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Osprey
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I coulda been a (social) scientist
The Colony
Last week there were uncountable agua malas, Portuguese Man O’War on the beach. They were small and made an almost continuous bright blue line in the
high water mark along the strand; none bigger than a grape, they were mixed with the darker line of driftwood bark that forms small clouds at the
water’s edge.
Unlike jellyfish they are not one single animal but a colony of specialized animals which comprise a living mass – the inflated blue bag floats on the
water so colonies can move about. The Man O War has a mouth, stomach and various appendages, some with venom and hooks to stun, catch and capture
plankton and small fish.
Humans have a hard time with the concept of colonial organisms. If we thought about it we might see their parallels in familiar things like factories
– we could call a factory an industrial organism (colony). Hospitals and nursing homes we might label social colonies.
I tried to think of this little village as though it were a social organism; each villager (or groups of them) acting with some special ability, skill
or knowledge to enable the organism to live and grow. If it is an organism there must be some sort of social compact, written or implied that directs
the members in their discreet functions. I personally believe members rarely have to consult the written compact to be guided – I hope I’m right that
the functions become so natural the villagers recognize and move to serve the needs of the organism without the need for lectures or pep talks.
Since Man O Wars have no skeletons we don’t know much about their beginnings. Something magical happened way back when; organisms joined the group to
become integral and necessary – perception was the key – they had to be recognized to be anything but predators or prey (lest they be avoided or
eaten). Sure wish we knew what the magic thing was because it might show us the way to end our problems at the border. Until the magic happens,
those organisms which need to join the colony may be stung or avoided before they could begin to fulfill their very necessary function.
The magic thing must be very simple otherwise the head garbage man and our city manager would be trading jobs on a whim – not good for the colony.
Well, who knows? Maybe colonies like the Man O War rearrange themselves all the time and we just aren’t watching.
Could a tentacle elope with a tiny bit of mouth to begin a new colony? Maybe that was the way it was in the old days. Now there is probably more order
in the brand new, warm, wet world of small and clever rafts of group stingers just trying to make a living.
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dtbushpilot
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Not much going on today Jorge?
Thanks for the thoughts to ponder. We have been seeing a lot of them here too. There will be hundreds of them in one area and a little ways down the
beach none. I discovered that sand crabs feast on them......dt
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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wessongroup
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Osprey, some good thoughts ....
Adaptability has been the singular issues which has allowed most species to reach it this far...
Invertebrate Zoology is a fascinating discipline.. and one which I enjoyed very much while in school many moons ago... and one which helps put
together the time frame on much of our knowledge on early evolution of plants and animals present million of years ago...
The variation of plant and animals species found on the land and in water... is truly amazing along with the wealth of knowledge which can be learned
from observation and investiation
Thanks again... it all helps..
 
[Edited on 5-25-2011 by wessongroup]
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Skipjack Joe
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Each one of us is a colony as well. As you say, it all happened a long time ago. About 3 1/2 billion years ago, I am told.
Our social networks are more like ubercolonies.
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krafty
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While in Palau several years ago we went to jellyfish lake-felt like getting into a bowl of warm jello-these jf are apparently well fed and did not
sting any of us.
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mtgoat666
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colonialism
Quote: | Originally posted by Osprey
The Colony
Last week there were uncountable agua malas, Portuguese Man O’War on the beach. They were small and made an almost continuous bright blue line in the
high water mark along the strand; none bigger than a grape, they were mixed with the darker line of driftwood bark that forms small clouds at the
water’s edge.
Unlike jellyfish they are not one single animal but a colony of specialized animals which comprise a living mass – the inflated blue bag floats on the
water so colonies can move about. The Man O War has a mouth, stomach and various appendages, some with venom and hooks to stun, catch and capture
plankton and small fish.
Humans have a hard time with the concept of colonial organisms. If we thought about it we might see their parallels in familiar things like factories
– we could call a factory an industrial organism (colony). |
the factory worker is stuck in wage slavery, he/she has abandoned his/her concept of self, and is socially stratified and economically exploited by
the factory-owning class. to put that in bajalandia perspective, the factory worker is much like the poor peasants from southern mexico that are
virtual indentured servants at the big mega farms in san quintin. the factory worker is also much like the serving class that cleans and gardens for
nomads - stuck in a low wage menial service job that requires constant toil to live paycheck to paycheck.
a living mass or colony -- should it have a ruling and capital-owning class that virtually enslaves people in menial occupations doing repetetive
tasks that provide greatest benefit to the class at the top of the pyramid?
true communism may be better than the capitalist colony model.
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elgatoloco
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Quote: | Originally posted by krafty
While in Palau several years ago we went to jellyfish lake-felt like getting into a bowl of warm jello-these jf are apparently well fed and did not
sting any of us. |
They have no predators in that lake so they have EVOLVED - no need for protection/defense = no stingers. Only took 6,000 years,
right? 
[Edited on 5-25-2011 by elgatoloco]
MAGA
marooons Are Governing America
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wessongroup
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Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
Quote: | Originally posted by Osprey
The Colony
Last week there were uncountable agua malas, Portuguese Man O’War on the beach. They were small and made an almost continuous bright blue line in the
high water mark along the strand; none bigger than a grape, they were mixed with the darker line of driftwood bark that forms small clouds at the
water’s edge.
Unlike jellyfish they are not one single animal but a colony of specialized animals which comprise a living mass – the inflated blue bag floats on the
water so colonies can move about. The Man O War has a mouth, stomach and various appendages, some with venom and hooks to stun, catch and capture
plankton and small fish.
Humans have a hard time with the concept of colonial organisms. If we thought about it we might see their parallels in familiar things like factories
– we could call a factory an industrial organism (colony). |
the factory worker is stuck in wage slavery, he/she has abandoned his/her concept of self, and is socially stratified and economically exploited by
the factory-owning class. to put that in bajalandia perspective, the factory worker is much like the poor peasants from southern mexico that are
virtual indentured servants at the big mega farms in san quintin. the factory worker is also much like the serving class that cleans and gardens for
nomads - stuck in a low wage menial service job that requires constant toil to live paycheck to paycheck.
a living mass or colony -- should it have a ruling and capital-owning class that virtually enslaves people in menial occupations doing repetetive
tasks that provide greatest benefit to the class at the top of the pyramid?
true communism may be better than the capitalist colony model. |
the human species is the only one that uses MONEY !!! to make a living... think about it...
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Iflyfish
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Waxing philosophic my friends? Good day for it, in bed with pneumonia and too much time on my hands.
Osprey has made a very fundamental observation, one contemplated by philosophers over millennia.
It took cooperation to get us out of the caves. I said that.
Here is an interesting site on multicellularity, the prototype of membrane organs. http://evolutionofcomputing.org/Multicellular/EvolutionOfMul...
There is no doubt that the collective behavior of single cell organisms formed the basis of the more complex life forms we see, including us, whose
bundle of guts (organs) are made up of complex combinations of membraned single cells functioning together in a complex series of membraned organs
that have evolved over time.
The human brain evolved over time in three distinct phases, the primitive brain (reptilian brain we share with snakes), a more complex cerebrum
allowing complex perception and behavior, followed last by the frontal lobes that are actively engaged in self control abstract thinking.
The frontal lobe allows for self consciousness. Self consciousness necessitates consciousness of “the other”. With this self consciousness you can
easily see how man could postulate Gods, wars, and a Social Contract.
For an elaboration on the various views of the Social Contract, alluded to by mtgoat666, one can read a pretty good summary here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_contract
Wish I could write like Osprey.
Iflyfishwithpneumoniaandboredom
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wessongroup
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Fish, get better... quick...
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Iflyfish
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Gracias amigo
Iflyfish
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Skeet/Loreto
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Fish: I, and 80 year ole Fart with lots of living behind me cannot understand why a person of with your Brains can beleive in Evolution!!
You and your Like Believers cannot even describe "How the Horse came to have a Tail. And Why??
Look at Nature, Look at Survival;
Go Snorkel around the Islands and watch the Fish and how they Survive--The Fitist!!
Go to a Group or Colony and watch the People. The Strongest, Smartest, Adaptible, the ones with the Genes are the ones who Survive.
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Iflyfish
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Well Skeet, how do you do?!
Horses and cows are both very adept at swatting away flies and me too when I last milked a cow.
I am not arguing with Darwin about the survival of the fittest, we both agree on that.
In your post you acknowledge the importance of genes. “Go to a Group or Colony and watch the People. The Strongest, Smartest, Adaptible, the ones
with the Genes are the ones who Survive.” Genes carry the genetic history of organisms, including humans. They come to us over time and evolve over
time. It is now apparent that Homo Sapiens mated with Neanderthals. I am not casting aspersions here amigo, just saying.
You say “Go Snorkel around the Islands and watch the Fish and how they Survive--The Fitist!!
Those fish that I enjoy watching while snorkeling are also composed of organs wrapped in membranes, just like you and I who at one state of our
evolution in the womb have gills like fish and a tail like a monkey. Doctors often cut tails off newborn infants. See images at this site if you need
proof with you own eyes. TinyURL.com/4x4lgoh
You probably respect the training of a veterinarian right? They know a thing or two about animal development, right?
You might be interested in the following taken from a text for Vets:
http://loudoun.nvcc.edu/vetonline/vet111/embryologyr/embryo....
“Development of the embryo (a very brief overview):
The similarity of developing embryos of different species is remarkable.
It is difficult to tell the difference between a cat, cow, frog or human early in fetal development. Another similarity often mentioned by zoologist
is that the stages of the developing embryo are somewhat similar to the stages of the evolution of animals.
All embryos start as a single cell, then progresses through more complex stages. This is similar to evolution beginning with the single-celled
organism and progressing "up the ladder" to complex multi organ system animals.
At one point in development the human embryo even has structures similar to the gills of a fish! (called the gill slits).”
I have looked under microscopes at these very structures, sort of like snorkeling with a magnifying mask. Have you seen these structures?
As to the question of how I can believe in evolution I can clearly see it in nature and in the evidence of genetic research, which you discount as a
waste of time. You discount the life’s work of thousands of researchers in their various fields over hundreds of years when you claim that the only
truth is the one you have formulated in your brain over your short life time. This of course is hubris and arrogance in my view.
Now a question for you. How do you know that evolution does not exist? I have provided evidence, what do you provide? By the way, did you believe that
the world was going to end this week?
Iflyfish
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Gypsy Jan
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Iflyfish
Gypsy Jan *stands, applauds*
That is all.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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mtgoat666
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Quote: | Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto
Fish: I, and 80 year ole Fart with lots of living behind me cannot understand why a person of with your Brains can beleive in Evolution!!
You and your Like Believers cannot even describe "How the Horse came to have a Tail. And Why??
Go to a Group or Colony and watch the People. The Strongest, Smartest, Adaptible, the ones with the Genes are the ones who Survive.
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skeet:
you are a horses arse! you first say you don't believe in evolution or natural selection, then you tell us our genes determine our survival. which
is it???
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Iflyfish
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While I am at it Skeet. I was very pleased to hear that you had survived your serious surgery. I am also very glad that you did not get one of the
antibiotic resistant bacteria that have EVOLVED through misuse of antibiotics.
You can read all about it here:
http://www.ask.com/web?q=antibiotic%20resistant%20bacteria&a...
I know you won't read about this, but it's worth a try and I am bored.
Iflyfish
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Skeet/Loreto
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Fish: No! I did not believe in the "Rapture.
Fish I will answer your question with first a Question:
Why is it that some members of the Human Species Advance in their Culture a lot more than others.???
white are some of us White?
some of us with Slant Eyes?
I do not and I repeat, Do Not, believe that I was an Anemoba that washed up on the Shores !!!!!
I belive in the Supreme Being.
I believe in Faith Hope and Charity.
I believe that People who have something "Good" to Believe in have a much better life than the Non-Believers.
I do not look like a Monkey?
I do Not Act like a Monkey!
What difference does it make in What I might believe to anyone other than myself??
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mtgoat666
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devolution in texas skeets
Quote: | Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto
white are some of us White?
some of us with Slant Eyes?
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natural selection!
Quote: | Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto
I do not look like a Monkey?
I do Not Act like a Monkey!
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You and a chimp look/act more alike than you and a rattleless rattlesnake! Though I suspect the snake and the chimp have more common sense than the
skeet!
[Edited on 5-25-2011 by mtgoat666]
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Dave
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There
Quote: | Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto
I do not look like a Monkey?
I do Not Act like a Monkey!
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I do not look like a Monkey!
I do Not Act like a Monkey?
I fixed it for you.
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Mulegena
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a colony by any other name
not sure how this fits in here, but the replies are all over the board already and I found this interesting in today's science news:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13523502
seemingly "mindless" bacteria working in orchestration to pick up shop and move-- and change the weather in the process. kinda blows my mind, and who
doesn't love that?
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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