Greenflame

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Jottings on science, religion, technology, pop culture and faith from the Antipodes.

Archive for December, 2005

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Way opened for xenotransplantation in NZ

Tuesday, December 13th, 2005

Back in April I posted Greenflame: Xenotransplantation public dialogue – animal-to-human transplants and the Bioethics Council’s call for public input. Some of their recommendations to the Government on that subject can be read at NZ Herald – Animal transplants into humans given go ahead – 13 Dec 2005 – National News.

Posted by stepheng, in Bioethics/Biotech, Science & Technology, Science, Technology & Religion Comments Off

Welcome to the USS (insert brand here) Enterprise

Tuesday, December 13th, 2005

If you are ambivalent about TV advertising (esp. with the huge amount on NZ free-to-air channels) then this is alarming. Wired News: TV Writers Must Sell, Sell, Sell. To overcome ad-skipping technology etc. more pressure to put more product placement directly into scripts.

Posted by stepheng, in General Comments Off

NZ Catholic Church on PGD

Tuesday, December 13th, 2005

Article in the NZ Herald on the NZ Catholic Church’s response to the new developments here with respect to pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). Includes some brief material at the end of the article describing the technology. See Catholic Church sees dilemmas in screening of embryos – 13 Dec 2005 – Religion and beliefs.

Posted by stepheng, in Bioethics/Biotech, Faith & Religion, Science, Technology & Religion Comments Off

In Our Time – Artificial Intelligence podcast

Monday, December 12th, 2005

This week’s BBC Radio 4 ‘In Our Time’ programme is on artificial intelligence. More information at BBC – Radio 4 In Our Time – Artificial Intelligence including links to the MP3 file (podcast is only up until the next one replaces it on Thursday).

‘In Our Time’ is one of my favourite podcast programmes. It’s long enough to get some good discussion from the panel and has a good range of topics over the course of a season.

Posted by stepheng, in AI/Robotics, General Comments Off

We can’t bowl at the death but we can chase!

Saturday, December 10th, 2005

So we can’t bowl at the death in one day cricket but it looks like we can chase well.

We (NZ) just chased down Australia’s 331 to win! (And set a new world record doing it)

After getting 320 in a losing chase last Wednesday tonight we didn’t stumble at end.

Hats off to McCullum, Vettori, Styris, Oram and all the rests of the Black Caps.

Posted by stepheng, in General 1 Comment »

Protestant Mary

Saturday, December 10th, 2005

Related to Advent PBS Religion and Ethics have a short piece on renewed Protestant interest in Mary. See Protestant Mary.

Also related: Reality. Issue 66: Reclaiming Mary, by Rosemary Dewerse.

Posted by stepheng, in Faith & Religion Comments Off

Smart clothes

Friday, December 9th, 2005

Clothes that clean themselves, help reduce allergic reactions and skin conditions, and are wired for the digital life style may be closer than we think. See Wired News: Cyborg Suits Strut the Catwalk.

Posted by stepheng, in Cyborg, Science & Technology Comments Off

ADSL woes continue but hope springs eternal

Thursday, December 8th, 2005

Still having problems but two rays of sunshine. Firstly, I’ve managed to get Ecto to post. And secondly the problem isn’t just me. Others using the similar ADSL set ups are having bizarre issues too accessing the odd site which means the problem (and the ISP have confirmed this) cannot be passed off as an issue at my end with my equipment.

Posted by stepheng, in General Comments Off

Christian Campaigns – Jesus as Revolutionary

Thursday, December 8th, 2005

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Saw the Che Guevara style Jesus posters for the UK Christmas over at www.rejesus.co.uk earlier in the week. Looked nice and provocative, though any attempt to put Jesus in a box always leaves me with a “Yes, but…” reaction. Still it connects for me with the subversive message of the Kingdom and the fear that those in authority had of him even as a baby.

Duncan has more details on the campaign over at Pacific Highlander: Christmas Revolution Begins including links through to other campaigns in the same series.

Posted by stepheng, in Faith & Religion Comments Off

Quilting narratives

Thursday, December 8th, 2005

Interesting posting on storytelling and digital creativity at Craig’s blog – mountain masala: the hyperrhetoric of the quilt of the quilt.

Posted by stepheng, in General, Web/Blog Tools Comments Off
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