Genetically engineered fish

U.S. health officials are set to rule on whether a faster-growing, genetically engineered fish is safe to eat in a decision that could deliver the first altered animal food to consumers' dinner plates.

The fish, made by Aqua Bounty Technologies Inc, is manipulated to grow twice as fast as traditional Atlantic salmon, something the company says could boost the nation's fish sector and reduce pressure on the environment.

But consumer advocates and food safety experts are worried that splicing and dicing fish genes may have the opposite effect, leading to more industrial farming and potential escapes into the wild. Side effects from eating such fish are also unknown, with little data to show it is safe, they say.
"They're basically putting the fish on permanent growth hormone so it grows faster ... so they can sell bigger fish faster," said Jaydee Hanson, a policy analyst for the nonprofit Center for Food Safety.
It also raises questions about the industrialization of the nation's food supply at a time when consumers -- exasperated by massive egg and other food recalls -- are growing increasingly concerned and seeking more locally produced meals.
The small Massachusetts-based biotechnology company is seeking Food and Drug Administration approval to sell its salmon, called AquAdvantage, to fish farmers nationwide.

If given the green light, the salmon could be followed by the company's engineered trout and tilapia. Other scientists are also developing altered pigs and cows for food. The United States already allows genetically modified plants.

Water purification

Water purification
In April, I performed the Shinto ceremony of water purification, for the very first time. It was a very exciting and interesting experience. One of my Aikido instructors had recommended it, as a good bonding activity. Our group consisted of two Canadians, one Swiss, our teacher, who was also Canadian and I.
The place we went to was just outside Tokyo. The path we took was lined with lots of trees and green vegetation. It was very beautiful and serene. It was a nice break from Tokyo’s traffic and high-rise buildings.
On our way there was a small shrine. We decided to have a stop over, and do a prayer. Except for our teacher, who has been living in Japan for the last 5 years, the rest of us had no clue about the Shinto praying procedure. So after we were instructed on how to pray, each of us stood in front of the temple and said our prayers.
In our quest to find a waterfall, to do the water purification ceremony, we kept choosing the wrong path, so it was a relief when we finally found the waterfall. We were all really tired from the long walk, but we soon realized that the walk was the easy part of our journey. You see, because it was April, the water was freezing cold. We were told that the ceremony involved, going under the waterfall three times, and staying under it for 1.5min each time.
It was supposed to be a spiritual and tranquil event. The procedure to cleanse our souls! However the first person who volunteered to do the ceremony, started screaming as soon as he went under the water, because the water was so cold, and the rest of us, who were supposed to be chanting a prayer as encouragement, couldn’t stop laughing. So the event was everything but peaceful. When it was my turn to go under the water, I couldn’t believe how cold the water was, every drop felt like a small ice cube hitting my skin. For the first round, I only lasted 30 seconds under the water. For the second round, I decided that no matter how painful it would be, I would stay for at least one minute under the water. While I was under the water, I came to the realization that if I relax and breath deeply, the water will not feel so cold, and suddenly I felt at peace. It was the strangest experience; it felt as if I was in a different world. The only noise I could hear was the noise of the waterfall. While I was under the water I opened my eyes, and it felt as if everything on the other side of the thin stream of water was an illusion. It was simply amazing!
However the combination of the cold spring waterfall, and the long walk, had made all five of us very hungry. So our next stop was an “all you can eat” restaurant.

A tragic incident

The news about Akihabara`s stabbing incident was very shocking. I went to Akihabara the day after the incident, and I was moved to tears when I saw all the flowers that people had left on the side-walk in the memory of those who lost their lives. there were TV crews and police everywhere. I felt uneasy walking in a place where so many people had lost their lives.
The incident was a wake-up call for me. It reminded me of a conversation I had on my first hanami. My first Hanami was with two Japanese friends. One of them tried to explain to me why cherry blossoms are so important to Japanese people. He said because they are very beautiful but they are short-lived...in a sense they represent life.
Death can be sudden...without any warning. The only option we have, is to live every minute as if it is our last.
I feel for the family of those who were killed and injured. It must be very difficult to realize that the casual goodbye they said to their loved ones in the morning, was the last conversation they had. It makes me re-evaluate my own relationships. Sometimes we hold a grudge against a friend or a family member over something insignificant...and we only regret it when it is too late.
Life can be busy with lots of priorities to joggle. So sometimes we forget about the most important things..like spending time with family and friends.

Elizabeth