Posts by Diogenesister

31

Evolution is a Fact #5 - Vitamin C

by cofty in

part 1 - protein functional redundancypart 2 - dna functional redundancypart 3 - ervspart 4 - smelly genes.

in part 4 we saw that roughly half of the 800 genes in the human genome that code for olfactory receptors are broken remnants of our evolutionary history.

they were vital to our distant ancestors but in humans, as in our primate cousins they have been allowed to fall into disuse as our eyes became more important to our survival than our nose.

Diogenesister

Pale.Emperor I remember visiting the natural history museum in New York and not being able to explain away the skulls that clearly didnt belong to any modern human or gorilla or monkey

Isn't it incredible that when you look at them, even as a lay person with zero knowledge of anatomy and physiology, it's plain to see they are neither ape nor human skulls....but something else altogether, yet at the same time very obviously closely related.

Breathtaking to see them in the flesh, so to speak*.

Edit*I believe they are often copies the real thing being too precious.

31

Evolution is a Fact #5 - Vitamin C

by cofty in

part 1 - protein functional redundancypart 2 - dna functional redundancypart 3 - ervspart 4 - smelly genes.

in part 4 we saw that roughly half of the 800 genes in the human genome that code for olfactory receptors are broken remnants of our evolutionary history.

they were vital to our distant ancestors but in humans, as in our primate cousins they have been allowed to fall into disuse as our eyes became more important to our survival than our nose.

Diogenesister

See the thread in this series on olfactory genes for another example.

I actually was looking at that one today!

So interesting that some people can get their ear wiggle on if they practice! Sadly,I'm not one, believe me I tried as a kid - of course never knowing the significance.

1

Elderly ex JW calls Bethel for answers

by Listener in

there's an interesting youtube where an elderly ex jw, john newsome calls the watchtower with a number of problems he wanted to discuss.

he told the elder that he wanted to discuss the un scandal, child molestation, failed dates and ray franz.

the call goes for over half an hour and is very exposing.the bethel elder says he doesn't want to discuss the issues in detail because it would take too long and proceeds to tell him that john needs to look at all of their righteous works.

Diogenesister

The elder gives Mathew 18.

The scripture that talks about John neither eating or drinking - and being criticized for it, then Jesus who did eat and drink, together with tax collectors - yet he too was criticized for that.

Ok.Fine scripture. And it would be pertinent, if you found out something you didn't like about your church IF YOUR CHURCH FORGAVE OTHERS WHO LIKEWISE STUMBLED.

But no, Watchtower shuns anyone who puts one foot in the wrong direction, so that scripture is completely irrelevant to Phariseeical Watchtower.

Their works are bad.

As to neutrality YES the brothers take a stand , but Watchtower does not (Mexico, flags in Chile,Rutherfords letter to Hitler ) but throw Their lambs to the wolves.

31

Evolution is a Fact #5 - Vitamin C

by cofty in

part 1 - protein functional redundancypart 2 - dna functional redundancypart 3 - ervspart 4 - smelly genes.

in part 4 we saw that roughly half of the 800 genes in the human genome that code for olfactory receptors are broken remnants of our evolutionary history.

they were vital to our distant ancestors but in humans, as in our primate cousins they have been allowed to fall into disuse as our eyes became more important to our survival than our nose.

Diogenesister

I love this post, I just want to bump it again. I wonder what benefited US as regards loosing the gene to synthesize v it C.A random mutation that our ancestor gradually lost, was it just because it ate enough fruit That it just wasn't an issue...or enough insects that contained v it c ? Or was there another benefit to those that didn't have the gene?

Perhaps they were more driven to collect and store fruit in times of plenty for months when there wasn't much around and during a famine those with the gene died out.

I know during my pregnancies I was a fiend for getting v it C, oranges in particular.I wonder if pregnant mothers without the gene were more aggressive, or rarther assertive, in collecting their share?

Anyway it's fascinating to speculate!

Thank you Cofty for all your hard work!

19

Debating a Christian at work.

by pseudoxristos in

a christian at work has been after me for more than a year to go to his church and be saved.

i like the guy and consider him a friend and have been politely trying to avoid the subject.

i have recently decided that enough is enough and i told him i would discuss religion with him.

Diogenesister

This lass, a biblical professor, says that GOD was fighting a big sea monster ( chaos) in the beginning, in order to bring order into the world. But since the bible was re arranged by editors in Babylon, it's more difficult to see - but the clues are there if you look.

https://youtu.be/drRAXXTOKMU

26

Is there anything good JWs taught you still benefit from?

by venus in

some years ago, i attended a jw wedding.

marriage speaker said something which changed my life for the better, and it helps me even now.

he told the couple: “the very make up of man and woman is such that conflicts can often arise between you.

Diogenesister

Venus That was an interesting and very positive speech you heard - and of course he's absolutely right.

Its funny though, his calling anger ' energy in motion', it's almost evolutionary territory he's getting in to. ' Fight or flight' response. Once we see how these emotions developed in hominids we get away from the idea of " sin" and " humans being bad, with bad emotions" . Its almost like he understands that. Everything we do has a basis in evolutionary psychology and is not, therefore, 'evil' per sa, and as he was saying take that natural response to conflict and do something positive with it.

Interesting!

41

Were your English WT publications in the American "dialect"?

by compound complex in

greetings, friends:.

the opening query is presented, loosely, in the past tense, assuming that you are not currently a reader of watchtower publications.. not that i'm already rather certain of your reply, it's just that i would like to know if in your english-speaking country (or esl [english as second language]) the society deigned to tailor the publications to your spellings, expressions, idiomatic renderings, etc.

as you will read below, so-called american english is a dialect of english.. i found this online under american english vs. british english:.

Diogenesister

Co Co Do you mind if I ask; do you, or did you, work in publishing and if so was it as a result of your experience in Bethel?

Edit: always disliked the Americanism "youths". firstly it only refers to a male in the UK and secondly it's something we wouldn't say here. We would say young person, youngsters, lads and lasses.

7

Two issues with mobile site

by neat blue dog in

hi simon, sorry i just thought of two more things:.

on the mobile version (i use android) i can't load images anymore, and when i could (months ago) they would only load in a very low, sometimes unusable resolution.

requesting a desktop version of the site in settings didn't work either, i had to go use a windows desktop.. also, all posts used to say how long ago they were written, but that often essential information no longer shows.. thanks..

Diogenesister

sometimes the time a post was written glitches...so 2 mins will become 2 days. On Android.

8

Separation and Dubs

by DATA-DOG in

hey everyone,.

i haven't posted for some time.

i've been busy with life in the real world.

Diogenesister

Disgusting how an extremely violent abusive spouse ( as opposed to what...a bit violent?) is seen in the same category as a mate who doesn't believe their doctrines ( apostate).

28

Special event this weekend

by TweetieBird in

jw
friends

was talking with a family member today and they said that there is something special going on at the kh this weekend.

any idea what it is?

they said that some kind of broadcast from bethel for everyone..

Diogenesister

Longhairgal Even an older lady I knew with cancer was all excited and just had to attend.

This is when I despise that religion of mine. How utterly cruel. The poor lass probably thought there was a chance she would never face the pain and indignity cancer can inflict toward the end.