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SFL Friday -- Demon Seed and Milkshakes Edition

Hi kids, it's too nice outside to sit in front of a computer, so I'm bringing all my drafts, cases, discovery requests -- oh hail I'm packing gin, a waterproof camera, various windsurfing accessories and Ravel, who am I kidding?

So the eggheads have finally created synthetic life:

The genome pioneer J. Craig Venter has taken another step in his quest to create synthetic life, by synthesizing an entire bacterial genome and using it to take over a cell.

Dr. Venter calls the result a ?synthetic cell? and is presenting the research as a landmark achievement that will open the way to creating useful microbes from scratch to make products like vaccines and biofuels. At a press conference Thursday, Dr. Venter described the converted cell as ?the first self-replicating species we?ve had on the planet whose parent is a computer.?

?This is a philosophical advance as much as a technical advance,? he said, suggesting that the ?synthetic cell? raised new questions about the nature of life.

Since my reference points are almost entirely TV, film, book, or music-related, this of course means that the synthetic being immediately wants to canoodle with Julie Christie.

Speaking of horrific half-human/half-synthetic entities, none other than Aubrey O'Day will be shaking her milk for charity at Mansion tonight.

But can that compete with a bunch of well-meaning out-of-shape lawyers fixing up a run-down school?

Actually, I'll take the out-of-shape lawyers.

Whatever you do, do something meaningful and other-directed this weekend.

And of course, always try to ignore the stats, consider taking a vacation at home, and remember, being a mommy is a beautiful thing.

Have a great weekend, folks!

Full post as published by South Florida Lawyers on May 21, 2010 (boomark / email).