tolerance

Effects of environmental temperature on fruit flies

dr. dolittle — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 00:42:13 +0000

Effects of environmental temperature on fruit flies

Image by Botaurus - Wikimedia commons

A changing climate has the potential to greatly impact ectotherms, which depend on the environment to regulate their own body temperatures. In a new study published in the American Journal of Physiology- Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, researchers were curious how exposure to varying temperatures would affect developing ectotherms. They answered this question using Drosophila melanogaster, commonly known as fruit flies. They exposed freshly laid eggs to ten different temperatures ranging from 12 to 32°C, the upper and lower limit of survival for these insects. They found that adult female fruit flies tolerated heat better than males. In addition, male flies developed slower than female flies. Although cold tolerance was the same for both males and females. Interestingly, developing flies exposed to cold temperatures were less tolerant of cold exposure as adults. Moreover, animals exposed to either extreme did not live as long as animals exposed to more moderate temperatures during development. By measuring changes in metabolites with each temperature, they were able to identify several target molecules that may play important roles in helping the animals adapt to varying environmental temperatures. Although additional experiments may be necessary to determine if the specific molecules they identified are directly related to helping the animals acclimate.

Source:

MF Schou, TN Kristensen, A Pedersen, GB Karlsson, V Loeschcke, A Malmendal. Metabolic and functional characterization of effects of developmental temperature in Drosophila melanogaster. American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. In Press. DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00268.2016

dr. dolittle Fri, 12/09/2016 - 19:42

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Life Science

climate change

cold

Drosophila

fruit fly

heat

tolerance

I want pdf file about mango fruit flies

To get rid of fruit flies with DIY home remedies like growing basil plant around your house is the best repellent for fruit flies. More info on: https://www.livealittlelonger.com/how-to-get-rid-of-fruit-flies/

Rightwing CNN Contributor Erick Erickson Engages in Exclusionism Even Before the Bodies Are Buried

mikethemadbiologist — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 08:54:14 +0000

Rightwing CNN Contributor Erick Erickson Engages in Exclusionism Even Before the Bodies Are Buried

I would ask if movement conservatives have any decency or shame, but that has an obvious question. By way of Jamison Foer, we find that Erick Erickson, CNN contributor and rightwing conservative, has definitely discovered what ails this nation:

Through it all though, well meaning people on both sides of the ideological and partisan divide are not talking about the one thing that should be talked about -- a saving faith in Jesus Christ....

The topic of faith in Christ makes people cringe. But whether you believe it or not, here is the reality: beyond us is a world we cannot see with our eyes. It impacts us on a daily basis. It is a world of very real angels and very real demons. It is a world of a very real God and a very real Satan, a very real Heaven and a very real Hell.

The back and forth and accusations and lies surrounding Jared Loughner should be a constant reminder to us that there is more at play in our world than what we see. And, frankly, at times like this I am more and more mindful of the great chasm in this world between the saved and damned.

Congresswoman Giffords is Jewish, you dumb mamzer.

Monday, Paul Krugman laid out two options for the conservative movement:

So will the Arizona massacre make our discourse less toxic? It's really up to G.O.P. leaders. Will they accept the reality of what's happening to America, and take a stand against eliminationist rhetoric? Or will they try to dismiss the massacre as the mere act of a deranged individual, and go on as before?

If Arizona promotes some real soul-searching, it could prove a turning point. If it doesn't, Saturday's atrocity will be just the beginning.

Well, they're choosing door number two. As I've mentioned before, we are so far beyond debating what the marginal income tax rate should be. This is a basic battle for sanity and decency.

You know if any Democratic-leaning commentator said some as stupid and tasteless as Erickson did, the Republican Wurlitzer would force him to eat a shit sandwich and resign. But Erickson has been saying and promoting through Red State (I don't link to extremist sites) garbage like this for years and he's...rewarded with a paying gig at CNN.

Corporate media. Not. Helping.

Update: Sarah Palin just compared criticism of her vitriol to blood libel. Fuck you half-term Governor Palin.

mikethemadbiologist Wed, 01/12/2011 - 03:54

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Well, I also have mixed feelings about commentators on the left, including Krugman. Many, if not most, jumped to the conclusion that this was a "right wing" politically motivated action. By all signs, it was not, and getting it wrong diminishes to some extent the larger argument.

The larger argument, which is true, is that violent subtexted rhetoric may have encouraged the shooter here and certainly encourages others. While it may not have been politically motivated, the message that the use of violence is "ok" is not constructive either to general conversation, nor to the future of the country in general.

MLK in Memphis: "Now is the time to make an adequate income a reality for all of God's children"

mikethemadbiologist — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:07:31 +0000

MLK in Memphis: "Now is the time to make an adequate income a reality for all of God's children"

Image by Bettmann/CORBIS

With ten percent unemployment, and nearly eighteen percent underemployment--and much of the political establishment unconcerned about this--Martin Luther King's passion for economic justice sadly is still relevant. What is forgotten about Kings--often willfully--is that he was an advocate for racial and economic justice. From a speech he gave to striking sanitation workers in Memphis on March 18, 1968 (italics mine):

My dear friends, my dear friend James Lawson, and all of these dedicated and distinguished ministers of the Gospel assembled here tonight, to all of the sanitation workers and their families, and to all of my brothers and sisters, I need not pause to say how very delighted I am to be in Memphis tonight, to see you here in such large and enthusiastic numbers...
If you will judge anything here in this struggle, you're commanding that this city will respect the dignity of labor. So often we overlook the worth and significance of those who are not in professional jobs, or those who are not in the so-called big jobs. But let me say to you tonight, that whenever you are engaged in work that serves humanity, and is for the building of humanity, it has dignity, and it has worth. One day our society must come to see this. One day our society will come to respect the sanitation worker if it is to survive. For the person who picks up our garbage, in the final analysis, is as significant as the physician. All labor has worth.

You are doing another thing. You are reminding, not only Memphis, but you are reminding the nation that it is a crime for people to live in this rich nation and receive starvation wages. I need not remind you that this is the plight of our people all over America. The vast majority of Negroes in our country are still perishing on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. My friends, we are living as a people in a literal depression. Now you know when there is vast unemployment and underemployment in the black community, they call it a social problem. When there is vast unemployment and underemployment in the white community they call it a depression. But we find ourselves living in a literal depression all over this country as a people.

Now the problem isn't only unemployment. Do you know that most of the poor people in our country are working everyday? They are making wages so low that they can not begin to function in the mainstream of the economic life of our nation. These are facts which must be seen. And it is criminal to have people working on a full-time basis and a full-time job getting part-time income.

You are here tonight to demand that Memphis do something about the conditions that our brothers face, as they work day in and day out for the well-being of the total community. You are here to demand that Memphis will see the poor.

...I will hear America through her historians years and years to come saying, "We built gigantic buildings to kiss the sky. We build gargantuan bridges to span the seas. Through our spaceships we were able to carve highways through the stratosphere. Through our airplanes we were able to dwarf distance and place time in chains. Through our submarines we were able to penetrate oceanic depths."

But it seems that I can hear the God of the universe saying, "even though you've done all of that, I was hungry and you fed me not. I was naked and ye clothed me not. The children of my sons and daughters were in need of economic security, and you didn't provide for them. So you cannot enter the kingdom of greatness." This may well be the indictment on America that says in Memphis to the mayor, to the power structure, "If you do it unto the least of these my brethren, you do it unto me."...

Now you're doing something else here. You are highlighting the economic issues. You are going beyond purely civil rights to questions of human rights. That is distinct...

Now our struggle is for genuine equality, which means economic equality. For we know now, that it isn't enough to integrate lunch counters. What does it profit a man to be able to eat at an integrated lunch counter if he doesn't have enough money to buy a hamburger? What does it profit a man to be able to eat at the swankest integrated restaurant when he doesn't even earn enough money to take his wife out to dine? What does it profit one to have access to the hotels of our cities, and the hotels of our highways, when we don't earn enough money to take our family on a vacation? What does it profit one to be able to attend an integrated school, when he doesn't earn enough money to buy his children school clothes?

So we assemble here tonight. You have assembled for more than thirty days now to say, "We are tired. We are tired of being at the bottom. We are tired of being trampled over by the iron feet of oppression. We are tired of our children having to attend overcrowded, inferior, quality-less schools. We are tired of having to live in dilapidated, substandard housing conditions where we don't have wall to wall carpet, but so often we end up with wall to wall rats and roaches.

"We are tired of smothering in an air-tight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society. We are tired of walking up the streets in search for jobs that do not exist. We are tired of working our hands off and laboring every day and not even making a wage adequate with daily basic necessities of life. We are tired of our men being emasculated, so that our wives and our daughters have to go out and work in the white ladies' kitchens, cleaning up, unable to be with our children, to give them the time and the attention that they need. We are tired."

So in Memphis we have begun. We are saying, "Now is the time." Get the word across to everybody in power in this town that now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to make an adequate income a reality for all of God's children, now is the time to make the real promises of democracy. Now is the time to make an adequate income a reality for all of God's children, now is the time for city hall to take a position for that which is just and honest. Now is the time for justice to roll down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream. Now is the time.

Now let me say a word for those of you who are on strike. You've been out now for a number of days. But don't despair. Nothing worthwhile is gained without sacrifice. The thing for you to do is stay together. Say to everybody in this community that you're going to stick it out to the end until every demand is met. And that you're going to say, "We ain't going to let nobody turn us around." Let it be known everywhere that along with wages and all of the other securities that you are struggling for, you're also struggling for the right to organize and be recognized...

We can all get more together than we can apart. This is the way to gain power. Power is the ability to achieve purpose. Power is the ability to effect change. We need power...

Now the other thing is that nothing is gained without pressure. Don't let anybody tell you to go back on your job and paternalistically say, now, "You're my man, and I'm going to do the right thing for you if you'll just come back on the job." Don't go back on the job until the demands are met. Never forget that freedom is not something that must be demanded by the oppressor. It is something that must be demanded by the oppressed. Freedom is not some lavish dish that the power structure and the white forces imparted with making positions will voluntarily hand down on a silver platter while the Negro merely furnishes the appetite.

If we are going to get equality, if we are going to get adequate wages, we are going to have to struggle for it. Now, you know what, you may have to escalate the struggle a bit. If they keep refusing, and they will not recognize the union, and will not decree further check-off for the collection of dues, I'm telling you what you ought to do, and you're together here enough to do it. In a few days you ought to get together and just have a general work stoppage in the city of Memphis.

If you let that day come, not a Negro in this city will go to any job downtown. And no Negro in domestic service will go to anybody's house, anybody's kitchen. And black students will not go to anybody's school, and black teachers, and they will hear you then. The city of Memphis will not be able to function that day. All I'm saying is you've got to put the pressure on.

This is why we have decided that we're going to Washington. We are going to the seat of government, starting out in April. We are going around the question of jobs or income. We aren't going to Washington to beg, we are going to Washington to demand what is ours. I read in newspapers and other places questions: "Why are you going to Washington?" My only answer is that anybody who lives in America with open eyes and open mind knows that there is something wrong in this nation. I'm going to Washington to pick up my check.

You know, many years ago, America signed a huge promissory note which said, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. They are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." It didn't say "some men," it said "all men." It didn't say "all white men," it said "all men," which includes black men.

It said another thing which ultimately distinguishes our form of government from other totalitarian regimes. It said that every person has certain basic rights that are neither derived from nor conferred by the state. In order to discover where they came from, it is necessary to move back behind the dim mist of eternity. They are God-given.

America hasn't lived up to this. She gave the black man a bad check that's been bouncing all around. We are going to demand our check, to say to this nation, "We know that that check shouldn't have bounced because you have the resources in the federal treasury." We are going to also say, "You are even unjustly spending five hundred thousand dollars to kill a single Vietcong soldier, while you spend only fifty-three dollars a year per person for everybody categorized as poverty-stricken." Instead of spending thirty-five billion dollars every year to fight an unjust, ill-considered war in Vietnam and twenty billion dollars to put a man on the moon, we need to put God's children on their own two feet.

...I know that some of you are probably tired, tired of the injustices. We get tired of having to fight for our rights on a day to day basis. It reminds us of some words that Jeremiah uttered, "is there no balm in Gilead, is there no physician there?" Jeremiah looked and saw the injustices of life, and he raised that question. Centuries later our slave foreparents came along. They had a hard time. They didn't have anything to look forward to. Day after day it was long rows of cotton, sizzling heat, and the rawhide whip of the overseer. Women knew that so often they were forced to yield to the biological urgings of the mean boss. As soon as their children were born, they were snatched from their hands like a hungry dog snatches a bone from a human hand. So many things happened to them that could have caused them to lose hope.

I thank God tonight that our foreparents didn't lose hope. They did an amazing thing. They looked back across the centuries. They took Jeremiah's question mark, and straightened it into an exclamation point. They could say, "There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole. There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin sick soul."

Then they came to another stanza that means so much to me, "Sometimes I feel discouraged." I'm not going to be untrue to you tonight, sometimes I feel discouraged, having to live under the threat of death every day. Sometimes I feel discouraged having to take so much abuse and criticism, sometimes from my own people. Sometimes I feel discouraged, having to go to bed so often frustrated with the chilly winds of adversity about to stagger me. Sometimes I feel discouraged, and feel my work's in vain.

But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again. In Gilead, we make the wounded whole. If we will believe that, we will build a new Memphis, and bring about the day when every valley shall be exalted, every mountain and hill will be made low. The rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. We will be able to build right here a city which has foundations.

If we will believe this, we will do this; we will win this struggle and many other struggles. I close by saying, 'Walk together, children."

mikethemadbiologist Mon, 01/18/2010 - 04:07

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Have No Doubt, the Theopolitical Right Can Be a Buzzkill for Any Circumstance

mikethemadbiologist — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:14:30 +0000

Have No Doubt, the Theopolitical Right Can Be a Buzzkill for Any Circumstance

This is the kind of story that makes me sick to my stomach--soldiers stateside were expected by their base commander to applaud for Pastor of Evil Rick Warren:

The following is an email from one decorated combat officer, a man with the courage to repeatedly put his life on the line on the battlefield, being wounded twice, but who could not muster the courage to resist the pressure of his "serious and committed born again Christian" commanding officer to applaud Rick Warren. The author of this email is typical of the majority of servicemen and servicewomen who contact MRFF for assistance. Like 96% of MRFF's clients, he is a Christian -- but not the "right" kind of Christian or Christian enough for today's military.
To Mikey Weinstein and MRFF:

My name is (name withheld) and I am a (officer rank withheld) in the U.S. Army currently stationed stateside at Fort (military installation name withheld). I, my spouse and my children are Methodists attending church regularly on both Wednesdays and Sundays. I will always remember today as the low-point of my long (number of years withheld) year career in the Army. I have only myself to blame. Today I firmly established myself as a shameful person. Mikey, I write about 3 things; Rick Warren, my cowardice and your bravery. Today, I watched President Obama's inauguration on the television set up in our Brigade staff conference room. I attended as a member of (unit level designation withheld) staff along with over 40 other senior officers, senior enlisted an few senior Army civilian staffers. There had been much talk here about Pres. Obama's selection of the evangelical pastor Rick Warren to give the invocation at the ceremonies.

Our current Commander is a very intolerant and "serious and committed born again Christian" as he always describes himself to all his subordinates. At every military assignment I've ever been to it's always the same thing; if you are not a born again "serious" Christian you are branded as pretty much worthless. My current Commander is bad but not the worst I have seen. I have served 2 combat tours; one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. I have seen those under my command killed and grievously wounded. I was wounded twice. I have been awarded many combat medals and decorations. I have also stood by silently while my combat superiors have openly and repeatedly proselytized me and my troops. I did nothing. I have stood by and watched them continuously proselytize the Iraqis and Afghans. I did nothing.

Today, after Pastor Warren ended his invocation by praying in the name of his personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our Commander jumped to his feet clapping and yelled "God Bless him for having the courage to pray for all of the lost souls in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ!" About a third of those attending also clapped. I did not. That was until our Commander turned around to survey everyone's reaction to his statement. When that happened, the officer next to me started to clap and the one to my left clapped too. I felt like I was in a spotlight as the Commander looked at me and the female officer in front of me who had also not clapped. Then she clapped. And then I clapped too. I tried not to but could not muster up the strength to be the only one in the room not clapping in support of our Commander and Warren. I know what I should have done but I just couldn't. Despite the many fierce combat situations I have been in, including hand-to-hand, I just couldn't. I hate myself for this failure. I hate myself for my cowardice. I hate myself.

I have heard and read about all of the death and other threats being made against you, your wife and children. I listened to the voice recording of the death threat that you released made against MRFF client Spc. Jeremy Hall. I heard about that church being burned down when you spoke in that town. All of you show bravery especially when the chips are down. I had my chance today and I showed fear and cowardice. I can't stand what I did today. I have been a client of MRFF for over three years now but no one knows it other than my spouse. We are both afraid of anyone finding out. I have heard other Army personnel talk of being MRFF clients but they usually try to keep it very quiet. Everything you are fighting for, Mikey, is the right fight. I'm not guessing and not assuming; I have lived it. I am living it. I will continue to live it. Trying to complain up the chain of command is as useless as filing an IG complaint or other administrative action. No, it's far worse than just useless. It can and will brand the complainer as a target for revenge.

I have seen it happen and fear it could happen to me if I stood up to it. I have a family and am not that far from being able to retire in peace and quiet. MRFF is the only outlet for military people like me. I hope this e-mail message can help other people (there are so many of us) be willing to contact MRFF and allow you to fight on our behalf against the multitudes of "serious and committed born again Christians" who control all of our careers and lives. Your lawsuit is important to us all. Please don't stop your fight and please don't hate me for not fighting. I hate myself enough for everyone.

This should never happen. I think there are a lot of commanding officers who are part of an evangelical network, and, while some are competent, others probably are not, and owe their ascent in large part to religious correctness. As I've discussed before, I don't care what you believe, but when it affects your ability to discharge your duty--and that includes motivating the men and women under your command--then you need to choose between your job and your beliefs.

Any moves Obama can make here would be a very good thing--do you want all the guns to belong to the wackaloons?

mikethemadbiologist Wed, 01/21/2009 - 10:14

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My students in psychology all think the Asch and Milgram experiments don't apply to them. Modern people, they think, will not succumb to social pressure.

I think this example may help to set them right.

This officer was under no obligation to applaud during the ceremony, regardless of what his commander may have thought or said to him. However, I do understand the peer pressure that comes with being the only one not participating in prayer-a situation similiar to this officer's.

When I was in bootcamp I never bowed my head when we had evening prayer, and I was only one of a few to do that. I was never harrassed for this, and I've never seen anyone degraded or harrassed because of their religous views in the military.

Peer pressure? Peer pressure?? Nazar, you clearly don't undestand what being on a military base is about. The CO is *god*. This isn't about peer pressure - it's about a CO abusing his authority to force a religious observance on his subordinates.

"My students in psychology all think the Asch and Milgram experiments don't apply to them. Modern people, they think, will not succumb to social pressure."

One of the saddest days of my graduate career was when I made an analogy to the rejection of Milgram's work as not truly indicative of the power of social pressure to the number of people that don't accept Evolution as fact. Immediately, two graduate students, who have taken at least four college level biology courses, demanded that 'You can't say evolution is a fact' because it conflicted with their religious beliefs. It deeply disturbed me (though sadly didn't surprise me) that two people pursuing a doctorate in science were so controlled by the social pressures of their religion that they rejected scientific evidence out of hand.

The far-right-wing theocratic Bush regime made it very clear that it tolerated this kind of unconsitutional and morally bankrupt activity. I hope that Obama makes it very clear through the chain of command that this kind of shit is completely unacceptable, and that officers who abuse their power to violate the constitution will be immediately stripped of their commands.

Human Population Genetics for Creationist Idiots: The Rick Warren Edition

mikethemadbiologist — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:52:37 +0000

Human Population Genetics for Creationist Idiots: The Rick Warren Edition

It's truly odd to hear a creationist make a population genetics argument--an idiotic one no less. Rick Warren, evangelist and who will be leading the invocation at Obama's inauguration, says the following about homosexuality:

Warren, a creationist, believes that homosexuality disproves evolution; he told CNN's Larry King in 2005, "If Darwin was right, which is survival of the fittest then homosexuality would be a recessive gene because it doesn't reproduce and you would think that over thousands of years that homosexuality would work itself out of the gene pool."

The stupidity permeates every clause of this sentence. I really thought we wouldn't have to take these morons seriously anymore.

Fisk away.

mikethemadbiologist Thu, 12/18/2008 - 10:52

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He's confused, but not stupid (you I'm not so sure about). See Greg Cochran on why homosexuality is caused by germs:

http://zero.poynt.zero.googlepages.com/home

http://web.archive.org/web/20050305131514/http://thrasymachus.typepad.c…

Not much of a fisk, but maybe I'm first?!!

1) Homosexuality may have a positive aspect that promotes fitness, or
2) Homosexuality may have neither a positive or negative association, and survives by "accident", since a mutation can survive as long as it does not negatively impact the creature/species (and no, Mr Warren, stoning gays does not count as a negative impact in this sense), or
3) Homosexuality might be the product of multiple genes, and any of these could have a benefit, thus ensuring the survival of the genes as a side effect

That's three off the top of my head.

among other things, he hasn't a clue what a "recessive" gene is. i gather he means "surpressed", i.e. not getting passed on to the next generation. which could be accurate except 1) gay people CAN and DO reproduce, and 2) gay people are a likely as anyone else to have reproductive siblings, so the same gene can still be passed on

i can't tell if Warren is trying to say "a genetic basis for homosexuality disproves evolution" or "evolution disproves a genetic basis homosexuality". i guess it doesn't matter: stupid is stupid

To be overly specific, genes don't code for behavior, they code for proteins. And proteins are expressed inside of incredibly complex cells and cells are parts of tissues and tissues are parts of organs and organs are parts of humans. Humans then interact with their environment to produce behavior. A complex social behavior like homosexuality is certainly polygenic and multifactorial. In a large population, selection pressure acts on each of the contributing genes independently. A putative constellation of alleles that produces homosexuality may be advantageous for other reasons.

And why does everybody assume that gay people never reproduce?

Probably Warren just is too ignorant to know that homosexuality isn't genetic, its developemental in the fetus.

What does Mr. Warren think postmenopausal women are still living for, then? Shouldn't evolution have programmed women to die at age 50?

And yeah, +1 what Will TS said. One of my college friends grew up in an Amish family that did not approve of homosexuality. He married and had three kids by means of a rich fantasy life before finally telling his wife that he loved her very much but was leaving her anyway.

Oh god.

That's hilarious and wrong on so many levels... but it's quite bizarre. Is Warren admitting that homosexuality is an inborn trait that is not merely a "lifestyle choice", as so many of his friends would say?

When it comes to passing on genes, two nephews are as good as one son.

What does Mr. Warren think postmenopausal women are still living for, then? Shouldn't evolution have programmed women to die at age 50?

If a tendency toward homosexuality is genetic in origin, it is possible that it could be like the gene causing sickle cell anemia, i.e. the presence of a recessive homosexual gene could have a positive selection value for some as yet undetermined reason. Thus, the recessive sickle cell anemia gene provides resistance to malaria.

I have a vague recollection that someone, years ago, addressed this concern in some detail. I want to say E. O. Wilson, but I'm not sure.

E.O. Wilson de-emphasized the role of culture in affecting human behaviour too much... I think I'm thinking of the guy who wanted to replace the social sciences...

Regardless, this is ridiculous. There are more possible explanations for this disease... I bet he says the same thing about Schizophrenia, "if Darwin was right they would all be gone now!", does he even acknowledge the genes can be passed down? (do creationists understand frequency dependence?)

A general comment: An ignorant wiseman askes questions. An ignorant fool makes statements.

I am personally disapointed because I THOUGHT science was going to be a leading factor in this new preznitzy. BAH AND DAMNIT!

Did he just admit people o not choose to be gay? Get thine bullshit straight, Rick!

I'm not a biologist, so I'm certainly at risk of saying something really stupid. But here goes. Humans are social animals, so traits that promote cooperation in society may be more beneficial than traits that make an individual more competitive. If the genetic traits associated with homosexuality also promote greater cooperation, then societies with more homosexuality would be more successful and create higher populations. So while many homosexuals might not reproduce, they may cause society as a whole to reproduce more. Ultimately, that should encourage those genetic traits to remain in the gene pool. That said, I'd be interested to hear what a real biologist has to say about it.

Algoritmi genetici. Pietà nella nuova vita.
da Caos, segnali e visioni
di Alberto Fortunato
Lo spazio dato dalla letteratura scientifica agli algoritmi genetici, almeno in Italia, sembra davvero esiguo. Per trovarne da leggere devo fare click sulla ricerca avanzata in google. In libreria, invece, mi dicono che non hanno testi di biologia oppure per la medicina devo guardare lì, in fondo a destra. Annuisco, metto le mani nel cappotto e vado a leggere il dizionario del corpo umano. Devo passare il tempo.
Lalgoritmo genetico chi lo usa? Lo usano i ricercatori. Quelli che, prendendo spunto dalla selezione naturale di Darwin, progettano e realizzano uno strumento di ricerca. Lo strumento, a mio avviso molto stimolante dal punto del coinvolgimento interdisciplinare nellambito della sua progettazione, è lemblema di un ambiente di ricerca teso al miglioramento continuo. Un ambiente che lavorando con i classici tools stocastici e aleatori per necessità, è sempre alla ricerca di una possibile ottimizzazione.
In questi ambienti, specialmente dove ricerco io, la perfezione non esiste. Esiste un punto che, nel tempo, costituisce un punto di arrivo e di immediata ripartenza per un altro, ancora più ambizioso. Tutte le popolazioni possono essere investigate dallalgoritmo genetico? Si. In un certo senso si, purché si tratti di popolazioni di soluzioni. Se nella biologia studiamo popolazioni e campioni di animali e individui, nella ricerca che utilizza lalgoritmo genetico dobbiamo sostituire le soluzioni dei problemi agli individui della popolazione. Parlare di evoluzione significa indicare una popolazione di soluzioni migliori rispetto alla popolazione costituita dalle soluzioni precedenti.
Il parallelismo con la logica biologica dellevoluzione e della selezione naturale si ripropone più forte quando si parla di generazione. In realtà con lalgoritmo genetico, dalla popolazione di soluzioni originarie, vengono selezionate delle soluzioni più promettenti perché queste si combinino e diano vita ad una nuova generazione di soluzioni migliori. Il livello di Fitness è quello che concorre ad ordinare in maniera crescente le soluzioni per consentire, ad un certo punto della sequenza, un taglio di quelle meno interessanti. Con il passaggio generazionale da una popolazione di soluzioni a quella successiva avviene ovviamente una trasmissione (solo una parte) del patrimonio genetico. Le soluzioni genitori migliori lasciano, alle soluzioni figlie, parte della loro costituzione genetica.
Due cose ancora sono importanti in questo passaggio generazionale. Si tratta delle due cose che mi intrigano di più. Di queste non dobbiamo trascurare alcun aspetto, sia dal punto di vista filosofico che dal punto di vista operativo e tecnico sperimentale: la mutazione genetica vista nella sua casualità e il crossover visto nel suo determinismo.
La mutazione genetica avviene con una modifica casuale di alcune parti di geni con valore di fitness più basso. La mutazione genetica delle soluzioni non dà alcun risultato in termini di reale miglioramento. Quel che può essere un risultato di fitness più elevato infatti non deve essere considerato un passaggio evolutivo certo. E discutibile, in unottica di popolazione di soluzioni, pensare ad una evoluzione in presenza di una mutazione genetica. Con la mutazione possiamo sempre trovarci di fronte ad un ottimo locale ( si badi bene che ottimo locale non è ottimo assoluto) e cioè un risultato migliore ma ancora perfezionabile.
Con il crossover mettiamo le mani sul caso. E qui cominciano i problemi. Soprattutto quando si parla di popolazioni di soluzioni. Paradossalmente. Sogno. Vedo. Sento.
Sono nella stanzetta di Tommy. Estraggo il set delle soluzioni dal gold box e ne srotolo una. La prendo a caso? Non so. La dispiego sul letto e ne ammiro la costituzione genetica. Merita. Le trovo un compagno e affianco gli individui in modo da poterne ammirare il parallelismo. Tommy mi passa il bisturi e comincia il mio dilemma. Dove taglio? Qual è sarà il punto in cui il fendente avrà casualmente determinato levoluzione di una specie di soluzioni migliori. Testa e coda. Zac. Un colpo secco e seziono le soluzioni a metà. Taglio (a caso?) le stringhe di codifica e ottengo due teste e due code. Ancora si muovono. Vibrano nello spazio antistante due battiti di ali di farfalla che porteranno le vicissitudini del Mondo lontano dagli universi probabili finora definiti. Scambio teste e code. Nuovi geni. Nuove visioni. Nuova vita. Il Signore abbia pietà di me anche in questa.
di Alberto Fortunato
Algoritmi Genetici. Pietà nella nuova vita.
Da Caos, segnali e visioni

Lora- that was hilarious!

I believe that homosexuality is a combination of genetic changes; whether mutation or evolution for purposes eluded to by fostert or... possibly a prenatal development as by Robert Jase (or a combination of the two.) Isn't there some relevance to the 'good of all' evolutionary theories through? As homosexuality is relatively predominant in society ~ and has been throughout history, I would lean towards the idea that there are species benefits from these varied genetics.

I just searched and searched as I swore I read an article on a Bacteria yesterday that only some of the bacteria excrete a goo that floats; while all the others have to depend on that goo to float as well (the minority being the goo producers, without whom, the entire colony would sink in the liquid and die ~ but alas, I cannot find it) I did however find this article on group selection;

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=whats-good-for-the-group

...and the following article that may or may not be related - that I plan to read :)

http://biology.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.0060…

KAS

Sexuality is complex behavior. Hardly the stuff to be determined by a single gene, but rather determined by the interplay of many. It is hard to believe that sexuality could be explained by simple Mendelian genetics because it is hard to fathom it as anything less than an astoundingly polygenic trait. If this is so, then its heritability would not be describe in terms such as recessive or dominant and natural selection could not be applied in such simplistic terms as described by Warren above. I don't think we are talking about a loss of function mutation in a single alelle in other words.

Just wanted to further my comment by adding in a little of what Will TS said. Like I said, behavior is likely polygenic. TS said that each of those genes is selected independently. Therefore all of the genes that together confer homosexuality, may be positively selected. When they come together in one individual they may cause homosexual behavior. So because homosexuality is not a trait determined by a single alelle or a few like eye color in drosophila, it won't be selected against by natural selection like a single trait would be. Instead all of the alleles must be treated as separately selected. Additionaly, there may be a spectrum of alleles that are at play here rather than just a single combo.

Regarding Rick Warren, This Whom the Obama Administration is 'Reaching Out to'

mikethemadbiologist — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:20:34 +0000

Regarding Rick Warren, This Whom the Obama Administration is 'Reaching Out to'

I really wasn't going to say much about the decision to have Rick Warren, civil rights opponent and evolution denialist, until Pam Spaulding bravely put on her slime guard and went to see what the rightwing denizens of Free Republic had to say. Warning--not safe for ~~work~~decent human beings:

LOL the homo's are taking a right beating lately. This is just great, what is it ah yes change we can believe in have you got that homo's? change you never thought LOL
Since his election to the position of President Elect, Obama has shown increasingly that he may be (emphasis on "may be") a pure old fashioned opportunist. He has betrayed the hard-core left most of all. Does that mean that conservatives can still hope? I dunno.

Disagreement is not allowed. You'd think Obama would know that by now. By the way, they knew Obama's stance on gay marriage didn't they?

Honestly now. Is there anyone abominable sodomites are not "furious" with?

Touchy fags.

we can watch the radical left and homo's get all their knickers in a twist

Trannies claim to be women trapped in men's bodies or vice-versa. IMHO, the entire LBGT "community" are a bunch of brown-shirts trapped in rainbow attire.

I personally dont have much use for Warren, another man of the cloth looking for a guvvie handout.

BTW, the most we could hope for is that Obama might turn out to be a pragmatist that would benignly react to events instead of trying to implement a socialist agenda. That said, I will fear him as a possible Manchurian candidate until his last day in office.

I LOVE IT! Nothing so much pleases me as seeing the queerly beloved get angry at Rick Warren over his endorsement of Proposition 8! BRING IT ON!!!

"Furious" and "fierce" are two more words that now belong exclusively to the "gay" emotional typology.

great isn't it to see these homo's get done over, the idiots actually thought he was going to give them marriage right off the bat. maybe they never heard Biden or knew in the black community or the area of chicago homo's are not well received. Not only that but did they take no notice of the church he went to for 20 years

obama is actually pissing the left off more than the right and it is great to see

When your entire "ideology" is pandering the those who are pandered to less will always be upset. Too bad no one runs on principles anymore. Maybe Paline, Jindal or Steele will lead us from this moral morass.

Prolly gonna hold their breath and stamp their feet. Maybe even say something snotty. I wonder if Ben and Nia-Malika, bless their little hearts, are writing from the inside, or merely as informed observers. These "folks" don't have much to worry about.

Hey LGBTs! Your ass ain't gonna believe what your eyes are telling you!

..Gay activists furious with Obama .....oh $hit, I could just punch a pillow.

So His Majesty is telling the gays to bite him. Sweet.

Is B Hussein telling the rumpriders to pound sand instead of each other?

Did the gays finally realize what Muslims do to homos? Well, they elected a muzzie.

These f@gs are fascists and way over the top. I have always said there is no difference between sex-preference and racism, and the language of sexual-orientation goes right ahead with advocacy of bestiality and other abominable degenerate orientations.

This is BS, big time. Warren had a pro-life right to turn down the biggest threat to the unborn ever conceived. Did the man actually agree to do this? NO conservative could even entertain the thought of supporting this man even to hand him a tissue, unless he was crying out in repentance for the deaths of the little ones he agrees to murder. THis is a con, Christians--a con. He's saying here's the apple--doesn't Warren know the heart of Satan when he sees it?

The f@g media and Holywood wanted to be elected, as the real "first ladies" of Obama. My, the world is gona die because f@gs don't get to be "dignified" and get to keep being ashamed of wishing to rape little boys freely, culturaly and physicaly. We have other problems. Who are these freaging aristocrates? I love the smell of napalm and persecution in the morning. It rushes the f@gs to go appopleptic. No honey, you can't have your butt honey, sorry.

Perhaps the gay activists want Rev. Rosie O'Donnell to perform the rites prior to the Obamaniacs' mass orgasm.

This is hilarious! The fags thought when Obama was elected they could shove their gay agenda down everybody's throat. Obama is showing them they don't own him and he has simply used them to get where he is. I think Rick Warren is a good pick but he should council Obama in regards to infanticide.

Obama shouldn't have bothered trying to appease conservative evangelicals. It won't work for the same reason compassionate conservatism (ie: liberal appeasement) didn't work. Meanwhile, he's pissed off a valuable constituency. I'm sure he has the same thought Jorge had, "where else are they gonna go?" but they might stay home next election. See where that got the Republican party?

Angry turd rustlers? I'm not having a hard time NOT caring.

I preferred it when the homos were in the closet.

There is no principle here, this is just unbridled hatred. These are not values. Decent people don't 'include' haters like this; you don't reach out to them.

You shun them.

Oh, and America, meet the Republican base. Their rage and hatred wasn't a result of the recent campaign, it is integral to their nature.

mikethemadbiologist Thu, 12/18/2008 - 04:20

Tags

Basic Human Decency

Conservatives

tolerance

i couldnt read it past the first couple paragraphs. Its too much. Its this kind of hatred that reminds me that i am one of few sane people living in a insane country.

Um, ...what Paco said.

Reach out your hand to the fanatic Republican base and it will come back a stump.

couldnt read it past the first couple paragraphs. Its too much. Its this kind of hatred that reminds me that i am one of few sane people living in a insane country.

Let's be fair about this. Apparently, the decision to invite Reverend Warren was made by somebody in Congress, not President Elect Obama. At most, the president elect is guilty of errors of omission, not commission.

It's HIS inauguration, SLC. Don't pretend like you think he had no say in it.

Several other sites have the emails of the people on the commission, including a member of Obama's transition team (I think, I may be wrong on what he does) that has some input on this decision, and I expressed my disgust at this. From what other reports have said, Obama was the man who approved this, and if so, then he shares the blame for giving this bigot his stamp of approval. Why Obama would even want to offer a place at the table for people who would sooner spit on him than smile...I don't know. Maybe he really is that delusional, or maybe his real fanaticism is just coming to the foreground. We'll just have to wait and see, but since this is the second time Obama wants to share a stage with a homobigoted fanatic, I think we can see his true colors in this regard. Disappointed in him is a gentle way of stating my feelings.

Up to this point, I considering trying to attend the inauguration. Now I do believe I'll sit this one out.

I don't even like that they have to have an "invocation." Shit like the freepers spew against everbody they don't like makes me sick and tired of the way that some people raise their kids in this country. So, Obama was reaching his hand out to "disagree without being disagreeable?" Warren himself is disagreeable.

He should have first demanded that Warren apologize for the way he campaigned for Prop. 8. Comparing gay marriage to bestiality? I bet he happily sodocmizes his wife and they think it's hunky dory.

I think Tiana described this situation best. Or at the very least in the most amusing fashion.

However - a few items about Obama:
(a) His legislative record has always been centrist.
(b) His books clearly show a man refuses to 'suspect the motives' of his political opponents. On the one hand, this is part of what enabled him to run such a 'clean campaign' . On the other hand - I worry that it prevents him from recognizing the the threat presented by the likes of Rick Warren.
(c) Obama sees himself as being a uniter - someone who can bring together people who disagree on many issues to work together on the issues they agree on. This helps explain some of his odd cabinet picks, such as Robert Gates. He is genuinely trying to build a centrist administration.
(d) If his cabinet picks are any indication - the 'hope and change' Obama hopes to implement will be all about slowing down global warming and providing jobs. See Joe Rohm's great series of posts on what Obama's cabinet picks likely mean for action on reducing CO2 emissions.

As Orac has pointed out, this should not have been surprising. (Although I admit I was surprised he picked a pastor as far right as Warren.)

While I was initially very disappointed when I heard about Warren, the more I've thought about it, the less upset I've become. The politics of division are what put the Republicans in the white house so many times in recent decades. Yes, Obama runs the risk of having his hand bitten, but if he doesn't reach out, the politics of division will just continue.

Which is worth more, payback for all the evil things the "religious" right has done, or building a lasting majority to tackle the huge problems we face?

The War on Christmas: Who Is Leading?

mikethemadbiologist — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:10:53 +0000

The War on Christmas: Who Is Leading?

By way of Scienceblogling PZ, I stumbled across a very interesting article by Max Blumenthal about the origins of the 'War on Christmas.' This passage stood out (italics mine):

Following the invasion of Iraq, George W. Bush's re-election, and the Republican sweep of Congress, Brimelow said conservative movement elites could no longer ignore the right-wing populism sweeping the nation. Suddenly the War on Christmas was gaining traction. "This issue became very popular in the conservative grassroots, so conservative media had to pay concession to it," he said.
By 2005, Fox News personalities Bill O'Reilly and John Gibson were dedicating entire shows to the War on Christmas. While their rants were directed at "secular progressives," they echoed the arguments of Brimelow's allies. "It's all part of the secular progressive agenda," O'Reilly grumbled. "If you can get religion out, then you can pass secular progressive programs, like legalization of narcotics, euthanasia, abortion at will, gay marriage." National Review's website jumped back on the bandwagon, beginning with editor Kathryn Jean Lopez's promotion of Gibson's bestselling 2005 polemic, The War on Christmas: How the Liberal Plot to Ban the Sacred Christian Holiday Is Worse Than You Thought.

Of the conservatives who once dismissed his Christmas crusade, Brimelow remarked with a self-satisfied chuckle, "They went over to the dark side."

One of the reasons that I never entirely brought Thomas Frank's argument in What's the Matter with Kansas--working class people are being duped by conservative elites--is because a lot of the batshit lunacy is organic to the theopolitical and wingnut bases. The base invents this crap--it's not foisted upon or 'implanted' into them by concerted propaganda campaigns. In other words, conservative elites* are following, not leading the charge.

Like it or not, a significant fraction of our fellow citizens are, at heart, scared nativists, and the Coalition of the Sane's challenge is to keep them away from power. There is a broad base of resentment that is born from some pretty ugly, latent bigotry, in this case, anti-Semitism.

*By "elites", I don't mean that there is a unified cabal issuing orders, but simply those conservatives who have amassed influence, power, and wealth.

mikethemadbiologist Wed, 12/17/2008 - 04:10

Tags

Conservatives

religion

tolerance

I might suggest that "those conservatives who have amassed influence, power, and wealth" have not amassed these by challenging wider views.

Geez, Christians are a huge majority in this country (over 75%), and plenty of non-Christians celebrate Christmas. Certain people should stop acting like they're a persecuted minority. Some Christians being sensitive to other people's beliefs is not equal to a war on Christmas.

Bread and circuses. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

A persecution complex is integral to Christians. It allows them to demonize those who disagree with them no matter how few of how powerless those diagreers are - they are still agents of Satan who is (supposedly) more powerful than the poor non-outnumbered Christians.

Christians & conservatives need a boogeyman to survive.

My standard response to "Christians" who insist on being boring about this would be, "The Pilgrim Fathers refused to celebrate Christmas; they thought it was a pagan festival. You're more Christian than them?" (In fact, I'm English, so that's a translation: what I'd be more likely to say is, "The Long Parliament abolished Christmas by law...")

Io Saturnalia, one and all!

I got this shot of Baby Jesus preparing to fight back.

thanks.

"our fellow citizens are, at heart, scared nativists, and the Coalition of the Sane's challenge is to keep them away from power."

What are the sane reasons to continue to allow mass immigration of low skill workers?

No Free Pass for Ideologies That Happen to Be Religious

mikethemadbiologist — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 10:09:59 +0000

No Free Pass for Ideologies That Happen to Be Religious

While this letter I found at AmericaBlog.com deals with religiously-motivated intolerance towards gays and lesbians, I think it's going to be germane (at least tangentially so) to the current stem cell discussion over at What's New in Life Science:

We as a group have become tolerant of intolerance.
Whenever anyone justifies their bigotry with what I call DHRB (deeply held religious beliefs) we roll over as if that were the end of the discussion.

We have confused respecting a persons right to hold whatever religious beliefs they chose with respecting those beliefs. The truth is there are plenty of DHRB that are simply not worthy of our respect. Can we start with the ones that have no respect for us? Can you imagine an African American respecting someone's DHRB that the Bible justifies slavery? The right to believe it, yes. The belief itself? No way.

We are terrified to call a bigot a bigot if the bigotry is a result of DHRB. We are horrified that we might be accused of attacking someone's religion. As if attacking bigotry hiding behind the skirts of religion and attacking religion were the same thing. The church homophobes have it easy on this one. They say the most vile, cruel, untruthful things about us, usually to raise funds, and then use their tax exempt dollars to promote anti-gay legislation. If we dare to defend ourselves we are accused of assaulting their faith. They even use the word "bashing". What an insult. Try telling Trev Brody or any of the thousands of other gays who have seen the wrong end of a baseball bat, that someone taking issue with your religious views is equivalent to their experience.

Why are we not talking about this? Is there no one who has the guts to stand up to these bigots? Is no one willing to say forcefully that homophobic DHRB have no place or value in a civilized 21st century?

....We have got to start talking about religion. All of it. The good guys--and there are many--and the bad guys. It must be a compassionate discussion but we must not in our compassion shy away from the truth. Yes, it is a dynamite issue. Yes, people will take offense. Yes, the opponents are formidable.

To put this another way, once you argue that you get to tell someone else what to do based on your private beliefs--religious or not--that's when you need to shut your trap. They're your private beliefs, and they should not be imposed through government fiat.

Personally, I've stayed away from this debate because, as a member of a religious minority, I'm always nervous with public venom launched at religious minorities. But when your religious beliefs are being used as a shield to defend bad public policy, then all bets should be off. If you want religion to remain sacrosanct, then don't sully it with politics.

mikethemadbiologist Sun, 11/30/2008 - 05:09

Tags

religion

tolerance

A War on Christmas Question

mikethemadbiologist — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:33:25 +0000

A War on Christmas Question

Soon it will be the War on Christmas season wherein a bunch of assholes shriek hither and yon complaining that someone somewhere tried to remove a Christmas tree, and that said removal will lead to the Destruction of Judeo-Christian Civilization As We Know It.

As far as I'm concerned, it's the last gasp of conservative white Protestants who have suddenly realized that now they are those people. So my question is, given the political shift this country has undergone, how do you think ~~John Gibson's attempt to use religious tribalism to sell really bad books~~ the War on Christmas will play out?

I'm kind of hoping it will be rather muted this year as Fox News realizes that there isn't much profit to be had in being the Appalachian News Network.

Discuss.

mikethemadbiologist Sat, 11/08/2008 - 10:33

Tags

Fucking Morons

religion

tolerance

I'm am atheist and unaffected by the religious symbols on display throughout the holiday season. I like the lights and the happiness on display and can easily discard the underlying representations.

The people who profit most from shrieking about the War on Christmas are freaked out by the mere possibility of political change, and they're playing to an audience whose members don't exactly set world records for tolerance. I'd expect the howling in some quarters to get worse, not better.

I don't quite agree with your final prediction. The base has to be kept in a froth, so it may be even more of a frantic war this year. With plunging ratings, drastic action is required.

Blake, I was referring to the original post, not yours, which I saw only after I posted.

The battle has already driven me out of stores which would have sold more stuff - to me - if they hadn't piped that awful music through their PA systems.

Roll out the heavy artillery!

Bill O'Reilly has already started it. In fact, you get a free bumper sticker if you buy his book which says "We say Merry Christmas", so Blake was right on.

How about some alternate bumper stickers:

Winter Solstice - The Reason For The Season

Winter Solstice - Things Are Getting Brighter

Almost every symbol in Christmas, except the Christ child, is syncratized from pagan practices. So to me it always seems ironic for the war on christmas people get so worked up over christmas trees. Moreover there were sects that used to decry the commercialization of christmas as sacrilege. So even more irony there.

I get kind of annoyed by the "Merry Christmas!" greeting amymore, when so many people are not Christian and don't necessarily celebrate Christmas. I much prefer the "Happy Holidays!" greeting, which I think is much more inclusive.
So, when I get the "Merry Christmas" greeting, all they get back is a blank stare or a dirty look. I'm sorry, but I don't celebrate Christmas and I don't think people should be so presumptuous.

What I like in Russia is that we celebrate New Year, not Christmas.

Mainly because Orthodox Christmas is Jan 7, not Dec 26 (church here still uses Julian calendar).

I like the slogan:

Axial tilt is the reason for the season.

It's nerdy and accurate.

Growing up in a nonobservant family, I always figured "Happy Holidays" was what you said to include both Christmas and New Year's, along with any other occasions people happened to be celebrating around that time. It was a superset of "Merry Christmas", not the complement of it.

Io Saturnalia!

A few years ago, I heard(? read, actually, I think, probably in The Irish Times) a comment to the effect that the only good thing about the christmas season was it's the season to play The Pogues' Fairytale of New York.

I've no idea what the taliban, er sorry, fundies, think about it, but I imagine that, due to some of the language used, it probably puts their panties in a tight twist. (snickers)

I know I get upset every time one of these "Christians" goes around saying "Happy Holy Day", instead of the traditional season's greeting, "Lo, Saturnalia!" This war on tradtional values is crazy

I've always felt that when one doesn't know if the holiday is celebrated it is best to be inclusive and say "Happy Holidays". Since I'm pagan, last year I started responding to "Merry Christmas" with "Glad Yule", but I think this was a bit too subtle; perhaps "Blessed Solstice" would have been better and gotten the desired reaction. This year I'm thinking of responding with "Happy Hanukkah", as other than me my family is Jewish and we celebrate Hanukkah in our house and not Christmas.

The American Family Association has had their "war on Christmas" panties in a twist for a couple weeks already.

Because loss of privilege is the same as loss of rights, dontcha know.

Its Christmas again!! A time to cherish the beautiful white snow, smiling snowman, brightness of the Christmas décor and the yummy candies and cakes! From November onwards it becomes impossible to forget that Christmas is coming. Well to be honest I personally wait for it so that I can return home to meet my parents and girlfriend of course!
With the passage of time lots of things about the celebration of Christmas has changed. I still remember when I was a kid, mom use to wait near the phone so that she becomes the first one to pick my brother call. We all use to have a fight as who is gonna be first to talk to him. Then I use to visit my relatives and friends with my parents who stayed near by.But now the net world has changed everything, especially the ecard trend. Its so easy now to connect with our loved ones especially when you have so many ecard sites! One of free Christmas ecard site Being a new website meme4u.com really has fresh and cool greetings. The best part is if I write too meme4u.com regarding some card or idea they do take it seriously. Although the site has several errors but meme4u.com cards are really cool! So guys why dont you check it out, you will also get the right ecard you are looking for! And if any one of you knows any other fresh ecard website do let me know!

thanks for all

More from the Highly Successful Republican African-American Voter Outreach Program

mikethemadbiologist — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 15:26:58 +0000

More from the Highly Successful Republican African-American Voter Outreach Program

If you're trying to convince black voters to vote Republican, this probably isn't the best way to do it:

Interesting anecdote and probably a testament to ground organization. I have no idea what this means. Friday night (which happens to be the start of our Sabbath) my wife answered the phone to hear a man stating he was from the McCain-Palin campaign. He asked who she was supporting. She replied that we will vote for Obama. He replied with "but he's a f-----g n---er!". Before I get to my wife's response I'll first have to say that I understand desperation and I also understand that this pitch may actually work for a few people. I also understand that there are people who are whack-jobs phone-banking for both sides. But here are some facts:
My wife and I are Black. Citing the fact that Obama is a f----g n---er as a way to sway our vote may not be a great idea. My wife and I live in Maryland... Baltimore, MD.... One of the most African American areas of Baltimore Maryland. How on earth did our phone numbers get on to a McCain volunteers phone bank list of potential voters to be calling at this stage in the game? We have never received a call from the Obama campaign.

Just weird. Not sure what to make of it... but that's not a good sign of organization. If it did anything it made us want to donate more. BTW, the rest of the call went downhill from there. My wife prayed for forgiveness after the call.

At this point, the conservative movement has nothing but dregs and fanatics.

mikethemadbiologist Sun, 11/02/2008 - 10:26

Tags

Took me a moment or two to work out what that was supposed to say. I first read it as ForeiGNeR, referring to the rumours that he's not USA-born. The correct reading is so mind-bogglingly appalling that it's still hard to believe.

What the f---? Unbelievable. William F. Buckley, Jr. once said, "You know, I've spent my entire lifetime separating the Right from the kooks." I don't share all of the late Mr. Buckley's opinions (especially his odd sympathies for ID), but this was a worthy goal that seems to be circling the drain.

At this point, the conservative movement has nothing but dregs and fanatics.

Well, they do still also have a smattering of greedfuck plutocrats, although many of them are now jumping ship to the Democrati Party.

It seems to me like the Republican party is going through evaporative cooling.

Well, they do still also have a smattering of greedfuck plutocrats, although many of them are now jumping ship to the Democrati Party.

Indeed. Their switching has nothing to do w/ changing their views on how to govern or even who should govern and has everything to do w/ disease carrying rats leaving a sinking plague barge.

To put it another way; Nobody likes being a loser and this way idiotic, republican mouth piece, pundits can still claim to know what colour the sky is and maintain their relevancy.

So somebody on the internet claims that someone claiming to be from the McCain campaign used the n-word while telephone canvassing? And they didn't even answer "Yes, I know, that's why we're voting for him" or even "Yes, so am I" or even "Yes, and so's your mama's boyfriend".