But I think of culture as more of a bottom up kind of thing, the kind of thing we are born with...
Born with culture? That's quite a stretch, even for you, Uncle Ken and I don't buy it. We become acculturated as we grow into adulthood; it depends on where and how we were raised. Mark Twain seems popular lately, and I think he covered some of the same issues in Pudd'nhead Wilson.
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I read somewhere that killing an opposing gang member was a requirement for full initiation into the gang, to "make your bones." Until then, you are nothing more than a hanger-on with no real investment or commitment. There is the advantage in that it ensures solidarity; you can't have a change of heart and rat out the killers if you are one yourself and betrayal of the gang carries a death penalty.
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Since some memories are long, it seems to me that the lack of a forgiving nature means that you can get bogged down in the most trivial of slights and never move on with your life. In order to move a ahead it's sometimes necessary to put certain things behind you; carrying excess baggage makes an unpleasant journey.
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So, what's going in the garden this year, Mr. Beagles, anything new or exotic? I read that this guy in Britain has developed the world's hottest chili pepper, with more than 2.5 million Scoville units. It's a little thing and potent enough to act as a local anesthetic. Perhaps the next global threat will be weapons grade food.
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