This is a sign off from Vision Circle for me.
The "Cobb Father" has decided to move on with Vision Circle since its original intent was not turning out like he wanted it to be.
Mike opened up Vision Circle to me because I was spouting off in email to the members of the Conservative Brotherhood and a few were tired off it. I believe Ambra "called me out" to blog and others backed her up.
Mike said do it and offered me a spot on the blog team of Vision Circle. And since a girl called me out, I had to do it. ;-)
It's been fun and I thank Mike for allowing me to mentally masturbate spout off on Vision Circle.
So, I move on. If you think I'm worth reading at times, check out my new home at DarkStarSpoutsOff.
Thanks Mike.
Social behavior, such as shyness and boldness, may be shaped by seemingly unimportant DNA often referred to as "junk" genes. The study, published in this week's issue of Science, is the first to show a link between junk genes, otherwise known as microsatellite DNA, and social behavior in different species.
hmm..., let's detonate a little more gasoline on the combustible myth infecting what passes for rigor among the freakonomics schoolies, stoolies, and chindroolies..., boys and girls, ignore the hypeman and instead pay attention to genomics and big pharma...,
Seemingly Unimportant DNA May Shape Social Behavior
By Jennifer Warner
WebMD Medical News
June 9, 2005 -- The difference between a social butterfly and an introverted recluse may be in the genes. But it may be the genes that scientists least suspect.
Researchers say the findings indicate that social behavior, such as shyness and boldness, may be shaped by seemingly unimportant DNA often referred to as "junk" genes.
The study, published in this week's issue of Science, is the first to show a link between junk genes, otherwise known as microsatellite DNA, and social behavior in different species.
"The variability in the microsatellite could account for some of the diversity in human social personality traits," says researcher Elizabeth Hammock, of Emory University, in a news release. "For example, it may help explain why some people are naturally gregarious while others are shy."
Researchers say the findings may also lead to a better understanding of human social behavior and disorders such as autism.
Genes May Affect Shyness
In the study, researchers looked at how microsatellite DNA affects social behavior in male prairie voles, a type of rodent.
Previous research has shown that the male prairie vole is highly social, forms lifelong attachments to a mate, and shares parenting duties with the female. But the closely related montane vole does not bond with a mate nor contribute to parenting duties and seems socially indifferent.
To see if these differences may lie in seemingly nonfunctional genes, researchers bred two groups of prairie voles with short and long versions of the junk DNA.
When they examined the behavior of the male offspring, they found that microsatellite or junk DNA length affected gene patterns in the brain. These changes corresponded to differences in social behavior.
For example, males with long junk DNA had higher levels of receptors in the brain involved in social behavior and parental care. These moles were more likely to form bonds with mates and spent more time with their offspring than those with shorter sequences in this DNA.
"Because a significant portion of the human [genetic makeup] consists of junk DNA and due to the way microsatellite DNA expands and contracts over time, microsatellites may represent a previously unknown factor in social diversity," says Emory researcher Larry J. Young, PhD, in the release.
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SOURCES: Hammock, E. Science, June 10, 2005; vol 308: pp 1630-1634. News release, Emory University Health Sciences Center.
As I periodically do, but not as often as I had, I visited Ofari's today. The occasion was a discussion about the Black Agenda. For those of you visting Vision Circle for the first time, due to my shameless promotion at said event, I offer a special welcome you, especially the young Urban Leaguers.
The purpose of Vision Circle is to have a progressive and thoughtful discussion about the reality, prospects and possibilities for black culture, politics and economics. We talk about issues of the day to keep ourselves informed and abreast. That there is a Vision Circle saves us from the excuse that we 'never get to hear an intelligent black opinion' about x, y or z. Our contributors are serious, real, and do their homework, and we are fortunate to have them provoke and guide us about issues facing black America and America at large.
My aim for Vision Circle as the founder and bankroller of this collaborative enterprise is to maintain, for as long as possible, a real connection between thoughtful people such that wisdom never gets lost or drowned out in the static and noise of... all that static and noise out there. To that end I hope to attract a robust audience as well as talented contributors.
As I mentioned this morning, there is the distinct possibility of our bringing on board a distinguished intellect out of Kansas City whose thinking is likely to have a great deal of influence in the years to come. I really didn't check with my partners about dropping his name, but I'll take the blame for that.
In any case, welcome. We never run out of time, and the mic is always in your hand. So speak up.
What really bothers me about the "conservative vs. liberal debate" is that it's mostly soundbite material designed to get people wound up one way or the other.
For an example, see Ann Coulter. And give the woman a pork chop. She needs to gain weight.
Ambra, IMO, makes an important distinction:
What I am interested in is how conservative thought plays into our daily lives. What does it look like in the home? What does it look like in education? In music? On the campus?I am of the persuasion that a conservative worldview is far more important than conservative policy.
I can't argue her approach to her worldview. She's keeping it real.
The kid got dropped off to college today. Big WHOOOOP!!!
Poly..... Poly-tech-nic.... (requires registration)
Whenever I see a "Got Milk?" ad, I want to light up a shoulder held missle and let it rip.
Vision Circle is now the home for Old School Thought, formerly known as the Old School Republicans. The reasons for the change are relatively simple. Firstly, I ran out of patience with the lack of traction at the OSR site. Secondly, it is more important that the thinking is Old School than Republican (although I am not changing parties). Thirdly, I like this hosting company better than that one. Fourthly I think that the Old School will do just fine here, and I save money in the deal.
Thank you for your patience.
One of my favorite aphorisms is that an early start beats fast running. I am in a quandry these days about how exactly to reorganize my writing life now that I have seven blogs in three domains using two different authoring systems. I am pulled all over the place and can't figure how best to make it all gel. So I fall back on my gut wisdom. It's about 2:30 in the morning, that's an early start.
Sooner or later, my pals will be chiming in around here, or at least that's was the plan when I mailed them on April Fools Day. I've been champing (not chomping I'v learned) at the bit since then and actually losing more sleep over the possibilities than over my tax bill. So what I think I should do is start off the conversation with some thematic axioms. Axioms is a bit more dogmatic a word than I'd prefer but..
Just the other morning I read something about old Tom Lehrer, who is not dead but retired somewhere around Santa Cruz, California. He is probably best known for his extraordinary wit and lyrics in songs like The Masochism Tango, The Vatican Rag and Poisoning Pigeons in the Park. I've got all the MP3s, I hope he doesn't mind much. Lehrer suggested that there is no more wit in comedy these days. I've said as much but I'm not quite so famous or good at math as he. He's retired and I've got a blog so I'll take it from here if you don't mind.
That's rather the point. Wit is in short supply, especially the self-deprecating kind. We supply, on occasion.
As you may or may not know, I've read a bit of Robert Nozick, and although I don't particularly subject myself to the rigors of worship and subjugations to Elohim, I have a strong sense that one should try one's best over a full lifetime to examine and improve one's life. Or else. We appear often to be living in the time of 'or else', of devolution and devaluation, not to mention scarcity, of the ethos of enlightenment. God's not punishing us, we are simply reaping a harvest of cynicism and nihilism.
I'm not going off on a rant against the bad isms of the age. I've contributed myself, if only to solopsism (but then again who am I to say so?). But I do want to share in a community of folks who work honestly for the better forces of life. This is certain to be one and I believe each of the writers here understand that it is indeed work to persue and defend the better forces of life. It's a renewable spark; when you see others working hard, you feel the need to contribute. Of course the same mob dynamic works on the bad ism side of human nature as well, but I think we'd rather spread the good words.
Finally, as my eyelids buckle and I reach my length for spontaneous writing, I want to get us beyond the horseracing. That may be difficult because I have become painfully aware of how being a blog author gives one audience fever. I've watched it happen at in the capitol cities of Blogistan and I know how it works. But I will strive to be a bit more philosophical, a bit more long term, and look at the kind of large things that don't go from zero to meme in 6.5 seconds.
As a writer and a programmer I understand that you cannot force creativity. You can't just hum the noodle dance and crank out elegance. I know my mind well enough to know that some days, and some very late nights, it draws ideas from the air with zen-like efficiency. Other times it farts like a dyspeptic. I'll try to write at length when I'm inspired, and simply vibe off the others when I'm not particularly insightful.
That's enough to get me started.