Ask a Moron: How Important Was Syphilis In History?

This news story got me thinking:

In a comprehensive genetic study, scientists have found what they say is the strongest evidence yet linking the first European explorers of the New World to the origin of sexually transmitted syphilis.

The research, they say, supports the hypothesis that returning explorers introduced organisms leading, in probably modified forms, to the first recorded syphilis epidemic, beginning in Europe in 1493.

I'm going to go a bit off the rails here but here it is: If this is true, would it be possible to attribute the vast discrepancies between Europe and the Americas in 1493 to differences in the prevalent diseases among their leadership? Could Europe's vast dominance in art, science and technology came from more rational political leadership resulting from relatively common syphilis in one place and its nonexistent in the other? I think it is possible.

First, it seems likely that syphilis, if it existed only in the Americas, would have been very common. The limited understanding of medicine in ancient times would have provided no way to prevent the spread of sexual diseases or even understand what they were. Also, circumstantially, if the first explorers came back with it after (probably violent)limited relations with the natives, the odds of their contraction must have been quite high. (If anyone knows any

Next, let's consider the effects of long-term syphilis:

Neurological complications at this stage can be diverse. In some patients, manifestations include generalized paresis of the insane which results in personality changes, changes in emotional affect, hyperactive reflexes, and Argyll-Robertson pupil.

It is generally accepted that these personality changes are often violent or, at best, erratic and prone to seemingly insane decisions. Al Capone was famously afflicted and much of his insane, violent behavior could be at least somewhat blamed on this condition:

Records suggest an association between Capone's declining neurological condition and an increase in high-risk behaviors. Prison, criminal, media, and medical records from the National Archives and other sources were studied to identify relationships to current research data describing neurological abnormalities of prison inmates. Healthcare providers can play a critical role in identifying at-risk youths, potentially reducing the incidence of high-risk behaviors associated with both crime and infectious disease transmission.

What does this have to do with political leadership? Tons. In (pre)tribal societies it is well-documented that the leaders had more um... leeway when it came to exercising sexual options with the female tribe members. It is therefore likely that these men were at far higher risk to contract sexually transmitted diseases as they had more partners.

Consequently, If the rate of 'Al Capones' in the leadership of American tribes was higher through history than in Europe up until 1492, could that erratic leadership have contributed to the marked difference in technological and social development? I'm not saying it did. I'm not even saying it was likely. I'm just saying it is a neat thought and I'd love to see someone much smarter than me discuss the idea.

(Published under Ask A Moron even though nobody asked. Sorta like a reminder to fucking ask me something. Thanks in advance.)

A Day Which Will Live in Infamy

Personal note: This weekend will be the final super busy weekend for the next year, this I swear! I will complete all my homework and (hopefully) purchase a new car as my current one has suffered damage I choose not to repair.

Blogging will return in earnest in the new year. Hope to see you all there!

HyperboLefties

Once again, a screeching leftist demonstrates their inability to remember or acknowledge any events preceding the Clinton Presidency:

Let me reassert the obvious here: The war in Iraq has been a disaster, the stupidest foreign policy decision ever made by an American President.

Really? The stupidest foreign policy decision ever? That is a very bold statement considering the competition 230 years of history has provided. Before I list some candidates for Stupidest Foreign Policy Decision Evar™ let me remind you that these wild claims about Bush and Iraq are not intended to be factual or informative but to engender terror in the average American's heart. They have to be made to see just how bad things have become. Joe Klein is not stupid and knows full well that Iraq is a blip of an error(if you believe it to be an error at all) compared to some of the true foot-up-the-ass policy choices that have been made in our history.

Now, without further ado, my list of Stupidest U.S. Foreign Policy Decisions:

• Reagan's Retreat From Lebanon - I think it has become pretty clear over the last 24 years just how stupid this decision was. Terrorist leaders started to build their 'paper tiger' argument about the U.S. on October 23, 1983. I'd rank Carter's dealing with Iran as stupider but it is hard to call his behavior a 'decision.' More like the opposite.
  
  See also: Carter and Iran, Clinton in Somalia, Bush I in Iraq



• Spanish American War - Now, this one turned out okay but at the time had to have been one of the stupider ideas America had ever had. Trump up an explosion in Cuba in order to declare war on a major naval power for the purpose of empire building. This was obviously a great plan because we could really toss our weight around with an empire of tiny islands spread all over the globe. Brilliant.
  
  See also: Mexican-American War (Not so much stupid as just mean!)



• War of 1812 - After just barely escaping the Revolutionary War with our freedom, we decide we need to kick the hornet's nest a bit more and invade Canada. Who wouldn't want to engage the world's largest navy and army in a war? Well, most everyone except us, it seems. As you might expect, we got kicked around pretty well and our capital was burned. While we didn't lose I would be very hesitant to call this a win. Let's call it a tie.



• Johnson's Expansion of the Vietnam War - Not so stupid deciding to expand it as the stupidity of doing so without any desire to actually, you know, win the damned thing. By the time Nixon had the reins, it was clear the country was done with Vietnam and no effort of his would win the war without destroying the Republican Party. Oh well, only millions of people died when we retreated.

Have a better one? Leave them in the comments. I definitely left some room for ideas relating to our dealings with the Soviets. There were too many to choose from.

(h/t: Instapundit)

Cubism Not Modern Art

Apparently, it is the least modern art in the world:

French archaeologists say they have excavated an 11,000-year-old wall painting in red, black and white in northern Syria which they describe as the oldest in the world, although it resembles a modern work.

The 2-square-metre painting was found below ground at the Neolithic settlement of Djade al-Mughara on the Euphrates, northeast of the city of Aleppo, mission head Eric Coqueugniot told Reuters.

"It looks like a modernist painting. Some of those who saw it have likened it to work by Klee. Through carbon dating we established it is from around 9000 B.C.," Coqueugniot said.

"We found another painting next to it, but that won't be excavated until next year. It is slow work," said Coqueugniot, who works at France's National Centre for Scientific Research.

Coqueugniot was referring to Swiss-German artist Paul Klee, who had links with the Bauhaus school, a main player in the German modernist movement.

New this season on Fox: Picasso In Tiiiiiime