so there's a really interesting article about BioJava on java.sun.com this week. BioJava is an open source project creating a java technology based tookit for all those smart guys and gals figuring out the human genome.
so this is hugely interesting and provocative and all that...
meanwhile, in an article that appeared in Wired recently, Bill Joy says that nanotechnology and genetic engineering are a threat to our humanity.
ok... get ready, people... here's the part where i get controversial on you... i'm going to disagree with Bill Joy -- widely regarded as one of the smartest guys to draw breath from the same atmosphere that sustains me...
well, you know what, Bill: the sun is expanding and someday this lovely planet is going to be toast.
meanwhile, we can't achieve even the simplest of tasks: get the traffic lights to synchronize. our school systems churn out children who can't read and write (much less do math). we've got people with the keys to the store who declare wars on countries that they couldn't find on a physical map of the globe.
i don't think we have a lot to worry about. we're actually not that smart.
how's that for a line in the sand?
mary
Posted by fiok on December 13, 2004 at 03:44 PM PST #