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Covering the Front and Back Pages of the Newspaper
April 11, 2008
SCIENCE: Monkeyball
Even monkey boys and girls play with different toys. This will require some explaining among the "it's all society's fault" crowd. Which is not to say that similar behavior in human children isn't influenced by social conditioning. But the argument has always been that that conditioning is somehow creating artificial constructs from whole cloth, or running against the genetic grain of our natural instincts. If social conditioning is working with instincts that are already there, well, there's no reason to think there's anything wrong with that. Comments
Or maybe sexist monkey culture is just perpetuating stereotypes. :) In all seriousness, cultures of both humans and monkeys pass along to future generations the things that have been proven to work over centuries of testing. There's nothing wrong with individuals wanting to do otherwise, but there is a pretty good reason things are as they are. Posted by: Jerry at April 11, 2008 9:04 PMWere these monkeys from small towns, in Pennsylvania or the Midwest? If so it's not surprising that they get bitter and act this way to express their frustrations. Posted by: abe at April 11, 2008 9:07 PMNow we'll REALLY find out if Obama is a different kind of politician. Clinton and McCain (and their surrogates in the MSM), can make believe they care about middle America all they want. Go ahead. Make believe that the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and financial institutions (like Bear Stearns) are eating corn dogs and judging heifers on Saturday night. I'll be over here, laughing at your naivte. Resist the temptation to reply to the phony "fainting couch" whiners, Barry. They know what you said is true. They're just sucking-up to a group of people they make believe they care about for show. Posted by: Robert in BA at April 12, 2008 3:21 AMPlease identify the "it's all society's fault" crowd. Or is this another conservative straw man argument? Posted by: steve at April 12, 2008 12:59 PMRobert, you are aware that a refusal to disavow those condescending and dismissive remarks will cost him the nomination, yes? He can stand his ground, if so he will watch Hillary lock horns with McCain. His comments clearly paint him an elitist prick. Most politicians are, they just have the sense to keep such thoughts close to the vest. He is giving away battleground states, nice strategy for losing. Posted by: abe at April 12, 2008 2:21 PMNow we'll REALLY find out if Obama is a different kind of politician.
I think we've seen one or two of those before. And one is currently in the White House. Doesn't quite seem like the death knell abe makes it out to be. Posted by: Robert in BA at April 12, 2008 3:52 PMOkay, so you agree that Obama's a prissy snob. And you think that that'll work for him. Gotcha. Posted by: tsmonk at April 12, 2008 4:31 PM"Hendrickson was introducing former President Bill Clinton. "I normally just come and talk about President Clinton and Senator Clinton at these, but today Senator Obama was out at a fundraiser at I guess a brie and chardonnay crowd in San Francisco," Hendrickson said. "But his quote talking about small towns in Pennsylvania -- and which applies to small towns across eastern North Carolina -- which is why it is relevant to this tour we are doing today. And his quote is 'and it is not surprising that they cling to guns and religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them, or anti-immigrant or anti-trade as a way to explain their frustration.' "I listened to that quote and I got mad," Hendrickson said, "and I wanted to reach out to Senator Obama and say senator, we are from the rural part of eastern North Carolina. We are very proud of our heritage, we are proud of who we are. We are not frustrated. We are not bitter. We turn to our faith because we believe, and we hunt and fish because it is part of our culture and we enjoy it. " That's the Clinton campaign, just way til the GOP tees off. He was making progress in PA, that's badly fumbled away. He supports the electability argument Hillary has been using to pressure the super delegates. At a minimum he ensures the race does not end before the convention. It's all bad Robert, no way to spin but thanks for trying. Posted by: abe at April 12, 2008 6:31 PMHe spit in the face of the voters he needs to be elected. Get real, between his Rev, wife, of his own words he has made it clear he looks down upon the non african working man. All politicians are elitist bastards, but the pros keep it to themselves. Dude is the same old, and not ready for prime time. McCain will take MI, PA, and Ohio on these comments. Regardless of the "accuracy" of his comments they pose a serious challenge to his claim of electablity. If you want to argue that a not ready for prime time player will improve our dismal state of affairs, fine. But mocking the social, religious, and recreational activities of the working class hurts Obama's run. Period. Well, the monkey story is interesting. I'm no animal psychologist, but as a guy who works in science, I'd like to see it replicated. That would add credence to any conclusions we might draw on the science. As to the off-topic conversation about BO's remarks in SF, I'm not surprised. He is what he is, and if anyone was surprised, I hope it's because they never expected him to needlessly annoy people whose votes he needs. Such things tend to happen when you are full of yourself and think that your excrement is without characteristic odor. I don't like it because it is elitist, the Roberts in BA will defend it, and BO will keep saying things like this. I'm hoping the voters take notice. Posted by: NRA Life Member at April 12, 2008 8:55 PMI'll take Barry in this contest vs. any Republican. Our children really broke down by gender. The boys played with trucks; the girls with dolls. Then came #5, she played with trucks. Of course, she used them to move her dolls. Posted by: soccer dad at April 14, 2008 11:08 AM
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