 tee shirts!
stupid humans get what they deservestupid humans get what they deservestupid humans get what they deservestupid humans get what they deservestupid humans get what they deservestupid humans get what they deservestupid humans get what they deservestupid humans get what they deservestupid humans get what they deservestupid humans get what they deservestupid humans get what they deservestupid humans get what they deservestupid humans get what they deservestupid humans get what they deservestupid humans get what they deservestupid humans get what they deserve
Insightful post.
You're next then?
except for maybe two: great.vid.
Anxiety city though, after watching it.
I'm not wholly evolved yet!!
Thanks, bluegal!
if you want to continue being cynical and say that one person cannot change the world, even if they try
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-vaGctUJJY
Just what I needed...tears before going to bed.
That was a wonderful video. Thank you for posting it.
What a shame that young man didn't make it to become an adult. We need more Brendon's in the world.
age and experience tends to bring out the cynicism in all of us
i have a friend, whose daugter died at 16 of leukemia
there was never a more giving and kind girl in this world
when the rest of her freinds were busy going to malls, she was donating time to the local old age home or helping out at the food pantry
i know that most here dont believe in god, but i believe that sometimes god takes those who are just too good for this world, before they are spoiled by its nastiness
i think brendon was one of those special people...he truly felt better by helping others
he was a living angel
Most here don't believe in the God of the fundamenatalists who acts like a 14th century petty tyrant.
..for posting this. Saw it this morning and appreciated getting to spend a few more minutes with this great little man among men.
As the original poster of the vid wrote: "In his memory, go out and do something wonderful for someone in need today..."
I'm still crying. Thank you for the reminder. Life is precious.
crying for two weeks. The homeless people he saw were in a traveling tent city that keeps getting kicked out of places, their things being thrown out by city workers cleaning up, and I think his mom was pretty hard up at some time, and his illness and death have really laid her low.
The Seahawks are paying for his services. They may be losers on the field...
Just shows that humanity is basically good, most children care for others, it takes the school system and the advertising/marketing business to corrupt the children to become 'normal' ie selfish.
...except among the developmentally-challenged, reich-winger, Xian types.
Miss Sarah comes to mind - I'd almost put her out of it
(my mind) but KO showed the "turkey execution" video earlier tonight, and when I saw this cartoon I immediately thought of her and how thoroughly UNevolved she is.
Evolution delivered our species plenty of brain and potential to work with. Our species has no need to evolve any longer.
Because of our god-like capacities to know reality and be effective in our environment, guided by honest human values like caring about individuals, we can build on our knowledge to even eliminate disease and death.
Yes, we can get off the death-propelled train of evolution and master our human destiny.
...the Venus Project or the Zeitgeist Addendum? These are some people who have some thoughts/ideas about how we can use the capacities we have to do exactly that - create a whole different way of looking at life and how we live it. You can google either and watch/listen to videos etc. Really interesting....
Thanks, Amitola, looks useful.
I'm wondering if Obama will disband Bush's "bio"-ethics committee, or re-populate it with members who think maybe extending human life spans towards infinity is a good thing. Now it has too many "to protect you I have to kill you" bio-conservative types, who are concerned about the affects on society if we choose medical technologies that enable us to persist past current lifespan limits.
Existing became an anti-social act somewhere along the lines of their thinking, at least with the line-up I was seeing. http://bioethics.gov
....Repub/Bush types are very conflicted about issues surrounding life and death, but they have no problem making sure that "they" can continue to exist - it's just the "others"
which would include us, I s'pose. The Terry Schaivo fiasco comes to mind, and their thinking about abortion vs. execution.
I'm not sure I want to extend my very own personal life "to Infinity and beyond", but I do believe that we will eventually be able to do that with advancing technology. That's what the Zeitgesit Movement is about - using technology to free human beings from ourselves, by recognizing that energy is an unlimited resource in the universe.
I don't know too much about the bio-ethics committee, except that it exists, but I'll check the site you posted. My feeling is that Obama would want to make some changes in that area, too.
should be an option for everyone, like not taking nourishment today, or consuming the high-tech ambrosia of eternal youth tomorrow.
That bioethics.gov is a dreary place, but there are some interesting essays.
Freedom's Watch going the way of the dinosaur. OUT. STANDING.
Amazing that people dedicated their entire lives to scientific truth and advancement, yet an entire swath of the population doesn't even realize the human advancement required to bring them that cellphone under their ears. It just blows my mind that people get to a specific point in their lives and just give up trying to learn more...
This video of Sarah Palin Outtakes:The Turkey Interview is hilarious!!
i enjoyed that, so sue me ;-)
How much ya got?
most of you dont know who mr ackerman is...or even care...but to a geek like me, he is a hero
the original sci fi fanatic...protector of all things precious in geekdom...his home is a museum...his mind filled with wonders
92 years young today...
Love his contributions and conservation efforts. I loved FM magazine and the Warren comics.
I practically grew up on Famous Monsters and MAD. In fact, it was from MAD I learned the 10 Commandments.
http://www.empire-of-the-claw.com/Eeriepubs_h...
http://www.km3studios.com/gallery/covers/Vamp...
To this day, his Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine and irreverent sense of humor serves to remind me of my own youth and innocence.
May he get to keep those feelings intact for himself as long as he lives.
he has died twice in the last 2 months
i think he is spreading those rumors just to see people's reactions...the man has a nasty sense of humor...makes him even more special
But, in case there is any truth to the rumors, he and his family get my best wishes, absolutely :)
The guy who met Homer walking the opposite direction was either a Repub wingnut or Bill O'Reilly -- enhanced lizard-brains with two legs.
Repugs want to go back to earlier history and keep things the way they were before the great depression. Democrats are still evolving for the future. we welcome change for the better and they fear it. They fail to evolve.
I really do. Can you feel me?
http://mojopo.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-hate-re-...
Just compare Obama's attittude toward a national crisis to Bush's reaction during 9/11. Hell, the latter incident happened after 5 A.M. in the morning, and the guy couldn't get off his ass to do something about it.
God help the world if that dickhead Netanyahu becomes PM of Israel again.
And somehow to a decent percentage of the population of the US, and even the world, this means "there is no God." The faah?
"IPS: During his last visit to the region U.S. President George Bush described Israel as an example of progress and democracy in the Middle East. How objective do you find his view?
IP: A society that endorses a 40-year occupation of another people cannot be a liberal one. A society that discriminates against 20 percent of its population because they are not Jews cannot be described as progressive. The problem in Israel is not the role of religion or tradition; it is the role of Zionism, a very clear ideology of exclusion, racism and expulsion. This ideology allows the army to play a significant role in most of the domestic and foreign policies, and it is probably right to say that Israel is not a state with an army, but an army with a state."
How Ilan Pappe, an Israeli historian, was forced to resign and eventually had to flea Israel for fear of attacks, his opinion on U.S. elections, Barack Obama and more:
Occupiers cannot also be liberalAnd
Human Rights Tribune
I worked with a Phd Molecular Biologist, who does not accept evolution. I don't know how he gets his mind around that, but he does. Second thought, maybe he doesn't try. His ego is so huge he may not even notice the cognitive dissonance. He voted for Bush twice, then got laid off in Bush's economy. Now he wants to try his hand at politics. Problem is, this is the new blue NC. He may have to move to SC.
Kindly tell us where you work and at what, so that we may avoid the place...
On Nov. 25, 1986, the Iran-Contra affair erupted as President Reagan and Attorney General Edwin Meese revealed that profits from secret arms sales to Iran had been diverted to Nicaraguan rebels.
Family Guy Style: http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/2006/05...
The South Park Way: http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/2006/11...
The Simpsons Evolution: http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/2006/05...
for free turkey giveaway, courtesy of Jackson Limousine. All ten thousand turkeys are expected to be given away. Hats off to the company for their generosity. And a big FUCK YOU to George bush for causing an economic collapse that forces people to wait over a day for free food.
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Angel...
Did you ever see the episode of WKRP in Cincinannati where their station had a turkey giveaway?
WKRP days. While my parents tried to control the TV, I was busy sneaking through dad's porno collection...
Looking for nude photos of Loni Anderson?
Wonder how she is these days?
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http:/...
Back in the 80's, at their peak, critics said of Loni Anderson and Deborah Harry that they had teen aged boys screaming in lust, when they were about the age of their mothers.
When an athiest has an orgasm, does she yell: Oh, Darwin! Oh, Darwin!?
Oh concupiscens, oh flagrante delicto?
Or in Texas
YEE HA!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG2hGSL345I
I guess I haven't pleased an athiest correctly then...
Whatever you do while riding your woman don't say, "Get along little doagie!"
Indubitably it'll bring everything to a screeching halt.
tell your woman to roll over and take it like a man!
Butt what if the woman sez it to her guy?
and he's a slave...HA!
http://sexualityinart.files.wordpress.com/200...
.
Darwin was a cool mofo!
http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/ksccount/2...
videos:
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics...
Made me wanna chunder!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxWmFLmj7MA
I love that movie...
That Ann Coulter has had her mouth wired shut?
.
::runs away shrieking::
I bet Jan Smithers looks better than that.
Yeah, that was a reply to the picture of Loni Anderson. And you can't delete comments??? The fah?
Deborah Harry as of last year:
http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/famecrawler/20...
Timothy Dalton now:
http://www.pelicanpromotions.com.au/dalton/Ho...
And in his Hay Day:
http://www.timothydalton.org/images/Timothy-D...
Bond Ever!
Roger Moore was the worst Bond ever!
actor as "The Saint" but ugh. Dalton had no personality whatsoever.
I think Harry and Dalton look pretty good.
I thought Anderson was in her 70's but she is only 63 (per a bio page, but I wonder if she lied about her birthdate. That looks like a pretty rough 63 years. I never knew my mother was 10 years older than she was until the day she died. She lied about her age for, well, my whole life. She died at 75 [65] but she never looked her real age. I was stunned to find out. I have a feeling Ms. Anderson might be doing something like that.)
As others are pointing out, natural selection does not act on individuals but on populations. Individual organisms do not change. The mutation of a gene in an individual can lead to the spread of an adaptive trait if that individual's progeny survive.
Login or Register to post comments.