francene--blog. Year 2013
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April 24th

4/24/2013

 
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www.belgraviacentre.com
Experts say cosmetic procedures like an injection to plump up the skin are a disaster waiting to happen. The UK Department of Health warned that dermal fillers, covered by the same level of regulation as toothbrushes, could cause lasting harm and should be available only with a prescription. The biggest growth is in non-surgical procedures such as fillers to tackle wrinkles, Botox and laser hair removal - the area the report describes as almost entirely unregulated. Anyone can give anyone else a treatment. See the full story here.


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www.iris.edu
However, it gets worse. Another set of experts claim that human technology could cause the extinction of the human race. Not a cosmic hit, not a volcano eruption in Greenland, a pandemic. Nuclear war might cause appalling destruction, but enough individuals could survive to allow the species to continue.

As a species, we've already outlasted many thousands of years of disease, famine, flood, predators, persecution, earthquakes and environmental change. So the odds remain in our favor.

The Higher Ground series of post-apocalyptic novels I co-wrote with Edith Parzefall shows how a group of survivors cope with the environment after civilization is destroyed.

But that hasn't happened yet.

Right now, an international team of scientists, mathematicians and philosophers at Oxford University's Future of Humanity Institute is investigating the biggest dangers. Dr Bostrom believes we've entered a new kind of technological era with the capacity to threaten our future as never before. These are threats we have no track record of surviving.

Experiments in areas such as synthetic biology, nanotechnology and machine intelligence are hurtling forward into the territory of the unintended and unpredictable. Although synthetic biology promises great medical benefits, unforeseen consequences could come from manipulating the boundaries.

As well as the use of destructive nanotechnology in warfare, there are also fears about how artificial or machine intelligence interact with the external world. See the full story here.

Such computer-driven intelligence might be a powerful tool in industry, medicine, agriculture or managing the economy. However, computers could create more and more powerful generations of computers.

The potential of building things that could go wrong or outgrow our mentality at a frightening speed, fills me with horror. My novels' band of adventurers refer to the artifacts Tech sheens—like the round, shiny disc reflecting rainbow colors they find buried in the dirt. "Tech sheens didn't do people much good in the before times."


Edith Parzefall link
4/23/2013 07:13:04 pm

Having grown up during the cold war, I'm surprised we haven't yet managed to extinguish life on this planet. Let's hope we keep failing, no matter how hard we try. :-)

Francene Stanley link
4/23/2013 08:09:06 pm

Hehe. That's a great take on modern life, even if it's from a backward angle. Maybe we've been blessed. I hope our luck's not running out.

Cher link
4/23/2013 09:01:01 pm

Agree with Edith, I do wonder how on earth we and the planet are still here, albeit in a big mess!
Botox Ugh!

Francene Stanley link
4/23/2013 10:21:08 pm

Oh, that's so pesamistic, Cher. The human species is wonderful with it's love, compassion and sense of fun. We just need to find a balance for our ideas.

Cher link
4/23/2013 09:03:37 pm

Agree with Edith, I do wonder how on earth we and the planet are still here, albeit in a big mess!
Botox Ugh!

Chef William link
4/23/2013 09:41:05 pm

I agree that we are hell bent on killing ourselves in mass and appear to be finding new ways of doing that almost daily. GMO foods have yet to show the damage they can do to the human. By the time we find out about the dark side of the food we eat, it will be too late. There are so many ways we try to destroy ourselves and so few that are fighting back.

Francene Stanley link
4/23/2013 10:23:09 pm

I guess the genetically modified foods have come about because of man's greed--one of the darker sides of human nature.

Amy link
4/23/2013 09:56:04 pm

Francene,
I agree with Chef above that GMO foods are particularly scary to me right now. I'm afraid that they will end up killing our soil and our seed supply. We do seem to think we're smarter than God about so many things, and that seems to be how we'll all meet our end. My comfort is in the Lord, and he said in his word that nobody knows the day or time of his return. All we know is that the earth will not be destroyed by water again. I'm thankful that this earth is not all there is.

Francene Stanley link
4/23/2013 10:25:27 pm

We're so NOT smarter than the Creator. The thought of something beyond our earthly life offers me comfort too, although I like my situation.

Suerae Stein link
4/24/2013 02:58:10 am

Frightening, indeed! I do believe that ultimately some form of greed will be the end of us. We always want more... and some are willing to go to extreme lengths, even destruction, to get what they want. And I am sure technology will play its part in it all.

Francene Stanley link
4/24/2013 03:19:55 am

You make a good case, Suerae. Greed is the root of all evil.

Michelle link
4/24/2013 03:15:51 am

Interesting post...definitely food for thought! GMO foods are what scare me the most right now.

Francene Stanley link
4/24/2013 03:18:54 am

Yes. Tht's a worry.

Lacy link
4/24/2013 03:19:20 am

I totally agree with Chef William. Because I'm in the food industry, too, the GMOs and chemicals we put on and in our food scare me the most.

Emily Wilke link
4/24/2013 04:42:37 am

Yuck! Botox is just so unnecessary! However, what bothers me is that there are still people arguing about Global Climate Change. There is no doubt that the Earth undergoes Climate change, but WE ARE the reason it is speeding up. And relating to what you said, if we are creating it or causing it to speed up, then there is an unpredictability about how catastrophic it will be for us.

Francene Stanley link
4/24/2013 06:10:58 pm

You're so right. But what can ordinary people do about it? Most of us are helpless to control big business.

Anita-Clare Field link
4/24/2013 04:47:53 am

I loathe botox or any type of unnecessary cosmetic enhancement. GMO is a massive issue in the states, we were discussing it with an American friend over lunch. The world is full of greed. I am happy in my tiny corner with my organic vegetables and meat with the odd line on my face !

Francene Stanley link
4/24/2013 06:12:09 pm

If we could all be happy in our own life, the world would be a better place.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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