Let go of my genes!

I'm am currently reading a very interesting book on biotechnology. It's fiction and if very interesting.

Next by Micheal Crichton

Well, this isn't a book review blog, so I won't divulge too many details, but I will say this: This book is first entertaining, but also somewhat informative and more importantly interesting. It opens many doors in the debate over what is ethical in biotech. From transgenic animals to DNA testing to the messy legal issues surrounding them, this book is a thought experiment worthy of a read.

In my opinion, biotech is genie we can't put back in the bottle and we will have to live with the consequences. Like any technology, it can be used as a tool or as something more fiendish.

I also must confess my aversion to using this type of technology to improve the environment. But then again, what is natural? Can we define it so easily? Would changing the genetic code of corn be so different if done by man then done by natural selection?

Also, how could an entity legally own a genome? This is preposterous! It not something one creates. It something one discovers. Like discovering a planet. Our property laws need to be seriously investigated in order to prevent totalitarian controls on something should be public commons.

I end this rant, for now. But read the book. You'll understand more what I'm talking about!

Why do we enjoy car so much?

As level headed person, I have an unreasonable desire to drive sometimes. I feel that it must be the illusion of control that you get when driving. You can decide your outcome. In general, this is true, you do have freedom, but a very atrophied form of it and for very good reason. Laws and other road users take precedent over all your decisions as a driver, therefore making you simple passenger on the artery to your destination. Perhaps, if people actually saw driving for what it is, they might accept alternative forms of transportation that are safer, more interesting and definitely more sustainable!

Okay, I admit this wasn't my most breath taking post, but I'm trying to keep up with this blog!

Woah! The Price of Gas!

La gasolina es mucho expensive - says I in broken spanish! Well, for many it might come as a surprise and a minor inconvenience, but to those in the peak oil camp, it seems the prediction are getting close to reality. I don't want to jump the gun and say some unfounded comment, but an expert energy analyst on the evening news said [paraphrasing]: "The current high price of energy is not related to a singular event such as a hurricane disrupting supply or an OPEC style oil embargo but is a consequence of increasing demand by all nations, especially fast developing China and India AS WELL AS difficulty in discovering new oil fields to supply it. " Well, it did kind strike me. I feel we mustn't get upset but remain optimistic that this high price of gas will steer consumers, businesses and government towards energy efficiency and alternative energy plans and hope and pray that it will not lead to other less desirable outcomes.

As an interesting side note, have a listen to Bloc Party's - Price of Gas.

Cradle to Cradle Home

Has you can see this is profile picture. Well, I figured I should explain it a bit, since it is a bit, let's say, original. Well, it's the 1st Place Winner of Cradle to Cradle Home Design Challenge (or here) of course! Not only is its design aesthetically pleasing, and interesting it has a number of sustainable features, some of which are fictional, but most being very real technologies. According to the designs poster, it encoporates passive solar energy for heating, active electricity generating solar energy, living machines to filter water, sustainable materials such as earth, soy-foam insulation and reconstituted concrete and wind channeling ventilations. Another key part to it's sustainability aspect is that it acts as community focal point of interdependence, filtering waste water from itself and neighboring homes as well as providing fresh produce to these same neighbors. Now thats interesting! You can dowload the poster here or read more about it on inhabit.

My Favorite TED Videos

Fab Lab's - How to make anything!



The Next Great Green City of China



Nature as a Classroom for Designers



Green Hope in the Ghetto



Suburbia Sucks!



Crazy Organic Designs



Special Thanks to TED.com for existing! Hours of learning, inspirations and fun!

On the road to sustainability

For a long time, I've been an avid closet "environmentalist". No, I don't hug trees. I do shower everyday, using ordinary soap. The difference is, that sustainability, that is preserving natural resources so that they may be enjoyed by future humans and other living beings for as long as the earth exist, has been a major preoccupation for me.

I believe in sustainable and healthy food, clean energy (especially solar), green buildings, sustainable cities and effective and clean transportation. In summary, I have researched this topic over the years and I have seen there are solutions for just about every problem, we as a species are facing.

I believe in action as well.

Therefore, I want to write here, to solidify my commitment to start living closer to my beliefs. I want to do more than simply recycle and limit my water use and my car use.

My first little project I want to begin is to start cooking a least twice a month a "sustainable meal". That means I want eat local foods, preferably as close as 160 km (100 miles) from where I live, such as in the 100 Mile Diet. I want to ensure it is organic and that it was farmed sustainable. And hopefully, I want to make it as vegetarian as possible.

This is my small hopefully realizable goal for the new year. I will try my best to accomplish this.

Hopefully, if this fairs well, one day, I'm hoping to join a local environmental group to help my community live and work more sustainably.

Virtual Suitcase

Now it's time to show my ultra geeky side, while procrastinating a bit! Alright, I just read this great article on rumors that Google will soon attempt a venture into "cloud computing", according to Technology Review.

From my understanding, "cloud computing" refers to two ideas: First, that you can "carry" all your files (music, word, pdf, photoshop, etc.) around with you anywhere you go virtually on the internet. Your files would be stored on servers all across the land, giving you the freedom to use any of them anywhere, provided you have a computer and an internet connection. Second, that you can edit, play, or otherwise manipulate you files from anywhere using web-based software, just like the Google Documents web-based office suite does.

That's where the rumour or our prediction is coming from. Google ALREADY has users who have uploaded multiple different files into Google Docs, have there emails in Gmail and posted videos in YouTube (Google owned).

Reporter eventually hopes that this idea comes to fruition and believes that out of all the companies working in information technologies today, Google is the most likely to succeed in this venture.

If they can successfully handle securing and encrypting your personal information, it will open up a realm of safe computing for all, where one does not need to worry about loosing information or forgetting a USB key.

I would eventually like to see a "Google" OS that incorporates this experiences at home or abroad via a web browser. I still feel your files should be stored at home, because internet connections are not yet reliable enough and it adds a layer of redundancy, which I always appreciate. But they should also be simultaneous copied to your "internet" OS, allowing you to access them anywhere.

I also hope that one day, all computers will run this software, and you will be able to carry your digital life and edit, play and use it from anywhere in the world.

The digital chains would be broken.

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"You must create. You must produce."

The Study Mantra

In the spirit of change and procrastination (it is exam season after all), I decided that it would be grand to write some thoughts that might be wise... well maybe to myself perhaps. I hope this will help me and maybe a few others who will peruse this post during there procrastination time.

1) I am an information gather: My mind craves new information and new sensations. This is my primary mode of procrastination (and I think the only mode). It covers everything from reading interesting things on the Net or in a book or in a magazine or in a newspaper, to watching TV to playing video games.

2) In order to succeed in this world, you must be an active member. You must produce. You must create.

How can this be useful? Well, if I repeat the sentences: "You must produce. You must create." It will motivate me to do just that. Studying for instance may seem like a "information gathering" activity, which it is, but it is also a "creating" activity. You must actively write, manipulate and rehearse the knowledge you so carefully gathered during class and that you or your sponsor has payed so much for. For studying to be successful, it must be active event.

That's what I realized tonight. And now, I will go back to studying, since although I created something purposeful, I'm still procrastinating! Over and out.