Crunchy Frog
Crunchy Frog's JournalIt only took only around 3-4 million years, blink of an eye in geological time,
for evolution to turn something with the intelligence of a chimp into something with the intelligence of a human.
As far as birds go, they seem to have evolved different structures in their brains that perform similar functions to the mammalian neocortex.
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/09/newfound-brain-structure-explains-why-some-birds-are-so-smart-and-maybe-even-self-aware
https://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/crow-intelligence/
I tend towards the view that humanlike intelligence is not as unique as we like to believe. I think there's a tendency among many to want to see ourselves as "speshul", and that this impulse can lead to some harmful and destructive behaviors.
I think there's just a philosophical divide that we're on different sides of, as I prefer to think of ourselves being a part of life on Earth, and our minds existing as part of a continuum with other creatures.
At least as far as bird brain question goes, it looks like the current scientific consensus is on my side.
Sen. Mike Lee's tweets against "democracy," explained. VOX
snip
On the American right, there is a long tradition of arguing that the United States is a “republic, not a democracy,” a distinction its proponents trace back to the founders. It centers not on whether a nation holds competitive elections but the extent to which it puts constraints on majorities from restricting the rights of minorities. Democracies, on this definition, allow for untrammeled majority rule; republics put in place rules that prevent legislators from using their power in tyrannical ways (think the Bill of Rights).
snip
The spin offered by Lee and others on the right, historically speaking, originated as arguments for curbing democracy in the ordinary sense of the word — the ability of majorities to enact popular policies (that conservatives disapproved of). Warning against “the tyranny of the majority” serves as a justification for minority rule.
Quite a lot more in the article.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/21507713/mike-lee-democracy-republic-trump-2020
A long article but the upshot is that Republicans want to change our democratic republic into an authoritarian republic.
the fly knew it's 2 minute limit
https://twitter.com/DanielleForPA/status/1314033735558455297?s=20Somebody on 11th Hour last night made a Freudian slip,
When referring to the "cemetery er ceremony" in the Rose Garden. It was really funny 😄.
I didn't know that about Boris. Fuck.
I don't think it's a trick, but I do think it's a gambit.
He's counting on people rallying around him in his moment of crisis, and playing the martyr. And I'm not sure that enough people have the sense not to be sucked in.
Also, who's going to speak Ill of him during his heroic struggle? Who's going to continue to mention his performance in that debate.
I think it's an act of desperation on his part because he would literally rather die than lose.
In any event, I think the timing is good for him and bad for us.
I just came back to this news after relaxing with a little YouTube.
Whether he actually has it or not, I think it's some sort of whacko con, and a desperate last ditch effort to get reelected.
I honestly think he'd rather die than be a "loser". If he takes Biden down with him, he'll see it as a double victory, even if it's through a haze of sedation on a ventilator.
Now I need to calm down with some Bacardi.
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Name: Debbie DownerGender: Female
Home country: Under Russian occupation
Member since: Sun Oct 26, 2003, 05:06 AM
Number of posts: 27,466