genetic manipulation controversy rocks angling world
On September 5, Saskatchewan fisherman Sean Konrad caught a 48-pound, world-record rainbow trout. The fish came from Lake Diefenbaker, where trout genetically engineered to grow extra-big escaped from a fish farm nine years ago.
Jackass
In case you haven’t seen it.
Synthetic biology
Wikipedia defines synthetic biology as “a new area of biological research that combines science and engineering in order to design and build (“synthesize”) novel biological functions and systems.” So, instead of cyberpunks and hackers, we get biopunks or wetware hackers. Dan Zambonini, guest posting at Lone Gunman, describes some of the current technology:
Although much of the current literature is beyond my rudimentary understanding, the idea of BioBricks seems incredible. I would describe it as a “genetic programming language”, but that doesn’t do it justice. To paraphrase the description on the website:
Using BioBrick™ … parts, [you] can … program living organisms in the same way a computer scientist can program a computer. The DNA sequence information and other characteristics of BioBrick™ standard biological parts are made available to the public free of charge currently via MIT’s Registry of Standard Biological Parts.
In other words, there’s a growing free database of ‘biological parts’ (tastes, smells, reactions, proteins) that you can piece together to ‘re-program’ existing biological systems (typically bacteria).
While I am sure many people are envisioning some creepy genius making a Lygar in his basement, BioBricks are for “reprogramming” bacteria. Screw the iPhone, this, my friends, is the future.
edge of space photos on a budget
Instead of rockets, boosters and expensive control systems, they filled a weather balloon with helium and hung a styrofoam beer cooler underneath to carry a cheap Canon A470 compact camera. Instant hand warmers kept things from freezing up and made sure the batteries stayed warm enough to work.
Of course, all this would be pointless if the guys couldn’t find the rig when it landed, so they dropped a prepaid GPS-equipped cellphone inside the box for tracking. Total cost, including duct tape? $148.
Than this
there can be none better: Four squiglets in a bath, courtesy of Our Lucy.
Dear clusterflock
Do you like to push yourself physically? If so, do you have certain methods for upping the ante?
Meleagris gallopavo silvestris
Wild turkeys. Galena Territory. Jo Daviess County (Illinois). USA.
Benjamin Franklin to his daughter (1784):
For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.
Read more
In case I haven’t
said it recently enough for you:
Stupid rain; stupid river.
You can’t have your lamb and eat it too
So a group of children at Lydd primary school decided to eat it. I might understand an uproar if the teachers said, “Well, I reck’n it’s about that time. Say g’bye to Marcus,” but the kids decided it.
Good Night and Tough Luck
Because the people on twitter seemed to love them (via):
Usually the trouble starts with my having to use the bathroom. Even though I am 38 years old, I still find myself hoping the urge will just pass. Which it doesn’t.
Looking like limestone?
To me the mix of earth tones with a white buffering overlay creates a look almost like limestone statuary. Am I nuts?
Secession talk
I’m a native Texan and have lived here the vast majority of my life. I think it’s unconscionably irresponsible for elected officials on the public payroll to speak glibly of secession while knowing they will never be held to account. Therefore I think it’s put-up-or-shut-up time. I’d like to see Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid 1) publicly offer the Republican delegation in Congress the opportunity to draft a constitutional amendment allowing states to secede peaceably from the United States, and 2) guarantee that the amendment, if or when drafted, will be brought up for a vote. Let’s see how Rep. Boehner and Sen. McConnell respond.
Nearness
RFID wizardry and such.
via a whole slew of people
bread and circuses
WWE CEO Linda McMahon is stepping down from her job to run for Senator of Connecticut.
McMahon and her family have been occasional performers. McMahon, who typically worked behind the scenes at the WWE, has said she’s appeared in portions of the shows at least several dozen times during her more than 25-year-career. One video on the Internet shows her in the ring, appearing to kick a man in the groin.
crazy, it’s not just for Texas anymore
Dave Weigel points out that one out of every three New Jersey conservatives think that Obama could be the anti-Christ. To be precise, 18% of self-identified conservatives affirmatively say that Obama is the anti-Christ, with 17% not sure. Among the self-identified Republican label, it’s 14% who say Obama has the number 666 hidden underneath his hair, plus 15% who aren’t sure.
Geek/Nerd/Dork/Dweeb
suspicious
Can suspicious be applied both to the observer and the observed?
Meaning, can He was suspicious have two meanings?
old-time crime scene
“This is an abnormal burial,” said archaeologist Will Bowden of the University of Nottingham. “The body, which is probably male, was placed in a shallow pit on its side, as opposed to being laid out properly. This is not the care Romans normally accorded to their dead. It could be that the person was murdered or executed, although this is still a matter of speculation.”
Where’s Sheila’s caution tape?
I was looking for an article on the smell of space
Y’all
Yesterday I ordered my first Apple Computer since the Mac SE. I would have gone iMac except my new PC is monstrous enough to do the heavy lifting I occasionally need. The plan is to run the mini in parallel with my PC using synergy. Needless to say, I am excited.
I hope I pressed the right one
dear clusterflock
Sex in the morning.
Time Donkey
I found Time Donkey from Brandon Boyer’s list of the “new indie hotness“.
UPDATE: You should also check out Nick Montfort’s Interactive Fiction Suggestions, Fall 2009 for more tasty delectables.
flipping the bird, constitutionally
The legal rights of those of us who have a need to flip the bird or yell at toilets.
The problem is not confined to Pittsburgh. In 2007, a woman in Scranton, Pa., was cited for yelling obscenities at an overflowing toilet in her home – a tirade overheard by her neighbor, an off-duty police officer. She was later acquitted on constitutional grounds, and the city paid her a $19,000 settlement. “We probably handle a dozen of these cases every year,” Walczak says. “We’re actually negotiating with the state police right now, trying to force them to change their training and written materials to make clear you can’t do this.”
Fellow Clusterflockers. If you like it, it’s yours!
This has recently been in an exhibition in Texas. The exhibition is over and so I thought I would offer the exhibition print to a regular Clusterflock contributor. Yes, I know I’m being picky. If you contribute here on a regular basis and would like this print I will have it posted to you. If you don’t happen to be first I will be happy to get you a smaller copy printed.
It will of course require you to like photos of old men with fag ash on them shot from an odd angle on a toy camera – if this is you, just say the word!
I think this print is about 12″ square and the additional copies will be about 7″.
