Human Cloning - The Pros

I recently posted on the cons of cloning humans, and am now going to show the benefits. I have yet to make up my mind on the matter, and hope that these two posts could help you make up yours.

1. As it was also a con, the ability to produce superhumans could also be seen as a pro. These superhumans could then be used for a multitude of tasks

2. Identical twins are natural clones, so there is no reason not to clone being artificially.

3. If a child dies, then they can be cloned and brought back to life. This is a very touchy subject, as it bring in the issue of reincarnation, and therefore religion.

4. Clones could be used to grow organs which have the perfect tissue match of the recipient, but without the problems. This could lead to dramatic medical advances, and the end of organ diseases all over the world.

These are just some of the pros of cloning humans beings. Please comment about your opinion, and help me decide.

Categories: Science

Human Cloning - The Cons

This is the first post out of two about human cloning. The second post is about the pros of human cloning.
I have no problem with cloning animals. The advance in science is astonishingly fast and complex. Cloning animals may save many endangered animals and even bring back extinct species. But human cloning has many more dramatic possibilites.

Some of these possibilites of human cloning are far fetched, but are still possibilites. They could occur, but most probably won't.

1. The first problem I see, is that there will be a loss of identity amongst the clones. They are merely copies of others, and have no differences that make them unique. Being unique is one of the major things about life, and this will be taken away.

2. The clones could be exploited. People with unique abilities could be cloned to make even better ones. For example, the worlds most celebrated soldier could be cloned thousands of times over to create a super army. I realize that this is very, very unlikely, but I wouldn't put it past some of the crazy leaders out there.

3. The world is already overpopulated without using additional methods of creating humans.

4. A large scale loss of genetic diversity. Everyone has a the same genes, no new ones can be gained from others. If we then lose the ability to clone, and resort back to natural reproduction, only the current genes can be used. Not good.

I realize that there are many good things about cloning, but this post is simply discussing the cons.

Categories: Science

Paris Riots - Media Blackout

France is one of those places where you would think that riots on such a massive scale as this would not occur. It is supposed to be civilized; champagne, frogs legs, Eiffel Tower.

But this must not be the case, thousands of cars have been destroyed, dozens killed. And now, the riots are spreading through provincial France. In one case, a disabled woman was deliberatly set on fire!

Sure, these people have economic problems, but what they are doing is not going to help. The government have described them as 'organized gangs,' and that is exactly what they are. They are not poor people trying to make a stand, they are violent criminals and should be dealt with using force, as they have so often used on others.


But the thing that has suprised me the most, is the lack of information. The first I heard of these riots was today, on the interent. Apparently the riots have been occuring for several weeks, and they have had no TV or Radio coverage what-so-ever. This is a very important event for society, but it seems it is not as important as the latest celebrity break-up or football game! If anyone else has had this kind of problem, post a comment, because there is nothing worse than silence.

Categories: Events

Australian Idol - The Death of Australian Culture

The spinoff of American Idol, Australian Idol is a blatant attempt to change popular culture, and sadly, it is working. With more people than ever worshipping these 'stars,' the Aussie Image is chaning. The morals and value of Australian youth are being destroyed by this attack.

Mark Holden's trademark 'Touchdown' has thrown all previous Australian slang into dissarray. Touchdown is either an American word when a gridiron player scores, or when a plane touches the ground. It has nothing to do with Australia. They only thing I am thankful for is that no-one likes Mark Holden or takes him seriously, so not much harm has come from it.

But the entire notion or singers being famous is distinctly American, and is beginning to infiltrate our culture. The Australian saying of 'Tall Poppy Syndrome' is the only thing protecting us. Cutting people down when they become too famous, is stopping them from becoming superstars. But most singers don't do much anyway, and they are admired.

Whatever happened to the Brickie, working all day just to feed his family. They are the true role models, not singers, not movie stars, not 'celebrities'!

Categories: Rants

Lightning Strike Kills Cows

I was amazed when I heard this story: the story of an electric storm killing 68 cows on a NSW farm.

The cattle were crowded around a tree, covering from the storm, when a lightning blot struck the tree. As you can image there were dozens of dead carcases surrounding the tree.

This reminded me greatly of a story I was told as a young boy. A steer was killed after a lighting bolt hit a tree. The tree collapsed, falling onto the beast. It is strange how one event can bring back memories from years before.

There is a lesson from this story: during a thunder storm, don't stand under a tree or anyother high points - as you are more likely to be hit!

Categories: Events, Misc, Humour

Racism

The scourge of manking, and my personal hatrid!

Racism is for those bigots who think themselves superiour, those who cannot listen to reason, and those who are just evil, trying to cause pain and fear to others. For the most part people are extremely accepting of other cultures and religions, it is only those who fit in the categories above and those who don't have the guts to stand up for others who are racist.

Some cultures embrace individuality, and yet when there are physical differences they are scorned.

Everyone is human. Everyone is equal.

Many people believe this, but do nothing to make it a reality.

Castro - Assassination Attempts

Fidel Castro, leader of Cuba and a surviver.

I was doing some research on him and found some interesting facts. To try and remove him from power the American CIA tried many ways to have him killed. Some are ingenious, most are down right stupid, but all are hillarious. Even funnier is that with all the American power they have not yet succeeded in assassinating one old man.

1. A Mob Hit - Yes, they hired the mafia to do away with him.
2. An exploding cigar
3. An exploding seashell
4. A poisoned wetsuit
5. To discredit him politically they tried to make his beard fall out

I am no American, and do not feel the same way they do towards Cuba. This makes me like Castro all the more. Could all the Americans reading this please explain to me why they hate Cuba so.

Terrorism - The History

It seems that terrorism is becoming more and more common with every attack, expecially after the Twin Tower and London Bombings. But is this the case or has terrorism always been in society?

In the 1st Century Jewish Zealots were involved in a terror campaign against the Romans, using bladed knives to kill anyone who were friendly with the Roman authorities.

The IRA has been conducting terrorist attacks since the 1860's, trying to ensure the split of Ireland from England.

The spark which ignited World War 1 was the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. Another example of terrorism from the past.

There has always been terrorism, and people trying to make themselves heard through violence. As of late these attacks have been getting worse with the increase in military technology, but the idea is not knew.

Categories: Terrorism, History

Cultural Captain

Several times in my previous posts I have mentioned that I was in the running for House Captain, unfortuantly I did not get it, instead it went to the better person for the job (and I mean it).

Instead the school decided to create an honourary position called Cultural Captain. I have no real resposibilities, and simply do what I am currently doing. I will continue to promote such cultural things as debating, the musical, and the bands, except now I get a spiffy badge!

So, for my first attempt to do the job:

Speak out about something you believe in, join a band, and start a play.

Categories: School

A drastic political mistake

This is another case of ignorance teaching itself over.

A teacher at my school, no names mentioned, has made a huge political mistake, and is passing this on to his students. I have yet to confront this teacher about their mistake, and so if you do know who they are, do not bring me into it.

The mistake in question is about the politcal system of wings, that is left and right. For those who don't know, Communism is considered extreme left wing, and Fascism is extreme right wing.

The teacher in question said that right wing is communist, and left wing are hippies.

This is completely and utterly wrong! The next time I see this teacher I will make the truth be heard.
The truth must be heard!

Categories: Life, School, Politics

The Melbourne Cup

The race that stops the nation.
I condem all who didn't take the time to watch the Melbourne Cup. This glorious race took place around 2 o'clock today, and in a record attempt Makybe Diva has won for the third year in a row.
I had doubts whether she could do it again, but she agreed with the bookies and made it home first. What a Champion!
While Mr Celebrity was winning for the most part, the last straight was all that was needed for victory. Even more amazing was that she was carrying 58kg, which is quite heavy in this kind of race.

On A Jeune came second and Xcellent came third. I congratulate all who participated and even more who bet. Well done!

Categories: Horse, Racing, Melbourne

The Essence of Genius

Genius' are good at everything.

That is what makes them Genius'. But why are they so much better than the rest of us? What makes them different?

These are some examples of past Genius and how it has spread to many parts of their lives.
Michaelengelo, the famous painter, sculpture, architect, could do many things, even though he was only taught to sculpt. He sculpted David with no help or practice. He painted the Sistene Chapel with only minor training twenty years prior, and he designed the dome of St. Peters Church. I would be ecstatic if I had done one of these things!

Einstein is the greatest physicist that the world has ever seen! He made dozens of equations and theorys relating to numerous things. He grasped the logic behind most things in the world, with very little difficulty.

So, I ask you all: what is it about a Genius that makes them so damn good!

Categories: Genius

Time Travel

Last night I saw a fascinated show about real life time travel and the physics behind it. It was very long and complex, but I will try to summerize it here.

It all began with Newton (discoverer of gravity). He said that time was straight, and that it was so ordered that everything in time had been pre-arranged. So, our destiny is set.

Einstein didn't like that, and proved that time behaves differently depending on how fast you are going. If you are going close to the speed of light, then time would be slower for you, than for everyone else. So you could go forward in time. But you couldn't go back!You said that to go back in time you would have to exceed the speed of light, and this is impossible!

An eccentric mathematician, Kurt Godel, thought that you could go back in time if you could make it travel in a circle, linking back on itself. And because time is everywhere, if you made the universe spin, then time would also spin. Obviously this is impossible, but then again Godel spent most of his life wearing a balaclava.

But there were more possibilities. For instance, if you could spin a smaller area, then you may be able to do the same. This would take too much energy though, so it was set aside for future empires.

The final theory was that if computers are getting faster and faster all the time, then eventually they will reach infinite speed. Then they can make every detail of the past in a program, including people who think and act just like you. But the problem here is that if there are other simulated worlds, then there is a greater chance that we are living in one of those worlds. Not good!

With this the program ended, making me much more interesting in my physics lessons than ever before!

Categories: Science

Toowoomba Water Shortage

We all must admit that Toowoomba has a water shortage. This is a combination of a drought, high water usage and high water loss through a small catchment area. A long term solution to this problem must be achieved.

1. We cannot change the weather, so relying on rain is not long term, or a solution.

2. High water usage can be curbed but not stopped. People will feel that the novalty of water restrictions has worn off and will go back to their previous water usage. Some people have already gone back to using a hose to water, and some people never stopped.

3. Increasing the catchment area. This is expensive and almost impossible. Another damn could be built, but this would need a lot of water to fill, and again if the rain is not there, then the problem will occur again.

4. But there is another solution, a viable one. Recycling water. Grey water can be taken, and put through a process known as Reverse Osmosis to make it pure. This will then be put into the dams, and put through the same process as all the other household water. This is currently being debated by the council, but will take some years to complete, that is if people will actually let them act.


And they must act know, before it is too late. Reverse Osmosis is the only viable solution.

Categories: Toowoomba, Water, Recycling

Suicide Bombers

There has been an ever increasing amount of suicide bombings over the past few months, mostly in the Middle East. Innocents, children, and everyone else you can think of have either been injured or killed. And for what purpose?

The reasons of the bombers are foggy at best. No-one knows why, because the message they are trying to spread is lost in the terror. There are many other methods to explain your concerns than by blowing yourself up.

People would be more willing to listen to a reasonable person, sitting down to explain what is worrying them, than sitting down with a known terrorist who has killed hundreds and is about to kill themselves. Sure, these terrorists may have websites explaining their actions, but it is not enough. The carnage they have caused perverts everyones view about them.
It simply does not work.

Categories: Suicide, Bombers, Terrorism

Whale Beaching

Why would a whale beach itself?

I have no idea, but I have realized that their actions are somewhat similar to humans in times of crisis.

Are they doing it as a stance? Trying to show us humans that they're not going to take our superiority any more.

Maybe they're attention seekers. You know the type, especially in school, making witty remarks, being an idiot, just to get people to look at them. Are whales the same? Do they just want an audience?

Or it could be that they have had enough of their miserable lives in the sea, and wish to end them the only way they know how. Could suicide be the motive of their actions? Probably not.

Maybe they just got lost, and were too stupid to correct their course. That seems more likely.

Categories: Whales, Beaching