THE SELFISH GENE by RICHARD DAWKINS : ANCESTRY WORSHIP GENEALOGY BOOK REVIEW

THE SELFISH GENE by RICHARD DAWKINS : ANCESTRY WORSHIP GENEALOGY BOOK REVIEW

This book, first published in 1989 and in it's third printing after selling million in 2006, is still relevant when it comes to asking questions about how genetics influences individuals and society and culture. Using examples from the animal kingdom, Dawkins moves to the realities of human life.

What does the author mean when he uses the word SELFISH which sounds like self-involved and mean? Why not use the term self preserving? Dawkins seems to be saying that animals show a self interest in preserving their own genetics in the way they organize their society or culture, in the ways they favor certain offspring, and that for humans using contraception may be the best way to preserve a family.

Does genetics explain why in nature, many fathers put in less effort to preserve offspring than mothers? In humans is this a matter of socialization or enculturation? I would say that in humans modern fathers seem to overall be putting in less effort to preserve offspring than the fathers of my father's era!

Do maternal uncles (your mother's brother really) have more interest in their neices and nephews than the paternal uncles, since they are more certain that there is a genetic link between themselves and the child?

Famine, plague and war have reduced populations, and so has birth control. Uncontrolled birth rates lead to uncontrolled death rates according to the author.

Using animals who are not human, the author says that many animals defend their territory, which includes defending the individuals who carry their genes.

Page 113 "In many cases females refuse to mate with males who do not possess a territory. Indeed it often happens that a female whose mate is defeated and his territory conquered promptly attached herself to the victor... No territory, no breeding. Automatic submission by lower ranking (individuals) is preferable to prolonged fights..."

Animal dominance. Indirect competition over females. Is this why in the old days parents quizzed a young woman's date about his ability to support her and the family before they would consent to allowing them to associate? How many young men would be able to mate at all if females refused to be available for dates until he could buy a house?

Also according to Dawkins, Individuals who have too many children are penalized, not because the whole population goes extinct but because fewer of their children survive.

(Page 117) ... "If a husband and wife have more children than they can feed, the state, which means the rest of the population, simply steps in and keeps the surplus children alive and healthy. But the welfare state is a very unnatural thing."

And so we go into politics without ever mentioning the word, or the coming Presidential election. With 26 million Americans now in need of government help to afford food, I would say that a great many are reproducing without being able to afford to, and that the state will become mom and dad to very many. Another notion of my father's era father was that God Will Provide, that When There's A Will There's a Way, and that There Is No Shame in an Honest Day's Work.

This book had me thinking beyond it!

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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD : NO SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER?

If you're looking for a Social Security number, on the Death Index, or because you want to send for the Original Application, which would give you the mother's maiden name for an ancestor, and can't find one, the reason may be that the person never applied or paid into the system because they were WORKIN ON THE RAILROAD! Here is a link to the RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD. It announces that the information will now be acquired through the National Archives.

BIRTH PARENT and CHILD REUNIONS : FIRST SUGGESTION : WRITE FROM YOUR HEART

Want to find the child you gave up for adoption?

Ready to face the reality rather than all the hopes and fears you've had through the years?

Your questions are the questions of most birth parents.

Was your child actually adopted, or did they live through a series of foster homes?

Were they adopted locally or taken to another city, county, state, or country?

Was your child really raised better than you could have done?

Were their adoptive parents good parents to your child (nobody's perfect) or was your child abused?

Is your now child healthy and well adjusted to life? We're they educated? Do they work? Have their own family (are you a grandparent?)

Does your child want to meet you? Do they hate you? Are you really ready?
My first suggestion is this: Write it out - pour your heart out on paper. Talk it out with a best friend - confidant or maybe a spiritual advisor or therapist if you've kept this child a secret.

Write 20 questions you don't know the answers to.
Write the answers to those questions that you hope for.
What questions would you ask your son or daughter if you met them?

Are you prepared to learn that your child is maybe, just maybe, someone you would not want to know. (What if your child turns out to be unhappy with the gender of their body and wants to transition to the other gender? Personally, I seem to deal with transgendering people better than most, I think because of my belief in reincarnation, but this is a challenge; example Cher and Chastity "Chaz" Bono.) Maybe your child will have a world view that is very different than yours.

You've been unable to raise this child. This child is of you and has your genetics but not your influence. The old Nature versus Nurture question prevails.

In my experience contemplating these questions is the beginning work of finding the child you gave birth to or fathered. There is something spiritual to it. The soul searching is the first order of a successful research because questions unanswered are likely to stall it.

I've had the experience of trying to work with and for someone who created issues off and on for over 4 years because they really were not ready.

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BRYAN SYKES DNA USA : SO GLAD I READ THE BOOK! WHAT I LEARNED

Earlier I mentioned reading the latest Bryan Sykes was on my agenda. Well, I read it, and it was a terrific book, at once a travel adventure by a British man first time across the USA by train, as well as what I've come to expect from Sykes; a DNA adventure.

One of the most interesting things I learned about DNA is that these day's science can tell you that your liver came from your African DNA (and the tribe) while your heart came from European (Celtic maybe). As a result, medicine may some day be more accurate in prescribing medications or treatments based on genetics that may not be obvious looking at you.

Something else I learned was more relevant to GENEALOGY. You see, proving Native American ancestry is something that so many people want to do these days. Used to be that people hid their "Indian" heritage for many reasons, including discrimination. Sykes takes about the willingness of many Americans - White and Black - who want to find out if the family rumors are true. Others, however, are sure they do not want DNA tests because... well because it might prove they do not have enough Native American ancestry to retain their tribal rights, especially to casino money.

In one case a tribe threw out a couple hundred members who were African American, these people took the test and came out between 6% and 30% native American. However, Sykes points out, the remaining members of the tribe don't want to take the same test and find out they are also less than entitled.

Over all, this was a terrific book.

I highly recommend it, and hope to find the time to read all the previous books he's written about the subject!

1940 CENSUS ADVICE : SAME PLACE IS NOT THE SAME AS SAME HOUSE!

Here is a little reminder about the 1940 census. If it says that the person lived in the same place in 1936 that does not mean the same address, it means the same town. Therefore, if the person lives in a big city, they may mean anywhere in the city, or even the same county. The question was asked because the economic disaster Americans were living in meant moving around to keep a roof over their heads. Millions were homeless or near homeless, but perhaps what saved them was the willingness to take in relatives and friends, pull together and make it through.

Check where the person lived also along with marriage information. A recently married couple might report living in different places four years earlier because they weren't married yet. If one person seems to be a long way from where home was four years earlier, this often leads to family in that other place, or someone just passing through town due to employment, military, CCC's...

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Our genetic and spiritual ancestors help us with our research quests and, while we follow a linear research path, amazing dreams and synronicities abound.

We explore multicultural ancestry worship and the use of genealogy for past-life verification, as well as practical ways and means to achieve our research goals.