I made off-hand snidey comment about big boss at a lunch the other day. not big boss, but still boss has now mentioned that comment to an employee not in our department. He is a boss known to tattle. I think I am about to get in trouble. FUCK! I hate stupid petty people and also my stupid mouth saying funny true things that are snide.

Well, there are animals we call lions that are not leo.

The main thing is that the idea of species developed in a time of idealism, where a species was a static essential element of nature probably created in final form by God. It's not clear that there is a sensible dividing line anymore at that level of taxonomy. DNA doesn't show a clear dividing line. Evolutionary theory doesn't tell us where to draw the line. It is confusing. Some have said that "The Origin of the Species" acutally should have been called "The Demise of the Species" because the idea of species changing over time ultimately casts doubt on the concept.

And then there is the issue of genetic islolation as a criterion. It was often assumed that this was either geographical or biological, based on naughty bits that didn't mix well. But genetic isolation can emerge becasue of behavioral (cultural?) differences.

For instance, a colleague of mine studies migratory birds. Different subgroups follow different migratory pathways, and over time they develop a different vocal dialect. It's not obvious to a casual observer but her graduate students can listen to a bird and tell you where it was caught. And the birds know the difference.

Now, when you mix birds of the same "species" but from different flyways, they don't have much reproductive success. But it is not because of anatomical differences or genetic differences. There is nothing biological keeping them apart.

It is because the female birds judge quality of the males by their singing. When they encounter a male from a different flyway, he doesn't sound "right" and is rejected as defective. They can't tell the difference between a biological defect and cultural variation in musical taste.

So geographical isolation leading to changes resulting in reproductive isololation. Fits old ideas of species. But if you cross-foster offspring of the two flyways so they learn the right way to sing you find that there is nothing differentiating these animals at all.

So what is a species? Something real? Something of de facto utility but essential falsehood? Something determined by the number of Eigenvalues in your statistical decomposition of variation in DNA? Another word for culture?

Depends on where you went to grad school and when.

I wish we had likes. In any event, Rick's post is great.

But I come here to make sure that advice column aficionados (Jesse) are reading Ask Polly in The Awl. The sexually transmitted crazy mouth in yesterday's column was amazeballs.

Go Eigenvalues! Choose Eigenvalues!

Much peace and strength to you, 'suela

Thanks, Maria. It would be easier if my folks didn't keep calling me--my dad calls me, says "Your mother would like to talk to you," and then hands over the phone so she can rage at me to her heart's content about being locked into a prison and why has everyone betrayed her, she never did anything wrong, she's not a bad person, etc etc etc. And then eventually I have to hang up on her because I cannot redirect the conversation and she just keeps getting worked up.

This is not helpful to my zen, I have to admit.

Well, there are animals we call lions that are not leo

I'm assuming you don't mean mountain lions, so what do you mean?

Today is the work craft fair. I have had a table the prior two years and sold maybe 5 ornaments total. I didn't participate this year and I got an e-mail from someone saying they missed my table and had been hoping to buy some ornaments. Sigh.

'suela, can you lose your phone?

EVERY machine in the world that puts print on page(okay, just my world) is broken.

I have finals next week. I don't have a final printed for my 9th grade nor for 5 of my other 6 classes.

Filled with hate for the printers and copies.

Now, when you mix birds of the same "species" but from different flyways, they don't have much reproductive success. But it is not because of anatomical differences or genetic differences. There is nothing biological keeping them apart.

It is because the female birds judge quality of the males by their singing. When they encounter a male from a different flyway, he doesn't sound "right" and is rejected as defective. They can't tell the difference between a biological defect and cultural variation in musical taste.

That's amazing.

The sexually transmitted crazy mouth in yesterday's column was amazeballs.

Seriously.

I didn't participate this year and I got an e-mail from someone saying they missed my table and had been hoping to buy some ornaments. Sigh.

Can you make a side deal with that person?

Our work craft fair was today, too!