jakelafort

Pope, good stuff.

Genetic and cultural evolution. The two must be related. At some point all of those courtship rituals had a beginning. One unusual member of a species went cuckoo. And others joined in. So at some point that first macaque that washed fruit and had others observe and follow will become genetic. I guess, i don’t reallly…[Read more]

Pope, you undersell yourself as a communicator.

I agree with most of you’ve written.

I think dogs read us and our facial expressions as well as we do each other. Also very hip to our mood. It is my understanding that all (or nearly all) primates have emotions that are elicited by like-stimulus and are expressed facially in nearly the same way.…[Read more]

From Pope:

and a strong urge to communicate with each other in ways that go much deeper than ways among other animals

Not sure about that. Not an assumption i make.

The word nanotechnology came to mind. It is a brave new world we are about to destroy.

Robert if you don’t mind which funds or equities are you in?

Robert, that is a great bet-wagering on the coming medical revolution.

Robert you raise a monumental issue.

How do we come to terms with foreign nations and mega corporations transforming our gullible population into marionettes? No emphasis in our culture on thinking for oneself. Churches, shit schools, shit parents, shit teachers, bullshit patriotism, shit for brains..

Additionally cultural homage to a false…[Read more]

i knew about their biology but also thought it was octopi.

Autumn, i strongly suspect intelligence makes animals more adaptable and perhaps leads to new niches as well. But yeah there is a cost for a bigger brain. Hell, i can’t even find a hat that fits.

Count me in as someone who eats seafood but not octo. I feel at ease devouring a bivalve though.

Surprisingly none of us have mentioned that the…[Read more]

From Autumn a sentence i love:

The degree of unchecked moral relativism with which we sedate our consciences is frightening.

I agree about the lip service to women and children. I suspect it is based on paternalistic notion that men are in charge and have been unable to protect their property. Or some such sentiment…

As to life spans,…[Read more]

Autumn, that was a wild ride. You are not a bot, not that i ever thought…

So lets put the age and circumstances of intended death usually referred to as homicide in the rear view mirror. Under any circumstances why do we make a fuss about taking a life? (In war we demonize the enemy, kill em like they’re of no value, and use their skulls as…[Read more]

Robert was there even an effort to effectuate a diplomatic solution? If it is true there is a part of former Russia in Ukraine that is predominantly Russian/Russian language and identifies more with Russia than Ukraine then doesn’t it make sense to cede that territory, to have both nations cooperate to have immigration and emigration in accordance…[Read more]

Belle i am sure it is highly unusual. But i doubt it never happens. I’ve seen stories about newborns being thrown in a dumpster. The Spartans loved to kill little ones who were not up to their standards.

I totally get and support the notion that a woman’s autonomy over her body is paramount UNTIL a point in the pregnancy where a new life is far…[Read more]

@Unseen, you sad a mouthful with the following.

We now have convenience Christianity. There’s sure to be a religion or church or preacher where your own deeply-held opnions, prejudices, and/or follies are affirmed for you and inculcated for others.

Confirmation bias is a bitch even when you are keenly aware of it. How many times have i caught m…[Read more]

Unseen’s words:

Isn’t it great when you can fight a proxy war and all you have to deal with is record inflation at home while all the dying is done by Ukrainians and Russians and people starving in Third World countries?

Yeah it is unreal how people can be cavalier as to nuclear war. And as to Black and Brown peoples in 3rd world countries we d…[Read more]

Robert, Nazi Germany is simply inapposite as precedent for the Ukraine. Sure there are parallels but they are not probative.

Where to start? The lead-up to German aggression was in the Spanish Civil war. From 1936 to 1939 Germany adumbrated its future plans. Weapons and tactics were introduced knowingly as a way to prepare for its future…[Read more]

From Belle,

Lets get Belle some danish.

Are you SURE about that?

What if they discover for example that the baby has its brain hanging out of his skull. She the mother be forced to deliver that? What if she doesn’t want to? Should she be forced to? It’s not as cookie cutter simple as you think sometimes. And it’s no one’s busines…[Read more]

There is a greater question than Ukraine.

I am super pessimistic about our prospects. I think most of us here do not expect civilization to last centuries. Is there any way to reverse the march of folly?

How do we oppose or prevent dictators. How do we oppose or prevent obscene wealth in the hands of a few at the cost of the many? How do we…[Read more]

That is funny. Neville Chamberlain was the first thing i thought about when i was pondering whether it was wise to support Ukraine. I don’t think the logic applies to the current conflict.