| 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.<snip>
I had not thought about the implications for
evolutionary theory. Thanks.
=======
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
==========
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
==
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
============
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
===========
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...
============
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
=============
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 $20 bill into the
machine, Ms. Ford said it registered a credit of $200. When she put
eight $20 bills in, she received credit for $1,600. 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.<snip>
=============
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.
============
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.
================
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 in
The Strategy of Technology
=========================
===d
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