Systemic Problems of the Modern Lifescape

Research into violent offendeers provides more evidence that our modern diet is mismatched for our Paleolithic body and this mismatch also has social implications. Research with British and US offenders suggests nutritional deficiencies may play a key role in aggressive bevavior. I won't go as far as the article to call into question culpability (if anyone is culpable its our food suppliers and governments), but the link between diet and behavior makes it so vitally important to re-educate ourselves concerning our Lifescape as I like to call it. The more closely we can approximate an environment that matches our lagging genetics, the better for all as individuals and society.

Happy Birthday To Me

I entered the new millenium for myself. 51. My sweet daughter decorated my office for me. There is no greater gift than your children. She is all I have besides my parents right now and I am so thankful for her. Jeremy will be in the Mediterranean, Matthew is at Annapolis, and Noah is in Germany. My birthday wish is to have everyone's feet back under my table someday. The talking and laughing and that good ol' family feeling that is so much a part of my life, I miss so much. I think I'll stop here....

Global Obesity

The AP reports that the growing Obesity Pandemic threatens to overwhelm global health systems: http://www.abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=2391046 I have no solution other than what I am doing for myself, an evolutionary approach to diet and fitness. But I fear it will never happen globally, because there is not enough animal protein to feed the world's population. Had we not incorporated grains into our diet 10,000 years ago, the world's population would not be near what it is, nor would we have the worldwide problems of globalism.

Gone Fishin'

I long for a day when I can walk along a pond with my sons or grandsons (my daughter or granddaughters too) just like the opening sequence of the "Andy Griffith Show." Until then, I'll settle for a fishing trip with a paid guide, a 250 hp outboard, and my youngest son. I wanted to enjoy a last "hoorah" before he left the country to be with his Mom until the end of the year. We had a great time, caught some fish and sunburn, and it allowed him to complete his fishing merit badge. I hope that this is as a favorable memory for him as it was for me. The love of children, a strong emotion indeed....

Reminiscing

I remember as a kid growing up, stopping at roadside parks while traveling with my parents. It was usually hot, and the crickets would be rubbing those violin backlegs making summer music to my ears. We would usually eat a sandwich and some chips and have a "sodawater" as we called them (before everything came to be called Coke). So I bought a BBQ dinner from Boss Hogg's BBQ stand in a small Texas town then stopped at the next picnic area. It was peaceful and nice in the shade. It brought back so many pleasant memories. I hope they never remove these nostalgic icons from our highways.

Long Life, Better Marriages & Emotions

Research has shown that emotions, attitudes, and beliefs such as altruism , and faith , and optimism can increase one's length of life and improve marriages. People who attend religious services weekly live longer. Specifically, the research looked at how many years are added to life expectancy based on:
Regular physical exercise: 3.0-to-5.1 years
Proven therapeutic regimens: 2.1-to-3.7 years
Regular religious attendance: 1.8-to-3.1 years
Optimistists had a 55 percent lower risk of death from all causes and 23 percent lower risk of death from heart failure. Altruistic love was associated with greater happiness in general and especially with more marital happiness.

Cancer Proactivity

A recent article in WebMD states 7 steps to prevent the chances of cancer.
1. Don't smoke. If you smoke now, quit, and don't hesitate to seek help with the effort.
2. Lose extra weight.
3. Get regular physical activity.
4. Eat healthfully.
5. Limit unprotected time in the sun.
6. Follow recommendations for cancer screening.
7. Start as soon as possible.
I agree with these, but I am not worried so much about #5 as I feel the hype about the sun is a bit much. Gradual exposure and burn prevention is a good idea. The sun is the best source of vitamin D.

If one adopts a paleo or evolutionary based diet and exercise program, coupled with a carefully planned environment free from pollutants as much as possible will decrease the probabilities of cancer. I believe optimal gene expression occurs and the presence of phytomchemicals and other antioxidants in the diet prevent rogue cellular activity.

Nanotechnology Eradicates Cancer

On my webpage I talk about Kurzweil's concept of the future called "Singularity." This is a convergence of nanotechnology, genetics, and robotics that will allow for a radical change in our existence in many areas including health. Scientists are getting closer to proving Kurzweil correct and today have announced the use of nanoparticles to eradicate cancer cells in mice. I feel that this is a tremendous step and is a powerful reactive resource. Couple this with a proactive lifestyle that includes proper diet and exercise for optimal gene expression and cancer could become much less prevalent and deadly.

Dangers of being like Monk

I love the show "Monk" and although I love to be clean, I do not have OCD and do not wipe my hands upon contact with someone. The body has a very robust immune system, but like most systems in the body, it must be stressed to perform optimally. Want to live long and prosper? Expose yourself to some dirt. Early exposure to dirt has been shown to increase the life of fruit flies by 30%, whereas latter exposure had no effect or was even detrimental. The Monkish War on Bacteria is wrongheaded. The rising incidence of asthma and allergies in the developed (cleaner) world, doctors say, could be tied to the relatively sterile environments our children live in compared to a generation ago. Children not exposed to harmful bacteria, or conversely, given antibiotics to kill bacteria, do not receive the germ workout required to make antibodies. More specifically, they do not develop T-helper cells, which fight foreign cellular invaders and minimize allergies. This has been called the "Pigpen Effect."

Science and Religion-Still Worlds Apart

I love the dynamic tension between Science and Religion; two different approaches to the explanation of "reality. A recent study still indicates a wide chasm that will probably exist for eternity, especially as long as either know little about each other. For some reason, either approach explains well, both are subject to bias, and neither have to be incompatible. We owe our dichotomy of thought to the Greeks and their analytical worldview. Whereas the Hebrew Oriental mind would have no problem with seeming inconsistencies and allow for opposite realities.

Force Field

4-6-06
The Israeli's have developed a "life imitates science-fiction" defense system known as the Trophy APS or Active Protection System. The system has completed hundreds of live test with the Israel Defense Forces and demonstrated effective neutralization of anti-tank rockets and guided missiles, high safety levels, insignificant residual penetration and minimal collateral damage.

Artificial Sweeteners

4-5-06
I use artificial sweeteners, but only in ice tea. I get my "sweets" from fruit and an occasional bite of someone's dessert (of which my body later tells on me). A recent Italian study found that modest amounts of aspartame caused cancer in rats. Naturally this is of concern to me. A huge federal study in people — not rats — takes the fizz out of arguments that the diet soda sweetener aspartame might raise the risk of cancer.No increased risk was seen even among people who gulped down many artificially sweetened drinks a day, said researchers who studied the diets of more than half a million older Americans. A consumer group praised the study, done by reputable researchers independent of any funding or ties to industry groups. The Center for Science in the Public Interest pointed out some potential problems with the study: the people observed in the new study were only 50 to 69 years old. In contrast, the Italian researchers allowed the rats to die a natural death, equivalent to people living into their 80s, 90s, or older. If aspartame only causes cancer in truly elderly people, the new study wouldn't detect a problem. Also, the new study's means of measuring aspartame consumption -- food-frequency questionnaires -- is imprecise. That approach is not capable of detecting small increases in cancer rates.

Numerology

4-4-06
Numbers line up for once-in-a-century moment. Set your digital clock for 01:02:03 on 04/05/06, early Wednesday morning the time and date will be 01-02-03-04-05-06.
“It just happens to be a chronological oddity,” said Geoff Chester, spokesman for the U.S. Naval Observatory, an official world atomic clock timekeeper. “If you were to use the full year, that would screw things up completely. You do have to bend it a little if you want to make it work. That’s what you call ’Finagle’s Law of Best Fit.’”
Even numerologists, such as Rob Ragozzine, who runs the SimplyNumbers.com web site, dismiss the 1-2-3-4-5-6 moment as merely “a neat coincidence” because of that pesky 2006 thing.
We innately try to see patterns, even when there aren't any. It's how our senses function and they serve us well in most instances. But our senses are also a grand source of error. Phenomena such as this is known as numerology.

Neuro-Chips

4-3-06
The line between living organisms and machines has just become a whole lot blurrier. European researchers have developed "neuro-chips" in which living brain cells and silicon circuits are coupled together. Seems Kurzweil's Singularity is closer to reality.

Unhealthy Responses

4-2-06
People who cope with long-term stress by engaging in unhealthy behaviors and lifestyle, may very well alleviate symptoms of stress in the short term, but end up creating significant health problems in the long run. Americans engage in unhealthy behaviors such as comfort eating, poor diet choices, smoking and inactivity to help deal with stress, according to a new national survey. These of course, are just the opposite responses needed. People experiencing stress are more likely to report hypertension, anxiety or depression and obesity. In particular, women report feeling the effects of stress on their physical health more than men. The survey results seem to tie in with what research shows, that 43 percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress. We cannot possibly stem the tide of society or technological advancement, but we can individually make an effort to reduce the mismatch between our ancestral and modern environment. Approximate the 150 person limit by increasing your closeness to extended kin and develop deep friendships. Reduce subjective distress by selecting a mate that is similar and compatible on as many levels as possible thereby reducing jealousy and infidelity and divorce. Cooperation and reciprocity can reduce competitive drives inherent in our psyche. We don't react well in tit-for-tat scenarios. And most importantly: Physical Exercise!

Loneliness

3-31-06
Loneliness kills according to a recent study. Lonely people have blood pressure readings as much as 30 points higher than non-lonely people, said the study leaders Louise Hawkley and Christopher Masi. Blood pressure differences between lonely and non-lonely people were smallest at age 50 and greatest among the oldest people tested. It is not surprising in that we humans are social by nature, and it is a very advantageous adaptation. Dr. Alan Fiske has identified four forms of sociality that we engage in on a daily basis, these are: Communal Sharing, Authority Ranking, Equality Matching, and Market Pricing. Each model increases in complexity and interestingly each corresponds to the four levels of analysis identified by S.S. Stephens: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio.

Grass Fed Beef

3-25-06
Where's the beef? At least the kind that is good for you. I do not eat corn because of the inability of the body to properly digest it and the proteins that are a source of human allergies as well as the high carb content. Unfortunately, most of our beef is fed corn and the meat is fat, marbled, and contains the foreign proteins. Try and eat wild game or grass fed beef.

10% Brain Usage

3-24-06
It is a common myth or urban legend that we only use 10% of our brain. More interesting is that 80% or more of reality is actively held within our brains. I have referred to the movie "The Matrix" in that it brought the question of the nature of reality to audiences all over the world. Radical Constructivism says that the only reality is that which we behold by our senses. Research using adult ferrets by showing the ferrets movie scenes (The Matrix btw.), as well as random static and darkness, the research team was able to compare the change in the timing and spacing of neuron firings in response to visual input. They found patterns in the neuron firings for adult ferrets that were largely missing in infant ferrets. Like human infants, the visual systems of infant ferrets are immature – their eyes do not track moving objects. The researchers attributed the adult brain patterns to the development of visual perception. Interestingly, the majority of the patterns did not depend on the visual input. "This actually makes sense," Weliky said. "The biggest part of perception is taking cues from the outside world and passing them through our recollection." Weliky pondered the philosophical implications of having 80 percent of perception locked in our heads.

Optimism

3-23-06
Research shows that people who are grateful, optimistic and forgiving have better experiences with their lives, more happiness, fewer strokes, and higher incomes. However, happiness is 50 percent genetic, says University of Minnesota researcher David Lykken. What you do with the other half of the challenge depends largely on determination, psychologists agree. As Abraham Lincoln once said, "Most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be."

Sallie Baliunas

3-23-06
Much ado about global warming. Here is an interview that should add more light than heat to the subject (pun intended).
Stars in Her Eyes Astronomer Sallie Baliunas on sunspots, global warming, and the benefits of privately funded science
Interviewed by Virginia Postrel and Steven Postrel
When she became an astronomer, Sallie Baliunas never thought she'd be posing for magazine photos. But her life as a scientist hasn't been a matter of pure research. In her quest to study the stars, she has found herself drawn into the world of entrepreneurship and public policy.
An astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Massachusetts, Baliunas is also the deputy director of the Mount Wilson Institute in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Pasadena, California. She spends about a week a month on the West Coast, using Mount Wilson's historic 100-inch telescope to study "sun-like stars." Baliunas came to the observatory as a graduate student in 1977. On her very first night, a lightning bolt struck a tree outside the dining room. "All the windows in the building were shattered from the shock wave of the tree disintegrating," she recalls. "This was an omen whose meaning was not clear until years later."
In between observing and management, Baliunas can also be found testifying before congressional committees and giving papers at conferences on global climate change--a subject she was drawn to by her research on the sun's fluctuating magnetic field. She is a leading greenhouse skeptic. How, she wondered, could climate models be so specific when we hardly understand the sun or its effect on the earth? Baliunas talked about this and other questions with REASON Editor Virginia Postrel and her husband, Steven Postrel, an economist who teaches business strategy at U.C.-Irvine, under the Mount Wilson dome in late June.

Evolution Deja Vu

3-21-06
If the history of life on Earth could be rewound and replayed, many of the same innovations would reappear, although at different times and in slightly different forms. This is the conclusion of Geerat Vermeij, a paleontologist at the University of California, Davis. Vermeij's views imply that evolution is in some ways predictable and that life on other planets might not be so alien after all. "Some traits are so advantageous under so many circumstances, or arise so relatively easily by virtue of self-organization, that you're likely to see the same things again and again," Vermeij told LiveScience. Among the innovations that evolution might find irresistible: photosynthesis, plant seeds, mineralized bones, intelligence and language.

Happiness

3-20-06
Happiness, perhaps the most sought after emotion. Overall happiness among U.S. residents has not changed much over the years, according to the latest survey by the Pew Research Center that finds 34 percent of adults are very happy.
Among 3,014 telephone respondents, half reported being pretty happy, and 15 percent said they are not too happy.
The survey, released this week, points out several disparities based on lifestyle, beliefs and political persuasion:
Republicans are happier than Democrats.
People who worship frequently are happier than those who don't.
The rich are happier than the poor.
Whites and Hispanics are happier than blacks.
Married people are happier than the unmarried.
Dog owners and cat owners rate the same.
Sunbelt residents are happier than everyone else.

Neo-Freud

3-17-06
For decades, Freudian concepts such as ego, id and repressed desires dominated psychology and psychiatry’s attempts to cure mental illnesses. But better understanding of brain chemistrygradually replaced this model with a biological explanation of how the mind arises from neuronal activity. The latest attempts to piece together diverse neurological findings, however, are leading to a chemical framework of the mind that validates the general sketch Freud made almost a century ago. A growing group of scientists are eager to reconcile neurology and psychiatry into a unified theory. Perhaps trying to put new wine into old wineskins though.

War vs. Peace

3-16-06
I love science and the science of human beginnings. But this area brings out deficiencies in science in what is usually believed to be a reliable source of information and progress. The problem is that ultimately, when presented with evidence, there is no way to remove the human element. Data has to be interpreted by human minds, and of course ones worldview, level of analysis, background knowledge, biases, etc. factor in. Was early man peaceful or warlike? You be the judge.

John D. Barrow

3-15-06
John D. Barrow, professor at Cambridge University was recently awarded the Templeton Prize of $1.4 million for his work on cosmology, including spiritual implications of the Big Bang. I admire a scientist that admits science cannot provide all the answers (nor does religion).

Old Footprints

3-14-06
Evidence from 20,000 year old footprints corroborates short duration, high intensity exertion, methodical heavy lifting in the context of a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Imagine pursuing game at around 19 mph in mud, attacking and killing the game, hauling it back to camp, then feasting on lean high protein meat then playing with your children for a few days before embarking on the next hunt. Surely Paradise was lost after the advent of agriculture.

Jacala

3-13-06
My Aunt and cousins own the oldest family owned Mexican food restaurant in San Antonio:Jacala. The food is awesome as are the frozen Margaritas, so much so that American Airlines features them in their Travelalamode info. The next time you are in town, stop by and feast and tell them Andy sent you.

Sprinting

3-12-06
Over 50 and want to decrease risk for heart disease, reduce fat, build muscle, and slow aging? Run sprints. Ever notice how skinny and "unhealthy" long distance runners look? Then look at wide receivers and sprinters, which would you rather look like? I go to the track periodically and run a maximum of 2.5 K run, and concentrate on sprints. I also like to use grass for the cushioning effect and less stress on the knee joints.

Baldwin-Motion

Baldwin-Motion Camaros soon to be available once again? You don't know that that means? Let's just say, a Baldwin-Motion car is the quintessential "MuscleCar"...takes me back to the late 60's. There has never been, nor will there ever be another period for classic, collectable, romantic inspiring cars.

Dance

3-11-06
Dance an evolutionary adaptive strategy? Seems that way. According to new research, the ability to dance may have been a factor in survival for our prehistoric ancestors, who used their moves to bond and communicate with each other when times were tough. Dancing is a means to show off one's physical fitness and co-ordination, qualities that would have been useful for survival in prehistoric hunter-gatherer societies.

The Longevity Dividend

3-9-06
What would be the large scale benefits of extending not only the quantity and quality of our aged years? The Science of Gerontology answers that question with the "Longevity Dividend," in the form of social, economic, and health bonuses both for individuals and entire populations-a dividend that would begin with generations currently alive and continue for all that follow.

Cavemen Prefer Blondes

3-8-06
Caveman prefer blondes?
Thanks to a food shortage and a man shortage about 10,000 years ago, men were in such demand they had their pick of mates. With so much competition among women to find a mate, nature and evolution kicked in to give some cave women a distinctive look to attract the opposite sex: blond hair and blue eyes. So says a new study published in the British science journal Evolution and Human Behavior.

Dark Chocolate

3-7-06
Want a healthy snack and not feel guilty? Dark chocolate. Researchers say that it can decrease certain diseases by as much as 50%. Refrain from milk chocolate as the cocoa content is less and the sugar and milk ingredients are not healthy.

Supplements

3-5-06
Supplements. What to take? What is effective and what isn't? Recently a report of studies as to the efficacy of certain supplements have come to light. Seems saw palmetto, glucosamine-chondroitin, echinacea, St. John's Wort, were no better than placebos. What do I take? A high dose megavitamin, CoQ10-150mg, Omega 3 fatty acids-2g, alpha lipoic acid-100mg, DHEA-25mg, calcium-2g, vitamin C-3g, gingko biloba-180mg, and glutathione-500mg. All of these have been found to be efficacious. I do take the glucosamine-chondroitin because there are some questions as to the generalizability of the studies to the real world. This is always a conundrum in scientific research.

Reality

3-2-06
One of my favorite movies was "The Matrix." Not for the bullet-time shots or the hot leathers on Carrie Ann-Moss (although both were great) but for the main topic of what is reality? The Wachowski brothers did a lot of research into evolutionary psychology, philosophy, cybernetics, etc. to come up with a great story line. Perhaps the most intriguing question was posed by Morpheus to Neo...what is reality? Is it the world we live in or is it the world we live in inside our heads? The best answer is the latter...and this philosophical approach is called Radical Constructivism. Radical Constructivism - ‘What is radical constructivism? It is an unconventional approach to the problem of knowledge and knowing. It starts from the assumption that knowledge, no matter how it is defined, is in the heads of persons, and that the thinking subject has no alternative but to construct what he or she knows on the basis of his or her own experience. What we make of experience constitutes the only world we consciously live in. It can be sorted into many kinds, such as things, self, others, and so on. But all kinds of experience are essentially subjective, and though I may find reasons to believe that my experience may not be unlike yours, I have no way of knowing that it is the same. The experience and interpretation of language are no exception.’ p.1 - ‘Growing Up Constructivist’, in, ‘Radical Constructivism - A Way of Knowing and Learning’.

Three Areas of Humanness

3-1-06
Why do I emphasize both health, knowledge, and spiritualness as essential for optimal living? You cannot separate these most essential of components and overly emphasize one over the rest. Humans are complex adaptive systems, operating far from equilibrium with emergent qualities that are missed when one takes a reductionist approach of linear analysis. The great bodybuilder Mike Menzter that touted High Intensity workouts, later included philosophy as essential for a more complete athlete. Rawn Joseph believes that the limbic system contains a transmitter to God. Somewhat farfetched but interesting nonetheless.

Zebras Don't Get Ulcers

2-27-06
Attitudes are constructs and are difficult to define. Be that as it may, attitudes are very important for optimal living. Robert Sapolsky makes light of important research in his book "Zebras Don't Get Ulcers" regarding attitude.
"Exercise is stress reducing so long as it is something you actually want to do. Let rats voluntarily run in a running wheel and their health improves in all sorts of ways. Force them to, even while playing great dance music, and their health worsens."
Examine your attitudes and related motivations regarding exercise. If you want to extend as well as improve the quality of your life, "check" your attitude at the door.

USS Kauffman

2-24-06
Milestones in our lives weave a fabric of who we are. Yesterday my oldest son got his assignment after graduation from Annapolis. He will be based in Norfolk and serve duty aboard the USS Kauffman as an Ensign. The Kauffman is a frigate, a small ship used for missile intercept and anti-submarine service. The crew is small with about 17 officers and 230 servicemen. This is a milestone in his life, one that will forever affect his future and who he is. I want to publicly congratulate him and wish him well on his new path to the rest of his life.

Social Code

2-22-06
Evolutionary psychologists have developed the theory that the enduring presence of social exchange interactions among our ancestors has selected for cognitive mechanisms that are specialized for reasoning about social exchange. Reciprocity is an outcome of selection pressures that have led to its selection as being beneficial for adaptation and survival. Here is a most interesting example of reciprocity or social exchange to the extreme: forensic scientists say that Roman Gladiators adhered to a strict code during battles to prevent abuse and gore. I see this same line of thinking played out everyday by our Military. If only our enemy did the same.

Life Extension

2-21-06
Want to extend your life? It was believed that once past a certain age, death genes start to do their dirty work. It is advantageous for organisms past their mating prime to die off. Now it seems rather that death is a wearing out of an organism and this can be slowed. Reduce your calories, slightly stress your body and allow the stress fighting genes to do their thing. Seems that reducing an individual's food consumption by 30 to 40 percent compared with what is considered normal extends your years. Various theories abound, such as the marshalling of Sirtuin enzymes, reduced metabolism, or the reduction of oxidants. Whatever the case, try and reduce your calories and eat only foods, not food products.

Low Carbs

2-19-06
It amazes me that amount of controversy that Dr. Atkins generated with his low carb diet plan. Conventional nutritionists touted low fat diets and high carbs as an approach to health. Sports nutritionists touted high carbohydrate intake as protein sparing, thereby leaving protein for muscle repair. The Paleolithic Era was one of a scarcity of carbs. The highest concentration of carbohydrates would have come from a beehive, and we know that that would have not been a daily source. Soon the "fad" has faded, but research still indicates for weight loss and health, low carb diets work. Remember that the brain requires approximately 120 g of carbohydrates for proper mental functioning. Intake of less than that involves the conversion of protein into carbs for brain fuel. So always eat slightly less than 120 grams and you will maintain an ideal weight and level of fat.

Memes

2-17-06
All the recent unrest in the world due to offensive cartoons is a good example of Memetic transmission. Ideas can be spread like genetic DNA with its own variation and selection, but at a much faster pace. Ideas can outstrip our biological development, especially given today's rapid communication technology. This can have disastrous consequences as variation can occur at the individual and group level while selection pressures do not necessarily weed out "bad ideas." Memes can survive, and yet be false but because they have survived long enough to be perceived as true. What is the best selection pressure we can use on memes? Critical thinking.

2-16-06
I workout using both crossfit and the more typical bodybuilding approaches to fitness. I strive for balance and an overall "fit" or symmetrical look. This is evolutionary and subconscious, and science has new information to say about why looking symmetrical is attractive. Symmetrical men are perceived to be fit for producing quality offspring, providing for the offspring, more attractive, and even smell better. It's all in the game called Love and the bottom line is: "Good parenting, devotion, and sexual fidelity—that's what people say they're looking for in a long-term relationship."

Chemical Toxicity

2-15-06
It is amazing, the human body. Genetically we are Paleolithics, but living in a Modern Period environment. Ever since the Neolithic Period, we as humans have been ever operating on the environment, exposing us to more and more foreign elements that we did not adapt to during our genetic evolution simply because they did not exist. Ever wonder why you can't keep your windshield clean? I had no problems with my 1966 Chevy pickup, but I do now with my 2003 Toyota. One word: chemicals; toxic ones at that. Seems the plastic interiors are toxic, unlike my Chevy pickup with an all metal interior. Be sure and ingest plenty of quality foods with antioxidants and vitamins to boost your immune system, we are bombarded from every direction, some you least expect.

Happy Valentine's Day

2-14-06
Happy Valentine's Day! Love is an adapted emotion that has helped to insure reproduction of our species. It is one of, if not the most powerful emotion in our cognitive repertoire. Psychologists distinguish between compassionate and passionate love. Romantic love is an intense attraction that involves the idealization of the other person and that is expected to endure over time. Yet, romantic love may be short-lived. Compassionate love is based on admiration and respect. It is the passionate love that is initially felt at the beginning of a relationship, it acts as a magnet and it begins with visual contact. It makes for euphoric episodes and depressed bouts as one deals with successes and failures with a potential mate. Men developed an interest in sex with multiple partners in order to maximize the likelihood of passing on their genes; women seek a good provider. Definitely a stark difference in mating strategies and one that is anachronistic and out of place in today's thoroughly modern world. What can we learn from this? Try and find a mate that evokes the passion that we all innately desire, and yet over time the compassionate love that will last a lifetime.

Cheater Detection

2-11-06
Evolution of "reciprocal altruism." An interesting evolutionary theory of social interaction in that a beneficial gesture to an individual is expected to be reciprocated (return the favor). EP (evolutionary psychology) believes that our brains are modular, comprised of many "mini-computers" or algorithms each selected and passed on for their value in survival and reproduction. Selection will favor the detection module of moralistic failure and "distrusting those who perform altruistic acts without the emotional basis of generosity or guilt because the altruistic tendencies of such individuals may be less reliable in the future". In other words, those that do unto others inappropriately will be detected, noted, and remembered as less than reliable in the future.

Free Will

2-10-06
I witnessed a discussion on free will vs. determinism last night. Interesting dichotomy, but there was much more heat than light shed on the subject. My take is this: Free Will is not subject to the linear mechanistic theories of the 19th century Naive Realism (Benjamin's Libet's 300 millisecond delayed consciousness experiments). Instead, Free Will can only be explained by the same template that explains Relativity and Quantum Mechanics: Randomness and Emergence. Ironically, it is Determinism that is illusory, not Free Will.

Mate Attraction

2-8-06
With no mention of evolutionary theory, research is nonetheless consistent with it in that those that make the best mates are those that share the most similarities rather than dissimilarities. In today's modern complex environment that is most important because we are first attracted to each other by visual cues, then personalities.

Annapolis

2-5-06
Because of certain story elements such as fraternization, hazing, and violence, as well as misconduct without accountability, the movie "Annapolis" was not endorsed by the Dept. of Defense nor the Naval Academy itself. However, despite the inaccuracies, the movie did portray some aspects of life at the Naval Academy.

King David's Palace

2-4-06
I loved the Indiana Jones movies. I guess if I had it to do over again I would have loved to have been an anthropologist/archaeologist/professor. My main area of interest would have been the Middle East. Recently, Dr. Mazar has possibly found the ancient site of King David's Palace. What a find!

Evolutionary Mating Strategies

2-2-06
Love is a many splintered thing. Evolution has passed different mating strategies to males and females. Males look for ideal BMI (body mass index), facial symmetry, and hip to waist ratio. All of these indicate good genetics and parasite resistance and the ideal mate to insure the survival of the male's genes. Females also look for biological cues for health, but importantly also social status and the ability to provide due to the parental investment of 9 months of gestation and several years of child care.

Glutathione

2-1-06
I took advantage of a great deal at the grocery store yesterday, the Kiwi fruit was really cheap. But that is not the main reason for the purchase. Glutathione is the reason. This is the master anti-oxidant and Kiwi contains it naturally. I do recommend supplementing the diet with glutathione and I obtain mine from a respected source: HMP Science.

Objective Politics

1-29-06
Democracy is imperfect, but all other systems are worse. We all err and as Karl Popper has said, the goal is to err less and less. I tend to err on the conservative side politically and yet I want to think Optimally when it comes to politics. In my estimation, I think that liberals are the most intolerant although touting the "tolerance mantra." I am not really that interested in error and I would rather be given accurate facts and make my own decisions. One such site that I recommend is FactCheck.org.

Serendipity

1-24-06
Serendipity....I just love that movie...a fortunate accident is how Sara Thomas defines it for Jonathan Trager. This is how I feel much of research is conducted without an overarching template or theory to guide direction. For instance, research has shown that exercise can improve the level of functioning for the depressed...wow what a revelation! (tongue in cheek). There was no mention whatsoever of why this would be, just that it is (many feel that this is scientific neutrality and objectivity). I would apply the template of evolution and our environment of evolutionary adaptedness to the question. It should be a given that our bodies are genetically dispositioned for exertion to survive and a depressed individual that could not would be at risk. But a downside is that when a paradigm guides research, it is very difficult to stray from its confines thereby limiting possibilities.

Dynamical System

1-23-06
Envision yourself as dynamical system, not as a machine. It is too easy to make this analogy such as garbage in-garbage out, or expend more calories than taken in. As a dynamical system, the system is purposive and goal oriented. These goals can be psychological such as motivation, or physiological such as homeostasis. Don't just concentrate on calories, instead concentrate on quality of intake and energy expenditure. Foods should be nutrient rich and calorie light. Intake of foods with phytochemicals and antioxidants are to be desired. Free radicals age us and ultimately kill us.

Geometrical Innateness

1-20-06
Here is a great article on innate human geometrical capacity. Not surprising to me given that pattern recognition and navigation would be essential for survival. Although not mentioned specifically, this research is indicative of an excellent method for researching human universals. These universals would more than likely be biological rather than cultural. In the great nature vs. nuture debate, one important fact needs to be kept in mind, that culture is totally limited by the limits of the mind. It is not as if these are co-equals.

Chaotic Patterns

1-19-06
Our bodies are subject to the laws of the universe as is all matter, but I speak not only of the laws of Newton, but also chaotic, non-linear laws. Most bodybuilders adhere to the divide and conquer mindset as most reductionist approaches do and never vary techniques or randomize their schedule (3 times a week is the mantra). Today at lunchtime, I varied my usual crossfit wholistic approach and did the divide and conquer, I isolated the body parts. Whole, part, whole is how our brains learn the quickest and most thorough, why not the body as well? I followed up with some 50 and 100 yard sprints this afternoon. Our bodies respond to high intensity short duration loads by secreting growth hormone. I only ate beef protein afterwards to prevent bloodsugar spiking and insulin secretion which squelches the growth hormone.

Exercise benefits

1-17-06
Recent studies indicate that exercise reduces dementia, a moderate amount of exercise boosts the immune system, chronic levels of stress can compromise our immune system and increase our susceptibility to infection and I believe bone and muscle degeneration. Jogging for more than a couple of miles....don't do it. Rather sprint...lope for a half a mile...walk...stay healthy.

Rock Climbing

1-15-06
Went with my son's Scout troop last night for an all night rock climbing at a climbing gym. It was great exercise and a mental challenge as well. I actually outclimbed even the youth on a difficult decline. Flexibility and upper body strength were essential. One of the instructors told me that many arthritis sufferers benefit from the climbing as well. My Mom suffers from arthritis and how I wish I could go back in time and overhaul her diet and exercise. Arthritis is an autoimmune disease, but it makes no biological sense for the body to attack itself. Rather I believe it is the introduction of foreign chemicals or proteins from the diet as the major cause. The substances are similar to body tissues and the immune system cannot discriminate and ends up attacking the body.

Fat Tissue

1-12-06
Scary stuff is this stuff called fat. Fat tissue “is not like an inert storage depot — it’s a very dynamic organ that is actually producing hormones and chemical messengers,” said Dr. JoAnn Manson, chief of preventive medicine at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital. These substances can damage blood vessels, increase the risk of blood clots and cause insulin resistance that makes people prone to diabetes — all without elevating blood pressure or cholesterol, said Manson. Reminds me of cancer...

Ancestral Environment

1-3-06
To vary my routine and keep my system off balance I went to the track this evening after dark and wore a t-shirt and shorts to expose myself to the cool elements. I ran wind sprints to tax my major leg muscles and stimulate the production of growth hormone. I followed that up with Tabata squats (alternating squats with rest 20/10 second cycles) then pullups and dips. It felt good to move under the stars and breathe the fresh cool air. Getting back to the elements and trying to approximate our ancestral environment.

I am transferring my old posts from the website to this blogger and I'll include the original dates.