To Clone or Not to Clone?

There are many things I sit on the fence about such as the death penalty or a rally to get Christmas presents for prison inmates but one of the ones I still haven't quite picked a side about is Human Cloning.



Fine, stand there in your little white lab coat and your freakishly powered rubber gloves and clone bacteria and all that other biological stuff but do we really REALLY have to clone humans?

The meaning of Human Cloning supplied by Wikipedia:

Human cloning is the creation of a genetically identical copy of a human. It does not usually refer to monozygotic multiple births, human cell or tissue reproduction. The ethics of cloning is an extremely controversial issue. The term is generally used to refer to artificial human cloning; human clones in the form of identical twins are commonplace, with their cloning occurring during the natural process of reproduction.

'The ethics of cloning is an extremely controversial issue'... you don't say?!

I can already see the topic of cloning joining the list of 'What not to talk about on your first date' but I feel strongly about the fact that it needs to be discussed and not only left up to the man in the white lab coat. Its fast becoming a hard reality of our existence and is inevitable.

Instead of going on and on about this I have compiled a list of personal pro's and con's that I will update regularly.

Cons:

1. Gross on so many levels
2. No! I don't want another Lady Gaga in the world
3. Who the hell made you god? {whatever god it is you personally refer to}
4. I don't think we should mess with stuff like this ... regardless of how we are 'moving up in the world'
5. Why would you WANT to clone a human {other than for medical reasons}

more cons to follow...

Pro's

1. Gross on so many levels ... I have mixed feelings for gross things that's why it is on the pro list
2. There could be another Jared Leto in the world
3. Could help with fighting diseases and help with stem cell research
4. One of me could spend time with Phoenix or sleep while the other one goes to work

more pros to follow...

So there it is in a nutshell - To Clone or Not to Clone - that is the million dollar question.

Question: If you were stuck in an elevator with someone who would it be?
Answer: The guy who woke up one morning and said: 'hey, wouldn't it be cool if there were 2 of me?'

xoxo

Slacker ... with good reason!

I will no longer be a ...

Ive been slacking BIG time on my mini 365 day project ... and it's not ENTIRELY my fault - I couldn't sign in for like three days, next thing I know 2 weeks has passed! Shock! Horror! Get over it!

So I promise to pull up my socks and start sharing my first memory of everyday with you but first lets have a quick moment to reflect back on the last two weeks.



A friend of mine is down from Johannesburg for a holiday and has convinced me to get a tattoo with him and in all honesty, it didn't take much convincing - especially when he offered to pay - have I ever mentioned what great friends I have?

So I did a bit of hunting around for the best tattooist and best price in Cape Town and to my absolute horror I was met with the worst people skills in the history of people. Maybe I've been spoiled by watching LA Ink and Miami Ink - Those guys and girls ROCK by the way! But anyway, before I get side tracked ... I was not met with a smile and a 'how can I help you', instead I was met with a 'you are wasting my fucking time here lady' {not that those words were ever said out loud but they may as well have been.}

Saddened, I googled 'Top SA Tattoists' and I came upon a Facebook discussion board about tattoo places in and around Cape Town and was thrown off guard at the fact that some of the places I went to (and will never again return) were mentioned on the list so I took it upon myself to comment about my experience - I never mentioned any names though as I felt that was hitting below the belt but I did highlight the fact that its actually quite sad as the artists at these particular shops are phenomenal - its the people in the front and the snarls that turn their potential clients away ... The artist better put a muzzle on their staff if they want to keep business because I am a strong believer in word of mouth - it can make or break you.

I then received a private inbox message suggesting a place I had never been to, Steel Chameleon, and being a bit hesitant I sent her the tattoo I am getting and I was so pleased at her response and kindness - so glad there are people out there that overshadow the dumb asses in the world.

You will all be pleased to know that I will be getting the tattoo on Friday (28 January 2011), now the big question is WHERE to get it.

*This part had been edited for my safety*

Ive also being trying REALLY hard to start getting my millions and MILLIONS of photographs sorted out and ready for the photo albums that are standing empty ... When it comes to photographs I am very old school - I like the romance of a photo album.

So much to do so little time ... I  sometimes wish I could clone myself .. that's for my next entry!

Justin did his drivers license today and .... drum roll please .... HE PASSED! I am beyond proud of him - road trips here we come!

So, here is my promise to you that I will sign in more and keep updated with the In's and outs of my mind!

365 Memories of 2011 {part 2}

12 January 2010

OK! So other 6 days down - that's a total of 12 'First Photo' of 2011.

I was back at the office on the 10th January, so being in an office for 9 hours limits my photo time, but I knew that I couldn't let this project take the back burner along with other things I have let slid this year (yes, yes .. I know ... you are thinking 'already?' but hey - I'm only human) such as the 7 day detox that I managed to do 3 days of, with a little cheating here and there, so let's be fair and say it was 2 days.

Lets face it - I love food and could not, for my own sanity and for the sanity of the people around me, go without eating a full meal any longer, I was grumpy, tired and having serious withdrawal symptoms to that Malva pudding in the fridge.

So I did my 3 days (3 days sounds better that 2 days) with no weight loss ... surprise surprise - but never the less it has taught me that I don't HAVE to have that packet of Creamy Cheddar cheese chips at 07:00 in the morning and that my plate of food at dinner time is not going to run away.

But enough about my failed attempt at the detox - cleverly disguised as a diet - let's get back to the photos.

* 7 Jan '11 - I was trying so hard to take a picture of Phoenix in her pink swimming nappy but she is completely obsessed with my phone so every time I held it up, ready to take 'That Perfect Shot' she would come running over to me to try and take the phone away. This shot was taken by her and I had not closed the camera option before her she snapped this one of a kind picture. At least she got a portion of her swimming nappy in and she was so kind to add Mommy's foot jutting out of nowhere.


* 8 Jan '11 - BARNEY!! I have a love hate relationship with that damn purple dinosaur and his 'I love you' song that has a way of creeping into your head at 03:00 in the morning. But desperate times call for desperate measures and when I am dying to have 3 minutes to myself .. channel 101 is my best friend - Phoenix is not interested in the TV at all but when this creature comes on ... well, she stands there glued, bouncing and jiggling to all his sing-a-long songs!



* 9 Jan '11 - My darling darling child is possibly the funniest thing ever! She has just recently learnt to blow bubbles in water now so any body of water she finds, be it spray over from the sprinkler at less than 5mm in depth or in her bath, is perfect. And not only will she blow bubbles she will in fact drink the water - this one is of her laying down, which is a change because normally she goes into full African Giraffe mode to drink the water.


* 10 Jan '11 - I am always surprised at the taxi's of South Africa - firstly for their ever popular death defying driving skills as well as their sound systems. I was on my way to work when I happened to fall behind 'Molefe's Express' ... It wasn't funny to Justin but I just love how they glamorize their taxi's as if it were a 5 class tourism chartered taxi. Looking back I think I thought it was funny because I was food deprived!

* 11 Jan '11 - You cant really see this one ... (please refer to {part 1} for explanation) but it's a dragonfly that spent lunch with me, and secretly think he was making fun of my rocket infused salad with no dressing as day 2 of my detox was to have salad. I haven't see one of these for a million and one years and every time I do, I am always reminded of school holiday's around the pool, marvelling at the way they have ... um ... sex? Would you say that Dragonflies have sex or would you be all scientific and say 'reproduce?'

* 12 Jan '11 - This one is especially for my friends in the City of Gold - just a little salt to their wounds as they push their way through a traffic jam on the Gilloolys Intersection while being chased by the smog monster ... this is what I get to drive past every single day both to and from work ... I have caught myself taking it for granted once or twice, being to busy on my phone, reading a book or just catching up on a little sleep, but seriously - how awesome is that view?



OK! So we are 12 pictures down! 353 to go!

xoxo

Check out Part 1.

Wedding Bells?

On the 29th December 2010 I was officially engaged for 2 years and I have a feeling that I have many more years to put under my belt as the sound of 'Here Comes The Bride' is slowly fading and honestly that's no-ones fault but the hard truth of reality.


Gone are the days where the bride's parents pay for the wedding, so its up to the future bride and groom to break open that dusty piggy bank and to start counting every penny - if only there were pennies to count... sigh!

Every girl dreams of the big lavish white wedding, with a personal twist to make it a 'wedding that no one has ever had' but truth is that not always possible, unless you were either born with a silver spoon in your mouth or if you are a giving Suze Orman a run for her money {excuse the pun} by being the 'saving your money' queen or king - neither which of I am.


I have always tended to do things against the grain and I don't always intend to do it that way - it just seems to end up taking that turn -  and getting older and hopefully a little wiser, has not stopped that - this is how you are 'supposed' to do things:


1. Date
2. Get Engaged
3. Move in together
4. Get Married
5. Buy a House
6. Have a baby
7. Live Happily Ever After

This is how I have done it:

3. Move in together
1. Date
2. Get Engaged
6. Have a baby
7. Live Happily Ever After

OK, seems I've been a bit hard on myself; I got the "dating then get engaged" part right ... and I don't have a 4. 5.  yet as they have not happened and I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch but I have thrown in my number 7. because I am a hopeless romantic and I love the man I'm going to be with even if I throw my best pots and pans at him once in awhile.

I want a beautiful wedding and I want a place to call home - I don't want to rent a place for the rest of my life.

So here is my dilemma ... do we buy a house and put off the wedding for another 20 million years? Or do we get married and put off having our own home for the other 20 million years?

The romantic in me is saying ... "It doesn't really matter because you have found the person you want to be with forever and a day, so if you get married now or in your completely over exaggerated 20 million years, does it really make a difference? The only thing that really matters is that you and him are together!"

Then the part of me that continuously worries what other people think, says: "You dumb !@#$%, if only you knew what people are saying and thinking behind your back! Just get married! Make a decent woman of yourself! The house can wait!"

Maybe, just maybe I will get to have both?!

I certainly don't want to hobble down the isle dragging my 75 year old boobs behind me...

After all is said and done - I do have the person that I want to be with and if I have anything to say about it - 'He ain't going nowhere' so we will make do with what we are giving - no matter the order!

xoxo

Lives Lost

As amazing as Facebook is, it also has its downsides, such as keeping profiles of friends that have lost their lives - its great to be able to see pictures of them but it is so bittersweet ... so heart breaking!

I have lost way too many friends over the past 5 years - the hardest of all but be my bestest Kagiso - when I got the phone call my knees caved under me and I couldn't even speak - it was so unreal, so painful - I don't really like to remember what went through my body at that moment.

I knew Kagiso from the first day of standard 6 in 1998 and we were friends from the get go - we got up to much nonsense together, she was my support, my rock and my foundation - my best friend! When I think of her I think of late nights, autumn harvest, boyfriend trouble, decorex, rose garden .. I really could go on and on as we had so many years of memories, tears, laughs and a few scary moments thrown in for good measure! Kagiso was sick - she lost the fight on the 14th August 2008 and never told anyone that she was sick - why didn't she tell anyone - why didn't I phone her a week before her death when I thought of her? I haven't gotten over her death - I think about her and miss her every single day and I wish she was here to watch Phoenix grow up - I wish she could be here when I get married ... I was given the chance to speak at her funeral and after a long internal war with myself I decided that if I never did it I would regret it for the rest of my life - it was certainly the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my whole life - having to walk past her coffin and say goodbye - I cant and wont say goodbye. Face to Face my dear friend!

I met Gareth the same year he took his own life and I was completely blown away at his kindness, his gentleness, his openness to the world and people around him - yet to think he hid away so much pain from his friends and family. Christmas 2005 I bought him a dream catcher as I would sit up with him so many nights talking about the bad dreams that haunt him - 6 days later he took his life - alone - as Gareth wanted to be. He left his girlfriend Brenda and his mom a personal letter as well as a message to all his friends. The one thing that haunts me is the fact that he took his life on New Years Eve so while everyone was out celebrating the end of a new year and start of another he was out that night, alone, ready to take his life 31 December 2005! I still have his dream catcher above my bed!

Niels - possibly the best intern we had at CapeTownMagazine.com - such a beautiful person - so welcoming, so happy - Neils went on a trip in October 2008 and was killed in a car accident - it was a huge blow to everyone - the office was not the same after that, he was someone that I couldn't wait to see everyday and now I wont see him again for a long time - he crept into our hearts the day he walked into the office, with his big smile, his quirky sense of humor and just being Neils.

Juan - my Kobus ... I am having a hard time writing about him, he was my silent hero, he would sit with quietly with me when I needed a friend and I will forever treasure that - he was down in Cape Town for a holiday and we had plans to meet when they came back from Gordon's Bay - he never came back - the ocean took his life and every time I go to the beach I think of him - a few months after his death my sister came to visit me and we went to where he lost his life - I broke down and I think the hardest for me was that I had no one who knew him with me to soften the blow. Juan lost his life to the ocean on the 27th of December 2009.

Shaun and Gavin - brothers - double blow - they both died in a car accident - was so tragic - losing two friends like that but I can put how I feel aside because his family is who really has my heart, being a mother I cant even imagine what their mom must have gone{and is still going}through, Shaun was the funniest person in his own right - never being able to walk from the kitchen to the lounge without spilling his drink - he had a soft spot for hot blondes! Gavin, I never very well, we were in the same circle of friends but he was certainly a character of note - the saying that 'when your friend hurts, you hurt' is so true because my friends lost a friend and it hurts. Gavin lost his life on the 13th October 2010 and Shaun lost his on the 14th October 2010.

Its so sad that when we lose someone close to us we stand together and make a promise to phone our friends when we think of them and to be good to them because we never know when we will lose them - but then life takes it usual role and takes over and we yet again forget our friends.

They say that writing or talking about death helps with the healing process - I don't think it does - not for me anyway - everyday is an emotional battle as the memories of my friends are in everything around me.

I hope that 'I will see you again' is true and not just something that is said to make people feel better.

xoxo



I love you all SO much in your own way - you all will have a permanent place in my heart and in my life and I think about you all every single day.

365 Memories of 2011 {part 1}

A friend of mine, who is also a great photographer, has joined in with possibly the best project yet!

To take a picture everyday for a year! www.365project.org/reddotphotos/365

I told her last night that I thought it was a stunning idea and she replied telling me to join in - I replied by saying that I was 5 days late and and that it was her idea and that I didn't want to steal her thunder ... her reply: "Pff doesn't matter. Jump in. Join me. Don't make excuses.'

Well, I didn't need more motivation that than so I have decided to share the first picture that I take everyday, regardless of the sense of it ... it will have a story behind it and anyway, there is no way I can compete with my friends photographs, so when my pictures suck {which they probably will cos I only have my dear 2pixel BlackBerry to take pictures with} then I always say 'well, that's the point, its the first picture of everyday!'

It's now the 6 January 2011 so now I am 6 days late so lets get started.

*1 Jan '11 - Strange I know, but the story behind this one is that my darling Justin and I made a pact on New Years Eve that we will try not to do the little things that annoy each other - the morning of the 1st January 2011 Justin so kindly washed the dishes for me before heading out for work ... sweet hey? BUT he left 2 spoons and the soap in the basin! ggggrrrr! so I took a picture of it and sent it to him with this message attached "I thought this was going to be a better year? lol!" he replied {as only Justin would} with: "It is - last year I would have left more soap." cheeky shit but how can you get angry with that?


*2 Jan '11 - As all parents will know, once your little one becomes mobile baby proofing your house is a necessity but seriously - what is the point when they figure out how to hack your fool proof system and decide that unpacking your cupboards is the best fun ever!?







*3 Jan '11 - As Phoenix's creche was closed over the December holidays, I was allowed to work from home - what possessed me to think I could do it with a VERY active 1 year old? She insisted that she sit on my lap and that the keyboard was her new favourite toy - sending coded messages to my skype contacts, clicking my mouse so much that my bottom toolbar became vertical on my screen {let it be known that even I don't know how to do that}, making my computer go on standby mode and just being a real tech savvy monkey.




*4 Jan '11 - Possibly the first scorcher of a day in Cape Town for 2011 {reaching 38 degrees} - this picture was taken at 07:00 in the morning and the fact that she is just in her nappy says it all ... but her deciding that a rock is better tasting than her breakfast is beyond me .. she loves to scrap her teeth against the rock {even thinking about that sound gives me goosebumps}




*5 Jan '11 - Mid-morning nap ... I get so jealous when I see her sleeping so soundly ... sometimes I am so tempted to climb in the cot with her and sleep, sleep and sleep!







*6 Jan '11 - Phoenix's is 14 months old today and this picture was not taken by me but by Justin so I cant take the credit but in all fairness it was the first picture my phone has from the 6th January. Our cats thought that Phoenix's blow up pool was a scratching post and so we wanted to get her another pool... Justin went to Game and saw this pool and sent the picture to me to see if i like it  - we now have it and its great, not as great as the blow up one because I can't fit into this one but its not about me is it?

Well, there you have it ... my first 6 pictures of 2011 - only 359 to go! Phew!

Publish Post

xoxo

Check out Part 2.