Publius on Nationalism, Kin Selection and Bob Dylan

Interesting post about Nationalism by Publius of Legal Fiction. He explains it in an interesting combination of genetics and culture with an ultimately (after a rough period) optimistic outlook for the future. The concept of "cultural lag" is very interesting. The "genetics" part is a little clumsy, dated and oversimplified (Hamilton's kin selection instead of group selection), but generally correct and better than the usual fare from non-biologists. I wish a biologist blogger with good grasp of group selection would write about that part....why is everyone staring at ME? I've been intending to write such a post for months now, yet feel I do not have it clear in my mind yet, so y'all will have to wait some more. In the meantime, go read Publius (and the comments) - it's thought-provoking even if you don't agree 100% with him.

Publius is one very, very serious blogger. Long serious thoughtfull posts. Not anybody's idea of light reading. Not your regular current-events-linkfest blogging. Rarely anything personal - never what he had for breakfast (or even the Random Ten on his MP3 player). Yet, once in a Blue Moon, he surprises with a one-liner. The latest one excites me, as a guitar player, as it provides a link to the site which contains lyrics and CHORDS to every Bob Dylan song ever.

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