In the Barrister’s Chambers by Tina GabrielleMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
The premise was intriguing; a historical romance novel about lawyers written by a lawyer? Sounds awesome, right?
Don't judge a book by its blurb.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
At least Ally McBeal was mildly entertaining...
In the Barrister’s Chambers by Tina GabrielleMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
The premise was intriguing; a historical romance novel about lawyers written by a lawyer? Sounds awesome, right?
Don't judge a book by its blurb.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Go forth and multiply!
How big is the biggest family you know? 8 children? 12? 29 kids by way of 4 wives?
How about 150 kids?
No, I am not kidding. A sperm donor in North America has fathered 150 offsprings based on the tracking records by this website. That's right. One man. 150 kids. One donor fathered 70 children and had to keep track of them using a spreadsheet. Genetically speaking, this is unhealthy, not to mention increasing the risk of inadvertent incest from siblings who are unaware that they share the same father. Yeah, yeah, the pro-'cest camp will say that the incest taboo is a social construct, but consanguinuous relationships often produce unhealthy offspring who may suffer from physical and/or mental disabilities.
Sperm donation (intentionally or inadvertently due to cheating) has been around since time immemorial to overcome the problem of the male partner shooting blanks (or is just an annoying git whose genes must NOT reproduce). But never has it hit in such a big way as it does today with fertility clinics and sperm agencies flourishing to fulfill baby-making needs world-wide.
I often wonder what drives a man to donate his sperm. Is it out of altruism to help infertile couples? Is it an ego boost thing to be populating the world with his little babies whom he doesn't have to support? Or is it as simple as because the financial transaction for a few fapping sessions is pretty lucrative? (Apparently you get paid more if you are nice looking and have a college degree, but do recipients really know if the donor looks like Brad Pitt or a troll, particularly for anonymous donation?)
The question of sperm donor motivation has been the focus of several studies. A 1994 study in Scandinavia painted that the majority of the donors are driven by monetary gain. I guess a guy gotta finance his grad school education some way; not everyone could be a singing telegram or strip for Chippendale. Or maybe just an ordinary guy wanting to pay his bills.
Paternity is a word that is both frightening and exciting. If it was something sought by a guy, it is probable the happiest news ever. Unless of course, he's left holding the bag for someone else's seed. Or became an inadvertent daddy like the guy in the video below.
(One of the best romance novels trope, yo.)
Now that we have welcomed the 7th billion person on this planet, should we keep multiplying like bunnies?
*contemplate*
How about 150 kids?
No, I am not kidding. A sperm donor in North America has fathered 150 offsprings based on the tracking records by this website. That's right. One man. 150 kids. One donor fathered 70 children and had to keep track of them using a spreadsheet. Genetically speaking, this is unhealthy, not to mention increasing the risk of inadvertent incest from siblings who are unaware that they share the same father. Yeah, yeah, the pro-'cest camp will say that the incest taboo is a social construct, but consanguinuous relationships often produce unhealthy offspring who may suffer from physical and/or mental disabilities.
Sperm donation (intentionally or inadvertently due to cheating) has been around since time immemorial to overcome the problem of the male partner shooting blanks (or is just an annoying git whose genes must NOT reproduce). But never has it hit in such a big way as it does today with fertility clinics and sperm agencies flourishing to fulfill baby-making needs world-wide.
I often wonder what drives a man to donate his sperm. Is it out of altruism to help infertile couples? Is it an ego boost thing to be populating the world with his little babies whom he doesn't have to support? Or is it as simple as because the financial transaction for a few fapping sessions is pretty lucrative? (Apparently you get paid more if you are nice looking and have a college degree, but do recipients really know if the donor looks like Brad Pitt or a troll, particularly for anonymous donation?)
The question of sperm donor motivation has been the focus of several studies. A 1994 study in Scandinavia painted that the majority of the donors are driven by monetary gain. I guess a guy gotta finance his grad school education some way; not everyone could be a singing telegram or strip for Chippendale. Or maybe just an ordinary guy wanting to pay his bills.
Paternity is a word that is both frightening and exciting. If it was something sought by a guy, it is probable the happiest news ever. Unless of course, he's left holding the bag for someone else's seed. Or became an inadvertent daddy like the guy in the video below.
(One of the best romance novels trope, yo.)
Now that we have welcomed the 7th billion person on this planet, should we keep multiplying like bunnies?
*contemplate*
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Dance!
I have always been a fan of Pet Shop Boys since the 80s (yes, I am that old. Shut up.). They have a gift of combining novel musical elements together into something dance-y and yet suffused with a darkness in their message. PSB is also big on stunning visuals and have no compunctions to slip into crazy outfits with every new album they produced.
I don't know how I could have missed out this video; it was released last year. But then again, I kept (and still do) losing the battle for the remote control.
But this! The engaging storyline, mellifluous shots and flow ... a master craftsman product of a video.
Enjoy.
I don't know how I could have missed out this video; it was released last year. But then again, I kept (and still do) losing the battle for the remote control.
But this! The engaging storyline, mellifluous shots and flow ... a master craftsman product of a video.
Enjoy.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Late to the party
I have just lost my nerd credentials: I only found out today that 2011 is the International Year of Chemistry.
And me, who believe in better living through chemistry.
*hangs head in shame*
And there are pretty posters! Swiped from here.
Vive le chimie!
And what does 2012 hold for us? Armageddon?
Nah.
Just the International Year for Cooperatives. No pretty posters yet.
And me, who believe in better living through chemistry.
*hangs head in shame*
And there are pretty posters! Swiped from here.
Matter as elucidated by Einstein.
Graphene: the strongest material known to man.
Hydrogen: Explosive and yet when combined with oxygen, is the elixir of life.
Radiate! Marie Curie style.
Chemistry is about elements forming substance forming the universe as you and I know it.
Vive le chimie!
And what does 2012 hold for us? Armageddon?
Nah.
Just the International Year for Cooperatives. No pretty posters yet.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
What they never tell you ...
I have always been a bit of a science geek. I did well enough in high school that they pushed me to science stream and I entertained delusions of being an otorhinolaryngologist (ear nose and throat specialist).
Needless to say I'll bet many students have ideas of science as illustrated in the top panel. If they are daft enough (like me) and go into post-graduate research, then they'll discover the truth (as seen in bottom panel).
Needless to say I'll bet many students have ideas of science as illustrated in the top panel. If they are daft enough (like me) and go into post-graduate research, then they'll discover the truth (as seen in bottom panel).
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
WTF moment of the week: Friday
All those FB status about stop bullying should have been accompanied by this picture. Revenge of the bully victims ahoy!
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