Mail 426 August 7 - 13, 2006 (original) (raw)
Monday August 7, 2006
There was considerable mail, some of high value, over the weekend,so start there.
Subject: Study: Cat Parasite Affects Human Culture
http://www.livescience.com/othernews/060803_tgondii_culture.html
Jerry, the domestication of humans discussion intrigued me. The following article is somewhat relevant. In essence, the author suggests that a parasite common to cats -- which can be transferred the humans -- results in psychological effects ranging from "guilt proneness" to schizophrenia. We also know that diet can have a dramatic effect on mood. In summary, it is apparent that there are a number of tools available for the domestication of humans, should some individual make that his or her goal.
Regards, Charlie Worton
Study: Cat Parasite Affects Human Culture <http://images.livescience.com/template_images/navigation/transpacer.gif> By Ker Than http://www.livescience.com/blogs/author/kerthan LiveScience Staff Writer posted: 03 August 2006 03:47 pm ET <http://images.livescience.com/template_images/livescience/transpacer.gif>
A parasitic microbe commonly found in cats might have helped shape entire human cultures by manipulating the personalities of infected individuals, according to a new study.
Infection by a Toxoplasma gondii could make some individuals more prone to some forms of neuroticism and could lead to differences among cultures if enough people are infected, says Kevin Lafferty, a U.S. Geological Survey scientist at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
In a survey of different countries, Lafferty found that people living in those with higher rates of T. gondii <http://www.livescience.com/scienceoffiction/060210_technovelgy.html> infection scored higher on average for neuroticism, defined as an emotional or mental disorder characterized by high levels of anxiety <http://www.livescience.com/imageoftheday/siod_051122.html> , insecurity or depression <http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/ap_060228_patch.html> .
His finding is detailed in the Aug. 2 issue of the journal for Proceedings of the Royal Society, Biology.
Manipulating behavior
T. gondii infects both wild and domestic cats, but it is carried by many warm-blooded <http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/060710_dinosaur_temperature.html> mammals. One recent study showed that the parasite makes normally cautious rats outgoing and more prone to engage in reckless behavior, such as hanging around areas frequently marked by cat urine, making the rats easy targets.
Scientists estimate that the parasite has infected about 3 billion people, or about half of the human population <http://www.livescience.com/othernews/060224_world_population.html> . Studies by researchers in the Czech Republic have suggested T. gondii might have subtle but long-term effects on its human hosts. The parasite is thought to have different, and often opposite effects in men versus women, but both genders appear to develop a form of neuroticism called "guilt proneness."
Other studies have also found links between the parasite and schizophrenia <http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/050907_schizotype_creative.html> . T. gondii infection is known to damage astrocytes <http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/060106_astrocytes_blood.html> , support cells in the brain that are also affected during schizophrenia. Pregnant women with high levels of antibodies <http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/060207_virus_evolution.html> to the parasite are also more likely to give birth to children who will develop the disorder.
In light of such studies, Lafferty wondered whether high rates of T. gondii infection in a culture <http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/060123_dying_wish.html> could shift the average personality of its individuals.
"In populations where this parasite is very common, mass personality modification could result in cultural change," Lafferty said.
The distribution of T. gondii could explain differences in cultural aspects that relate to ego, money, material possessions, work and rules, Lafferty added. In some countries, infections by the cat parasite are very rare, while in others nearly all adults are infected.
I had not thought about the implications for evolutionary theory. Thanks.
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Victory in Iraq:
Dr. Pournelle,
An odd thought occurred to me today...
Our Middle East policy for a very long time was containment and maintaining a balance of power. As long as they kept their religious insanity to themselves, we really wouldn't get all that bothered by it. It strikes me that with the religious civil war fully underway in Iraq, we've achieved our true objective of rebalancing the region and it's time to leave.
Seriously.
Nothing we do is going to keep these heavily armed morons from killing each other, so we may as well take advantage of the situation. The shape of the new Middle East won't be determined for another several years, so it's time to declare victory and, with a few choice behind the scenes agreements, take our leave.
How I'd do it - I'd work a deal with Saudi Arabia to look the other way and let the Saudis send a little aid to Iraq to help balance Iran. An Iraq at war is ok as long as it remains identifiable as Iraq, so our task ought to be to focus on the balance in the region instead of an outright victory for western style democracy. Because for the US, stability is a win.
As part of the withdrawal, I'd beef up the Kurd's security forces as much as we can get away with so if Iraq collapses completely, the Kurds would be strong enough to declare some form of independence and get away with it. The Kurdish regions are a relative model of peace and stability, and it would be a shame to let that progress go to waste. Again, it would take a deal with Saudi Arabia to make this work because whoever "wins" the religious slaughter in Iraq will naturally turn north in search of more blood to spill in the name of Allah. Saudi Arabia's leadership may help temper that urge. If we had any old school ninja diplomats, we could get the Syrians and Iranians in on the deal but there are only new-age liberal Barney and Teletubbie diplomats left so I'll take what we can get.
Sean
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Subject: Evidence in the propaganda war
Dr. Pournelle,
Clear proof/evidence of how active the Hizbollah propaganda machine is. I don't usually pass around these kinds of links but this one is a bit different. Warning - some pics may be disturbing as they are using dead children in posed photo opportunities for propaganda.
http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/2006/07/milking-it.html
The main character in these shots must be the busiest and most prolific emergency worker in the world! He's photographed over and over wearing only a couple different outfits, but in one series of photos passed off as immediate action, he actually carries and displays the dead body of a young child in various poses for several hours, and the child is recovered for the "first" time several times.
He has company... There are others that appear multiple times in the series of photographs, doing different tasks but somehow "wrong"... Like a wounded child being carried into, lying in, and being taken from an ambulance during several completely different press events "documenting" the effects of the war.
According to little green footballs (.com) apparently there is one photographer, "Adnan Hajj" responsible for taking these photos and shopping them around to anyone who wants to invent a story anytime, anyplace.
With all of our modern media and technology, this is probably the worst documented war in history. The reason that is so is that nobody in the media seems to be fighting back or even trying to find whatever truth is hidden among all the BS. Yes the death of the child is tragic, but it's being used as a propaganda weapon and our media is buying hook line and sinker. I've seen these same shots on almost EVERY major media outlet.
On top of that are other faked photos... The one shown here got used a lot and it's clearly a terrible fake:
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=21956&only&rss
I also noted that Time magazine (print edition) took a picture of the local dump's tire fire and claimed it was a burning Israeli fighter...
Why are "media sources" like eureferendum.blogspot.com and little green footballs the only people even talking about this? Where is the old Time Magazine when we really NEED them?
Sean
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Dr. Pournelle,
An update to the propaganda email I sent you earlier - it appears that the photographer responsible for all the faked and staged pictures has been suspended.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3286966,00.html
In addition, there a breaking story about someone using a Reuters email account, from an IP address corresponding to a domain used by Reuters, to send a death threat to the little green footballs owner Charles Johnson. A Reuters employee has been suspended over this as well.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3256534,00.html
There is apparently a writeup on this at the Guardian as well, but I don't have a URL.
Score another one for the internet community policing the media. Although I expect CNN to keep their heads firmly in the sand (ie not report the REAL news and how they were yet again mislead into reporting the made-up news), this one should get more play on the world news circuit than the faked Bush military papers.
Sean
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Subject: Cease fire?
You're right about the inadvisability of an immediate cease fire, of course, but an immediate cease fire wasn't in the US/French resolution, regardless of the terminology used. What it did implicitly -- and why I think it's a good thing if it doesn't happen -- was forbid an "offensive" operation, like the move northward.
Whether it was always part of the plan or not, the (necessary, IMHO) push for the Litani is apparently on the table in Jerusalem, regardless of what goes on at the UN.
Joel Rosenberg
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Harry Erwin's Letter From England:
Subject: Letter from England
Diane and I just got back from a week-end study tour of neolithic and bronze age sites in the Cotswolds. I'll have an illustrated report up on my weblog later in the week.
The Times had a short comment piece by George Walden on America's Puritan roots: <http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,6-2298435,00.html> I remember learning about this when I had to take American History at UCD in the mid-60s--his thesis is not that new. The Puritan tradition in America has a lot to say in its favour, and I'm proud to have Puritan ancestors.
There was a piece on new uses being found for the UK ID card. <http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,1838363,00.html>
Biometric passports cracked <http://technology.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1838751,00.html>
Sri Lankan guerrilla actions <http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-08-07-voa10.cfm>
Bomb protesters at Prestwick <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/5251438.stm> <http://www.guardian.co.uk/antiwar/story/0,,1838939,00.html>
'Optimum' level of immigration to be set by Home Secretary <http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/story/0,,1838664,00.html>
How the US fired Jack Straw... <http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,6-2301799,00.html>
Effects of NHS cuts <http://society.guardian.co.uk/health/story/0,,1838727,00.html> <http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1838359,00.html> <http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,1838470,00.html> <http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2301896,00.html>
Ethnic issues <http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,29390-2301972,00.html> <http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,6-2301807,00.html>
-- Harry Erwin, PhD, Program Leader, MSc Information Systems Security, University of Sunderland. http://scat-he-g4.sunderland.ac.uk/\~harryerw Weblog at: <http://scat-he-g4.sunderland.ac.uk/~harryerw/blog/index.php>
We may be certain that the Puritan Spirit is not dead: masochistic Massachusetts keeps electing our Ted...
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Subject: The laws of stupidity
Jerry:
The Laws of Stupidity and Stupidity Defined
http://www.ecotopia.com/webpress/stupidity/
I would impose a couple of generalizations, but this is quite interesting nonetheless. I would also like to apply the quantitative approach outlined herein to the Pournelle Axes and determine if the relative merits of different social systems can be rated in terms of their relative stupidity.
Jim
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While I can't honestly say I myself would have done the honest thing, it is remarkable that a full two days went by before an honest person appeared. Shade of Kitty Genovese!
Frank
Can't Beat the House? Try This Slot Machine New York Times, 6.8.5 http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/05/us/05casino.html
By IAN URBINA
They say the house always wins. But that was not the case last month at the Caesars Indiana casino in Elizabeth, Ind., where a faulty slot machine erroneously paid out nearly a half-million dollars to an unknown number of gamblers.
For two days starting July 21, the slot machine gave players credit for 10 times the money they put in, causing the casino to lose $487,000, casino officials said.
Players could get vouchers from the machine for the amount credited to them and then cash in the vouchers.
It all came to an abrupt halt when Kathryn Ford had a bout of conscience. After putting a 20billintothemachine,Ms.Fordsaiditregisteredacreditof20 bill into the machine, Ms. Ford said it registered a credit of 20billintothemachine,Ms.Fordsaiditregisteredacreditof200. When she put eight 20billsin,shereceivedcreditfor20 bills in, she received credit for 20billsin,shereceivedcreditfor1,600. She knew something was wrong, she said, so she notified a security guard.
"I felt guilty," said Ms. Ford, of Louisville, Ky. "But I also knew they have cameras covering the whole room."
After telling officials about the problem, Ms. Ford said the casino gave her a $200 voucher and thanked her for her honesty.
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I can't imagine the liberals ever coming up with all this rumble-bumble. It takes "conservatives" to so clog the education system that learning will become impossible. Maybe not: life itself is consisting more and more of sheer rumble-bumble. Still, there has to be someone, somewhere to do actual work.
The most difficult question of all: how many fleas can fit on one dog.
Frank
Appendix A:
NCLB Implementation Provisions Framework
Challenging Curriculum Standards and Academic Goals:
Know state standards and their alignment of instruction to support both the standards and the school improvement goals. Master state standards and district goals and they have set specific school improvement goals to reach standards. Align district-specific academic goals with state standards and set specific district improvement goals. Develop challenging academic standards in reading, mathematics and science to enable students to attain proficient and advanced academic levels.
Highly Qualified Staff:
Incorporate effective professional development into classroom teaching and collaborate with other staff on curricular and instructional issues. Select, develop, and retain highly-qualified teachers; monitor highly qualified teacher status. Recruit, select, develop, equitably distribute and retain highly-qualified personnel; monitor status of highly qualified teacher status. Develop standards, licensing requirements and professional development to ensure highly-qualified professional staff; Monitor status and retention of highly-qualified teachers.
Evidence-Based Instructional Programs & Practices
Utilize evidence-based instructional programs and practices to improve student achievement. Choose evidence-based instructional programs and practices that support classrooms to achieve state standards. Adopt evidence-based instructional programs and practices that support schools to achieve state standards. Identify evidence-based instructional programs and practices that support districts in achieving state standards.
Assessment, Adequate Yearly Progress, and Corrective Action:
Monitor student performance at regular intervals and use the data to improve student performance. Monitor student and teacher performance using assessment data and classroom observations and use the data to improve educational services to all students, in and out of the classroom. Develop student assessment systems to track school, teacher and student performance and use the data to guide decision making and corrective action activities. Develop an accountability system that includes standards-based assessments in reading, math and science; Set AYP targets and monitor progress towards those goals; Participate in restructuring.
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Subject: Cat parasite may affect cultural traits in human populations
(Santa Barbara, Calif.) �� A common parasite found in cats may be affecting human behavior on a mass scale, according to a scientist based at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-08/uoc--cpm080206.php
Jason
Cat parasite may affect cultural traits in human populations
(Santa Barbara, Calif.) �� A common parasite found in cats may be affecting human behavior on a mass scale, according to a scientist based at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
While little is known about the causes of cultural change, and biological explanations often stimulate social and scientific debate, a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey published in the August 2 issue of the Proceedings of the Royal Society, Biology, indicates that behavioral manipulation of a common brain parasite may be among factors that play a role.
"In populations where this parasite is very common, mass personality modification could result in cultural change," said study author Kevin Lafferty, a USGS scientist at UC Santa Barbara. "The geographic variation in the latent prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii may explain a substantial proportion of human population differences we see in cultural aspects that relate to ego, money, material possessions, work and rules."
Although this sounds like science fiction, it is a logical outcome of how natural selection leads to effective strategies for parasites to get from host to host, said Lafferty. Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite of cats, both domestic and wild. While modern humans are a dead-end host for the parasite, Toxoplasma appears to manipulate personality by the same adaptations that normally help it complete its life cycle. The typical journey of the parasite involves a cat and its prey, starting as eggs shed in an infected cat's feces, inadvertently eaten by a warm-blooded animal, such as a rat. The infected rat's behavior alters so that it becomes more active, less cautious and more likely to be eaten by a cat, where the parasite completes its life cycle. Many other warm-blooded vertebrates may be infected by this pathogen. After producing usually mild flu-like symptoms in humans, the parasite tends to remain in a dormant state in the brain and other tissues.
Evidence for subtle long-term effects on an individual's personality, reported by researchers in the Czech Republic, inspired Lafferty to explore whether a shift in the average, or aggregate, personality of a population might occur where Toxoplasma has infected a higher proportion of individuals. Infection with Toxoplasma varies considerably from one population to another; in some countries it is very rare, while in others nearly all adults are infected. To test his hypothesis, Lafferty used published data on cultural dimension and aggregate personality for countries where there were also published data on the prevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies in women of childbearing age. Pregnant women are tested for antibodies because of the serious risk posed by toxoplasmosis to fetuses, which lack their own immune systems.
The results of previous work suggested that Toxoplasma could affect specific elements of human culture. Toxoplasma is associated with different, often opposite, behavioral changes in men and women, but both genders exhibit guilt proneness (a form of neuroticism). Lafferty's analysis found that countries with high Toxoplasma prevalence had a higher aggregate neuroticism score, and western nations with high prevalence also scored higher in the 'neurotic' cultural dimensions of 'masculine' sex roles and uncertainty avoidance.
"There could be a lot more to this story. Different responses to the parasite by men and women could lead to many additional cultural effects that are, as yet, difficult to analyze," said Lafferty.
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Subject: Singularity
"On the one hand, we have Kurtzweil and Vinge confidently predicting "the singularity" when all the trend lines go vertical"
But reality is usually an "S" curve.
Gene Horr
Indeed, a point we made inThe Strategy of Technology
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