Cold and Heartless

Now scientists create a sheep that's 15% human
By CLAUDIA JOSEPH » Last updated at 15:53pm on 27th March 2007



Scientists have created the world's first human-sheep chimera - which has the body of a sheep and half-human organs.

The sheep have 15 per cent human cells and 85 per cent animal cells - and their evolution brings the prospect of animal organs being transplanted into humans one step closer.

Professor Esmail Zanjani, of the University of Nevada, has spent seven years and £5million perfecting the technique, which involves injecting adult human cells into a sheep's foetus.

He has already created a sheep liver which has a large proportion of human cells and eventually hopes to precisely match a sheep to a transplant patient, using their own stem cells to create their own flock of sheep.

The process would involve extracting stem cells from the donor's bone marrow and injecting them into the peritoneum of a sheep's foetus. When the lamb is born, two months later, it would have a liver, heart, lungs and brain that are partly human and available for transplant.

"We would take a couple of ounces of bone marrow cells from the patient,' said Prof Zanjani, whose work is highlighted in a Channel 4 programme tomorrow.

"We would isolate the stem cells from them, inject them into the peritoneum of these animals and then these cells would get distributed throughout the metabolic system into the circulatory system of all the organs in the body. The two ounces of stem cell or bone marrow cell we get would provide enough stem cells to do about ten foetuses. So you don't just have one organ for transplant purposes, you have many available in case the first one fails."

At present 7,168 patients are waiting for an organ transplant in Britain alone, and two thirds of them are expected to die before an organ becomes available.

Scientists at King's College, London, and the North East Stem Cell Institute in Newcastle have now applied to the HFEA, the Government's fertility watchdog, for permission to start work on the chimeras.

But the development is likely to revive criticisms about scientists playing God, with the possibility of silent viruses, which are harmless in animals, being introduced into the human race.

Dr Patrick Dixon, an international lecturer on biological trends, warned: "Many silent viruses could create a biological nightmare in humans. Mutant animal viruses are a real threat, as we have seen with HIV."

Animal rights activists fear that if the cells get mixed together, they could end up with cellular fusion, creating a hybrid which would have the features and characteristics of both man and sheep. But Prof Zanjani said: "Transplanting the cells into foetal sheep at this early stage does not result in fusion at all."

Just a little bit more and this semester will be finally over…over! It does get tougher each and every semester, and true enough, this has been the toughest.

Since I took a blog rest, I’d like to congratulate a number of people.

To this year’s thesis batch, congratulations! You all did great and even greater with the thought that they were individual thesis projects. Now, that the college is sending you off, do us all proud.

Also, I’d like to congratulate the students of Arch 197- Sustainable Design for all the brilliant and well-done plates. It was great seeing next-level design projects and I think many had remarkable designs. I wish I brought my camera, but well. Looking at the designs, I can say we are all ready for Thesis, yey!

A whole lot more of congratulations to my sister for surviving grade school.



And congratulations to me for this really nice picture. I’m with my most recent design project for Arch 197- Building Science.



Oh, btw, Devil’s Dictionary defines “congratulation” as civility of envy. Hehe. But hey, I mean all the above felicitations in the most genuine sense.

There is this something great that I am holding to. A personal choice I have been caging myself in for years. But in moments of failures and disappointments, it feels like its the end of the world. Its like tripping a small step when you see yourself crashing down the cliff. I know I can do anything. I just fear the moment when I think I had enough.

I'm in a phase right now of losing interest in whatever I'm doing. I feel tired. Not the accomplished-tiredness I usually get. I'm tired because I'm tired. And I need something to make me move on.

...Why is it so fucking hard for me to just shrug it off?! Why?!

I came home with a boulder of regret. It was supposed to happen today. I told myself that the time has come today. But no!!! *toinks And as Sir Bronne puts it, I just need some kick in the balls. Why can't things be easier? Or am I just making things too complicated!?

The brief talk with Sir Bronne really made up for it. Im glad he listened and did his part as a mentor. I just can't believe I told him everything...well, not really. Anyways, thanks for the dumplings treat, sir. We should do this often. That holding the chopsticks properly (your manner being the easiest and the most effective among all manners) was a relief. Now I know how to use it and how to eat a-la-Chinese.

And more than that, it was nice to see some people, some special friends, to be having a great time (I'd like to think they did) after all that have transpired this hectic-ness of a week. I'm also glad that they got to see the other side of Sir Bronne they don't usually see in school.

On other news, I have already updated our Building Science Design Studio class' multiply site. Feel free to move around and see what our class have been up to lately. Below are the preliminary design concepts and translations for the Off-the-Wall design project.

We would like to hear constructive criticisms and reactions to the projects.


Christian Cruz - Paradox

Richard Lasam - The Hive

Maricel Turgo - Shell-House

Keizah Escobar - Untitled

Marco Martinez - Untitled

Jed Yabut - Pipe

NC Batangan - Anatomy

Ken Romay - Interweaving Dualities



Photos of other works will be posted soon.






Chill, jed, chiiiiillllllllll!!!!

imelda marcos (n.) a person who lived a life vindicating herself.


I just met THE imeldific herself. I was starstruck, really. I know her from history books. I have seen her in all forms of media. But it was different seeing her in flesh. She is truly a walking ICON. Unbelievable!

You should have heard her speech. You would feel so sorry for her that you conclude that she is a person living a life vindicating herself...until her dying day!


Congratulations to my really dear mentor and friend, Dr. Gerard Rey Lico for a very successful and wonderful exhibition. You should all come and see his exhibit at the 4th floor of the National Museum.

pakerdemmet...i miss my blog!!! Second entry of the year...wahahaha!

well actually, not much to say. i just thought of dropping by and saying hi to my pensieve, the Blog of the Cold and Heartless. keeps me reminded to be cold and heartless....but im barely cold and heartless these days. hows that?! i just love the company. and lets take it just at that. everyday is a new day. im in no rush.

its hellweek for arki students at the moment, this means its the feast day of Batman. Bahala ka na! Due of a bigtime esquisse tomorrow and structural exam. (oh no, calculations once again ladies and gents). and so with all the hecticness on hand and on head, im still on appointments, so schedule early. =P

to the two people im in word war with: i just love the idea that you dont bother speaking to me. makes my day looking at your weird and always confused faces. sooner or later, you will become masters of paranoia! learn it the hard way, kids! just know that im no christina yang. she spoke first and so Burke won.

Since I am a fan of bullets (in an attempt to organize a mind-mess), I am summarizing my blog absence in 8 points.

1. A big congratulations to UP Architecture for winning Best Lantern, Best Booth and finishing 3^rd in the UP Carol Fest 2006. As always, UP Architecture has proven what it takes to go the distance. Congratulations to my bets, Tyler and James for winning the Amazing Race. To Yeng in PDA. Such a predictable win. And Yul, though Ozzy was my bet, you did really well. Well deserved.

2. My design of the UP Architecture t-shirt has been received warmly by students and faculty members (especially the College Secretary and the Dean). Unfortunately though, many problems took place and the printing had some few problems. The Student Council deeply apologizes and will do their best to better the result in the next batch of printing.

3. My first Project Runway project was such an achievement. Frankly, I had a great time dressing the Architecture chorale for the Carol Fest 2006. The group looked so adorable. Thanks to Shamcey and Macel for the help. Pictures of the gang here . Thanks to Rich for the pics.

4. The 20^th ASAPhil-UP festivities are over. Though admittedly I have been missing in action in a number of events, I have seen how the members were able to pull off the events to bring success to each. Looking back weeks ago, it gave me thousand reasons to attest why I made the right-est decision to join this organization. Good job guys! To Alvin, minus the Homecoming number, you’re really the Man!

5. Hosting a-la-stand up comedy is something I didn’t see myself doing. But well, if the situation needs be, why not?! Sharing that rare moment with Lea during the ASAPhil Alumni Homecoming was a blast. But to host the Arki Party was a struggle. The fuming anger and the supposed-to-be-a-fun-filled night are mixed up. But well, you have to do what you have to do.

6. The cancelled Lantern Parade was a big boo. While I remember myself hurrying up to buy a car battery for Mariel, I said that it won’t happen again. I need to see the lantern parade from now on. But even though it pushed through, I was doomed to not see the parade. I was hurrying again, buying halogen flood lights for the Arki Party. Boo.

7. I love the weather and the new bedsheets. It makes me want to shop even more. It makes me smile. No, don’t even think about your classic Hollywood scene when someone smiles outdoors walking along NY’s streets. That’s exaggerating it. But it’s weird actually when we realize that our actions have been immortalized on film (ie. The helpless crying at the door when someone has left) and suddenly it gives us a peculiar feeling of goosebumps to the point of laughing about it when in fact, the film was the one who emulated the reality of emotions.

8. For a long time, I have felt loneliness. Missing friends is really dreadful. It has been a year and thinking about it is really SOMETHING. Hay!

The CLIMAX of this post is a very timely holiday season rant! Enjoy!

It’s the holiday season and it won’t be the same without the dramas. But truth is, I hate meddling with those petty and immature high school dramas some people would like to stir up. If I would, then that would make me the sore loser in the end while I ride on to their juvenile issues. Perhaps, they need attention. No, need is an understatement, demand would be more appropriate! But to end such annoying rants coming from an almost invisible group of people, I want you to know that you have no license to behave in such manner. You haven’t proven anything yet to make yourself worthy of a diva-attitude. Such audacity! And with that threat…who cares anyway if you’re gone?! Will that prove you right? Oh please, that will only make you the bitterest bunch of lemons there is. I don’t even know why I’m taking this time and effort to think about this triviality. Afterall, this bunch of lemons never occupied a part of my brain and recall!

As they say, “Kababawan ang pumatol sa kababawan!” Fine. Then take me behind bars.

And to this duo that seems to be inseparable, don’t give me reasons to hate you both. I never did. But to cut short your string of paranoia, expect me to take my hands off in any business you need to attend to in the future. If my genuine intention to help would always be stained with malice, I’d rather shut up in the corner to leave your sight. And to you who have been growing a chip on a shoulder at me, you don’t need to prove anything. You have proven yourself to everyone enough that merits deep respect and admiration. I know I have it for you. So please, stop this loathing or your so-called “rivalry”! It’s not healthy anymore.

Hay. Can't wait to spend Christmas in the province!

 

Architecture post first:

1. Francis D.K. Ching’s A Visual Dictionary of Architecture is heaven. Once I get myself a copy (of which time can only tell), it will smell like Jed. Now, This is the architecture students’ bible while the Graphic Standards would only be the constitution. This is like the Construction series compressed in one book.

2. The UP Architecture Shirt will be available for pre-orders next week. Designed by yours truly. ( UP Architecture Shirt )



To be, or not to be: that is the question.

Due to a momentary stopover of schoolwork (or the lack thereof), I decided to see Dulaang UP's Hamlet Redux, Filipino version last Wednesday night. Arnold Reyes topbills the play so it really is a must-watch! Quite frankly, this was the first of the many Shakespearean plays I only saw proving I am no Shakespeare fan at all. But suffice to say that this play made me realize how enviable and precious Shakespeare's right part of the brain is. Hamlet is surely THAT one of his best pieces.

In a fastrack review of the play, I thought about 10 bullets.

1. Lex Marcos' stage design is too simple. I didn't like it.
2. The opening scene is amazing! I just hate the inconsistency of the growls and screeches of the ghosts. It reminds me of sporadic high-pitched bitch catfights that explode your eardrums in no time. So annoying.
3. The girl who is playing Ophelia will be a brilliant thespian in five years. She is definitely a theater gem. The guy playing Claudius should be employed in a gay bar: though he has a voice of a thespian, he can't act.
4. I LOVE how Rolando Tinio translated the Old English to Filipino. That was tough, you know! But well, coming from a "dalubhasa", the words just came out naturally. Seeing the play, you will love the Filipino translation. More than that, you will love the Filipino language even more.
5. I enjoyed the jologs-cum-modern adaptation of the play. I never thought Ipods, video cams, cellphones exist in Denmark centuries ago.
6. I love how the characters are construed to become druggists, incestuals, homosexuals and transvestites. It completes the young-generation equation.
7. The battle scene at the end of the play is fun! It’s unusual…really.
8. This is a play where besides enjoying the play itself, you enjoy the audience's reactions.
9. I appreciate the amount of kissing scenes that were displayed throughout the play. I delight on them. Thank you.
10. Lastly, Arnold Reyes as Hamlet is like Frank Gehry. He never ceases to make your ears clap in complete admiration. His stage presence is felt within a hundred-meter radius and his lines seem to flow effortlessly even in that 3rd degree deep vocabularies. Arnold is such a honed actor and I have nothing but superlative respect for him.

The only thing I regret about is not realizing the soliloquy of “To be, or not to be” had passed. I would love to hear the Filipino translation. A critic said it was beautiful. Too bad I couldn’t say that as well. Here’s to another screening, December 9 at 3pm it is!

I really have no intention to blog right now, but I feel the need to put these thoughts in words.

Well, it has been a year! Yeah it was! And I remember those days when it was all fucked up, some people took over and feasted on what we have left behind. Something unresolved. I felt mugged, you know! Its that feeling when your last penny is being stolen from you. The robber's every trudging step is a needle pierced to your heart while he disappears before your very eyes. Fuck, I don't even want to remember those days. Not now!

But just to clear the air, I have no hard feelings to any people whatsoever now. Mehn, that is so 2005! Im neither happy nor sad if something's going on with you guys. I really don't care. I just felt the need to say this: "What goes around comes around!"

Peace out!

( What happened before the film )

Stephan is a schizometric guy who mixes up his dreams from reality and Stephanie is a beautiful girl boarding the other room of Stephan. Boy meets girl. Girl meets boy. Boy dreams about girl. Girl dreams the same dream of boy. Boy dreams the same dream of girl. Parallel Synchronized Randomness.

I came to see this film with a great expectation that it should top Eternal Sunshine in my all-time best films. Sadly, it didn't. For the most part, this film misses the emotional impact of what Eternal Sunshine has left on its viewers. This film didn't really bother touching that department because true enough, Eternal Sunshine had that "awww moments" well-kept in the bag. Rather, the film focused more on the ooomph's, wooah's, and LOL's only sounds and interjections could express. It is certainly disturbing, almost bothering to think about. But sometimes, when it bothers you the most, you would think it was an effective film. And it certainly was!

In this film, Gondry puts up again a lot of juxtaposition of things that shouldn't be together (ie. feet inside the fridge, cellophane water, a city of cartons, tub inside the office), only that it was plenty of them, nearly over the top. He has his unique style of special effects that is quite refreshing to the brood of Hollywood films we see these days. He veered away from all the CGI's and all the special effects LOTR has exhausted. Instead, he made use of old cartons (a LOT of cartons), cellophanes, bottles, and scraps into making this film. Quite interesting, eh?! More than recognizing the effort of the production, the comedic interpretation has totally made this film very well different from its predecessor. Bernal is an effective actor who will force you to laugh at his very serious scenes. The more serious and emotional parts will all be offset by just one silly move he makes. However, the over the top injection of comedy makes this film rather cold and insensitive at some parts. Screenplay is a home-run: quite vulgar, very witty and has lots of subtleties.

At some points, Stephan's dream world becomes a Psychology class where the audience is braced onto their seats while being taught of some concepts of dreams and the brain's simple complexities. Parallel Synchronized Randomness. Stephan tells us that "Destruction is the obstruction to the construction". He showcases his groundbreaking inventions of the time machine, of a gadget that could read minds and a 3D eyeglass. Disasterology. Stephan reaches out to his viewers, sharing them his dreams of realities and his real dreams. While achieving that, he tells his story of his love, his schizometrical love to Stephanie. He wants us to dream with him, in his dreamboat with Stephanie, riding the velvet horse.

hehe. i have been wanting ORSON to put up a video of my favorite song, Happiness. lo and behold! it has been up since July!!! wahahaha. but nevertheless here it is for sharing.



"How about a 5-star Happy Meal?"

mehn-oh-mehn.

just when I thought I could see a Jude Law film at last, him portraying an architect...mehn-oh-mehn, damn was it close! he's a LANDSCAPE architect! *toinks

but its alright. AT LEAST, there's THAT architect word there. Can't wait for Breaking and Entering! He's reunited with one of my favorite directors again, Anthony Minghella who directed my 2nd favorite film of all time, Cold Mountain (which includes Jude Law again). Amidst all the controversies, the 2006 invisibility, and the 2005 Oscars joke of "What film is Jude Law not on?", well the Law is back and he's gonna rule! Hopefully with another Oscar nomination perhaps on All the King's Men, a film surely in the running for Oscars 2007!

And speaking of films, I havent seen The Prestige and The Departed. Both of which I should not miss. Because certainly, I could just feel the Oscars vibe. So certain that it needs a day to watch all these.

Anyways...Another thing I should not miss is to greet a Happy Birthday my dear HS classmate, Arvin! I had lots of fun awhile ago and thanks for the annual invitation to your house. hehe. This will certainly mark an annual reunion for the four of us. LOL. And Jade, what can I say!? I just feel the need of someone like you in UP everyday just so I could gradually be converted from agnoticism. :p

So, till this Friday!

PS. AMAZING RACE totally ROCKS! Go Tyler and James! And since I am not cursed as much as black_auteur is, YOU GUYS WILL SURELY WIN! Lol. According to a handful of spoilers...KRIZ, now is the time to shut your eyes... --- the Barbies and the Chos are not up in the Final 3...however sad this supposed spoiler is (coz I do want the Barbies to win as well...i really do), we may perhaps still see an All-Female win! hmmm. hint hint, Kriz. You love spoilers, eh!

Its amazing what a semestral break can do- I get to organize all my stuff back again, throw those piles of unwanted paper, clean up the bedroom, update my webspaces and upload files for sharing. But most of all, I-CAN-READ-A-BOOK-AGAIN. Oh how I miss my books.

To start my book reading chronicles, I took some time last night on re-reading the script of Oren Safdie's wonderful architectural play called Private Jokes, Public Spaces...(isn't that a wonder, an architectural play...such a rarity!) Anyway, I'd love to share some lines from that play- the one that really cracks me up everytime I read it. And its quite timely to be posting these lines since I just saw earlier my LA 1 grade. (Landscape Architecture 1...that Super GE, as they say) Fuck that grade! Now I know why I should hate Landscape Architecture even MORE! Here's to that subject. Here, read it if youre that interested. Text edited for fast reading ( Private Jokes, Public Spaces )

Next up...heto, kamusta naman talaga!

TASCHEN’s new architecture series brings a unique perspective to world architecture, highlighting architectural trends by country. Each book features 15 to 20 architects—from the firmly established to the up-and-coming—with the focus on how they have contributed to very recent architecture in the chosen nation. Crossing the globe from country to country, this new series celebrates the richly hued architectural personality of each nation featured.

...and here's the catch, a book costs USD25! mehn...come over here, you damn books!

In the meantime, semestral break is for Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead. So far so good, what can I say?! Amazing read though a bit predictable. I can't help but compare the plot somehow with Memoirs of a Geisha. Only that they differ in context.

Anyways, thats all for now. Will be busy in the next few days.

Finally, im done organizing my multiply account. Here, Jed's Multiply site.

Feel free to check it and post some replies. Add me as contact as well.


Sem's officially over. Thank you.