Shingles

Initial herpes zoster infection presents as chickenpox. After the initial episode of chickenpox resolves, the varicella zoster virus remains latent in the nerve cell bodies and, less frequently, the non-neuronal satellite cells of the dorsal root, cranial nerve or autonomic ganglia,^[1] without causing any symptoms.^[2] Years or decades after the initial infection, the virus may break out of nerve cell bodies and travel down nerve axons to cause viral infection of the skin in the region of the nerve. The virus may spread from one or more ganglia along nerves of an affected segment and infect the corresponding dermatome (an area of skin supplied by one spinal nerve) causing a painful rash.^[3][4] Although the rash usually heals within two to four weeks, some sufferers experience residual nerve pain for months or years, a condition called postherpetic neuralgia. Exactly how the virus remains latent in the body, and subsequently re-activates, is not understood.^[1]

Clinical incidence of shingles often occurs in patients with age 50 above after stress. During outbreak, the skin lesion become contagious. This might be the viral mechanism to spread and escape dying host. The virus survives in domant form in human neuron. When host signals weakness, virus reactivate to proliferate and spread to next host much like grass seeding in the fall before winter. For long time, medical communities believe weaken immune system as reason for outbreak. But it is very likely parasites escaping dying host.

This logics might be apply to many parasitic disease in human or animals.

China united by hanzi or kanji 汉字

Most east Asian cultures are traditionally connected by hanzi, kanji (Chinese characters). Such traditional cultures often share chopsticks use as well. Chinese characters can be read and understood by people who speak totally different languages.

http://infoproc.blogspot.com/search/label/China

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No more true for China itself, the very identification of Chinese Han culture is based on shared hanzi which connects today's Han people with ancient Han writing like Confucius and can be comprehended by people with different dialect's. Like word gold-金, it does not matter when (200o years ago) and where (2000 miles apart with different pronunciation) 金 is written, it still carries the same meaning. This writing system keep Han people connected as one. But in northern China, gold is pronounced `jin'; in Cantonese, gold is pronounced `gum'. If China replacing hanzi or kanji with sound based alphabet, each province or small regions would have totally different writing with mutually incomprehensible local dialects. The result is that China will become numerous different countries since they will be considered totally different cultures and people. Without hanzi, China itself will fall apart. Han culture would shrink to small area in the north of China.

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Sound based writing is vulnerable to constant changes which make today Greeks could not read their ancient writing with ease. Latin also became a dead writing.

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Only country outside of China still preserve some hanzi is Japanes kanji. No wonder a Han and a Japanese can communicate with each other by writing kanji. Korea and Vietnam have abandon the hanzi to facilitate literacy rate. But high literacy rate does not automatically translated into higher economical achievement if you compare Vietnam to Japan or China.

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Gold is only form of money which has no time and space limitation. Like gold, 汉字 is only form of writing can cross time and space.

Judging by appearance

Judging a person by appearance or short-interaction reflects a short future orientation. Most animals in this world judge other animals in such way. As human evolving above animals, our long term memory and future orientation become stronger. But different societies demanding on such ability is quite different depending on the stage of civilization. As hunter-gatherers, such demand is weak, so it is nature to judge by appearance. In sophisticated civilization with longer life expectancy, future-orientation is critical for the success. In such sophisticated environment, the game went up with hiding your strength to deceive your competition replacing superficial bluffing. Today, a lot of such cultural conflicts are due to different stages of civilization brought together by globalization. In East Asian (or oriental) culture, in your face bluffing or showing off is always considered to be primitive as animals.

Without data, it is just a personal opinion which is subject to future research to prove. Any people in research field feel free to use my original idea to investigate.

Trust

This is interesting. Educated people are more trusting. Some people suggest that IQ is the factor for the pattern.

Verbal IQ and wealth

Verbal IQ is better predictor of wealth since verbal IQ is critical at value transfer, not for creation. For the same value or work, verbal skill is critical for extracting higher profit margin.

Coevolution between men and women

Wealthy men give women more orgasms
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article5537017.ece

Natural selection shape sexual selection. Women who have natural sexual attractions to wealthy men had more surviving offsprings than those who favor looks over money in preindustrial hard life.

However, such coevolution can only achieve in civilized society where personal wealth is protected by law not muscle.

In tribal society, muscle matters more than personal wealth which need to be protected by pure physical strength and aggression.

Hollywood roman becomes reality

Hollywood films had many fictional black presidents before, which was obviously romantism about American democracy until November 4, 2008.

Intelligence and mate choice

http://dienekes.blogspot.com/2008/10/women-and-intelligent-men_03.html

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/sex/dn14868-nerds-rejoice-braininess-boosts-likelihood-of-sex.html?feedId=online-news_rss20

But some things never change. Looks were still a much more powerful predictor of sex appeal than brains. "Women are still going for the hunk,"

There is potential flaw in this study. Who are those women in the first place? Are they average IQ working class women?

According to Assortative mating, intelligent women are more likly attracted to intelligent men than working class women. In culture with long civilized history, women from high class background are more attracted to status of men than looks.

Olympic medals and team work

Olympic medal counts show China weak at team sports like basketball or soccer. My speculation is that such team sport is really skill of hunter-gatherers.

Hunter-gatherers small tribes are likely good at intuitive cooperation as small team without leadship. Societies with recent hunter-gatherers history is possilbly good at such `team' sports.

People with long civilized history will be weak at `hunter-gatherer' team work without obvious leadership. This kind of `team ' work need spontaneous or intuitive cooperation.

However, larger team work involving over thousands people needs leadership hierarchical control. People of long civilized history like China will domniate, as shown in opening ceremony.

Spontaneous cooperation only work for small team or tribes, not for large organized empire.

Also it is also true for army. Huge organized army is strong for civilized people. Hunter-gather society is only good for small raiding party.

Solar energy and biofeul

Biofuel is solar energy essentially. Corn or crops on the fertile land convert solar energy into carbohydrate through photosynthesis. Then carbohydrate is converted into biofeul through fermentation. Efficiency of solar energy as biofuel is doubtful compared to direct solar panel since each steps have inherited energy loss. Biofuel needs farming machines of burning diesel, which further subtract energy generated.

Biofuel is like burning food for car with bad efficiency. Reduced food output only lead to high food price and starvation on the earth.

However, solar energy from desert is perfect. Solar panel will produce more energy in desert than fertile land since desert has few cloudy day. Efficiency of desert solar energy should be better than biofuel. Solar energy is converted into electricity which is most useful energy form.

Buddhism and creativity

Buddhism is one of most intelligent philosophy and religion. Kung Fu Panda film has the best metaphor for Buddhism as scroll in the movie. At end, every thing is `empty' or `nothing'. In deed, even universe is nothing or meaningless at end.

To fully comprehend wisdom of Buddhism needs great intellectual reasoning. But such realization or wisdom of universe is also self-defeating in real life. In other word, it is too smart for its own good. People truly embrace Buddhism will not try hard to achieve in real life.

China gradually lost its creativity edge after arrival of Buddhism. People of Buddhism belief will not face challenge head on and progress. In stead, they will endure or avoid problem with mind of fatalism because every thing is nothing at end.

Most creative time of China was Spring-fall and War State era. Intense competition between Han-speaking states encourage novel idea which might bring domination over other states. At the same time, Buddhism was not yet in China.

Politics vs Science

In politics, popular idea win, which might not be truth.
In science, truth win, which might not be popular.

When science and politics are at odd with each other, who is going to win? Most time, political (popular) idea win. Galileo was a perfect example.

Politicians are ultimately populists. Scientists are truth seeker.

Politicians are more likely to change their stands according to the wind.

Scientists only change their mind because of logical evidence, not of popularity.

Victimhood: most powerful political idea.

Victimhood has been a very powerful psychological force behind most powerful political movement, for good or bad.

African Americans constantly use victimhood of slavery to mobilize their political base. Jews often use holocaust to remind people for sake of Isreal. Angry white men also play victimhood to support conservative movement. Victims of discrimination is behind policy of affirmative action. White victimhood of affirmative action used against affirmative action. Tibetans play victimhood. Hitler also used victimhood of humiliation due to WW-1 to generate fanatic support and get powers.

Humans are easily galvanized by victimhood. Playing victim is the game of politics. Even aggressors are playing victim.

The best soldiers and best army

A new Chinese film based on true story during Chinese civil war between PLA and KMT has been out. The soldiers showed incredible obedient to commander and foutght to their very end.

http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/whys/t407109.htm

Epic Chinese film ASSEMBLY hits The Curzon Soho from March 7th


The second highest grossing Chinese film of all time, Feng Xiaogang's ASSEMBLY will be showing at London's Curzon Soho Cinema from March 7th 2008. Based on a true story, ASSEMBLY follows one man's journey in search of truth and honour. The Huaihai Campaign of the Chinese Civil War broke out in the winter of 1948 and became one of the bloodiest battles in Chinese history. Thousands from The People's Liberation Army and the KMT Army fought in a bloodbath in between Xuzhou and Bengbu. Captain Guzidi, commanding the Ninth Company, led the infantry unit which consisted of a mere 46 men on a sniping mission to defend the south bank of the Wen River. His orders were to fight until the retreat assembly call was charged. After long hours of defence, ammunition was running out, and the number of men standing in the Ninth Company was quickly decreasing. Everyone began to wonder if they had missed the retreat bugle call. But Guzidi insisted that the bugle had not sounded and that they were to continue to battle at all costs. It was not until later when he found that all the neighbouring troops had already left the field, that he realised he might have made a mistake and contributed to his men's deaths. Guzidi woke up in the hospital and discovered that due to a military re-organisation, he and the 46 men who sacrificed themselves during the deadly engagement, had lost their identities and ranks, and were deemed missing. Determined to prove the existence of the 46 men and honour their glorious deaths, Guzidi embarks on his journey to search for his troops.



Just like Japanese kamikaze, it is matter of obedience and loyalty, not personal bravery. Your job is more important than your life. That is it. People who treat their job more important than their life make the best soldiers.
Here is your tube battle scence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCWmRX9Kojo

Rambo vs Geek

An interesting article from War Nerd: Da Kurds: Boo Hoo Who?
http://www.exile.ru/articles/detail.php?ARTICLE_ID=14150&IBLOCK_ID=35&PAGE=2


And the Kurds are willing to die, I'll give them that. Always have been. Good fighters; Saladin was a Kurd, after all. They just can't stay united for more than the time it takes to sign a manifesto. By the time they've got pen in hand to initial their latest United Front for Kurdistan memo, the Supreme Commander of the Kurdish Liberation Front has stabbed his imported Parker Pen into the throat of his ally of two minutes ago, the Generalissimo of the Free Kurdistan Army.

It's not hard to fight people like that, or keep them "oppressed." You just farm it out to their relatives. Most of the time, you don't even need to use your own tribe's troops. Kurd-on-Kurd violence will do it. Which is why bravery isn't anywhere near as important as discipline in a military force. A force of 200 German clerks or Vietnamese insurance agents, no matter how many of them wear glasses and can't bench-press a Starbucks latte, will beat 200 Rambos every time on the battlefield, because 200 Rambos is pure chaos, nobody willing to obey orders. And Kurds, too bad for them, are a pretty Rambo-y group, all macho yelling, counting coup and strutting instead of sticking together. You get this a lot with mountain tribes, and the Kurds are mostly--not all--mountain people. "Our valley vs. the world," that kind of small-time crap. Cute if you're Swiss, but only because the Swiss valleys usually had enough sense to unite against foreign invaders. Kurds don't. They have what the professors call "local loyalties," meaning whatever little baron family always ran their valley.

Following is my thought.

As in my previous post Individual vs group dominance , obedient people make the best soldiers. The best units are often made of high IQ and obedient individuals who have no problem carrying through order without objection. A pack of wolf will never do job for human. A pack of dogs is different story. Only idiot will have a pack of wolf as guards or hunting aides. Thus, hunter and gatherer tribes are never good military force because they more think and function like wild wolf.

When a lot of people find Mongolians are bunch of shy people with little alpha personality, they could not figure out why Mongols were fierce military forces who conquer some people with much macho personality. It is because average folk make mistake to believe individual alpha personality reflecting military strength. A military action is job to perform just as any other jobs. Obedient workers are better workers. Yet, such obedience made them formidable military force when working together, an ideal trait for collectivsm.Only even more disciplined (obedient) people have better chance fend off Mongols.