But I went for a 1 mile jog this morning anyway. I know myself to well enough to not be fooled into thinking that this could be the start of some kind of healthy pattern. You see, after the turkey bowl, I noticed that my recently-sprained ankles (yes, both at the same time) got a little stronger afterwards. I also noticed that the headaches I had been getting from caffeine withdrawal came back. So I thought a little bit more exercise might be good for my ankles, and might also shake looose the last of these annoying withdrawal symptoms. That, and I've acquired some additional waisted-space from thanksgiving (pun intended). Maybe one more run and I'll shake the headaches. The heartburn seems to have been nixed at least so thats good.
No go hear a song about how lovable Macs can be.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Big day, wandering thoughts
Today was all about the chores. Painting moldings, varnishing furniture, taking Ollie to the dog park, and raking leaves. Oh those dammned leaves and the blisters I get from raking them! Anyway, while I was mindlessly raking I had some mindless thoughts. I think it might have been something about the play Chris was recently in, "State Fair" and also maybe thoughts about Chris and I trying for a kid.
I was reflecting on how the times have changed basically. It used to be (pre-1960's) that when folks felt a powerful sexual attraction towards one another, the first thoughts they would have were about how quickly they could get married, since sex was hard to have without the resulting children. But then the pill came along and it changed a fundamental, cross-cultural social system that had been in place for tens, maybe hundrteds of thousands of years. Don't get me wrong, I'm not postulating that the institution of marriage per se has been around that long, but I do expect that homo sapiens have always been social animals and that girls and boys who fucked probably stuck with each other long enough to keep the resulting newborns from dying of exposure.
It makes me wonder how the pill is changing the pressures of natural selection in homo sapiens. I have a long list of speculations on that point, the first most obvious one is that we are simply having less kids. It used to be that women would have lots and lots of kids. Sure, I know industrialization had a lot to do with that, but even so, after industrialization and before the pill, people still had a rough time having an affordable amount of children. The pill has helped alot on that score. But now women who may have been gentically prone to not have a viable pregnancy until after a miscarriage or two or three may be selected out of the gene pool more effectively because of the pill. People who were more emotionally attatched to the first person they had sex with may not have as much of a selective advantage as they once did (like the penguin mate-for-life strategy). I wonder if the whole sexual revolution was predicated on the idea that all of our social conventions had no basis in biology. After all, married people do report greater happiness over thier lifespan. If monogamy were purely a social thing, I expect people would feel happier being more promiscuous in a post-pill world. What are the selective consequences of conception being a choice rather than an accident? Will the passion that caused 16 year-olds to marry in 1947 wither and die? Will people begin to evolve strong emotions against contraception rather than towards biologically attractive mates? Or will our drive to procreate shift from being emotional to intellectual? Might this help explain the explosion in autistic children?
Letting my thoughts wander, lots of people have assumed that the correlation between the introduction of the MMR vaccine to increasing rates of autism is causative. I really do wonder if it has more to do with altered selective pressures due to the pill and industrialization as a whole. The rates of autism started jumping in 1972 in this country, and in 1978 in the UK. The pill was introduced in these countries in 1960 and 1961 respectively, but the pill didn't become widespread until later and of course people who took the pill were having thier kids later still. It seems reasonable that we wouldn't begin to see any contribution of the pill to increases in autism until a decade later. Of course, if there is a connection between the pill and autism, it could be simpler than what I've rambled about above. It might just be that autism is more closely correlated to people having kids later in life (which is still a consequence of the pill) as is the case with schizophrenia.
I guess that's enough mind-wandering for tonight. Does anyone else have any speculations on how the pill might be changing the selective pressures on humanity?
I was reflecting on how the times have changed basically. It used to be (pre-1960's) that when folks felt a powerful sexual attraction towards one another, the first thoughts they would have were about how quickly they could get married, since sex was hard to have without the resulting children. But then the pill came along and it changed a fundamental, cross-cultural social system that had been in place for tens, maybe hundrteds of thousands of years. Don't get me wrong, I'm not postulating that the institution of marriage per se has been around that long, but I do expect that homo sapiens have always been social animals and that girls and boys who fucked probably stuck with each other long enough to keep the resulting newborns from dying of exposure.
It makes me wonder how the pill is changing the pressures of natural selection in homo sapiens. I have a long list of speculations on that point, the first most obvious one is that we are simply having less kids. It used to be that women would have lots and lots of kids. Sure, I know industrialization had a lot to do with that, but even so, after industrialization and before the pill, people still had a rough time having an affordable amount of children. The pill has helped alot on that score. But now women who may have been gentically prone to not have a viable pregnancy until after a miscarriage or two or three may be selected out of the gene pool more effectively because of the pill. People who were more emotionally attatched to the first person they had sex with may not have as much of a selective advantage as they once did (like the penguin mate-for-life strategy). I wonder if the whole sexual revolution was predicated on the idea that all of our social conventions had no basis in biology. After all, married people do report greater happiness over thier lifespan. If monogamy were purely a social thing, I expect people would feel happier being more promiscuous in a post-pill world. What are the selective consequences of conception being a choice rather than an accident? Will the passion that caused 16 year-olds to marry in 1947 wither and die? Will people begin to evolve strong emotions against contraception rather than towards biologically attractive mates? Or will our drive to procreate shift from being emotional to intellectual? Might this help explain the explosion in autistic children?
Letting my thoughts wander, lots of people have assumed that the correlation between the introduction of the MMR vaccine to increasing rates of autism is causative. I really do wonder if it has more to do with altered selective pressures due to the pill and industrialization as a whole. The rates of autism started jumping in 1972 in this country, and in 1978 in the UK. The pill was introduced in these countries in 1960 and 1961 respectively, but the pill didn't become widespread until later and of course people who took the pill were having thier kids later still. It seems reasonable that we wouldn't begin to see any contribution of the pill to increases in autism until a decade later. Of course, if there is a connection between the pill and autism, it could be simpler than what I've rambled about above. It might just be that autism is more closely correlated to people having kids later in life (which is still a consequence of the pill) as is the case with schizophrenia.
I guess that's enough mind-wandering for tonight. Does anyone else have any speculations on how the pill might be changing the selective pressures on humanity?
Friday, November 25, 2005
Thanksgiving
The meal went really well for us this year. Everything was timed perfectly, but I was a little unhappy with my turkey. I felt like it came out a little dry. I have to try that brine-marinade trick one of these days. My rye-maple syrup sausage stuffing was awesome as always, and Chris' yams were incredible. Chris and her sister Lisa had too much fun with the camera after dinner, while John and I played video games.
And now for the customary list of things I am thankful for; a beautiful wife, a friendly dog, a solid home, and a decent job. All of which still cause me to pinch myself to believe they are real.
And now for the customary list of things I am thankful for; a beautiful wife, a friendly dog, a solid home, and a decent job. All of which still cause me to pinch myself to believe they are real.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Turkey Bowl
My job has a tradition we like to call "Turkey Bowl" which takes place on Novembver 23rd of every year. We all quit work around 1 or 2 and go to a local elementary school field to play a few hours of two-hand touch football. I usually play tight end, sometimes QB. I have noticed that as the years move on, I become more and more debilitated after each Turkey Bowl. I expect to have serious trouble walking from tomorrow onward. Pity me.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Free drugs! Highly addictive!
Occasionally, something happens that makes me quit drinking coffee cold turkey. Last Sunday it was the crazy heartburn I had all night after the 25 buffalo wings and the two natty bo's that prompted me to quit drinking coffee this time around. You might be right if you are thinking that I really ought to be swearing off wings and cheap beer. I see it differently. I get heartburn to varying degrees from eating almost anything these days (the beer-wings combination just being the worst for it). I also know that on the few days when I cut my coffee down from two cups to one, I get less heartburn from whatever food I might eat. I also know that when I'm on vacation (and therefore unstressed) I get zero heartburn. So the way I see it is, I can either take ratinidine daily, for the rest of my life, I can quit my job, or I can quit coffee.
Now don't get me wrong, I have no doubts that my quitting coffee will be a temporary phase (it always is). I mean, they give away coffee for free at work to keep me coming back to the place regularly, how could I say no? I just feel like its time for a little breather. I think it must have been more than five years ago since I last "quit" coffee. I'm due.
So ya, my last cup of coffee was around mid-day Sunday, and boy howdy do I feel like poop right now.
Now don't get me wrong, I have no doubts that my quitting coffee will be a temporary phase (it always is). I mean, they give away coffee for free at work to keep me coming back to the place regularly, how could I say no? I just feel like its time for a little breather. I think it must have been more than five years ago since I last "quit" coffee. I'm due.
So ya, my last cup of coffee was around mid-day Sunday, and boy howdy do I feel like poop right now.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
I-O-Way
All I know, all I owe, I owe I-O-Way.
I owe I-O-Way all I know and I know why.
I am I-O-Way born and bred,
and on I-O-Way corn I'm fed,
not mention her barley wheat and rye.
Chris and the NASA theater group she's been with for the past few months, closed thier show of "State Fair" last night. It was lots of fun, Rogers and Hammerstein goodness. Unfortunately, the cast party was dry due to a last-minute surprise decision by some lawyer at NASA (libaility stupidness). During this cast party, they put on some skits that seemed pretty clearly oriented towards drunks. It was a pity none were in the audience.
I owe I-O-Way all I know and I know why.
I am I-O-Way born and bred,
and on I-O-Way corn I'm fed,
not mention her barley wheat and rye.
Chris and the NASA theater group she's been with for the past few months, closed thier show of "State Fair" last night. It was lots of fun, Rogers and Hammerstein goodness. Unfortunately, the cast party was dry due to a last-minute surprise decision by some lawyer at NASA (libaility stupidness). During this cast party, they put on some skits that seemed pretty clearly oriented towards drunks. It was a pity none were in the audience.
Friday, November 18, 2005
Superman
It was just this week that I watched "An evening with Kevin Smith" on DVD. Its funny, you should watch it too. Anyway, at one point, Kevin tells us an anecdote about how Warner Brothers had asked him if he wanted to write the script for this new movie they want to do on Superman. Ultimately he never ends up doing it because of some nutjob producer and the fact that the studio hires Tim Burton to direct it (who hires his own writers). Kevin goes on to make the DVD I watched the other night. The nutty producer goes on to make another movie, "The Wild Wild West" and Tim Burton makes gets replaced by Bryan Singer to direct "Superman Returns" which is only just now being advertised (fresh!). Looking at the timing of all this, I can only guess that Christopher Reeves' accident really pushed the release date on this movie back.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Poll
I almost forgot to mention that last night, I got a call from one of those automated political polls. I became really excited when I heard the first question: "How would you rate George Bush's job performance?" I've never participated in one of these kinds of polls before. I thought two of the questions were not very well thought out though. They asked, Do I work in 1) Government, 2) a non-profit 3) a private company 4) xxxxx etc. I chose option 3 only because they didn't give an option for a publicly traded company (technically, the only private companies are the ones which are not traded on the stock market). I thought they should have just said, "3) a for-profit corporation or company."
The other question I didn't like concerned my religious affiliation. The choices were: 1) christian including catholic 2) jewish 3) muslim 4) hindu 5) atheist 6) other. They never mentioned agnostic! The way I see it, there is little or no difference between an atheist and an agnostic, yet most of the agnostics I know feel there is a strong differences, and would never characterize themselves as athiests. I also happen to know many more people that call themselves agnostic than atheist. It seems very strange to me that they would drop the agnostic choice from the poll.
Lots of questions were asked about local politicains as well ("If the election were held for MD governor today, would you vote for Erlich or O'Malley?")
I can't wait to learn the poll results.
The other question I didn't like concerned my religious affiliation. The choices were: 1) christian including catholic 2) jewish 3) muslim 4) hindu 5) atheist 6) other. They never mentioned agnostic! The way I see it, there is little or no difference between an atheist and an agnostic, yet most of the agnostics I know feel there is a strong differences, and would never characterize themselves as athiests. I also happen to know many more people that call themselves agnostic than atheist. It seems very strange to me that they would drop the agnostic choice from the poll.
Lots of questions were asked about local politicains as well ("If the election were held for MD governor today, would you vote for Erlich or O'Malley?")
I can't wait to learn the poll results.
Ravens v Steelers
A co-worker of mine is supposed to be selling me hist tickets to the game this Sunday, which is great, I rarely make it to football games. Unfortunately, I had a bunch of shit I was supposed to do this weekend though (house stuff, painting, moldings etc.). It looks like I may have to drink beer and yell alot instead.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Order!
I once got into a big tussle on another blog over the idea that the theory of evolution ought to be a law. What the poor folks at that site didn't know is that I was fairly pissed off that week and was really just looking for a fight. Also, I think the admin of the site in question is a boozer ponce flotsam jerk-off. So anyway, while I sat back and argued a point I didn't really believe (that evolution should be a law, not a theory), I managed to rattle loose some novel thoughts. Skip to the end for the novel part, or keep reading to get the full train of thought.
One of the things I learned from the ponce was the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning. Which was nice, but don't get too caught up in that right now. I also noticed that all the good laws (the laws of conservation from which the laws of thermodynamics and motion sprout) can be expressed mathematically.
Now as every good biologist knows, the mechanics of evolution all follow the laws of thermodynamics, such that all living things are basically suspended within environment-specific equilibrium between the margins of a diamond (perfect order) and vaporized charcoal (perfect disorder) with lots of other contaminating elements.
(The nifty thing about crystals like a diamond is that its existing structure will create more of itself, when provided with the necessary food (diamonds get bigger when you add more carbon)).
I think the the laws of motion and thermodynamics are essentially just re-statements of the laws of conservation. So I got to thinking; in biology were are mostly concerned with how things are ordered, and how that order propagates itself (like dirty diamonds). We get to talking about "genetic information" alot. So, I wonder if the laws of evolution might be more accurately described as the "laws of informatics". I can generally (but not specifically) imagine how these laws might be expressed, and what's more, I can also see how they could be applied to all kinds of self-propagating information, from diamonds to digital data (excuse the alliteration). Since evolution really just describes a mechanism for the tranfer and preservation of information, this kind of universal applicability to all information is what would be needed to qualify it as a proper law. That, and a law of informatics just seems like a good idea.
So I googled "laws of informatics" and found this site. The guy seems to start on the right track and I like his laws as stated, but I think he goes way off track once he starts talking about Frederich Nietzsche, and he never tries to express his laws mathematically. So, I think I'm going to try and give that a shot in my spare time and I'll keep updates here. Any of you math whizzes have some good ideas?
Asleep yet?
One of the things I learned from the ponce was the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning. Which was nice, but don't get too caught up in that right now. I also noticed that all the good laws (the laws of conservation from which the laws of thermodynamics and motion sprout) can be expressed mathematically.
Now as every good biologist knows, the mechanics of evolution all follow the laws of thermodynamics, such that all living things are basically suspended within environment-specific equilibrium between the margins of a diamond (perfect order) and vaporized charcoal (perfect disorder) with lots of other contaminating elements.
(The nifty thing about crystals like a diamond is that its existing structure will create more of itself, when provided with the necessary food (diamonds get bigger when you add more carbon)).
I think the the laws of motion and thermodynamics are essentially just re-statements of the laws of conservation. So I got to thinking; in biology were are mostly concerned with how things are ordered, and how that order propagates itself (like dirty diamonds). We get to talking about "genetic information" alot. So, I wonder if the laws of evolution might be more accurately described as the "laws of informatics". I can generally (but not specifically) imagine how these laws might be expressed, and what's more, I can also see how they could be applied to all kinds of self-propagating information, from diamonds to digital data (excuse the alliteration). Since evolution really just describes a mechanism for the tranfer and preservation of information, this kind of universal applicability to all information is what would be needed to qualify it as a proper law. That, and a law of informatics just seems like a good idea.
So I googled "laws of informatics" and found this site. The guy seems to start on the right track and I like his laws as stated, but I think he goes way off track once he starts talking about Frederich Nietzsche, and he never tries to express his laws mathematically. So, I think I'm going to try and give that a shot in my spare time and I'll keep updates here. Any of you math whizzes have some good ideas?
Asleep yet?
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
America's Funniest Animals
Now go check out the rest of the Sun's top 25 viral emails of the week.
(Be careful though, some are NSFW)
Monday, November 14, 2005
Hepatitis A
The list of diseases I currently have vaccine-derived immunity against:
measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, diptheria, influenza, typhoid, hepatitis B, yellow fever, and as of today, hepatitis A.
The last ones on my list to collect are: smallpox, herpes type-2, and anthrax. I really wish I didn't miss out on that smallpox vaccine just because I was born too late.
measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, diptheria, influenza, typhoid, hepatitis B, yellow fever, and as of today, hepatitis A.
The last ones on my list to collect are: smallpox, herpes type-2, and anthrax. I really wish I didn't miss out on that smallpox vaccine just because I was born too late.
Biodiesel (first of many)
Here's a post on biodiesel I got from Wired. Biodiesel is one of my biggest infatuations. This particular article goes into the uses of it for home heating oil. I have natural gas heat (but wish I had oil, with water-convection baseboards) so this isn't going to help me so much. No, my primary interest in biodiesel is for a transportaton fuel. My next car is going to be a diesel, just so I can make my own feul for it in the garage. Of course, I drive a 2001 Honda Civic now. The car gets awesome mileage and since I only work 5 minutes away, I don't put many miles on it, so I may be stuck with this car for many more years to come. In which case, I'll just need to be sure that the boat or motorcycle I've always wanted to buy are diesel-powered. I specifically want this bike, in case anyone was thinking about what they could get me for Christmas.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Amazing what a little information can do...
As most of you reading this right now know, I sent out a mass email to my freinds and family earlier today, alerting you all to the presence of this blog. Maybe I should have waited to do this on one of those days where I marvel about the tick I pulled off of my dogs neck, or about the nature of lint or something, rather than having people diving directly into the intelligent design debate. Apologies for that. Most of the time I expect this blog will be really shallow and self-absorbed, so please don't let this weighty, first-encountered issue prejudice you about what may come.
Intelligent Design
The very fact that this is even a debate in our country right now really annoys the crap out of me. As I ask around about it, many people who I formerly assumed were educated and thoughtful about the subject have professed support for teaching intelligent design as science. The first thing I realize about these folks is that A) they don't seem to understand the definition of the word "science" and B) they don't care. I want people to care.
This is serious shit people.
This is serious shit people.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Neuvo Ventanas
We're having all the windows in the house replaced today. Last night I had to remove all the fittings for the blinds from the casings and move all the furniture in the house to make space in front of each window. Now these two guys are making lots of smashing noises in my house. Its a party.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Post-Halloween
The party on Saturday went well, but I kept wishing that I had invited more people. All of my friends are either married on in long term relationships, so I felt bad for the few single people there. I was hoping I could have provided a better setting for singles. I guess I have to accept that I'm beyond that scene. The Halloween party at work was fun, but more short-lived than last year's. We did the traditional chili cook-off and the same people who made the best chili's in previous years won again this year. We didn't do a pumpkin-carving contest though (as we did last year), so all in all, the party only lasted an hour. That night, we got more trick-or-treaters than last year, 6 groups in all, for a total of maybe 15-20 kids. Not too shabby.
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