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Most of you may guess that I’m not big into human interest stories (though I do follow celebrity gossip cursorily). But over the last week I’ve become moderately interested in the death of Paul Kalanithi. A little over a year ago his piece How Long Have I Got Left? was brought to my attention. The issue that he was confronting was that he was suffering from terminal lung cancer. It was particularly of note because Kalanithi was a neurosurgeon who was just ascending up the peak of his professional powers. Now, he was confronting disease and illness from the perspective of a patient, and it was making him reconsider some of the norms of medical practice. Despite his deteriorating health Kalanithi kept writing and speaking out in the media. His last piece, Before You Go, was written not too much before his death, on March 9th of 2015.
His story attracted my interest again because despite his terminal condition he and his wife decided to proceed with starting a family. On July 4th of 2014 his daughter Cady was born. He concluded his last piece of written work:
…There is perhaps only one thing to say to this infant [his daughter, Cady], who is all future, overlapping briefly with me, whose life, barring the improbable, is all but past.
That message is simple: When you come to one of the many moments in life when you must give an account of yourself, provide a ledger of what you have been, and done, and meant to the world, do not, I pray, discount that you filled a dying man’s days with a sated joy, a joy unknown to me in all my prior years, a joy that does not hunger for more and more, but rests, satisfied. In this time, right now, that is an enormous thing.
A minute after my daughter was born she opened her eyes, and looked straight at me. And at that moment I slipped beyond the event horizon. I am happy for Paul Kalanithi that he decided to embark on that last journey into the deep before his passing.
Second, does anyone know a good book about the “Age of Discovery”? I can’t think of one off the top of my head. A reader emailed me to ask, and I didn’t have a pat response.
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A lovely story. And the father achieved wisdom. No small thing.
quite so
The Age of Reconnaissance by Parry is good
also, just bought In God's Path: The Arab Conquests and the Creation of an Islamic Empire. god knows when i'm going to have time to read it :-)
thanks.
also, just bought In God’s Path: The Arab Conquests and the Creation of an Islamic Empire. god knows when i’m going to have time to read it 🙂
Have there been any genome-wide association studies done on lifetime fitness in contemporary Western populations? Gene variants that are currently under positive selection in humans have obvious evolutionary implications, but I couldn’t any GWASes for fertility in modern societies. One paper looked at what phenotypes correlate with fitness (http://www.pnas.org/content/107/suppl_1/1787.full), but it wasn’t able to explain most of the heritable variation in fertility (20% heritability), and it only looked at women.
It would also be interesting to identify rare variants that have a large positive effect (more than ~5%) on fitness. Would those be easier or harder to find than common variants of small effect?
how about stuff like this? http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002929712002492
usually they look at pops with high fertility since that has the requisite variation. hutterites, mormons, etc.
Razib, any thoughts on the recent study by Frost and Harpending? Possibly a dedicated post sometime in the future?
haven’t had time to read the paper. moderately skeptical, but i don’t know how much math is in it…i know henry has had these thoughts before.
Quite poignant for me there with Kalanithi. He’s close to my age and has already left his daughter, who is the same age as my youngest, in his wake. In the old tradition, when people die they go far ahead of us to the beginning of things, and we struggle through life against the current to catch up with the past.
But what’s really interesting about him is his voice. Just hearing him speak I’d think he was one of my own kind. And no, it isn’t the accent, but the quality of the voice. His voice bears some similarity to Viggo Mortensen’s actually. I have a pretty good ear, and I can often hear a person’s race – and even ethnicity – regardless of accent. For example, Asians and blacks often sound different even when raised speaking with a perfect “white” accent. Even Jews often have a different quality to their voice. But Kalinithi might as well be a West Coast American of pure Anglo-American lineage from his vocal timbre. Remarkable.
in the case of blacks and jews you're talking about groups known to have distinctive accents. the jewish accent is partly just an artifact of geographical concentration in a few areas (new york, south florida, etc.). latinos are in critical mass to such an extent that they often have a distinctive accent due to their subculture in places like california when american born (people of mixed latino/something other have that accent when raised in a latino environment too). from what i have read/heard black males in particular have deeper voices, so there's something there. i don't know about asians, but as far as south asians there has never been a critical mass outside of a few locales such as edison, NJ, and now a few parts of silicon valley like cupertino. so of course we just pick up whatever regional accent we grow up in (e.g., my accent based on a long form dialect test is generic west coast oregon/nor cal with a minor component of upstate new york, which is correct based on my upbringing). for someone of kalanithi's age (~my own) there was no option of socializing just with other indians, there weren't enough. today i've met a few young people from cupertino who have a mild indian accent despite growing up mostly in the USA. i'm not a big fan of this trend, but people seem to like to hang with their own race. so whatever....Replies: @syonredux, @J Yan
But what's really interesting about him is his voice. Just hearing him speak I'd think he was one of my own kind. And no, it isn't the accent, but the quality of the voice. His voice bears some similarity to Viggo Mortensen's actually. I have a pretty good ear, and I can often hear a person's race - and even ethnicity - regardless of accent. For example, Asians and blacks often sound different even when raised speaking with a perfect "white" accent. Even Jews often have a different quality to their voice. But Kalinithi might as well be a West Coast American of pure Anglo-American lineage from his vocal timbre. Remarkable.Replies: @Razib Khan
For example, Asians and blacks often sound different even when raised speaking with a perfect “white” accent. Even Jews often have a different quality to their voice
in the case of blacks and jews you’re talking about groups known to have distinctive accents. the jewish accent is partly just an artifact of geographical concentration in a few areas (new york, south florida, etc.). latinos are in critical mass to such an extent that they often have a distinctive accent due to their subculture in places like california when american born (people of mixed latino/something other have that accent when raised in a latino environment too). from what i have read/heard black males in particular have deeper voices, so there’s something there. i don’t know about asians, but as far as south asians there has never been a critical mass outside of a few locales such as edison, NJ, and now a few parts of silicon valley like cupertino. so of course we just pick up whatever regional accent we grow up in (e.g., my accent based on a long form dialect test is generic west coast oregon/nor cal with a minor component of upstate new york, which is correct based on my upbringing). for someone of kalanithi’s age (~my own) there was no option of socializing just with other indians, there weren’t enough. today i’ve met a few young people from cupertino who have a mild indian accent despite growing up mostly in the USA. i’m not a big fan of this trend, but people seem to like to hang with their own race. so whatever….
One thing that I have noticed is that the AAV (African American Vernacular) accent is somewhat more common among men.Black women, in contrast, seem to be a bit more inclined to speak with the General American accent.I suspect that this dichotomy might have something to do with women (in general) favoring "prestige" forms while men tend to go somewhat more downmarket in affect.
add to must read:
http://emilkirkegaard.dk/en/
lots of R code.
usually they look at pops with high fertility since that has the requisite variation. hutterites, mormons, etc.Replies: @ericyu3
I’m mainly wondering what variants will become more common in contemporary populations in the next 1-2 generations, so the study of Hutterites isn’t too relevant. I just came across a recently-published GWAS of fertility (http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0118488), but it didn’t find any significant hits and it wasn’t in a developed country.
in the case of blacks and jews you're talking about groups known to have distinctive accents. the jewish accent is partly just an artifact of geographical concentration in a few areas (new york, south florida, etc.). latinos are in critical mass to such an extent that they often have a distinctive accent due to their subculture in places like california when american born (people of mixed latino/something other have that accent when raised in a latino environment too). from what i have read/heard black males in particular have deeper voices, so there's something there. i don't know about asians, but as far as south asians there has never been a critical mass outside of a few locales such as edison, NJ, and now a few parts of silicon valley like cupertino. so of course we just pick up whatever regional accent we grow up in (e.g., my accent based on a long form dialect test is generic west coast oregon/nor cal with a minor component of upstate new york, which is correct based on my upbringing). for someone of kalanithi's age (~my own) there was no option of socializing just with other indians, there weren't enough. today i've met a few young people from cupertino who have a mild indian accent despite growing up mostly in the USA. i'm not a big fan of this trend, but people seem to like to hang with their own race. so whatever....Replies: @syonredux, @J Yan
RE: Black Americans,
One thing that I have noticed is that the AAV (African American Vernacular) accent is somewhat more common among men.Black women, in contrast, seem to be a bit more inclined to speak with the General American accent.I suspect that this dichotomy might have something to do with women (in general) favoring “prestige” forms while men tend to go somewhat more downmarket in affect.
Great story, and I too rate as one of my great accomplishments the birth of my first child, a daughter also!
In terms of books on the Age of Discovery, my favorite is:
“The Conquest of New Spain” by Bernal Diaz
“A minute after my daughter was born she opened her eyes, and looked straight at me. And at that moment I slipped beyond the event horizon. ”
.
Enhanced traditional … .
in the case of blacks and jews you're talking about groups known to have distinctive accents. the jewish accent is partly just an artifact of geographical concentration in a few areas (new york, south florida, etc.). latinos are in critical mass to such an extent that they often have a distinctive accent due to their subculture in places like california when american born (people of mixed latino/something other have that accent when raised in a latino environment too). from what i have read/heard black males in particular have deeper voices, so there's something there. i don't know about asians, but as far as south asians there has never been a critical mass outside of a few locales such as edison, NJ, and now a few parts of silicon valley like cupertino. so of course we just pick up whatever regional accent we grow up in (e.g., my accent based on a long form dialect test is generic west coast oregon/nor cal with a minor component of upstate new york, which is correct based on my upbringing). for someone of kalanithi's age (~my own) there was no option of socializing just with other indians, there weren't enough. today i've met a few young people from cupertino who have a mild indian accent despite growing up mostly in the USA. i'm not a big fan of this trend, but people seem to like to hang with their own race. so whatever....Replies: @syonredux, @J Yan
I think Bill P. is referring to the pure sound differences produced by groups with somewhat different physiologies (nasal cavities, etc.). Like Bill, I can often tell the difference between an unaccented East Asian woman’s voice and a European woman’s voice.
To restate this using a pop-culture reference: a fifth-generation East Asian “valley girl” would sound different than Moon Zappa does.
That's why it was surprising to hear Kalanithi. If I hadn't seen his picture and I heard his voice, I would have pictured a thin Anglo-American.
Right, voices are like faces: both have features that often run in the family. I used to sound just like my mom before I hit puberty, and my 10yo son’s voice reminds me of his grandfather, who died before he ever met him. Obviously there’s a racial component to that. It isn’t as obvious as skin color, but it’s hard to miss if you have experience with racially diverse people speaking the same language with the same accent.
That’s why it was surprising to hear Kalanithi. If I hadn’t seen his picture and I heard his voice, I would have pictured a thin Anglo-American.
to test this hypothesis – which I stated some time ago, too – one could use a voice analyzing programm which would be able to predict the ancestry of a speaker. It would be best if this program would be able to use parameters which work in different languages.
Trying to test across language might complicate things too much at first.
to test this hypothesis - which I stated some time ago, too - one could use a voice analyzing programm which would be able to predict the ancestry of a speaker. It would be best if this program would be able to use parameters which work in different languages.Replies: @Bill P
I’d think it would be easiest to test in only one language for starters. American born students and graduates of prep schools would make a good population, as hardly any of them have non-standard dialects and there’s some racial diversity there.
Trying to test across language might complicate things too much at first.
a bit late, but Sanjay Subramaniam’s biography of Vasco da Gama is a must-read for any one interested in the subject of the discoveries. Very thorough (in a good and a bad way) in all the economic and social aspects of the very messy process of early Portuguese colonization of India.
Not to rain on this parade, but all I can think is: What a selfish man, that Kalanithi. As a father, I find that final quote to be obscene.
Obscene is a bit strong, but it is debatable whether a swan song of saccharine self-absorption will be of benefit to a child who will never know her father.
I don’t know, you think it is better to never live at all than to live without a father? I think in a society where broken families are so common, it is less of a big deal. My only fear in his situation would be the genetic legacy I would be passing on. A more difficult question to me would be is it better to die a painful death in one’s prime than to never live at all? Would I be willing to risk cursing someone I love with the tragedy I am currently facing? Though I suppose this would depend on the heritability of his condition, of which I cannot speak to.
Hey Riordan, can you link me the paper?
I am looking forward to reading your work in the NYT
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/media/2015/03/8564327/emnew-york-timesem-adding-20-online-opinion-writers
Sadly, not everyone agrees…
http://tktk.gawker.com/new-times-op-ed-writer-has-a-colorful-past-with-racist-1692187849/+trotter
Ahhhh, the glories of evolution.
Congrats on the NYT gig! Sorry to hear about the naysayers that melo mentioned.
Did the NYT really take down Razib’s page?
http://www.nytimes.com/column/razib-khan?action=click&contentCollection=Opinion&module=Byline®ion=Header&pgtype=article
Link takes you to “page not found”. I really hope they didn’t fire him because of that one jackass on Gawker.
Anyway, since I respect Razib personally from what I know of him, I think this is far from the worst thing that could happen to a guy who values honesty.
It is the NY Times that is under scrutiny here -- not Mr. Khan. Maintaining one's integrity is more important than gaining the temporary favor of trendy people.Replies: @jtgw
The miniscule dimensions of the intellectual prisons that leftists like the NYTimes live in these days are just astounding.
Also their complete and utter lack of co-johns. Their willingness to flop over for any troll that comes along is just disgusting.
Razib: You are a good man. Illegitimi Non Carborundum.
My god. This is absolutely pathetic on the Times’ part. Razib Khan links to his articles on Taki’s etc. on his own website. If that’s what scared them, they should have been smart enough to do the obvious and actually visit his webpage before hiring him, instead of delivering this cowardly slap in the face.
http://www.nytimes.com/column/razib-khan?action=click&contentCollection=Opinion&module=Byline®ion=Header&pgtype=article
Link takes you to "page not found". I really hope they didn't fire him because of that one jackass on Gawker.Replies: @Bill P, @Walter Sobchak
Don’t give Gawker credit it doesn’t deserve. It was someone else.
Anyway, since I respect Razib personally from what I know of him, I think this is far from the worst thing that could happen to a guy who values honesty.
It is the NY Times that is under scrutiny here — not Mr. Khan. Maintaining one’s integrity is more important than gaining the temporary favor of trendy people.
And really, Razib is NOT a racist hack. He's spent plenty of time owning the neo-nazi Cro-Magnons who lumber over from iSteve and Derbyshire's columns (not that THEY are neo-nazis, just more tolerant of bozos). He's done much work showing how current genetic research undermines white nationalist fantasies about race as much as liberal ones.Replies: @Bill P
Just heard about the NY Times. I have much more respect for someone who expresses their views honestly even when it is inconvenient, even if I disagree, than for an organization that backtracks at the slightest gust of wind against them. Hopefully it is better for you in the long run to speak your mind and not become another boring vapid dispenser of whatever is popular.
Anyway, since I respect Razib personally from what I know of him, I think this is far from the worst thing that could happen to a guy who values honesty.
It is the NY Times that is under scrutiny here -- not Mr. Khan. Maintaining one's integrity is more important than gaining the temporary favor of trendy people.Replies: @jtgw
Do you know who it is? But yeah you’re right. It doesn’t sound at all like Razib needed that gig, and it does make the NYT look that much sorrier. Just when you thought they might get a little more open-minded…
And really, Razib is NOT a racist hack. He’s spent plenty of time owning the neo-nazi Cro-Magnons who lumber over from iSteve and Derbyshire’s columns (not that THEY are neo-nazis, just more tolerant of bozos). He’s done much work showing how current genetic research undermines white nationalist fantasies about race as much as liberal ones.
I'd been reading GNXP on and off for years. However, most of it was a bit dry and technical for my tastes, which run toward the humanities, so it's a pleasant surprise to see Razib's thoughts on religion and history.Replies: @Walter Sobchak
And really, Razib is NOT a racist hack. He's spent plenty of time owning the neo-nazi Cro-Magnons who lumber over from iSteve and Derbyshire's columns (not that THEY are neo-nazis, just more tolerant of bozos). He's done much work showing how current genetic research undermines white nationalist fantasies about race as much as liberal ones.Replies: @Bill P
I have no idea who it was, but my guess would be a senior editor got a call from some old guard operator with a lot of influence.
This is what I appreciate most about his work. If there’s anything white people need, it’s to learn to think realistically about these things and not be led down the rabbit hole by demagogues, no matter which side of the issue they’re on. And I say this from the perspective of a white guy who cares about his people and culture. I’ve got three white kids, after all.
I’d been reading GNXP on and off for years. However, most of it was a bit dry and technical for my tastes, which run toward the humanities, so it’s a pleasant surprise to see Razib’s thoughts on religion and history.
Look at the way the University of Virginia handled the gang rape fantasy published by Rolling Stone. Off with their heads, punishment first, trial later. When the story tuned out to be the ravings of a diseased mind completely unrelated to fact, the University President doubled down.
It’s depressing to see how this stuff plays out. Rather than think “this guy is a doctoral candidate and a super serious thinker, so maybe what he wrote at X site is worth reading,” they determine X site is beyond-the-pale and thus…what, that the doctoral candidate stuff was some kind of mistake on the part of the academic establishment?
We’ll never hash this out because the discussion won’t be had. What a shame.
http://www.nytimes.com/column/razib-khan?action=click&contentCollection=Opinion&module=Byline®ion=Header&pgtype=article
Link takes you to "page not found". I really hope they didn't fire him because of that one jackass on Gawker.Replies: @Bill P, @Walter Sobchak
Well, of course they did. F*** ’em if they can’t take a joke.
The miniscule dimensions of the intellectual prisons that leftists like the NYTimes live in these days are just astounding.
Also their complete and utter lack of co-johns. Their willingness to flop over for any troll that comes along is just disgusting.
Razib: You are a good man. Illegitimi Non Carborundum.
I'd been reading GNXP on and off for years. However, most of it was a bit dry and technical for my tastes, which run toward the humanities, so it's a pleasant surprise to see Razib's thoughts on religion and history.Replies: @Walter Sobchak
Don’t give the NYTimes too much credit. It is characteristic for institutions infected with the PC virus to over-react to the slightest trolling.
Look at the way the University of Virginia handled the gang rape fantasy published by Rolling Stone. Off with their heads, punishment first, trial later. When the story tuned out to be the ravings of a diseased mind completely unrelated to fact, the University President doubled down.
Razib,
I read your column and am appalled that this happened to you.
The junior volunteer auxiliary thought police at work again.
best regards,
AKAHorace
http://siberiantimes.com/science/casestudy/news/n0154-first-attempt-fails-to-extract-nucleus-from-woolly-mammoth-cell-for-cloning/
I’m always a bit confused when it comes to these kinds of projects. How have we managed to sequence the neanderthal’s genome from bone yet we can’t get the mammoth’s from actual flesh and marrow? When it is said that a genome (like the neanderthal) has been sequenced, does that mean we know the full sequence of nucleotides and could theoretically use it to clone? (i.e. do we theoretically have enough information to clone the neanderthal whose toe bone was used or could we clone Dr. Watson since his genome has been sequenced)?