• Hershal

    Regarding the libertarian presidential race:

    Bob Barr vs. Mike Gravel. Pusha. No way. Neither of them. How about Dr. Mary Ruwart? Wouldn’t you love to see a presidential nominee who actually knows something about science? Biophysics FTW!

  • Hershal

    Regarding the libertarian presidential race:

    Bob Barr vs. Mike Gravel. Pusha. No way. Neither of them. How about Dr. Mary Ruwart? Wouldn’t you love to see a presidential nominee who actually knows something about science? Biophysics FTW!

  • Matthew

    Wow you had a wide ranging discussion. In regards to the concept of race the geneticists actually see it as not existent. That is it is a social construct and not a biological one.

    http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/minorities.shtml

    There has also been research to note that based on DNA that we all came from a same village

    http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/humanmigration.shtml

  • Matthew

    Wow you had a wide ranging discussion. In regards to the concept of race the geneticists actually see it as not existent. That is it is a social construct and not a biological one.

    http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/minorities.shtml

    There has also been research to note that based on DNA that we all came from a same village

    http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/humanmigration.shtml

  • Matthew

    Wow you had a wide ranging discussion. In regards to the concept of race or sub species, the geneticists actually see it as not existent. That is race is a social construct and not a biological one.

    http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/minorities.shtml

    There has also been research to note that based on DNA that we all came from a same village

    http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/humanmigration.shtml

  • Matthew

    Wow you had a wide ranging discussion. In regards to the concept of race or sub species, the geneticists actually see it as not existent. That is race is a social construct and not a biological one.

    http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/minorities.shtml

    There has also been research to note that based on DNA that we all came from a same village

    http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/humanmigration.shtml

  • Nuclearbob

    Tom and Roger, the western area of China that you refer to is Xinjiang. Coincidentally, Xinjiang’s official name is the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

    Also, Roger’s comment on most Chinese looking different is not entirely correct – only around 9 percent of China’s population are considered part of the 55 officially recognized minority groups. Though there are some significant variations between the cultures and genetic makeups of the various Han subgroups, I doubt most would be unrecognizable to a foreigner.

  • Nuclearbob

    Tom and Roger, the western area of China that you refer to is Xinjiang. Coincidentally, Xinjiang’s official name is the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

    Also, Roger’s comment on most Chinese looking different is not entirely correct – only around 9 percent of China’s population are considered part of the 55 officially recognized minority groups. Though there are some significant variations between the cultures and genetic makeups of the various Han subgroups, I doubt most would be unrecognizable to a foreigner.

  • Matthew

    Wow you had a wide ranging discussion. In regards to the concept of race or sub species, the geneticists actually see it as not existent. That is race is a social construct and not a biological one.

    http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/minorities.shtml

    There has also been research to note that based on DNA that we all came from a same village

    http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/humanmigration.shtml

    Also in regards to China and their habit of cooping regions and peoples as been in the Chinese empire there was an interesting piece on the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) that for Tibet the Chinese has no claim on the country on historical grounds at all. They have to keep Tibet to ensure water security as most of the water they use comes from the Tibetan plateau. The below link only links to the transcript but if you want the podcast of the radio program I am sure they could send it to you if you email them (I have it but I don’t know what the copyright issues might be if I sent it to you…sorry).

    http://www.abc.net.au/rn/rearvision/stories/2008/2200921.htm

    The Chinese are also setting the stage for the same thing to occur in Korea by indicating that the northern part of Korea was Chinese. That is laughable but if they wanted to play that game the Koreans through the Manchurians ruled China which means that Korea can claim all of china. My point is that as silly as it is the Chinese was the country which started to this type of initial historical claim then to possibly eventual annexation. In regards to the above Korea is not claiming China while China is claiming parts of Korea.

  • Matthew

    Wow you had a wide ranging discussion. In regards to the concept of race or sub species, the geneticists actually see it as not existent. That is race is a social construct and not a biological one.

    http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/minorities.shtml

    There has also been research to note that based on DNA that we all came from a same village

    http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/humanmigration.shtml

    Also in regards to China and their habit of cooping regions and peoples as been in the Chinese empire there was an interesting piece on the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) that for Tibet the Chinese has no claim on the country on historical grounds at all. They have to keep Tibet to ensure water security as most of the water they use comes from the Tibetan plateau. The below link only links to the transcript but if you want the podcast of the radio program I am sure they could send it to you if you email them (I have it but I don’t know what the copyright issues might be if I sent it to you…sorry).

    http://www.abc.net.au/rn/rearvision/stories/2008/2200921.htm

    The Chinese are also setting the stage for the same thing to occur in Korea by indicating that the northern part of Korea was Chinese. That is laughable but if they wanted to play that game the Koreans through the Manchurians ruled China which means that Korea can claim all of china. My point is that as silly as it is the Chinese was the country which started to this type of initial historical claim then to possibly eventual annexation. In regards to the above Korea is not claiming China while China is claiming parts of Korea.

  • Dhinesh

    Tom and Rog,

    I probably should have clarified my post, I was speaking specifically of the old Aryan Invasion theory, which proposes a recent (3,000–4,000 years before present) situation of Aryans invading India and conquering the already-existing people there, who were then pushed to the South, and then single-handedly setting up the civilization as we know it. I’m sure you can see why Hitler enjoyed this idea, it was also part of the British “divide and conquer” rule of India (by dividing India into Aryan and non-Aryan peoples) and that’s what has been disproven through genetic research, which has basically shown that the entire Indian subcontinent is far more genetically similar, and that the effects of any new migrations after the initial “Out of Africa” migrations were minor. There’s an article by Michel Danino which details this further:

    http://www.archaeologyonline.net/artifacts/genetics-aryan-debate.html

    It isn’t really of much importance in a general sense, but it has led to a history of debate and divisiveness in India. And obviously, to the Nazi’s racial theories.

  • Dhinesh

    Tom and Rog,

    I probably should have clarified my post, I was speaking specifically of the old Aryan Invasion theory, which proposes a recent (3,000–4,000 years before present) situation of Aryans invading India and conquering the already-existing people there, who were then pushed to the South, and then single-handedly setting up the civilization as we know it. I’m sure you can see why Hitler enjoyed this idea, it was also part of the British “divide and conquer” rule of India (by dividing India into Aryan and non-Aryan peoples) and that’s what has been disproven through genetic research, which has basically shown that the entire Indian subcontinent is far more genetically similar, and that the effects of any new migrations after the initial “Out of Africa” migrations were minor. There’s an article by Michel Danino which details this further:

    http://www.archaeologyonline.net/artifacts/genetics-aryan-debate.html

    It isn’t really of much importance in a general sense, but it has led to a history of debate and divisiveness in India. And obviously, to the Nazi’s racial theories.

  • Jeremy

    I’m sorry, every time someone says “Ron Paul” my brain hears “Rupaul.” :)

    I hadn’t seen (or heard of) that BSG Last Supper pic … thanks for that.

  • Jeremy

    I’m sorry, every time someone says “Ron Paul” my brain hears “Rupaul.” :)

    I hadn’t seen (or heard of) that BSG Last Supper pic … thanks for that.

  • Jason M. Adkins

    Back to election reform. My plan to get rid of the electoral college and the drawn out primary season.

    Separate party primaries in June. No more caucuses. And all the states have to either have an open primary or none at all. No mixed systems.

    If a party primary doesn’t have one candidate getting 50% +1 of the vote, party runoffs in July.

    General election as it is in November. If no candidate gets a national majority, runoff two to three weeks later.

    One other thing. I find it interesting that the Libertarian Party wants government to butt out, but wants to have a spot on the ballot. I haven’t seen anything in the Constitution that mentions political parties.

  • Jason M. Adkins

    Back to election reform. My plan to get rid of the electoral college and the drawn out primary season.

    Separate party primaries in June. No more caucuses. And all the states have to either have an open primary or none at all. No mixed systems.

    If a party primary doesn’t have one candidate getting 50% +1 of the vote, party runoffs in July.

    General election as it is in November. If no candidate gets a national majority, runoff two to three weeks later.

    One other thing. I find it interesting that the Libertarian Party wants government to butt out, but wants to have a spot on the ballot. I haven’t seen anything in the Constitution that mentions political parties.

  • Matthew

    Wow I have tried to post this comment all week! Can you set up an email account for instances like this?

  • Matthew

    Wow I have tried to post this comment all week! Can you set up an email account for instances like this?

  • Matthew

    Anyway I thought I might comment on your wide ranging discussion. In regards to the concept of race or sub species, the geneticists actually see it as not existent. That is race is a social construct and not a biological one.
    http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/minorities.shtml

    There has also been research to note that based on DNA that we all came from a same village
    http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/humanmigration.shtml

  • Matthew

    Anyway I thought I might comment on your wide ranging discussion. In regards to the concept of race or sub species, the geneticists actually see it as not existent. That is race is a social construct and not a biological one.
    http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/minorities.shtml

    There has also been research to note that based on DNA that we all came from a same village
    http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/humanmigration.shtml

  • Matthew

    I have tired to post a comment and when it refreshes after I click on “submit comment” there is no post. Then when I try to submit it again WordPress states that it blocks it as it is a duplicate but there is no initial entry!

    Can you help?

  • Matthew

    I have tired to post a comment and when it refreshes after I click on “submit comment” there is no post. Then when I try to submit it again WordPress states that it blocks it as it is a duplicate but there is no initial entry!

    Can you help?

  • Matthew

    Hi Tom/Roger

    Sorry about the multiple posts but it didn’t come one for days! Anyway can you delete the following posts that I made; 1, 2, and 5.
    Again sorry.

  • Matthew

    Hi Tom/Roger

    Sorry about the multiple posts but it didn’t come one for days! Anyway can you delete the following posts that I made; 1, 2, and 5.
    Again sorry.

  • Nuclearbob

    Matt, your claim that the Koreans have some claim of rule over China through the Manchurians is doubtful. Though we come from the same genetic stock, by the time of Christ we were already culturally different and politically separate from the nomadic Manchurian peoples. Indeed, the Koreans frequently clashed against the Manchu during their repeated incursions into Korean territory.

    Interestingly, the Chinese never really attempted to annex Korea; though there were several half-hearted attempts to subjugate the peninsula by various emperors, all failed miserably and most emperors were content with having Korea as a loyal vassal state. In fact, the Chinese proved valuable allies during the multiple Japanese invasions of Korea.

  • Nuclearbob

    Matt, your claim that the Koreans have some claim of rule over China through the Manchurians is doubtful. Though we come from the same genetic stock, by the time of Christ we were already culturally different and politically separate from the nomadic Manchurian peoples. Indeed, the Koreans frequently clashed against the Manchu during their repeated incursions into Korean territory.

    Interestingly, the Chinese never really attempted to annex Korea; though there were several half-hearted attempts to subjugate the peninsula by various emperors, all failed miserably and most emperors were content with having Korea as a loyal vassal state. In fact, the Chinese proved valuable allies during the multiple Japanese invasions of Korea.

  • Matthew

    Nuclearbob, that might be true but I was talking about the current need of the Chinese Government to appropriate Tibet and also they are laying the historical claims on Northern Korea. http://dir.salon.com/story/news/wire/2004/01/31/koguryo/index.html

    Strictly speaking I don’t advocate that korea do the same either but if it is done it would be a ‘defensive’ move.

  • Matthew

    Nuclearbob, that might be true but I was talking about the current need of the Chinese Government to appropriate Tibet and also they are laying the historical claims on Northern Korea. http://dir.salon.com/story/news/wire/2004/01/31/koguryo/index.html

    Strictly speaking I don’t advocate that korea do the same either but if it is done it would be a ‘defensive’ move.