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- David Johnson
- Kamloops
- Canada
Remote Emergency Medical Responder, Eric Whitacre Virtual Choir
This conversation is closed.
Science is developing the tools towards de-extinction of species on the planet that have become extinct. The question becomes; Should we?
Stewart Brand and his colleagues are at the biotech precipice of reviving extinct species. The Revive and Restore project plans to not only bring species back but restore them to the wild, as well as protect currently endangered species.
I don't think any of us will have a problem with the latter, this discussion is focused on the primary goal; reintroduction of extinct species. We are not talking about dinosaurs here, but the Passenger Pigeon, Carolina Parakeet, Heath Hen, European Aurochs, Bucardo, The Taz Tiger, etc.
Up for debate here: Should we?
Where we can all appreciate the science being developed, we must discuss the implications of initiating projects like this. I submit we need to discuss this on behalf of the existing species that we have, as well as for the animals that are lost.
Some questions to consider:
Do we value the argument that we should 'undo the harm' that humans have caused in the past, due to over-hunting or destruction of habitat? Should we rewrite or undo history?
Many of these species have not been in the natural environment for 100 years. It is fair to say that the natural predators or prey of these species, the plants or insect life they feed on, the environments they roam through ... have altered in their absence. Has the cycle of the earth, moved on without them?
We have a long history of experiencing what can happen when biodiversity is altered by introducing a species not indigenous to the area in question. Cane Toads in Australia, Grey Squirrel in Europe or the Gypsy Moth.
Is this project actually an introduction of a species back into an environment that may not be able to sustain it as it once did?
Even though we can grieve the lost of the Dodo, should we bring it back at all costs?
Or as Daniel Chan asks below;
how can we effectively simulate the effects of introducing pre-existing species to the environment before actually doing so?
What other Questions should we ask?
Apr 6 2013: My response is quite simple. I am neither a scientist or deep thinker, so I merely quote my favorite author who penned a wonderful book called Pet Semetary, "They Never Come Back The Same." Stephen King. We may think they are, but they aren't.
Apr 6 2013: HA ... love this, thanksMar 15 2013: If the supporting ecosystem is not available to the species revived and restored, then it's totally pointless.
Mar 15 2013: If we want the revived species' to live in the wild, you're right. Otherwise, it doesn't matter in the slightest.
Mar 15 2013: So revived animals are OK as curiosities in a zoo or as live museum exhibits just for our own delectation?
Isn't this a display of science being too focused in on its own cleverness and not seeing the big picture?
Unless science can see beyond the end of its own nose and go further in preserving/recreating ecosystems for the revived species, then I still say it's pointless.Mar 14 2013: In the natural science world, one would consider extinction as a natural process to evolution. Man has had much influence on the world and could be the direct result of the annihilation of many species to come.
To have the ability to create what has not yet been created is what motivates and drives our very existence. To recreate, that is quite different. For science to know that we have the ability to recreate a "sustained" life would be, by far, a great achievement. However, in my opinion, to actually do this, is not necessary to the benefit of mankind or for the extinction of the species given.
In a most desperate move to provide nourishment or to assist in sustaining humans by medical means, the use of recreation would benefit our very existence. I could then foresee that there would be wider acceptance of the processes.
As we overpopulate our planet, pollute it, abuse it etc., in generations to come, it may be the only way of survival for our own species. It truly is a matter of great importance to ponder upon. ~ Leslie
Mar 15 2013: Thank you Leslie. You write with clarity and eloquence.
In my blundering simplicity I would say "today a bird ... tomorrow grandma"
You remind us that these two acts are certainly related.
The question takes on a greater importance considering the possible future implications.
Should we allow this?
Leo Taylor
Mar 15 2013: This is a concern to a point, however I tend to shy away from these arguments. This is known as the "slippery slope" argument.
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If you allow people to drink, then they will smoke then they will do harder drugs and eventually become cocaine addicts. OR if you allow people to drink they will all become alcoholics.
Should we allow grandmas to be cloned. Perhaps not, but we do a decent job or reigning in the extremes and while people can point to the extremes. eg. A gun owner that shoots children, That does not necessitate that owning a gun will eventually a person will shoot children.
Actually, this is a better example of the slippery slope argument.
With my current ideals I believe that whatever path we take should be monitored and agreed to by a majority of our moral codes and ethics of the time, coupled with the current scientific understanding of the era. With that said, If scientists announced tomorrow that anyone could have their grandma cloned for $10,000 a majority of the planet would say "NO!" And then pass laws to prevent it.
Mar 15 2013: Your final paragraph, very nicely said.
Daniel Chan
Mar 15 2013: Well there is a difference between the slippery slope argument in a debate, and actual science. I mean we definitely have a better idea on how alcoholism can affect a person's life than how introducing this newly developed species into the wild has on it. I think the argument above is more justified through the "precautionary principle" of environment science and can be easily mistaken as a bad argument.
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In situations like this we really need to consider the worse, worse case scenario and be prepared to react to it accordingly.Mar 15 2013: I cannot agree more with your point of acceptance based upon need. Although cold, humans are often motivated by their own best interest. If there is no benefit for the human race I too see no reason why the majority would support the research and funding in order to recreate. Your worst-case scenario tackles this need for self interest.
Personally I view this situation as a catch-22. Without developing the technology now because we do not need it, the science might not be perfected by the time we actually do need and want it.
Mar 15 2013: There is a potential business interest in here though, since if species can be recreated from genetic leftover material, this technology can definitely be used to replenish endangered species as well. With that you create the possibility to "grow" things like ivory and skins in a lab or "controlled ecosystem" that is virtually impossible to distinguish from the natural ones.
I think this is enough for the investors to be interested in this technology, especially those that are worried about the "ops, we just killed the last one" scenarios.Mar 23 2013: In medicine, in particular, and other areas of society we have a tendency to treat superficial symptoms and not the underlying causes.
In my opinion, this is an attempt to treat a symptom of a greater issue, one which I would rather resources and efforts were spent on resolving. I think possession of this technology would one day be potentially beneficial but at the moment we are simply not ready.
I also agree with some of the other comments that, as humans, it is irresponsible for us to play with things we don't fully understand. For example, by a simple change in perception we can see how, perhaps, we have in fact benefited other species on this planet by eradicating their natural enemies which may cause a chain reaction in an ecosystem, thereby providing opportunity for other species and even enforcing the Darwinian "survival of the fittest".
The point being, we are asking the wrong questions and need to start asking the right questions. We know we can do it. Whether we should do it or not, we probably will anyway. So perhaps the correct question is whether doing this will truly benefit and serve humanity as well as the planet? Is this in our best interests?
P.S. I've never considered some these points before but I would like to accredit Dr John F. DeMartini with new insight.
Barry Palmer
Mar 19 2013: It seems to me that much of the damage that we have already done was due to unintended consequences.
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We KNOW that we do not understand the consequences of bringing back extinct species.
This is a text book example of irresponsibility. Good intentions are irrelevant.
Deliberate irresponsibility amounts to insanity.Mar 24 2013: My gut reaction to this question is no. It almost seems like torture. It's not bad enough that us humans have wiped them out, but now we're going to bring them back... Why? So we can wipe them out again? As others have said we're not ready. We haven't quite finished raping this world yet, & we've got countless other species still in our cross hairs.
Our focus should be waking up as a species. To save what still remains & stop our population growth. Only then, when we're in harmony with the rest of the natural world, can we discuss whether or not to reintroduce what was lost.
Mark Kane
Mar 23 2013: I recommend, to broaden our view, the book 1493. A long, cautionary look at how we transformed what was here, for the most part without a hope of guiding the consequences. In half a century we have left untouched mere traces of a former natural world.
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Resurrecting the carrier pigeon still seems to me a self-indulgence. Devote the same resources to ending hunger and ending the carnage it wreaks via epigenetics on young minds, perhaps even future generations.Mar 23 2013: I feel there are serious ethical considerations that need to be discussed when it comes to creating life and/ or recreation of life forms no longer on the planet. Ethics in this matter seems to not be a strong dialogue and it is worrisome. I am in the health profession and have seen many issues arise from transplantation of organs to preserve and restore individuals lives/ health. There are many issues in this process around ethics that still are just pushed to the back ground and not opening debated or discussed. I do hope that there is more long term effect questions, considerations, and discussions that will occur before action is taken (though I suspect there has already been action taken).
scott lee
Mar 18 2013: I think Allen Macdougall hit the nail on the head. The vast majority of extinction is due to habitat loss. Without dealing with with the loss of habitat and damage to ecosystems there is no point in cloning extinct animals. All of pressures that brought it too extinction still exist. Unless we can fix the causes of extinction in the first place, we shouldn't devote the resources to a doomed project.
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We need to focus one helping preserve ecosystems as a whole, not individual species.Mar 15 2013: I think one important question which should be asked regarding the de-extinction project is what's the real motivation in doing this project.
The sub-divisions of this question are: Do the scientists want to improve our surroundings, improve the ecosystems, improve the chain-of-food in nature, heal the nature...etc ?? Or is it the scientists common ambition to demonstrate their scientific abilities and achievements, regardless of the possible consequences of the de-extinction ?? Or is it our general human regret & feelings of guilt for committing so much harm to the nature during the generations, that now we as a human race seek desperately every way to compensate the nature for the harm we have been doing to it for generations ??
We as humans have exploited the animal kingdom recklessly to gratify our needs without heeding to the needs of the past nature. Is it possible that now we are restoring the animal kingdom back to the nature, just to gratify again our human ego, without again heeding to the real needs of the present nature ??
Mar 15 2013: Thank you for your thoughts and for joining the conversation Yubal.
I would respond as I did below regarding the scientist perspective towards discovery.
It is our scientists job to continuously reach far ahead and wonder ... what if? Can we? and How do I?
We will always hold a debt of gratitude to the work of science. If we lower the boom requiring them to consider every angle of ethical consideration regarding their work, they will not be able to reach ahead and find questions for themselves to answer. They would literally be tied down by limitation.
We need them to dream and test, and discover.
The earth is not flat, nor the center of the universe. We know this as it was science that proved it so, even though initial proponents of these ideas were persecuted. We need not persecute science for this discovery, but discuss the next step.
You ask; "is it the scientists common ambition to demonstrate their scientific abilities and achievements, regardless of the possible consequences of the de-extinction ?? "
I would answer ... yes. It is their job to work theoretically and practically towards realization of an idea. It is their job to disseminate data and report possibilities, and they did that in this case at TED. It is our job to balance values, morals and ethics, and determine how discoveries should be mainstreamed ... or not.
How should the world respond? What should be the format and who are the players involved to discuss how to proceed? That is the question.Mar 15 2013: Not necessarily.
We have fucked things up so badly, why in the world, or rather, how in the world do we
rationally and honestly think we can "fix" things, "heal the damage we have done"?
We can't. It is nothing more that human hubris believing we are more than we are
and can do more than we have done.
Haven't we done enough damage?
Is that the game? Damage, destroy, make extinct and then see if we can fix it, reverse the effects or change the past
somehow into the future?
Based on how and what we have done, I would say the human species is basically a destructive, cruel,
uncaring species that is totally self-centered to the degree it cannot and will not look at itself and arrive at the truth
of itself, accepting that truth and simply stopping whatever they are doing.
I mean, the truth is all around us. It is now global and moving in such a way that we cannot stop it nor reverse it and to
think we can reveals just how mentally ill we are. We are still, and willingly so, disconnected from our connection to the earth, nature and our place here. Thinking we are somehow better is so foolish.
If all the insects of the world passed from existence, all life would perish soon after.
If all humans passed from existence, all life would thrive.
That says it all and this won't work because it continues to pick at the wound we have inflicted on the planet and all it supports.
"What a great idea!" Only an insane species would think so in light of the obvious footprints of destruction that clearly show what we have brought to the earth.
It's like being out in nature on a wonderful path and seeing litter and garbage scattered everywhere.
We can only clean it up. We can only stop all the shit we do.
We cannot heal anything. We only make things worse.
As long as we think we can, that is as long as we intentionally maintain our disconnect from nature, each other and life itself. We are destructive plain and simple.
If we do this, we should then eliminate ourselves from earth.
Mar 15 2013: The argument itself is impeccable, but according to your logic we should all shoot ourselves in the head right this moment, but we are not. Why? Because we are not rational beings to begin with. This is a common mistake for many environmental extremists to claim that we are the cancer of this earth, i mean you're right, but that's only point out problems, not solutions, and solutions are what we need right now.
Yes we have done so much damage to this world but that doesn't mean we can ONLY do damage to this world. It doesn't serve as a justification of not doing anything simply because we "fucked things up so bad". Reviving already extinct animals are definitely benefiting to the environment if it actually works out, and the emphasis is, if it actually works out. There are so many variable involved with the environment and even more so when dealing with delicate bio-technologies such as this one. The main concern for this topic should be how can we effectively simulate the effects of introducing pre-existing species to the environment before actually doing that.
Mar 15 2013: Hey thanks Daniel, you final question is great. I would like to add your question to the topic above, let me know if that's not ok.Mar 15 2013: Daniel Chan,
No where did I say we should all shoot ourselves in the head nor allude to that.
We should stop what we are doing. What are we doing particularly Americans? Polluting, wasting resources, warring, invading, starving others, stealing the resources of other countries and so on.
Well, maybe you're right. Maybe all Americans should all shoot themselves. They produce more damage, pollution, use more resources along with wasting more resources than any other country.
Your comments are not something you know. You don't know what will benefit the ecologies of the world. We do know what damages them, ruins them, destroys them and so by that alone, you think we haughtily know what will fix everything?
How prideful of you. Just stop. Stop. Why the fuck hasn't that been tried?
You say, " The main concern for this topic should be how can we effectively simulate the effects of introducing pre-existing species to the environment before actually doing that."
Just leave it alone! We can't effectively do any of that. Doing good at this time would only be in stopping what we are doing.
But no, let's do this, let's see if we can figure that out, let's try this but never try stopping.
That is hubris and nothing less and it is ruining everything.
Mar 15 2013: Random,
The reason why we haven't stopped is because it's simply impossible. Our life is a motion, we breath, we eat, and we make babies. All those are essential living conditions for us and all those have an environmental impact by themselves.
If you are talking about the modern society, then a lot more needs to be done in order to survive, the entire society is based on polluting the environment, actually the better wording would be that the entire society is based on "affecting" the environment, whether it is for the good, or for the worse, that is for us to decide.
Yes I'm not denying that we messed up, of course we did, but I mean that doesn't mean we should all just give up on humanity and conclude that we are all evil masterminds that can't do no shit but mess things up further, at least for optimists like me? i believe that the world can at least still change for the better......to some degree :PMar 15 2013: Wow thanks Random, that would be one very certain vote against
Leo Taylor
Mar 14 2013: In one aspect I see it as a new level of evolution. As a species, homo sapien is the first to evolve the ability to modify its environment to fit its needs. (at least on a high level... beavers build dams, birds build nests, etc) For the past several thousand years we have bred and domesticated animals. The dog is a fantastic example of how much we have tinkered with evolution. Today we are working with our own genome. Cloning is adding another level. Some call this unnatural and I certainly see the logic of the argument. However, from one point of view it is interesting that evolution, an unconscious and undirected mechanism of life, has evolved a species with a conscious ability to control that mechanism. Evolution, life, and nature, are currently more powerful than we are, however our ability to take control is interesting. Perhaps like a child that finds his fathers tools.
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I believe you to be correct that we cannot foresee what will happen as these species are reintroduced. I am excited about the current attempts to clone a Wooly mammoth and I imagine the successful attempts will be closely monitored and controlled. The specimens will be kept in a closed park and observed. Several procedures and policies will be put in place to keep them in check. Of course there is no guarantee of success and the control may very well fail.
On a counter argument. Humans have been putting evolution and nature out of balance for a very long time. Whaling, lumber industry, farming, dams, etc. I agree we can not predict what will happen exactly, but we can predict that nature will adapt and find its own balance. That balance may be the extinction of another species (perhaps our own) but nature and life will adapt. Maybe the radical procedure of cloning will force us to take a closer look at something we have been doing for thousands of years. ie, messing with nature.
Mar 15 2013: Thanks for your input Leo. I gotta admit, as a photographer I am shuddering at the idea of maybe one day being able to take a pic of a Wooly Mammoth, that wouyld just be cool. But as it is for you, this is coming from the part of the brain that insists that it is ok to take advantage of a situation and satisfy a personal greed. As we consider history, this assumption of blindly satisfying personal wants and desires at any cost, is what destroyed the cod fishery on the east coast, and clear cut every tree from my home province of British Columbia at the turn of the century, and a thousand other examples we are all painfully aware of.
We are supposed to know better now. We are supposed to see ourselves as stewards and caretakers of our world. That said ... a Wooly Mammoth ... be a great image.
We must be aware of the dichotomy within ourselves. Ignorance, or a single sided viewpoint IS our history! Are we preferring to continue on this path of self satisfaction at all costs (my Mammoth image or a bird persons desire to see the passenger pigeon) or stop ourselves and consider the unforeseen and unknowable possibility of damage due to reintroduction? Should we simply rely on your well said "nature will create balance" argument?
Good points, well said, thank you
Mar 15 2013: Perhaps I was unclear in my post. While I think it would be neat to see a wooly mammoth I do not link that emotion of anticipation to an argument which justifies the end at any costs. Nor do I believe that natures ability to balance herself is a reason to move ahead blindly. Quite the opposite, I believe we should keep it in mind that if we push to far, nature will react, and it could mean the end of our species. NO compassion, NO reprieve..... It will just be done.
You may have to clarify what you mean by a dichotomy. My first impression is that you may be saying the dichotomy is self interest (Self satisfaction) which does not exist with a mindset of concern for the ramifications. If that is what you are saying, it is not a belief I share. I do not see it as a dichotomy. Either, or, but not both.
Mar 15 2013: I think we are actually agreeing with each other.
" While I think it would be neat to see a wooly mammoth I do not link that emotion of anticipation to an argument which justifies the end at any costs."
I couldn't agree more.
What I was mentioning was our cultures propensity to consume, even though we know the thing we want to consume, may be not good for the environment, or created in a way that is not good for the environment ... we still want and consume it.
Look around the room your in, how many things there were harmful in the manufacturer or transport to get it to you? I admit, most things in my room here, had an impact of some kind.
I did not intend to sound like the anticipation of wooly mammoth.jpg, justifies the steps to attain it. I started this conversation to question this very thing. Is missing the pigeon enough to justify this science?
My point was as you said, it be neat to see, but I have no difficulty moving from that thought to accepting I wont get that image because of the consequences (assuming there would be some) of having a living breathing Mammoth. You and I have no difficulty of transitioning from the one thought to the other, the reality is there would be others that would have difficulty with that leap. The end may justify the means for some.
I thought I miss chose the word dichotomy, but a quick reference check and I confirm it does work. The mammoth would be neat to see, but the costs of actually doing it is, or may not, be worth it, but it would still be neat to see. This by definition is a dichotomous set of tangents. Even if we print our protest boards, and actively march on Washington to stop this 'travesty' (thereby choose a side and act on it)... part of us would still think ... it would have been cool to see. Jurassic Park the concept and the movie ... bad idea, but I'll see the movie. I hope you understand that. Thanks for continuing to share here, and on other comments. Appreciated.Mar 14 2013: Another relevant question to the issue is just how good the regeneration technology can be. Brand makes a point in his talk that the technology wouldn't be perfect, but it would be close enough. While the cloning attempt in 2003 of the bucardo was initially successful, the baby bucardo only survived 10 minutes due to malformations in the lung. While that was 10 years ago and the ability to clone has allegedly increased, is it still right to bring a faulty species back?
Mar 14 2013: Spencer, thanks for your comment. You make a good point. I thought of this as well, but I had to edit the above down to fit the limit of text that the format provided.
As well Brand was showing us the possibility for the pigeon, and said; "... the tail might not be as long as the passenger, but its pretty close".
As you say 'close enough'. Just what does that mean, close enough?
My thought; is it about bringing back an extinct species, or creating a new one, which is what close enough means to me?
Mar 15 2013: I see what you mean about creating a new species that is as close as possible. I also find it interesting to think about the morality of both bringing it back exactly and creating something that's close. Personally, I think most people would support bringing a species back (so an exact match) into the world if we took it out through our own actions. But the morality becomes much more controversial when we're effectively creating a new species. Given reactions to other artificial advancements (i.e cochlear implants) I feel there would be an outcry by some for going to far and "playing God".
gale kooser
Mar 14 2013: A mere 100 yrs is not enough time to alter the natural environment under "normal" conditions. It takes 1000s of yrs.
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To bring back animals that humans have destroyed & caused to become extinct is a wonderful idea. Of course I am a mere pigeon lover & wildlife lover in general. To release them back into the wild is also a wonderful idea, as long as it fits their needs. Helping nature regain some if its balance is always a good thing.
I am not saying there might not be a down side to this but its down side would be much better then other scientific advances I have seen-like the bomb!
Mar 14 2013: Gale, thanks for adding your view to the conversation. The value in a debate is the apposing viewpoints.
I realize I was pushing it a bit with the 100 year point, but the point is still valid. Adaptation of an ecosystem is slow, but it does begin almost immediately. Who is to say what the effect of the the loss of a species on an area at the plant and insect level.
Lets hypothesize a scenario and keep it simplistic; the passenger pigeon disappears, a certain insect it would eat on mass during its migration explodes in population due to not having the passenger around. Another bird or small mammal adapts to include this abundant food source, and begins to thrive. We could even stretch it to consider the predator of this thriving bug munching / pro creating little guy. As we know from our Origin of Species learning in grade school, the ecosystem alters to keep all these populations in check.
This does not take 1000's of years, but generations (decades). Now we reintroduce the passenger on mass. The bug, the bird or small mammal and the predator are all affected.
How have we prioritized? Which species have we considered? Which one is more important?
I will not disagree that a possibility of again seeing a living Passenger pigeon is a wonderful thing, but is it best for what is already there? I have to ask myself if it is our feeling or grief and responsibility over their loss alone, that is the fuel for doing this. I have to question any motive that is single sided. We have seen these mistakes before of introducing species that are not ... or may no longer be ... indigenous to the ecology of an area, for a single reason. We must consider all consequences, and guard against running headlong into a process that may drive another species extinct. Brand actually said in response to Chris' question "They may replace some birds that are there ..." To me, thats a yellow flag of concern.
again, thanks for your comment, and I hope you respond back.Apr 12 2013: I think before we ask should we, let us first know how. While caution is good, choosing to NOT pursue a scientific possibility because we fear the unknown is like resisting believing that the earth is round and NOT the center of the universe...(as far as we know. The universe is so large we can't truly know if we are indeed at the center or not)
Lee Park
Apr 10 2013: Man should evolve to the stage where he realises he needs to start woking with nature, not against it or trying to control it, before he becomes extinct.Apr 9 2013: Not sure if this is a redundant comment, but there are three reasons I doubt it's beneficial:
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A species in decent numbers was a component part of a larger ecosystem when it thrived. The ecosystem adapts when a component species becomes extinct, so there's no way to re-introduce a species the the literal sense once enough time has passed. At best they would be a disruption to the ecosystem they are introduced back into, and definitely not a repair to it.
From what I understand, any attempt at recreating an extinct creature is still just an approximation, DNA-wise, because of the influence of the hosts involved. Even if you could revive a "perfect" male and female from separate source stock, re-establishing enough numbers to maintain viability in the wild would involve so much inbreeding that the resulting gene pool would be compromised anyway.
Higher-order mammals like mammoths may have had behaviors that were taught, not carried by instinct, and without the learned traits that characterized the species at its peak, what would we be restoring but a template without the proper instructions?Apr 8 2013: that was once such technology which helps to build the community to grow positivelyApr 8 2013: Its a difficult question.
i think we should re install the extinct species to harness the environment.
also its important to create a balance in the environment.
i personally as a shooter and use a lot of firearms and guns and ammunition.
earlier every body would prefer hunting..
but nowadays its different.
where i live in india.. there is a lot of hunting which happens..
in competitive sport only eurpoeans manufacturer electronic targets.. and now i found this company which is building.. one and using technology we not only divert the attention of extinction but also give a root cause needs to be addressed..
when ppl have affordable things at home to train on and practice.. the use of guns on animals will be automatically reduced.. its important to channelise the energy
http://www.Elitescorer.comApr 8 2013: Do we have the information needed to assess the potential consequences of ANY science?Apr 6 2013: :) I read, Science is developing the tools towards extinction of species on the planet become extinct. The question becomes; Should we? dyslexia!
In answer to your actual question, "should we rewrite history, probably not but then pandoras box is wide open and cannot be closed, we can either fear change or embrace it"
Apr 6 2013: Thank you for clarifying.
Your point brings up the question regarding "we can either fear change or embrace it";
Does that mean we should not maintain control of our choices as to how change occurs?
- We burn oil, even though we know the consequences, be it right or wrong.
- We develop medicine to save lives, which we believe is right.
We need not fear change, but we should make informed choices regarding change, that's what this conversation is all about.
Do we have the information needed to assess the potential consequences of this science?
That's not fear, just good science.Apr 6 2013: Please watch the following Video, at the bottom of the page, the end section on Watson making medical decisions then I have to ask how many steps away are we from such a computer desciding, promoting, enabeling that it is ethical to carry out medical testing on humans, I mean for the good of mankind?: http://blog.ted.com/2013/04/05/how-did-supercomputer-watson-beat-jeopardy-champion-ken-jennings-experts-discuss/
Apr 6 2013: thanks, but this is off topic
mary T
Apr 6 2013: Do you think the circumstances that led to extinction in the first place would drive a second extinction? Or, are you envisioning samples of species kept in a zoo? I'm pretty sure there is a Twilight Zone episode about this.
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I vote for the carrier pigeon! Let flocks darken the skies!Apr 6 2013: Suggest to de-extinguish Neanderthal man and give them another chance to wipe out Cro-Magnon man (us) and start civilisation all over again.Apr 4 2013: Okay Ladies and Gentleman . Personally I don't think that this is a bad idea because of the arguments I will provide you with.
First of all , if they manage to resurrect / revive the extinct animals , don't you think that they will be able to prevent and avoid the endangered species to become extinct? I mean that will be really fantastic because there will be no more endangered species because they can easily be revived.
Secondly , I think by reviving this EXTINCT animals means that we and our next generation can see for their self the most ancient animals and they will know what the animals in the past really looks like and their behaviour and many more to learn.
Then don't you think this will have a big impact to the economics side? because as we know the one that killing this endangered animals or even the extinct animals. People hunt them because of their beauty, some because of their horns , some because of their skins, some even for their meats, well I say if we can revive this animals afterwards then there will be no fear of extinction and we can sell it to rich people to earn profits to help the country. Isn't that right ladies and gentleman?
Well I think I've already provided you with all the thoughts and arguments in my mind for this time being. Thank you very much !!!!Apr 3 2013: I would agree with most of what you are addressing, however when it comes to probable disaster theories and global science catastrophes, I am not a fan for many reasons, and will share with you a few reasons why. For starters nuclear annihilation fears which permeated the air (and aids) with fear of occurring at any moment during the 80's. the 90's brought the fear of computer controlled and dominated disasters culminating with Y2K to roll into the millennium. Which brings us to 2012 and the fact that some dude in central Mexico got thirsty and tired of hammering out a long count calendar on stone, and end up having the world on pins and needles a half century later?
Now as a species we are beginning to our limits to what we can and cannot control, seen and unseen,micro or macro, we are doing so at exponential speed in multitudes of arenas? How long do you think the shelf life of Google glass will be? How long do you think the eight track players shelf life was?
I think of all the innovations and advancements that have come with precursors and warnings, and think of the neigh sayers and laugh at how fast we become hind sightseers.Apr 2 2013: Managed in the proper context and proven viable to be re inhabitable I think we should for numerous reasons, of which I will only bore you with two. One, the ability to create prehistoric natural world environments here on earth to reverse some of the ecological disasters we have wrought in the name of progress would be beautiful now and for future generations of humans to become involved with in many ways. Gardens of Eden would be nice to have and begin developing now for us to be in awe of and future generations of humans to be amazed with.
Secondly if the is any hope for survival of the human species beyond this planets multitude of ecosystems we need to know how to safely implement species together like soups in a recipe here before we can consider doing it elsewhere like Mars in the next century. The ability to resuscitate DNA of an individual does not amaze me, the ability to safely create and reintroduce an entire species to modern times will be a phenomenal process to witness for us as a species to know what is truly possible.
This coupled with the recent discovery of the Higgs Particle basically should have numerous theologians scratching their collective heads and asses wondering which side of the spiritual coin to stand on? Continue a life emulating a concept of God that seems irrelevant, or become Gods and learn to create our own Garden of Edens? Both pursuits are valid, however, I usually am rendered silent more often with science than religion.
Just a thought,
Apr 3 2013: These scientists are not sure whats going to happen when they introduce extinct DNA to a host. One scientist said that the offspring have defects and they die quickly after birth.There is a reason for that....something is missing in the transference of the DNA. These scientists are not bringing a species back from extinction. They are creating a new species. Bypassing natural selection and evolution could have a catastrophic impact on our ecosystem. The introduction of a mutated germ that can be transmitted from a new species to another species is a possibility. Man has seen in quick, isolated incidents how quickly a pandemic can occur. Playing God and Being God is two different things.
JaiApr 1 2013: I acknowledge we're not discussing dinosaurs, but I believe Jurassic Park explored this question and had a good message. In the first movie, the dinosaurs were made all female so they couldn't reproduce. The characters ended up finding a nest of eggs. The scientists felt they had everything under control, but something slipped by them. The DNA for the dinosaurs was extracted from mosquitoes, and the missing pieces were filled in with frog DNA. Some African frogs can change sex in ubiquitously single-sex environments. So the premise was that nature found a way, because the scientists clearly didn't know everything.
In the second movie, they explore an island of free roaming dinosaurs. Originally the dinosaurs were designed to be lycopene-dependent, the idea being that they would die if they weren't administered lycopene by the scientists. The surprise was that lycopene is found in most plants, and the dinosaurs had flourished. (science is full of surprises)
I really do think that movie was brushing upon a facet of reality. I can see a scientist, amazed by what he knows so far, dive into a project that opens a can of worms, at worst a pandora's box for the planet. In Jurassic Park, Ian Malcolm emphasized that dinosaurs had their time and would be out of place today. He was a proponent of chaos theory - the idea that the smallest changes in initial conditions can yield extremely different outcomes in the end, rendering long-term predictions impossible. With science, we find ourselves in control of things we couldn't dream of a generation ago, and we're going to dive right in and screw things up. We can discuss whether or not we should, but we can't stop the wave of technology. All that's possible will be explored, exploited, sold and monopolized. People will be controlled and will control others. New beings and creatures of all shapes and sizes will be created. The law will be far behind the technology, and enforcement impossible. The best we can do is understand it.Mar 30 2013: This whole argument is not so theoretical as everyone is making it. We brought the peregrine falcon (one of the most beautiful and evolved species on the planet) back from the edge of extinction. In California there was only a handful of birds thirty years ago and now there is a healthy self sustaining population thru the banning of certain pesticides and captive breeding and release of birds. The environment is not so messed up as all of the hand wringers would have you believe. We just have to be careful and watchful. If we brought the passenger pigeon back I'm sure it would do just fine (and provide an additional food source for peregrines by the way). Of more of a concern to me is what happens when they start bringing neanderthals back.
Mar 30 2013: Hey, I'm a Neanderthal and I resemble that remark!
Steve C
Mar 30 2013: A concern of mine is that they're talking about growing, say, a tasmanian devil or what-have-you in the womb of a wolf - something nearly-related. So I'm wondering about inter-species DNA mingling, (we don't un'erstand this stuff yet).
- 0
Also of concern is what they're gonna do with this recently unearthed King of England - is he gonna want his position back?Mar 29 2013: Possibly It's intelligent evolution that we don't even understand, like life is getting ready to revert back to the dinosar age, as the dawn of time starts over again, after mankind blows up his planet over political differences.
.Mar 28 2013: I have no problem with bringing them back since we humans drove 99% of them to extinction. However, where are they going to go? The collective 7.2 billion of us have destroyed most of their habitat, which is typically one of the primary reasons they went extinct in the first place. I don't think we should bring anything back just because we can, especially if they have no quality of life upon their return. No zoo for you, Smilodon.Mar 26 2013: As we move even closer to understanding the truth about life, its origins and where we are heading and as we uncover the myth of religion that should be questioned, should we discuss what benefits science can offer from reintroduction of extent species or our own possible extinction?
With technology allowing accurate and speedy communication in the developed World an open debate would speed this process up by offering people a chance to discuss their fears and misconceptions in relation to the above.
Science is the true leader of all nations and the challenge for mankind must be to better understand the mistakes of the past and the development of our future.
Religion, money and power are aids to survival, mankind is in great need of a more balanced approach to his problems than the one offered by politicians. If we believe there is good in the reintroduction of extinct species then we will embrace the move, if we think we can benefit from it then we will endorse it!Mar 24 2013: It's going to be a tough road to hoe with reintroduction of passenger pigeons back into the wild, assuming de-extinction works. At best, they will be captive in zoos and museums for years. The extinction clock was ticking for the last wild birds around 1890 because of their low numbers. And in captivity they did not produce offspring.Mar 23 2013: Of course there are going to be ecological ramifications if extinct species are reintroduced, but there isn't any way to set up a model to predict them. Is it likely to affect our own survival on the planet. Not likely, I think. So from the standpoint of undoing the damage the human race has wreaked on too many species on our planet, I say yes, let's proceed with caution. Reintroduction isn't likely to be an easy thing to do anyway considering how we have squandered most of the resources these species depended on anyway.Mar 23 2013: This is not so much a matter of ecosystems and the environment and how the species will affect that. It is much larger than that, delving into a realm they should not enter: creation. As God created the world for humans and gave us dominion over it, we realized that the world around us, all things living and unliving, are here for our purposes of life on earth. They do not come with us to the afterlife, nor do they serve a grand purpose in the scheme of things. As they are created by God, we should not ruthlessly kill those living things, but we should not revive them as well. For if there was some peculiar reason that they should still be in existence, God through his grace would have intervened to keep them alive. That is not the case for those animals, and we have no reason to question God's motives, for our intellect is not on His supreme level. Therefore it is not in our right as human beings to "play God" and recreate these species of animals.
Mar 28 2013: Mike, why do you believe God put living organisms (other than humans) on this earth solely "for our purposes?" Perhaps our God-given mission here was to be stewards of the planet instead of rapists? And we DID ruthlessly kill many of the now extinct species, did we not? We therefore played God, right? Should we now consider making amends to God by restoring His creation? What if God does not intervene in circumstances on earth but is leaving it up to us (as stewards)? I don't see any problem with fixing what we've broken, and don't believe God would, either.Mar 22 2013: ya,but inovations should be ecofriendly.then only it ll be usefull for the whole world...................Mar 21 2013: If its planned and not rushed into then maybe. To some extent. If it works. But its not good risking destroying current ecosytems. I think its ok if its not taken too far.Mar 21 2013: As long as they are from our timeline sure, and only if it is from the cause of men. Outside of that I am pretty sure Jurassic Park gave us a good frame of reference of why we should not out of our timeline.Mar 19 2013: I completely agree that it is a "gamble" (in my opinion, very low risk compared to others we are currently engaged in) but, as it obvious, it is human nature to gamble. Many of the greatest of human events were or are based in very high risk gambles and occasionally we lose a round. However, in the case of de-extinction I, not only I think we should, but I think we must.
To be blunt, we owe the biomes that we humans have decimated (or worse) reparation and it is in our own best interests to keep up the biodiversity of the planet. It is my opinion that if we have learned anything from the past gambles, it is some of the things to watch out for. (no one ever dreamed that a few rabbits in Australia would ever be the kind of problem that they are now but we may not do that again (one hopes).Mar 18 2013: Since the beginning of our existence as a species, proto-humans and humans have been concerned with killing huge numbers of animals of many types for food and, more recently, for pleasure. It only seems appropriate that now we are developing the technology to undo the vast amount of damage that we and our long line of ancestors did. In the past several millennia human population has grown, in my opinion, totally out of control causing vast damage to habitats and to the populations of the other species on the planet. It is time for a wakeup call by which we must realize the planet's biosphere must be shared with others for the heath and safety of all beings whatever their niche. De-extinctions should become a major environmental priority across the globe.
As with all human activities, there will be mistakes, dumb errors, and even misuses, yet the net result of revitalizing and re-diversifying the world's biomes seems to me to be one of the most positive and productive humanity can engage in.
Barry Palmer
Mar 19 2013: "the net result of revitalizing and re-diversifying the world's biomes seems to me to be one of the most positive and productive humanity can engage in."
- +2
We have no way of knowing in advance what the net result will be. This project would be a huge gamble.Mar 18 2013: Why bring back an ecosystem that can't survive in the current or future climate changed planet? How do we change such ecosystems to be fast adapters? I would love to see the Moa brought back just to see it studied but it existed in a time when most of my country was forest Oh, and the Haast Eagle, the largest eagle to have once lived, if any of it's DNA could ever be located.Mar 18 2013: I would say no. As much devastation that occurred when they went extinct would repeat itself, causing their environments to be turned upside down again.
Now, if it's an extremely important animal, I would be inclined to say that they should be brought back if possible, but in the most careful, delicate way they could so as to provide as little shock as possible to their respective ecosystems.Mar 17 2013: This premise rather reminds me of the first SciFi story I read as a youngster: "A Sound of Thunder" by Robert Heinlein. In the story, he project how returning from the past with a dead butterfly profoundly affects the timeline of the story's present. Perhaps we should leave extinction alone. While I'm not sure anyone is playing god (IF there really is a god), but we would be manipulating existing species and who can tell how that will alter the future of our planet.
Mar 21 2013: you are talking about the butterfly effect and in it basically says that we should not change the past because we do not know if or how it will change the present/ future. This causes backlash against the same theory because the change can be good or bad if there is even a changeMar 16 2013: I method of cloning and things like that is immoral. Science shouldn't play God, it is not their role


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Trench Setter™ Barbie® Doll
This fashionista sets the trends in a sassy white trench coat printed with Robert Best's illustrated designs, a white cotton shirt, and a short black skirt. Her blond hair cascades effortlessly across her shoulders. Black vinyl purse, hammered-look earrings, and black stiletto pumps complete her ensemble.
Fashion designed especially for the Silkstone® Barbie® doll body. Not for use with other Barbie® dolls.
For the adult collector.
Production doll may vary from the photo shown above. Mattel reserves the right to modify the fashion/fabrics, sculpt, hair color/style, and accessories. Doll cannot stand alone as shown.

subset: commoncrawl


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A tense illegal arms deal in a Berlin hotel suddenly descends into mayhem after a "ghost" agent named Jong-seong appears on the scene. Secretly watching the deal go down is embattled South Korean intelligence chief Jin-soo, the North Koreans and the US CIA, who are all left trying to decode whether the ghost is a double-agent or taking the fall for a more insidious plot. Myung-soo a young but notorious North Korean agent jumps into these treacherous waters to investigate loyalties of all involved and begins to implicate Jong-seong's wife, Jung-hee, a translator at the North Korean embassy in the German capital. Caught between his love of country and his wife, Jong-Seong must quickly prepare to make the ultimate sacrifice in this thrilling tale of political intrigue.
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Nobody does interactive picture books like French artist Hervé Tullet. Following the success of his 2011 bestseller Press Here, Tullet has become a bit of a picture book sensation, encouraging the littlest readers to poke and shake books that seem to respond to their command. The dots from Press Here return on September 16 in Mix It Up!, but this time they've got something to show us about mixing and creating colors.
Tullet's Help! We Need a Title! came out in May of this year and took his interactive elements to a metafictional level, subtly provoking questions about what a book is. What's an author, and where do ideas come from? The scribbly, mixed-media characters in Help! seem to come straight from a child's mind, but when the book opens, they're all completely unprepared. Surely the reader expects a story . . . so what do you do when it hasn't been written yet? (Who's in charge around here, anyway?)
This fall's crop of picture books includes several more metafictional titles, encouraging fearless and unfettered creativity while challenging the relationships between readers, listeners, authors and characters.
Before snuggling down with this book, I highly recommend fixing yourself and your lap listener some PB&J sandwiches, then sit back and let the giggles begin. Everything starts out as planned in Louie's story—"Once upon a time, little Louie went skipping merrily along."—but a messy reader ruins everything. First a glob of jelly plops right in Louie's way, and then peanut butter lands on his face . . . and as the book gets dirtier and dirtier, Louie gets more and more upset with the reader/offender. Fortunately Louie and the reader come to an understanding. Perfect's boring anyway. Coming October 7.
This time, the reader is hero, not villain. The gutter of this unexpected adventure has a mind of its own, and when Bella's dog disappears between the pages, she finds herself in an escalating conundrum reminiscent of the events in Jeffers' Stuck. Soon the gutter has sucked up everyone in the book, and it's up to the reader to set them free. We're asked to shake the book—keep shaking!—until everyone reappears . . . almost as good as new. Coming September 30.
Just as you'd expect, Novak's debut picture book has absolutely zero pictures—not even an author photo on the jacket flaps. This innovative story is not really a story so much as a challenge to parents, to drop the ego and get silly. The concept works, though, as it calls into question the real balance of power in the relationship between reader and listener. When a reader has to read what is written—no matter what is written, no matter how ridiculous or how little it makes sense—things can get very, very silly. Coming September 30.
It seems to be the year of the mother-daughter mystery. I'm not talking about cozy mother-daughter sleuthing teams, solving crimes amid witty banter and little squabbles. No, these ladies are about as trustworthy as any Gone Girl character, and it's rare the reader knows what they've got up their sleeves.
It's the multigenerational bad girls club, and it's easily this year's hottest mystery trend.
Mind of Winter by Laura Kasischke
Paranoia reaches new heights in this psychological thriller. Holly Judge wakes up on Christmas morning, suddenly convinced that there's something very wrong with her adopted teenage daughter. "Something followed them home Siberia," she thinks, and starts ticking off all the disturbing evidence. An obsessive and twisted tale where reality threatens to slip away. Read an excerpt.
I Love You More by Jennifer Murphy
Oliver Lane's murder looks like a simple case of a woman scorned—in this case, his wife, Diana. But investigators soon discover Oliver had two more families as well. So who really killed Oliver? Multiple points of view keep this thrilling mystery from every giving too much away. The most interesting POV comes from Oliver's daughter Picasso, who has seen plenty. Watch out for these ladies, and whatever you do, don't cross them. Read our review.
Don't Try to Find Me by Holly Brown
It's not initially clear who the victim of Brown's debut is. After 14-year-old Marley runs away from home, her mother launches a public campaign for her return. But people are fickle, and soon Marley's mom finds herself the target of public scrutiny. Why did Marley leave? Who is to blame? Secrets upon secrets. Read our review.
Dear Daughter by Elizabeth Little
This book's victim is pretty black-and-white, as Janie Jenkins was incarcerated 10 years ago for the murder of her mother. She's just been released from prison on a technicality—but she's also innocent and in need of some answers. Debut author Little has a great voice, and I wish her unapologetic heroine was my best friend. Look for a review in our August issue.
The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
This is another high-intensity thriller than unfolds through multiple points of view, but I can promise you'll never see this ending coming. The story jumps between events before and after Mia Dennett's abduction, when she was held in a cabin in the woods by a guy whose motivations don't quite make sense. Mia's mom is in on the investigation, and that's all I'm going to say about it. Look for a Q&A in our August issue.
Are you set for vacation reading this summer? If not, we're here to help! Follow the flowchart below to your ultimate summer read. Click on the graphic for an interactive version that will lead you more information about each book, or download it here.
What are you reading this summer?
It starts with one teenage girl—the severe tics, the twitching. Then it spreads to another, then another, then another. Is it a virus? Anxiety? Are the girls faking it? Soon, a dozen or more girls are twitching, and mass hysteria has an entire town in a panic.
I could be talking about the notorious Salem Witch Trials, the girls in LeRoy, New York, in 2012—or the two novels coming out this summer, one for adults and one for teen readers. Both novels were sparked by the mass hysteria in 2012 and tell the same general story—with some key differences. Both blend the thrills of a plague narrative with the psychological tension of paranoia and guilt.
We'll never forget how Megan Abbott addressed the cunning powerplays and precarious hierarchies of high-school girl world in her dark and twisted novel, Dare Me. In her next adult novel, The Fever, coming June 17 from Little, Brown, teenage girls fall one by one to unexplained seizures, sending the town into chaos. There's something distinctly sexual about the girls' twitching, and Abbott's dreamlike prose gives these events a haunting, disturbing quality.
YA novel Conversion by Katherine Howe, coming July 1 from Putnam, heads in a more supernatural direction and makes the satisfying connection between past and present twitching. Howe is a direct descendent of two of the women accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials, which has inspired her before. Conversion moves between Salem Village in 1706 and an all-girl's high school in Danvers, Massachusetts, in 2012. When girls start twitching and people start panicking, a parallel is drawn: Danvers was once Salem Village.
It seems the mass hysteria narrative is catching. I suspect we will see several more novels featuring twitchy girls before the end of the year.
Though William Shakespeare's exact date of birth went unrecorded, it's typically observed on April 23, the day he died on 52 years later—a neat piece of symmetry for such a literary life.
In the years since, the scant biographical facts available about the poet have combined with his singular status to ignite countless imaginations. This spring brings three additions to the lengthy list of Shakespearean tomes.
How did the son of a glovemaker rise to the heights of literary fame? This question has engendered many hypothetical answers over the years—including the well-known assertion that Shakespeare did not, in fact, write the plays he is credited with. Historical novelist Jude Morgan comes up with his own Bardic backstory in The Secret Life of William Shakespeare (St. Martin's), which opens in 1582, shortly before Shakespeare meets his wife-to-be Ann Hathaway. Morgan's Shakespeare adores his father and has a close relationship with his sister, Joan. He also feels a genuine passion for Ann, one that competes with his calling as a poet.
In Dark Aemilia (Picador), we move from investigating the source of Shakespeare's genius to unveiling the inspiration for the "Dark Lady" of his sonnets, the mistress whose "hair is nothing like the sun." Author Sally O'Reilly posits that the woman in question is a real-life contemporary, Aemilia Lanier—the fourth woman to ever publish a book of poetry in English. Lanier's biography is as sketchy as Shakespeare's own, leaving O'Reilly plenty of room to weave in a tumultuous romance with fellow poet Will while he's out and about on the London theater scene.
Finally, for those who don't take their Shakespeare too seriously, there's William Shakespeare's The Jedi Doth Return, the final Star Wars/Shakespeare mashup from Ian Doescher. The first, Verily, a New Hope, was a surprise hit back in 2013, and fans can't seem to get enough of the Star Wars story told in iambic pentameter.
If none of these suits your fancy, hold on until 2016, when Hogarth books will launch the "Hogarth Shakespeare Collection," a series that allows modern-day authors to turn several of Shakespeare's most popular plays into novels.
Those who prefer a "just the facts, ma'am," approach might try Germaine Greer's 2008 biography of Ann Hathaway or Stephen Greenblatt's National Book Award Finalist Shakespeare biography, Will in the World.
What's your favorite Shakespeare-inspired work? Or do you believe the play's the thing?
Last week, the New York Times published a piece in the Sunday Review from Amy Chua and Jed Rubenfeld based on their new book, The Triple Package, a study of why different immigrant groups succeed or fail in America. Though the book has been criticized for being "soft science" and/or measuring things that are very difficult to quantify (something the authors point out themselves in the Times piece) one statistic stood out to me:
Immigrants from many West Indian and African countries, such as Jamaica, Ghana, and Haiti, are climbing America's higher education ladder, but perhaps the most prominent are Nigerians. Nigerians make up less than 1 percent of the black population in the United States, yet in 2013 nearly one-quarter of the black students at Harvard Business School were of Nigerian ancestry; over a fourth of Nigerian-Americans have a graduate or professional degree, as compared with only about 11 percent of whites.
Those are some astonishing numbers…but perhaps they're less so if you've been paying attention to literature lately. Although writers of African origin have been having a moment in recent years, it's not an exaggeration to say that Nigerian emigré authors are taking center stage. Don't believe it? How about Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Teju Cole, Chris Abani, Okey Ndibie, Uzodinma Iweala,* Helen Oyeyemi, and Taiye Selasie,* most of whom are now based mainly in the U.S. or U.K.
Anyone looking for more perspective on the Nigerian immigrant path should pick up Adichie's most recent novel, Americanah, which comes out in paperback next month—its heroine, Ifemelu, goes from cash-strapped immigrant student to an acclaimed academic.
*not Nigerian-born, but of Nigerian descent.
While reading an interview with Eleanor Catton in The Guardian after her recent Booker win, I came across this interesting quote:
It is the peculiar constellation of her age, gender and the particular nature of The Luminaries that has, she believes, provoked "a sense of irritation from some critics–that I have been so audacious to have taken up people's time by writing a long book. There's a sense in there of: 'Who do you think you are? You can't do that.' "
Think Elizabeth Gilbert's The Signature of All Things (512 pages), Kate Atkinson's Life After Life (544 pages), Nicola Griffith's Hild (560 pages), Amy Tan's The Valley of Amazement (604 pages), Marisha Pessl's Night Film (624 pages), Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch (784 pages) and Minae Mizumura's A True Novel (880 pages).
Here's your nifty visual aid:
Writing a long novel not only asks a lot of the reader, but is also a mark of ambition—something that is not always looked on kindly when coming from a woman. But if this year's output is any indication, female writers aren't letting themselves be held back.
What was your favorite long novel published this year?
A couple months ago, I commented on the creepy timeliness of Koethi Zan's debut thriller, The Never List. Coming July 16, The Never List tells a graphic, terrifying story with details similar to the real-life situation experienced by the three Ohio women who were rescued after being held prisoner for 10 years. Read our review of The Never List!
But as I look into the fall mystery titles, it's clear that The Never List was just a starting shot to what looks to be the most disturbing trend of the year: abduction thrillers. In September alone, three blockbuster thrillers bear distinct resemblance the terribly sad stories of Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight. Each imparts graphic, intimate details of the mental and physical state of a woman held captive by a sadistic predator.
Alex by Pierre LeMaitre • MacLehose Press • 9/3
When Alex Prévost is kidnapped, beaten and trapped in a wooden cage hanging from the ceiling of an abandoned building, her only hope of escape is Police Commandant Camille Verhoeven. As Camille struggles to find the girl and her captor, he uncovers Alex's unusual past. With a 150,000-copy first printing, this is positioned to be a big one.
The Edge of Normal by Carla Norton • Minotaur • 9/10
Norton's true crime bestseller Perfect Victim: The True Story of the Girl in the Box was placed on the FBI's Behavioral Sciences Unit reading list. Now she steps into fiction with the story of Reeve LeClaire, who escaped her kidnapping six years ago. When she's asked to mentor another girl who experienced a similar situation, it's clear that the girl needs much more than guidance—she needs a protector from the villain that still watches.
Others of My Kind by James Sallis • Bloomsbury • 9/10
From the author of Drive comes the gritty, almost desensitized story of Jenny Rowan, who at age 8 was abducted and kept for years in a box underneath a bed. Years after her escape, a detective comes to her home and asks for her help with another young survivor. Of the four, this one might be the toughest.
Trends like this remind me of when I interviewed Therese Anne Fowler, who began writing Z, her novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, long before Jazz Age tales were back in vogue. Fowler had called it "radio waves in the zeitgeist," but this sadistic kidnapping thriller trend, coupled with coincidental recent events, pricks the spine.
Readers, I truly want to know your opinion: Why do you think all four of these authors—and probably many more—wrote on such similar topics? It this just a residual response to the popularity of last year's Room?
Do you think you'll be checking out any of these books?
A few years ago, YA lit fans were calling for more sci-fi, and it's safe to say that the genre answered. With YA's built-in fanbase for apocalyptic thrillers, the opportunities were endless: zombies, contagions, aliens, interplanetary romances and doomsdays that can be thwarted only by 16-year-olds.
Characters in high-action teen lit are right at home a hundred years in the future on Mars (Losers in Space, Black Hole Sun), surviving on space stations (Glow, Mothership), waking from stasis to discover a strange new future world (Across the Universe, A Long, Long Sleep) and thwarting dominate species (The Lunar Chronicles).
But this summer, it gets personal.
YA sci-fi comes to the home front as alien invasions sweep this summer's crop of teen lit. Naturally, many are set post-invasion, because honestly, YA dystopia will never die.
Here are a few of the big ones:
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey (Putnam, 5/7)
Aliens quickly and mercilessly destroy the majority of the human race in attacks called "Waves." The few survivors include Cassie, who runs along an abandoned highway in search of her missing brother, completely unaware that the aliens' most terrifying strike is yet to come. Think The Host, only much better. Read our review from the May issue.
Icons by Margaret Stohl (Little, Brown, 5/7)
The aliens in this one barely show their faces—but that's what makes them creepy. The survivors of this post-alien invasion world are so scared of their overlords that they perpetuate the aliens' horrors willfully. Four teens with a special immunity to the aliens are Earth's only hope. Fans of Stohl's Beautiful Creatures series will enjoy this one.
In the After by Demetria Lunetta (HarperTeen, 6/25)
Amy and a toddler she calls "Baby" survive after aliens invade Earth and kill almost all of the population. But when Amy and Baby are miraculously rescued, everything is not as it seems, and she begins to discover the truth behind "Them."
Neptune's Tears by Susan Waggoner (Holt, 6/25)
Call this one an alien invasion of the heart. Set in London in the year 2218, an empath named Zee falls in love with David, a member of a mysterious alien race. Sure, there's some fighting, but it's mostly fighting for their love. An alien invasion tale for the romantic set.
And one more to look forward to: The fourth book in Pittacus Lore's I Am Number Four series, The Fall of Five, comes out on August 27.
Are you a fan of YA sci-fi? Are you excited for the upcoming thrilling alien reads?
I can't tell you how many conversations I've had about erotic romance over the past year. How many people—in real life and via social media—have asked: I loved Fifty Shades . . . but what can I read next? Or: Why are millions of people reading this trash? Everyone has an opinion about the popularity of erotic romance. My two cents? I just want people to find a book that suits their taste.
I will say that I've grown a bit bored of the whole innocent-young-woman-is-seduced-by-a-billionaire plotline. So I was really excited to learn of S.E.C.R.E.T. by L. Marie Adeline, which gives the trope a feminist spin: What if the women control the fantasies? And I was intrigued by the novel's New Orleans setting. Forget boardrooms in big-city skyscrapers. Can you think of a better background for erotic romance than the French Quarter?
In a guest blog post, Adeline explains how she came to write erotic romance in the first place—and why her book stands out in a crowded market. If you've been on the fence about reading erotic romance, I hope you pick up S.E.C.R.E.T., which is on sale today.
Embracing the "what ifs" of erotic romance
By L. Marie Adeline
As a writer I always start with "what if." When I set out to write S.E.C.R.E.T., a book about a woman named Cassie Robichaud who's on a potent sexual journey, my "what if" had to do with my own reluctance to write erotica. The question became "What if you got over that fear and reached a wider audience, one now so clearly illuminated by the success of Fifty Shades of Grey?"
I'd always written about women's struggles with intimacy. But I'd mostly get my characters to the bedroom doorway, then mutter, "Okay. Bye. Have fun. I'll catch up with you later." Maybe I'd linger for a kiss, but rarely did I watch it go down. Why? What if my idea of good (or bad) sex didn't resonate with readers? What if my character's proclivities were ridiculed?
When Fifty Shades began its bestseller climb, I had been working on a financial advice book. My editor basically dared me to man up (or woman up), and try my hand at erotica, and, well, I did. Following close upon the heels of my first literary "what if" came other questions:
What if my character wasn't a very young woman but was a little older? What if I gave the story a feminist angle? What if a woman could learn to stay emotionally detached to men she's sexually attracted to, and what if she could learn to be sexually attracted to men to whom she is emotionally attached? What if other savvier women taught her how to do that?
That's what I feel differentiates S.E.C.R.E.T. from other novels in this genre. In my book, women help other women develop better sexual attitudes towards their partners.
In S.E.C.R.E.T., Cassie is recruited by a secret society of women in New Orleans that helps her overcome her sexual blocks. The group orchestrates nine daring sexual fantasies over the course of one year. With the group's support, Cassie becomes more alive to herself. It's not that Cassie doesn't "fall" for some of these incredible men, but her guide, Matilda, is there to warn her of the pitfalls of mixing lust with love. Wouldn't it be great if we all had a Matilda to tell us the truth about the Heathcliffs, the Rochesters and the Christian Greys? In Matilda's mind, the men in S.E.C.R.E.T. are fine for sex. Perfect, in fact. But for true and lasting love, not so much. And Cassie needs to hear that from another woman who's been there, done them.
That's not to say Cassie isn't on a romantic journey as well. There's this guy, see, and of course it's complicated . . . but in S.E.C.R.E.T., the erotic and romantic are explored separately before they finally, hopefully, come together at the end.
Here's the key: For Cassie to have uninhibited sex with these fantasy men, she needs support and guidance from other women who overcame the same fears, the same reluctance, the same self-doubts Cassie has. She needs to see that women who take big risks often reap great rewards. She needs to be gently nudged out of her head and into the bedroom. The women in S.E.C.R.E.T. carved a path, and support Cassie, and frankly, that's what E.L. James and other daring erotica writers have done for me. And for that, I'm grateful.
Thank you, L. Marie! For more on S.E.C.R.E.T. (the first in a series), visit this website or Facebook page.


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FaceBook brings their own Smart Lists and you might not care about Google+ anymore. The U.S. Department of Justice launches a criminal investigation against eBay and their dealings with Craigslist.org. Plus, we experience a radio dramatization of Return of the Jedi, since the Star Wars Blu-Ray is coming and Brian can't wait!


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Spring 2013 News Release Archive
Kent Salem Holds Convocation, Pinning Ceremony For 2013 Nursing Grads Kent State University at Salem recently held its convocation and pinning ceremony for its 2013 nursing graduates.
Kent State East Liverpool Recognizes Nursing Students Prior to the end of the semester, Kent State University at East Liverpool held its annual pinning ceremony at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort for the 2013 graduating class.
Kent State Holds CARES Open House Kent State University at East Liverpool is partnering with the University of Cincinnati to conduct a research study on children living in East Liverpool, or the surrounding area, since birth. Children between the ages of 7 and 9 years are the target for this study.
Commencement Ceremonies Held at Kent State University's Columbiana County Campuses Kent State University at East Liverpool and Kent State University at Salem each held commencement ceremonies tonight, during which Dean Dr. Steve Nameth presented diplomas to more than 200 graduates who participated in the two events.
Kent State Salem Students Honored at Annual Awards Ceremony; Lou and Kerry Ramunno Receive Friends of the Campus Award Kent State University at Salem recently held its annual awards ceremony, during which students were recognized for their academic excellence, scholastic achievements and service to the campus.
OTA Students Participate in Community Beautification Project Students of the Kent State University at East Liverpool Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program showed off their green thumbs for the fourth consecutive year.
25th Annual Wall of Fame Honors Banquet Held Kent State University at East Liverpool held its 25th annual Wall of Fame Honors Banquet last Friday at the East Liverpool Country Club. A dinner program was held to honor students and this year's Wall of Fame inductees.
Michael Parkes, John McCord to Address Graduates of Kent State's Columbiana County Campuses Dr. Steve Nameth, Dean of Kent State University Columbiana County campuses, is pleased to announce this year's commencement speakers. They will include Michael Parkes, speaking at the East Liverpool campus ceremony, and John McCord, addressing graduates at the Salem campus ceremony.
Kent State Students Earn Insurance Industry Scholarships Three students from Kent State University at Salem received scholarships during the recent Ohio Insurance Institute's Insurance Education Day in Columbus.
8th Annual Environmental Justice Conference Winners Announced A standing room only crowd listened to Assistant Dean Susan Rossi's welcome at the eighth annual Environmental Justice Earth Day Conference on the Kent State University East Liverpool campus on April 20. More than 200 people attended this year's conference activities.
Radiology Students from Kent State Salem Finish First in Competition Kent State University at Salem was well-represented earlier this month at the Ohio Society of Radiologic Technologists annual meeting in Columbus as several students took top honors in three separate competitions.
Kent State Salem to Hold Flash Dash: A Challenging 5K Obstacle Race for All Ages Kent State University at Salem will hold its first-ever Flash Dash 5K race, which will take place May 18 at the campus.
Southern Local 8th Graders Visited KSU at Salem Southern Local eighth graders recently visited Kent State's Salem campus for a taste of college life. The students selected courses in advance and were handed course schedules upon arrival.
Kent State Salem Observing Earth Week with Campus Activities Kent State University at Salem will observe Earth Week with a full slate of activities, demonstrations and presentations on Thursday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Alternative Spring Break Comes To Columbiana County Students from across the Kent State University eight-campus system visited Columbiana County as part of the University's Alternative Spring Break program. The week-long event paired teams of college students with area non-profit organizations and each day, students volunteered at various worksites in the community doing a range of activities.
Interview Preparation - Be Ready to Take the Next Step! Kent State University at East Liverpool will hold an interview presentation workshop on Wednesday, April 17 and April 24 in room 208 located in the Mary Patterson building.
Wall of Fame Honors Banquet to be Held May 3 Kent State University at East Liverpool will hold its 25th annual Wall of Fame Honors Banquet at the East Liverpool Country Club on Friday, May 3, at 5:30 p.m. to honor outstanding students and this year's Wall of Fame inductees.
ONA Representatives Discuss Professional Development with ADN Students Representatives from the Ohio Nurses Association recently visited Kent State University at East Liverpool to discuss professional development and expectations of registered nurses within a professional organization.
Little Beaver Creek, Groundwater and Trees are Slated to be Topics of Discussion Little Beaver Creek, groundwater and trees are slated to be topics of discussion during Kent State University at East Liverpool's Earth Day Environmental Justice Conference. The annual environmental conference is Saturday, April 20 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Main Classroom Building, located at 400 E. Fourth St.
Educational Forum and Town Hall Presentation Held for Area Residents and Tax Experts Congressman Bill Johnson was welcomed to the Kent State University Salem campus by Dean Steve Nameth on April 4. The congressman was on site for "Mineral Rights: Unraveling Federal Taxation," an educational forum and town hall presentation for area residents and tax experts.
Education Is Key as Ohio Insurance Industry Launches Insuring Ohio Futures Career Awareness Program Insurance companies in Ohio face a dramatic shortage of career professionals, a talent gap that could harm the industry's standing as an economic engine for the state.
Kent State Creative Writers Hold Fiction Reading Students from Dr. Patti Swartz's fiction reading class enjoyed the course so much they decided to continue meeting monthly to share their work, without receiving class credit.
Book Sale to Benefit Salem Campus Library & Honors Club If you're beginning to plan your summer getaway, you may want to consider your reading material. And, just in time, the Kent State Salem campus is holding a used book sale that guarantees something for everyone.
AITP – Kent State Columbiana County Student Chapter A student chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) is now open for Kent State University students from the Salem and East Liverpool campuses.
Student Essay & Poster Submissions Wanted for Earth Day Environmental Justice Conference Student essay and poster submissions from college and secondary students about the environment and environmental justice issues are invited for the 9th Annual Earth Day Environmental Justice Conference at Kent State University Campus at East Liverpool.
Career Fair Held for PTA & OTA Students More than 45 second year Physical Therapist Assistant and Occupational Therapy Assistant students recently attended a career fair held at Kent State University at East Liverpool.
Kent State University Holds OTA Fieldwork Presentation The Ohio Occupational Therapy Association, Youngstown-Warren district, recently met at Kent State University at East Liverpool. Academic Fieldwork Coordinator Nina Sullivan gave an hour long presentation on The Fieldwork Educator's Guide to a Successful Internship.
Want to get involved on campus? Salem SGO Elections to be Held Soon. If so, the Student Government Organization (SGO) will be holding elections soon for officers for the 2013-2104 academic year. To be an officer students must be enrolled at least 6 credit hours at Kent State University at Salem, be in good standing and have a minimum 2.25 cumulative grade point average.
Centofanti Gift to Kent State University Helps Complete Health and Science Wing at Salem Campus Kent State University President Lester A. Lefton accepted a $700,000 commitment today from the James and Coralie Centofanti Foundation that will be used to complete the Health and Sciences Wing on the campus of Kent State University at Salem. Pending approval by the Kent State Board of Trustees, the wing will be named the James and Coralie Centofanti Hall.
Kent State University Gospel Choir Coming to Salem Kent State University's Gospel Choir will perform a free concert on Saturday, March 2, at 4 p.m. at the Kent State City Center in Salem.
Wall of Fame Nomination & Scholarship Deadline- Feb. 26 The East Liverpool Campus Wall of Fame Committee is pleased to announce that the annual campus Wall of Fame Awards Dinner will be held on Friday, May 3.
High School Students Invited to Become College Students Area high school students and their parents are invited to an information session to learn more about the Seniors2Sophomores program at on Thursday, Feb. 21, at 5:30 p.m. in Room 134 of the Kent State at Salem campus, located at 2491 St. Route 45.
Kent State Offers Bachelors Program for Registered Nurses Information sessions will be held at Kent State's Salem and East Liverpool campuses for registered nurses who are interested in earning bachelor degrees in nursing.
2013 Wall of Fame Nomination & Scholarships The East Liverpool Campus Wall of Fame Committee is pleased to announce that the annual campus Wall of Fame Awards Dinner will be held on Friday, May 3.
Architecture Students Design Habitat for Humanity Dwellings in Columbiana County Fourth-year students from the College of Architecture and Environmental Design may one day see their concepts take shape in the form of houses built by Habitat for Humanity of Northern Columbiana County.
Advisory Boards Ready for 2013 Dean Stephen Nameth hosted a reception to kick off the new year for the Advisory Boards from the East Liverpool and Salem campuses. He thanked the members for their dedicated service to the college and their willingness to help plan for the future.
Join the Kent State Salem Communiversity Choir! Do you like to sing? Join the Kent State Salem Communiversity Choir!
AM Classes Canceled for KSU East Liverpool & KSU Salem Snow Closing


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CRAWFORD – The East Oktibbeha High School Titans and the Ethel High School Tigers were teams fighting for their first win in the region this season.
The game was pivotal for the Titans, as this was the home opener of the 2012 football season. East Oktibbeha coach Randy Brooks talked with his players before the game to express the importance of this game.
"This is big," Brooks said. "This is our first game, and we need to start off strong."
The game featured two outstanding quarterbacks on both sides. Ethel signal caller Bobby Potts took over on offense in the first drive after Ethel recovered an onside kick fumbled by East Oktibbeha to open the play. Potts started the game completing his first three passes of the game, including his 17-yard touchdown pass to receiver Markie Johnson to put the Tigers up 6-0 early in the first quarter. The drive was the only drive in the first quarter to end with a score, and the first quarter ended with Ethel leading 6-0.
Turnovers seemed to be an early factor in this game as Ethel forced two turnovers within the first 6 minutes of the game.
Brooks has thoughts about taking advantage of the Ethel miscues.
"We have to capitalize on opportunities when they are presented to us," Brooks said. "We cannot afford to get down on ourselves if we turn the ball over. We have to keep playing."
Early in the second quarter, the Titans proved that they would not be easy to beat at home.
Justin Williams had his own impact on the game behind center for East Oktibbeha in the second quarter to show that Potts was not the only quarterback on the field that could play football. After a long offensive drive, Williams powered through the Ethel defensive line for a 4-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 6-6. Immediately after, the East Oktibbeha defense stepped up in a major way by stripping the ball from Potts and returned the fumble for a 12-yard touchdown by Dion Clanton. After a successful extra point, the Titans found themselves up by seven points with just less than 10 minutes left in the half.
Williams and Potts both scored later in the quarter, putting their respective touchdown numbers at two each. Williams ran a quarterback draw for 11 yards to put the Titans up by a score of 19-6. Soon after, on fourth and 10 from the East Oktibbeha 22-yard line, Potts connected again with Markie Johnson, showing his clutch passing abilities. The score at halftime was 19-12 with East Oktibbeha in the lead.
The lone score in the third quarter was a 5-yard run by Potts, making the score 19-18 in favor of the Titans. However, in the fourth quarter, turnovers yet again presented an issue for East Oktibbeha. The Titans began the fourth quarter by fumbling the ball, their fifth turnover of the night. Ethel then drove down the field, with the drive capped by a 3-yard touchdown run by fullback Ta'Boris Kimbrough. With 10 minutes left in the game, East Oktibbeha was losing for the first time since early in the second quarter.
The clock ticked down, and both teams were shut down on their next drives. Just when the Titan sideline was beginning to put their heads down, Williams showed why he is the leader of his team. He completed a 35-yard pass to receiver Juwan Roberts with just under 6 minutes to go in the game.
On defense, Lanathan Bell shut down the Ethel offense, forcing the Tigers to turn the ball over on downs with just over 4 minutes left in the game.
With a 25-24 lead, the Titans put away the Ethel High Tigers with an 11-yard touchdown run, his third rushing touchdown of the evening. After a successful two-point conversion, the game ended with a 33-24 victory for the Titans, improving their region record to 1-1.
Wide receiver Jermaine Gillespie had his own remarks on the win.
"It was a big game and we wanted to win," said Gillespie.
The quarterback battle ended with a victory for East Oktibbeha. In regards to the win, quarterback Williams had simple thoughts.
"I'm speechless," Williams said. "This was a great win."
The Titans play their rival, Lowndes County on the road next Friday. The Titans have played the first four games on the road, and will end their season playing four out of their last seven games at home.
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Storm strikes areaBy Darren Marcy
Staff Writer | July 04,2014
A large tree crashed into an apartment building, above, on Washington Street in Rutland during the intense storm Thursday evening. At right, Rutland Fire Chief Robert Schlachter checks on a barrier that inflates when the water rises to its level. The boom was laid in front of the downtown parking deck during the storm.A fierce thunderstorm pounded the Rutland region early Thursday evening with strong winds and a torrential downpour knocking out power to thousands. The storm also pelted the area with another round of damaging hail.
The storm was so intense it knocked a massive tree into an apartment building in Rutland, severely damaging it.
Scott Whittier, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Burlington, said parts of Rutland County took the brunt of the storm.
Poultney sustained so much damage that the town canceled all its Independence Day festivities scheduled for today, said Town Manager Jonas Rosenthal.
Its a mess; we have no power, Rosenthal said. Everything is canceled.
(The storm) brought two rounds of heavy thunderstorms right across Rutland, Whittier said. It ended up producing hail of 1 inch and greater in Rutland and in some of the immediate suburbs.
He estimated wind gusts at a minimum of 60 to 70 mph.
The Poultney area was hit particularly hard with trees down, utility poles snapped and thousands without power.
Just after 8 p.m., Vermont State Police reported Route 30 impassable through the entire town of Poultney because of trees and wires down. Other roads were also blocked.
Some structures were damaged as well, with at least one chimney toppled at Dr. Mike Scovners office on Main Street in Poultney.
Green Mountain Power reported thousands of outages.
GMP spokeswoman Dorothy Schnure said Poultney, where wind gusts in excess of 70 mph were reported, was the hardest hit.
Weve got multiple poles down, wires down, she said at about 7:30 p.m. Theres a lot going on in Poultney.
At 9:30 p.m. the utility reported 9,185 customers without power, more than 3,700 of which were in Rutland County. Bennington County had more than 2,300 outages and more than 1,600 customers lost power in Windham County.
Hundreds of the outages were reported in West Rutland and Rutland City.
Rutland was damaged by the same storm cell coming through, but to a lesser extent, she said.
Rutland Fire Chief Robert Schlachter said his crews were kept hopping, but all the calls ended up being trees into wires. Some resulted in small fires but no structure fires were reported.
One large tree broke in two places and fell on an apartment building at the corner of Nickwackett and Washington street.
The city also put out its water barrier across the front of the downtown parking deck, which prevented water from flowing down into the facility.
The most widespread impacts were the power failures.
Schnure said GMP had 55 of its own two-person line crews out, along with 32 contract line crews and 50 contract tree crews. She said further outages were possible as the storm system moved through the state.
The utility said it would not have power restored to everyone until the end of today.
Whittier said the heavy rainfall and thunderstorms were widespread across south central Vermont with the most damaging winds and large hail confined basically from Poultney through Rutland and getting into portions of western Windsor County.
Whittier said there were thunderstorms in the northern part of the state, but not as severe.
The genesis for the latest storm can be traced to several days of humid weather.
Weve been in this humid air mass for the last three or four days (and) were finally getting a disturbance that came through New York and has lifted across Vermont, Whittier said.
Reporters Bruce Edwards and Gordon Dritschilo contributed to this story.MORE IN Local & StateRecovery takes time, patience and a desire to change. Full StoryMayor Louras wants the city to have a better idea on what to pay its department heads. Full StoryThe Rutland Town Select Board plans to appoint a new member next week who will serve until a... Full Story
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