U.S. Catholic bishops back Obama on Iran, warn Congress against meddling

Bishop Oscar Cantu of Las Cruces, N.M., prays over Eucharist during Mass in WashingtonThe U.S. Catholic bishops have welcomed the Obama administration’s tentative agreement aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and their top spokesman on international affairs bluntly warned Congress against doing anything to undermine it.

The bishops “oppose efforts that seek to undermine the negotiation process or make a responsible multi-party agreement more difficult to achieve and implement,” Bishop Oscar Cantu, chairman of the bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace Committee, wrote to House and Senate lawmakers on Monday (April 13). MORE

You Want To Vaccinate My Child? No Problem, Just Sign This Form

Informed_consent2893-1I have yet to meet a Physician that will sign this form now downloaded by hundreds of parents. The reason they won’t sign is two-fold: First, they do not want to place themselves in a vulnerable position of being negligent for not providing informed consent to thousands of other parents; and second, many of them realize after their own extensive research that the risks far outweigh any benefits when it comes to vaccination. MORE

Genetic Engineering, Humankind Creeps Toward A ‘Planet Of The Apes’

planet-of-the-apesHalf-animal, half-human? The astounding developments in nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology and cognitive science (NBIC) are posing problems that we thought only existed in science fiction.

Recent studies have brought us closer to Planet of the Apes, written by French novelist Pierre Boulle in 1963. In three experiments, the last one of which was published in Current Biology last month, scientists have improved the intellectual capacities of mice by modifying their DNA sequences with segments of human chromosomes or by injecting them with human brain glial cellsMORE

VIDEO: A neuroscientist discusses a new White House report on ethical questions for the future of human brain research

biohackingIn other words: NO FREE WILL

“As humans, we can identify galaxies light-years away. We can study particles smaller than an atom,” President Barack Obama said in April 2013, “But we still haven’t unlocked the mystery of the three pounds of matter that sits between our ears.”

The observation was part of the president’s announcement of the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, an effort to fast-track the development of new technology that will help scientists understand the workings of the human brain and its diseases MORE – VIDEO

Brooklyn Hit With Anti-Hillary Street Art

3BY DANIEL HALPER MORE

A source sends along these photos from Brooklyn today of anti-Hillary Clinton signs everywhere. Clinton is expected to announce her presidential campaign later today. The campaign’s headquarters are located in Brooklyn.

The signs appear to be a riff on a group of supporters calling certain words often used to describe Clinton as sexist. Words such as ‘secretive,’ ‘ambitious,’ and ‘entitled.’

The signs are posted near Hillary’s campaign headquarters: It is not known who posted or funded the Brooklyn street art.

VIDEO: Pakistan Frees on Bail Alleged Mastermind of Mumbai Attacks

TERREHere is Justice for you.

The suspected mastermind of the deadly Mumbai attacks in 2008 was released on bail Friday by a Pakistani court — a move likely to further strain relations with India, which has accused Islamabad of turning a blind eye to Islamic militancy.

The release of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, who has been held since his arrest in 2009, drew expressions of concern from both India and the United States. MOREVIDEO