On Human Stem Cell Creation (plus, Dr Heinz Doofenschmirtz)

More Adventures in Cloning

by Jude Cowell

If you're fretfully uncertain about the wisdom of Science's whole cloning endeavor, here's a disturbing headline: Stem Cells Produced from Cloning Technique for First Time in which the journal Cell is cited for its report that human embryos which are copies of living people have been used to make stem cells.

An up-side is that this breakthrough sounds promising for curing disease, I suppose, but not so grand for the almost-human-beings who will remain in an embryonic state--or I suppose that they will--until their cells are 'harvested' for medical science's 'higher purpose'. Yet perhaps a few saucy Republicans will sponsor a bill to legally protect them so that they can inherit property and open bank accounts. I jest yet must wonder if embryos have no feeling sensations at all. Does anyone know or care?

Well, I must confess that the very idea makes me feel weird, sad for the human race, and...fretfully rhyme-ish:

An embryo of Mammoth size

from cloning we may face

but since they can no reason to

their hubris a disgrace.

Poor scientists! With abundant arrogance intact, they're attempting as mankind has tried before to build yet another Tower of Babel to reach heaven and pretend to be God. Suckas!!!

jc (c)2013

And yes, I know--this video will probably be removed soon but this is a freebie blog and I can't resist embedding clips of my favorite scientist of all, Dr. Heinz Doofenschmirtz. You are a devoted Phineas and Ferb fan, right?

~:~

Disclosure: the opinions and concerns expressed here are totally those of the author who frets over cloning of Woolly Mammoths and other Frankensteinian projects which if 'successful' may get completely out of hand; in no way do they reflect the views of google, blogger, or that of any hapless reader who accidentally wanders into this ode-filled blog of frets and misgivings. Thanks for reading! jc

A closely related topic: Social Origins of Eugenics.

If They Clone the Woolly Back

Another Poem of Woolly Mammoth Fret

by Jude Cowell

When Woolly Mammoth walked the earth

he was the latest thing

but if they clone a Woolly back

such stomping it will bring.

jc 4/19/13

The above (thankfully very brief) verse was composed on the spot just for you!

And little did I realize that a while back my Scottish friend, astrologer and author Anne Whitaker, wrote a lovely piece concerning this very blog including one of my quirkiest Mammoth frets (considering my extreme yet erstwhile silliness on this blog. Or am I serious?)

How very kind of her!

Now I have mentioned it on this blog previously but when it comes to pioneering Science and its major breakthroughs through history as described by the ancient system of Astrology, check out Anne's intriguing book Jupiter Meets Uranus available on Amazon for it also contains fascinating information on Mary Shelley and the writing of her Uranian masterpiece Prometheus Unbound, aka, Frankenstein!

So after composing the above verse, I then discovered a photo of a stuffed Woolly Mammoth toy and I must regretfully report to you that it has unfortunately triggered yet another fret for which I pre-apologize:

I'd rather hug a Mammoth toy

all plush and brown and tusky

than have to face one on my street

so strange and wild and husky.

jc 4/19/13

~:~

A Bit o'Science News: well, perhaps you'll be happier to hear about this than I am, but the sequencing of the Woolly Mammoth gene is complete and a clump of scientists have recently met in Washington DC to discuss cloning ancient species including the Woolly Mammoth.

Yet still I must wonder: have they really thought through the wisdom and safety of this project and who's going to feed, wash, comb, and diaper its bulk 24/7?

Odes and Sonnets! Shakespeare stored on DNA!

Good news for fans of William Shakespeare who'd like a more modern way to enjoy his work and don't mind messing with a double helix of literary proportions!

Scientists have stored all 154 of Shakespeare's sonnets on snippets of DNA. Whether this act of preservation will inspire high school students to find new fascination within the works of The Bard of Avon is unknown.

Do I feel some kind of Frankensteinian project is being advanced? Hmmm...well, while they're at it, perhaps scientists will combine DNA from Woolly Mammoths with the sonnet-encrusted snippets making Poetry Slams all the rage!

Now I must regretfully inform you that a new Ode to a Woolly Mammoth has been created to commemorate this old-meets-new literary occasion:

Poetic Woolly Mammoths roamed

ten thousand years ago

but never penned a single line

as far as we can show

It wasn't in their DNA

to sonnetize or rhyme

but if we bring the Woollies back

this might just be their time!

(c) jc 1.27.13

Woolly Mammoth Tooth Found: a Rhyme Results!

Today is December 6, 2012 and it seems like an era has passed since I posted here on Woolly Mammoth Chronicles. A new baby in the house is one reason for my busy-ness and publishing articles and horoscopes to my Political Astrology blog is another.

Returning to WMC to find that some of the videos I embedded here have been removed due to "copyright infringement" grumps me up for it's not as if this blog is published for money-making purposes! Why, it's free publicity!! Yet of course it's understandable that entities who care primarily about their bottom lines have all the leeway in such decisions, right? Such is our overly materialistic society.

Yet I'm only tryin' to spread around the Woolly Mammoth cloning info!

Well, on the way here I did notice an article from September 2012 about a California crane operator finding a 10-inch long Woolly Mammoth tooth as he went about his excavation work!

Click to view a photo of said tooth and a gold nugget for I assume the image will remain accessible for public viewing for quite a while.

Now here's a silly rhyme inspired by the dental discovery if you dare read further though I won't blame you if you don't...it's really quite awful...

A woolly mammoth tooth's been found

no dentist on the scene

appointment time has come and gone

no flossing in between.

The teeth of woolly mammoths might

be more than we should meet

to clone may bite off way too much

while trampling under feet.

jc Dec 6, 2012

Wishing a Merry Christmas Season and a Happy New Year to All!

Bigfoot: The Mysterious Monster (full 1976 film on video)

Well, it's been way too long since I had a chance to post here at WMC and I'm finding this related video of a 1976 documentary irresistible and must embed it right away. I actually remember seeing this vintage film with actor Peter Graves hosting years ago and though there are no Woolly Mammoths stomping about, you may enjoy a look at an Ice Age topic, elusive though its creature may be! It's kind of an Ice Age time machine to take you way-y-y-y back...

Could these creatures get along and be pals? Hmmm...not so fast....

If Woolly Mammoth came to meet

a creature with the Biggest Feet

perhaps a stomping he would put

upon the one they call Bigfoot!

copyright jude cowell 2012

Think I'll endeavor to miss their titanic match-up! How about you?

~:~

Blog Note: my being busy these days is due to a gargantuan attempt to put together and offer you my first-ever Political Astrology newsletter, Stars Over Washington Monthly. The first issue (July-August-September 2012) drops soon and you may keep up with such announcements and other political and astrological topics at Stars Over Washington if and as you wish!

My hearty Thanks to the excellent Forbidden Knowledge TV for sending along a heads-up on the Bigfoot video!

Those Stinky Dinosaurs! (Thom Hartmann video)

Yucky yuck yuck! Here's progressive broadcaster Thom Hartmann reporting on the apparent environmental effects of excessive gas-passing which scientists say may have issued forth in abundance from the distended bellies of prehistoric dinosaurs.

My question: Even the veggie dinos? Then perhaps Beano would have proven useful!

As far as I know, there's no word yet from scientists concerning a similar Woolly Mammoth gaseous effect--but there is an Ode to a Woolly Mammoth meant for you--hope it doesn't foul up your day too much!

The wooliest mammoth wears fringe

when clubbing around on a binge

awakened from sludge

he may hold a grudge

exacting a stinky revenge!

Jude Cowell 2012

~:~

Live Woolly Mammoth crosses river--or does he? (video)

February 11, 2012 Athens, Georgia


Why did the Woolly cross the creek? To get caught in a blurry video!

Having not lurked about this blog of fretful Woolly Mammoth rhymes for a while, it is with a measure of gladness that I announce to you a fresh post to my Gather.com page inspired by a newly written Ode and dedicated to my fellow Gatherers, past and present, who by happenstance may roam about one of my oldest homes on The Web, Gather!

Still, it's been so long since I posted to WMC that I am impelled to veer off and find a helping of fresh content so that the above link isn't all you have for your clicking effort today!

Now let's see what's out there in cyberland of a Science-y Mammoth-y nature...I'm typing this in real time, y'know and it's 4:10 pm est in Northeast Georgia...and here I go, scuttling off on a mission...)

Got it! How about this video taken in Siberia of an alleged Woolly Mammoth slowly crossing a stream. The animal favors a she bear with a fish in her mouth to me but as the video says...You Decide!

Smuggling Mammoth Tusks from Alaska a bad idea

Have you heard? A December 16, 2011 indictment charges Alaska river guide Karen Jettmar with two felonies--conspiracy and helping a client smuggle a 10,000 year-old mammoth tusk to Pennsylvania.

What use anyone in Pennsylvania has for a purloined mammoth tusk, I can't say, but I bet the author of The Alaska River Guide wishes she hadn't followed a criminal course, don't you?

This calls for the creation of a fond if criminally awful Ode to a Woolly Mammoth, sans my usual fretful cloning fears...

Purloining a mammoth tusk sucks
in spite of some fabulous bucks
so leave them alone
don't smuggle a bone
by dog sled, air transport, or trucks.

(c) jc 2011

A tortured rhyme yet true!

And probably my last Ode published for 2011, so Merry Christmas to those who celebrate and I'm wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

See you in 2012,

Jude Cowell

~:~

Blog Note: Lim's Limericks has been updated with my '2012 GOP Candidates' Poetry Round-Up with a verse for each aspirant posted especially for those who keep up with the RNC nominee race. jc