Ancient DNA Revises Prehistory
Matt Ridley is a British rationalist who is economically conservative and socially liberal and who has a telling sense of humor. He has written a number of books - Genome was best selling, I believe - on science, history, and optimism. His blog (Rational Optimist) is one that I follow.
The linked article has a great discussion of how analyzing the DNA from ancient bones has revised how we think world history actually happened. The short version: There are no natives (except African Bushmen - info from a separate source).
Jan
The linked article has a great discussion of how analyzing the DNA from ancient bones has revised how we think world history actually happened. The short version: There are no natives (except African Bushmen - info from a separate source).
Jan
Things are getting a lot better. You might be interested in Steven Pinker's "The Better Angels of our Nature: Why Violence is Declining". I have taken the liberty of copying the promo blurb for the book below:
"We’ve all asked, “What is the world coming to?” But we seldom ask, “How bad was the world in the past?” In this startling new book, the bestselling cognitive scientist Steven Pinker shows that the world of the past was much worse. In fact, we may be living in the most peaceable era yet.
Evidence of a bloody history has always been around us: the genocides in the Old Testament and crucifixions in the New; the gory mutilations in Shakespeare and Grimm; the British monarchs who beheaded their relatives and the American founders who dueled with their rivals.
Now the decline in these brutal practices can be quantified. Tribal warfare was nine times as deadly as war and genocide in the 20th century. The murder rate in medieval Europe was more than thirty times what it is today. Slavery, sadistic punishments, and frivolous executions were unexceptionable features of life for millennia, then were suddenly abolished. Wars between developed countries have vanished, and even in the developing world, wars kill a fraction of the numbers they did a few decades ago. Rape, hate crimes, deadly riots, child abuse―all substantially down.
How could this have happened, if human nature has not changed?
Pinker argues that the key to explaining the decline of violence is to understand the inner demons that incline us toward violence and the better angels that steer us away. Thanks to the spread of government, literacy, trade, and cosmopolitanism, we increasingly control our impulses, empathize with others, debunk toxic ideologies, and deploy our powers of reason to reduce the temptations of violence."
Jan, helping
I have the sole right without explanation to take all of your rights without exception.
The Declaration of Independence and Constitution were the first time in history when citizens were placed above government. the idea was new and ignited a storm which swept around the world then fizzled and died as the immediate corruption took hold faster than the idea of citizens controlling government could take root. the citizens soon abdicated, were talked out of, or bought out of such foolishness as a freely elected without interference representative democracy or Republic. About the only thing that can be said is the government will never be a Democracy and will be a Republic in so far and no further as their Massa's allow. The best part of being bought and paid for is there is little evidence payment has ever been made. Higher taxes, inflation and flat out debt repudiation take care of that silly notion. Ethanol a good example. The dumb ass citizens in the Midwest did get more jobs in the new distillaries it's true. Cost of food went up for animals and humans not only in the US but world wide and every one in the corn belt paid. All for a hoax.
Somewhere along the line education failed to teach citizens basic civics and citizenship - they got what they willingly or by being conned voted for - if they voted.
Good idea. Not enough brain power, too many willing to remain in servitude.
That effort has been developing from the days two arms picked up a club and except for a more efficient club has failed to develop beyond the ideas of citizens controlling government or a government keeping it's neighbors free without becoming their new masters.
Spanish American War is an exact example. One of many.
I have not despaired of defeating socialism. It will be difficult; it will take time. It can be done. It is fun to be here, is it not?
Jan
Jan
Jan, rereading
Next thing you know, we'll be hearing that Global Warming is NOT man caused!
of hundreds of others -- in 2003, 4 and 5, moving in
for our first night's sleep in Feb of 5. . we are in a
physical gulch. . we have adt and other things. . the
outside world is held at bay intentionally, since we
actually think that we are charged with the requirement
to sustain and guard this place as a haven for our
little family and precious friends. . it seems to us
that, for our little chunk of time, the family is the
foundation for our social world, and that the nation
would benefit from others thinking this way.
we branch out from here in action and thought,
but the foundation is here. . we are u.s. defenders
and protagonists for reason. . for example, one of
our best friends is currently asleep in the guest
bedroom. . voting with our bucks. . extending our
little family. . loving life selectively.
while we have this situation, isn't this the way to
look at building the future? . selective love for those
admitted to the close-in space? -- j, maybe a bushman
.
Jan (any Bushmen on this list are excepted from the above remark)
This does not mean that the American Indians did not own the land, any less than it means that our Anglo Saxon ancestors did not own their lands, but it does change the topic from one of innate purity ("we were the first") to one of ownership ("we owned it at the moment you came here").
Jan
but instead about welcoming guests to MY home. -- j
.
I am quite fond of that TED talk - mind candy, as you say, puzzlelady.
Jan
Jan
Jan
Kidding of course. Thanks for the interesting information.
Jan, likes red-haired guy eye candy
Extinction hoax
See also: Disappearing blonde gene
A 2007 report in The Courier-Mail, which cited the National Geographic magazine and unnamed "geneticists", said that red hair is likely to die out in the near future.[33] Other blogs and news sources ran similar stories that attributed the research to the magazine or the "Oxford Hair Foundation". However, a HowStuffWorks article says that the foundation was funded by hair-dye maker Procter & Gamble, and that other experts had dismissed the research as either lacking in evidence or simply bogus. The National Geographic article in fact states "while redheads may decline, the potential for red isn't going away".[34]
Red hair is caused by a relatively rare recessive gene, the expression of which can skip generations. It is not likely to disappear at any time in the foreseeable future.[34]
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