Thursday, January 12, 2006
SouthCon News Roundup 01-12-06
I read the headline that scientists in Taiwan had genetically engineered green pigs that glow in the dark. I looked at my calendar and said "Nope, it's not April first." So, I read the rest of the story, and, sure enough, scientists in Taiwan really have genetically engineered green pigs that glow in the dark.
You know, I always thought that a lot of this genetic-engineering monkey business smacked of "playing God." I've had my qualms. I've put all that behind me, now. I want to extend my heart-felt gratitude and express my appreciation to this brave and brilliant team of scientists. Finally, somebody had the ingenuity to tackle the problem of pigs that fail to be green and glow in the dark. At last I think we can say without irony that, as a world culture, we really have put the middle ages behind us for good:(The scientists) claim that while other researchers have bred partly fluorescent pigs, theirs are the only pigs in the world which are green through and through.
The pigs are transgenic, created by adding genetic material from jellyfish into a normal pig embryo.
The researchers hope the pigs will boost the island's stem cell research, as well as helping with the study of human disease.
Well, of course these pigs can help with human disease. They may not provide any information that will lead to the cure of any given disease, but I'm sure that sick people will at least have the opportunity to feel better if they're taken to a dark room and allowed to pet a glowing, green pig.
At first this struck me as just stupid and kind of funny... but then I thought about it, and I really think there might be another explanation here:
Human error is to blame for an offensive link at Wal-Mart's Web site that recommended a film about the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to potential buyers of a ''Planet of the Apes'' DVD, the retail company said Friday.
The mistake resulted from a well-intentioned effort to promote a DVD about the black leader, said Carter Cast, president of walmart.com, the online shopping arm of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
OK, fine, but here's the thing... there is really is a connection between the message of Dr. King and the message of the movie The Planet of the Apes. At least, the original movie. If you've seen the original sci-fi classic, you know that it's really a satire, like the very best science fiction often is. The Planet of the Apes is a social satire, and it clearly mocks things like government-sponsored racial oppression. At least, that's what I got out of the original movie. Now, the Planet of the Apes material at the Wal-Mart website wasn't the original movie, it was the DVD set of the terrible TV show based on the movie. Still, it seems possible to me that the link to the racially sensitive DVDs was provided by someone with good intentions.
It seems possible to me.
Besides, this is one of those areas where racism is probably in the eye of the beholder. Wal-Mart could have taken the high-road and said that the idea of a racist connection seemed absurd to them, that only a real racist would think there was any kind of tangibly racial connection between a movie about monkeys and a movie about black people.
But that's just me. I could be out in right field, here. You know how I get.
Isn't Great Brittan our alley in the war?A senior British officer has criticised the US army for its conduct in Iraq, accusing it of institutional racism, moral righteousness, misplaced optimism, and of being ill-suited to engage in counter-insurgency operations.
The blistering critique, by Brigadier Nigel Aylwin-Foster, who was the second most senior officer responsible for training Iraqi security forces, reflects criticism and frustration voiced by British commanders of American military tactics.
This is an official British opinion, now. Not French. British.
In a related story, the ghost of John Wayne held a press conference in which he accused the British military of institutional priggishness, moral ambiguity, haughty pessimism, and of being ill-suited to engage in WAR AGAINST THE UNITED STATES 200 YEARS AGO, BECAUSE WE KICKED THEIR GIRLY ASSES! BOOOYA! HOW YOU LIKE ME NOW, YOU RED-COATED SISSYMEN?!!
OK, it really wasn't the ghost of John Wayne who said that. It was me. I'm sorry.
OK, here's how the foodchain works: On top, there's humans. Below that, there's the animals. Below that, there's the little creepy-crawly things you learn about in science class; the things that crawl in the mud. Below those guys, there's the French. Below them, there's compost and rot and filth. And below all of that, there's the kind of sleezeball who'd do something like this:
Someone is trying to take advantage of the West Virginia mine tragedy by asking for support for the lone survivor.
Several people say they have received e-mails, allegedly from a West Virginia University Hospital doctor, asking for donations for Randall McCloy.
McCloy is being treated at the hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning and is in critical condition.
The messages, which appear to have originated in India, are fake.
The scam has been reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Just find the guy who did this, put him in a room, give me a rake and BB gun, and I'll take care of everything.
Check out the Political Teen for a brief bit of video that I think is pretty moving. During his hearings, the liberal wastes of oxygen in the Senate have really been raking Sam Alito over the coals, trying to portray him as some sort of racist, sexist hatemonger. Senator Lindsey Graham took a moment to apologize to Alito. Of course, the cynics on the left are going to see this as nothing more than propaganda, just a well-rehearsed bit of spin-control by the Republicans. Whatever. It was clearly more than that to Judge Alito's wife. Seated behind him during the hearings, it must be tough on Mrs. Alito to hear her husband drug through the mud by people with the unimpeachable character of Ted Kennedy. Her reaction to Graham's remarks was pure and emotional, and it was one of the very rare "real" moments of American politics.Then, if you have any real doubts about Alito's character, check this out. Susan Sullivan is a former clerk of the judge's. She calls herself "a social progressive... a card-carrying member of the ACLU and a liberal pro-choice advocate who supports abortion rights... favor(s) gun control, support(s) gay marriage and oppose(s) the death penalty." This is what she has to say about her old boss and his nomination:
As a liberal, what scares me is not the prospect of having Sam Alito on the Supreme Court; what scares me is the way my fellow liberal Democrats are behaving in response to the nomination. I’m appalled and embarrassed by the fear mongering, the personal attacks and what I see as an irresponsible and misleading distortion of his real judicial record as well as his character. Now the threat of a filibuster lurks, and Senator Kennedy’s tirade about documents being concealed seems like little more than a pretext to justify such a threat...
In my experience, having worked closely with him, Judge Alito never allowed his personal or political opinions to dictate the outcome in any case irrespective of its subject matter. On the contrary, he approached every case, including Casey, thoughtfully and carefully. He was always open to discussion and argument and always willing to listen and consider all relevant points of view...
If you really want a Supreme Court justice who will approach each case carefully, thoughtfully and will reach a decision irrespective of his own personal or political agenda, please don’t “F” Judge Alito.
This is a woman with no political reasons to support Alito. Sounds like she genuinely thinks that he is ideally suited for the job. When I read stuff like that from principled liberals (FDR wasn't the last one?!?), I find it thrilling. American in general... and the American left in specific... needs more Susan Sullivans and Joe Liebermans ... and fewer Howard Deans, Ted Kennedys, Hillary Clintons and Michael Moores.
Ok, I admit, this item is goofy... but follow me here.
Have you seen the new (I suppose they're new) Kotex television commercials? Here's a link to the one I'm talking about. The text of the ad goes like this:
"Biologically speaking, women win. We get amazing curves, sexy hairless backs, miraculous ovaries... "
The ad goes on to say that using Kotex brand products gives women more time to enjoy "feeling superior."
Yeah, it's silly. It's harmless. As a matter of fact, I happen to agree with the ad. Biologically, women do win. Just look at a woman; the female form is the standard of beauty for the human species. Now, look at a man. We look like sparsely hairy apes who can't control any of our physical functions. Yeah, Women win. The ad is fun, and it's silly and harmless.It would also be silly and harmless if, for instance, Zebco did an ad like this:
Biologically speaking, men win. We have strong backs, we can parallel park, and we have incredible testicles!
Maybe the ad could end by encouraging men to grab a Zebco fishing pole and hit the riverbank and spend some time "feeling superior."
That would be harmless, too... right? Right? Nobody'd get mad about that. Right?
Sure.
Permalink -- Posted by Darrell at 16:54 
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Maybe they have no hair on their backs, but did Kotex ever ask a French woman to lift up her arms?
BTW, as a "superior woman" I happen to know...
Kotex sucks. Period.
BTW, as a "superior woman" I happen to know...
Kotex sucks. Period.
I wouldn't jump all over the British for what one dude said. I guess I'd have to hear more than that one comment.
As for the Kotex ad, I agree with Mrs. E. They DO suck. Period. But you're right. An ad like "Zebco" wouldn't fly, expecially the part about parallel parking, since that is not inherent in biology. Besides, some women can park and have strong backs, but what man do you know who can carry and then deliver a fresh, new human being? I suppose that's cool and everything, but men can pee standing up! Seriously though, I agree that there's a big double standard. And who'd really want a curvaceous, smooth, silky man anyway? Ick. Not me. In fact, the very thought of it is making me go all nauseous.
As for the Kotex ad, I agree with Mrs. E. They DO suck. Period. But you're right. An ad like "Zebco" wouldn't fly, expecially the part about parallel parking, since that is not inherent in biology. Besides, some women can park and have strong backs, but what man do you know who can carry and then deliver a fresh, new human being? I suppose that's cool and everything, but men can pee standing up! Seriously though, I agree that there's a big double standard. And who'd really want a curvaceous, smooth, silky man anyway? Ick. Not me. In fact, the very thought of it is making me go all nauseous.
OMG, I can't believe I typoed "expecially." Woo. I should look before I hit PUBLISH. I sound like a real Pittsburgher, now.
Anything touting men's superiority would be blasted. PERIOD.
Those green pigs are cool. I've got my order in for a hot pink poodle.
Those green pigs are cool. I've got my order in for a hot pink poodle.
i hate this commrcial it doesnt applie to me i feel like a freak and i want to die
# posted by 
: 4:37 PM
: 4:37 PM
About the pigs: They were trying to show that transgenic organisms can exist, and live successfully. What's the easiest way to test if a transgenic organism is really transgenic? Add a gene that does nothing, then test EVERY cell for that gene? Or add the colour, then you can visually see that it worked without any further tests... Simple. Still, I like the rest of your blogs... Very good!
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