Synthetic Life
I heard about this yesterday in the news but thought I'd post the TED video of the announcement. Indeed, this is a philosophical shift in how we view life. Humanity has now taken its first step toward creating new life not from an existing organism but pretty much from scratch using basic building blocks.
This has, of course, divided the scientific community. Is this opening Pandora's Box? Is this playing God? Or is this something that could offer solutions to things we could not solve before? I am both intrigued and worried about the implications this has in terms of the environment, medicine, and everyday life in the future. Too much CO2? Here, use this special synthetic algae! Lost an arm? Code in your DNA sequence and this vat of amino acids, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and fats will grow you a new one!
Okay, maybe that last one is a little extreme for my lifetime. Or not? Create a synthetic sperm and an egg, use a surrogate mother, and there you go. Also, the potential for bioterrorism is real here. Imagine making a cell that thrives on asphalt and concrete. There goes a city's infrastructure. Yeah, that example was from Oryx and Crake.
Anyway, the first step has been taken and we can only guess where this leads. I hope the rigor of ethics approval for future projects is as strong, if not stronger, as the two year process given to this project.
A New Decade
You know, I could be a lot like other bloggers and write about the past and the future and make that list of resolutions. But I think, "nah..." as I set this post to automatically publish itself at midnight.
I will not make a list of unrealistic resolutions (such as losing 20 pounds fast); the only thing I will follow is to keep moving forward with the flow and get things done in my capacity. I have matured to take personal responsibility for failures and not cry that such and such exam was hard or the prof was so "unfair" (thankfully, that has not happened at all 
).
It is called having an internal locus of control and believing that there are circumstances in your life that are within your control. Feeling helpless and blaming others is counter-productive and be grateful that in Canada, you have the freedom to do something about it. I will get to where I want to be - I have never been so determined and inspired.
The past decade is gone now and I will cherish the good times. I look forward (though with some worry) to a world transformed by 9/11, recession and unemployment, climate change and extreme weather, natural disasters, nuclear escalation, and constant war. China and India emerge and will soon become major players in the global economy. And technology... well, it is growing at such a fast pace and being the gadget nerd I am, I will try to keep up with the pace. :P
Obama’s Speech to Students
Those who thought this was controversial need to be educated. Show me the hidden political agenda in telling kids to endure hardships, work hard, and stay in school. I guess those who protested this speech are in favor of their kids failing, dropping out, and leeching off welfare. Oh wait, now THAT would be the "socialism" they were all afraid of indoctrinating the youth with. Way to go, morons over at Faux News/Fox Noise.
On another note, I wonder, where are Canada's inspiring leaders today? Too busy playing partisan politics to give a damn about what the people really need it seems.
"You can't let your failures define you. You have to let your failures teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently next time."
Thanks Obama, I'm pumped for the coming challenges ahead (while my leaders run their smear campaigns). This speech could very well have inspired the future inventor of cold fusion power or the researcher who discovers the cure for cancer. You never know.
P.S., X-Box fanboys must be jumping for joy. /facepalm
Bill Clinton The Most Interesting Man in the World
(Picture source: here)
Indeed, he would be a perfect fit now for those commercials. In the words of Jon Stewart of The Daily Show:
"The man hopped on a plane on Monday, flew to North Korea, freed a couple of ladies, got back in time to watch the season finale of So You Think You Can Dance? You know who he is! He is the most interesting man in the world."
So for those landing on my page because I coincidentally blogged about the Dos Equis guy and Bill Clinton, the source of the fad is August 5th's episode of The Daily Show.
You can see it here: http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/240616/wed-august-5-2009-paul-giamatti - In the first 5 minutes of the show you will hear the reference followed by some awesome parody of CNN and Fox News coverage.
Bill Clinton the Hero
If you still don't know what this man did, get out from under the rock and just Google. He rescued two journalists from 12 years of hard labour. People on Twitter were all up in joy yesterday when news broke out.
And as of this moment, Republicans are criticizing him. Wow. Like they have the right to speak. I guess they should be threatened by the Democrat's surge in publicity. Well, after Bush for 8 years, the resulting global recession, and two unfinished wars, Republicans have very little credibility and left a huge mess for Obama to clean up.
I do regress that in the aftermath of such a happy ending comes the scrutiny and speculation of what happened "behind the scenes" ... that this might be too good to be true. It is not enough that they are free and home with their families it seems.
Regardless, not a single shot was fired and relations have improved. Surely, the US cannot afford another war and we don't want our [Canada's] biggest trade partner imploding under the pressure of three wars. Freedom won through diplomacy and not through bloodshed. This is the antithesis to Bush and Cheney's approach to foreign policy.
The picture they wanted...
Freed journalists reunited with their families. Such an emotional moment for all around.
(Photo: Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)
As an aside:
I'm Canadian but the truth hurts: Harper and Ignatieff bicker on Parliament Hill as Canada falls into insignificance on the world stage. We failed on our own formulated plan of climate change and now all I see is power struggle this, mudslinging that. This says it all when two Canadians say the following:
"Why is it when US journalists are held, CBC provides endless coverge [sic]. And when Canadians or Canadian journalists are held captive CBC reports nothing?"
Because nothing happens.-CBC News, comments on "Freed U.S. journalists reunite with families"
Our national pride is falling by the wayside.
And to those criticizing the reporters for getting themselves into trouble in the first place, the real issue is that the punishment did not fit their crime. Surely, they needed to be saved from that at least? Of course, conspiracy theorists are quick to believe that they really were CIA operatives. I roll my eyes.
