Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
i wanna go visit my cold blooded family
(you'd have to know me to understand)
Ever wanted to come face-to-face with a real live crocodile? Well, now you can, at the newly-opened Crocosaurus Cove theme park in Darwin, Australia.
The park’s star attraction, the “Cage of Death”, allows visitors to have a close-encounter with a crocodile from within the safety of a 4-cm-thick acrylic tank that separates them from “Choppa,” a saltwater crocodile who lost both front feet from fighting with other crocodiles.
Visitors will be submerged in the tank for 15 minutes while Choppa tries to take a bite out of them.
While this may sound appealing to thrill seekers, the attraction has sparked criticism from animal rights activists who see it as a cruel way of taunting the crocodile and intruding its home.
General Manager Mike Scott says that the crocs were saved from crocodile farms where they were troublesome and would have otherwise been shot, so being at Crocosaurus Cove actually saved their lives. They are kept in good living conditions and looked after by crocodile experts.
In addition to the “Cage of Death,” the park also features seven crocodile enclosures with underwater viewing windows and one with a swimming area next to the window so visitors can see what it feels like to swim with the crocodiles.
Visitors will also be able to see more than 100 crocodiles, 200 fish, 40 turtles and 76 snakes and lizards, and Burt, a crocodile famous for his role in Crocodile Dundee.
Visitors will be submerged in the tank for 15 minutes while Choppa tries to take a bite out of them.
While this may sound appealing to thrill seekers, the attraction has sparked criticism from animal rights activists who see it as a cruel way of taunting the crocodile and intruding its home.
General Manager Mike Scott says that the crocs were saved from crocodile farms where they were troublesome and would have otherwise been shot, so being at Crocosaurus Cove actually saved their lives. They are kept in good living conditions and looked after by crocodile experts.
In addition to the “Cage of Death,” the park also features seven crocodile enclosures with underwater viewing windows and one with a swimming area next to the window so visitors can see what it feels like to swim with the crocodiles.
Visitors will also be able to see more than 100 crocodiles, 200 fish, 40 turtles and 76 snakes and lizards, and Burt, a crocodile famous for his role in Crocodile Dundee.
Acid throwing and gender violence growing in India
In 2000 we were working with some women in Bangalore when we met Nurjehan, a poor mother-of-three who had been horribly defaced by an acid attack. Later, we heard about a 16-year-old middle-class girl who had been partially blinded after a similar attack. The police told us these were just isolated instances, but we decided to go on a fact-finding mission across the state of Karnataka (of which Bangalore is the capital). We found there had been 68 acid attacks in Karnataka since 1999. These are only the cases that have been reported; there are definitely many, many more cases that go unreported across India.
Acid attacks are a form of gender violence; they are intended to silence women who stand up for themselves. Women were being attacked for doing well at work, protesting against domestic violence, leaving their jobs – essentially whenever they demonstrate independence. There is a myth that women are only attacked with acid when they reject someone’s sexual advances. But we found that it happened for all sorts of reasons: women of all castes, classes and religions were being attacked by husbands, lovers, employers, jealous colleagues and even landlords.
Shockingly, acid is still easily available. Even a child can buy a litre of highly concentrated acid over the counter for less than 20 rupees. It continues to be used to clean bathrooms, tiles and jewellery, and there are no laws to regulate its sale or concentration.
Many of the victims of these attacks are turned away from hospitals because they can’t afford the treatment. And if they are admitted, a lot of hospitals don’t know how to treat them. Not many people realise that acid victims need a different kind of first aid; they can’t be treated like ordinary burn victims. In several cases, women have died because they could not access, or afford, the proper care.
We launched CSAAW (Campaign and Struggle Against Acid Attacks on Women) in 2003 with two aims: to prevent acid attacks, and also to make the government rehabilitate the survivors.
In January 2004 we organised a public hearing, with survivors speaking before judges and government officials. It was a turning point. The police commissioner issued a notice to his officers that acid attacks should be considered attempted murder and the government began to consult us on the issue.
The media organisation Pedestrian Pictures, one of our partners in CSAAW, made a documentary film that featured survivors across the state talking about their experiences. We called it Suttaru Sollapavadaru (Burnt, but not defeated). It was shown across the state and got a great response. I think it helped people realise that acid survivors are not just victims to be pitied, but also strong women who need help to move on with their lives.
Hasina Hussein, a 19-year-old girl, became our figurehead. She was attacked and blinded by her employer in 1999. She got a lot of publicity because she was young and educated. In Hasina's case, her attacker was imprisoned for life by the high court, after being given a light sentence by the lower court. It was the first time life imprisonment had been awarded for an acid attack. She was also awarded 500,000 rupees as compensation [almost £6,000] which, though inadequate to meet her medical expenses, is the highest-ever payout given to a survivor. Hasina's case has become both a precedent and a deterrent.
In 2004, in response to our demand for medical aid for survivors, victims were granted 200,000 rupees to meet the medical expenses of each survivor and 25,000 rupees as compensation. Government hospitals were also ordered to help victims of acid attacks. The amount is still too low, as most survivors spend five times that on medical expenses, but it was a major step towards recognising the government's responsibility.
Another step forward is that the media has become more sensitive. During the early years coverage was sensationalist, with newspapers somehow implying that the victim had done something to deserve her fate, or else featuring gory before-and-after pictures. Now the press has got behind us and reports impartially on everything we do.
But while there has been some change, there is still terrible indifference. The state is still reluctant to take on the acid manufacturers and there is still no regulation of the sale of acid. Money that has been set aside for the survivors is slow to reach them.
While there are enough laws on paper to prosecute attackers, enforcement is, as ever, a problem. The police are reluctant to interfere with what they consider domestic disputes.
In many cases, the women tell us that they don't want plastic surgery; they want jobs. Most have been blinded or lost their hearing or the use of their hands, thereby losing their livelihoods. Many have young children or parents to support. We are lobbying for them to be recognised as disabled and be eligible for government jobs.
For the survivors, life can never be normal again. We believe that the only way to stop acid attacks is to root out the patriarchy behind them, the culture of silencing women who speak out.
• Sushma, Verma, Sanjana and Mallige (who prefer to use only their first names) were talking to Kavitha Rao. Burnt, but not defeated, with English subtitles, can be seen here.
Acid attacks are a form of gender violence; they are intended to silence women who stand up for themselves. Women were being attacked for doing well at work, protesting against domestic violence, leaving their jobs – essentially whenever they demonstrate independence. There is a myth that women are only attacked with acid when they reject someone’s sexual advances. But we found that it happened for all sorts of reasons: women of all castes, classes and religions were being attacked by husbands, lovers, employers, jealous colleagues and even landlords.
Shockingly, acid is still easily available. Even a child can buy a litre of highly concentrated acid over the counter for less than 20 rupees. It continues to be used to clean bathrooms, tiles and jewellery, and there are no laws to regulate its sale or concentration.
Many of the victims of these attacks are turned away from hospitals because they can’t afford the treatment. And if they are admitted, a lot of hospitals don’t know how to treat them. Not many people realise that acid victims need a different kind of first aid; they can’t be treated like ordinary burn victims. In several cases, women have died because they could not access, or afford, the proper care.
We launched CSAAW (Campaign and Struggle Against Acid Attacks on Women) in 2003 with two aims: to prevent acid attacks, and also to make the government rehabilitate the survivors.
In January 2004 we organised a public hearing, with survivors speaking before judges and government officials. It was a turning point. The police commissioner issued a notice to his officers that acid attacks should be considered attempted murder and the government began to consult us on the issue.
The media organisation Pedestrian Pictures, one of our partners in CSAAW, made a documentary film that featured survivors across the state talking about their experiences. We called it Suttaru Sollapavadaru (Burnt, but not defeated). It was shown across the state and got a great response. I think it helped people realise that acid survivors are not just victims to be pitied, but also strong women who need help to move on with their lives.
Hasina Hussein, a 19-year-old girl, became our figurehead. She was attacked and blinded by her employer in 1999. She got a lot of publicity because she was young and educated. In Hasina's case, her attacker was imprisoned for life by the high court, after being given a light sentence by the lower court. It was the first time life imprisonment had been awarded for an acid attack. She was also awarded 500,000 rupees as compensation [almost £6,000] which, though inadequate to meet her medical expenses, is the highest-ever payout given to a survivor. Hasina's case has become both a precedent and a deterrent.
In 2004, in response to our demand for medical aid for survivors, victims were granted 200,000 rupees to meet the medical expenses of each survivor and 25,000 rupees as compensation. Government hospitals were also ordered to help victims of acid attacks. The amount is still too low, as most survivors spend five times that on medical expenses, but it was a major step towards recognising the government's responsibility.
Another step forward is that the media has become more sensitive. During the early years coverage was sensationalist, with newspapers somehow implying that the victim had done something to deserve her fate, or else featuring gory before-and-after pictures. Now the press has got behind us and reports impartially on everything we do.
But while there has been some change, there is still terrible indifference. The state is still reluctant to take on the acid manufacturers and there is still no regulation of the sale of acid. Money that has been set aside for the survivors is slow to reach them.
While there are enough laws on paper to prosecute attackers, enforcement is, as ever, a problem. The police are reluctant to interfere with what they consider domestic disputes.
In many cases, the women tell us that they don't want plastic surgery; they want jobs. Most have been blinded or lost their hearing or the use of their hands, thereby losing their livelihoods. Many have young children or parents to support. We are lobbying for them to be recognised as disabled and be eligible for government jobs.
For the survivors, life can never be normal again. We believe that the only way to stop acid attacks is to root out the patriarchy behind them, the culture of silencing women who speak out.
• Sushma, Verma, Sanjana and Mallige (who prefer to use only their first names) were talking to Kavitha Rao. Burnt, but not defeated, with English subtitles, can be seen here.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Cannibus reduces tumors
Pot reduces Brain tumors, but we already knew that
In fact I've worked on three projects that showed these results (I'm being serious here, certified microbiologist/neuroscientist here).
I've seen THC repair damaged nerves by increasing axonal transport down the axon, and seen it reduce the size of breast cancer tumors in mammalian cell lines.
effin americans are like superman, scared of the greenary.
In fact I've worked on three projects that showed these results (I'm being serious here, certified microbiologist/neuroscientist here).
I've seen THC repair damaged nerves by increasing axonal transport down the axon, and seen it reduce the size of breast cancer tumors in mammalian cell lines.
effin americans are like superman, scared of the greenary.
In The Bedroom
My taping skills are getting better.
All the acts arelisted in the comment section on youtube
Thursday, July 24, 2008
RockNRolla
Ok so i actually like Jeremy Piven. And I like Thandie Newton. And I like Guy Richie. And Ludacris looks way better with his hair cut, so that's tolerable. So what if it's a rehash. I like these people. I'll watch it.
October 31
October 31
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Americans are SEWING PEOPLE'S MOUTHS CLOSED!!!
Photo of a detainee held by the United States, with his face wired, lips sewn, red eyes and torso sacked. According to digital camera metadata the image was taken on Feb 9, 2003 03:49:25. The 6 Aug 2004 is also mentioned in relation to this photo. The facial wiring is clearly non-medical. The location of the detainee is unknown, possibly the US Bagram Theater Internment Facility in Afghanistan. Although there is a resemblance to the US Taliban supporter John Walker Lindh, the connection is superficial. The negative image to the right was created by Wikileaks to draw attention to certain regions of the photo on the left. Wikileaks staff have verified that the photograph came from a US military computer network.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Fish Pedicaures: trading scales for... scales
Fish pedicures: Carp rid human feet of scaly skin
Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:59 AM EDTus-news, odd-news, fish, marine-life, carp, pedicures, fish-pedicuresMatthew Barakat, Associated Press Writer
ALEXANDRIA — Ready for the latest in spa pampering? Prepare to dunk your tootsies in a tank of water and let tiny carp nibble away.
Fish pedicures are creating something of a splash in the D.C. area, where a northern Virginia spa has been offering them for the past four months. John Ho, who runs the Yvonne Hair and Nails salon with his wife, Yvonne Le, said 5,000 people have taken the plunge so far.
"This is a good treatment for everyone who likes to have nice feet," Ho said.
He said he wanted to come up with something unique while finding a replacement for pedicures that use razors to scrape off dead skin. The razors have fallen out of favor with state regulators because of concerns about whether they're sanitary.
Ho was skeptical at first about the fish, which are called garra rufa but typically known as doctor fish. They were first used in Turkey and have become popular in some Asian countries.
But Ho doubted they would thrive in the warm water needed for a comfortable footbath. And he didn't know if customers would like the idea.
"I know people were a little intimidated at first," Ho said. "But I just said, 'Let's give it a shot.' "
Customers were quickly hooked.
Tracy Roberts, 33, of Rockville, Md., heard about it on a local radio show. She said it was "the best pedicure I ever had" and has spread the word to friends and co-workers.
"I'd been an athlete all my life, so I've always had calluses on my feet. This was the first time somebody got rid of my calluses completely," she said.
First time customer KaNin Reese, 32, of Washington, described the tingling sensation created by the toothless fish: "It kind of feels like your foot's asleep," she said.
The fish don't do the job alone. After 15 to 30 minutes in the tank, customers get a standard pedicure, made easier by the soft skin the doctor fish leave behind.
Ho believes his is the only salon in the country to offer the treatment, which costs $35 for 15 minutes and $50 for 30 minutes. The spa has more than 1,000 fish, with about 100 in each individual pedicure tank at any given time.
Dennis Arnold, a podiatrist who four years ago established the International Pedicure Association, said he had never heard of the treatment and doubts it will become widespread.
"I think most people would be afraid of it," he said.
Customer Patsy Fisher, 42, of Crofton, Md., admitted she was nervous as she prepared for her first fish pedicure. But her apprehension dissolved into laughter after she put her feet in the tank and the fish swarmed to her toes.
"It's a little ticklish, actually," she said.
Ho said the hot water in which the fish thrive doesn't support much plant or aquatic life, so they learned to feed on whatever food sources were available — including dead, flaking skin. They leave live skin alone because, without teeth, they can't bite it off.
In addition to offering pedicures, Ho hopes to establish a network of Doctor Fish Massage franchises and is evaluating a full-body fish treatment that, among other things, could treat psoriasis and other skin ailments.
Ho spent a year and about $40,000 getting the pedicures up and running, with a few hiccups along the way.
State regulations make no provision for regulating fish pedicures. But the county health department — which does regulate pools — required the salon to switch from a shallow, tiled communal pool that served as many as eight people to individual tanks in which the water is changed for each customer.
The communal pool also presented its own problem: At times the fish would flock to the feet of an individual with a surplus of dead skin, leaving others with a dearth of fish.
"It would sometimes be embarrassing for them but it was also really hilarious," Ho said.
___
On the Net:
http://www.yvonnesalon.com/
Kids killed at Guantanomo
Cori Crider, lawyer for Reprieve The Guardian, Saturday July 19, 2008
Article history
In a submission to the UN in May, the Pentagon said that no more than eight youths, aged 13 to 17 at time of capture, were held at Guantánamo Bay. But a prisoner list released in 2006 in response to US freedom of information act litigation names 21 inmates under 18 when they arrived. A separate defence department admission brings the total to 22. Testimonies collected by the charity Reprieve, which represents 30 inmates at Guantánamo, indicate the actual number is much higher.
Guantánamo's child prisoners came from all over the world: they were Afghan, Yemeni, Saudi, Russian, Uighuri, and Canadian. Five of them are still there. They are: Mohammed el Gharani, aged 14-15 when he was seized while praying in a Karachi mosque; Hassan bin Attash, aged 16-17 when seized in Pakistan, and rendered to Jordan where he endured 16 months of torture before being transferred; Faris Muslim Al Ansari, an Afghan-Yemeni who was 17 when captured; Mohamed Jawad, an Afghan who was 17 when seized and faces trial by military commission; and Omar Khadr.
Saudi citizen Yasser Talal Al Zahrani, 17 when captured, joined a prison-wide hunger strike in 2005. He was found dead in his cell in June 2006 after apparently killing himself.
original article
Article history
In a submission to the UN in May, the Pentagon said that no more than eight youths, aged 13 to 17 at time of capture, were held at Guantánamo Bay. But a prisoner list released in 2006 in response to US freedom of information act litigation names 21 inmates under 18 when they arrived. A separate defence department admission brings the total to 22. Testimonies collected by the charity Reprieve, which represents 30 inmates at Guantánamo, indicate the actual number is much higher.
Guantánamo's child prisoners came from all over the world: they were Afghan, Yemeni, Saudi, Russian, Uighuri, and Canadian. Five of them are still there. They are: Mohammed el Gharani, aged 14-15 when he was seized while praying in a Karachi mosque; Hassan bin Attash, aged 16-17 when seized in Pakistan, and rendered to Jordan where he endured 16 months of torture before being transferred; Faris Muslim Al Ansari, an Afghan-Yemeni who was 17 when captured; Mohamed Jawad, an Afghan who was 17 when seized and faces trial by military commission; and Omar Khadr.
Saudi citizen Yasser Talal Al Zahrani, 17 when captured, joined a prison-wide hunger strike in 2005. He was found dead in his cell in June 2006 after apparently killing himself.
original article
McCain is a cheater, a liar and was married to two women at the same time
WAY TO GO REPUBLICAN PARTY, you found a good man.
McCain adultery story rocks political world — oh wait, no it doesn’t
Posted July 12th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Share This | Spotlight | Permalink
The Los Angeles Times did some solid investigative reporting and published a very damaging item yesterday on John McCain’s personal background, which is of course a key part of his campaign. We learned that McCain turned his back on his wife after she was seriously injured in a car accident, committed adultery, and left the mother of his children when he found a younger, wealthier woman.
Worse, we also learned that McCain didn’t tell the truth about this in his own memoir. McCain insisted that he was separated from his first wife before he began dating his second wife. That’s not true. McCain also insisted he’d been divorced for months before remarrying. That wasn’t true, either. (In fact, the LAT reported, “McCain obtained an Arizona marriage license on March 6, 1980, while still legally married to his first wife.”)
Clearly, this is the kind of salacious story reporters just love. A presidential candidate, running on his personal background, is found to have a messy past. The story has sex, drama, and fairly obvious lies — everything a news outlet needs for wall-to-wall coverage. What does this tell us about McCain’s character? Will voters care about a conservative Republican’s adultery? What will the “family-values” crowd say? How do we reconcile McCain’s untruths with his alleged proclivity for “straight talk”? Will the revelations hurt McCain in the polls? It’s the kind of story the media can obsess over for months.
So, let’s take a moment to step back, and analyze the media frenzy we’ve seen over the last 24 hours, as the political world comes to grips with McCain’s controversial personal life and his willingness to be less than truthful about it:
(picture tumble weeds rolling by)
Nada. Mark Halperin quickly featured the LAT story yesterday morning, but removed it soon after. Campaign reporters didn’t ask McCain about it at all yesterday (ironically, McCain was emphasizing his concern for women yesterday, so it might have been apropos).
A couple of mid-size papers republished the LAT article, with an emphasis on McCain’s relationship with the Reagans. The networks didn’t touch the story. The major dailies ignored it altogether (the NYT’s Nicholas Kristof mentioned it on his blog, but there was nothing in the actual newspaper).
This may be an awkward subject for reporters — McCain did, after all, give them barbecue — but it is a legitimate news story.
First, as far as the media was concerned when Bill Clinton was running for president, adultery counted as a character issue. Maybe reporters got burned out on the subject, but it creates a glaring double standard — a Democrat guilty of infidelity is a major news story; a Republican guilty of infidelity deserves a pass.
Second, even if news outlets decided McCain’s character issues are too old to deserve attention, there’s the issue of McCain’s memoir, which clearly includes stories about his marriages that aren’t true. Obama’s books were scrutinized in great detail, and news outlets highlighted minor inconsistencies. McCain, meanwhile, lied about cheating on his wife.
What constitutes major news lately? Wesley Clark, who has a tangential connection to Obama and supported his primary opponent, accurately questioned McCain’s presidential qualifications. Jesse Jackson, who hardly has any connection to Obama at all, whispers to a friend, off the record, about his dissatisfaction with Obama’s message to the African-American community. These were huge stories that generated excessive coverage.
McCain lies about the circumstances of his marriages? Nothing. No interest whatsoever.
I’d ask reporters to consider one simple question. If investigative reporters at the LA Times had discovered that Barack Obama had been divorced, cheated on his first wife, left her after she was injured in a car accident, pursued a younger woman while still married, and then lied about the circumstances of his marriages in his memoir, does anyone seriously believe that news outlets would blow off the story completely?
Or is it more likely we would never hear the end of this?
The next time someone suggests the media is covering the candidates even-handedly, keep this story in mind.
original article
McCain adultery story rocks political world — oh wait, no it doesn’t
Posted July 12th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Share This | Spotlight | Permalink
The Los Angeles Times did some solid investigative reporting and published a very damaging item yesterday on John McCain’s personal background, which is of course a key part of his campaign. We learned that McCain turned his back on his wife after she was seriously injured in a car accident, committed adultery, and left the mother of his children when he found a younger, wealthier woman.
Worse, we also learned that McCain didn’t tell the truth about this in his own memoir. McCain insisted that he was separated from his first wife before he began dating his second wife. That’s not true. McCain also insisted he’d been divorced for months before remarrying. That wasn’t true, either. (In fact, the LAT reported, “McCain obtained an Arizona marriage license on March 6, 1980, while still legally married to his first wife.”)
Clearly, this is the kind of salacious story reporters just love. A presidential candidate, running on his personal background, is found to have a messy past. The story has sex, drama, and fairly obvious lies — everything a news outlet needs for wall-to-wall coverage. What does this tell us about McCain’s character? Will voters care about a conservative Republican’s adultery? What will the “family-values” crowd say? How do we reconcile McCain’s untruths with his alleged proclivity for “straight talk”? Will the revelations hurt McCain in the polls? It’s the kind of story the media can obsess over for months.
So, let’s take a moment to step back, and analyze the media frenzy we’ve seen over the last 24 hours, as the political world comes to grips with McCain’s controversial personal life and his willingness to be less than truthful about it:
(picture tumble weeds rolling by)
Nada. Mark Halperin quickly featured the LAT story yesterday morning, but removed it soon after. Campaign reporters didn’t ask McCain about it at all yesterday (ironically, McCain was emphasizing his concern for women yesterday, so it might have been apropos).
A couple of mid-size papers republished the LAT article, with an emphasis on McCain’s relationship with the Reagans. The networks didn’t touch the story. The major dailies ignored it altogether (the NYT’s Nicholas Kristof mentioned it on his blog, but there was nothing in the actual newspaper).
This may be an awkward subject for reporters — McCain did, after all, give them barbecue — but it is a legitimate news story.
First, as far as the media was concerned when Bill Clinton was running for president, adultery counted as a character issue. Maybe reporters got burned out on the subject, but it creates a glaring double standard — a Democrat guilty of infidelity is a major news story; a Republican guilty of infidelity deserves a pass.
Second, even if news outlets decided McCain’s character issues are too old to deserve attention, there’s the issue of McCain’s memoir, which clearly includes stories about his marriages that aren’t true. Obama’s books were scrutinized in great detail, and news outlets highlighted minor inconsistencies. McCain, meanwhile, lied about cheating on his wife.
What constitutes major news lately? Wesley Clark, who has a tangential connection to Obama and supported his primary opponent, accurately questioned McCain’s presidential qualifications. Jesse Jackson, who hardly has any connection to Obama at all, whispers to a friend, off the record, about his dissatisfaction with Obama’s message to the African-American community. These were huge stories that generated excessive coverage.
McCain lies about the circumstances of his marriages? Nothing. No interest whatsoever.
I’d ask reporters to consider one simple question. If investigative reporters at the LA Times had discovered that Barack Obama had been divorced, cheated on his first wife, left her after she was injured in a car accident, pursued a younger woman while still married, and then lied about the circumstances of his marriages in his memoir, does anyone seriously believe that news outlets would blow off the story completely?
Or is it more likely we would never hear the end of this?
The next time someone suggests the media is covering the candidates even-handedly, keep this story in mind.
original article
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
McCain gets awkward over Viagra and Birth Control
he voted to have health insurance companies cover Viagra, but not birth control. Now he can't give an answer as to whether he thinks that's fair.
Red state, Blue state, isn't it gangbangers we're supposed to hate?
What's the difference between a Blood and a Republican?
Hmmm. Both wear red. Both fall in line for orders in a heirarchal system of order and command. Both hate blue to the point of total meltdown and meyhem, often with violence (verbal and physical) and both are heavily involved in politics and local governemtn (see LAPD). Both are ALL about thier money and guns and will kill and destroy anyone in the way of those monetary items. Also wearing a red suit will definitely have you noticed as the elephant in the room. If I'm not mistaken, Sugue Knight has all the makings of a Republican.
For that matter Democrats are quite Crip-like. If a political party was going to have an identifying dance it would probably be the Democrats since they are not as uptight and stuffy as the Bloods, I mean Republicans. I can just imagine a "Democrat Walk" during the inauguration. It's also interesting to note that it's the Democratic party who want to enforce lesser drug laws and decriminalization, and the Crips are more known for trafficking. I find it kind of interesting that this nation is completely based on red vs. blue in an epic battle for who knows what. But does anyone else think that it can't be coincidence that from the highest levels to the lowest levels in American society people choose an identity based on the same two colors no matter WHO they are and where they come from? I mean really, what does red mean to Karl Rove that red meant to Snoop Dogg? And does that mean that Snoop now has more in common with Jason Burnett who is ex Red and current Blue?
this is a 3 part series... (just being lazy. The next part will discuss the origins of red and blue as flag colors and why they seem to appear on the flags of many nations)
until next time...
Hmmm. Both wear red. Both fall in line for orders in a heirarchal system of order and command. Both hate blue to the point of total meltdown and meyhem, often with violence (verbal and physical) and both are heavily involved in politics and local governemtn (see LAPD). Both are ALL about thier money and guns and will kill and destroy anyone in the way of those monetary items. Also wearing a red suit will definitely have you noticed as the elephant in the room. If I'm not mistaken, Sugue Knight has all the makings of a Republican.
For that matter Democrats are quite Crip-like. If a political party was going to have an identifying dance it would probably be the Democrats since they are not as uptight and stuffy as the Bloods, I mean Republicans. I can just imagine a "Democrat Walk" during the inauguration. It's also interesting to note that it's the Democratic party who want to enforce lesser drug laws and decriminalization, and the Crips are more known for trafficking. I find it kind of interesting that this nation is completely based on red vs. blue in an epic battle for who knows what. But does anyone else think that it can't be coincidence that from the highest levels to the lowest levels in American society people choose an identity based on the same two colors no matter WHO they are and where they come from? I mean really, what does red mean to Karl Rove that red meant to Snoop Dogg? And does that mean that Snoop now has more in common with Jason Burnett who is ex Red and current Blue?
this is a 3 part series... (just being lazy. The next part will discuss the origins of red and blue as flag colors and why they seem to appear on the flags of many nations)
until next time...
Cuz Drug Dealing and Prostitution, that's what we do!
Fears of a 'no-fun' Olympics in Beijing
Mary-Anne Toy, Beijing
July 19, 2008
FEARS of a "no fun Olympics" are growing as security restrictions increase and become more bizarre with less than 20 days to go until the opening ceremony.
Beijing police have been visiting bar owners in the popular Sanlitun area and asking them to sign pledges agreeing to not serve black people or Mongolians and ban activities including dancing.
Bar owners said that police have been clamping down on black people and Mongolians, who are sometimes implicated in drug dealing and prostitution, as part of an Olympic clean-up campaign that they and locals fear will make for a secure but sterile Games.
Maggies, Beijing's most notorious expatriate bar, referred to as the "Mongolian embassy" because of its popularity with Mongolian prostitutes and Western men, was shut suddenly about two months ago after a reported murder.
The gay bar Destination has also been ordered to shut down its dance bar until further notice.
And in a separate move, the Ministry of Public Security announced at the start of the month that from October 1, discos, karaoke bars and other entertainment venues must install transparent partitions in previously private rooms, and ensure staff dress more modestly as part of an effort to crack down on prostitution and drugs.
The Minister of Culture announced on Thursday that all overseas entertainers who have ever attended activities that "threaten national sovereignty" will be banned. This follows an outburst by Icelandic singer Bjork at a Shanghai concert on March 2, which sparked an official investigation.
Bjork shouted out, "Tibet, Tibet," after performing her song Declare Independence.
A notice on the Ministry's website on Thursday said that entertainers who "threaten national unity", "whip up ethnic hatred", "violate religious policy or cultural norms" or "advocate obscenity or feudalism and superstition" will be banned. "Feudalism and superstition" are often code words used by the Chinese Government to refer to Tibetans loyal to the Dalai Lama. The move follows the detention of several prominent Tibetan singers.
Beijing CBD businesses are reporting increasingly bizarre restrictions on couriers. This includes a ban on transporting CD-ROMs through the city, and mobile phones or GPS devices can only be sent if their batteries are delivered separately. This is on top of postal restrictions on sending liquids and powders.
At least six big bars and restaurants inside the Beijing Workers' Stadium compound - where Olympic soccer matches will be held - have been ordered to shut ahead of the Olympics and during Games time.
Hundreds of armed checkpoints on the main roads coming into Beijing were introduced two weeks ago, and non-Beijing-registered vehicles have been banned until after the Olympics, a move that is causing massive delays and extra costs for businesses.
original article
Mary-Anne Toy, Beijing
July 19, 2008
FEARS of a "no fun Olympics" are growing as security restrictions increase and become more bizarre with less than 20 days to go until the opening ceremony.
Beijing police have been visiting bar owners in the popular Sanlitun area and asking them to sign pledges agreeing to not serve black people or Mongolians and ban activities including dancing.
Bar owners said that police have been clamping down on black people and Mongolians, who are sometimes implicated in drug dealing and prostitution, as part of an Olympic clean-up campaign that they and locals fear will make for a secure but sterile Games.
Maggies, Beijing's most notorious expatriate bar, referred to as the "Mongolian embassy" because of its popularity with Mongolian prostitutes and Western men, was shut suddenly about two months ago after a reported murder.
The gay bar Destination has also been ordered to shut down its dance bar until further notice.
And in a separate move, the Ministry of Public Security announced at the start of the month that from October 1, discos, karaoke bars and other entertainment venues must install transparent partitions in previously private rooms, and ensure staff dress more modestly as part of an effort to crack down on prostitution and drugs.
The Minister of Culture announced on Thursday that all overseas entertainers who have ever attended activities that "threaten national sovereignty" will be banned. This follows an outburst by Icelandic singer Bjork at a Shanghai concert on March 2, which sparked an official investigation.
Bjork shouted out, "Tibet, Tibet," after performing her song Declare Independence.
A notice on the Ministry's website on Thursday said that entertainers who "threaten national unity", "whip up ethnic hatred", "violate religious policy or cultural norms" or "advocate obscenity or feudalism and superstition" will be banned. "Feudalism and superstition" are often code words used by the Chinese Government to refer to Tibetans loyal to the Dalai Lama. The move follows the detention of several prominent Tibetan singers.
Beijing CBD businesses are reporting increasingly bizarre restrictions on couriers. This includes a ban on transporting CD-ROMs through the city, and mobile phones or GPS devices can only be sent if their batteries are delivered separately. This is on top of postal restrictions on sending liquids and powders.
At least six big bars and restaurants inside the Beijing Workers' Stadium compound - where Olympic soccer matches will be held - have been ordered to shut ahead of the Olympics and during Games time.
Hundreds of armed checkpoints on the main roads coming into Beijing were introduced two weeks ago, and non-Beijing-registered vehicles have been banned until after the Olympics, a move that is causing massive delays and extra costs for businesses.
original article
McCain KNOWS Deibold lied abotu voting machines... so what's he gonna do about it?
Oh yes, one of our candidates has proof that Deibold machines were used to illegally "count" votes in a 2002 Georgia election, so why is no one asking him what he's going to do to rememdy the situation?
I personally think that if one of your former top advisers, namely Stephen Spoonamore, told you he had proof this was the case, it should be a question directed at BOTH candidates. How can we maintain voter integrity? How do we ensure that our votes count? How do we ensure that this doesn't happen again?
I mean we ALL know that Bush's election was hacked, but we aslo know that the GOP isn't very good at this whole internets thing (partly why the Obama campaign has skyrocketed). But hey look! It was GOP member, former cyberwarfare guy letting us know that it was hacked.
FULL STORY
I personally think that if one of your former top advisers, namely Stephen Spoonamore, told you he had proof this was the case, it should be a question directed at BOTH candidates. How can we maintain voter integrity? How do we ensure that our votes count? How do we ensure that this doesn't happen again?
I mean we ALL know that Bush's election was hacked, but we aslo know that the GOP isn't very good at this whole internets thing (partly why the Obama campaign has skyrocketed). But hey look! It was GOP member, former cyberwarfare guy letting us know that it was hacked.
FULL STORY
Rate My Cop dot Com
Yes, in case you haven't seen it, see and make reviews on your local law enforcement
ratemycop.com
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WHEN BEING PULLED OVER:
You have a right to know why you are being pulled over or arrested, if you are not given one you have a right to leave, and not speak.
A cop can reach into your car arms length but you do not have to leave the vehicle, and if there is no reason to search they cannot search your car without a warrent.
You have the right to a Miranda reading.
You do not have to stop for an umarked police car.
If you are being pulled over in an area you feel unsafe (like a dark part of the highway) you may drive to a well lit area with approx 3 miles of orignal notification and then explain tot he officer that you felt safer in the location you chose to stop.
You have the right to refuse a breathalizer test, but your license will be taken for a year, and marked as suspicion of drunk driving, not a DUI
You have a right to refuse signing any written statements
It is legal for police to lie to you to get you to talk, do not talk until you have representation.
After being arrested police cannot offer you shorter sentancing or changes to any jail time, only lawers and judges can do that. Any mention of offering less time or deals by police should be considered untrue.
Go Ahead... rub it in.
Go Wild and Rub Mayonnaise and Tomatoes Through Your Hair
by Louie Jerome, Nov 13, 2007
Vinegar, avocado, tomatoes, mayonnaise and even cornstarch can make your hair look fabulous, but don't forget to wash it off.
Light coloured hair sometimes goes green after contact with chlorine in the pool. This can be resolved by taking a good handful of tomato ketchup, rubbing it through your hair, leaving for twenty minutes and rinsing well.
If you have a special occasion coming up and you want your hair to look sleek and healthy take half an avocado, mash it, add a tablespoon of mayonnaise and mix it well in. Comb through the hair and leave for ten minutes before rinsing out. Your hair will look fabulous.
Take an egg yolk and whisk in a cup of water and a teaspoon of baby oil. Use as a conditioner and rinse well. This will keep for about a week if you don't use it all. (Cover it and keep cool.)
Cornstarch will absorb the oil in greasy hair and being it back to life. If you are really stuck sprinkle half a cup on your hair and brush through.
To treat dandruff, take half a cup of white vinegar mixed with half a cup of water. Apply to the scalp before shampooing the hair. The acid will remove the dead skin cells from the scalp.
Take two teaspoons of gin and two egg yolks. Whisk together until frothy and apply as a hair tonic. This gives a wonderful healthy gleam to hair and makes it look thick and bouncy.
For fast hair conditioning take half a cup of real mayonnaise and comb through. Put on a shower cap and leave for twenty minutes before rinsing.
and an awesome cooking blog
Thursday, July 17, 2008
urban camping
You've seen them, they come in hoards, they line the walls of local business into the wee hours of the night waiting for the latest electronics to come out. Common camping grounds are Best Buy on the freezing nights of post turkey day, Mac stores with ANY new release and lets not forget, the unltimate camp ground Niketown, when the new species of Jordans can be spotted.
Don't get it twisted, this is nothing like the Marin Headlands, or even Burning man where people get tents and sleeping bags and fight off stampedes of ants, bears and rocks in your socks. These kids risk their lives with cold hard concrete, cops, and predators looking to jack them for Playstation money. This is high risk camping. totally extreme. But hey, at least they get to play with the best toys before you do. So before you make fun of them, ask yourself, is your phone 3g?
I don't know that they are more awesome than when I used to go camping and get chased by bugs and coyotes, but hey maybe it's juist as fun. I don't even knwo why I wrote this. Happy iPhone.
HAcking is equal opportunity
As I think of a career change...
SF local government was taken underseige by a disgruntled employee. He locked everyone out out of their email, court records and gave himself top clearance, why? Because they fired him. I have a new hero.
I like this article because it highlights some other internationally disgruntled workers who hacked their jobs...
Nerds are AWESOME, and taking over the world.
Obama: The President for Nerds
I effin LOVE this guy
Link below
Obama wages Cyberwar
How can you hate on a guy that obviously understand we live in the 21st century?
(sorry I can't vote for a guy that remembers how WWII started, my MOM wasn't even BORN yet...)
Link below
Obama wages Cyberwar
How can you hate on a guy that obviously understand we live in the 21st century?
(sorry I can't vote for a guy that remembers how WWII started, my MOM wasn't even BORN yet...)
There was a House Majority vote in favor of proceeding with a Bush impeachment: NY Times does NOT report it. WTF
I thought this was the paper of record
The vote was on an article proposed by Dennis Kucinich, and was voted on 238:180 in favor of the proposal, including 9 Republicans. Um, I thought this would be news worthy, since like I said, Al Bashir is getting the boot, the world courts been eyeing us.
Nancy Pelosi is starting to piss me off though as has mandated that: questioning in the hearing be relegated to Bush's abuses of power, not his criminal wrongdoing.
Hello it's criminal wrongdoing, meaning he broke laws (not that he'd show up to court, none of his homies did, not even Harriet Myers who looked like she belonged on the cover of an oatmeal box, not the supreme court)
So why doesn't the news cover something as INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AS A FORCED IMPECHMENT HEARING? I dunno maybe cuz it doesn't involve a blow job.
This guy is responsible for the same things as Al Bashir, but OMG we can't compare him to an Arab, they're the enemy. Things like I dunno, war crimes, genocide, invasion with intent to kill, destroy and cause both physical and psychological harm. Those are the things listed in Al Bashir's case, though I see a striking resembalance. But I fear we can't make these connections anymore. Long live teh bloggers. News is dead.
external links to info
link 1
link 2
link 3 and this one is extra special cuz this guy pulled a HIllary: I voted 'yes" cuz I didn't think it would go anywhere... um you're supposed to vote with your best judgement. gotta love the right wing for thier logic
The vote was on an article proposed by Dennis Kucinich, and was voted on 238:180 in favor of the proposal, including 9 Republicans. Um, I thought this would be news worthy, since like I said, Al Bashir is getting the boot, the world courts been eyeing us.
Nancy Pelosi is starting to piss me off though as has mandated that: questioning in the hearing be relegated to Bush's abuses of power, not his criminal wrongdoing.
Hello it's criminal wrongdoing, meaning he broke laws (not that he'd show up to court, none of his homies did, not even Harriet Myers who looked like she belonged on the cover of an oatmeal box, not the supreme court)
So why doesn't the news cover something as INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AS A FORCED IMPECHMENT HEARING? I dunno maybe cuz it doesn't involve a blow job.
This guy is responsible for the same things as Al Bashir, but OMG we can't compare him to an Arab, they're the enemy. Things like I dunno, war crimes, genocide, invasion with intent to kill, destroy and cause both physical and psychological harm. Those are the things listed in Al Bashir's case, though I see a striking resembalance. But I fear we can't make these connections anymore. Long live teh bloggers. News is dead.
external links to info
link 1
link 2
link 3 and this one is extra special cuz this guy pulled a HIllary: I voted 'yes" cuz I didn't think it would go anywhere... um you're supposed to vote with your best judgement. gotta love the right wing for thier logic
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
First bashir, then Bush
I've been following th story in Sudan very closely. I'm thrilled to see that someone actually charged Al-Bashir with genocide and war crimes because it means that there is hope for other nations suffering at the hands of tyrants (Zimbabwe, China, Sudan, America...) Lets hope the charges stick and he's forced into world court.
associated press article
associated press article
Black People, you're not immune...
I mean that literally.
Actually a recent study has shown that genetically we increase our chances of HIV contraction by 11 times. This is the same genetic trait that protects us from malaria. A catch 22 for those with sickle cell.
Genetic Trait Boosts AIDS Risks in Blacks
By Randy DotingaHealthDay Reporter Wednesday, July 16, 2008; 12:00 AM
WEDNESDAY, July 16 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that people of African descent are much more likely to have a genetic trait that makes them more susceptible to infection with the HIV virus.
Scientists estimate that the trait -- which also provides protection against a form of malaria -- might account for 11 percent of the HIV cases in Africa, the continent hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic.
Overall, the finding shows how the past history of evolution and disease still affects people today, said study co-author Matthew J. Dolan, of the Wilford Hall United States Air Force Medical Center and San Antonio Military Medical Center. "The benefit that the Africans got from a mutation that gave them some resistance to malaria has, statistically at least, rendered them some increased susceptibility to HIV," he said.
full article
Actually a recent study has shown that genetically we increase our chances of HIV contraction by 11 times. This is the same genetic trait that protects us from malaria. A catch 22 for those with sickle cell.
Genetic Trait Boosts AIDS Risks in Blacks
By Randy DotingaHealthDay Reporter Wednesday, July 16, 2008; 12:00 AM
WEDNESDAY, July 16 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that people of African descent are much more likely to have a genetic trait that makes them more susceptible to infection with the HIV virus.
Scientists estimate that the trait -- which also provides protection against a form of malaria -- might account for 11 percent of the HIV cases in Africa, the continent hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic.
Overall, the finding shows how the past history of evolution and disease still affects people today, said study co-author Matthew J. Dolan, of the Wilford Hall United States Air Force Medical Center and San Antonio Military Medical Center. "The benefit that the Africans got from a mutation that gave them some resistance to malaria has, statistically at least, rendered them some increased susceptibility to HIV," he said.
full article
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
hmmm a subconscious tree
so i was trying to do an outline here and it turned into some random african tree... maybe i can salvage this, but the paint was old and i'm not feelin it.
as the skate company grows so do i...
Monday, July 7, 2008
You know what, bring the troops there home, and send these M-Effs
Ok seriously. I decided a LONG time ago that if you wanna be hard, pretend you're a thug, wanna shoot people, wear a uniform (gang colors ARE a uniform dummy) sell drugs, terrorize people, act a total fool, and actually be useful, you should sign up for the Military of our governemnt. That way, we reduce the amount of fake thugs in our neighborhoods, and maybe, since they'll be in a REAL war, with REAL terrorists and REAL bombs, and not the kids they're used to punking or cops that are off between the hours of 12am and 6 am, they might get a dose of reality and stop thinking this shit is a great idea to sell to other kids.
The gov't should GIVE you a gun and let you roam free in Iraq while protecting, well let's be real, your OWN freedom all while being on payroll. If you want to play dress up we'll even give you a uniform all your own, and you can play in not so simulated combat, like a real man up front and in the face, not a weak ass drive by from the inside of a tinted window. And if getting shot gives you street cred, we can set that up for you too.
Forgive me if I'm being too hard on my local thugs. I just thought the job description matched and I was trying to help.
If Wikipedia was a form of Government
It would be
Which would be great if it didn't leave the woes of government strictly to thise with internet access. Otherwise I LOVE the idea of opensource Governement.
Maybe I should run.
In China I'd have to write backwards
You have to hand it to Chinese bloggers - they are determined to get the truth out, no matter what. OK, they are not facing the death sentence like their fellow counterparts in Iran but nevertheless, they still face prison for their opinions. At the very least, their work will be deleted by faceless humorless bureaucrats.
So the bloggers are trying out new methods to evade Chinese government censors - the latest one is they are using tools and software to write backwards. Or write vertically instead of horizontally. This is apparently confusing the censors because they now cannot automatically track “objectionable phrases” (aw my heart bleeds for them). One such “text flipping” tool is here. Obviously the government will eventually find a way around it but the resourceful bloggers will probably have found another solution by then and will have moved on.
It’s easy for us in the democratic west to take our freedom of speech for granted. We don’t think twice about giving an opinion online and then hitting the “publish” button. We don’t have to fear the knock on the door or awkward questions being asked about our loyalty to the state. We take our freedoms for granted because they’ve always been there. But our fellow bloggers in China and Iran are not so lucky. They have to look over their shoulder all the time and resort to text flipping tools, codes and guarded language to protect themselves and their family, while at the same time trying to break through all the officially sanctioned propaganda and get the real truth out to the world.
These are the unsung unrecognised heroes of the world. It’s time we should recognise them more. Plus if Iran passes that idiotic and insane death sentence law, we should all as an international community collectively do something, short of invading the country.
So the bloggers are trying out new methods to evade Chinese government censors - the latest one is they are using tools and software to write backwards. Or write vertically instead of horizontally. This is apparently confusing the censors because they now cannot automatically track “objectionable phrases” (aw my heart bleeds for them). One such “text flipping” tool is here. Obviously the government will eventually find a way around it but the resourceful bloggers will probably have found another solution by then and will have moved on.
It’s easy for us in the democratic west to take our freedom of speech for granted. We don’t think twice about giving an opinion online and then hitting the “publish” button. We don’t have to fear the knock on the door or awkward questions being asked about our loyalty to the state. We take our freedoms for granted because they’ve always been there. But our fellow bloggers in China and Iran are not so lucky. They have to look over their shoulder all the time and resort to text flipping tools, codes and guarded language to protect themselves and their family, while at the same time trying to break through all the officially sanctioned propaganda and get the real truth out to the world.
These are the unsung unrecognised heroes of the world. It’s time we should recognise them more. Plus if Iran passes that idiotic and insane death sentence law, we should all as an international community collectively do something, short of invading the country.
In Iran I'd be dead by now...
Iran Parliament to Debate Death Penalty for Bloggers
Written by Marshall Kirkpatrick / July 4, 2008 3:52 PM / 63 Comments
The Iranian parliament is set to debate a draft bill that would add a number of crimes to the list of those that can result in execution, among them "establishing weblogs and sites promoting corruption, prostitution and apostasy." Apostasy means the abandonment of a religion. The official Iranian news agency reports that the bill is intended to "toughen punishment for harming mental security in society."
Iran already imprisons bloggers for challenging the government and executed 317 people for other crimes last year, up from 177 the year prior according to Amnesty International.
The French Press Agency reported on the bill yesterday and according to The Committee to Protect Bloggers, the BBC's The World radio show will offer a more in depth report in the coming days.
Blogging is wildly popular in Iran, where a new generation of young people frequently challenge the old, hyper-conservative religious government. The Committe to Protect Bloggers says that Iran is "among the worst offenders in terms of harassing, arresting and imprisoning bloggers, as well as students." You can see the group's extensive coverage of Iranian cyber-censorship and harrasment of bloggers here. The Iranian government has blocked access to Facebook, Yahoo! and Flickr, among other sites.
We at ReadWriteWeb condemn the application of the death penalty to bloggers as itself an abhorent crime. Cultural relativism has its place, but this isn't it. We want to offer our support to the new generation of Iranian young people struggling for freedom online and elsewhere, in any way we can, short of a US invasion of the country.
1 in 4 White people are fat because... they're White... oh and genetics
Famished gene is found and could help tackle obesity
By Roger Highfield, Science Editor
Last Updated: 10:01am BST 07/07/2008
A genetic change that makes white people feel famished has been found in research that could help predict the children at risk of obesity and develop new treatments.
The reason fat people find it hard to lose weight is found
British scientists find obesity gene link
Scientists find fatness gene
The common DNA mutation was found in people of European ancestry and the find reveals that a minor change can have a significant impact on the production of several hormones controlling our appetite, which scientists say is "definite evidence that common obesity is a disease of the appetite and satiety."
advertisementThe mutation, each copy of which raises the risk of obesity by 50 percent, is found in around one person in every four white people, according to research published today in Nature Genetics by an international team led by Imperial College London.
Understanding this mechanism will help scientists to develop new treatments, notably by making obese people feel full.
The gene, called PCSK1, is the recipe for the body to make the "proconvertase enzyme", which is responsible for producing fully functioning versions of hormones such as insulin, glugagon and melanocortin. These are all involved in controlling the rate of metabolism.
Changes in the PCSK1 gene cause relatively minor abnormalities in the enzyme that can have a major effect on the way the body responds to the hormones, which all play a major role in regulating weight.
The discovery was made by Prof Phillipe Froguel of Imperial with colleagues there and in France, Denmark, Sweden and Germany, after screening the genetic makeup of over 13,000 people. They discovered a significant association between the genetic mutation in PCSK1 and a tendency to develop obesity. These variants were also associated increased risk of childhood obesity.
"This is the first time that we have found a strong link between common mutations and common obesity in the PCSK1 gene," says Professor Froguel.
"We know that common forms of obesity depend on variations in multiple genes, so this is an important addition to the list of genes we need to consider as therapeutic targets for treatment in the future."
Many genes have now been linked to obesity including MC4R reported by Prof Froguel’s team in March 2008 and FTO, reported by the same team and independently by an Oxford group.
"We believe that very soon we’ll have a large part of the obesity genetic puzzle, each piece modestly increasing obesity risk (of 20 to 50%) and weight (two to four kilograms per mutation) but it makes a real difference for those who carry many of them."
"All these genes so far (including the putative new ones) are in our brain. Obesity is not so far a disease of excessive storage (energy intake being equal) but rather a problem in controlling appetite," he said.
"It is more related to our will to eat than to the greed of our adipose cells to store energy. Even if the latter exists (and there are twin studies to show it does) in my view it more something controlled by our brain than a pure fat issue. In other words the solution is in improving human behaviour (especially children at high genetic risk) and possibly new drugs acting on the behaviour."
The problem with targetting this gene and enzyme with drugs is that side effects are likely, though he said that developing small chunks of protein, called peptides, to target the appetite mechanisms of the brain is one possibility. He said that a colleague at Imperial, has taken a similar appproach.
"Prof Steve Bloom has developed a small company to develop these anorexic peptides and it is very interesting that my totally independent research using genetics to elucidate physiology came to same conclusion."
Prof Bloom has found a way to boost the body’s existing levels of oxyntomodulin, which is normally released from the stomach as food is consumed, signalling to the brain that the body’s need for food has been satisfied.
One in four Britons is now classed as obese, one in three 10-year-olds is either overweight or obese and more than one million obesity drugs are prescribed every year. Experts estimate that by 2050 half of all adults will be classed as clinically obese.
By Roger Highfield, Science Editor
Last Updated: 10:01am BST 07/07/2008
A genetic change that makes white people feel famished has been found in research that could help predict the children at risk of obesity and develop new treatments.
The reason fat people find it hard to lose weight is found
British scientists find obesity gene link
Scientists find fatness gene
The common DNA mutation was found in people of European ancestry and the find reveals that a minor change can have a significant impact on the production of several hormones controlling our appetite, which scientists say is "definite evidence that common obesity is a disease of the appetite and satiety."
advertisementThe mutation, each copy of which raises the risk of obesity by 50 percent, is found in around one person in every four white people, according to research published today in Nature Genetics by an international team led by Imperial College London.
Understanding this mechanism will help scientists to develop new treatments, notably by making obese people feel full.
The gene, called PCSK1, is the recipe for the body to make the "proconvertase enzyme", which is responsible for producing fully functioning versions of hormones such as insulin, glugagon and melanocortin. These are all involved in controlling the rate of metabolism.
Changes in the PCSK1 gene cause relatively minor abnormalities in the enzyme that can have a major effect on the way the body responds to the hormones, which all play a major role in regulating weight.
The discovery was made by Prof Phillipe Froguel of Imperial with colleagues there and in France, Denmark, Sweden and Germany, after screening the genetic makeup of over 13,000 people. They discovered a significant association between the genetic mutation in PCSK1 and a tendency to develop obesity. These variants were also associated increased risk of childhood obesity.
"This is the first time that we have found a strong link between common mutations and common obesity in the PCSK1 gene," says Professor Froguel.
"We know that common forms of obesity depend on variations in multiple genes, so this is an important addition to the list of genes we need to consider as therapeutic targets for treatment in the future."
Many genes have now been linked to obesity including MC4R reported by Prof Froguel’s team in March 2008 and FTO, reported by the same team and independently by an Oxford group.
"We believe that very soon we’ll have a large part of the obesity genetic puzzle, each piece modestly increasing obesity risk (of 20 to 50%) and weight (two to four kilograms per mutation) but it makes a real difference for those who carry many of them."
"All these genes so far (including the putative new ones) are in our brain. Obesity is not so far a disease of excessive storage (energy intake being equal) but rather a problem in controlling appetite," he said.
"It is more related to our will to eat than to the greed of our adipose cells to store energy. Even if the latter exists (and there are twin studies to show it does) in my view it more something controlled by our brain than a pure fat issue. In other words the solution is in improving human behaviour (especially children at high genetic risk) and possibly new drugs acting on the behaviour."
The problem with targetting this gene and enzyme with drugs is that side effects are likely, though he said that developing small chunks of protein, called peptides, to target the appetite mechanisms of the brain is one possibility. He said that a colleague at Imperial, has taken a similar appproach.
"Prof Steve Bloom has developed a small company to develop these anorexic peptides and it is very interesting that my totally independent research using genetics to elucidate physiology came to same conclusion."
Prof Bloom has found a way to boost the body’s existing levels of oxyntomodulin, which is normally released from the stomach as food is consumed, signalling to the brain that the body’s need for food has been satisfied.
One in four Britons is now classed as obese, one in three 10-year-olds is either overweight or obese and more than one million obesity drugs are prescribed every year. Experts estimate that by 2050 half of all adults will be classed as clinically obese.
would somebody PLEASE stop the voices in my head...
The Microwave Scream Inside Your Skull
By David Hambling July 06, 2008 | 9:00:18 AMCategories: Bizarro, Lasers and Ray Guns, Less-lethal
The U.S. military bankrolled early development of a non-lethal microwave weapon that creates sound inside your head. But in the end, the gadget may be just as likely to wind up in shopping malls as on battlefields, as I report in New Scientist.
The project is known as MEDUSA – a contrived acronym for Mob Excess Deterrent Using Silent Audio. And it should not be confused with the Long Range Acoustic Device and similar gadgets which simply project sound. This one uses the so-called "microwave auditory effect": a beam of microwaves is turned into sound by the interaction with your head. Nobody else can hear it unless they are in the beam as well.
The effect has long been a laboratory curiosity, with no application. But, over the years, the military has been intrigued. The idea (dubbed "the telepathic ray gun") was mentioned in a 1998 US Army study, which turned up in a recent Freedom of Information Act document dump. Five years later, the Navy decided to put some R&D dollars into the project. Now, as I note on the New Scientist website, Dr. Lev Sadovnik of the Sierra Nevada Corporation has provided more details.
There are health risks, he notes. But the biggest issue from the microwave weapon is not the radiation. It's the risk of brain damage from the high-intensity shockwave created by the microwave pulse. Clearly, much more research is needed on this effect at the sort of power levels that Dr. Sadovnik is proposing. But if it does prove hazardous, that does not mean an end to weapons research in this area: a device that delivered a lethal shockwave inside the target's skull might make an effective death ray.
Dr. Sadovnik also makes the intriguing suggestion that, instead of being used at high power to create an intolerable noise, it might be used at low power to produce a whisper that was too quiet to perceive consciously but might be able to subconsciously influence someone. The directional beam could be used for targeted messages, such as in-store promotions. Sadovnik even suggests subliminal advertising, beaming information that is not consciously heard (a notion also spotted on the US Army's voice-to-skull page). While the effectiveness of subliminal persuasion is dubious, I can see there might be some organizations interested in this capability. And if that doesn't work, you could always point the thing at birds. They seem to be highly sensitive to microwave audio, so it might be used to scare flocks away from wind farms -- or shoo pigeons from city streets.
By David Hambling July 06, 2008 | 9:00:18 AMCategories: Bizarro, Lasers and Ray Guns, Less-lethal
The U.S. military bankrolled early development of a non-lethal microwave weapon that creates sound inside your head. But in the end, the gadget may be just as likely to wind up in shopping malls as on battlefields, as I report in New Scientist.
The project is known as MEDUSA – a contrived acronym for Mob Excess Deterrent Using Silent Audio. And it should not be confused with the Long Range Acoustic Device and similar gadgets which simply project sound. This one uses the so-called "microwave auditory effect": a beam of microwaves is turned into sound by the interaction with your head. Nobody else can hear it unless they are in the beam as well.
The effect has long been a laboratory curiosity, with no application. But, over the years, the military has been intrigued. The idea (dubbed "the telepathic ray gun") was mentioned in a 1998 US Army study, which turned up in a recent Freedom of Information Act document dump. Five years later, the Navy decided to put some R&D dollars into the project. Now, as I note on the New Scientist website, Dr. Lev Sadovnik of the Sierra Nevada Corporation has provided more details.
There are health risks, he notes. But the biggest issue from the microwave weapon is not the radiation. It's the risk of brain damage from the high-intensity shockwave created by the microwave pulse. Clearly, much more research is needed on this effect at the sort of power levels that Dr. Sadovnik is proposing. But if it does prove hazardous, that does not mean an end to weapons research in this area: a device that delivered a lethal shockwave inside the target's skull might make an effective death ray.
Dr. Sadovnik also makes the intriguing suggestion that, instead of being used at high power to create an intolerable noise, it might be used at low power to produce a whisper that was too quiet to perceive consciously but might be able to subconsciously influence someone. The directional beam could be used for targeted messages, such as in-store promotions. Sadovnik even suggests subliminal advertising, beaming information that is not consciously heard (a notion also spotted on the US Army's voice-to-skull page). While the effectiveness of subliminal persuasion is dubious, I can see there might be some organizations interested in this capability. And if that doesn't work, you could always point the thing at birds. They seem to be highly sensitive to microwave audio, so it might be used to scare flocks away from wind farms -- or shoo pigeons from city streets.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
and i TOTALLY forgot hibiscus
i used to pick one everyday off my neighbors tree when they were in season and put them in my hair in high school.
glad i had nice neighbors...
tree key
i realize i didn't write what kinds of trees those were.
1. Pink Cherry Blossom (Sakura)
2. Jacaranda
3. Mimosa
4. Weeping Wisteria
5. Redbud
6. Corky Coral
7. African Tulip
8. Palo Verde
9. Yellow Robles
10. Forsynthia
11. Japanese Maple
12. Japanese Maple (neither in my favorite deep purple)
13. Blooming Apple
14 would have been the fern pine
love trees
1. Pink Cherry Blossom (Sakura)
2. Jacaranda
3. Mimosa
4. Weeping Wisteria
5. Redbud
6. Corky Coral
7. African Tulip
8. Palo Verde
9. Yellow Robles
10. Forsynthia
11. Japanese Maple
12. Japanese Maple (neither in my favorite deep purple)
13. Blooming Apple
14 would have been the fern pine
love trees
top movies
I've been grappling with the order here...
finally made a decision
1 Fight Club
2 5th element
3 wristcutters
4 love jones
5 casino royale
6 jason bourne series
7 gone in 60 seconds
8 labrynth
9 belly
10 harold & kumar
11 v for vendetta
12 breech
finally made a decision
1 Fight Club
2 5th element
3 wristcutters
4 love jones
5 casino royale
6 jason bourne series
7 gone in 60 seconds
8 labrynth
9 belly
10 harold & kumar
11 v for vendetta
12 breech
so i feel stupid
i racked my brain yesterday trying to find this tree that i was missing. i swear it was a japanese tea garden tree (for all kinds of various reasons) anyway i didn't think there was ANYTHING i couldn't find on google. but that happened.
anyway it bugged me SO much that I went to the store ont he 4th to find a tree (they're common in gardenss around here, so i knew i'd find it) anyway the tree i was looking for is from Africa (continent i know, but it grows all over... and it's not even the kind of tree i thought it was... it's coniferous for one thing, how the eff would i know that! cuz oh yeah by the way it looks like a fern and the pine cones are microscopic.... yeah thanks. black people always have to be unique...
so this is my other tree: Podocarpus/Afrocarpus gracilior the fern pine
anyway it bugged me SO much that I went to the store ont he 4th to find a tree (they're common in gardenss around here, so i knew i'd find it) anyway the tree i was looking for is from Africa (continent i know, but it grows all over... and it's not even the kind of tree i thought it was... it's coniferous for one thing, how the eff would i know that! cuz oh yeah by the way it looks like a fern and the pine cones are microscopic.... yeah thanks. black people always have to be unique...
so this is my other tree: Podocarpus/Afrocarpus gracilior the fern pine
Friday, July 4, 2008
Know your rights!!! (ehem potheads, get off the couch for a minute)
The Inalienable Rights Initiative : By CA Legislativ Analysts Office
California to Legalize Weed for Everyone
That was an eighth of some $80 weed. 510 Kush. Photo by Anti/LAist
There is an initiative in the works that could end up on the November ballot that allows for marijuana to be sold to anyone, and anywhere that already sells alcohol. Its being called The Inalienable Rights Enforcement Initiative. From the full text of the measure:
This initiative will amend the Constitution of California to defend and safeguard the inalienable rights of the People against infringement by governments and corporations, providing for the lawful growth, sale, and possession of marijuana. Marijuana will be taxed through a system of stamps and licenses--a $5 stamp will be required for the sale of an eighth ounce of marijuana and a $50 annual license will be required for the growth of one marijuana plant. To protect participants and encourage participation in the system, such licenses and stamps will be available anonymously in stores where marijuana is sold.
So instead of getting some quack doctor to give you a prescription for $100 because of your supposed "anxiety" or alleged "insomnia", you will just pay an extra tax each time you buy yourself another 8th.
Aside from allowing all willing adults to be able to buy weed easily, this initiative will start to generate revenue for California, and stimulate our struggling economy. More weed stores means more jobs for Californians, more taxes to be collected, and more people enjoying better weed. And finally marijuana will be put into the same file as Alcohol and Cigarettes where it belongs, instead of it being equated with crack-cocaine and heroine.
The initiative goes on to say why they believe this to be a necessary measure:
We also hold these truths to be self-evident-That, as an intoxicant, marijuana is far less harmful to the health and safety of the People than alcohol--That, as a smoking substance, marijuana is far less addictive or harmful to the health of the People than tobacco--That, even though alcohol is harmful to the health and safety of the People, the prohibition of alcohol from 1920 to 1933 only increased the harms associated with alcohol use: criminals seized control of the alcohol market, crime and violence increased greatly, and poverty, unemployment, and corruption flourished, while otherwise lawful alcohol drinkers were treated as "criminals" subject to detention, arrest, and incarceration, even though they had not harmed the rights of anyone--That, as with alcohol prohibition, the prohibition of marijuana has only increased the harms associated with the use of marijuana: criminals control a multi-billion dollar market, crime and violence have increased greatly, and poverty, unemployment, and corruption flourish, while otherwise law-abiding marijuana smokers are treated as "criminals" subject to detention, arrest, and incarceration, even though they have not harmed the rights of anyone-That the history of marijuana prohibition is a history of repeated injuries and infringements upon the inalienable rights, powers, and best interests of the People.
Fuck Yes! Preach on, brothers! They go on to point out that alcohol, tobacco, and big-pharma lobbyists have the politicians that are supposed to represent the People in their back-pockets and serving the interests of the alcohol, tobacco, and big-pharma industries.
Despite the harms of marijuana prohibition, politicians persist in imposing and upholding marijuana prohibition, because these politicians are not working for the People--they are working for the corporate executives who financed their campaigns, such as corporate executives in the alcohol industry who want to protect their monopoly on intoxication, corporate executives in the tobacco industry who want to protect their monopoly on smoking, corporate executives in the pharmaceutical industry who want to protect their monopoly on expensive medicines, and corporate executives in the many industries threatened by competition with hemp. These corporate executives pull the strings of the government to perpetuate marijuana prohibition despite its harms, because they do not care about the inalienable rights and best interests of the People--they care about taking as much money from the People as possible. These corporate executives also use their control of the mainstream media to make it seem like marijuana prohibition is a failed attempt to serve the interests of the People, censoring the idea that marijuana prohibition is a successful attempt to serve corporate interests at the expense of the People. For these corporate interests, politicians sacrifice the inalienable rights and best interests of the People. This corruption and corporate influence is worse at the national level, where the People can least afford political influence and the media is most effective at manipulating public debate. Because of this corruption, it is futile for the People to turn to the federal government for protection--because the federal government is the source of the harm. The repeated attempts by the People to reduce the harms of marijuana prohibition have been answered only by repeated injury. The harm from marijuana prohibition is ongoing and the need for relief is urgent. Such is the suffering of the People, and such is the necessity that constrains us to alter our former systems of government. A government with a character marked by every act that defines a tyrant is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. Therefore, appealing to humankind for the rightness of our intentions
They need 694,354 signatures by September, 5, 2008. I think it's totally do-able. Its been over a decade since Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, was passed with over 5 million votes in favor.
So 12 years later... are we more or less tolerant of recreational use of marijuana? For now, we'll have to wait and see.
California to Legalize Weed for Everyone
That was an eighth of some $80 weed. 510 Kush. Photo by Anti/LAist
There is an initiative in the works that could end up on the November ballot that allows for marijuana to be sold to anyone, and anywhere that already sells alcohol. Its being called The Inalienable Rights Enforcement Initiative. From the full text of the measure:
This initiative will amend the Constitution of California to defend and safeguard the inalienable rights of the People against infringement by governments and corporations, providing for the lawful growth, sale, and possession of marijuana. Marijuana will be taxed through a system of stamps and licenses--a $5 stamp will be required for the sale of an eighth ounce of marijuana and a $50 annual license will be required for the growth of one marijuana plant. To protect participants and encourage participation in the system, such licenses and stamps will be available anonymously in stores where marijuana is sold.
So instead of getting some quack doctor to give you a prescription for $100 because of your supposed "anxiety" or alleged "insomnia", you will just pay an extra tax each time you buy yourself another 8th.
Aside from allowing all willing adults to be able to buy weed easily, this initiative will start to generate revenue for California, and stimulate our struggling economy. More weed stores means more jobs for Californians, more taxes to be collected, and more people enjoying better weed. And finally marijuana will be put into the same file as Alcohol and Cigarettes where it belongs, instead of it being equated with crack-cocaine and heroine.
The initiative goes on to say why they believe this to be a necessary measure:
We also hold these truths to be self-evident-That, as an intoxicant, marijuana is far less harmful to the health and safety of the People than alcohol--That, as a smoking substance, marijuana is far less addictive or harmful to the health of the People than tobacco--That, even though alcohol is harmful to the health and safety of the People, the prohibition of alcohol from 1920 to 1933 only increased the harms associated with alcohol use: criminals seized control of the alcohol market, crime and violence increased greatly, and poverty, unemployment, and corruption flourished, while otherwise lawful alcohol drinkers were treated as "criminals" subject to detention, arrest, and incarceration, even though they had not harmed the rights of anyone--That, as with alcohol prohibition, the prohibition of marijuana has only increased the harms associated with the use of marijuana: criminals control a multi-billion dollar market, crime and violence have increased greatly, and poverty, unemployment, and corruption flourish, while otherwise law-abiding marijuana smokers are treated as "criminals" subject to detention, arrest, and incarceration, even though they have not harmed the rights of anyone-That the history of marijuana prohibition is a history of repeated injuries and infringements upon the inalienable rights, powers, and best interests of the People.
Fuck Yes! Preach on, brothers! They go on to point out that alcohol, tobacco, and big-pharma lobbyists have the politicians that are supposed to represent the People in their back-pockets and serving the interests of the alcohol, tobacco, and big-pharma industries.
Despite the harms of marijuana prohibition, politicians persist in imposing and upholding marijuana prohibition, because these politicians are not working for the People--they are working for the corporate executives who financed their campaigns, such as corporate executives in the alcohol industry who want to protect their monopoly on intoxication, corporate executives in the tobacco industry who want to protect their monopoly on smoking, corporate executives in the pharmaceutical industry who want to protect their monopoly on expensive medicines, and corporate executives in the many industries threatened by competition with hemp. These corporate executives pull the strings of the government to perpetuate marijuana prohibition despite its harms, because they do not care about the inalienable rights and best interests of the People--they care about taking as much money from the People as possible. These corporate executives also use their control of the mainstream media to make it seem like marijuana prohibition is a failed attempt to serve the interests of the People, censoring the idea that marijuana prohibition is a successful attempt to serve corporate interests at the expense of the People. For these corporate interests, politicians sacrifice the inalienable rights and best interests of the People. This corruption and corporate influence is worse at the national level, where the People can least afford political influence and the media is most effective at manipulating public debate. Because of this corruption, it is futile for the People to turn to the federal government for protection--because the federal government is the source of the harm. The repeated attempts by the People to reduce the harms of marijuana prohibition have been answered only by repeated injury. The harm from marijuana prohibition is ongoing and the need for relief is urgent. Such is the suffering of the People, and such is the necessity that constrains us to alter our former systems of government. A government with a character marked by every act that defines a tyrant is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. Therefore, appealing to humankind for the rightness of our intentions
They need 694,354 signatures by September, 5, 2008. I think it's totally do-able. Its been over a decade since Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, was passed with over 5 million votes in favor.
So 12 years later... are we more or less tolerant of recreational use of marijuana? For now, we'll have to wait and see.
the opposite of a man
first of all he killed a baby crocodile... a lizard! for God's sake. AND had people's hands chopped off to support his diamond habit, for his pretty little key chains... but seriously.
IT'S A FUCKING PURPLE PURSE PHARRELL.
i'm ok now.
IT'S A FUCKING PURPLE PURSE PHARRELL.
i'm ok now.
google genetics
now WHY in the WORLD would Google want my genetic info?
"We'd like to give all of you an opportunity to meet your genome."
That was the offer made to a roomful of analysts by Jay Flatley, chief executive of biotech Illumina (nasdaq: ILMN - news - people ). And in his sales pitch, he spilled details on one of the most-watched start-ups in Silicon Valley ( This meeting was Webcast here).
Illumina makes tools used by scientists to study the genes of humans, other animals and plants, and it does a brisk business. Its sales have doubled since last year, and its stock is up 30% in 12 months and 250% over two years. Now Illumina has to convince Wall Street it can continue that winning streak. To help do that, Flatley talked about Illumina's partnership with 23andMe, a start-up that has raised about $10 million in venture capital.
23andMe isn't just any start-up. The company was co-founded by Anne Wojcicki, the new wife of Google (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people ) billionaire Sergey Brin. Google put $3.6 million into the start-up, and $2.6 million of 23andMe's funding went to pay back a loan from Brin to the new company. That was enough to get the gossips jabbering. Other investors include Genentech (nyse: DNA - news - people ) and tech investor Esther Dyson.
But despite the chatter, there hasn't been a lot of information about what 23andMe is going to do, or how it is going to make money. The name comes from the fact that every person has 23 pairs of chromosomes, tangles of DNA that contain our genes. (We each get one set of 23 from Mom, the other from Dad.)
23andMe's Web site says the company is "developing new ways to help you make sense of your own genetic information." It also promises "broad, secure and private access to trustworthy and accurate individual genetic information." Flatley went a lot farther, giving an outline of what 23andMe will offer and then giving the product its first public consumer review.
Customers would give 23andMe a sample (it might be some spit or a Q-tip rubbed on the inside of the cheek). This would be sent to Illumina to be genotyped. Illumina and its main competitor, Affymetrix (nasdaq: AFFX - news - people ), make what are known as DNA chips, devices that can sample the genome in hundreds of places. These chips have been leading to a revolution in genetics, with dozens of DNA variations being potentially linked to diseases so far this year.
Illumina would then be able to tell 23andMe about hundreds of DNA variations, called single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs, that each customer has. 23andME would make that information available through a password-protected Web site. And people would be able to log on and get information about what SNPs (pronounced "snips") they have.
Initially, Flatley said, the company will be more focused on ancestry--questions like which parent one got more traits from, or who your distant relatives are--than medicine. Many researchers say most genetic discoveries are so far only of limited medical utility.
Flatley said he has already been able to try out a dry run of this software. He described logging on to 23andMe with his wife standing over his shoulder, and she proceeded to barrage him with questions about which SNP variants he had. The site, he said, will also feature articles explaining what these variants mean. "It's actually quite intriguing," he said.
The CEO admitted he's an "early adopter"--he's going to be trying to get the $100 credit on his Apple (nasdaq: AAPL - news - people ) iPhone. But his iPhone has his genotype on it. And he showed a scan of his entire genome on a slide. Then he told the assembled analysts that anyone who wanted could sign up there to get 23andMe's services for free.
Illumina handed out sign-up cards, and told analysts to put them in a bowl in the back of the room if they were interested. Flatley said that 23andMe would be showing off its software over the next couple months. Illumina estimates that in several years the market in consumer genotyping will hit $1.5 billion. It's not clear, but it seems likely 23andMe might use the data it has collected to make new discoveries itself.
23andMe, which has been keeping very quiet about its plans, declined to comment for this story. But it is looking like one of the first companies to start figuring out what an explosion of genetic data will mean for the average consumer.
In genetics, a lot is happening very fast. Dyson, the 23andMe investor and board member, is one of 10 people who have agreed to have their DNA sequenced and put on the Internet as part of the Personal Genome Project. That project's lead investigator, George Church of Harvard Medical School, is an adviser to 23andMe.
"We'd like to give all of you an opportunity to meet your genome."
That was the offer made to a roomful of analysts by Jay Flatley, chief executive of biotech Illumina (nasdaq: ILMN - news - people ). And in his sales pitch, he spilled details on one of the most-watched start-ups in Silicon Valley ( This meeting was Webcast here).
Illumina makes tools used by scientists to study the genes of humans, other animals and plants, and it does a brisk business. Its sales have doubled since last year, and its stock is up 30% in 12 months and 250% over two years. Now Illumina has to convince Wall Street it can continue that winning streak. To help do that, Flatley talked about Illumina's partnership with 23andMe, a start-up that has raised about $10 million in venture capital.
23andMe isn't just any start-up. The company was co-founded by Anne Wojcicki, the new wife of Google (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people ) billionaire Sergey Brin. Google put $3.6 million into the start-up, and $2.6 million of 23andMe's funding went to pay back a loan from Brin to the new company. That was enough to get the gossips jabbering. Other investors include Genentech (nyse: DNA - news - people ) and tech investor Esther Dyson.
But despite the chatter, there hasn't been a lot of information about what 23andMe is going to do, or how it is going to make money. The name comes from the fact that every person has 23 pairs of chromosomes, tangles of DNA that contain our genes. (We each get one set of 23 from Mom, the other from Dad.)
23andMe's Web site says the company is "developing new ways to help you make sense of your own genetic information." It also promises "broad, secure and private access to trustworthy and accurate individual genetic information." Flatley went a lot farther, giving an outline of what 23andMe will offer and then giving the product its first public consumer review.
Customers would give 23andMe a sample (it might be some spit or a Q-tip rubbed on the inside of the cheek). This would be sent to Illumina to be genotyped. Illumina and its main competitor, Affymetrix (nasdaq: AFFX - news - people ), make what are known as DNA chips, devices that can sample the genome in hundreds of places. These chips have been leading to a revolution in genetics, with dozens of DNA variations being potentially linked to diseases so far this year.
Illumina would then be able to tell 23andMe about hundreds of DNA variations, called single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs, that each customer has. 23andME would make that information available through a password-protected Web site. And people would be able to log on and get information about what SNPs (pronounced "snips") they have.
Initially, Flatley said, the company will be more focused on ancestry--questions like which parent one got more traits from, or who your distant relatives are--than medicine. Many researchers say most genetic discoveries are so far only of limited medical utility.
Flatley said he has already been able to try out a dry run of this software. He described logging on to 23andMe with his wife standing over his shoulder, and she proceeded to barrage him with questions about which SNP variants he had. The site, he said, will also feature articles explaining what these variants mean. "It's actually quite intriguing," he said.
The CEO admitted he's an "early adopter"--he's going to be trying to get the $100 credit on his Apple (nasdaq: AAPL - news - people ) iPhone. But his iPhone has his genotype on it. And he showed a scan of his entire genome on a slide. Then he told the assembled analysts that anyone who wanted could sign up there to get 23andMe's services for free.
Illumina handed out sign-up cards, and told analysts to put them in a bowl in the back of the room if they were interested. Flatley said that 23andMe would be showing off its software over the next couple months. Illumina estimates that in several years the market in consumer genotyping will hit $1.5 billion. It's not clear, but it seems likely 23andMe might use the data it has collected to make new discoveries itself.
23andMe, which has been keeping very quiet about its plans, declined to comment for this story. But it is looking like one of the first companies to start figuring out what an explosion of genetic data will mean for the average consumer.
In genetics, a lot is happening very fast. Dyson, the 23andMe investor and board member, is one of 10 people who have agreed to have their DNA sequenced and put on the Internet as part of the Personal Genome Project. That project's lead investigator, George Church of Harvard Medical School, is an adviser to 23andMe.
Congress can sell thier votes... why not me?
MINNEAPOLIS - A college student claimed it was all a joke when he put his vote in this fall's presidential election up for sale on the Web auction site eBay. But prosecutors didn't see the humor.
University of Minnesota student Max P. Sanders, 19, was charged with a felony Thursday in Hennepin County District Court after allegedly asking for a minimum of $10 in exchange for voting for the bidder's preferred candidate.
"Good luck!" Sanders wrote under the eBay handle zepdrummer612. "You're (sic) country depends on You!"
Sanders was charged with one count of bribery, treating and soliciting under an 1893 state law that makes it a crime to offer to buy or sell a vote.
According to a criminal complaint, the Minnesota secretary of state's office learned about the offering on the Web site and told prosecutors. Investigators sent a subpoena to eBay and got information that led to Sanders.
The student told investigators he made the eBay posting, adding, "That was a joke. It's no longer listed," according to the complaint.
"We take it very seriously. Fundamentally, we believe it is wrong to sell your vote," said John Aiken, a spokesman for the office. "There are people that have died for this country for our right to vote, and to take something that lightly, to say, 'I can be bought.'
"It's a real shame," he said. "I can imagine the conversations being held in American Legion Clubs and VFWs about whether this is a joke or not."
The scarcely used law had its heyday in the 1920s, when many people sold their votes in exchange for liquor, Assistant County Attorney Pat Diamond said.
"There are two things going on here in terms of why it's a crime," he said. "One is the notion that elections should be a contest of ideas and not of pocketbooks — at least not in the sense of straight-out 'I can buy your vote.' The second notion is that everybody gets one vote, and you don't get to buy another one."
Sanders and his attorney, Steven Levine, declined to comment Thursday. The charge carries up to five years' imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.
As for the offer on eBay? It got no bids.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080704/ap_on_re_us/odd_vote_for_sale
University of Minnesota student Max P. Sanders, 19, was charged with a felony Thursday in Hennepin County District Court after allegedly asking for a minimum of $10 in exchange for voting for the bidder's preferred candidate.
"Good luck!" Sanders wrote under the eBay handle zepdrummer612. "You're (sic) country depends on You!"
Sanders was charged with one count of bribery, treating and soliciting under an 1893 state law that makes it a crime to offer to buy or sell a vote.
According to a criminal complaint, the Minnesota secretary of state's office learned about the offering on the Web site and told prosecutors. Investigators sent a subpoena to eBay and got information that led to Sanders.
The student told investigators he made the eBay posting, adding, "That was a joke. It's no longer listed," according to the complaint.
"We take it very seriously. Fundamentally, we believe it is wrong to sell your vote," said John Aiken, a spokesman for the office. "There are people that have died for this country for our right to vote, and to take something that lightly, to say, 'I can be bought.'
"It's a real shame," he said. "I can imagine the conversations being held in American Legion Clubs and VFWs about whether this is a joke or not."
The scarcely used law had its heyday in the 1920s, when many people sold their votes in exchange for liquor, Assistant County Attorney Pat Diamond said.
"There are two things going on here in terms of why it's a crime," he said. "One is the notion that elections should be a contest of ideas and not of pocketbooks — at least not in the sense of straight-out 'I can buy your vote.' The second notion is that everybody gets one vote, and you don't get to buy another one."
Sanders and his attorney, Steven Levine, declined to comment Thursday. The charge carries up to five years' imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.
As for the offer on eBay? It got no bids.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080704/ap_on_re_us/odd_vote_for_sale
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
so if i wanted to leave this God foresaken place i'd have to PAY?
A lot of people probably can't understand why someone would voluntarily give up American citizenship -- but if someone wanted to do that, they'd now incur financial penalties for it.Congress just passed a new law that will stop your capital -- or at least a good portion of it -- at the border, should you decide not to be a U.S. citizen anymore. Is it, perhaps, in preparation for the possibility that Americans might rebel at the debt and taxes incurred by their government by leaving for lower-tax locales?You probably didn't notice this little provision inserted into the Heroes Act of 2008, passed by Congress on June 17. The headlines in the press release about the law were about the increased benefits for veterans and families of deceased military.But Richard Kohan of Price WaterhouseCoopers drew my attention to one section of the act, which states that anyone voluntarily giving up his or her citizenship will be taxed on all of his assets as if he or she had sold them -- paying capital gains on assets that have increased in value, even though they have not been sold. That's right. While everyone in the media is focused on keeping aliens out of America, Congress has voted to lock its citizens - or at least a good portion of their assets -- into America! Maybe they're thinking that patriotism won't be enough to keep the smart money from recognizing the coming increases in the tax burden.
full article
full article
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