Conflicted about the war?

[quade 4]

Conflicted about the war? Or maybe you have strong opinions one way or the other.

Maybe there's a reason.

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/DyeHard/dyehard.html

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Deuce 1]

No.

But thanks for asking, Q!

[Rebecca 0]

That's pretty fascinating- I think- wait, I'm not sure ...

Seriously, it makes sense. I'm of two minds about the whole thing myself- on the one hand, supporting our troops, the US, and recognizing the need to oust SH; on the other hand, hating the loss of life and limb that necessarily accompanies war (on both sides), and seriously questioning this course of action...

Sigh.

"A penny saved is worth two in the bush, is'n' it?"

[billvon 3,116]

Nothing new there. We've known about the limbic system (seat of emotion and rapid decision) and the neocortex (higher reasoning) for a long time. We also have what is called an R-complex (or 'reptilian' brain) that takes care of basic reactions including anger and fear; it's responsible for self-preservation. It also does such essential tasks as running our breathing, our digestive system, regulating our heartbeat (hearts beat on their own but the brain regulates their speed) and is very closely linked to our olfactory sense (sense of smell) which is why some smells have very strong associations for most people.

Interestingly, the development of these three brains is one of the strongest arguments for ontogeny recapitulating phylogeny. The brain develops in the fetus in order, from brainstem to R-complex to limbic system to neocortex.

[Rebecca 0]

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We also have what is called an R-complex (or 'reptilian' brain) that takes care of basic reactions including anger and fear;

Is that the Medula Oblongata (sp?)?

Dude, do you, like, know everything?

[billvon 3,116]

>Is that the Medulla Oblongata?

That's part of the brainstem. If you look at a diagram of the brain, the MO looks like the end of the spinal cord; it's just thicker. It regulates blood pressure and does some other really basic stuff.

>Dude, do you, like, know everything?

I know next to nothing about women. And I currently don't know where any of my tax stuff is.

[skybytch 273]

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Interestingly, the development of these three brains is one of the strongest arguments for ontogeny recapitulating phylogeny.

Yeah. What he said.

Okay, seriously. WTF is ontogeny recapitulating phylogeny? I know I could go google it, but it's more fun to act like a guy and just ask someone who knows.

[Rebecca 0]

>Is that the Medulla Oblongata?

>>That's part of the brainstem. If you look at a diagram of the brain, the MO looks like the end of the spinal cord; it's just thicker. It regulates blood pressure and does some other really basic stuff.

Damn- I knew that. I just forgot. OK, so what is the anatomical name for the R-complex?

>Dude, do you, like, know everything?

>>I know next to nothing about women. And I currently don't know where any of my tax stuff is.

Taxes- can't help you there.
Women- well, I am one, but that doesn't qualify me to disseminate advice on behalf of my gender. I'm not exactly typical. ('Course, I doubt there's any woman on these forums who could be considered typical- we're skydivers after all!) If you ever have any questions, I'll do my best to help though!

[Muenkel 0]

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Nothing new there. We've known about the limbic system (seat of emotion and rapid decision) and the neocortex (higher reasoning) for a long time.

Speak for yourself.

Seriously, how do you know all this shit? There is no way anyone could have enough time to look all this stuff up?

Chris

_________________________________________
Chris

[Rebecca 0]

ontogeny: the development or course of development especially of an individual organism

recapitulating: to repeat the principal points or stages of

phylogeny: the evolutionary history of a kind of organism

So, yeah, basically, what he said...

[billvon 3,116]

>WTF is ontogeny recapitulating phylogeny?

It means fetal development bears some resemblence to evolutionary development. At one point, human fetuses have gills, tails, and a single-chambered heart, like a worm's. Then the heart grows and becomes a two-chambered heart, like a frog's. Then it develops separate atria and looks like a turtle's heart. Finally, right after birth, the last 'hole' closes up and it becomes the usual four-chambered heart.

One of the most profound miracles in human development happens right after birth. Half a dozen valves and vessels open or close, blood stops flowing through the umbilicus and flows through the lungs instead, flow actually reverses in some vessels, the heart reconfigures itself and increases its output by a factor of 2 - all in a few seconds. We basically change from an amphibious circulatory system to a mammalian one. And we survive the process.

The whole "ontogeny recapitulating phylogeny" debate is over how much the developmental steps are shaped by evolution and how much is just 'what you have to do to get a human.' Some of the steps (like brain development) are probably a throwback to an earlier time; others (like heart development) may just be the easiest way to grow a heart. Staunch christians dispute the evolutionary angle, of course - they claim that all those structures were put there by the creator, and indeed later even the gill slits get absorbed into the lower jaw, glands in the brain etc.

[Jessica 0]

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I know next to nothing about women.

Bill just pretends to be the Genius Bewildered by Women™ to get more play.

Skydiving is for cool people only

[billvon 3,116]

>Seriously, how do you know all this shit?

I was the guy in high school who always ran the projector, and sat in the library while all the other guys were out chasing women. I knew how the female reproductive system worked (including the names for the structures) long before I had any interest in its other uses. Just your typical nerd. I didn't realize there was much more to life until I got to college - and at the college I went to there actually _wasn't_ much more to life.

[PhillyKev 0]

Who is this "we" you speak of? Are you starting to use the royal 1st person pronoun?

[billvon 3,116]

>Bill just pretends to be the Genius Bewildered by Women™ to get more play.

And to think of all the years I'd try to make idle talk and pretend I understood women to try to get into their pants . . . all those years, wasted . . .

[happythoughts 0]

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Okay, seriously. WTF is ontogeny recapitulating phylogeny?

I met these 3 girls at a bar last Thursday night. I was not following the conversation part of the time and figured it was the Mind-erasers and Ballistic Missiles. It turned out that 2 were Russian and 1 was Lithuanian.

Every now and then, they would speak Russian to each other. I would look at my drink and re-evaluate whether I should order another round.

I guess BillVon gets a few of those looks too.

[PhillyKev 0]

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I knew how the female reproductive system worked (including the names for the structures) long before I had any interest in its other uses.

Yeah...my pick up line in high school was..."Hey baby, how'd you like me to stimulate your fimbria."

Didn't work too well.

[billvon 3,116]

>OK, so what is the anatomical name for the R-complex?

I think it's more a functional grouping than an anatomical unit. I think it includes the medulla, pons, cerebellum and a few other structures. Archipallium maybe?

>If you ever have any questions, I'll do my best to help though!

I think it's hopeless. I've tried to understand how some women can both think that external appearance should not be all that important to guys, but still wear makeup, jewelry, big hair and perfume, for example. People have presented very coherent arguments and I still just don't get it.

[Rebecca 0]

Dude, I love your sense of humor!

[Rebecca 0]

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wear makeup, jewelry, big hair and perfume, for example.

We're trying to stimulate your R-complex.

Seriously.

(I prefer to do so without big hair, excessive make-up, perfume, and jewellry, though...)

[PhillyKev 0]

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We're trying to stimulate your R-complex.

(I prefer to do so without big hair, excessive make-up, perfume, and jewellry, though...)

You don't need all that...women don't understand men....all we need are naked boobies and our R-Complexetises are completely stimulated.

[Rebecca 0]

Actually, the suggestion of naked boobies that cleavage offers is usually enough...

Don't understand men? Pah!

[Shark 0]

"How many greenies does it take to hijack a thread?"

Yep, this reptile needs to jump!

On another note... years ago as a new stockbroker they were referring to us as registered representatives, which was shortened to registered rep. As I became more knowledgable, I characterized some dudes as registered reptiles. Now, you have made it all clear with the R-complex. I was angry because the market was going to shit, then the fear set in that I could lose my job. But then again I had to eat and pay for the over priced crib I was staying in.

[happythoughts 0]

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I've tried to understand how some women can both think that external appearance should not be all that important to guys,

Because they don't think that. Given a choice of 20% better looking or 20% smarter, male or female, most people would take better looking. It is more fun, people treat you nicer, and you get to do more fun stuff. Simple test - "Hello, would you like to be Ruth Bader Ginsberg (Supreme Court Justice) or Liv Tyler ?"

Most of the time when people describe someone as intelligent, they just mean "that person agrees with me".

[JJohnson 0]

You know you are really taking the joy out of what I thought was a real simple ordeal.
Girl gets pregnant and 9 months later PRESTO we have a kid and I pass out cigars.

JJ

"Call me Darth Balls"