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Cultured Meat
Cultured Meat – also known as in vitro meat – is animal flesh that has never been part of a complete living animal. Some scientists are experimenting with growing meat in this way as a food source. Apparently, now that the experiments are approaching the point where there is a real possibility that such products will reach the market, some vegetarians are reacting in horror to the very idea. I can’t quite see it myself. Meat grown in this way seems to me to be more akin to growing mushrooms than raising animals for slaughter.Anyway, Kevin T. Keith has a good summary of the pro and con arguments over at Sufficient Scruples.And I’m grateful to the Wikipedia entry for reminding me about Iain M. Banks’ joke in The State of the Art about "Stewed Idi Amin and General Pinochet Chilli con Carne"… I must find time to re-read the book some time…One response to “Cultured Meat”
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Need to go away and think about this one. In theory it sounds ok….. weird but ok….. I think….
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Bill and Melinda Meet Nkosepaca
Excellent article by Sarah Boseley in The Guardian today on Bill and Melinda Gates’ visit to a South African township. Worth reading.Leave a comment
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Only In America
And continuing to plunder the veritable bran-tub of surprises that is America’s Got Talent, here’s Leonid The Magnificent. What more can I say, but that it could only happen in America… Leonid is clearly channeling Judy… You go, girl!Leave a comment
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The Airport That Sucks
Brian Sack nails it. Charles de Gaulle Airport is dreadful. I shudder at the memory. It could have been so wonderful; so 1960s Avengers’ chic. But instead it was, and presumably still is, a nightmare.Leave a comment
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Theremin Themes
Ever since I first heard it, as a very young lad, I always wanted to get my hands on a theremin. Actually, I suppose the operative phrase is "hands off" – for the most part, the theremin is played without being touched. It’s also, I think, extraordinarily difficult to play well. I went in search of videos of theremin performances on YouTube, and the most reasonable one I could find is this rendering of Debussy’s Clair de Lune by Lydia Kavina.Some of the other theremin videos available on YouTube are pretty excruciating – so you have been warned.However, worth watching, both for this explanation of the workings of theremin and his subsequent sly send-up song, is Bill Bailey’s demonstration. Let the shining shin of truth be our beacon of hope, indeed.Next up: the Ondes Martenot.Leave a comment
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Quick Change
By way of light relief, here’s a video of two magicians who have got the quick-change costume trick honed to absolute perfection. If you’d like to try it yourself, pick up this book and practise, practise, practise.Leave a comment
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No Smoke Without Fire
Some people have good reason to suffer from coulrophobia2 responses to “No Smoke Without Fire”
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Hi Geoff. Of course, they could have been assaulted by a clown in another life. Seriously though, I don’t hold with that myself.
You made some interesting points on my blog. I myself am sharply divided. Half of me is like you and thinks yes, we are just what you say. Look at us, what and where we are and yes, I agree. The other part of me that has experiences that I cannot explain, ongoing resonances, is not so sure. I am happy to accept its all a product of my brain, I like to think I am a realist at the same time, but, I’m just not so sure. -
Hi Gelert. The brain is a wonderful thing. If you’re interested in the architecture of the mind, then I can thoroughly recommend V. S. Ramachandran’s Phantoms in the Brain. Absolutely splendid book. I’ve just acquired William Calvin’s A Brief History of the Mind, which deals with the theory of who the brain evolved (and where it might go next). Will report back once I’ve read it.
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Happy Birthday, Cecil!
On a personal note, I’d just like to wish my uncle a very happy birthday. Today he has reached the grand age of 101…Leave a comment
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Vent
Vent is a new comedy series being broadcast on BBC Radio 4. It’s about a man called Ben. He’s in a coma – so he doesn’t get out much. Nicely black and ironic, Vent is written by Nigel Smith, who is drawing on his own experiences. Definitely worth a listen.Leave a comment
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Forget Skippy – Who’s The Duck?
My eye was caught by an article in The Telegraph today about some newly discovered fossils in Australia. The story centred around the remains found of a flesh-eating kangaroo – Ekaltadeta – but what really got my attention was the reference to a prehistoric bird known affectionately to scientists as the Demon Duck of Doom.Intrigued, I did a quick Google, and here, ladies, gentlemen, and small furry animals, I give you: Bullockornis planei. Ain’t Nature amazing?Leave a comment
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Candlelight Vigil on 19 July
Almost one year ago on 19 July 2005, Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni, ages 16 and 18, were executed in the city of Mashhad, Iran. Their crime? They were gay.There will be a candlelight vigil on 19 July at the Homomonument in Amsterdam from 22:00. The sun sets at 21:30. It will be a simple affair. People should bring a candle and show up. No political speeches or anything like that — just like-minded people.Update: the starting time has been changed to 22:00 as now shown above.Leave a comment
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Lifebeat Loses The Plot
Raising awareness and providing support to communities affected by AIDS is one thing. Organising a concert with the likes of Beenie Man and TOK is clearly so incredibly unthinking that it takes my breath away.Update: Lifebeat have apparently backed down, and cancelled the concert. Ironically, they blame a "select group of activists" for "inciting the firestorm that makes canceling the concert the only responsible action". What a bunch of wankers. It’s called "refusing to accept responsibility" in my book. Terrance has more.Leave a comment
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Safety First
Rare Exports Inc of Finland has found it necessary to issue its Official Safety Instructions. Warning, not for the faint-hearted or those who do not like their humour to be of the deepest shade of black.Leave a comment
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Bush Pilot
This explains a lot. There’s a theme here. President Clinton also seems to have been a puppet…(hat tip to PZ Myers…)Leave a comment
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Kwik-Fit
Mr. Duck points out that all is not well in this, the best of all possible worlds.2 responses to “Kwik-Fit”
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You deserve a bigger readership. Just read your page of entries
and its all great stuff in different ways. Gave me something else to
think about. Ta mate. -
My pleasure, Gelert… Thanks.
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Why?
I liked this. Schmaltzty, American humo(u)r – but still… Not bad, and more life affirming than the troll.Leave a comment
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For He Is The Kwisatz Haderach…
…or the Giant Flatulent Raccoon – take your pick. I am sometimes grateful for being in a backwater as far as the US mainstream is concerned. It means that I don’t have to be confronted with the evident idiocy that is known as Ann Coulter on a regular basis. I am far enough away that I can stare into a glass darkly and wonder at the hot gases that she emits.Still, it helps when a rational being delves into the noxious depths and retrieves pearls of wisdom, casting illumination where formerly there was only a troll.Leave a comment
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A Sunday Afternoon…
…on the island of La Grande Jatte. Well, perhaps not, but it does have echoes of Seurat’s masterpiece. I’ve been fortunate enough to have seen the original, and it’s one of the few paintings that I have sat and contemplated for more than 20 minutes.Leave a comment
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Count Me Out…
This is probably one dinner date that I won’t be wanting to go on. Don’t forget to go to the loo before you sit down for dinner…Update: BLDBLOG has the video.Just don’t drop your fork, OK?Leave a comment
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Bread and Circuses
I’m sorry, but I find this news story particularly depressing. Mbeki denies the impact of AIDS on his country, but he puffs up football? Sometimes I think we are all doomed.Leave a comment



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