Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Disturbing, but think of the upside.

Tuesday, August 16th, 2005

You could grow a steak the size of a small truck, presumably.

I’ve got my doubts as to whether people will find the above-linked method of meat production acceptable. Cloning livestock seems to make people skittish, much less meat-from-a-vat. Of course, growing it in a vat would likely take up a lot less water and grain and land resources than our current method of raising livestock for meat.

I wonder if we would be able to grow it in specialty shapes? You know, send in a picture or two, and then get a pork chop with your profile, or in the shape of the Statue of Liberty (the latter being handy for Fourth of July cookouts).

On the other hand, if it goes into production without much fanfare, maybe no one will care. Folks in the U.S. have been eating GMO crops for years with little in the way of substantial protest. People in the E.U., and particularly the U.K., have been much more vigorous in their opposition to GMO crops, particularly grain (which ends up in lots of other products).

In the U.S., it seems that GMO has been opposed mainly by the foodie crowd, with some support from the “we protest everything” crowd. (Anyone remember Starlink? Anyone?)

So, maybe I’m just way off on this, and people will have no problem with meat-from-a-vat. I guess milk from clones may be the first real test, but I still find it all a bit creepy.

I’m screwed.

Monday, August 15th, 2005

Is it just me, or is this screen hard to see?

Disco Biscuits for Granny?

Monday, August 15th, 2005

That’s right, we’re going to have to hide the glo-sticks from Grandma. (and it’s not good news for Dr. Ricaurte, either, who claimed Ecstasy caused Parkinson’s. ) Still, it is going to be a lot harder to rave all night long on an artificial hip, but it ought to be a hell of a show.

We’re back. (but still not wearing pants.)

Friday, August 12th, 2005

Well, it has been roughly half a year since The Malcontent Amalgamated International Blogging Syndicate, LLC went on hiatus.

Surely many of you (yes, we mean you, ACW) are asking “Why? Why on earth would you return? Can’t you just leave us in peace?”

Well, we could, but we won’t. I mean, who else will help you keep track of the comings and goings of Chlumsky? Focus on critical matters of science?

OK, hopefully, The Malcontent has decompressed from the last election cycle and will avoid politics and stick to things we actually enjoy, like lunch. But no promises.

This cannot bode well for anyone.

Thursday, August 4th, 2005

Commence system restart.

Systems check 1……….check.
Systems check 2……….check.

Attention, Malcontent Mission Control.
Please stand-by for new transmission.

I feel better! No, you don’t. Yes, I do!

Friday, July 15th, 2005

Rehnquist says to vultures, “I’m not dead yet!”

Wow.

Tuesday, June 7th, 2005

This is amazing.

Still dark.

Tuesday, March 8th, 2005

The Malcontent hopes to resume one day. Still, this is so awesome, I just couldn’t stay silent.
(Originally, I linked to an amazing article on Kolin’s experience at MIT’s Technology Review, but they took it down.)

The Malcontent goes dark.

Tuesday, February 1st, 2005

Sorry, friends. The Malcontent is closing shop for the month of February.

(For those who don’t know why, feel free to engage in your favorite-most conspiracy theory in the comments.)

We will see in March if blogging resumes.

To my regular readers, thanks for all the eyeball time.

To my irregular readers… well, we’re really all just a bit irregular, aren’t we?

Bam!

Monday, January 31st, 2005

Dooce rocks The New York Times (with a great shot of Leta, that little cutie).

Congratulations, Heather!