Your first post was pretty clear and interesting question.
A prolonged & extreme selective pressure is a cause of reduced diversity. An obvious candidate must be the last Ice-Age which also fits nicely into the time frame. This issue has recently been covered in a excellent BBC documentary series Walking with Cavemen, which also featured a figure of 2000 females in a significantly reduced human population. I suspect the last programme was based at least partly on this research.
The programme suggested that until the Ice Age human 'tribes' where extended family size (~12) but survival in the Ice-Age was linked with a strong selective pressure for larger groups (~200). Socialisation allowed specialisation and increased expertise, this allowed food shortages to be more readily smoothed out. Socialisation and Specialisation both required elevated intelligence.
A idea to consider is that the number of people could have been larger than the 2000 suggested but the genetic heritage of the extras doesn't survive today; consider the effect of evolutionary shock caused by the large group coming into contact with smaller groups, the larger would quickly swamp the genetics of the smaller group. The larger group would be more genetically diverse than the smaller group and more resistant as a group to any diseases pool.
Also consider the negative impact on genetic diversity of plagues and pandemics, Influenza, Small Pox, Cholera, Black Death, many of these have surely sweep the world before recorded history leaving only immune populations, and reducing diversity.
Software is an issue, but not in the way that might be expected. UK Councils use typical Office Automation S/W on desktops like everybody else, but they also use a lot of custom software packages (electoral roll, council tax, housing, etc) that traditionally ran on Unix minis. In a way going back to *nix on the desktop will solve more problems than it will cause.
There is even plenty of prior art even for a limited interpretation of the two main patent claims. We KIT have been doing this for about 5 years and we where not the first.
In one application we have aggregated news clips, they are displayed down the screen in a list and are played from the top at normal speed. When pressing fast-forward >| jumps to the start of the next clip, each pressing of >> accelerates the stream by a factor of two (2x/4x/8x/16x/32x) for each press. Another version allowed the stream to accelerate the stream by a factor of two (2x/4x/8x/16x/32x) for each second the button was kept pressed.
Brits can find out who your MEP is by entering your postcode here. Set aside any personal feeling you may have on the EU, ranting against it is more like to do harm than good.
Some ideas point to raise.
Point out you are a IT professional and you are writing in that capacity as well as a voter.
US companies have been allowed to accumulate large number of software patents for 30 years by a poorly managed US patent system.
European Companies will be forced to pay royalties to US corporations, even ideas they invented, but patented in the US.
European Companies can be prevented from competing in some areas by patents, either by cost or denial of access to certain technology.
Patents prevents fair competition and promote monopolies.
An expansion of the patents system in the EU to cover computer software is extremely damaging to the European IT sector.
Point out that software is about maths and numbers, if you cannot patent algebra B or numbers so why software.
If possible point out a simple example of a patent in your particular field, even better if you can rightly claim it was invented in Europe but patented in the US.
Also get a Moggie or Heinz 57 from a shelter, get it young and handle it frequently to socialise it. Dont get a pedigree most of which are useless at hunting, and couldn't hunt to save their lives.
I don't know where all the "MS will win automatically" people crawl from, if you look at their track record, they have lots and lots of unsuccessful projects.
Probably from under some rock in Seattle. All of this Guys comments fall into these 4 easy categories
1) "...Yep, MS-product XYZ may be crap but, watch out for version 3... ".
2) "...Yes, MS-product XYZ does support PQR, I have it on a shelf in front of me... ".
3) "...I have a 'NON-MS-Product' and the a' MS-Product XYZ is better...".
4) "... Download this MS-Software product patch from 'Some MS-Web Site' ".
If you dont believe me check it out, here if it wasnt so obvious astroturfing it would be truely sad.
since neither the Plaintiff nor its members have any right whatsoever to force unwanted junk email onto the private computer of an SBL user.
Actually any attempt by the plaintif to 'force' its unwanted junk email on to a private computer within the UK is clear break of the Computer Misuse Act 1990, which makes it a criminal offense to "secure access to any computer [that is unauthorised]". The plaintif is therefore seeking to obtain Florida Court approval to breach UK Criminal Law.
--- quote --- 'The Computer Misuse Act 1990' Section 1;
(1) A person is guilty of an offence if--
(a) he causes a computer to perform any function with intent to secure access to any program or data held in any computer;
(b) the access he intends to secure is unauthorised; and
(c) he knows at the time when he causes the computer to perform the function that that is the case. (2) The intent a person has to have to commit an offence under this section need not be directed at--
(a) any particular program or data;
(b) a program or data of any particular kind; or
(c) a program or data held in any particular computer. (3) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to both.
As a side note, Spamhaus would never state that Internet Protocol ("IP") addresses are "not the property of the Plaintiff" since all IP addresses are clearly the property of whomever they are assigned to. Likewise it would be inconceivable of Spamhaus to state that the "servers of members of the Plaintiff's are not their property" since any servers the Plaintiff owns are clearly the Plaintiff's property.
ICANN 'owns' all IP addresss, when an IP is assigned to you, it is a annual lease not ownership.
My home is an old-style brick house with chimneys, since it's modernised with gas powered heating, i dont use the flues. Since there is a unused fire place in the middle of every room in the house and the flues make great cable ducts, fairly short, wide and easy to use.
My switch is in a cuboard in the loft with easy access to the converged flues.
Also opened out the fireplaces make great recess for equipment.
Patents promote existing monopolies, hinder fair competition and completely bar new entrants. The huge back catalogue of Patents significantly favours established patent holders, mainly US Corporations. European Industry would be forced to pay royalties to existing Patents holders, mainly US Corporations, without a corresponding income. European industry would be the forced to pay royalties often for ideas designed and developed in Europe but patented in the US. This would damage the European Software Industry competitiveness on a global scale.
When the UK privatised the phone system prices went up because it was a monopoly and a private company could make a decent return on its investment. This was despite the fact the Nationalised British Telecom was already making a half billion pounds a year profit.
On my land line I get 384K ADSL for £20 (~30 dollar/euro) pcm, which is less than my mobile connection at £30 (~45Dollar/Euro) pcm, which is competative, my mobile tariff includes a 50 'free' mins per month and new 'free' phone each year.
International land-line calls are about 2.5-4.5 pence per minute, varies on country. National land-line calls are 1.1-3.4 pence (~1.5-5 cents) per min peak. local land-line calls are usually free, or flat connection fee of 6.5p (~10 cents).
Mobile (cell) calls are usually 20-40 pence (20-60 cents) per minute, depending on provider.
Slashdot Mirror
LOL. Though I was actually thinking more along the lines of "souring the mothers breast milk" allowing the mother to suckle another infant.
how being lactose intolerant in adulthood was normal, and being able to digest lactose became a survival advantage after dairy farming was invented.
Preceding the domestication of cattle; for lactose intolerant to arrise, it must have offered some survival advantage.
Your first post was pretty clear and interesting question.
A prolonged & extreme selective pressure is a cause of reduced diversity. An obvious candidate must be the last Ice-Age which also fits nicely into the time frame. This issue has recently been covered in a excellent BBC documentary series Walking with Cavemen, which also featured a figure of 2000 females in a significantly reduced human population. I suspect the last programme was based at least partly on this research.
The programme suggested that until the Ice Age human 'tribes' where extended family size (~12) but survival in the Ice-Age was linked with a strong selective pressure for larger groups (~200). Socialisation allowed specialisation and increased expertise, this allowed food shortages to be more readily smoothed out. Socialisation and Specialisation both required elevated intelligence.
A idea to consider is that the number of people could have been larger than the 2000 suggested but the genetic heritage of the extras doesn't survive today; consider the effect of evolutionary shock caused by the large group coming into contact with smaller groups, the larger would quickly swamp the genetics of the smaller group. The larger group would be more genetically diverse than the smaller group and more resistant as a group to any diseases pool.
Also consider the negative impact on genetic diversity of plagues and pandemics, Influenza, Small Pox, Cholera, Black Death, many of these have surely sweep the world before recorded history leaving only immune populations, and reducing diversity.
Software is an issue, but not in the way that might be expected. UK Councils use typical Office Automation S/W on desktops like everybody else, but they also use a lot of custom software packages (electoral roll, council tax, housing, etc) that traditionally ran on Unix minis. In a way going back to *nix on the desktop will solve more problems than it will cause.
There is even plenty of prior art even for a limited interpretation of the two main patent claims. We KIT have been doing this for about 5 years and we where not the first.
In one application we have aggregated news clips, they are displayed down the screen in a list and are played from the top at normal speed. When pressing fast-forward >| jumps to the start of the next clip, each pressing of >> accelerates the stream by a factor of two (2x/4x/8x/16x/32x) for each press. Another version allowed the stream to accelerate the stream by a factor of two (2x/4x/8x/16x/32x) for each second the button was kept pressed.
The brits are so funny.
and smart, stylish, modest, really great infact.
Why did we accept them in the EU,
because we are just great, that's why we are called the Great British!
Maybe send all those junk-mailers invoices for royalties?
Alternatively if you're in UK, you can register with the Mail [Fax|Phone) Preference Services, I have and it works.
Mail Preference Service
Phone Preference Service
Fax Preference Service
Whilst these are private sector they are subject to oversite by the UK Data Protection Commissioner.
Brits can find out who your MEP is by entering your postcode here. Set aside any personal feeling you may have on the EU, ranting against it is more like to do harm than good.
Some ideas point to raise.
Point out you are a IT professional and you are writing in that capacity as well as a voter.
US companies have been allowed to accumulate large number of software patents for 30 years by a poorly managed US patent system.
European Companies will be forced to pay royalties to US corporations, even ideas they invented, but patented in the US.
European Companies can be prevented from competing in some areas by patents, either by cost or denial of access to certain technology.
Patents prevents fair competition and promote monopolies.
An expansion of the patents system in the EU to cover computer software is extremely damaging to the European IT sector.
Point out that software is about maths and numbers, if you cannot patent algebra B or numbers so why software.
If possible point out a simple example of a patent in your particular field, even better if you can rightly claim it was invented in Europe but patented in the US.
Also get a Moggie or Heinz 57 from a shelter, get it young and handle it frequently to socialise it. Dont get a pedigree most of which are useless at hunting, and couldn't hunt to save their lives.
Neutering prevents straying so the hunting should be more localised with a neutered cat.
Get a Cat.
It took them at least 5 major release to get DOS right finally with v5.5.
It took them at least 6/7 major versions to get C(C++) right.
Its taken then 9 or 10 versions to get windows right with XP (v1,v2,v2.2,v3,v3.11,NT,95,NT3.5,98,NT3.5,ME) and finally XP.
It took them 5 major versions to get IE right and they throw it away with version 6.
And these where their core products.
Something they've never got *right*, Office (Outlook,Word,Access), IIS, Frontpage Outlook/Exchange, J++.
In some cases they took-over a right product and still got it wrong, i.e. FoxPro.
Sendo: Britain's mobile maverick
UK mobile firm snubs Microsoft
Sendo sues Microsoft
Microsoft hits back in mobile row
I don't know where all the "MS will win automatically" people crawl from, if you look at their track record, they have lots and lots of unsuccessful projects.
... ".
... ".
...".
Probably from under some rock in Seattle. All of this Guys comments fall into these 4 easy categories
1) "...Yep, MS-product XYZ may be crap but, watch out for version 3
2) "...Yes, MS-product XYZ does support PQR, I have it on a shelf in front of me
3) "...I have a 'NON-MS-Product' and the a' MS-Product XYZ is better
4) "... Download this MS-Software product patch from 'Some MS-Web Site' ".
If you dont believe me check it out, here if it wasnt so obvious astroturfing it would be truely sad.
The real test of impartiality for Christian Science must be their position on Evolution vs Creationism; it sounds like a Creationist BS to me.
www.emarketersamerica.org have also thoughfully provided a telephone number for contact by media.
Media Contact: (561) 750-9800 ext. 16
since neither the Plaintiff nor its members have any right whatsoever to force unwanted junk email onto the private computer of an SBL user.
0 01 8_en_1.htm
Actually any attempt by the plaintif to 'force' its unwanted junk email on to a private computer within the UK is clear break of the Computer Misuse Act 1990, which makes it a criminal offense to "secure access to any computer [that is unauthorised]". The plaintif is therefore seeking to obtain Florida Court approval to breach UK Criminal Law.
--- quote ---
'The Computer Misuse Act 1990' Section 1;
(1) A person is guilty of an offence if--
(a) he causes a computer to perform any function with intent to secure access to any program or data held in any computer;
(b) the access he intends to secure is unauthorised; and
(c) he knows at the time when he causes the computer to perform the function that that is the case.
(2) The intent a person has to have to commit an offence under this section need not be directed at--
(a) any particular program or data;
(b) a program or data of any particular kind; or
(c) a program or data held in any particular computer.
(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to both.
http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1990/Ukpga_1990
As a side note, Spamhaus would never state that Internet Protocol ("IP") addresses are "not the property of the Plaintiff" since all IP addresses are clearly the property of whomever they are assigned to. Likewise it would be inconceivable of Spamhaus to state that the "servers of members of the Plaintiff's are not their property" since any servers the Plaintiff owns are clearly the Plaintiff's property.
ICANN 'owns' all IP addresss, when an IP is assigned to you, it is a annual lease not ownership.
My favourite wierd place name is Wetwangin yorkshire, UK.
My home is an old-style brick house with chimneys, since it's modernised with gas powered heating, i dont use the flues. Since there is a unused fire place in the middle of every room in the house and the flues make great cable ducts, fairly short, wide and easy to use.
My switch is in a cuboard in the loft with easy access to the converged flues.
Also opened out the fireplaces make great recess for equipment.
My reasons to oppose patents.
Patents promote existing monopolies, hinder fair competition and completely bar new entrants.
The huge back catalogue of Patents significantly favours established patent holders, mainly US Corporations.
European Industry would be forced to pay royalties to existing Patents holders, mainly US Corporations, without a corresponding income.
European industry would be the forced to pay royalties often for ideas designed and developed in Europe but patented in the US.
This would damage the European Software Industry competitiveness on a global scale.
When the UK privatised the phone system prices went up because it was a monopoly and a private company could make a decent return on its investment. This was despite the fact the Nationalised British Telecom was already making a half billion pounds a year profit.
On my land line I get 384K ADSL for £20 (~30 dollar/euro) pcm, which is less than my mobile connection at £30 (~45Dollar/Euro) pcm, which is competative, my mobile tariff includes a 50 'free' mins per month and new 'free' phone each year.
Yes, im in the UK.
International land-line calls are about 2.5-4.5 pence per minute, varies on country.
National land-line calls are 1.1-3.4 pence (~1.5-5 cents) per min peak.
local land-line calls are usually free, or flat connection fee of 6.5p (~10 cents).
Mobile (cell) calls are usually 20-40 pence (20-60 cents) per minute, depending on provider.
(1 UK pence ~= 1.5 us/euro cents.)
http://www.magsys.co.uk/telecom/residx.htm
I've used my cellphone as my main phone, my phone bill stays consistent month to month,
Some people seem to have taken this as serious suggestion, however what help is a consistent over charged bill.
Mobiles are about 10 times more expensive for national calls and 40 times more expensive for local calls.