CommonPrejudice

It Grew Back!!!

About 4 years ago while citing a story about the possibility of teeth growing back I made passing reference to that old Monty Python skit about the man losing his leg and asking when it would grow back.

Well, that was nothing, nothing at all.

This dude actually grew back his finger (click one of the images for the story and video)

Jimmy Carter Speaks Out

Never knew he had it in him:

...Oh, what's that I hear? The weather's all screwy? You got a global warming problem? Boo-fucking-hoo! I was telling you morons to turn off your lights and unplug all your shit at night to conserve energy in 19-fuckin'-75, for chrissake. Gee, I wonder what woulda happened if we'd all switched to solar power like I fucking did back when we had a fucking chance to do something about it...

That's funny stuff.

Direct Democracy

In  Brazil, citizens are taking a stab at a new form of democracy.

A woman apparently incensed over a 91 per cent pay hike legislators granted themselves last week stabbed a prominent member of congress in the back Monday, police said.

Rita de Cassia Sampaio de Souza, 45, told police her anger over the pay hike drove her to stab Representative Antonio Carlos Magalhaes Neto - the scion of a powerful political family - as he left his office in the northeastern city of Salvador da Bahia...

Of course, this is a completely rational response. However police in Brazil see a little more to it.

According to Bahia state police inspector Wilson Ramos, the pay raise was one of things Souza mentioned in her rambling statement after she was arrested. But he added she also demonstrated a certain emotional imbalance.

So which "emotional imbalance" would that be?

It's Sweeter

Just in case you were wondering, human meat is sweeter than the meat we usually eat.

...No, this isn't the red meat I was referring to yesterday. It is from this story, though I am certainly not vouching for its reliability (via reddit). Just an interesting note, that's all. Now time to get some lunch.

A Little Oxygen on the Stem Cell Fire

So you think simple embryonic stem cell research produces controversy? When it comes to this type of research in England, they ain't whistling dixie.

UK scientists have applied for permission to create embryos by fusing human DNA with cow eggs...

The hybrid human-bovine embryos would be used for stem cell research and would not be allowed to develop for more than a few days.

Now it isn't quite as scary as you may think.

They would insert human DNA into a cow's egg which has had its genetic material removed, and then create an embryo by the same technique that produced Dolly the Sheep.

The resulting embryo would be 99.9% human; the only bovine element would be DNA outside the nucleus of the cell....

The religious right is very delusional and irrational at the best of times. Imagine their horror at this. I think we can all think of what the arguments against this would be. Here one of the arguments for it (though there are others of course, some more technical)

Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, head of developmental genetics, National Institute for Medical Research, said: "This is a very rational step: to learn what you can using animal eggs, which are readily obtainable, before moving on to valuable human eggs when or if this becomes necessary."

And think of the money saved on milk (sorry).

Why I Love Dogs

How cool is this (heard on Countdown)?

An injured 6-year-old German shepherd mix that was apparently struck by a car walked himself into a hospital emergency room Wednesday, animal control officials said.

Buddy the dog limped into emergency at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Bellflower and laid down in the waiting area at about 1 p.m., security officer Daniel Carrillo said.

Hospital officials called the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority in Downey, and agency officials picked up Buddy and brought him to the shelter for treatment of a fractured leg, said Capt. Aaron Reyes, SEAACA's director of operations.

Buddy had run away two weeks prior and was fine and reunited with his owner. It's not all bad news in this world.

Final Four Saturday

I love a cinderella story as much as the next guy so it is with great regret I post the following.

Perhaps the most well-known alum (didn't graduate, I guess they are pretty strict on cheating at Mason) is .... Karl Rove. To make matters worse Walter Williams, a Rush Limbaugh guest-host, teaches there.

If you need some other alum so you can keep the faith, the third runner-up in the 2005 Miss America pageant went to Mason as did the actor who played the Blue Power Ranger.

(and no, this is not an April Fool's post ... Ojala!)

I'm guessing they've changed the locks

One moment you're getting a key to an American city, the next you're sitting in a hole in an Iraqi desert hiding from the U.S. army. Ain't it always like that.

From Don Banks at SI.com:

Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick gave homeboy Jerome Bettis a key to the city this week, reportedly only the fourth time that honor has been bestowed.

The other three recipients? Well, let's see. There was actor James Earl Jones. Detroit neurosurgeon, Dr. Benjamin Carson, of Johns Hopkins University. And ... oh, yeah, somebody named Saddam Hussein, who got one back in 1980,before he seemed to fall out of favor with certain members of the U.S. government. And the U.S. Army for that matter.

[Link]

Hmm, a professional football player, a neurosurgeon, a famous actor and a ruthless dictator walk into a bar....ahh you've probably heard it.

Christmas Gift Suggestion

Looking for that special gift for that special someone in your life?

How about a tattooed pig?

Imagine the delight on a child's face as they roll around the muck with their new favorite toy. And not only is it a great gift idea, it can break down cultural boundaries. The creator of this exciting concept, Belgian artist Wim Delvoye, explains why he brought his idea to China:

"I decided to do something in China first, and I realized tattooing pigs would be a good introduction to the country..."

Quote of the Day

Again from Micheal Smith (a conservative btw)

Hell will freeze over before another UK prime minister follows Bush to war. It would be political suicide.

No soldiers, no money, no domestic support, no allies...a true quagmire in Iraq...I tell ya, North Korea and Iran must be shaking in their boots.

So, feeling safer?