Thursday, June 14, 2007

PLAYING GOD

Read an interesting article in TIME magazine about the scientists who are into bio synthetics. These guys are able to produce components of living organisms and alter them to create new ones. The article cites that the proponents of this movement talk about their work as casually as if they were just producing machines.

If these "scientists" could have their way,they would be able to create the "perfect species" (e.g. a perfect boy or girl) free of any genetic defects because they can alter DNA structures according to any design they want.

Of course, there are opponents to this movement. Those who object to biogenetic reengineering have as their premise the belief that God has already created a perfect world that can produce all that there is needed to be produced.

Monday, June 11, 2007

BIZARRE SEX:HAVING DINNER WHILE HAVING SEX!

Nat Geo's WILD SEX last Saturday showed a segment about the way Mantids have sex. The smaller male has to slowly and carefully approach the larger female because mantids are sensitive to movement. Any sudden movement and he may be mistaken for lunch!

Once he is close enough to make his intentions known he must find a way to mount her and escape being eaten alive. Usually, males try to find their way behind the female. But this segment showed a male trying the missionary position...with deadly results.

As soon as it was face to face with its potential mate,the female started eating him,starting with his eyes. The narrator tried to put some levity to this grotesque scene by calling it a literally "blind date."

The mantids nerve structure are so designed that even if one body part is severed the others continue to function. In this case, while the female was making a meal of the male's head (...hmmm...a new meaning to the term " giving head," :-) ) the male's drive for sexual satisfaction kept its genitals looking for the female's until it was able to consumate the sex act!

When this was over,the headless male walked away (to die later) while the female cleaned itself after heaving supped....while having sex!

(Hmmm...This can be a plot for one of these adult fantasy magazines!)

Sunday, June 03, 2007

KOREA'S STATE OF "ONE MIND"

Saw an interesting feature on Nat Geo yesterday morning. It featured a young rhythmic gymnast from North Korea who had participated and performed in the country's Mass Games before the communist state's revered leader Kim Il Sung.

What really got me was how the Korean leaders were able to "brainwash" and convince North Koreans that the key to their success as a nation was for each one to lose their individuality in favor of the common good.

And in fact the North Koreans lived this belief. The Mass games is a good example of this communality in action. The show of talent which is really a performance of many thousands of athletes in a coordinated script is a marvel to see. Even the audience performs by flashing cards of different colors to form pictures of Korean figureheads and propaganda themes.

The gymnast,whose name I can't recall, said in her interview that being a performer in the Mass Games is tough but she "trains through the pain" because for her performing before the General is a great privelege and one which she considers a highlight of her life.

Part of North Korea's success in communicating propaganda is attributed to the fact that it has only one government controlled TV station that broadcasts only communist propaganda and stories of North Korea's many heroes, who are supposed to be idolized by the people.

Though one might criticize their methods of achieving their means one cannot doubt that North Korea's State of "One Mind" is nonetheless,effective!