In the most recent issue of the MIT Technology Review Antonio Regalado discusses the possibility of editing the DNA of children in order create designer children.  Researchers from Harvard and Beijing have begun testing different techniques on pigs and monkeys and what they have discovered is that it is theoretically possible to engineer babies with the most desirable traits, while at the same time eliminating those deemed to be undesirable.
Aside from general physical traits like eye or hair color, this technology can also be used to create more intelligent babies, taller babies, babies with increased lifespans, and babies with a stronger desire for increased wealth.  


Thus far this technology is still in the trial phase, however if it were to be made available to the general public, the cost could be as much as $100,000 per child - meaning that only the most wealthy segments of the population would be able to take advantage of it. It would also mean that these wealthy people would be able to develop children who are far superior, both physically and intellectually, to the general population... which means it would be even more difficult for the "have-nots" to catch up.


While this technology was originally focused on eliminating certain genetic disorders like Huntington's disease, it can also be used at creating a "Master Race." If scientists can simply eliminate certain physical features for the advancement of others, this technology, in the wrong hands could be used as a means of genetic genocide.


Like every developing technology, there are positive and dangerous potentialities.  Some would argue that the scientists behind these technologies have a moral responsibility to consider these potentialities before unleashing such a paradigm shifting technology.  Others however argue that it is the job of the scientist to explore and create while it is the job of philosophers and the general population to worry about the moral implications of developing technologies.


Thoughts? 

Last week a restaurant in Nigeria was shut down by police when they were tipped off by locals who suspected something strange was going on.  When police raided the hotel restaurant they discovered something out of a horror movie or The Walking Dead's Terminus... human heads still dripping blood into plastic bags.   A local priest made the first complaints when he notices odd looking men walking in and out of the restaurant and meal prices being extravagantly expensive by Nigerian standards.

So far ten people have been arrested and authorities are now attempting to identify the many victims; as well as determine how long this ghoulish practice has been going on. 

Thoughts? 

By now the results of the investigation as to whether or not the New England Patriots deflated footballs during the AFC Championship Game is well known... It is more probable than not that Patriots' Quarterback Tom Brady was generally aware that the balls were being illegally deflated.  The findings from the now infamous Wells' Report, a document over 240 pages, have been analyzed by Patriot defenders and Patriot haters alike and essentially what it comes down to is that if you are a fan of the team the report is flawed and if you hate the team the report is brilliant... in this case there is no such thin as impartiality. 

This case however has proven to be bigger than a football, bigger than Tom Brady, and bigger than the fact that the Patriots have gotten the largest fine ever handed down by the NFL.  At the end of the day this is still about a game.

This story has been covered by every major news outlet in the country.  It has been the lead story on the World News, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and a host of local news channels as well.  Pushed aside is news of devastating earthquakes and other natural disasters, poverty, racism, and domestic violence... 

Thus I ask the question, has our society finally become too sports crazy?  The cost of the Wells' investigation was over five million dollars!  

Thoughts? 

Last Friday, during the commencement ceremony of TNT Academy, the school's Principal and founder made racial remarks after seeing some families leaving the ceremony early.  Nancy Gordeuk had dismissed the students and those in attendance but quickly realized the she had forgotten to introduce the school's valedictorian.  Not wanting the student to miss delivering his speech, she asked the crowd to return to their seats.  When some chose not to, Gordeuk became frustrated and began reprimanding those leaving as being rude and inconsiderate.  

A cell phone video then captured her next comment:  "Look who's leaving... all the black people."  The audience erupts in fits of anger and protest and now many are calling for her resignation or termination.  Gordeuk has since apologized for the remark claiming that, "The devil was in the house, and came out of my mouth."

Gordeuk claims that she is not racist and was only frustrated with the crowd... that when she looked up it was only the black families that were leaving, so she said what she saw.

Watch the video below and decide for yourself.  Should this woman still be allowed to lead TNT Academy or should she be terminated?

Thoughts? 

 

As the foreign language department prepares for International Food Day, a restaurant in Pittsburgh continues to celebrate global diversity in a very unique way.  The restaurant, "Conflict Kitchen," specializes in cuisine from countries which are in conflict with the United States.  The restaurant routinely changes its menu and is currently specializing is Palestinian food... a food tradition as complex and complicated as its political realities and relationship with the United States.

Aside from the award winning dishes served, the restaurant also hosts speakers and activists who give their personal perspectives on the global issues between the United States and the "conflict" nation.  Through the shared communal experience of sharing a meal, enemies who disagree on politics, race, religion, and distribution of resources can sit together, eat, and talk.

So, enjoy International Food Day and remember that sometimes sitting and eating together is about much more than the food on the plate.

The past versions of Conflict Kitchen include, Afghanistan, North Korea, Cuba, Iran, and Venezuela.

You can check our the restaurant's website by clicking here. 

This past week gunmen, possibly connected with the terror group ISIS, attacked an art exhibition in Garland, Texas. Though they shot one security officer in the ankle, there were no fatalities except the perpetrators themselves as they were shot and killed by police officers at the scene... but this is only part of the story.

The exhibit that was attacked was called "The Muhammad Art Exhibit" and its main attraction was a contest for the best caricature of the Prophet Muhammad... complete with a $10,000 prize for the best entry.  This contest was organized by Pamela Geller, President of the American Freedom Defense Initiative, in response to a recent conference entitled, "Stand With the Prophet in Honor and Respect."  The purpose of the conference was for American Muslims to confront and discuss the violence done in the name of Islam and find ways to peacefully combat those spreading violence and hate.  Geller's art exhibit was organized, it would seem, to antagonize the Muslim community. 

Geller and her supporters argue that her exhibit was simply an exercise in free speech; fully protected by the First Amendment... and they are 100% correct.  That being said, sometimes simply because you can do a thing, doesn't mean you should do it.

In most denominations of Islam, depicting the any visual image of the Prophet Muhammad (positive or negative) is considered a sacrilege.  Geller and her supporters know this fact and simply went ahead with the event proving not only were they determined to exercise free speech, but also exercise the "cherished American freedom to do something stupid..."

Some of the images included in the exhibit consisted of Muhammad being impaled on a pencil; having a beard filled with snakes; juggling with decapitated heads; defecating and urinating on the Quran; and wearing a toilet-paper turban... just to name a few examples.

Make no mistake about it, organizing this type of event in no way justifies taking violent actions or committing acts of terror, but this is where we are in today's world.  On one side you have an extremist group, Hell bent on violently forcing their world view onto others - and on the other side you have ignorant, antagonistic elitists who, in their own way, are extremists who feel their way is the only way. 

Extremism has many forms... none of which results in any good.

Thoughts?

On Sunday survivors, liberators, and family members gathered in Dachau, Germany to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the town's concentration camp on April 29, 1945.  The Dachau camp was the first camp set up following Hitler's rise to power in 1933.  Though not one of the key "death camps," more than 200,000 people were held there and 40,000 prisoners were killed.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged to keep, "alive the memory of Nazi crimes and give no quarter to present-day discrimination or anti-Semitism."

Despite her strong words, some have argued that anti-Semitism seems to be on the rise across Europe and the United States, which is why these commemorations are so important as each year fewer and fewer people with living memories of the Holocaust survive.  

Dachau, which is just outside of Munich, is one of several camps which have been preserved and maintained for educational purposes.  

Recently, the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was met with mixed and complicated reactions.  As hundreds of thousands of Armenians were murdered by the crumpling Ottoman Empire, the world stood by and did nothing.  Turkey, the last vestige of the Ottoman Empire, denies the event and even the United States government refuses to use the word "genocide" when discussing it for fear of offending its ally Turkey...

And there have been many other examples of genocide during the 20th century... Rwanda, Cambodia, Iraq, and Russia just to name a few... 

Thoughts?