1. From this post on Gene Expression (found via this excellent post):

the study of human genetic variation is in its infancy, and once it hits adolescence it’s going to start becoming a real pain in the ass.

2. From a comment on this post on Anna’s Bones:

My argument, however, was very simple: If you don’t believe in evolution, don’t get the flu shot. It’s hypocritical.

3. From this post on Blind Scientist on scientists as communicators:

We are horrible communicators, most of our websites are dreadful and do no contain any useful information and when we are confronted with a dumb Playboy bombshell we lose the argument. We lose because usually the argument is so ludicrous that we have no patience to explain. We lose because we are unable to communicate in lay terms. We lose because we’re not entertainers or crowd manipulators. We lose because we make our arguments difficult to understand. We lose because we get angry.

4. From “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling:

After all, to the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. – Professor Dumbledore on p. 215, line 31

5. …………and…..:

…the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things which are worst for them. – Professor Dumbledore on wanting Money and life extension, p. 215, line 35.

Image via Wikipedia

From this friendfeed discussion:

is tea the old coffee?

Paulo Nuin, Brasilian (connaiseur of coffee ?) and author of The Blind Scientist.

This should make him happy.

H+ magazine special edition. All quotes below taken from the spring issue of H+ magazine.

1. From Ru Sirius on p.9:

If you embrace these [bio-progressive] rights, expect heavy resistance, because you will find yourself in for a territorial pissing match with most of the leading religions. Religions have traditionally ruled over the “seed” issues – issues around conception, death, the body, self-definition, gender and sexuality. But given the intrusive potentials of advancing technologies, this is a discussion we need to start having now.

2. from Moira A. Gunn on p.27:

….we need to create all this data to figure out who we humans are and how we tick. But unfortunately, we don’t know what data we need for what, and what — in the end — will prove useful. We are still shooting in the dark.

3. From Vernor Vinge on p.31:

The fundamental change that may be taking place humans may not be best characterized as the tool-creating animal but as the only animal that has figured out how to outsource its cognition — how to spread its cognitive abilities into the outside world.

4 + 5. From Alex Lightman on p.33:

If companies are living people, the drop in life expectancy for companies is comparable only to the fastest dying country in the world that is not at war — zimbabwe, where life expectancy has fallen from 60 in 1990 to 34 today.

The moral of the story is that, for those of us in our forties and up, we need to redouble our efforts at birthing problem solving technologies, and we need to make the future happen now or never (at least within the lifetimes of adults in 2008). or we better hope that Vernor Vinge is right and that the Singularity doesn’t require anything close to a healthy economy, in which case those smarter than-us bots can take charge and knock off all of our problems like ducks in a row.

6. From Douglas Rushkoff on p.37:

The way out — as I see it — is to begin making our own money again. I’m not talking barter, but local currency. Money is just an agreement. And the more a community trusts one another, the more effi ciently the moneys they develop can function. We can create units of currency based on anything; if we don’t have grain, we can earn it into existence instead by babysitting, taking care of the elderly, or teaching in a charter school. every hour worked is an “hour” of currency credited to your account.

7. From Jason Stoddard on p. 38:

Let’s be clear on this. We’re not going to wake up in a magical world where iPods and McMansions grow on trees overnight. Before that can happen, every part of today’s value chain has to be overturned. Everything. Production of raw materials, transport and refining, design and engineering, manufacturing, distribution . . . even our own sense of worth.

And there are plenty more. The magazine is highly recommended reading.