Ya, John Lennon said Nothing is real. John also sung to Julia, "Half of what I say is meaningless" I'm not knocking anyone, but is that any better than adg?
Only Music can tell you what is worth thinking as real.
Number Nine said that one.

I hope the second coming of the redman ain't waiting on Blunderville.
See ya from time to time, But i jsut suscribe to Ann Caulter's weekly email, and Have got so much shit from the right. That I'll be busy for months, blasting back at them for beating the gospel into the ground. I hope you all join me.
Bye Bye
Number Nine from a beloved Abbey Road Condo in Lemon-Minister 01453 where Johnny Appleseed was Born. If only the fruits of big-a-tree didn't drive me out of Fortys Club. Just another vesion of Dylans Hurracaine, for I was ready to take on the New England 9-ball circuit again.

See ya in a couple of months, but maybe the Redman can't wait.

All this time I thought Lennon said "meaning less" rather than "meaningless", which is to say that "meaning less" would still mean something, just somewhat less, as opposed to "meaningless" meaning that it means nothing at all. But then, again, he was only talking about "half" of what he said meaning less (how much less was not specified), which would mean that some undetermined amount under 50% of what he said would mean less, as opposed to 50% of what he said would mean nothing at all. Know what I mean?

But if you took the two Lennon phrases ("Nothing is real." and "Half of what I say is meaning less {or meaningless}.") and combined them, then "meaningless" would mean that only half of nothing would be real, unless you took it to mean "meaning less", in which case either somewhat more that half would be real or somewhat less, depending on your point of view. However, as half of nothing is, .....well....nothing, then it's a moot point, isn't it? What does it all mean?

Good luck with Ann, Leo. She's real creepy! Eeeuu! She'll probably eat your brain like that guy Sylar on "Heroes"! Into the bowels of the Underworld went Leo!

Zap, I just want you to know how I am always inspired by your logical intuition but occasionally your reasoning capacity leaves me stupified, I don't want you to think this means anything less than I bow at your ability to create artistic bull shit as in the post that proceeds this truly unworthy attempt!

It wasn't bullshit! I truly meant that Ann Coulter would eat Leo's brain!

Zap, that is some picture you have painted in my brain. Poor Leo! Nothing can save him now! I miss him. If nothing else, his absence makes me Chief Psycho Ward candidate on the Group W Bench! A dubious distinction!

Actually, I put on my buffalo mask and reconnoitered, Leo just might feel at home over there! They have some guy rattling on and on about old Dan and Revelation and the end days and its all very serious like a science project!

I haven't been "over there" yet. But I feel a strange pull to check it out. Maybe with Coyote's mask? Heh, heh!

I found another one of those mysterious texts this morning?


“Non-Darwinian” evolution is a descriptor of the theory of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) as opposed to vertical gene transfer (VGT) which is well known from its infamous survival of the fittest moniker. The test case application of HGT is as a refutation of the set in stone hypothesis of the genetic code and the extreme conservation of the translation machinery of the code (Why is it so universal in the biological realm?). The development of molecular biology and the subsequent structured analysis of the sequence data of various organisms in terms of conserved and non-conserved regions have resulted in an impressive evolutionary map throughout the Kingdoms of Life. However, in very significant cases, VGT or “Darwinian” evolutionary principles have failed in describing observations of reality. As a result, HGT (Non-Darwinian Evolutionary Theory) has been hypothesized to fill the void. In the great scheme of things it is based on a common theme in biology, the statistical equalizer, a mechanism known as feedback control. The idea is that HGT is the anti-VGT of the biological world, and it functions by acting as the voice of the community opposed to the voice of the individual when selective pressures are encountered by a population.

It is really quite simple to visualize, the voice of VGT is to say we have a better chance if we (as a genome sharing consortium, or in the case of evolving from intra to interspecies, a sub set of a genome sharing consortium) cut the cord and move in a vertical direction into a new physical existence (maybe go to a new island or planet). The cord cutting is actually creating barriers to genome sharing. The voice of HGT is to say well that is an interesting proposition and it could be what we want to do but the question is can we incorporate this new information into what we have as a genomic base and use it to strengthen us within. Depending on your ability to grasp the abstract, you should recognize that HGT or Non Darwinian evolution, if its true, becomes the more predominant form of evolution in the biosphere. In its base fundamental molecular interpretation it provides an explanation for the conservation of the genetic code throughout all Kingdoms of Life. If you look at a separate node in the great wavelength of existence or as the old folk gospel song goes (singing the bass and the soprano in unison):

Ezekiel saw a little wheel
Way in the middle of the air
Ezekiel saw a big wheel
Way on up in the middle of the air

And the little wheel runs by faith
And the big wheel runs
By the grace of God

There is a wheel within a wheel
Way in the middle of the air

It explains why sex evolved!

In the practical realm this new theory of evolution can help us (humans) understand the interaction between the microbes in our gut (up to 10% of our body mass with the gut lining being our largest and most complex interactive surface we possess as individuals with our environment) and our long term health. The advent of molecular biology and its application to the gut over the past 25 years makes it clear that lines of species are blurred when you consider this bacterial mass we carry within us. Although there are many organisms that are quite distinct in structure and form they possess an uncanny ability to transfer and share genomic information. It is this blurring of species lines by genomic transfer and the seemingly obvious application of HGT within this population that has resulted in the disconcerting genesis and spreading of antibiotic resistance at that human / microbe interface.

To me, the conceptual abstraction of evolutionary theory is a tool of the trade and has nothing to do with monkeys or humans, that controversy is a bunch of useless shouting in the distance. Nobody has ever been able to point to the actual part of the Bible that says it’s a sin to use these tools. In fact, all these people finger pointing and saying God is insulted by such abstract mystical approaches to reality as biology and physics seem far more restrictive of God’s true MAGNIFICENCE than those who are in awe of what they uncover in the scientific meditations.

Remember, the care and maintenance of that population of microorganisms in your gut can directly impact your health (eat your oatmeal and feed your Bifido’s).

Zap, I am going to borrow your Coyote mask and take it over there! If I don't make it back I want all you guys to know I Love You!!!! (You too Leo!)

I went "over there" for a look-see and didn't see anything of much interest to me. Although, I reckon if I'd looked longer, I could have found something to make mischief with. You'll get back okay, PSB. Coyote always does.

As to you last post, any examples of HGT as opposed to VGT? I don't see why there can't be both. "Directional" properties are sometimes applied to intelligence. Usually, learning is building upon something: one's prior experience, a reaction to stimuli, the knowledge of others, etc. That could be called vertical learning. Lateral, or if you'd like horizontal, thinking is described as taking acquired knowledge and applying it to a similar (but not necessarily so) situation. Don't know if that's like comparing apples and oranges, but I don't see why the same directional properties can't apply to genetics and evolution. Heck, there could even be some diagonals in there as well.

And, finally, while we're on theories, I heard some time ago that Ezekiel's wheel could have been an extraterrestrial craft. The wheel within the wheel, a shuttle craft (or captain's yacht?)

That could explain how hemp evolved:

"Whoa! What was that? Look! There's like a big wheel up in the middle of the air, man!" (inhale...hold....exhale) .....Biblical dude.

"That was a UFO beamin' back atchya!" .....George Hanson (Jack Nicholson) from "Easy Rider"

http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/news_stories/ne ... cfm?ID=274

Here is some info on my buddy Carl if you are interested. I am published with this guy for my work on Syntrophic Bacteria. its his Theory!

Vertical includes the diagonal. As far as brain stuff did you ever read Dennett, Darwins Dangerous Idea is of particular interest! As far as examples I am stickling with the conserved nature of the codon, bacteria to humans use the same code, why? Ah ha HGT!

I couldn't help playing Coyote once I went over!

Well, that was interesting. On a side bar, there's the theory that mitochondria (the so called "powerhouse" of the cell) developed from an organisms that may have been enveloped (but not digested) by larger organisms, the latter providing nutrients for the former and the former providing ATP to the larger cell. Blah, blah....evolution ...more blah, blah = cells and more complicated (or complex) stuff (how's that for lay men's terms?). So, instead of being one big "lump o' organism" we're one big "lump o' lots o' organisms", no (some of who have done the sideways evolution thingy)?

Mitochondria have their own independent-of-the-cell DNA and the ability to reproduce themselves within the cell and their numbers are related to the needs of the particular cell(s). They also seem to be passed on (in animal species, where it applies) through mostly maternal (egg) cells due to them being the "fuel" for the wee sperm guys' tails a waggin' to get where they're going. Most of that gets used up by the time the one and only little feller makes to the egg ("I just swam in from the testes and boy, is my tail tired!" .... Henny Youngman's sperm cell).

PSB! What have you done to me?

Its like Reggae with a lot of delay and echo on the PA:

You would have thought this debate on inherent creation versus directed creation would have been settled once and for all by the mitochondia/chloroplast endosymbiont data (I would have thought).

Who is to say that inherent creation was not directed to do so?

If man can program computers, can God not program cells?

These are questions, not answers by the way.

ah but Larry that gets back to the energy flow through life and ordered structure out of randomness and it all boils down to

I agree with You: they are just questions not answers and what is the sound of one hand claping?

whooooosshhhhhhhh. if it's fast enough..............

Then who created the creator? Who programmed the god? Time for a theological Mobius strip?