#this is the paper that defines parking functions
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Today in "Wow, people in the 60s were really Like That":
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Interesting Papers for Week 14, 2023
Adaptation-induced plasticity in the sensory cortex. Bharmauria, V., Ouelhazi, A., Lussiez, R., & Molotchnikoff, S. (2022). Journal of Neurophysiology, 128(4), 946–962.
NMDAR-dependent presynaptic homeostasis in adult hippocampus: Synapse growth and cross-modal inhibitory plasticity. Chipman, P. H., Fetter, R. D., Panzera, L. C., Bergerson, S. J., Karmelic, D., Yokoyama, S., … Davis, G. W. (2022). Neuron, 110(20), 3302-3317.e7.
A locus coeruleus-dorsal CA1 dopaminergic circuit modulates memory linking. Chowdhury, A., Luchetti, A., Fernandes, G., Filho, D. A., Kastellakis, G., Tzilivaki, A., … Silva, A. J. (2022). Neuron, 110(20), 3374-3388.e8.
Neural interactions in working memory explain decreased recall precision and similarity-based feature repulsion. Johnson, J. S., van Lamsweerde, A. E., Dineva, E., & Spencer, J. P. (2022). Scientific Reports, 12, 17756.
Foveal vision anticipates defining features of eye movement targets. Kroell, L. M., & Rolfs, M. (2022). eLife, 11, e78106. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.78106
Neuromodulator-dependent synaptic tagging and capture retroactively controls neural coding in spiking neural networks. Lehr, A. B., Luboeinski, J., & Tetzlaff, C. (2022). Scientific Reports, 12, 17772.
Cone opponent functional domains in primary visual cortex combine signals for color appearance mechanisms. Li, P., Garg, A. K., Zhang, L. A., Rashid, M. S., & Callaway, E. M. (2022). Nature Communications, 13, 6344.
U(1) dynamics in neuronal activities. Lin, C.-Y., Chen, P.-H., Lin, H.-H., & Huang, W.-M. (2022). Scientific Reports, 12, 17629.
Movement is governed by rotational neural dynamics in spinal motor networks. Lindén, H., Petersen, P. C., Vestergaard, M., & Berg, R. W. (2022). Nature, 610(7932), 526–531.
A visual sense of number emerges from divisive normalization in a simple center-surround convolutional network. Park, J., & Huber, D. E. (2022). eLife, 11, e80990.
Multiple forms of working memory emerge from synapse–astrocyte interactions in a neuron–glia network model. Pittà, M. De, & Brunel, N. (2022). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(43), e2207912119.
Tonic activity in lateral habenula neurons acts as a neutral valence brake on reward-seeking behavior. Post, R. J., Bulkin, D. A., Ebitz, R. B., Lee, V., Han, K., & Warden, M. R. (2022). Current Biology, 32(20), 4325-4336.e5.
The globalizability of temporal discounting. Ruggeri, K., Panin, A., Vdovic, M., Većkalov, B., Abdul-Salaam, N., Achterberg, J., … García-Garzon, E. (2022). Nature Human Behaviour, 6(10), 1386–1397.
Neural representational geometry underlies few-shot concept learning. Sorscher, B., Ganguli, S., & Sompolinsky, H. (2022). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(43), e2200800119.
Spatial representation by ramping activity of neurons in the retrohippocampal cortex. Tennant, S. A., Clark, H., Hawes, I., Tam, W. K., Hua, J., Yang, W., … Nolan, M. F. (2022). Current Biology, 32(20), 4451-4464.e7.
Persistent activity in human parietal cortex mediates perceptual choice repetition bias. Urai, A. E., & Donner, T. H. (2022). Nature Communications, 13, 6015.
Balance between breadth and depth in human many-alternative decisions. Vidal, A., Soto-Faraco, S., & Moreno-Bote, R. (2022). eLife, 11, e76985.
Attentional priority is determined by predicted feature distributions. Witkowski, P. P., & Geng, J. J. (2022). Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 48(11), 1201–1212.
Spontaneous perspective taking of an invisible person. Zhou, J., Peng, Y., Li, Y., Deng, X., & Chen, H. (2022). Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 48(11), 1186–1200.
Reward and aversion processing by input-defined parallel nucleus accumbens circuits in mice. Zhou, K., Xu, H., Lu, S., Jiang, S., Hou, G., Deng, X., … Zhu, Y. (2022). Nature Communications, 13, 6244.
#science#Neuroscience#computational neuroscience#Brain science#research#cognition#cognitive science#neurons#neural networks#neural computation#neurobiology#psychophysics#scientific publications
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Do YIMBYs have, like, estimates of how much of construction cost is due to unnecessary regulation (defining as unnecessary those regulations which either exist purely to drive up housing prices or components of regulations whose functions could be replaced with equivalent regulations that would not drive up housing prices as much)? Of how much of those reduced construction costs would be retained as profits by the developers (note: if it is low or none, then the pragmatic argument for YIMBYism, that developers can be used as political allies, is false)? Of roughly how large the expected impact on rents and housing prices would be at various price points over the next couple decades as the new housing stock filters in under the new equilibrium, as opposed to the expected values under the status quo?
These are detailed bits of information I'm asking for, I know. Additionally, they are economic projections, and therefore I might as well be asking people to examine bird entrails. I don't expect random posters to have the answers to them. I think proponents should have some kind of intuitions about this (my guesses are 5-10%, about half counting the finance cut, and lower than the margin of error respectively) but I don't expect the answers there.
Where I do expect the answers is in, like, YIMBY think tank publications specifically meant to answer common concerns about pro-development policy. But no. A paper from the Furman Center (from 2018, but then, they've had almost 50 years to work on this shit at this point) says "There is little empirical evidence about the net effects new market rate housing has on the prices or rents of nearby homes, and what exists may not be causal." And it is difficult to claim that their standards of evidence are simply too high, I've read some of the papers they cite. In this part of the paper they use one that shows that census tracts with less construction either had their population grow but low-income (defined as 80% of median income or lower) population shrink or their population shrink but their low-income population shrink faster more often than census tracts with more construction did. This proves that you shouldn't worry about gentrification caused by YIMBYism apparently?
If someone tells you that evidence of a phenomenon doesn't exist, and then starts talking about entirely arbitrary nominal phenomena that bear no clear relation to the actual topic, I think it's fair to suspect that perhaps the evidence of that phenomenon does exist and doesn't favor them. I dunno.
Anyway yes parking requirements are bad, yes single-stair apartments like everywhere in Europe already has are fine, yes this kind of smart mixed-used urbanism shouldn't be illegal to build, and yes landlords and landowners generally are an obstacle to human dignity and economic efficiency. But YIMBY seems to marry ineffectiveness with political inexpedience. The virtue is that it's nominally free and therefore fiscally responsible and such, since you're just removing legislature. In fact the entrenched interests that you are going up against, quite possibly without even a single friendly industry if the developers think their excess profits will be wiped out by competition, are the ones who are eating the costs. Don't get me wrong, they deserve to, I just don't see how we're going to make them.
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forgive me if the following post is uncoordinated. i am supremely tired, but have been ruminating on the period of my life that i like to call my "second childhood", and will thus attempt to cleanse myself of it by - for the first time, comprehensively - putting it into textual form.
first, i will define 'second childhood' as a term and experience. it is a period in where i feel that i, almost subconsciously and with little effort at all, un-repressed a certain set of positive traits that i had at that point lost in childhood - letting go of my current self, which was rotten and based in a repression of what was good and healthy, and reimagining myself, blooming. this period was, for the most part, completely involuntary and came about naturally - however, the manner in which it ceased to exist was deliberate and crushingly cruel. an inevitable, incapacitating blow that strangled that \second child' in its cradle.
the issue that has always been plaguing me in regards to describing my 'second childhood' is that...i cannot cleanly elaborate on it without instinctively, naturally, seeking to *describe* it spatially, as an experience, without seeking to actually elaborate on what it *was* or *why* it had functioned and affected me the way it did. this is because it felt, and still feels, like that 'second childhood' was a consequence of a specific set of *smaller personalized spatial and personal circumstances, culminating to make one whole*, and simply describing it in rigid terms, for what it was on paper, would feel incomplete and insufficient if one wished to truly *understand* what it was that had beguiled and let me experience joy.
my 'second childhood', as a period, consisted of... as said, the culmination many factors, however, there is one that i felt and still feel as being a 'core reason'; that is, the apartment that was my residence. due to a period of familial turmoil which i feel is actually largely irrelevant to the experience of the 'second childhood', me and my mother moved to my maternal grandparents' old apartment. on the sixth floor of an old, yugo-era building, a terrace overlooking the horizon and what stretched out beneath it, columns of buildings interrupted by cars and parks. this apartment brought me much joy, and was crucial in the development of this 'second childhood' for reasons i will now attempt to elaborate on:
it allowed me reprieve from my usual life, for most of my time in it i was alone - but, but not how i usually feel *isolated*, the loneliness felt welcome. the warmth and the space that it offered me was critical in the unravelling of the positive emotions that would go on to define this 'second childhood'. being alone in the apartment on warm spring afternoons, laying in bed and seeing the light from outside refract on the glass door of the terrace and shine into the rest of the house, the furniture inside being practically unchanged & unmoved since the time of my maternal grandparents' death, a perfect amber-like preservation of the past. & i think, in some regards, i started to view it as being a perfect amber-like preservation of my happiness.
but, this is masturbatory. in the end, this 'period' officially came to a close with the successful selling of that apartment, because my family would not have been able to survive otherwise. its items being scattered around a variety of family members and different storage facilities.
i feel that this setup is sufficient in giving you an idea of the spatial aspect, now. i will attempt to explain it and its ending in more grounded terms.
as mentioned, this 'second childhood' period primarily consisted of me rediscovering and un-repressing a lot of good characteristics inside of me that i had thought i lost in childhood. this was caused by, & coincided with, me discovering a space i felt i could be myself in. & in the wake of that i had a period that was incredibly blissful and, most importantly, sincere. i felt that i had randomly, haphazardly inverted from being incredibly *bad* to incredibly *good*...continuing in the reblog(post limit)
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Scientists Have Reached a Key Milestone in Learning How to Reverse Aging
— Time Magazine | January 12, 2023 | By Alice Park
Tim Flach Photography ltd—Getty Images
It’s been 13 years in the making, but Dr. David Sinclair and his colleagues have finally answered the question of what drives aging. In a study published Jan. 12 in Cell, Sinclair, a professor of genetics and co-director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research at Harvard Medical School, describes a groundbreaking aging clock that can speed up or reverse the aging of cells.
Scientists studying aging have debated what drives the process of senescence in cells—and primarily focused on mutations in DNA that can, over time, mess up a cell’s normal operations and trigger the process of cell death. But that theory wasn’t supported by the fact that older people’s cells often were not riddled with mutations, and that animals or people harboring a higher burden of mutated cells don’t seem to age prematurely.
Sinclair therefore focused on another part of the genome, called the epigenome. Since all cells have the same DNA blueprint, the epigenome is what makes skin cells turn into skin cells and brain cells into brain cells. It does this by providing different instructions to different cells for which genes to turn on, and which to keep silent. Epigenetics is similar to the instructions dressmakers rely on from patterns to create shirts, pants, or jackets. The starting fabric is the same, but the pattern determines what shape and function the final article of clothing takes. With cells, the epigenetic instructions lead to cells with different physical structures and functions in a process called differentiation.
In the Cell paper, Sinclair and his team report that not only can they age mice on an accelerated timeline, but they can also reverse the effects of that aging and restore some of the biological signs of youthfulness to the animals. That reversibility makes a strong case for the fact that the main drivers of aging aren’t mutations to the DNA, but miscues in the epigenetic instructions that somehow go awry. Sinclair has long proposed that aging is the result of losing critical instructions that cells need to continue functioning, in what he calls the Information Theory of Aging. “Underlying aging is information that is lost in cells, not just the accumulation of damage,” he says. “That’s a paradigm shift in how to think about aging. “
His latest results seem to support that theory. It’s similar to the way software programs operate off hardware, but sometimes become corrupt and need a reboot, says Sinclair. “If the cause of aging was because a cell became full of mutations, then age reversal would not be possible,” he says. “But by showing that we can reverse the aging process, that shows that the system is intact, that there is a backup copy and the software needs to be rebooted.”
In the mice, he and his team developed a way to reboot cells to restart the backup copy of epigenetic instructions, essentially erasing the corrupted signals that put the cells on the path toward aging. They mimicked the effects of aging on the epigenome by introducing breaks in the DNA of young mice. (Outside of the lab, epigenetic changes can be driven by a number of things, including smoking, exposure to pollution and chemicals.) Once “aged” in this way, within a matter of weeks Sinclair saw that the mice began to show signs of older age—including grey fur, lower body weight despite unaltered diet, reduced activity, and increased frailty.
The rebooting came in the form of a gene therapy involving three genes that instruct cells to reprogram themselves—in the case of the mice, the instructions guided the cells to restart the epigenetic changes that defined their identity as, for example, kidney and skin cells, two cell types that are prone to the effects of aging. These genes came from the suite of so-called Yamanaka stem cells factors—a set of four genes that Nobel scientist Shinya Yamanaka in 2006 discovered can turn back the clock on adult cells to their embryonic, stem cell state so they can start their development, or differentiation process, all over again. Sinclair didn’t want to completely erase the cells’ epigenetic history, just reboot it enough to reset the epigenetic instructions. Using three of the four factors turned back the clock about 57%, enough to make the mice youthful again.
“We’re not making stem cells, but turning back the clock so they can regain their identity,” says Sinclair. “I’ve been really surprised by how universally it works. We haven’t found a cell type yet that we can’t age forward and backward.”
Rejuvenating cells in mice is one thing, but will the process work in humans? That’s Sinclair’s next step, and his team is already testing the system in non-human primates. The researchers are attaching a biological switch that would allow them to turn the clock on and off by tying the activation of the reprogramming genes to an antibiotic, doxycycline. Giving the animals doxycycline would start reversing the clock, and stopping the drug would halt the process. Sinclair is currently lab-testing the system with human neurons, skin, and fibroblast cells, which contribute to connective tissue.
In 2020, Sinclair reported that in mice, the process restored vision in older animals; the current results show that the system can apply to not just one tissue or organ, but the entire animal. He anticipates eye diseases will be the first condition used to test this aging reversal in people, since the gene therapy can be injected directly into the eye area.
“We think of the processes behind aging, and diseases related to aging, as irreversible,” says Sinclair. “In the case of the eye, there is the misconception that you need to regrow new nerves. But in some cases the existing cells are just not functioning, so if you reboot them, they are fine. It’s a new way to think about medicine.”
That could mean that a host of diseases—including chronic conditions such as heart disease and even neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s—could be treated in large part by reversing the aging process that leads to them. Even before that happens, the process could be an important new tool for researchers studying these diseases. In most cases, scientists rely on young animals or tissues to model diseases of aging, which doesn’t always faithfully reproduce the condition of aging. The new system “makes the mice very old rapidly, so we can, for example, make human brain tissue the equivalent off what you would find in a 70 year old and use those in the mouse model to study Alzheimer’s disease that way,” Sinclair says.
Beyond that, the implications of being able to age and rejuvenate tissues, organs, or even entire animals or people are mind-bending. Sinclair has rejuvenated the eye nerves multiple times, which raises the more existential question for bioethicists and society of considering what it would mean to continually rewind the clock on aging.
This study is just the first step in redefining what it means to age, and Sinclair is the first to acknowledge that it raises more questions than answers. “We don’t understand how rejuvenation really works, but we know it works,” he says. “We can use it to rejuvenate parts of the body and hopefully make medicines that will be revolutionary. Now, when I see an older person, I don’t look at them as old, I just look at them as someone whose system needs to be rebooted. It’s no longer a question of if rejuvenation is possible, but a question of when.”
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Combinational creativity
Han, Ji, Dongmyung Park, Feng Shi, Liuqing Chen, Min Hua, and Peter RN Childs. “Three Driven Approaches to Combinational Creativity: Problem-, Similarity- and Inspiration-Driven.” Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science 233, no. 2 (January 2019): 373–84. https://doi.org/10.1177/0954406217750189.
Combinational creativity is an accessible form of creativity we use everyday. We combine two or more separate ideas into a single new idea. This kind of creativity rides on our innate -- perhaps even neurological -- ability to associate ideas, memories, and thoughts.
However, combination is not necessarily association. Association connects and overlaps two things together; combination fuses them, for the deliberate goal of synthesizing something new. An association would be "rubber duck AND ruler"; a combination would be "rubber duck on a stick". In this way we can also see the generativity of combination, whereby surprising and novel traits emerge from the gestalt. (I did not specify stick; I only said "ruler".) Basic association does not guarantee gestalt combination.
We predominantly use combinational creativity in three contexts: problem-driven, similarity-driven, and inspiration-driven. Problem-driven combinational creativity works in response to an explicit problem, like keeping rain out of your hair with a manila folder and a belt tied around chin and head. The authors of the paper define problems as a "recognition of an incomplete pattern that needs solutions" (Han et al., 2019). Indeed, such combinations would "fit" the incomplete pattern. We tend to use the problem-driven approach the most.
Similarity-driven combinational creativity arises when we relate two items by their surface (formal, visual, physical) or subsurface (deep, structural, functional) similarity. An umbrella and a hooded sweater both keep rain out; what if we made the hood of sweater out of two sewed sheets of recycled umbrella canvas? In this case, we identify that an umbrella and a hooded sweater both protect from rain, and then combine these two concepts.
Inspiration-driven combinational creativity comes from a flash of inspiration, whereby we combine a basic/starting idea with an inspirational idea. One notable example of this is the Juicy Salif, when Starck combined the lithe form of a squid with the function of a handheld lemon reamer. Inspiration tends to be most sung about in the arts, but we encounter and use inspiration more than we think.
In my experience, the process of inspiration is actually derivational rather than combinatory. I am pulling or producing something (a quality, trait, etc.) from the locus of inspiration, into something completely new. I muse over this in "the inspiration of (using) your notes". Combination tends to be bilateral, where each combined concept mutually influences each other (or the end creative idea takes equal elements of both); derivation tends to be more unilateral, almost as if the locus of inspiration is "infecting" the end idea.
In the big-C vs. little-C creative distinction, combinational creativity leans towards little-C creativity. Little-C creativity is psychological and novel to the individual; big-C creativity is historical and novel to all of (recorded and/or actionable) human history. Developing big-C creativity in a vacuum seems quite difficult. I think it may be more worthwhile to carefully combine many little-C ideas or lucidly refine a little-C idea to big-C prominence.
I would also like to note that this paper conceptualizes combinational creativity as an additive process. I am also interested in other non-additive creative processes, like derivation (as previously mentioned) or subtraction, whereby we subtract a certain quality from a pre-existing idea.
For my current hybrid slipbox, Hemera, combinational creativity is of particular interest to me. The nature of the slipbox makes it trivial to search for notes on problem-driven, similarity-driven, and inspiration-driven bases, and precipitate new ideas and theories. This is not a new line of cerebration; I have been theorizing about recursive synthesis and associativity long before architecting Hemera. However, what makes this different is both the awareness that combinational creativity exists, and that the slipbox is encouraging from a diverse set of reading that serves the perfect substrate for theorizing.
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An Unrevised Excerpt from “The Little Black Notebook” by KVL3005
Chapter 2: Pink Sky
April 27th,
Finally getting started on my research paper for my Michigan History Course, one that I had months to prepare for. I was very confident in my abilities to crank out an “A” paper last minute, as I’ve done it countless times before. The finest mindset of a procrastinator or maybe that of a person who’s too deep into the delusions that he processes an intellectual prowess, which ranged far greater than any of his peers … maybe both...
Spoiler ALERT!- He didn’t do well.
I took the liberty to take a drive out to Holland, hoping to make the experience of writing this dreaded piece paper a tad bit more pleasant. It did but not by much. Holland has the last few remnants of this so-called “Pure Michigan”. One consists of picturesque dunes and miles of soft-sanded yellow beaches running along the shorelines of Lake Michigan. The few places in the state where industries still remained prominent. I do love the smells of tulips blossoming in the spring, that's what they’re most known for nowadays, aside from their mostly homogenous Dutch population.
Parked my car within Holland State Park; reading a book and listening to Frank Ocean while the sun began to set is one of life’s greatest pleasures. That I can assure you. It’s been a long since I got some sort of joy from reading. It’s me being a history major to blame. Days after days of reading monotone texts follows by important dates and events. The tedium of it all kills any pleasures it may bring. The book I’m currently reading has been sitting on my shelf for months now. Must be a joyous occasion, for it finally gets to serve its only function, after months of neglect. what is my purpose? an existentialist question that is only defined within the boundaries of oneself. Boundaries that constantly get defined and redefine. A repeating cycle that I must get out of to truly be free.
-Do you blame the book for being narrowed in purpose or do you blame the person for not reading it?
Only one is in control and surely is it not I.
It is especially cloudy today; somehow the sun still manages to creep through the cracks. One big line of lights, diffusing into a pink-ish hue, stretching into the horizons. Fighting to stay afloat as if it never going to rise again, staying in the twilight-simply mesmerizing. Somebody I once knew told me this “ At the end of the sunset, that’s when the sky is the prettiest[..] but people always start to leave before that”. She did not or rather could not comprehend that. Admittedly, I was within the majority before I met her. She would be alone, parked in her car at the beach for hours, and would be the last one to leave. Only now I’ve come to an understanding of it, and maybe in some ways an understanding of her. To not be the subject of time, one that is bound to us at the moment we were born. An abstract concept invented by humans but one that can physically impact all of us... Gazing into the what-seemingly-never-ending lake of Michigan without the mechanism of time (One that was told to us, countless times over by society- “When it gets dark go home” “When it gets dark go home” ) can procure a blissful euphoric state. Creating a moment. One that cannot end, but eventually it always does. Now at this seemingly never-ending moment, I, For once truly feel free of the contraptions created by my own mind.
-Our first date was at this very spot.
It has been almost a year since I abruptly ended things- Again in this same spot.
Only a sickened and twisted man can bring Forget-Me-Not flowers to a “break up” as some sort of impractical joke. Anyways, I digress...
The stars were out, radiating the unpolluted sky like that of every night in Holland State Park. It was almost blinding. Maybe the lights emitted from the stars that night blinded me stupid for the rest of this SITuationship. She’s a soft-spoken woman, maybe too soft. From one look you can tell went through a lot of hurt in her life. Memories she rather crumbled into a ball, set that ball on fire, and chuck it into the lake. More importantly, she hates the vulnerability of it. She often suppresses her feelings, but she never lets that have an impact on her surroundings. A very respectable aspect of that trait, one that I can learn from. Consequently, that makes her invisible to me and to the rest of society. I don’t think she likes the feeling of that. Nobody does. Constantly shifting to find her balance like a pendulum- one between the spectrum of being there and not being a nuisance. If I have to describe what she looks like, I would say she is a blonde lady short of stature. Ethnically, her family came here from Norwegian but she retains little to none of her cultural heritage. Oftentimes that can possibly cause a person to have low self-esteem growing up. I wonder what that’s like for her, to grow up in a town priding itself on its Dutch heritage. It must be strange living your life “close but not close enough” to your peers...
“My eyes are a darker shade of blue than theirs” she stated in one of our conversations. I could sense the envious in her voice. Her envious does not come from their slightly brighter eye colors but stem from her inability to be indifferent. She always tells me that my dark brown mesmerized her every time it hits the sun and I’ve never told her that her azure eyes are very luring.
One of the things I hate about myself is that I am in fact a hopeless romantic but got hurt to the point where I became a realist.
I started talking to her a few months after my ex and I broke up from our long-term relationship. One of my ex’s insecurities was that I was into blondes, and she being a dark-haired Latina and all. She was sure of it. I tried to reassure her but it didn’t work. I do not know where she got that from...maybe it’s from the stereotype that “Asians really love blondes”. In a way, all stereotypes have a hint of truth to them but is it a very distorted version of it. Repeated to the point where it becomes a single truth, a single story, One that I, unfortunately, got grouped in with. Retrospectively reflecting on it. It impacted my SITUationship profoundly. At the time, the thought of giving my ex the satisfaction that she was right, irritated my soul to its core. I guess that was enough to outweigh the happiness and stability azure eyes brought into my pathetic life. One that comes with waves of self-hatred, self-destruction, and self-pity. For somebody who has an extremely low sense of SELF-confidence, I surely am SELF-absorbed.
Some things aren’t meant to last forever right? They’re meant to teach us a lesson.[.......]
It’s getting dark enough for the famous Michigan lighthouse to shine.
I should be leaving soon.
And just like that....the sun is gone.
so is she.
Chapter 3: Stained White Tee and LV Shoes
“you lost me again!” The professor commented on my report. If only I had more time to develop my research. I always aimed for subjects whose magnitude is far outside the scope of what would be considered an “A” paper in a community college. While Mr. Timmy Clockinghammer is writing about -how his grandmother went to work, probably in some dusty factory, cranking out helmets for the war effort in the 1940s. School has always been structured over content but once again my delusions have caused me to only make my life more miserable(BIG SUPRISED).
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The Brutalism Post, Part 2: What Brutalism is Not
Why open a series about Brutalism by discussing what is not Brutalism? The answer is simple: of all of the terms in the history of architecture, Brutalism is perhaps the most misused and misunderstood by the general public.
Pictured: Citizens Bank Tower, 1958-66. Not Brutalism (it’s just plain ol’ International Style modernism). Source
The main issue here, as we will discuss later, is not that people are ignorant for using the wrong definition of the word Brutalism, but that the word Brutalism has come to mean or refer to a variety of architectural phenomena that are linked to one another via overarching similarities, the most important being an expanded set of buildings that elicit a specific emotional response in the viewer.
“Brutalism”, a specific architectural movement with its own ideology and history, has come to encompass a wide range of colloquial meanings. Some of these meanings are common misconceptions that reflect a need for broader architectural education (the purpose of this series), and some of these meanings reflect a deeper, more philosophical, interrogation into how we perceive and discuss architecture and the complex emotions it arouses within us, exposing a need for new means of communicating a common architectural sentiment.
Let’s start with the most common misuse of the term.
Brutalism is not: every single building made primarily of reinforced concrete.
Blame this one on the dictionary. The term Brutalism, while being derived from the French term beton brut, meaning raw concrete, does not apply to all buildings made from reinforced concrete. Developed in the 1870s, reinforced concrete is one of the most commonly used building materials in the world. Because of its inexpensive price, its structural integrity, and its ability to be cast into a variety of shapes and forms, many buildings were - and continue to be - made from it.
Let’s look at three examples of buildings I have found labeled “brutalist” in various places.
Not Brutalism: (from left to right): Tadao Ando, Vitra Conference Center (1993) Photo by Wojtek Gurak (CC BY NC 2.0); Le Corbusier, Villa Savoye (1929) Photo by Scarlet Green (CC BY 2.0); Albert Kahn, Highland Park Ford Factory (1910) Photo by Thomas Hawk (CC BY NC 2.0)
All of these buildings are constructed primarily from reinforced concrete. As you can see, they are all very, very different from one another. In these three cases, the key piece of information discrediting these buildings as being Brutalist is when they were built. Brutalism was a specific architectural movement from spanning a defined period of time (1940s-late 1970s). Buildings constructed outside of this time window are rather unlikely to be Brutalist.
Let’s look at why these buildings might be mislabeled brutalist.
Our first example is the Vitra Conference Center by Tadao Ando, which was built in 1993. Even though 1993 is far outside the time frame that brutalism spanned, this building has many characteristics that are “brutalistic,” specifically its extensive use of unpainted reinforced concrete, its heavy, geometric massing, and its intense visual weight. Ando’s architecture falls under the term “critical regionalism” - which is best understood as being modern in form (but not in dogma), with a heightened focus on the surrounding ecology and landscape as well as other geographical, cultural, and social contexts.
The Villa Savoye by Le Corbusier, finished in 1929, is one of the most iconic 20th century houses and works of modernist architecture in the world. This house, though made of reinforced concrete, belongs to the movement known as the International Style, which was developed in Western Europe after World War I, is known for its rejection of ornament, flat surfaces (especially roofs), extensive use of glass, and visually lightweight and repetitive forms. While the International Style makes use of concrete, it differs from Brutalism in its visual lightness - the Villa Savoye seems to float effortlessly above the landscape - very unlike Brutalist architecture, which is characterized by its massive scale, hulking forms and visual heaviness.
The Highland Park Ford Plant, built in 1910 by noted factory architect Albert Kahn, was once the premiere factory building in America, helping to advance not only the Fordist system, but the city of Detroit, Michigan as being the automobile capital of the world. It is a touchstone of factory design, notable for its pioneering use of the assembly line to facilitate mass production, a concept that remains central to factory design today. Although made of reinforced concrete, the Highland Park plant is not a brutalist building. It frequently is mischaracterized as being brutalist because of its massive side, imposing features, and the close association that has developed between brutalist architecture and urban exploration photography (More on this later).
TL;DR: All brutalist buildings are made of reinforced concrete (or heavy masonry), but not all reinforced concrete buildings are brutalist. Moving on.
Brutalism is not a catch-all term for Late Modernist architecture
Architecture got so weird and complicated in the period from the 1960s through the early 1980s that it inspired the architectural theorist Charles Jencks to create the first of several delightful and mind-bending charts to try and categorize it:
Yeah.
What is Late Modernism? The concise definition is that it is an umbrella term encompassing the various architectural movements that transpired after International Style/Mid-Century Modernism but before Postmodernism. (For more on what Late Modernism is and why you should care, see my post from 2016.) Brutalism elides with Late Modernism, but not all Late Modern buildings are Brutalist. Because Brutalism is contemporaneous with Late Modernism, the distinction can be confusing. Often the case is that Late Modern buildings that are described as ‘Brutalist’ should be recategorized or reassigned to a different, equally obscure and hyper-specific architectural sub-movement happening around the same time. This might seem nitpicky, but look on the bright side: now you get to correct your friends.
Late Modernism encompassed a lot of smaller architectural movements, most, but not all of them ending in -ism. Some, like Brutalism and High Tech, are more well known; others, like Metabolism, Structuralism, Critical Realism, and Neo-expressionism, not so much. Some buildings don’t fit into any of these categories and must (frustratingly) be referred to as simply “Late Modern” or “Transitional” (referring to the transition from Modernism to Postmodernism.)
Here are three Late Modern buildings that are not Brutalist:
Left: Richard Rogers, Lloyd’s Building (1986) Photo by Lloyd’s Insurance (CC BY 2.5); Top Right: Kisho Kurakawa Nakagin Capsule Tower (1972) Photo by scarletgreen (CC BY 2.0); Bottom Right: Herman Hertzberger, Centraal Baheer (1972) Photo by Apdency (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Lloyd’s Building, the headquarters of Lloyd’s of London, located in, unsurprisingly, London, was designed by Richard Rogers and completed in 1986. Despite the relative lack of reinforced concrete, the building is frequently categorized as being Brutalist. The fact that it lacks reinforced concrete as a defining architectural feature is all one needs to eliminate Lloyd’s from the Brutalism category - why it is put there in the first place we will discuss more in depth in the next section of this post. Lloyd’s - along with most of Rogers’ work - is part of the architectural movement known as “High Tech” because it is, well, High Tech.
High Tech buildings are the apogee of the modernist mindset in terms of glorifying the functions of a building and the technological elements of structural engineering. They take what are usually internal systems such as structural frames, circulation systems (such as stairs and elevators) and services (electrical, plumbing, etc) and integrate them into their external architectural form. (Lloyd’s is colloquially known by Londoners as the “inside out building”). High Tech was relatively short lived because it turns out that when you decorate the outside of your building with its internal services, when winter comes, your water pipes, exposed to the elements, tend to freeze.
The Nakagin Capsule Tower, built in 1972 by Japanese architect Kisho Kurakawa (one of my favorite architects ever who more people should know about), is one of the buildings most commonly labeled as Brutalist. This building illustrates the gray area that arises when one uses vague aesthetic attributes (concrete, visually heavy, geometric massing) to designate a building as Brutalist instead of the actual history and context of the building in question. The Nakagin Capsule Tower belongs to a different (if coexistent) architectural movement that, frankly is a lot weirder than Brutalism: Metabolism. Take the formal concept of organic biological growth and systems and combine it with the urbanistic concept of megastructures (an entire city contained in a single continuous structure or via several interconnecting structures) and you get Metabolism. Because of the practical issues with building an entire city within a single building, Metabolism lived mostly on paper, however a few built examples were executed, the most famous being the Nakagin Capsule Tower.
The Centraal Baheer office building was built by Dutch architect Herman Hertzberger in 1972. Like the Nakagin Capsule Tower, it satisfies many of the aesthetic signifiers commonly attributed to Brutalism: it’s made of reinforced concrete, composed of large geometric massing, and it’s visually heavy. Also like the Nakagin Capsule Tower, it belongs to a different, coexisting architectural movement, primarily developed by the Dutch, called Structuralism. Structuralism is a complex set of architectural ideologies developed in the 1960s and 70s, centered around a few key concepts: the rationalist idea that people’s behavior can be directly changed (or manipulated) via design; designing built structures that correspond in form to social structures; an emphasis on cultural and geographical context; an urbanism and design approach based, like Metabolism, on a biological growth analogy (called Aesthetics of Number); the integration of a variety of uses and programs within the same overall structure; and, finally, the aim to architecturally reconcile the needs of both “high” and “low” culture.
Brutalism, Metabolism, and Structuralism arose from a similar origin, and are ideologically more alike than different, something we will talk about in the next installment of this series.
Brutalism is not a feeling.
But also, it kind of is. It is, as the folks say, “a big mood.” A large reason why buildings are incorrectly labeled Brutalist is because they bring forth a very specific emotional response to architecture shared by many people across the world. Some of the buildings that cause people to feel this complex and nuanced set of emotional and aesthetic reactions are, in fact, Brutalist, but many are not. To me, what this demonstrates, is a broader need for architectural education and discourse that goes beyond the most common system for classifying architecture: stylistic labels.
To talk about this, we’ll bring back Lloyd’s Building, Kahn’s factory and present it alongside a few other examples.
Left to Right: John M Johanson, Stage Center Oklahoma City (1979) Photographer unknown; Yuri Platonov, Russian Academy of Sciences (1968) Photo by Raita (CC BY 2.0); Boris Magasto, Haludovo Hotel, Krk, Croatia (1972) Photographer unknown; Kevin Roche, The Pyramids (1972) Photo by jikatu (CC BY SA 2.0)
All of these buildings (and all of the photographs of these buildings) are very different from one another, and yet, they have all been classified mistakenly as being “Brutalism.” The only real link between them is emotion.
Like many folks in the late aughts/early 2010s, I nurtured my then-juvenile love of architecture through spending hours lurking in the Skyscraper City forums looking at thread after thread of pictures of 20th century architecture. Why? Because those images made me feel powerful emotions that I still find difficult to put into words.
When talking about Brutalism as a feeling, perhaps the closest idea comes from the English philosopher Edmund Burke in his 1756 treatise “A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful”. I am, of course, talking about the sublime. The Burkean sublime is emotionally complex. To quote Burke directly:
“Whatever is fitted in any sort to excite the ideas of pain, and danger, that is to say, whatever is in any sort terrible, or is conversant about terrible objects, or operates in a manner analogous to terror, is a source of the sublime; that is, it is productive of the strongest emotion which the mind is capable of feeling.”
But the sublime isn’t just negative. It overwhelms us with its awesome power and in this moment, “the mind is so entirely filled with its object, that it cannot entertain another.” Burke’s concept of the sublime was initially applied to such things as the ocean or the Alps - natural features that are so large, massive, and inherently dangerous that they put us in a state of awe-inspiring disbelief - and yet, and despite their mass and their danger, they give us feelings of deep pleasure and joy.
To the people (including myself) who love Brutalism - it does engender feelings of unknowing, of mystery, and sometimes, especially when said Brutalist building is in disrepair or photographed at a particularly menacing angle, of fear or grief. It shares this, rather than a stylistic label, with the buildings featured in this post.
Because of Brutalism’s association with the State, such as in the case of the former Soviet Bloc, East Germany, the welfare state in England, or its use in governmental buildings around the world, lingering political sentiments can also contribute to this complex mix of emotions - whether one longs for the halcyon days of eras past or fears them as being domineering or totalitarian. It can also cause people to associate buildings that are not Brutalist with buildings that are because they share a same political history. Similar to how the post-industrial society left behind a trail of industrial ruins along the American Rust Belt, so too has neoliberalism gutted and left for dead the monuments of these modernist utopias.
An actual Brutalist building: Paul Rudolph, Endo Laboratories Headquarters (1964). Photo via Library of Congress
Brutalist or not, these are enigmatic buildings - their forms are strange and unusual, alien even; their contents and even their purposes remain mysterious. Their siting makes them seem either imposing relative to their surroundings or isolated and alone. There is something dark and lonely, sad and longing about them. They are beautiful, partially because of their striking, form-bending architecture, and partially because they once lived different lives in times so unlike ours.
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Copyright Disclaimer: All photographs are used in this post under fair use for the purposes of education, satire, and parody, consistent with 17 USC §107. Manipulated photos are considered derivative work and are Copyright © 2019 McMansion Hell. Please email [email protected] before using these images on another site. (am v chill about this)
#architecture#design#architectural history#brutalism#late modernism#structuralism#metabolism#modern architecture
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Tala, Paphos.
Various Other Taxes As Well As Tax Advantages.
' I Had A Gun Pulled On Me': Travels In Europe's Most Bitterly Divided Island.
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Tala, Paphos.
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Other Taxes As Well As Tax Obligation Benefits.
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How To Buy A House In Abuja – Buying Property In Nigeria - Real Estate and Construction - Nigeria.
Posted: Wed, 09 Dec 2020 08:00:00 GMT [source]
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Rain and Ramen
Jimin x Reader
Genre: Domestic Fluff, Slight Angst
Warnings: mentions of sex
Song: Any rain lo-fi mix on youtube like this one
The water hisses as square-shaped noodles are dropped into the depths of the pot, submerging quickly beneath the bubbles. Jimin tears another package open and peels away the plastic wrapping, tossing it in the general direction of the overflowing trash bin. After deciding there was enough boiling noodles for the two of you, he reaches over to the pitiful portion of counter space tucked between the wall and gas stove top. He picks up a cheap all-in-one spice container and with a flick of his wrist adds a few dashes, licking his thumb at the end.
Across the room you lie against the peeling wallpaper decorated with posters collected from various soon-to-be and never-to-be-known artists alike framing your head and shoulders. Jimin could not understand why you insisted on getting the signatures of each and every musician after their set no matter how late you were forced to stay. You tell him if they ever became famous you could sell them on e-bay to pay next month’s rent.
What if they never go anywhere? He would ask holding on to the pole above your hand, chest pressed to your back, as you took the train home.
Then at least we made them feel like they would. You always respond earning an endearing kiss on the forehead from your husband.
You flip a page in your book, coming to the end of the chapter. You squint under the lamp light that has now become more apparent than what your two windows could offer in the wake of a raging night thunderstorm. Heeding your mother’s warning as a child to never read in the dark, you close the book and roll your neck.
Your eyes naturally find your husband, shirtless at the stove a mere twenty feet in front of you. The muscles in his shoulders contract as he tends to dinner, at times stretching so that the ligaments that define his back accentuate his spine. A pair of dimples right above the waistline of his sweatpants - the same ones he’s worn since college - wink at you from time to time. It never fails to draw a smile to your face, even if Jimin swears to you to just wait another month and he’ll get rid of the love handles.
“These are not love handles, Jimin! You’re skinnier than I am. And even if they were, I’d love you all the same.” You would tell him as your fingertips trace the soft skin peeking between his tee and boxers.
“They are though and I would be fine if I could just get rid of them. How will I scare other men away if I look like the chubby side kick rather than the dashing, strong hero?”
He always pouts and even in the dark you know his cheeks are as round as the dumplings you splurge on every weekend. But telling him you want to bite said cheeks like the delectable side dish would be asking him to take it the wrong way.
So you would resort to loving his body the best way you knew how. By using your wandering fingertips to push his hips over, swinging your leg over his at the same time. With his back pressed into the mattress, he has no where to run, no where to look but up at you. You have his full attention now instead of his self-deprecating thoughts.
Instinctively he lays his palms on your hips. Your hands rest over them.
“Feel these? These are real love handles, Jiminie. You are more than ten pounds away from having them.”
He would pinch your skin, finally seeing your way of things as you talked yourself down the way he did, relenting to your unconditional love and the way your hips roll over his. And every flaw, perceived or real, would be kissed and held and adored as love blossomed between your unified bodies and locked lips.
Jimin turns the stove off as the first thunder clap erupts. The tall narrow window that spared your humble one-room apartment some few hours of daylight rattles with the vibrations of the building. On cue, rain assaults the glass with such ferocity Jimin pauses his actions as you draw your eyes from his body to the sky.
“I really hope the glue holds.” Jimin mutters as he runs his fingertips along the crease of the window frame. Last time, water collected in the bricks of your old building and caused water damage that your landlord found all too easy to pin on you.
“Grab a hand towel to be safe and stuff it in the corners.” You suggest. Jimin hums and takes a spare one to do just that.
As night arrives in full, the room is cast in a yellow haze offered by the odd lamps you two had found at the nearest thrift shop. That was what made up most of your apartment. A unique arrangement of cheap but practical furniture, not one item matching another. Maybe once upon a time in high school you had created a dozen Pinterest boards of your aesthetically pleasing home. But now, in reality, you had grown to love the story of the life you and Jimin had created together in this hole-in-the-wall home.
“Chopsticks or fork?” Jimin’s soft voice, subdued with a long day’s fatigue, breaks your constant reminiscing. You spot him holding a bowl in hand, the other resting in the single drawer holding plastic take out utensils available.
“Chopsticks.” You answer, pulling your legs from the tangle of blanket and sheets they had become intertwined with, resetting the bed that acted as the main function of your home.
He rolls his eyes. “You don’t know how to use chopsticks.”
“I do too! And if that was true, then why did you ask me?” You retort, playing along to the nightly argument so routine it felt like saying prayer before dinner.
“Because if I don’t you’ll get mad at me for assuming you wanted a fork.” Jimin scoffs, grabbing two pairs of chopsticks despite his own opinion.
“I do not-”
“Or you’ll just steal mine so you can prove to me how much of a mess you make.”
You grin unabashedly but do your best to look horrified by his accusation.
“You’re lucky I love you, Park Jimin.” You accept the bowl and the kiss he leaves on your lips.
“You’re the lucky one.” Jimin yelps at the swat to his butt as he returns to the stove for his own serving.
You set up your laptop, signing in and opening Netflix to find the TV show Jimin and you binged every night like a true married couple. There weren’t many things you guys could afford, but having the small luxury of escaping reality and daydream of another life with the one you love was a price you were willing to subtract for a sense of sanity. In this case, however, it was daydreaming an affordable home in the suburbs. As such, you were in the middle of season two of House Hunters.
Once everything is settled, Jimin sits crossed-leg beside you, his knee brushing yours and thigh keeping your skin warm. As always, you exchange comments between slurps of noodles, sometimes agreeing and other times arguing over the characters’ choices in the story.
During such an argument you go in for a mouthful of noodles without paying attention. What little noodles you manage to grab splash onto your legs, leaving yellow residue and the sting of failure on your skin.
“Jimin…” You stare at the screen ahead of you, not giving him the satisfaction of seeing your guilty expression.
“‘Ere you go, baby.” He pulls out a fork from seemingly no where and having to spare a glance at him to take it, you see he’s doing his best not to smirk but failing triumphantly.
“I ate half my bowl!” You protest as he reaches over with a napkin again from thin air to wipe down your legs as you hold the bowl over his head. ‘I told you so’ glitters in his eyes as clear as day. But being the sweetheart he is, he says nothing. Even if his shoulders shake with internal laughter. He leaves a kiss on your thigh and tosses away the napkin. Then shovels another pile of ramen between his swollen lips.
The rain grows steady, causing you to turn up the volume on your laptop. Finished with his bowl, Jimin sets it on the nightstand and maneuvers your body against him, careful of your hot soup but wrapped up in you all the same. His breath smells heavily of ramen, hot against your neck, but you have no desire to move him, indulging in his mouth leaving little affectionate sucks and kisses from time to time.
As you finish your bowl he takes it for you, setting it with his to be washed later. He turns your chin for another kiss, hands falling to your stomach to rest comfortably. Your hands settle over his, picking at the hangnails on each finger nail. Then tracing the wedding band that clicks against yours every so often.
The episode ends and the rain has quieted to a steady hum. The paper thin walls of your apartment remain standing, although the edges of the wood paneling round your window frame look a bit warped.
“It’ll dry.” Jimin says against your temple, knowing you worry about the landlord finding any and every reason to accuse you of damages in order to take what little savings Jimin and you had saved since graduating college.
“I hope so.”
“You know so.” He squeezes you making you grunt in warning from a full belly. Jimin releases your body and rolls out of bed, ignoring your whines so he can set the dishes in the sink.
You put the laptop away and spread-eagle out on the bed as Jimin turns out each lamp around the room before stepping into the bathroom to brush his teeth.
“Babe, come brush your teeth!” He mumbles with a mouth full of toothpaste.
“No, I’ll do it in the morning.” you whine, rolling under the covers.
You hear Jimin spit into the sink and rinse it down. Shutting off the light he returns, joining you under the covers.
“You’re gross.” He states. You hum, wiggling closer to him and finding your favorite place, face tucked into his neck and leg slotted between his heated thighs. Warm palms resiliently soft after years of blue collar jobs run down your shirt - well, really his shirt from work today - and back up against your skin. Goosebumps dance down your spine and a shiver pushes you closer into Jimin’s heat. He unclips your bra and convinces you to sit up long enough to slide it off. He’s more concerned than you are about the rumors of bra-sleeping health issues but you’re just thankful to breathe easier without it.
You hum a thanks, offering your lips in a goodnight kiss which he takes no matter what he says. Your hands run up and down his chest, one settling between your heartbeats, the other drapes over his neck. The blanket shifts as he adjusts to a better position and sighs.
The steady beat of rain offers a lullaby and you fall asleep in no time. Jimin can feel the steady exhale of warmth against his pectoral. Even if he wakes up in the morning with drool dried down to his stomach, he doesn’t care, pulling you all the more closer as he plays with the ends of your hair. It helps him fall asleep, twirling it around his fingertips, brushing against his palm and offering the scent of home to him. Sometimes it’ll be tucked away, and even still, Jimin will wait until your sound asleep to find a stray to untuck and twirl again and again. It’s not unusual for you to wake up with Jimin’s hand tangled in your hair forcing you to gently extract his fingers with your head bent at odd angles in order to not wake him up.
Jimin is not particularly proud of the place you two presently call home. The building creaks, the room is claustrophobic, and as his wife, you deserve a home where you’re allowed to paint the walls whatever color you like. Bills, unpaid and overdue constantly occupy him. It seems no matter how many hours you pick up or jobs he fits into the week there’s still not enough to give you everything you want. Jimin sighs and bites his lip.
Everything I want for you. He corrects, knowing that the decision to move into a low-income house was part of the plan you both agreed to. In fact, you had suggested it in order to be able to attack those student loans first. Yet Jimin wanted more for the both of you. He wanted you to decorate room after room of a beautiful house that the two of you would grow old together in. He wanted a safe neighborhood in case you wanted kids - or even pets.
He wanted a stable job, a lifelong career he could take joy in and also provide for his wife with. You assured him every day that a future like that awaited you. He just needed to be patient. But how long could you put up with this? How long before your father’s advice crept back in and reminded you how marrying Jimin so young was unwise.
Then again, how could he forget the way you fought for him in front of your entire family at Thanksgiving? - and won them over. How could he forget the excitement in your eyes as he told you his dreams of dancing and telling stories with every fiber of his being. You were nearly pushing him into the dance academy’s administration office. How could he forget the way you made the best of every situation as if it wasn’t your current lifestyle but a game of pretend?
“It’s just for now. Not always.” The words have become your mantra. Even if all the worries of living a comfortable life plagued Jimin every day, he was thankful that he was here with you. He would never regret proposing to you. He would cherish the nights falling asleep next to you in this tiny little room. No matter how many nights there would be.
#jimin x reader#jimin x y/n#bts#jimin scenarios#jimin fluff#jimin one shot fluff#jimin one shot#jimin imagine fluff#jimin imagine#bts park jimin#bts one shots#bts scenarios#bts angst#jimin angst
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Review on Applications of Genetic Engineering And Cloning in Farm animals-Juniper Publishers
JUNIPER PUBLISHERS-OPEN ACCESS JOURNAL OF DAIRY & VETERINARY SCIENCES
Abstract
Genetic engineering involves producing transgenic animal’s models by using different techniques such as exogenous pronuclear DNA microinjection in zygotes, injection of genetically modified embryonic stem cells into blastocysts and retrovirus mediated gene transfer. It is highly applicable and crucial technology which involves increasing animal production and productivity, increases animal disease resistance and biomedical application. Cloning involves the production of animals that are genetically identical to the donor nucleus. The most commonly applied and recent technique is somatic cell nuclear transfer in which the nucleus from body cell is transferred to an egg cell to create an embryo that is virtually identical to the donor nucleus. There are different applications of cloning which includes: rapid multiplication of desired livestock, animal conservation and research model. However, at present it is an inefficient process due to parturition difficulties, placental abnormalities and post-natal viabilities. Beside to this Food safety, animal welfare, public and social acceptance and religious institutions are the most common challenges for the development of this technology. In developing country including Ethiopia the science is not yet conceived and the concerned body should pay great attention to such valuable aspects of biotechnological advancements.
Keywords: Cloning; Genetic engineering; Nuclear transfer; Transgenic animal; Animal welfare
Abbreviations: DNA: Deoxy ribose Nucleic Acid; SCNT: Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer; ES: Embryonic stem; EGF: Epidermal Growth factor; TGF: Transforming Growth Factor; MMA: Mastitis Metritis Agalactia; NT: Nuclear Transfer; FDA: Food and Drug Administration; MAS: Marker-Assisted Selection; MHC: Major Histocompatibility Complex
Introduction
Biotechnology has contributed to the genetic improvement of farm animals for decades, through artificial insemination and embryo transfers. The advent of modern biotechnology provides new avenues for genetic improvement in the production of farm animals. During the past decades, however, the term biotechnology has come to be associated more with molecular- based technologies, such as gene cloning and genetic engineering [1]. Now a days, biotechnology typically genetic engineering and cloning play an important role on both basic and applied research becoming an essential tool for the understanding of the biology and development of animal biotechnology. Such technology presents a wide range of applications, such as the production of biopharmaceuticals, studies on gene expression and its regulation, the improvement of animal production, production of herds resistant to specific diseases and many other biomedical and medical purposes [2].
Through the biotechnology of gene therapy, scientists are making efforts at curing genetic diseases by attempting to replace defective genes with the correct version and also used to produce more effective and efficient vaccines, therapeutic antibodies, antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals. There are more than 370 drug products and vaccines obtained through biotechnology currently in clinical trials, targeting more than 200 diseases including various cancers, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and arthritis [3].
A genetically engineered or transgenic animal is an animal that carries a known sequence of recombinant Deoxy ribose Nucleic Acid (DNA) in its cells, and which passes that DNA onto its offspring [4]. Recombinant DNA refers to DNA fragments that have been joined together in a laboratory. The resultant recombinant DNA construct is usually designed to express the proteins that are encoded by the genes included in the construct, when present in the genome of a transgenic animal. Because the genetic code for all organisms is made up of the same four nucleotide building blocks, this means that a gene makes the same protein whether it is made in an animal, a plant or a microbe. Proteins that have been expressed in transgenic animals include therapeutic proteins for the treatment of human diseases [5]; proteins that enable animals to better resist disease and proteins that result in the production of more healthful animal products (milk, eggs or meat) for consumers [6].
Cloning refers to producing genetically identical individual to donor cells and copying gene, which involves the creation of an animal or individual that derives its genes from a single other individual; it is also referred as asexual reproduction [7]. Cloned offspring in human and farm animals sometimes produced in nature when early embryo splits in to two (or sometime, more) species of just a few days after fertilization, before the cells have become too specialized. However, there are a number of artificial methods to produce genetically identical mammals. Of these, the nuclear cloning technology is considered to have the greatest potential application for animal agriculture and medicine [8].
Scientists have been attempting to clone animals through nuclear transfer of somatic cell (SCNT) for several decades. SCNT is an efficient way to create herds of genetically modified cloned animals, preservation of endangered species, production of human therapeutic proteins in genetically modified clone animals, use of genetically modified cloned animals as a source of organs for human transplantation, gaining a better understanding of cellular differentiation and reprogramming capabilities that could be the basis for human cellular therapies, and better models to study new treatments for human disease. However, SCNT cloning thus far has been very inefficient process and cloned animals have exhibited serious health problems [9].
The genetic engineering of animals has increased significantly in recent years, and the use of this technology brings with it ethical issues, some of which relate to animal welfare defined by the World Organization for Animal Health [10]. It is important to try to reflect societal values within scientific practice and emerging technology, especially publicly funded efforts that aim to provide societal benefits, but that may be deemed ethically contentious [11]. Even though, genetic engineering and cloning are interesting sciences with wide range of application, they have also some uncertainties and challenges and further investigation are needed to develop the technology. Therefore the objectives of this seminar paper area follow
• To review the application of genetic engineering and cloning,
• To highlight the concepts, techniques and challenges of genetic engineering and cloning.
Literature Review
Review History of genetic engineering and cloning time line
Genetic modification caused by human activity has been occurring since around 12,000 BC, when humans first began to domesticate organisms. Genetic engineering is the direct manipulation of an organism’s genome using certain biotechnology techniques that have only existed since the 1970s. Genetic engineering as the direct transfer of DNA from one organism to another was first accomplished by Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen in 1973 [12].
Human directed genetic manipulation was occurring much earlier, beginning with the domestication of plants and animals through artificial selection. The dog is believed to be the first animal domesticated, possibly arising from a common ancestor of the wolf. The first genetically modified animal was a mouse created in 1973 by Rudolf Jahnish [12]. Cloning research has been underway since the 1890s.The first animal cloning research was an attempt to produce identical organisms by splitting animal embryos at early stages of development. Work continued in the field of animal cloning and in 1952 the nuclear transfer procedure was invented. Work with nuclear transfer resulted in the successful cloning of many species from embryonic nuclei. In the 1980’s, nuclear transfer was used to clone cattle and sheep using cells taken directly from early embryos [13].
In 1995, living lambs, named Megan and Morag, were created for the first time from cultured cells. However, prior to 1997 the word clone conjured up images of creatures from Jurassic Park or other works of science fiction in the minds of most people. In July of 1996, Scottish scientists created the first animal cloned from an adult cell. On July 5, 1996, Dolly the sheep was born at the Rollin Institute in Edinburgh Scotland. The announcement of her birth in early 1997 shocked the scientific community and stirred debate over the possibility of cloning humans [14]. A process known as cell nuclear replacement created Dolly by transferring a mammary cell of a six-year-old white Welsh Mountain sheep into the egg cell of a Scottish blackface ewe. Since Dolly's birth, several other species have successfully been cloned including: mice, cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, rabbits and a cat [15] (Table 1).
Genetic engineering (transgenic animal) model
Genetic engineering is the name of a group of techniques used for direct genetic modification of organisms or population of organisms using recombination of DNA. These procedures are of use to identify, replicate, modify and transfer the genetic material of cells, tissues or complete organisms. Most techniques are related to the direct manipulation of DNA oriented to the expression of particular genes [16].
In a broader sense, genetic engineering involves the incorporation of DNA markers for selection (marker-assisted selection, MAS), to increase the efficiency of the so called traditional methods of breeding based on phenotypic information [17]. Transgenic animals can be created to gain knowledge of gene function and further decipher the genetic code, study gene control in complex organisms, build genetic disease models, improve animal production traits, and produce new animal products [18].
Technique of genetic engineering
Exogenous pronuclear DNA microinjection in zygotes:
Micro-injection is the first successful approach for the creation of transgenic animals based on the injection of a foreign DNA construct into a fertilized oocyte. The construct integrates randomly into the host oocyte genome, subsequently the zygote continues embryonic development and the embryo is transferred to a foster mother and eventually develops to a transgenic animal. However, this method has strong limitations: on average, less than 1% of embryos injected and 10% of animals born are transgenic, genes can only be added, not replaced or deleted, and multiple copies of the transgene are inserted at random, hindering the correct regulation of gene expression and possibly interfering with endogenous gene function. This requires large amounts of oocytes to be injected, as the overall efficiency of the process is very low [19].
Injection of genetically modified embryonic stem (ES) cells into blastocysts
Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos at a very early stage (the blastula), and possess the important characteristic of pluripotency. Pluripotency is the ability of these cells to differentiate to any of the cell types and tissues found in the adult organism. Embryonic stem cells can be grown in culture for many passages and can be subjected to transformation with transgene constructs, resulting in modifications of their genome. The constructs used not only permit the selection of successfully transformed cells, but also allow gene targeting to be accomplished. Thus, genes can be specifically introduced, replaced or deleted (so-called knock-ins and knock-outs) [20].
Injection of genetically modified embryonic stem (ES) cells into blastocysts, mainly through the feature of gene targeting, allows a broad variety of genetic modifications to be introduced. For many years, several laboratories worldwide have tried to produce ES cells from farm animals, and although some success has been claimed, no robust and reproducible method has been published. Indeed, even in mice the production of ES cells is a costly and labor-intensive technology [18].
Retrovirus mediated gene transfer
Transgenesis may also be accomplished by employing virus- derived vectors, namely vectors based on the retrovirus-class of lenti viruses [21]. Genes that are essential for viral replication are deleted from the viral genome, maintaining only the capacity for integration of the viral genome into the host genome. The parts of the viral genes can replaced by the transgene of interest, then Viruses carrying the modified gene are produced in-vitro and subsequently injected into the perivitelline space of the zygote, resulting in infection of the zygote and integration of the viral genome into the host genome. Transgenesis rates reaching up to 100% of injected embryos have been described [22].
Major drawbacks of this method are a limited transgene size and random transgene integration. Random and possibly multiple transgene integration may lead to position effects, disturbance of the host genome and dose effects, as is the case with pronuclear injection. Solving these problems holds great promise for the further development and application of lentiviral vectors [22].
Uses of animal genetic engineering
Increase animal disease resistance
Genetic engineering of agricultural animals has the potential to improve disease resistance by introducing specific genes into livestock. Identification of single genes in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which influence the immune response, was instrumental in the recognition of the genetic basis of disease resistance/susceptibility [23]. The application of transgenic technology to specific aspects of the immune system should provide opportunities to genetically engineer livestock that are healthier and have superior disease resistance. One specific example where transgenesis has been applied to disease resistance in livestock is the attempt to produce cattle resistant to mastitis. Lysostaphin is an antimicrobial peptide that protects mammary glands against Staphylococcus aurous infection by killing the bacteria in a dose-dependent manner. Transgenic dairy cows that secrete lysostaphin into their milk have been produced to address the mastitis issue. The application of nuclear transfer technology, or cloning, will enable the augmentation of beneficial alleles and/or the removal (via gene knock-out) of undesirable alleles associated with disease resistance or susceptibility. By knocking-out the intestinal receptor for the K88 antigen lead to the absence of this antigen has been shown to confer resistance to infection of K88-positive E. coli [24].
Enhance growth and meat trait
Altering the fat or cholesterol composition of the carcass is valuable benefit that can be delivered via genetic engineering. By changing the metabolism or uptake of cholesterol and/ or fatty acids, the content of fat and cholesterol of meats, eggs and cheeses could be lowered. There is also the possibility of introducing beneficial fats such as the omega-3 fatty lipoprotein receptor gene and hormones like leptin are also potential targets that would decrease fat and cholesterol in animal products [6].
The use of genetic engineering to improve feed efficiency and/or appetite could profoundly impact livestock production and deliver significant benefits to producers, processors, and consumers. Increased uptake of nutrients in the digestive tract, by alteration of the enzyme profiles in the gut, could increase feed efficiency. The ability to introduce enzymes such as Phytase or xylanase into the gut of species where they are not normally present, such as swine or poultry, is particularly attractive [25].
The introduction of phytase would increase the bioavailability of phosphorus from phytic acid in corn and soy products. Golovan and his colleagues reported that the production of transgenic pigs expressing salivary phytase as early as seven days of age. The salivary phytase provided essentially complete digestion of the dietary phytate phosphorus in addition to reducing phosphorus output in waste by up to 75%. Furthermore, transgenic pigs required almost no inorganic phosphorus supplementation to the diet to achieve normal growth. The use of phytase transgenic pigs in commercial pork production could result in significantly decreased environmental phosphorus pollution from livestock operations [25].
Improve wool production
The control of the quality, color, yield and ease of harvest of hair, wool and fiber for fabric and yarn production has been an area of focus for genetic engineering in livestock. The manipulation of the quality, length, fineness and crimp of the wool and hair fiber from sheep and goats has been examined using transgenic methods. Transgenic methods also allow improvements to fiber elasticity, surface and strength. Decreasing the surface interactions between fibers could decrease shrinkage of garments made from such fibers [26].
Desired milk yield and composition
Advances in recombinant DNA technology have provided the opportunity either to improve the composition of milk or to produce entirely novel proteins in milk. These changes may add value to, as well as increase, the potential uses of milk. The improvement of livestock growth or survivability through the modification of milk composition requires production of genetically engineered animals that:
1) Produce a greater quantity of milk,
2) Produce milk of higher nutrient protein content. The major nutrients in milk are protein, fat and lactose.
Elevation of these components can improve growth and health of the developing offspring that consumer the enhanced milk [27].
Changing milk composition may improve animal growth is the addition or supplementation of beneficial naturally occurring hormones, growth factors or bioactive factors to the milk through the use of genetic engineering. It has been suggested that bioactive substances in milk possess important functions in the neonate with regard to regulation of growth, development and maturation of the gut, immune system and endocrine organs [28]. Transgenic alteration of milk composition has the potential to enhance the production of certain proteins and/or growth factors that are deficient in milk. The increased expression of a number of these proteins in milk may improve growth, development, health and survivability of the developing offspring. Some of these factors are insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor (TGF) and lactoferrin [29].
The properties’ of milk that bear consideration for modification are those that affect human and animal health. It has been shown that specific antibodies can be produced in genetically engineered animals. It is possible to produce antibodies in the mammary gland that are capable of preventing mastitis in cattle, sheep and goats and mastitis metritis agalactia (MMA) in pigs, and/or antibodies that aid in the prevention of domestic animal or human diseases. Other role is to increase proteins that have physiological roles within the mammary gland itself such as lactalbumin, lysozyme, lysostaphin or other antimicrobial peptides.
It is important to consider the use of transgenics to increase specific components, which are already present in milk for manufacturing purposes. An example might be to increase one of the casein components in milk. This could increase the value of milk in manufacturing processes such as production of cheese or yogurt. One might also alter the physical properties of a protein such as casein [30].
Human cell-based therapies
Direct applications of Nuclear Transfer (NT) technology in human therapies, principally therapeutic cloning as opposed to human reproductive cloning [31]. Patients with diseases or disorders in tissues like insulin-dependent diabetes, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury, certain cancers and various neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease could potentially generate their own immunologically compatible cells for transplantation, which would offer lifelong treatment without tissue rejection [32]. Initially, this approach could employ human NT and embryonic stem cells but, the use of this technique in human is controversial. In the longer term, however, fundamental understanding of reprogramming will enable one cell type to be directly trans-differentiated into another cell type specifically required for cell-based therapy [33].
One major application of animal transgenesis is the production of pharmaceutical products, also known as animal pharming. Since many human proteins cannot be produced in microorganisms and production in cell culture is often laborintensive with low yields, the production of biopharmaceuticals in transgenic animal bioreactors is an attractive alternative [34]. Many human proteins cannot be produced in micro-organisms, since they lack post-translational modification mechanisms that are essential for the correct function of many human proteins. Pharmaceutical proteins or other compounds can be produced in a variety of body fluids, including milk, urine, blood, saliva, chicken egg white and seminal fluid, depending on the use of tissue-specific promoters [35].
Protein based drug
Protein-based drugs differ from protein products synthesized in the blood in that they are produced in-vivo by other organs. This technology is even being applied to the development of complex proteins such as monoclonal antibodies as well as many other important human replacement proteins and protein drugs such as polyclonal antibodies and plasminogen activator [3]. Researchers recently created a line of transgenic swine that produce recombinant human erythropoietin a naturally occurring human hormone that boosts the body’s production of red blood cells. The transgenic swine produced the hormone in their milk through a potentially more efficient and lower cost process than traditional methods patients with diseased kidneys no longer able to produce the protein, as well as cancer patients being treated with chemotherapy who develop anemia as a consequence of bone marrow depletion from their cancer drug regimens. Erythropoetin-based drugs are some of the most widely used protein-based drugs, and are expensive to manufacture [36].
Xenotransplantation
Xenotransplantation is the transplantation of organs or cells from one species to another. Human to human transplantation are sometimes difficult due to scarcity of donor organ. Pig is considered the preferred candidate for xenotransplantation because of physiological compatibility and breeding characteristics. Large numbers of pathogen free pigs can be raised to provide organs for transplantation in to humans [37]. However, one of the problems associated with using pig organs for xenotransplantation is that the immune system of the human recipient attacks the transplanted organ, causing transplant rejection. Pigs naturally produce a sugar, called a1, 3-galactosyltransferase (aGalT) on the surface of their cells, which the human immune system recognizes as foreign [38]. The human immune system then forms antibodies to attack the cells which produce that sugar, resulting in tissue rejection. Through the use of genetic engineering and cloning, scientists have created pigs which are deficient for aGalT and do not produce it on the surface of their cells. Transfer of these genetically engineered tissues and organs into baboon recipients has increased the length of time before the organs are rejected by the recipient’s immune system.
Techniques of cloning
Cloning is a powerful technique by producing genetically identical individuals and potentially it could be used for multiplication of elite animals and minimizes the genetic variation in experimental animals. It can be used for the conservation as well as propagation of endangered species. It may be used also as a tool for the production of stem cells for therapeutic purposes, as therapeutic cloning. Cloning using somatic cells offers opportunities to select and multiply animals of specific merits. Cloned offspring in humans and animals are sometimes produced in nature when the early embryo splits in two (or sometimes, more) pieces just a few days after fertilization, before the cells have become too specialized. However, there are also a number of artificial methods to produce genetically identical mammals. Of these, the nuclear cloning methodology is considered to have the greatest potential application for animal agriculture and medicine [8].
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT)
The transfer of a cell nucleus from a body cell into an egg from which the chromosomes have been removed or inactivated; is method used for cloning of organisms. Once the genome transferred with the egg cell then one cell embryo is created and the process of cloning is completed and further development of the clone can occur [39] (Figure 1).
Embryo splitting (embryo twining)
Embryo splitting may be considered the first true cloning procedure involving human intervention, and was first described by Willesden and Polge in 1981, when monozygotic twin calves were produced. Embryo splitting or the mechanical separation of cells can be used in very early embryos. Two-cell embryos derived from either in vitro fertilization or embryo rescue following in vivo fertilization are held in place with micropipettes under a microscope.
The zonapellucida (the clear layer of protein surrounding the oocyte and fertilized ovum) of these embryos is opened, and the two-celled embryo is then split into individual cells with a finely drawn needle or pipette. One of the cells is left in the original zonapellucida and the other is either placed into an empty zonapellucida or allowed to develop without a zonapellucida. These so-called demi-embryos can be cultured in vitro for a few days, inspected for appropriate growth and then transferred directly to synchronized recipient dams or frozen for future use (Figure 2).
Application of cloning
Rapid multiplication of desired livestock: Cloning could enable the rapid dissemination of superior genotypes from nucleus breeding flocks and herds, directly to commercial farmers. Genotypes could be provided that are ideally suited for specific product characteristics, disease resistance, or environmental conditions. Cloning could be extremely useful in multiplying outstanding F1 crossbred animals, or composite breeds, to maximize the benefits of both heterosis and potential uniformity within the colonal family [8]. These genetic gains could be achieved through the controlled release of selected lines of elite live animals or cloned embryos. More appropriately, given that cloning is not particularly efficient at present: a niche opportunity exists in the production of small numbers of cloned animals with superior genetics for breeding. These could be clones of performance tested animals, especially sires. This would be particularly relevant in the sheep and beef industries, where cloned sires could be used in widespread natural mating to provide an effective means of disseminating their superior genetics. This could be used as a substitute for artificial insemination, which in these more extensive industries is often expensive and inconvenient [40].
Animal conservation: Cloning can be used along with other forms of assisted reproduction to help preserve indigenous breeds of livestock, which have production traits and adaptability to local environments that should not be lost from the global gene pool. In some situations, inter-species NT and embryo transfer may be used to aid the conservation of some exotic species. At the very least, it is appropriate to consider the cryopreservation of somatic cells from these endangered animals as insurance against further Research model losses in diversity. Cryobanking of somatic cells from rare and endangered birds and animals against further losses of diversity or possible extinction of Wildlife to preserve endangered indigenous breeds of livestock adapted to particular environments [41].
Research model
Sets of cloned animals could be effectively used to reduce genetic variability and reduce the numbers of animals needed for some experimental studies. This could be conducted on a larger scale than is currently possible with naturally occurring genetically identical twins [42]. Lambs cloned from sheep selected either for resistance or susceptibility to nematode worms will be useful in studies aimed at discovering novel genes and regulatory pathways in immunology [43].
Problems and prospects of animal cloning
Placental abnormalities: A failure of the placenta to develop and function correctly is a common feature amongst clones. The majority of early pregnancy failures, before placentome formation, are attributed to an inadequate transition from yolk sac to allantoic-derived nutrition, with poor allantoic vascularisation in sheep [44]. Furthermore, there is reported evidence of immunological rejection contributing to early embryonic loss. Typically in cattle, 50% to 70% of pregnancies at day 50 are lost throughout the remainder of gestation and up to term. This is in stark contrast to only 0% to 5% loss with artificial insemination or natural mating over the same period. In extreme cases, placentomes are entirely absent at day 50. Shortly thereafter, these pregnancies fail. More commonly, cloned placentae only have half the normal number of placentomes, display compensatory overgrowth and are oedematous. Of particular concern are the losses in the second half of gestation; especially the occurrence of hydroallantois, i.e. the excess accumulation of fluid within the allantoises [45].
Post-natal viability: The viability of cloned offspring at delivery and up to weaning is reduced compared to normal, and this is despite greater than usual veterinary care. Data from our group shows that around 80% of cloned calves delivered at term are alive after 24hours [46]. Two-thirds of the mortality within this period is due to a spinal fracture syndrome through the cranial epiphyseal plate of the first lumbar vertebrae or to deaths that occurred either in utero or from dystocia. Surviving newborn clones have altered neonatal metabolism and physiology, possibly due to placental abnormalities, and it takes time for these processes to adjust to normal [47].
At Agriculture Research, typically an additional 15% of calves initially born alive die before weaning. In our experience, the most common mortality factors during this period are gastroenteritis and umbilical infections. Other abnormalities noted include defects in the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and neurological systems, as well as susceptibility to lung infections and digestive disorders. Hydronephrosis is particularly common in sheep, with correspondingly elevated serum urea levels in some surviving clones.
Parturition difficulties: Intervention is often deemed necessary to deliver cloned offspring, as intervention gestation length in NT pregnancies is typically prolonged and the birth weight of cloned calves may be 25% heavier than normal. Newborn cloned calves display adrenal glands, so this extended gestation may be due to failure of the placentae to respond to foetal cortisol near term or to a lack of adreno corticotropic hormone release from the foetus. Oversized cloned offspring add to the birth complications. They are larger than artificially inseminated or naturally-mated controls. It has been reported that somatic cloned calves are heavier than embryonic clones. At Agriculture Research, the occurrence of prolonged gestation and the risk of dystocia initially prompted the delivery of clones by elective caesarean-section, following a brief exposure to exogenous corticosteroids.
Public opinion and food safety to genetically engineered and cloned animal: Public opinion against cloning is apparent throughout the world. According to The Euro Barometer poll conducted in 2008, 84% of European Union citizens feel that the long-term effects of animal cloning on nature were unknown. The same poll also revealed that 61% European Union citizens of citizens believe the cloning of animals to be morally wrong (The Gallup Organization, 2008). A2005 Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology poll found that two-thirds of United States consumers indicated that they are uncomfortable with animal cloning in general. An earlier Gallup poll reportedly found that two-thirds considered animal cloning morally wrong [48].
Cloning has given rise to a massive ethical debate, including reports by bioethics committees and many books and articles. There are few enthusiastic advocates of cloning, but a number of bioethicists have tried to show that popular responses and even the more sophisticated philosophical arguments against cloning are naïve, and cannot be sustained. These commentators have argued that people's opposition to cloning is a Yuk reaction, which cannot stand up to reasoned argument. In a similar, defensive way, liberals have argued that while cloning may not be very desirable, it should not stop other people from doing it, because that would interfere with freedom [49].
The composition of food products derived from clones have found that they have the same composition as milk or meat from conventionally-produced animals [50]. Milk and meat from clones produced by embryo splitting and nuclear transfer of embryonic cells have been entering the human food supply for over 20 years with no evidence of problems. However, in 2001, the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that it should undertake a comprehensive risk assessment to identify hazards and characterize food consumption risks that may result from Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) animal clones and therefore asked companies not to introduce these cloned animals, their progeny, or their food products (milk or meat) into the human or animal food supply. As there is no fundamental reason to suspect that clones will produce novel toxins or allergens, the main underlying food safety concern was whether the Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) cloning process results in subtle changes in the composition of animal food products [43].
Although the amount of data describing the health of the progeny of clones is more limited than the amount describing the health of animal clones themselves, there is an underlying biological assumption behind the predicted health and resultant food safety of the sexually-produced progeny of clones. The genetic remodeling process that occurs during gametogenesis (i.e. the production of eggs and sperm), is thought to naturally reset any epigenetic anomalies that might result from the cloning process. Sexual reproduction effectively corrects any programming errors that may have been introduced into the cloned parent’s DNA, thereby resulting in the production of normal gametes and offspring. This assumption is supported by a study in mice where it has been observed that abnormalities present in cloned mice are not passed on to their sexually- derived progeny. In addition, observations on the relatively small number of progeny of bovine and swine clones that have been born support the premise of normal development [51].
Ethical issue of genetic engineering and cloning in respect to animal welfare
Some scientific, governmental and religious organizations oppose reproductive cloning since serious ethical concerns have been raised by the future possibility of harvesting organs from clones [51]. The majority of religious organizations distinguish between reproductive and therapeutic cloning. Since cloning is an unnatural born of an individual, no one has the right to undertake it except God. Many embryos develop abnormally and die in utero, while others may be infertile or born with developmental defects, some of which are attributable to these so-called insertional problems [52]. Still other health issues may not become apparent until later in life. Transgenic animals often exhibit variable or uncontrolled expression of the inserted gene, resulting in illness and death [53]. In one study, ten transgenic piglets were followed from birth through puberty. Half of the animals died or had to be euthanized due to severe health problems during the investigation, indicating a high mortality rate among genetically engineered piglets. In addition, three of the surviving piglets showed decreased cardiac output [54].
The genetic modification of sheep containing an extra copy of a growth hormone gene resulted in animals who reportedly grew faster, leaner, and larger than those conventionally bred; produced more wool; or produced milk for prolonged periods. Developing more economically profitable sheep reportedly resulted in negative welfare side effects from the excess growth hormone, including increased incidences of diabetes and susceptibility to parasites [55]. Cloning research also reveals abnormalities and high failure rates, problems widely acknowledged by scientists in the field and potentially indicative of poor animal welfare [56]. Seemingly healthy bioengineered animals are at risk for a variety of defects. All cloned babies have some sort of error. The list of problems from which clones have suffered is extensive, including diabetes, enlarged tongues, malformed faces, intestinal blockages, shortened tendons, deformed feet, weakened immune systems, respiratory distress, circulatory problems, and dysfunctional hearts, brains, livers, and kidneys.
Future perspectives of transgenesis
The techniques for obtaining transgenic animals in species of agricultural interest are still inefficient. Some approaches that may overcome this problem are based on cloning techniques. Using these techniques it is feasible to reduce to less than 50% the number of embryo receptor females, which is one of the most important economic limiting factor in domestic species. It would also facilitate the further proliferation of transgenic animals. Recent results relate these techniques with still low success rates [57], high rates of perinatal mortality and variable transgenic expression that requires to be evaluated before generalizing their application. Considerable effort and time is required to propagate the transgenic animal genetics into commercial dairy herds. Rapid dissemination of the genetics of the parental animals by nuclear transfer could result in the generation of mini herds in two to three years. However, the existing inefficiencies in nuclear transfer make this a difficult undertaking. It is noteworthy that the genetic merit of the 'cloned’ animals can be fixed, while continuous genetic improvements is introduced in commercial herds by using artificial insemination breeding programs [58].
In an alternative scenario of herd expansion, semen homozygous for the transgene may be available in four to five years. Extensive breeding programs will be critical in studying the interaction and co-adaptation of the transgene(s), with the background polygenes controlling milk production and composition. Controlling inbreeding and confirming the absence of deleterious traits so that the immediate genetic variability introduced by transgenesis is transformed into the greatest possible genetic progress is equally critical.
Cloning in Africa
The first healthy cloned calf in South Africa in 2003 was successful called Futhi [59]. It is African's first cloned (nuclear transferred) healthy calf, produced with handmade cloning. In situations regarding our country, there is no any reliable research conducted on genetic engineering and cloning. It is also difficult to perform or apply the technology not only because of technological insufficiency and financial limitation but also lack of skill and knowledge [60-62].
Conclusion and Recommendation
Genetic engineering is the processes of producing genetically modified animals by using different techniques such as exogenous pronuclear DNA microinjection in zygotes, injection of genetically modified embryonic stem cells into blastocysts and retrovirus mediated gene transfer. It has advanced application in various sectors including increased animal production and productivity, increase animal disease resistance and biomedical application. Cloning is the process of producing genetically identical individual to the donor cells by using different techniques such as somatic cell nuclear transfer and embryo splitting [63-65]. It has various applications such as rapid multiplication of desired livestock, animal conservation and research model [66,67]. Even if, transgenic and cloned animals have wide range application and the science is very interesting and valuable, many challenges from the food safety, animal welfare, public and social acceptance points of view, socio-cultural and religious obstacles and technical inefficiency are headache for the technology [68].
In most of developing country including Ethiopia have no attempt of animal genetic engineering and cloning which could be attributed to lack of knowledge and skill, technological insufficiency as well as financial limitation. Therefore; based on the above conclusion the following recommendations are forwarded:
a. Further study and research are needed to be conducted to improve the techniques and increase the successes rate of genetic engineering and cloning.
b. Much work is to be done on creating public awareness on genetic engineering and animal cloning to avert the sociocultural and religious problems facing this technological advancement.
c. Veterinarian should acquire basic knowledge about the application and techniques of animal genetic engineering and cloning and this should be part of the academic curriculum.
d. Concerned organizations/institution in developing country including Ethiopia should be involved in technology transfer researches and make use of the advantages of animal genetic engineering and cloning.
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Tobirama prides himself in being smart.
It doesn't take too long for him to notice things - he grows up realising that he will never be the brother that matters. It is a horrible thing to grow up with, many would say so, but Tobirama likes to think of himself as an opportunist. His father's infatuation and laser focus on making Hashirama his next-in-line had always allowed him to slip under his father's watchful gaze.
And like a smart man, he makes the most out of that fact, milking the way his father's ignorance allows him to pursue his education of choice and a major in Forensic. It momentarily spares him the need to be a model Senju, the kind he always sees in the city's newspaper before he throws them out. It gives him some semblance of freedom.
He takes his freedom and goes; until he doesn't and gets it thrown back in his face by the appearance of one (1) Uchiha Madara.
Now, Tobirama had never liked Madara. He spent grad school with a pillow over his head just to avoid having to hear his brother's late-night phone calls with him. He never realised there was anything between them, subconsciously having filtered that out of his mind. Things got worse when the two were forced to meet face to face.
Heated glanced from across the lecture halls ended up in fistfights on the front lawns of suburbian homes and parking lots of fast food joints. Tobirama never realised he unconsciously sought it out after a while - irking Madara suddenly became a hobby that stuck with him throughout his whole academic undergraduate career. And in a twisted way, he loved it.
That is why meeting Madara in graduate school triggers some kind of a Pavlovian reflex within him. His fight-or-flight mechanism activates and as much as he is ready to start a fight then and there, fighting on academic ground is below him.
Madara looks as good as Tobirama remembers him to, if good is defined by permanent eyebags and a sour demeanour that makes even Tobirama's own tasteless complexion pale in comparison. Not like he is any better. It is the beginning of the school year and he already looks like he had not slept a moment in the past three days, powered only by whatever caffeinated concoction he has in his obscenely pretentious KeepCup (it has a little wave motif on it, who the heck buys that?). Even his glasses are pretentious and yet he looks like he was born for the academia, despite those tattoos on his face.
When Madara saunters past him like he is happy to see him, Tobirama sniffles at the poor attempt at antagonisation. He is amused by Madara's claims, though that does not stop him from being an ass about it. He is not supposed to be amused.
"I did and that is precisely why I am here. I have no wish to buy myself a piece of paper - no need for it if I am able to earn it by my own merit," Tobirama's eye twitches at how stupid he sounds, talking like an old man from a historical series that no one even watches anymore. As an afterthought, as if he owed Madara an actual honest reply, he adds:
"It is close. I want to stay near Hashirama and the family. Not to mention it offers good education, but none of that explains why you are showing your Piccaso-esque mug around here. What, did your precious daddy cut you off?"
If he didn't say anything snarky, one would have thought Tobirama's had a change of heart over the summer break. Unfortunately for those around him, that is not so. The real reason is him not being able to function yet. His cup is still full and his fingers are simultaneously itching to grab it as they are itching to grab Madara by the neck. Really, it all boils down to quick decisions and Tobirama's morning psychosis is begging him to snap and snap Madara's neck too on the way.
He chooses to glare at the man over the rim of his glasses instead.
╱╲╱╲ ╱╲╱╲ ╱╲╱╲ ╱╲╱╲ ╱╲╱╲
#rp#modern au#for science#senju tobirama#uchiha madara#madatobi#tobimada#probably-drunk-madara#fight me in the tags before you fight me at Denny's
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Chase Your Thrills: Test your Sim’s skill and endurance with activities on the mountainside! Grab skis for a downhill ride, strap on a snowboard to shred, or bundle up on a sled with another Sim. Prefer going up? Build their rock climbing skill and challenge your Sim to reach the mountain peak during daring, sometimes dangerous, excursions.
Find Your Zen: Let your Sim’s worries float away in the natural hot springs, then unwind over hot pot around the kotatsu table or socialize while hiking through bamboo forests and snowy terrain. Bask in the serenity of mindful walks and soothing music to take control of your emotions and discover your inner zen.
Create Your Sanctuary: Whether you prefer the traditional details or modern touches of Japanese-inspired furniture and decor, you can incorporate shoji doors, windows and screens, tatami mats, and more to design a home that complements your life. Take your shoes off at the genkan entryway in the soft glow of paper lanterns overhead, or build your own rock garden outside!
Define Your Lifestyle: Unlock new personality and relationship effects with the introduction of lifestyles and sentiments. Lifestyles manifest in response to your Sim’s actions and habits, changing their behaviors appropriately. Similarly, shared experiences inspire sentiments and have a lasting impact on Sims’ relationships to each other, affecting their social interactions.
Remember when I joked about how at least they weren’t splitting up the four seasons into separate packs? Ha, good times... All joking aside, I am a bit sad that I’m getting a similar feeling to when Eco Lifestyle was announced and it felt like a lot of things were tied to previous packs. Hiking would have gone wonderfully with Outdoor Retreat, not that anyone needs to buy it now anyways because it looks like camping is part of this pack too. And a soothing hot springs doesn’t sound at all like the type of thing Spa Day should have covered. Definitely didn’t have a whole Fitness pack revolving around rock climbing already. Not like snow was essentially half of the appeal of Seasons or anything either. Don’t mind me, I’m just a teensy bit bitter that they keep making older packs irrelevant. There are a lot of interesting things here even if some of them might have belonged elsewhere:
Mount Komorebi is stunning! I love the whole concept of a snowy Japanese mountainside resort town and I’m happy that it seems to be very distinctly different from our other mountain worlds like Granite Falls and Glimmerbrook.
Toddlers can go sledding with their parents and children can ski and snowboard on the easier courses. Finally we have some functionality across all age groups!
So no hotels...but hopefully the fact that it’s confirmed that you can both live in the new world full-time and rent a property for vacation means that they’re updating the vacation system overall and we’ll have these options for all the worlds. I’d love the ability to have households live in Granite Falls or vacation in Sulani.
Now that rock climbing is a thing with its own separate skill as opposed to being linked to the fitness skill, I really hope they go back and update the rocking climbing wall to also tie in with it for Sims who prefer indoor, warmer climbing.
Potential Japanese culture skill similar to the Selvadoradian culture skill? I’d love to see my Sims learn over time and have different mannerisms based on that.
Holy crap the new items are all so beautiful! The new counters with slots for clutter, the open fireplace, those chairs with the fur throws, the hanging outerwear rack shaped like a mountain, that littler space heater...they’re all so well done! Not to mention all of the Japanese-inspired traditional items.
That tiling with the mountain pattern gets its own bullet point because I adore any wallpaper that creates a mural as you apply it to the walls.
Is it just me or does some of the hair and clothing look almost alpha? That pink puffy jacket and braids on one of the Sims at the train station and the short pinkish blonde hair on the Sim walking through the park looked a bit out of place to me for some reason.
More nuanced personality is being added? I’m very curious about lifestyles and sentiments. From the sound of it, lifestyles will be set based on what your Sim does frequently to form habits that they will continue to do without player direction. And sentiments will maybe be based on whether Sims have had the same experiences like two Sims bonding over the fact that they both went camping in Granite Falls, or that they both have pet cats? Hopefully we’ll get a nice in-depth explanation of these two new personality factors.
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The 25 Best SNL Holiday Sketches
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The holidays are a special time around 30 Rock. While tourists flock to see the towering Christmas tree, the Saturday Night Live writers room is busy thinking of holiday sketches you’ll reminisce about as you put up the stockings for years to come. Some of SNL’s all-time great sketches illustrate the best of the holiday spirit or lack thereof as show’s biggest stars often shined the brightest just before the New Year.
From unlikely Santas to unorthodox gift-giving, we’re looking at 25 of our favorite Saturday Night Live holiday sketches. We’ll be going in chronological order here. There is a big dose of modern stuff in there, but what can I say? The show might be more miss than hit these days, but they really hit it out of the park year after year with the Christmas sketches.
Santi-Wrap (1976)
Very early in the show’s run, we get this classic where an adult woman (Laraine Newman) is all about sitting on Santa’s lap like when she was a little kid. The initial laugh is that before sitting down, she puts pieces of toilet paper on Santa’s leg for protection, like one would do in a public bathroom. Dan Aykroyd, her companion on this trip, seems shocked by this. Not that she’s trying to protect herself from germs, but because she’s not going far enough!
Suddenly, it turns out to be a commercial for Santi-Wrap, a festive and plasticky take on toilet seat covers. Not only do those two sell the product concept so well, but John Belushi as the mall Santa pushes it further by coming off as a complete disaster of a man who is probably riddled with disease.
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One of the show’s all-time best line deliveries is Belushi’s drunken, “Ho ho ho…” which has both defiant gusto and the sense that he’s seconds away from vomiting all over himself.
Mr. Robinson’s Christmas (1984)
Saturday Night Live has been a stepping stone to superstardom ever since Chevy Chase became a household name during its first season. In the 80s, Eddie Murphy’s recurring roles on SNL helped raise his profile as he eventually became one of, if not the biggest star of the decade. It was around Christmas time when Murphy’s spin on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood became one of the sketches that came to define his tenure at Studio 8H.
Mr. Robinson’s neighborhood isn’t quite as nice as Mister Rogers’ but at Christmas time you have to make the best with what you have. Mr. Robinson was able to do that with a chunk of lettuce and a headless doll and Murphy was able to make the most of every opportunity he had on SNL.
It’s a Wonderful Life: The Lost Ending (1986)
If you’ve seen the 1946 American Christmas classic It’s A Wonderful Life, odds are you’ve been inspired by its heart-warming ending. Thanks to SNL and host William Shatner, we now have footage of the “fabled” lost ending to Frank Capra’s Christmas epic and it’s anything but heartwarming. Rather than end the film with everyone coming to George Bailey’s aid in his time of need and celebrating his lifetime of selflessness and kindness, it decides to give Mr. Potter a fate more explicit than being doomed to failure and loneliness. Phil Hartman pops in as Uncle Billy and not only remembers what happened to the missing money, but knows exactly who has it!
Dana Carvey makes the sketch as a George Bailey hell-bent on revenge. It just wouldn’t be Christmas without seeing him give Mr. Potter a beat down alongside his bloodthirsty loved ones.
Master Thespian Plays Santa Claus (1987)
Jon Lovitz’s characters were usually very hammy by design. Whether he was a pathological liar or the Devil himself, he always went to 11. One of his better recurring characters was Master Thespian, a scene-chewing Shakespearean actor who takes himself and his roles far too seriously.
In this installment, he would be playing the role of a mall Santa Claus.
Thespian doesn’t seem to have heard of Santa, but he’s down for the part. Finding out that there’s no actual script, he improvises and figures out the character via making mistakes and getting scolded by the Macy’s manager (played by Phil Hartman, choosing to base his performance on Frank Nelson because why not). To his surprise, Santa Claus actually LIKES children! These are notes a performer needs to know, man!
Seeing him play off the kids and Hartman is a blast. Speaking of which, one of the better gags is a fart joke that somehow proves how great an actor Master Thespian truly is. THANK YOUUUUUU!
Hanukkah Harry (1989)
Santa Claus (Phil Hartman) is violently ill with the flu, so it seems Christmas might be cancelled. Luckily, there is one man capable of fulfilling his obligations through the same kind of holiday magic. Hanukkah Harry (Jon Lovitz), Santa’s Jewish counterpart, is called in to help.
At its core, it’s a lengthy sketch about Jewish jokes and how lame Hanukkah is outside of it lasting eight days. Springing off of that, it actually makes for a really good, if a little touching, holiday story. There are definite laughs in there, but what was created to be a parody hits a little too close and becomes a genuine gem celebrating both holidays and the spirit of togetherness.
“On Moishe! On Herschel! On Schlomo!”
Motivational Santa (1993)
What started as a pep talk for troubled teens turned into Chris Farley’s iconic recurring character. Matt Foley, the thrice-divorced, sweaty, overweight man who lived in a van down by the river, crashed into our living rooms in 1993 and remained a fixture on SNL until Farley was fired from the show in 1995.
Sometimes a sketch is so successful that the writers are almost forced to bring one or more of its characters around again and Matt Foley was no exception. In one of the funnier times Matt Foley returned, he was hired to spread Christmas cheer as a motivational mall Santa, offering up this gem:
“‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the van
Your ol’ buddy Matt fell asleep on the can.
His children were nestled two time zones away,
With his first wife and her husband, in sunny L.A.
Matt woke up and realized with a chill and a quiver
That he was living in a van down by the river!“
Though many of the same jokes and physical gags are recycled, Farley’s effort, from the painfully high pitch of his voice to crashing down the chimney, earns the Motivational Santa a place in SNL Christmas lore.
Adam Sandler’s Hanukkah Song (1994)
Yes, we’ve heard Adam Sandler’s “The Hanukkah Song” a million times over, but we shouldn’t let that cloud our judgement. It’s one of the first clips that pops into your head when you think “SNL Holiday Sketches” and it will go down as a landmark moment when the history of “Weekend Update” is written 200 years from now. Sandler didn’t use his time to evoke images of being a Jew at Christmas, rather he chose to praise the Festival of Lights and name-drop all the famous people who celebrate it. Since debuting the song in 1994, Sandler’s updated it for his comedy albums and standup routine and given Jewish kids something other than “The Dreidel Song” to belt during during the holidays. Sandler’s clever, original moment is about as influential as it gets for any not-ready-for-prime time player.
It did lead to the movie Eight Crazy Nights, so it isn’t free from sin.
TV Funhouse: Fun with Real Audio (1997)
It’s rare for SNL to get poignant, but here’s a fantastic example. In this animated short, Jesus Christ returns to Earth and spends the first opening minutes being ignored and shoved into the background for disagreeing with televangelists who use his name to line their pockets with donations or to justify their hatred of homosexuals. These bits are, of course, animated over actual audio of said real life sociopaths. Jesus is able to give them their just desserts with his divine magic, but it bums him out.
Walking the city streets, unnoticed by the public at large, Jesus watches Christmas-themed TV through a store window and is disappointed with what he sees. That is, until he comes across Linus’ speech at the end of A Charlie Brown Christmas and we get a final moment that’s adorable, uplifting, and pretty hilarious.
NPR’S Delicious Dish: Schweddy Balls (1998)
The dry, NPR-host banter between Ana Gasteyer’s Margaret Jo McCullen — who cheerfully admits that she leaves tap water and rice out for Santa because “Christmas foods really wreak havoc on the ol’ digestive system” — and Molly Shannon’s Teri Rialto as they discuss delectable Yuletide “balls” with Alec Baldwin’s Pete Schweddy is a can’t-miss skit. The trio makes monotone an art form, while remaining dedicated to the naivety of the characters involved. (In response to Alec Baldwin’s, “But the thing I most like to bring out this time of year are my balls,” their faces barely twitch.) It’s double entendre at its finest, and never fails to leave me in stitches.
Pete Schweddy returned in another episode where he introduced the women to his hotdogs, but having them show so much interest in putting his wiener in their mouths was a little too easy a joke to pull off.
I Wish It Was Christmas Today (2000-the heat death of the universe)
On one December episode, there was a short segment of Horatio Sanz, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Kattan, and Tracy Morgan playing a catchy, albeit incredibly stupid song about Christmas being on the way. Sanz played a skinny guitar while singing, Fallon occasionally pressed an elephant noise button on the keyboard, Kattan held the keyboard while shaking his head, and Morgan danced with a look on his face like he got dragged on stage against his will. It was silly and would have probably been forgotten soon after.
Instead, they returned a week later and insisted on playing it again despite being explicitly told not to. Soon they would start playing it during non-December months to show Christmas’ superiority over other holidays. After Simon Cowell insulted the group, he sheepishly agreed that he wanted to join them and broke out some maracas. One year, when Sanz was the only one left in the cast, he replaced his buddies with Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, and Animal while Kermit the Frog danced in a way that you have to wonder if a Muppet is capable of snorting coke.
The song still gets brought out now and then, usually on Fallon’s show. It’s even been covered by Julian Casablancas and Cheap Trick of all people!
They did sing a completely different Christmas song one time, but nobody cared.
Glengarry Glen Elf: Christmas Motivation (2005)
Alec Baldwin seems to be the go-to host for classic Christmas sketches. Playing on his iconic Glengarry Glen Ross character Blake, Baldwin (in a way) reprises the role as 615-year-old “elf from the home office” sent to straighten out the subpar work of Santa’s elves. There couldn’t have been a more perfect break in character than when Baldwin says “Always Be Closing” instead of “Always Be Cobbling” as scripted. It’s a slip-up that makes for a perfect holiday sketch, full of deep-bellied laughs.
TV Funhouse: Christmastime for the Jews (2005)
Not only is the witty “Christmas for the Jews” written by comedy legend Robert Smigel, but it’s sung by David Letterman’s Christmas angel Darlene Love. In “Christmas for the Jews,” the characters see “Fiddler on the Roof,” grab an early dinner, and enjoy dreamland Daily Show reruns. It’s an intriguing and catchy look at the other side of the Christmas season, complete with a very Rankin-Bass animation style.
Digital Short: Dick in a Box (2006)
Justin Timberlake is one of the most entertaining, versatile hosts that SNL has been gifted. A member of their prestigious Five-Timers Club, “Dick in a Box” is Timberlake’s most memorable sketch, filled with skeevy, disgusting come-ons from Andy Samberg and Timberlake, which has been viewed just millions and millions of times. In 2006, Timberlake had already impressed critics and viewers alike with his acting range in Alpha Dog, but his comedic turns on SNL solidified him as an actor. Timberlake has done a lot of impressive things in his time as an entertainer, but there are few more enjoyable (or laughable) than “Dick in a Box.”
These two R&B weirdos would return later on to sleep with each other’s moms as reciprocated Mother’s Day presents and later swear that being in a two-guy/one-girl three-way isn’t considered gay.
John Malkovich Reads ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (2008)
As quipped by the man himself, no one emits Christmas spirit quite like John Malkovich. This admission yields the self-reflexive irony of Malkovich reading “The Night Before Christmas” to the children of SNL’s staff. Malkovich, pausing during his reading of the holiday classic, asks the children about the suicide rate rising during the holidays, talking about how shooting a home invader in California is “perfectly legal,” musing about how the tonnage of Santa’s sleigh and reindeer would (scientifically speaking) burst into flames, how in Portugal their version of Saint Nicholas steals children’s toes, as well as reciting the gem: “You know what they say about hopes; they’re what we cling to when reality has left us nothing else.” If you’re in a lighthearted Christmas mood, Malkovich’s monologue is certainly one to enjoy.
Stefon on Holiday Travel (2010)
Bill Hader was highly respected for his versatility and range during his time at SNL, but it was his improvisational skills that turned a Weekend Update bit into a must-see recurring segment. Stefon, likely the defining character for SNL during the 2010s thus far, informed New Yorkers and tourists alike of the city’s hottest nightclubs – with Hader almost always breaking down in laughter as his cue cards were frequently changed from the rehearsal to throw him off.
Stefon knew how to get weird and you can imagine he’d save some fun things for the a “classic New York holiday.” Make sure to check out the Lower, Lower East Side dump hosted by Tranderson Cooper or find a club with the right amount of Puerto Rican Screeches or Gay Aladdins. Just don’t run over the Human Parking Cones.
Stefon would return with more Christmastime insight three years later, where he’d discuss a club called [loud Tauntaun noises], founded by Jewish cartoon character Menorah the Explorer.
Under-Underground Crunkmas Karnival (2010)
Good God, I wish there were more Under-Underground Records sketches. As a parody of the Gathering of the Juggalos, we’d regularly see DJ Supersoak (Jason Sudeikis) and Lil Blaster (Nasim Pedrad) excitedly talk up huge concert events that are needlessly violent and inexplicable in their randomness. For instance, there’s the Crunkmas Karnival, which features such musical acts as Dump, Boys II Dicks, Scrotum Fire, and…Third Eye Blind for some reason.
It’s just a bunch of loud humor that goes back and forth between being stupidly hardcore and being meekly out of left field. Yes, you can go check out a “dong tug-of-war,” but you can also see a special 2D screening of the Owls of Ga’hoole or meet Spaceballs star Pizza the Hut. Not to mention the return of their most fondly remembered running gag, the endless undying and dying of Ass Dan.
This Christmas-based event will take place in February. Sounds about right.
Ornaments (2011)
Every now and then, SNL will do a sketch towards the end of the show where the guest will talk about whichever holiday is coming up and awkwardly go into one of the aspects of it, such as Easter eggs or Halloween candy. In this instance, it’s Steve Buscemi unloading a box of Christmas ornaments and commenting on each one. All the while, Kristen Wiig plays Sheila, his girlfriend who appears to be more than a little off and doesn’t quite grasp tree decorating.
Buscemi’s descriptions range from delightful non-humor to outlandish and disturbing. He might make an intentionally lame joke about one ornament before holding up another and matter-of-factly letting you know that, “I put this one up my butt.”
And somehow he’s still the straight man in this bit.
You’re a Rat Bastard Charlie Brown (2012)
This sketch is centered on Bill Hader playing Al Pacino, playing Charlie Brown. The rest of the cast turns out bang-up impressions as well: Jason Sudeikis playing Philip Seymour Hoffman playing Pigpen, Kate McKinnon as Edie Falco playing Lucy (as Charlie Brown’s drug peddling therapist, causing a holiday-blues Charlie to say, “Oh yeah…I want something to take me sky high!”), Martin Short playing Larry David playing Linus, Taran Killam doing Michael Keaton as Schroeder, and Cecily Strong as Fran Drescher as Charlie Brown’s mother, all performed in front of a baffled childhood audience.
For anyone who grew up watching Charlie Brown and Co., watching Bill Hader/Al Pacino/Charlie Brown unleash the expletive-laden “You’re gonna hold that f***ing football?!” towards Kate McKinnion/Edie Falco/Lucy, and saying, “Ow, you bitch!” after she pulls it away is absolutely to die for.
Jebidiah Atkinson on Holiday Movies (2013)
For a time, Taran Killam played Jebidiah Atkinson, a Weekend Update character based on how an old newspaper editorial was discovered that panned Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Atkinson, somehow still alive, would appear and read review snippets about other big speeches he hated.
One of his return appearances had him discuss holiday specials and movies. Every single one of them he hates. Every single one of them gets roasted. His vicious energy is so over-the-top that the good jokes land and the bad jokes still get a laugh from the misplaced confidence. Over these several minutes, he screams about how much of a depressing bore A Charlie Brown Christmas is, how the Grinch stole a half hour of his life, and how every time they play It’s a Wonderful Life, an angel blows its brains out.
This one is admittedly a bit dated with its biggest joke, where his distaste for Snoopy is so great that he wishes Family Guy killed him off instead of Brian. The horror from the audience still makes it worth it.
St. Joseph’s Christmas Mass Spectacular (2014)
Ah, Christmas Mass. The drum solo for every childhood during Christmas time. It’s uncomfortable and especially boring. Ergo, liven it up by framing it as a big, in-your-face event via what amounts to a monster truck rally commercial!
It’s a brilliant use of contrast. Take an event that is so mundane with so many familiar and shared experiences and treat it like it’s some extreme thing. The familiarity of the pastor making corny jokes that get the most minor of laughs is treated like a once-in-a-lifetime event. It shines a light on the weird tics of the prominent people you see at church and feels amazingly universal.
The SNL cast is fantastic here, but the MVP is Cecily Strong as the middle-age woman who is way into doing a reading in the loudest, most overly articulate speaking voice possible.
Sump’N Claus (2014)
Getting gifts from Santa Claus is great and all, but when you grow up, you realize how hard it truly is to be nice all year round. Luckily, there’s an alternative. Introduced via an extremely catchy song, we meet Sump’n Claus (Keenan Thompson), a pimp-like offshoot of Santa who not only used to work for St. Nick, but also appears to have some dirt on him.
Sump’n Claus sings several verses about people who have had breakdowns and would be thrown onto the naughty list. Sump’n Claus doesn’t care about that. You be you. Every December, he’ll still be there to hand you an envelope full of twenties and fifties. He’s the holiday mascot for adults, basically.
One of the highlights is how he mentions that Santa is not your friend as friends don’t watch you while you’re sleeping.
The Christmas Candle (2016)
Christmas has been saved by many different things: ghosts who see through time, an angel trying to earn his wings, a reindeer’s glowing nose, New Yorkers singing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” and so on. Then again, sometimes you need a savior for something with lower stakes.
In the form of a mid-1990s all ladies group that gives me kind of a Celine Dion vibe, we’re given a wonderful song that starts with the tale of a woman who had to get a coworker a gift for Secret Santa. She found an old peach candle in her closet and just gave her that. The second verse is a similar situation where not only is a peach candle given as a throwaway gift to an acquaintance, but it’s THE SAME candle. Yes, somehow this one peach candle is re-gifted across the globe through latter December by women and gay men who couldn’t be bothered to put thought into their presents.
Truly a miracle.
First Impression (2018)
Beck Bennett plays a guy about to finally meet his girlfriend’s (Melissa Villaseñor) parents and he’s nervous as hell. She assures him that he’ll be fine, but he really wants to impress them. Sure enough, he tries to impress them in the weirdest way by hiding somewhere in the house and speaking in a high-pitched voice in order to dare them to find him. Her parents (Jason Momoa and Heidi Gardner) are notably confused, as is she.
It’s already a strange and silly bit, but Jason Momoa shifts it into gear by suddenly being COMPLETELY into it. Removing his jacket with purpose, Momoa excitedly starts searching the house for this guy. The fact that Momoa is playing an overweight 60-year-old man is enough of a novelty, but he brings this oddball zest to the role as he starts to literally tear the home to pieces in order to get a look at his daughter’s elusive boyfriend.
The boyfriend’s plans here are both overly complicated and half-baked, culminating in an ending that’s as happy as it’s inexplicable and off-putting.
North Pole News Report (2019)
When Eddie Murphy returned to SNL, there was much fanfare. A completely solid episode, it admittedly spent too much of its runtime revisiting his old recurring classics like Mr. Robinson, Gumby, and Velvet Jones. The final sketch of the night goes full blast with his manic energy as he plays an elf eyewitness on the elf news, screaming bloody murder about a horrible tragedy. Mikey Day is reporter Donny Chestnut, looking at the destruction of a toy factory. As he tries to make heads or tails of what’s going on, Murphy bursts onto the scene, screaming about a polar bear attacking the elves and eating them like Skittles. And just screaming in general.
The best line comes from the elf (who keeps declaring, “IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT MY NAME IS!”) bringing over one of the survivors, and noting that, “This white, teenage elf girl ran out here, straight up to me – a black elf in sweatpants – and asked me to keep her safe. That’s how bad it is!” Despite this elf being right about the situation, Donny Chestnut keeps trying to sideline him for being increasingly erratic about Santa’s potential role in the slaughter and what it means for Christmas. Even as he trips over some of his lines, Eddie Murphy is so damn precious here.
AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!
December to Remember Car Commercial (2020)
It might be in bad form to include a sketch from this very year, but man, this joke is not only long overdue, but the acting is top notch. Heidi Gardner’s barely repressed rage is something special.
You’ve seen the commercial a million times. It’s Christmas morning and someone reveals a brand new car to a loved one. As part of Lexus’ December to Remember, Beck Bennett reveals a brand new Lexus with a giant bow to his wife (Gardner) and their son (Timothée Chalamet). What initially appears as shock turns out to be fury and confusion over what is a selfish and short-sighted decision. Buying a car is a huge deal and isn’t something you don’t tell your significant other. More than that, Bennett’s character hasn’t been employed for about a year and a half and has no way of affording such a thing. The thread is pulled away, unraveling both how much of an idiot he is and how doomed their family life happens to be.
Then neighbor Mikey Day shows up and it hits another level. Beck Bennett is the expert at playing guys with misplaced confidence who haven’t come close to thinking things through.
The post The 25 Best SNL Holiday Sketches appeared first on Den of Geek.
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Sorting and tidying up your garage: a mission not impossible!
Or how to get rid of the superfluous and optimize storage in the garage
Sorting and tidying up your garage: a mission not impossible!
Junk Car Kings easy way to sell your junk cars.
Whether you live in an apartment or a house, the clutter and storage of the garage is often a problem ... Personally, it is the room that I dread the most to tidy up because all the things that do not fit in the Closets in my apartment end up piled up in my garage. Result: the mess is piling up and I can't find things when I'm looking for them! I decided to declutter my garage and give you some keys to make it happen.
Step 1 to declutter and tidy up your garage: make an inventory
The garage is often the catch-all room of the house, we accumulate a lot of things there, especially when we become parents! And we quickly get overwhelmed by the mess that reigns there! If like me, you do not know where to start, take a piece of paper and a pen to establish an inventory. Make a non-exhaustive list of the things you store in your garage: - painting, crafts, tools - bicycles - skiing and camping equipment, .. - children's toys and clothes - decoration, crockery, ... - antique furniture, awaiting makeover, ... - books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, etc. This will help you see more clearly and organize storage spaces for each theme. Group all cases by topic, if you can! If like me, your garage is on the verge of implosion, start with the entrance, this will make it easier for you to get to the bottom.
Don't do like me, throw out all the boxes you keep for a future move, you can easily find them in supermarkets and stores. It is always space gained! Establish a schedule, because casually, when you go into the storage of the garage, it can take a lot of time and energy.
You can plan it over several weekends and do it over half-days, this will avoid discouraging you ... Obviously, the more things you have to do. when you go into the garage storage, it can take a lot of time and energy. You can plan it over several weekends and do it over half-days, this will avoid discouraging you ...
Obviously, the more things you have to do. when you go into the garage storage, it can take a lot of time and energy. You can plan it over several weekends and do it over half-days, this will avoid discouraging you ... Obviously, the more things you have to do.sort, the longer it will take you! For my part, spring and autumn are the two seasons when I always want to clean up my interior.
Provide boxes, trash bags and bins to sort what you want to give, throw away and keep. If the task seems too big to handle on your own, you can hire a home organizer to help you. The average price is 50 euros per hour, the total cost of the service will obviously depend on the surface area and the congestion condition of your garage. Depending on whether you live in a house or an apartment, whether you have an additional basement or attic, define the function you want to give to your garage.
This will help you organize the space. Here are some questions to ask yourself before you start: * what do I keep? * what spaces do I need? * what investments should I make for storage? Cabinets, shelves, boxes, ... Perhaps you want to fit out a mezzanine to be able to have storage spaces and be able to park your car in the garage.
Step 2 to declutter and tidy up your garage: declutter and sort
Why keep useless things, old or obsolete, which clutter our interior and our mind? The "it may be useful to me one day", "I'll save for later" end up being a disservice to us. We spend time putting away things that are not useful to us! It can be more or less easy to get rid of material objects, especially when they have an emotional value, but I am giving you some ideas to help you declutter without regrets.
Questions to ask yourself: * Do I like this object? yes / no * Does this item help me? yes / no * Was this item used during the last 18 months? yes / no * Is there only one copy of this item in the house? yes / no You can donate or sell items you no longer need. You can give to loved ones, advertise or bring them to associations and charities. They can even move. Make an appointment by phone. Bring excessively damaged and irreparable items to the recycling center. If you are motivated, you can do a garage sale but it is quite tiring and requires a minimum of time and organization.
Otherwise Leboncoin will save you time by posting your classifieds online. you can do a garage sale but it is quite tiring and requires a minimum of time and organization. Otherwise Leboncoin will save you time by posting your classifieds online. you can do a garage sale but it is quite tiring and requires a minimum of time and organization. Otherwise Leboncoin will save you time by posting your classifieds online.
We accumulate a lot of unnecessary or obsolete things that we often keep "just in case" ...
Step 3 to declutter and tidy your garage: tidy up and organize the garage space
Now it's time to set up your garage! You can install large shelves, cabinets or racks that support some weight. You can store tools, paint, boxes and compactable covers. These are ideal for storing children's clothes and saving space. I like to store things and toys in plastic boxes with lids that are easily superimposed, they are found at Ikea, Castorama or Leroy Merlin. Stick labels with the title of the content on it. If you want to optimize storage space, you can hang anything that takes up space on the wall: bikes, skis, surfboards, tools, etc.
If your laundry room and freezer are in your garage, optimize the space by installing high cupboards. If you have a workshop or grocery store for non-perishable products, install as many cupboards and cabinets as possible around the workbench. Remember to store smart by optimizing all the space available.
For tools, save space and easily find them by hanging them on the wall on a perforated plate
You will be proud of the result once you have reached the end of it and especially do not forget to sort as you go!
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