hermitcrab

You obviously didn't have access to a Mac SE. ;0)

I like the 'certified clank free' logo. It that a standard thing now?

That default style is very recognizable. I am seeing it everywhere.

I guess it is like the early days of wordprocessing, where you saw Comic Sans everywhere.

I like the pop art style. But what is she going to do with that soldering iron - stick it up her nose?

I tried something along the same lines, but not just for size:

http://howmanyelephants.co.uk/

60! is more than the number of atoms in the observable universe. This is why wedding seating plans are hard. ;0)

I don't think so. But it isn't my area of expertise.

Have you studied evolution, or is this your own theory?

Groups like MSF go and provide medical without trying to control or religiously convert people.

I think it got a lot of criticism because it was very wide ranging and some experts felt that Diamond was encroaching on their turf. Also it made a lot of sales, which probably provoked some envy. IIRC (some years since I read the book) Diamond made clear that a lot of the ideas were speculative.

>evolution is selecting for survival of the species, not the individual

I believe that is wrong. Selection works on the level of the individual and their genes. Dawkins covered this extensively in at least one of his books. Any professional biologists care to comment?

Still sounds horrible.

I'm sure it is lots of factors, not just environment/geography.

No.

>Environmental Determinism is the ultimate racism.

Diamond says that the reasons Europeans colonised South America (rather than vice versa) is largely due to geographic factors, not due to any inherent genetic superiority of European over South Americans. I don't see how that is racist. Quite the opposite.

I read it in an article that was talking about the application of game theory to biology/evolution and I believe it is well supported by evidence. But I can't remember the source.

>Do you see diversity of cultures with different levels of development on the planet as a problem?

When a more 'advanced' group use their wealth, technology, medicine etc to control a less developed group - yes that can be a problem.

The environment makes a very real difference to what outcomes are possible/likely. It is hard to create a complex society if there is little food surplus and no real way to store food long term.

People have been saying nasty things about neighbouring groups since forever.

I read somewhere that the famous tall stilt houses were now mostly made to attract tourists.

Probably not, but there is a massive imbalance of power between white missionaries with the trappings of the modern world and indigenous people.

Would love to hear some of the wild stories...

You can easily kill someone with a fire-hardened pointed stick or a wooden club, if you really want to. I think it is just that they don't want to.

Sometimes this sort of ritualised combat is a way for young men to show off their bravery without too much chance getting killed. Probably also helps with tribal cohesion. And I assume reduce the chance of full-on, lets kill everyone in the tribe, violence between groups.

>Most intra-species fighting is not designed to end in murder

That depends a lot on scarcity. If you are a male and you only get one chance at mating, you will probably fight to the death. If you will get plenty of other chances, then you might accept the results of a ritualised non-lethal combat (e.g. giraffes headbutting each other, rather than kicking). Its just evolution + game theory.

Fascinating read. I also found the stuff about PNG very interesting in Jared Diamond's 'Guns Germs and Steel'. IIRC he said you could trade and marry with the the tribes in the next valley. But if you want 2 valleys away, they would likely kill you.

I hear 'The Act of Killing' is an amazing film. But I am not sure if I can bring myself to watch it.

President Bush (snr) was nearly eaten by Japanese soldiers:

https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryMemes/comments/qr1zth/in_sep...

(before he was president!)

Apparently cannibalism after sea disasters was considered acceptable, as long as there was a fair lottery!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannibalism_at_sea

I hope that any company that is an AI running autonomously advertises the fact, so I know not to use them.