March 22, 2014

Our Comrade the Electron

https://static.pinboard.in/webstock_2014.htm

Our Comrade the Electron by MACIEJ CEGLOWSKI

"We put so much care into making the Internet resilient from technical failures, but make no effort to make it resilient to political failure. We treat freedom and the rule of law like inexhaustible natural resources, rather than the fragile and precious treasures that they are.
And now, of course, it's time to make the Internet of Things, where we will connect everything to everything else, and build cool apps on top, and nothing can possibly go wrong."

Highly recommend you read this very poignant essay. Predicting how society, culture and governments will respond to technological change is nearly impossible.

March 18, 2014

Study Questions Fat and Heart Disease Link - NYTimes.com

Study Questions Fat and Heart Disease Link - NYTimes.com: "Many of us have long been told that saturated fat, the type found in meat, butter and cheese, causes heart disease. But a large and exhaustive new analysis by a team of international scientists found no evidence that eating saturated fat increased heart attacks and other cardiac events."


So, another long-standing medical axiom seems to have bitten the dust.



I have always maintained that reasonably healthy people who eat a balanced diet will remain reasonably healthy. Given the diversity in the genetic makeup of our bodies, a one-rule-fits-all formulaic approach can only be relevant to average people. Of course, none of us is 'average.' We are all unique.



I believe we will eventually learn what foods are best for each of us based on our genome. We are getting closer to that goal as research gallops ahead.



'via Blog this'



March 12, 2014

Interview with Founder of 23andMe Genetics Testing Company

This interview with Anne Wojicicki, the founder of the direct-to-consumer genetics testing company 23andMe provides her view of the potential of genetic testing for citizens.

My genetic information is in their database and I have been fascinated with the outputs provided.

I hope the FDA soon approves what they are doing as it relates to medical information so that the updates relevant to my DNA will continue.


An interesting dialogue about the FDA controversy is available here at Ycombinator.