Cat--Adenoid Hynkel was the dictator of Tomania in Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator Among his allies was Benzino Napaloni of Bacteria. AH didn't have Twitter, but used public loudspeakers to similar effect . Neanderthals reminds me: Alan, have you read Robert J. Sawyer's Neanderthal Parallax trilogy? Can't say as I have heard of it.
The Neanderthal Parallax trilogy (a true trilogy, not a three-volume novel) is about an alternate history in which Neanderthals rather than "modern humans" persisted to the present day. Some interesting thoughts about alternative ways to organize society, with much lower global population than we have, but I didn't find it interesting enough to read beyond the first novel.
There's a portal between our world and the Neanderthals', though I don't just now recall how Ponter, the Neanderthal hero of our story, initially came to cross through it. I enjoyed the trilogy, though the details of the story line are now vague enough that perhaps a reread is in order.
Hey, while you're bantering about Neanderthals, please know that my DNA was found to have 301 Neanderthal variants, which is more than 84% of the people who had their DNA tested. Wil has 312 / ^93% and our Youngest has 315 / ^94%. It could explain why Youngest was 10lb, 1oz at birth.
California, like many states, used to have a Senate with one Senator from each county. That gave rural areas far more power than cities. Then the US Supreme Court said that was illegal for states--it had to be one person one vote, and now the rural senatorial districts are huge. And big cities dominate both houses of the Legislature.
And Illinois also has single-Senator districts of approximately equal population. Vermont seems to have accomplished the same goal by varying the number of Senators elected from each county, with all a county's Senators elected at-large.
I can’t help but think of Hitchiker’s Guide to The Galaxy, where Ford Prefect introduces Zaphod Beeblebrox to Arthur Dent and says they share four of the same seven mothers…
Vermont doesn't "vary" the number of Senators "by county," it is based on population. So a county with more people in it has more senators. Makes sense.
Planning for 500,000 (on a par with the Women’s March and Trump’s inauguration) in DC March 24th. 2,000 chairs 14 Jumbotrons Venue undecided; a film crew had reserved the Mall. “…now focusing on alternate locations for the event, including Pennsylvania Avenue and West Potomac Park.” “…a march away from federal property would require a permit from D.C. police. A D.C. police spokesman said organizers have applied for an event permit with the city…” “The National Park Service permit application was filed by Deena Katz, … co-executive producer of ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ who was brought in by students to plan the event.”
They don't mess around, do they? I think it's marvelous. If nothing else, it's good hands on experience for them. Not that they will make a whit of difference, of course, but in the coming few years all these kids will be becoming eligible to vote, and they will remember who helped and encouraged them and who stonewalled them.
I just read these two posts aloud to Wil. We are both deeply heart warmed and encouraged by the verve of these young people! They do NOT mess around. And I agree with everything you said, Catreona!!!
Bob Keefer, who writes for the Eugene Weekly and lives in Oregon, writes that he is running for governor of Kansas, citing the state’s lack of restrictions on who can run for the office. His campaign slogan: “We’re not in Kansas anymore.”
It IS nice to see people get their due. There were a couple of linked articles in sidebars that were interesting, too; one showing that modern humans made it all the way to China long before they made it into Europe (reason=??) and another speculating that Neanderthals might have contracted tropical diseases from modern humans, and died as a result (either direct or indirect).
Cat--Adenoid Hynkel was the dictator of Tomania in Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator Among his allies was Benzino Napaloni of Bacteria. AH didn't have Twitter, but used public loudspeakers to similar effect
ReplyDelete.
Neanderthals reminds me: Alan, have you read Robert J. Sawyer's Neanderthal Parallax trilogy? Can't say as I have heard of it.
The Neanderthal Parallax trilogy (a true trilogy, not a three-volume novel) is about an alternate history in which Neanderthals rather than "modern humans" persisted to the present day. Some interesting thoughts about alternative ways to organize society, with much lower global population than we have, but I didn't find it interesting enough to read beyond the first novel.
DeleteThere's a portal between our world and the Neanderthals', though I don't just now recall how Ponter, the Neanderthal hero of our story, initially came to cross through it. I enjoyed the trilogy, though the details of the story line are now vague enough that perhaps a reread is in order.
DeleteHey, while you're bantering about Neanderthals, please know that my DNA was found to have 301 Neanderthal variants, which is more than 84% of the people who had their DNA tested. Wil has 312 / ^93% and our Youngest has 315 / ^94%. It could explain why Youngest was 10lb, 1oz at birth.
DeleteCalifornia, like many states, used to have a Senate with one Senator from each county. That gave rural areas far more power than cities. Then the US Supreme Court said that was illegal for states--it had to be one person one vote, and now the rural senatorial districts are huge. And big cities dominate both houses of the Legislature.
ReplyDeleteAlan
And Illinois also has single-Senator districts of approximately equal population. Vermont seems to have accomplished the same goal by varying the number of Senators elected from each county, with all a county's Senators elected at-large.
DeleteI can’t help but think of Hitchiker’s Guide to The Galaxy, where Ford Prefect introduces Zaphod Beeblebrox to Arthur Dent and says they share four of the same seven mothers…
Delete--Alan
That's right. They're semi cousins.
DeleteMight "four of the same seven mothers" refer to DNA lineage?
DeleteVermont doesn't "vary" the number of Senators "by county," it is based on population. So a county with more people in it has more senators. Makes sense.
DeleteRick Gates is expected to plead guilty as soon as Friday afternoon[Click]
ReplyDeleteRussia Investigation Preventing Kushner’s Clearance[Click]
How long will white women continue to vote Republican?[Click]
“Support for Donald Trump among white women is cratering.” Works for me.
—Alan
March For Our Lives approaching 2.2 megabucks.
ReplyDeletePlanning for 500,000 (on a par with the Women’s March and Trump’s inauguration) in DC March 24th.
2,000 chairs
14 Jumbotrons
Venue undecided; a film crew had reserved the Mall. “…now focusing on alternate locations for the event, including Pennsylvania Avenue and West Potomac Park.” “…a march away from federal property would require a permit from D.C. police. A D.C. police spokesman said organizers have applied for an event permit with the city…”
“The National Park Service permit application was filed by Deena Katz, … co-executive producer of ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ who was brought in by students to plan the event.”
—Alan
They don't mess around, do they? I think it's marvelous. If nothing else, it's good hands on experience for them. Not that they will make a whit of difference, of course, but in the coming few years all these kids will be becoming eligible to vote, and they will remember who helped and encouraged them and who stonewalled them.
DeleteI just read these two posts aloud to Wil. We are both deeply heart warmed and encouraged by the verve of these young people! They do NOT mess around. And I agree with everything you said, Catreona!!!
DeleteMueller’s scorecard nicely summarized toward the end of this report that Gates is to plead guilty.[Click] UPDATE; THE DEED IS DONE: Gates pleads guilty.[Click]
ReplyDeleteBob Keefer, who writes for the Eugene Weekly and lives in Oregon, writes that he is running for governor of Kansas, citing the state’s lack of restrictions on who can run for the office. His campaign slogan: “We’re not in Kansas anymore.”
Today We March, Tomorrow We Vote![Click] High school student voter registration drive for 2018 elections.
—Alan
Hope this link works.
ReplyDeleteThe N.R.A. Lobbyist Behind Florida’s Pro-Gun Policies
Alan, thanks for the Neanderthal article--twas lovely.
ReplyDeleteIt IS nice to see people get their due. There were a couple of linked articles in sidebars that were interesting, too; one showing that modern humans made it all the way to China long before they made it into Europe (reason=??) and another speculating that Neanderthals might have contracted tropical diseases from modern humans, and died as a result (either direct or indirect).
DeleteAlan
It occurs to me that a some old descriptors might be recycled to good effect today; here are two suggestions:
ReplyDeletemerchants of death
lunatic fringe
-Alan
Advice, NRA Style
ReplyDeleteAsk The NRA -n Click