"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Thursday, July 2, 2009
The Basic Mental Profile of People Who Buy Products from Paco Enterprises...
That is one of the stupidest damn articles I've ever read.
Soay sheep are SMALL sheep. If they are getting smaller over time, I'd say that (a) they have a problem with inbreeding, and/or (b), they are overpopulated and there isn't enough food.
Inbreeding depression encompasses a wide variety of physical and health defects. Any given inbred animal generally has several, but not all, of these defects. These defects include:
Elevated incidence of recessive genetic diseases
Reduced fertility both in litter size and in sperm viability
Increased congenital defects such as cryptorchidism, heart defects, cleft palates.
Fluctuating assymetry (such as crooked faces, or uneven eye placement and size).
Lower birthweight
Higher neonatal mortality
Slower growth rate
Smaller adult size, and
Loss of immune system function.
So, I wouldn't be busily attributing size changes to something like "global warming" when inbreeding would suffice.
There's a reason that it is called "hybrid vigor".
Mineral deficiencies will also cause reduced growth rates.
I'm a distributor, and I'd appreciate it if you people would keep all your doubts to yourselves, thank you. This recession is tough enough as it is.
As for the smaller sheep, they live on an island, don't they? Hasn't it been recorded that island species get smaller over the eons (for much the same reasons SwampWoman listed)?
Well, the population of those particular sheep go up and down along with the food supply; i.e., too many sheep outgrow the food supply, many starve, there's now an excess supply of food, and the sheep population increases. It is well documented. This has been happening through many sheep generations. Smaller sheep can get survive on a limited food supply that would kill larger animals. So what has been selected for here?
The "average size" decreased by 5%? Average size of WHAT? Rams? Ewes? Lambs? Twins are smaller than singles. Ewes' weights vary according to available feed, pregnancy or lactation status. Lamb weights also vary according to feed status. Rams are fat and lazy in the summer and, during breeding season, are frequently too busy to eat and lose lots of weight. Starvation would tend to depress weights, as well.
I don't see anything to do with global warming. I see an organization that is frantically searching for something to pin on global warming so they'll get another grant.
I think the Swampwoman is trying to distract us from one of her illicit schemes to benefit from the bio-catastrophe of AGW. Perhaps she dabbles in Polar Bear futures ...
(wronwright looks around his living room at all the incredibly crappy crap he purchased via impulse buying at late night hours after seeing paco's infomercials)
That is one of the stupidest damn articles I've ever read.
ReplyDeleteSoay sheep are SMALL sheep. If they are getting smaller over time, I'd say that (a) they have a problem with inbreeding, and/or (b), they are overpopulated and there isn't enough food.
Inbreeding depression encompasses a wide variety of physical and health defects. Any given inbred animal generally has several, but not all, of these defects. These defects include:
Elevated incidence of recessive genetic diseases
Reduced fertility both in litter size and in sperm viability
Increased congenital defects such as cryptorchidism, heart defects, cleft palates.
Fluctuating assymetry (such as crooked faces, or uneven eye placement and size).
Lower birthweight
Higher neonatal mortality
Slower growth rate
Smaller adult size, and
Loss of immune system function.
So, I wouldn't be busily attributing size changes to something like "global warming" when inbreeding would suffice.
There's a reason that it is called "hybrid vigor".
Mineral deficiencies will also cause reduced growth rates.
And just what's wrong with Paco products?? They've served me well.
ReplyDeleteIt's also possible that the sheep herders helped ALL the sheep survive. Y'know, by bringing them indoors when it's cold.
ReplyDeleteIdiot boffins. Makes me glad I studied engineering.
Robert: Yes, but you're a distributor (Gawd! You're not actually a ...consumer, are you?)
ReplyDeleteI'm a distributor, and I'd appreciate it if you people would keep all your doubts to yourselves, thank you. This recession is tough enough as it is.
ReplyDeleteAs for the smaller sheep, they live on an island, don't they? Hasn't it been recorded that island species get smaller over the eons (for much the same reasons SwampWoman listed)?
Well, the population of those particular sheep go up and down along with the food supply; i.e., too many sheep outgrow the food supply, many starve, there's now an excess supply of food, and the sheep population increases. It is well documented. This has been happening through many sheep generations. Smaller sheep can get survive on a limited food supply that would kill larger animals. So what has been selected for here?
ReplyDeleteThe "average size" decreased by 5%? Average size of WHAT? Rams? Ewes? Lambs? Twins are smaller than singles. Ewes' weights vary according to available feed, pregnancy or lactation status. Lamb weights also vary according to feed status. Rams are fat and lazy in the summer and, during breeding season, are frequently too busy to eat and lose lots of weight. Starvation would tend to depress weights, as well.
I don't see anything to do with global warming. I see an organization that is frantically searching for something to pin on global warming so they'll get another grant.
I think the Swampwoman is trying to distract us from one of her illicit schemes to benefit from the bio-catastrophe of AGW. Perhaps she dabbles in Polar Bear futures ...
ReplyDeleteCheers
WV: scailit, well????
(wronwright looks around his living room at all the incredibly crappy crap he purchased via impulse buying at late night hours after seeing paco's infomercials)
ReplyDeleteNow he says it.
wronwright
Great, just great...who's paying all of the postage for me to ship this stuff back???? Paco!
ReplyDeleteMy wife is really ticked about that 5% thing too.......
I have never found a problem with Paco products.
ReplyDeleteThen again, they are yet to be delivered.
I send off bank drafts, cheques, internet transfers, B-pay, credit card, cash, etc,... but am yet to recieve anything more than catalogues.....
i have always avoided paco products. he works for the government, doesn't he? ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm with Swampwoman.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was lack of nourishment.
Humans have been getting larger over the last several hundred years due to better nourishment.
Steve: Have you tried sending gold bullion? That might do the trick.
ReplyDeletePaco, Gold Bullion, good idea!
ReplyDeleteI'll put a couple of bars inside a regular envelope, lick a stamp, then give it to the postman when he makes his rounds....