Dr Craig Venter

One of the best TV series I ever watched was a BBC documentary called “The Day the Universe Changed”.  It was hosted by James Burke and was ten episodes long.  Viewers were informed how changes in belief systems, or inventions dramatically altered human understanding of the world around them.  For example, when Copernicus declares that scientific evidence shows the Earth is not the center of the universe, our whole world changed in terms of human perceptions of reality and how things operate….though nothing had really changed within the real universe itself.

Last week a virtually unrecognized event took place which is of potential monumental importance. Dr. Craig Venter created a “synthetic cell” with precise genome code that allowed directed DNA to be in complete control of a cell. Human beings had created a biological self replicating life form from computer code.

I ponder that marvel and wonder what are the implications…and whether it is a good thing or a bad thing? 

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It is the constitutional responsibility of the federal government to secure the nation’s borders.  The government of the United States has completely failed in this responsibility. Now some states, such as Arizona, are responding to the desires of their citizen by taking matters into their own hands and enacting new state immigration laws. Last month, Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona signed into law (AB 1070) a measure aimed at prosecuting and deported illegal immigrants.  Both the governor’s action…..and the inaction of the federal government….are a response to political pressures.  

The law that Governor Brewer signed would allow police broad power to detain anyone they reasonably thought were in this country illegally.  It virtually forces people of color to carry on them immigration papers in case there is contact with law enforcement.

I believe that unchecked immigration is a significant problem and one that desperately needs to be addressed.  However, although over 70% of Arizonians are in favor of AB 1070, and almost 60% of all Americans agree with the new state law, I am opposed to this bill, and think it will hurt the cause of those in favor of taking strong action against illegal immigration more than it will help.

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“The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.” – Cicero – 55 BCÂ

In mid-February I wrote about the PIIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Spain) and how a sovereign debt crisis was soon to grip Europe.  During the past week, world markets have risen and plunged depending upon the market’s perception of what policies governments would employ to address the “Greek crisis” and its attendant risk of international contagion. 

After various trial balloons were floated, Europe got ahead of the curve and proposed almost a trillion dollar fund that Euro members could access should they find themselves in need of liquidity so as to pay their obligations.

The question I pose is whether having access to borrow more even money will solve the debt crisis that already grips some countries…and is an impending theoretical threat to many Western nations.

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Do you believe in aliens?  I do. 

Oh, I’m not talking about green men from Mars, though in theory I could be.  Nor am I talking about some farmer from the Midwest being taken into a flying saucer and living to tell all about it. What I’m talking about is the possibility, the probability…in fact, the almost mathematical certainty that (intelligent) life exists elsewhere in the universe.

I’ve got good company that believes as I do.  Stephan Hawkings, the famous wheelchair bound theoretical physicist also believes that extraterrestrials are almost certain to exist.

In a universe of 100 billion galaxies, each containing hundreds of millions of stars and planets, conditions for life almost certainly are not exclusive to Earth alone.  Although a lot of that life outside Earth is probably comprised mostly of simple animals and microbes, I believe that intelligent beings exist as well. (though I think it very doubtful any have ever visited Earth)  

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