Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Playing God - Human Genome, CRISPR, and AI changing the game.

- I feel seen.

- A need for candor. People need to know the rules and the consequences.

- Jonathan Turley on what the defeat of Orban means for the EU. I disagree with the conclusion this is good for the EU.

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share,

- Daniele Bolelli: The Brilliant but Joyless Stoicism of Marcus Aurelius. I agree to a point. Meditations was a diary and as such was meant as booth a criticism and reminder to Marcus Aurelius and was never meant for a wider audience. Now his son Commodus on the other hand... 

- Could school choice work on a federal level. Interesting idea about giving school choice payments to members of the military and those on Indian Reservations.

- Do your job: The Art of Winning. Already have the book on my reading list.

- Glow in the dark bunnies - coming to a store near you. Sorry but getting more of an Island of Dr Moreau feel to this than the warm and fuzzies.

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Glenn Reynolds on JD Vance, the New York Times, and Decency. "A grotesque breach of human decency" indeed! Shame on the NY Times (but they have no shame).

- Nancy Pelosi's security aides received warning about breach of Capital before Jan 6th.

- Noah Smith on why did the US miss the battery revolution? Agree that the US is playing catch-up but disagree that government should be involved. Do think e-bikes may be future of urban transportation.

- Is "Bridge Editing" more powerful than CRISPR? Messing with Mother Nature makes me nervous.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Surprised the nickname "Canadian Beto" never stuck for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau... Perfume ads don't make any logical sense because they are not aimed at the smartest people... Winston Churchill had a habit of not reading any memo longer than a page. The result was nobody ever gave him a memo longer than a single page - genus!... Speaking of real men of genius... The Wages of Sin (Minus Taxes) would be a good name for a band... So if spaghetti approached the event horizon of a black hole - would it too become "spaghettified?" Or would it turn into another form of pasta?... If a monogamy gene could be isolated in humans - could future prenup agreements require that the gene be activated prior to marriage through CRISPR or some other method?...  

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Say goodbye to the TV show COPS. Paramount Network and ViacomCBS have not just pulled the plug on the show but they plan to take the show out of syndication. Over 30+ seasons of the show now being tossed into the memory hole... Still say there should be a GoFundMe campaign to replace all of the statues of Confederate generals in the South with statues of Gregg Allman... Our daily struggle with "Time Famine"... If a monogamy gene could be isolated in humans - could future prenup agreements require that the gene be activated prior to marriage through CRISPR?... "'I'm a Reagan Republican,' That means I want growth-oriented tax policies, a strong, secure national defense, limited government and maximum individual liberty." - Peter Hannaford from 2003. That quote seems to crystallize most of my political beliefs... Wow - big difference!...

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Good for Shaq. "Daryl Morey was right."

- Interesting perspective on the situation in Syria and our handling of Turkey.

- CRISPR gene editing just got a major upgrade (but it's still not perfect)

- Interesting - what it's like to take an investment meeting with Naval Ravikant

- Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin announces plan to get back to the Moon by 2024. In my opinion the USA only gets back to the Moon in a timely fashion if Blue Origin or Elon Musk's SpaceX is involved.

- 15 habits of "lucky" people.

- So how close are we to the almost unlimited energy of nuclear fusion - at least 15-years away.

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Why were scientists silent over gene-edited babies? And a related question - why are medical doctors silent over infanticide posing as late term abortion?

- Water on Mars. Much less scary than Water of Mars.

- F. Scott Firzgerald: A list of things to worry about and things not to worry about

- Gotta love Bill Walton

- 12 facts about Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels on its 20th anniversary

- Very cool!

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Not saying Putin isn't a bad guy (he is) but I can't help remembering that he tried to warn the US Intel agencies about the Boston bombers and was completely ignored... 62 of the world's most beautiful libraries... Serious question - can anyone name one single Foreign Policy success during the Obama Administration? I mean the guy did win a Nobel Prize Peace Prize. When the history books are written what will they say that was for?... Potential DNA damage from CRISPR has been seriously underestimated according to new study. Think this is a time to take the pledge of "first do no harm" to heart... From now on I'm going to introduce myself as a "minor celebrity" - Chris Lynch Minor Celebrity. Who is to argue? I may even have cards printed up... Scientists have found quadrillions worth of diamonds in the ground (small print: But we'll never ever get to them)... Still the big unanswered question from the 2016 election - did John Podesta ever find those discount Viagra pills he was looking for when he fell for the Russian phishing scams?...

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary (or in the Kardashian family)... FDA puts brakes on major CRISPR trial on humans... Disco Hagrid would be a good name for an ABBA cover band... Cool - the world's smallest surgical robot is almost ready for the operating room... In my opinion the self-serve waffle machine is the biggest advancement in the hospitality industry in the past half-century... 24 daily habits that will make you smarter (though I would have listed #24 as #1)... Congrats to Tm Tebow on dating Miss Universe . None of my business but has anyone asked him if he's still a virgin? seems a waste to be dating Miss Universe and still be a virgin...

The Challenges of DNA Data

Interesting article about the challenges of a future where many people's DNA sequencing is available in database form. As more testing like 23andMe become prevalent - more people will have greater control over their genetic history as an aid to better health. Criminals will also have potentially more data on which to do identity theft and other dastardly deeds. There will be many challenges coming in the near future regarding DNA data and keeping that data safe.

I can't help but think what DNA sequencing data could do for targeted marketing. For instance in the future I picture the equivalent of my 25-year old self one day wondering, "Why am I suddenly getting all of these ads about diabetes, premature gray hair and penis reduction surgery?"

On a bit of a tangent but still related thought - I wonder what DNA sequencing and things like CRISPR will do for animal breeding? Why pay $500,000 for a stud fee for Storm Cat when a groomer can just grab a few hairs which will yield all the DNA data needed?  Can you imagine the future menagerie of custom DNA built dogs?

We are truly sailing into uncharted waters.

Link Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Wow - mesmerizing! Math for the win!

- Tom Crean on the lessons he's learned during a year away from coaching.

- Good advice (not just for 20-somethings)

- "Of course.Mark knew. Everyone knew." This is not good for Mark Cuban. Goodbye all thoughts of running for President in 2020.

- Heh heh (I miss Hazel Mae working for NESN)

- Just a spring training reminder!

- The "unknown unknowns" about DIY CRISPR sets are scary to me. So much could go horribly wrong.