Month: November 2018

Chinese Scientist Claims First ‘Gene-Edited’ Babies

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

See the source image

Waddayou wanna do today, Chauncey? I dunno, Edgar; waddayou wanna do? Well, how’s about we rewrite the blueprint of life? Yeah, okay…

A Chinese scientist claims to have created the world’s first “gene-edited” babies, twin girls (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/ap-exclusive-first-gene-edited-babies-claimed-in-china/2018/11/25/bb9b74de-f124-11e8-99c2-cfca6fcf610c_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.7f879fa5c019).

It’s hard to check, because the kind of research he says he’s done is banned in the United States: “editing” human DNA can pass on “changes” to future generations and wind up causing unforeseen harm. There’s no independent confirmation of this guy’s work, and many details are missing from the report: like who the girls’ parents are, where they’re currently living, and little clues like that. So we are at liberty to disbelieve this claim.

The scientist said his purpose was to change human DNA to make his subjects more resistant to the HIV virus. Or maybe it was just to show all those other scientists who said he was mad.

I Corinthians 1 somehow springs to mind. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. (Verse 19)

Just a little something to think of, when, three generations down the road, the new improved human DNA reacts to hay fever like it was polio and no one can find a cure.

By Request, ‘Joy to the World’

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

Requested by Phoebe, Joy to the World, sung by the Libera boys’ choir. Words by Isaac Watts: published in 1719.

You might want to turn up the volume on this one.

By Request, ‘What Child Is This?’

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

Wow! Just what I needed to stir up my heart, and loosen up the ol’ tear ducts–

Requested by Joshua, sung by Josh Groban, What Child Is This?

One of my very earliest memories is of a picture, showing the stable at a distance, and the Baby lying in the manger: and you were just close enough to see the smile on the Baby Jesus’ face. How I loved that! And I am sure I couldn’t have been more than four years old, and very likely yes. How I loved that baby!

Good instincts, I guess.

Now… do I really want to cover any nooze this morning?

The Contest So Far

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

See the source image

Our first annual Christmas Carol Contest started off with a bang. Mary, Did You Know? held the lead on Day One, but has since been overtaken by Away in a Manger with 17 views on the day it was posted.

See–the idea is for the lead to change hands again and again. That’ll make it exciting, he said hopefully.

We have only one request so far today, which I’ll post momentarily. But first a word to potential contestants–

These contests only work if a lot of people play. Some of you come here very often and have yet to request a hymn.

Look, there’s no need to be bashful. It’s not like being 40 years late for your bar mitzvah and mumbling through your beard, “Today I am a man!”

So let’s get festive, everybody! It’s Advent time. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord!

‘Government Climate Change Whiz Draws Prison Term for Fraud’ (2016)

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

See the source image

Welcome to the most non-exclusive club in the world–the fraternity of crooks and mountebanks pushing “climate change.” Here’s one they caught in 2016.

https://leeduigon.com/2016/12/26/government-climate-change-whiz-draws-prison-term-for-fraud/

This guy, it seems, was chiefly interested in bilking the government: he said it gave him “a rush.” So Uncle Sam rushed him into prison. Well, at least this schmendrick wasn’t trying to con the human race into accepting global government. Mere theft seems almost a virtue by comparison.

But of course we paid for his fun with our tax dollars.

‘Revive Us Again’ (Revived)

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

I didn’t have a hymn request when I opened the blog today, so for the time being I went with the first hymn that came into my head–Revive Us Again, a classic from 1863. I just love this rendition of it by Nathan and Lyle, in Denton County, Texas.

Assorted Critters Go Mirror-Mad

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

Not fair, letting cats and kittens have all the fun. We hereby throw Mirrorland open to dogs and horses, birds and squirrels. And I’ll bet fish might have some amusing reactions to mirrors, too. Only chances to enjoy a mirror are few and far between, down below the water’s surface.

Take note of the box turtle: locked and loaded to do battle with that interloper in the glass.

I didn’t want it to end….

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

From Marcia Settles, “A Mom Looking Up.” We are not alone.    –LD

France Torn by Gas Tax Riots

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

See the source image

So how do you like your “centrist” president now, France?

France has been torn all week by riots over a huge gasoline tax increase imposed by President Emmanuel Macron (http://home.bt.com/news/world-news/riot-police-fire-tear-gas-at-fuel-tax-protesters-in-paris-clashes-11364312823193). Lots of fires, roadblocks, tear gas, etc.

The tax was imposed to Save The Planet From Fossil Fuels, and who cares what it does to people who need their cars to get to work and manage their households? That it was a profoundly stupid reason for raising the taxes doesn’t seem to register with the French government.

France’s fake nooze media portrayed Macron as a comfy, cozy centrist and his rival for the presidency, Marine LePen, as a totally crazy right-wing loon. If the French voters had read the British nooze media instead of their own, they might have discovered that Macron isn’t on their side. This is the guy who said there’s not really any such thing as French culture. DeGaulle is turning over in his grave.

Liberals–governing their countries right back into the Middle Ages.