May 1, 2012

There Will Be Blood.

An interesting thread about tomorrow's Occupy general strike is on fire right now, as the OP predicts it will be a "flop," though by what metric he is determining this, is unclear.

A couple of things - one, the general strike tomorrow is not intended to, nor is it alone capable of, bringing about revolutionary change.

And two - I would classify the strike as a potentially catalyzing event, one that can, and likely will, bring renewed attention, and thus energy, to the Occupy movement. Or it might have the opposite effect; either, is quite possible.

That being said, I have a prediction of my own: Be prepared, for tomorrow will turn bloody.

Cops all over the country are polishing up their riot gear, pulling out extra rations of tear gas, stocking up on bullets (rubber, beanbag, and lead), and standing shirtless in front of full length mirrors, alternately flexing their chest muscles as they dreamily stare into their own eyes in order to avoid acknowledging the diminutive penis size which almost certainly lies at the root of their penchant for violence...

All right, I'm totally guessing at that last one...but...I'll betcha...

Cops are going to be a vivid force tomorrow, and believe it - they will get carried away, and people - Occupiers, bystanders, passer-bys, journalists, and even children, the elderly, and dogs, will be in their line of fire.

As to the "success" of the strike tomorrow - we shall see. I hope we pull it off, I hope it makes an impact, and I hope we can continue to move forward.

I'll be there, taking my chances with the rest...

So good luck to us all - and watch out - EVERYONE!! - for those madly swinging batons.

April 20, 2012

Synthetic DNA Created, Evolves on Its Own

Astonishing News:

Step aside, DNA—new synthetic compounds called XNAs can also store and copy genetic information, a new study says.

And, in a "big advancement," these artificial compounds can also be made to evolve in the lab, according to study co-author John Chaput of the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University.

, , ,

The team—led by Vitor Pinheiro of the U.K.'s Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology—then evolved enzymes, called polymerases, that can make XNA from DNA, and others that can change XNA back into DNA.

This copying and translating ability allowed for genetic sequences to be copied and passed down again and again—artificial heredity.

. . .

Last, the team determined that HNA, one of the six XNA polymers, could respond to selective pressure in a test tube.

As would be expected for DNA, the stressed HNA evolved into different forms.

This is simply flabbergasting. Are we on the way to engineering ourselves some competitors, or are there other implications (cyborg, rejuvenation, immortatlity, etc.) even more frightening and others totally exciting?

April 1, 2012

K&R If You Think.

Maybe it is the chronic pain that kept me awake all night; maybe I've misplaced my sense of ironic humor...or maybe I'm just getting old (I did see some rather irritating clouds yesterday...damn smart-alecky clouds, just floating along...they should mind their own freakin' business...). But is sure does seem this country has become one emotional, impatient, love-starved, anxious, twitchy puppy, who is sporting a shoulder chip about the size of a concert grand piano - and a serious anger-management issue.

And it is everywhere. I mean, just look around DU - there are what - 25 - 30 threads debating who was wrong, Current or KO. Reading through some of these (couldn't stomach more than a few, plus, gotta keep an eye on those clouds), it is amazing how easily offended we've all become. I mean really, who cares? Millionaires all hurtied by each other...and what are we doing, instead of not giving a shit about it? Throwing stones at each other over who is more right about who is more wrong.

Looking beyond the DU landscape, reading comments in articles from, well, all over the place, the emotionally-hurt-offended-great, now I'm angry because somebody I don't personally know and will likely never meet disagreed with me-comments, in the comments section, begin almost immediately. I was reading an article at some physics site, about dark matter's weight/mass, and in a realm of supposedly rational science-types, the offended were everywhere, displaying their hurt/outrage in full force. I could have just cried...well, no, not really...but it does suck.

Sigh.

You know, Pepperidge Farms and I remember a time, oh, for you young folks it was quite a long time ago - when people used to think beyond the satisfaction of the moment...when we weren't all so obsessed with winning every debate...these days, it is as if our egos have somehow collectively become fragile little snowflakes, unable to withstand losing an argument, and worse, never seeming to realize the opportunity to learn from the loss...thus we feed the negative, and the cycle strengthens...and repeats...

I am reminded, by all of this, of ancient Rome, and the gladiator arenas. Ahh, the spectacle! The noise of the crowd cheering and hissing, the clash of the mighty titans, the occasional lion, the distraction from things much more mundane, and much more important.

The Internet has become little more than a free-for-all gladiatorial arena attached to a gigantic shopping mall with an even bigger porno theater in the back. Sure it's entertaining, even useful. It is a social, entertainment, and business forum, much like the Roman arenas, where all manners of business and personal socialization took place during the course of the day's entertainment. Sure, they had bloodlust and excitement; but we've got feline jello wrestling and a mainline connection to unlimited supplies of Viagra and riviting political theater...

It's not bread and circuses; it's a mass of fucking melees - millions of them happening all at once, all the time. And we're all basically addicted to it - just ask Facebook. And it wouldn't be so bad, if it wasn't pretty much all we did collectively as a civilization...

"Did you hear?" "Did YOU hear?" "He said!" "She said!" "Blah blah blah!" "Oh yeah?" "Well, yada yada YADA!" "I'm shocked!" "I'm horrified!" "I'm simply outraged!!!!" "How dare you?" "How dare YOU?" And so on, and so on...and so on..........{please insert ad nauseum here}...

Well, most of my head hair is missing, my beard has gone grey, my athletic grace is nearly comatose, and in my advancing years, I've learned...shit, I don't believe I've learned a damned thing.

Actually, wait - I do know this: We Americans, we're not, at heart, a bunch of crybabies. And this easily offended thing donned by pretty much all of us with the opening of our browsers, is not real, it is not...us, who we are, what we are. Rather, it is the sword, the battle axe, the spikey thingies on the ropes we spin around our heads and throw, the spear...our offendedness...es...are the weapons we bring into our arena - and that is all that they are.

Look, just keep it in mind, would you?...and I will attempt to do the same, though at 44, my mind isn't quite what it used to be...I think...(stupid clouds)...