News #6

Glow cat: fluorescent green felines could help study of HIV

Looking for something light to read I came across this article about an experiment on animals. This time the experiment was on cats. Apparently, the scientists were able to produce a glowing cat. As bizarre as it might seem, the experiment was not to produce a funny-looking animal but to help investigate HIV. The glowing cat is a genetically modified organism (GMO) and the ability to glow in the dark comes together with FIV. It is an equivalent of the HIV virus in humans. By the use of this technique the researchers will be able to make some developments in the HIV study.

                As far as I’m concerned, experiments on animals are cruel and in many cases pointless. In this case, I cannot say that the cat’s suffering is pointless. Its life will definitely benefit humans. On the other hand, I just feel sorry for it. What is more, there are other diseases, like malaria, killing enormous numbers of people in the third world countries. And nobody is doing anything about it.

Sources:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2011/sep/11/genetically-modified-glowing-cats

News #5

Dogs have pet facial expressions to use on humans, study finds

 

I have just read an article in The Guardian that supports what I have always believed. Dogs are capable of making faces! The article describes a study of 24 dogs faced with either a human or another animal or food. Research has found that in the presence of a human dogs raised their eyebrows for their eyes to look bigger. They also pulled out their tongues. This facial expression is usually associated by people with cuteness. It is thus believed that dogs’ faces are a result of domestication.

                The result doesn’t really surprise me. I have made some observations for myself. My dog does at times look happy, sad or angry. I also believe that I have contact with her. As humans we greatly underestimate animals. We consider ourselves the smartest, only because we think that the world belongs to us.

 Sources:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/oct/19/dogs-have-pet-facial-expressions-to-use-on-humans-study-finds

News #4

Isis ‘White Widow’ Sally Jones is killed by US drone strike

I have just read an article which attracted my attention with the words “White Widow”. I wanted to know who has a nickname like that. It turns out that a former  punk-rocker, a mother and a wife to a 21-year old jihadist hacker was dubbed like that. Sally Jones was responsible for recruiting young girls to became jihadist brides and various threats against Britain on social media. Also, she allowed her 12-year old son to take part in executions.

Sally was killed in a drone attack. However heartless it may seem, the technology is truly amazing. They can be used for a really many purposes, not only killing. Drones are indeed fascinating. The next thing that got me flabbergasted is how can a woman of 50, brought up in the West become a Muslim, marry a guy who was a teenager a moment ago and go fight a war. The greatest victim is the woman’s son. He was a victim even before he died at his mother’s side.

Sources:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/isis-white-widow-sally-jones-is-killed-by-us-drone-strike-sdn3sgzj5

News #3

How attitudes to disabilities have changed



On the programme there were two journalists - Peter White who was born blind and Melanie Reid who got paralysed after a horse riding accident. They were exchanging views on the treatment of disabled people in Britain. Peter points out that for him it is different because he was born this way. Hence, he would like to be treated normally, without compassion, however nice it might be. Melanie’s view is different: she didn’t feel good when a family pushed in front of her at the entrance of the plane. They also consider some aspects of language drawing our attention to the fact that while being more politically correct we often talk nonsense.

From my observations, I must admit that I agree both with Peter and Melanie. On the one hand disabled people sometimes are very demanding, on the other they do need our assistance. Many of them will never be as fast, as clever, as fit as we are. However, it’s extremely thoughtless to give them all a label “weaker”.

Sources:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05dp9h9#play

News #2

The Guardian News

           Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker is a book recently reviewed by Rachel Cooke. The book touches on the subject of the nature of sleep and effects of sleep deprivation. It seems that those effects are profound.  They range from Alzheimer’s disease to different types of cancer. It also affects our psyche. And, in a big way. Through lack of sleep we become more stressed, more anxious, more depressed, not to mention more hungry.

                It’s surprising that facts obvious to anybody are so gravely disregarded by doctors, employers, teachers and every single one of us  in turn. Sleep should be a prescribed medicine, yet nobody treats it seriously. I will never use lack a sleep as an excuse for not doing my homework just like no teacher would accept it. Still I will try Walker’s method for a week: I will set an alarm to go to bed.

Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/sep/24/why-lack-of-sleep-health-worst-enemy-matthew-walker-why-we-sleep

Flash Fiction

Decisions, decisions

The ring was missing and she was worried indeed. She might pay for it with another black eye or a broken rib. This one was definitely not going to end with only some offensive comment. He won’t just call her a stupid cow and say he regrets proposing.

The carriage door slid open. “I was wondering if you lost something,” said a handsome stranger. “Yes, an engagement ring. Did you find it?” She looked at him hopefully. “Indeed, I have. I’m only sorry not to have given it to you first.”

Who lived happily ever after? 

News #1

The Times News

In the article AI can struggle to detect sarcasm the author discusses different aspects of understanding sarcasm. He writes about new software that has been developed in order to do it and various problems arising from this task. One of the ways to detect sarcasm is listen carefully to the tone of voice: then it is easy to spot the difference between “Yes, please wake me up at 8am again” and “Yes, please wake me up at 3am again”.

However in my opinion it’s not all so simple. I can easily understand the difference between waking someone at 8am and 3am but other sentences used in the article as examples are not so easy to comprehend. In order to spot sarcasm you need to share a person’s cultural and historical background. I believe that for AI with a huge database at its disposal it should be easier. 

Source: 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/ai-can-struggle-to-detect-sarcasm-vprkpdfxl