Post: #26

(01-24-2017 04:07 PM)Kid Twist Wrote:  What would anyone's recommendation be for genetic testing for ancestry. Before my parents die I almost wanted them to check it out so I could see and not lose my privacy (theoretically).

FamilyTreeDNA and 23AndMe are both fairly cheap and available. You can do both and cross-compare the results.

Post: #27

Not paranoid, but do you think the genetic information vis a vis privacy or medical issues moving head is something to consider at all? It won't matter for them, but possibly as a deduction later on for me, if relevant (likely not).

I realize that if someone really wants to get your DNA it is not hard, but there is a difference between offering it up with perfect, scientific matching and correlation with identity, stored in a particular place as opposed to detective work, hair or swab PCR'd on the sly

Post: #28

Frankly it does not matter much whether Jesus was an Ashkenazi Jew of Greek heritage.

He started out a Jew and ended up becoming something different. Either way - he certainly was a very impressive fellow having been able to collect a massive following just due to his presence and words uttered. Mohammed without his sword only got 150 followers (mostly family and friends - and mostly also due to his relative wealth). Jesus got thousands of followers without using the sword to convert people. His message was clearly superior to most other religions available back then.

Post: #29

(01-26-2017 11:57 AM)Zelcorpion Wrote:  Frankly it does not matter much whether Jesus was an Ashkenazi Jew of Greek heritage.

He started out a Jew and ended up becoming something different. Either way - he certainly was a very impressive fellow having been able to collect a massive following just due to his presence and words uttered. Mohammed without his sword only got 150 followers (mostly family and friends - and mostly also due to his relative wealth). Jesus got thousands of followers without using the sword to convert people. His message was clearly superior to most other religions available back then.

Weren't Jews of the Levant rather than semitic (arab) origin always the rebels though? Sephardim and Mizrahis also tend to have a lower ethnic IQ, and Ashkenazi Jews are dying out. Hypothetically even without Hitler, in western Europe they would have eventually married out anyways.

Genes matter if they play into ones thought patterns and processes. Taleb has long complained in his writings and speeches how the whole ''arab Chrisitian'' thing is anything but.

Post: #30

(01-26-2017 07:39 PM)Nowak Wrote:  Genes matter if they play into ones thought patterns and processes. Taleb has long complained in his writings and speeches how the whole ''arab Chrisitian'' thing is anything but.

This article by Taleb doesn't really go into the genes, do you have a better one?

https:[email protected]/we-dont-know....9yzafl7ei

Post: #31

^ One has to look at a lot of the content of texts as "needs of the COMMUNICATION MEDIUM and author at THAT TIME" .. They did not have InfoGraphics and Wikis & HyperLinks.. so they have to create "structure" around "information" such that "the masses" (not highly educated or intellectual) could garner something from the content.. Hence, throughout all traditions, the information/ knowledge was passed on in a STORY format..

So, some things can be take literally, while others may be "metaphors" used to describe something without "video" and rich communication medium. Hence, interpretation, understanding and relevance to CURRENT LIFE scenarios and usage is not always straightforward.