labrat

I saw the movie and walked away quite disapointed. The story is boring, not much going on there. Parts of it are overly sentimental for my taste. In the end it gives me an empty and helpless feeling. I wanted to yell: "NO, it should not be like this!" Besides, for an R rated movie, there isn't nearly enough nude scences! ;-)

There are indeed a lot of confusions in the usage of "genetically identical". Genes (mostly DNAs) contain coding regions and non-coding regions (the so called exons and introns). It is the coding regions that are eventually translated into mature RNAs and proteins that performs various functions in the body. While for the most part we are not yet clear what are the functions of the vast introns, which are actually comprise a much bigger portion of our genome. Some of them clearly play regulatory roles. When talking about that human genome is 98% identical to the apes, it is usually refered to the coding regions, or even the final amino acid sequences of proteins. Between each human individuals, there are also differences in both the coding and non-coding regions, but it is much less than 2%.

The exercise should go like this: (# of Jewish scientists)/(World total # of scientists) = ? % (Jewish Noble Prize Winners) / (World Noble Prize Winners) = 158 / 750 = 21.067% And to compare these two percentages. Anybody has any idea? Also, the scientists are restricted to the disciplines of Physics, Chemistry, Physiology and Medicine.

My 8 year old son loves these books. I haven't read them yet...

Good question. I guess collectively (ha) as human race, reproduction is probably THE most important thing. But for each individual, the highest value can be different.

Not up to the task? (tongue in my own cheek. ;-))

I consider that child rearing is probably THE most important productive activity that human dose – to produce another independent and productive human being. Though not everyone it well suited for this endeavor.

I am surprised that so many faculty members are backing Ward. I would never want to be on the same faculty board as Ward.

Mr. West, Sorry I was unable to follow up on this sooner. Also I can’t open the link to your article. I wonder can you send me an email with your article attached? I’d appreciate that very much! I actually can’t stop thinking about what you’ve said that “Communism was in many ways consistent with Chinese culture”. Emotionally I can’t accept it but I need to rationalize my reasons. First, the ideology of socialism and communism could not have arisen from a Chinese culture. For 2000 years, China has always been an autocratic country where the Emperor had the absolute supreme power over all his subjects and people pledged ultimate loyalty to the emperors, especially the good emperors, and there were quite a few of them in history. I don’t think this can be considered collectivism or altruism. The rise of socialism and communism in the West followed French Revolution and Industrial Revolution. I’d consider it an aberration from the Enlightenment movement that is based on false premises. But nevertheless, it is a side product of Western’s democratic and Enlightenment movement that still prevails today. In the later 19 century, China fell from a once most advance and powerful country in the world to be defeated by Westerners in every aspect and became a semi-Feudal semi-colonial country. In the early 20 century, after China was forced to open its door, many Chinese intellectuals look to the Western humanities to find out why China had fallen behind, and why the once barbaric West had suddenly became so strong. They took the idea of democracy and unfortunately also socialism. For whatever reason capitalism did not appear to be popular then. Perhaps it was partially because that China was a predominantly agricultural country, and partially because of the unfavorable general impression of the colonialists’ practice at the time. The anti-colonialist sentiment was very strong among China’s intellectuals in the early 20 century. Certainly patriotism was considered morally above individualism and capitalism. While China was trying to break from its old culture, which was deemed no longer suited for its advance, it unfortunately turned to the socialism. Therefore I still don't think the traditional Chinese culture in any way is more compatible with Communism than the Western cultures. The rise of Communism in China has its historical roots, but not the cultural roots. Although historically China’s intellectuals did shun merchants and commerce, in the pop culture, “fa cai” or “getting rich” has always been the most popular good-wishes that people say to each other and hoped for themselves. Next week will be Chinese New Year. If you go to any Chinese shop, you will see all the New Year goodies with wordings like “Have savings year after year!” “Wish you get rich in New Year!” printed on them. In the Communist China, we used to think that these kinds of things were extremely vulgar and un-revolutionary. But now I’ve already got myself a “Money collecting bucket” and I’d like to say to you all “Get rich in the New Year!”

I feel exactly the same.

My deadline be damned. I can not agree with this. Communism was imported to China in the early 20th century. Many CCP founders have "studied" communism in France, Germany or Britain. Mao aslo comtemplated of going abroad. Additionally CCP draw a lot of inspirations from Soviet Union as how Communism should be practiced. Traditional Chinese culture is not more (or less) compatible with Communism, comparing with others, IMHO. Confucianism emphasizes on stiff social and family orders that are very much at odds with Communism. Hey, there was even a "Criticising Confuciuanism" movement initiated by Mao in the early 1970s in China.

Hey, you guys are too flattering! I have a kid now. He is a mix and he appears just as silly as others. . A lot of Chinese kids become high achievers early on because of the pressures from parents and family- by tradition, Chineses always place great hopes in their Children. "Expecting son to become dragon!" I don't believe for a second that American kids are any inferior intellectually than Chinese or any other kids from other cultures. Perhaps they just need to work a little bit harder.

Oh, I meant to say that I did not deserve "Wow" here. There's nothing unusual. By the way, I've finished my classes 10 years ago! I am interested in Mr. West's article too. Will read it when I get a chance.

That's undeserved. I used to be just one of the many Chinese students who came to US to study and then stayed. I have a Feb 1st deadline to meet and can only be very brief for now. Yes, average Chinese people LOVE the freedom, the better living standard, and the opportunitie in US. That's why we came here in the first place. But English is a big hassel though... I've become very unfamiliar with the politics in China now. But the recent Party tune (Re. revitalizing Communism) is quite disturbing. It would be a step back. I think for Americans, you (or we?!) need to clearly seperate Chinese people and its government or CCP. I still support doing business with Chinese companies - foreign investiments and hard working people have made lives of many Chinese so much better. But China is still governed by the same Party established by Mao. In my eyes, the CCP government is not a legitimate government representing Chinese people. While we deal with it, we should never forget what they've done before and what they still are capable of doing now.

I am Chinese. Born and raised in mainland China under Communism. I am now a US citizen and value Ayn Rand's philosophy very much. Has any of Rand's fictions been translated and published in China?

RationalCop, Regarding the "unwarranted assumptions", no, it was not in response to you - Sorry. I guess it was more toward another poster's comment about "omnidirectional sludge-pump of altruism". Look, Capitalism Forever's post cracked me up, I couldn't help to pick on it.

Well, the tone of redfarmer's post made me write the original post. I am also not so sure whether some people here consider the majority of the tsunami victims (Indonesians) innocent or not. You are certainly right that this disaster has different impact on different people. I have no intention to demean its impact on those who suffered most terribly. I don't have loved ones who died or hurt in the tsunami, or in Florida huricanes, or in 9/11 for that matter. I myself was over a thousand miles away from New York when it happened. But still I was literally sick in my stomach, and was shaking all over on that day. What material impact you think 9/11 had on me? There are many people in the world who watched in horror as WTC towers collapsed also considered it a tragedy to them as well. What could be the reason for that? One thing I want to make clear is that I have not said anything about whether or how we should or should not help the tsunami victims. Please don't make unwarranted assumptions.

You think? I read nothing of the sort in his post. It was in plain English that he said that "the rest of us", which obviously including him, should "1. (optional) donate a small amount" and "2. Shut up".

Capitalism Forever, you have just give yourself a good advice: I obviously do not belong to your group.

Please don't forget that most people who died in the tsunami are innocent fellow human beings. And remember that there are hundreds of foreigners including Americans who are also dead, and thousands of them are still missing and most likely dead. (See dead and missing foreigners). It is a disaster for all of us.

I believe unlike muscle, "flesh" should include fat. So liposuction could have worked. But I seem to remember that Shylock specified that he wanted the pound of flesh from Antonio's breasts. So it would be hard to do the liposuction there even if the technique were available in 16th century Venice!

RationalCop, Thanks for straighten that out! I myself have experienced a rather devastating earthquake and know how much the victims would appreciate any help from anyone. I've always thought that US (which comes down to the people of US) has acted rather noble offering aids to various International causes, especially considering how little appreciation US usually gets.

I take offence at the title of this thread. Disagreement with US government policy is one thing. But mockery of a devastating natural disaster in which millions of human beings have suffered and tens of thousands have die is just disgusting.

I am all ears.

Stephen, I agree that Rearden is a rational man of great moral stature. However, he married and continued to live with the woman he despises. He admittedly visited whorehouses. He committed adultery and cheated on his wife. He was driven to violence by jealousy. He yielded to the most despicable blackmail and by doing so compromised his integrity and made tremendous damage to many good people. Can you use your own word to state explicitly what exact "error of knowledge and judgment” that Rearden has made in regard to such behaviors in his relationships? I agree with you that the characters in Closer, for the most part, are "irrational emotionalists" as you say. Is that what you mean by "fundamental moral flaws"? I have no intention to persuade anybody here. I perfectly understand why people don't like this movie. (My husband also doesn’t like it). I just want to know exactly what you have been saying.