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Each of us have more microbes on and in our bodies than we have cells of our own. Some are beneficial; others we’d like to do without. Then there are millions that are neither, but may be profitable someday. Sound ridiculous? Consider this scenario:
IMAGINE a scientist gently swabs your left nostril with a Q-tip and finds that your nose contains hundreds of species of bacteria. That in itself is no surprise; each of us is home to some 100 trillion microbes. But then she makes an interesting discovery: in your nose is a previously unknown species that produces a powerful new antibiotic. Her university licenses it to a pharmaceutical company; it hits the market and earns hundreds of millions of dollars. Do you deserve a cut of the profits?
It is a tricky question, because it defies our traditional notions of property and justice. You were not born with the germ in your nose; at some point in your life, it infected you. On the other hand, that microbe may be able to grow and reproduce only in a human nose. You provided it with an essential shelter. And its antibiotics may help keep you healthy, by killing disease-causing germs that attempt to invade your nose.
Bioethicists are wrangling with the notion of microbe ownership. Carl Zimmer, whose navel microbes have already been posted at Neatorama, writes about the issues involved at the New York Times. Link -via The Loom
While some internet groups ignore their very existence, Forces of Geek addresses the growing visibility (if not growing numbers) of geek girls. We have always been here, and it’s nice to be included, or even noticed. FOG has posted a list of Geek Girl Commandments, loosely styled after the Biblical Ten Commandments. That is followed by the Geek Girl Bill of Rights, which says (in part):
I have the right to be taken seriously for my interests and not be accused of getting into video gaming, comic books, science, or other traditionally male-dominated geek interests to impress a guy.
I have the right to enjoy non-geeky things without losing geek cred.
I have the right to send angry emails to retailers that only offer geeky shirts in men’s styles and sizes.
I have the right to bare arms, abs, and legs. I can dress as any superhero I want to without being touched, harassed, or being accused of inviting sexual advances. I also understand that dressing provocatively will draw attention, and I will deal with unwanted but harmless attention with class and dignity.
Oh yes, there’s more, which you can read at the post. Link
We’ve got human rights, animal rights, … but what about the rights of Mother Earth? That’s right – Bolivia has just drafted a United Nations treaty giving "Mother Earth" the same rights as humans:
The bid aims to have the UN recognize the Earth as a living entity that humans have sought to "dominate and exploit" — to the point that the "well-being and existence of many beings" is now threatened.
The wording may yet evolve, but the general structure is meant to mirror Bolivia’s Law of the Rights of Mother Earth, which Bolivian President Evo Morales enacted in January.
That document speaks of the country’s natural resources as "blessings," and grants the Earth a series of specific rights that include rights to life, water and clean air; the right to repair livelihoods affected by human activities; and the right to be free from pollution.
It also establishes a Ministry of Mother Earth, and provides the planet with an ombudsman whose job is to hear nature’s complaints as voiced by activist and other groups, including the state.
First amendment rights can all just f— off! Or at least, that’s what one South Carolina senator thinks. State Senator Robert Ford has recently filed a bill to outlaw profanity statewide.
If you do say or write a profane word, the act could be punishable by five years in jail or a $5,000 fine.
View the Bill Via WeirdStuffNews
If you enjoyed this, you may also like how the mayor of Jackson, Mississippi is trying to ban saggy pants.
