ECU helps Robotic surgery become a reality

USAF pilots can now fly aircraft remotely and kill our enemies from the safety and comfort of bases in America, and we are now seeing remote surgery technology that promises the ability to perate on soldiers in combat while the surgeon is continents away from any danger!

East Carolina Cardiologist Randy Chitwood recently gave a presentation demonstrating an amazing new surgical technique, a remote surgery device.


ECU's Cardiologist, Randy Chitwood

The amazing new surgical device can be positioned by a layman or military medic, allowing a surgeon thousands of miles away, to perform the delicate and precise surgery, right on the battlefield.


Medical Surgery robot

The implications for the military are obvious, as Army medics could be used to attach a field devices allowing surgeons to save lives without even coming into harm’s way.

It's great to see the the scientists at ECU are working to help our men in uniform . . .

Eating deep sea fish

With all of the deep sea exploration, we are getting amazing photos of these deep sea creatures who live far below the surface of the seas, in the perpetual darkness and crushing depths of Davy Jones locker:


Edible fish of the deep ocean

Now, after seeing these amazing pictures like these you are probably thinking:

“What do these deep ocean fish taste like?”

Well, I went on a search to find out. There are two place that do deep ocean dishing, off the coast of Japan and off this islands of Madeira.

Madera is a lovely island in the mid Atlantic where the ancient volcanoes soar a mile above sea level, and conversely, plunge to depths of almost two miles deep.



On the island of Madeira they have learned how to fish for this deep sea delicacy, a fish that dwells more than a mile below the sea.

They are called “scabbard fish” (or Espada in Portuguese), and they are super ugly, sword-shaped with giant eyes and teeth:




These are super-creepy looking fish, with giant eyes and teeth to suit them for the perpetual twilight of their deep sea world. But note; deep ocean fish taste better then they look.


Fishing the deep ocean

Fishing a mile below the water is not a trivial matter. As a scuba diver, I know that the pressure increase 3x for every 100 feet, and I enjoy the three atmosphere “squeeze” that you get at 100 feet below the ocean (it makes you feel great afterwards!).


I don’t feel fat when I'm underwater!

But humans cannot survive the 150x atmosphere squeeze, a crushing squeeze that the scabbard fish take for granted.

At a mile depth, it takes a half hour to reel-up the fishing lines. Like a spaceman loosing pressure from rapid decompression in space, as scabbard fish are reeled up into the sunlit world, the Espada literally explodes from the pressure reduction. Their bold boils, their muscles rupture, making for some mighty tasty meat. The decompression also oxidized their bright silver scales, turning them to a jet black color.

Eating delicacies from the deep ocean

Madeira is a wonderful place, warn and friendly, with remarkable seafood. Their seafood might make some Americans squeamish, since when you eat seafood in Madeira, you get it “on the hoof”, as I learned when I ordered sardines:


Fresh Sardines in Madeira

You can get scabbard fish in many of the local restaurants, and I made sure to get ours sans head, filleted and battered. Below, the serve it Madeira style, with bananas, a major Madeira export:


Scabbardfish served-up Madeira style

Scabbardfish is a flakey white fish, pre-tenderized from the decompression (not firm flesh) and mild in flavor, not unlike halibut. We absolutely adore Madeira, especially when the snow flies at home:



Here are my photos from Madeira.

Teaching children how to despise

I have been going soft, becoming too tolerant of despicable people. I have seen the error of my ways and I have repented, and I’m working hard to be a more intolerant person.

Whether you call it intolerance, loathing or despising, role models need to set an example, especially today when young people have confused tolerance with tacit approval, and they have completely forgotten how to despise and loathe people.

I discovered this when I was discussing the capture of Roman Polanski, the fugitive child rapist who was allowed to escape justice in France for decades.



I was thrilled to hear that we finally re-captured Roman Polanski for his disgusting drugging and rape of a 13 year old child. I’m also disgusted that France would not have a problem sheltering a pedophile rapist.

Numerous studies have shown that child molesters can never be reformed, and I have to wonder how many French kids Polanski raped while fleeing from justice?

I was not surprised to hear on CNN that fellow child diddler Woody Allan has come out to support Polanski.


Pervs of a feather flock together


Why all good Americans despise France

Americans hatred of France is nothing new, it began in the 1960's when France hoarded American Silver Certificates and demanded that President Kennedy exchange them for real silver, an attack that was designed to destroy the American Economy.

In response to this French attack, President Kennedy responded that he would be glad to exchange the notes, as soon as the French cowards re-paid their war debt from WWII!

Speaking of WWII, Andy Rooney wrties about the cowardice of the French surrender:

“The French lost WW II to the Germans in about 20 minutes.

Along with the British, we got into the war and had about 150,000 guys killed getting their country back for them.”

Today, France helps give safe harbor to fugitive American murders, rapists and pedophiles.

France is committing an act of war against America, and we need to respond in-kind.


Nuke 'em till they glow

Since the French like child molesters and killers so much, I propose that we empty our prisons of sex offenders and dump them on the beaches at Normandy, where they will assimilate and improve the bloodlines of the indigenous French guttersnipes.


Why can't American's agree on what is Evil?

Last week, President Obama said in his Nobel Prize speech that “evil does exist in this world”. I’m really glad to see that Obama has recognized the nature of evil, but Obama was quick to say that while al qaeda and the taliban is evil, true Islam is a peaceful religion.

This statement prompted a strong response from the right wingers, and on CNN I saw the Reverend Billy Graham’s son saying that true Islam is a “wicked” religion, citing that Islam cannot be practiced in America since polygamy, beating your wives and conducting honor killings are all criminal offenses.

That's just what America needs right now, a second Crusade . . . .


Some Christians say that true Islam is evil

I don't know whether Islam is evil or not, that's not my point. The point is that today's young people are not recognizng evil when they see it.

I recently had a chat with one of my employees who is attending graduate school, a most enlightening experience, since college kids know everything about everything, and I always come-away learning something new from these highly educated neophytes.

I became alarmed when my young charge informed me that even a 13-year old girl can flaunt her goods and “ask for it”. Never mind that she testified at Polanski’s trial that she was drugged and savagely raped by Polanski.

I have a healthy disrespect for Polanski, but I wondered, how has society taught this young man to be tolerant of child molesters and rapists, and if so, how does this happen?


If we don’t teach our kids to despise perverts, where will they learn it?

I have a theory that parents do not set a strong enough example and children never see their parents openly despise people.

In order for any civilized society to enforce its social mores, it’s not enough just to talk about despising perverts and criminals; we must openly despise them wherever we find them. Of course, it was no surprise that fellow pervert Woody Allen has come-out in support of Roman Polanski.

I’m happy to see that some people still know how to despise perverts:



Let the punishment fit the crime

Personally, I want child molesters locked up for life, and I would like to see Woody Allan and Roman Polanski tossed into the general population of any state prison without any possibility of parole. I’m sure that somebody will give these pedophiles a taste of what it feels like to be raped! Don’t bend over in the shower, Roman!

And I had to wonder, have I become too tolerant of despicable people? Read here why we must teach our children how to despise those who violate social norms.

Barraca Abana <> Barrack Obama

Janet and I have been vacationing on the island of Madeira, an equatorial island off of the west coast of Africa, a tropical paradise where the mountains thrust thousands of feet into the sky:



I was passing a building and I noticed something unusual, a dog walking on a rooftop!

I whipped out my camera but I almost missed him, but I did get a good view of the south end of a north bound roof dog:



But when I zoomed back on my camera I noticed a strange saying painted on the roof, saying:

até a barraca abana


Does this have something to do with Barrack Obama?

Now you must admit that Barraca Abana sounds a lot like Barrack Obama, and I wondered if they are related!

I Asked a local and they said that the saying is a “joke” and Barraca Abana has nothing to do with president Barrack Obama. Rather, it means “shaky shack”, something to do with a commentary of today’s tough economic times!

Anyway, it’s sunny and warm, and we love it here, definitely coming back to paint some of these gorgeous landscapes:

Peter Piper picked a peck of peter peppers

It's weird how people will see "naughty bits" in common fruits and vegtables:



Now we see "Peter peppers", you can see why they get their name . . .


The "Peter" pepper

These must be the European variety, these are too small for Americans . . .



You can buy Peter pepper seeds here . . .

The quest for the one wheel vehicle!

For years, people have tried to devise a simple wheel device to transport people.

In WWI, they envisioned a large single wheel vehicle that would serve as a tank:



And in recent times, many have tried to make a drivable wheel:



And this one from South Park:


The “IT” from South Park

But here is a real working prototype drivable wheel vehicle named the dynosphere from the 1930’s:

Help prevent Guard dog abuse

This article notes that you must be very careful with burglars attacking your guard dogs.

I detest animal abuse, and this poor guard dog received a serious injury by some scumbag intruder who inflicted a nasty gash above this dog’s eye:


Guard dogs can be abused when confronting intruders

Eventually they did find the person who abused this guard dog, dead as a doornail:



In this case the abuser escaped a criminal conviction, but at least the poor dog got some satisfaction, as it appears that his entire face was eaten. . . .

The sixth sense

I have a sixth sense for this . . .


I see dumb people

Concession food at the State Fair!

As Dan and Cuddles approach being the world’s longest active guide animal team, we are preparing some new guide horse candidate for training against our backlog of blind applicants.


Dan is scary looking biker guy, so we named his guide horse “Cuddles”

Large noisy crowds are a great way to train guide horses to make them oblivious to distractions, so Jael and Jen3 took to the NC state Fair with their student guide horses:


Jael and Jen3 take to the streets with their students

One command they must learn is how to “go” on command, even in a crowd (without “stage fright”). Of course, we must not use common phrases for such activities, and his command to take a dump is “bombs away”.


Guide horses are taught to relieve themselves on command

The fair is great fun, and here we are at the hay competition, and it’s no surprise that NC farmers produce some of the best grass anywhere:


At the State Fair hay competition

But the fair is more than exhibits, it's a chance to eat some incredible gut-bombs that are found nowhere else on the globe!

Eating crap at the state fair

Some of the crap at the state fair is just plain nasty, but you have to at least try it.

All you need is a deep fryer and some imagination. . . .


Deep fried corn – Yum!

I thought it was gross, but Pal liked it and helped Jael finish it off:



And this concoction is different, stuffed corn dogs:


Jalapeño and cheese stuffed corn dogs

Chocolate covered bacon

But the big hit this year is chocolate-covered bacon, delish:

Called “pig lickers”, the chocolate-covered bacon was a great hit, salty and chewy chocolate, with a smoky aftertaste:





And of course, no trip to the fair is complete without some deep fried butter!


Deep-fried butter makes a great desert after deep fried entree's

See more on our training mission to the NC state fair.

Pedigree Collapse and the impossibly spreading family tree

This article allegess that all US presidents (except Martin Van Buren) share common ancestry with John “Lackland” Plantagenet, King of England at the beginning of the 13th century.


Do all U.S. Presidents share a common ancestor?

Of course, this is all based on the assumption that when we go back far enough to have millions of ancestors, there is bound to be a common ancestor.

Only rarely do we see these alleged “relationships” properly proven. For example, genealogists have proven that Sara Belcher was a common ancestor of FDR, Winston Churchill and Doug Macarthur.



As a genealogist, I find this nonsense about a recent common ancestor to be idiotic, but it brings up a good point about the assertion that large populations of people may share ancestry with famous people who procreated frequently.

The numerical puzzle of ancestry

Everyone has four grandparents, eight great grandparents, and so on, ad infinitum.

It’s the same 2**n (powers of two) equation used with binary computing, and it has some important ramifications because it does not take long to generate more ancestors than the world population.

Even 20 generations ago, everyone has over a million distinct ancestors! (2**20= 1,048,576), and at four generations per century, 20 generations only takes us back a mere 500 years.

For example, if we go back forty generations ago (about 1,000 years), we see we have over one trillion distinct ancestors (2**40 = 1,099,511,627,776), a number that far exceeds the number of humans who ever lived.

From this mathematical certainty, can we conclude that sharing of the gene pool (marrying cousins) was necessary to explain the over-lap in family trees?

For populations living in isolation (i.e. Madagascar circa 800 A.D., Colonial America), this is even more pronounced, and everyone, by mathematical certainty, was sharing common ancestors. Before the great immigrations (China, Ireland) during the 1800's, almost all multi-generation Americans were cousins by virtue of sharing a common great-great-great grandparent.

Pedigree Collapse: marry your cousin

So, how to we resolve the numerical certainty that 40 generations ago, we must have descended from a trillion ancestors? Some use the concept pedigree collapse to explain this problem.

The term “pedigree collapse” is a polite word for marrying your cousin, and they show that isolated island populations have a high rate of pedigree collapse because of the lack of un-related partners.


This chart shows that 10th cousins share only 0.0000238419% of having a common ancestor ten generations ago (about 200 years):



In this case, marrying a 10th cousin would eliminate a large chunk of common ancestors, starting only 10 generation before when the common ancestor appears.

This article has a great discussion of this issue, and this paper from Yale claims to have developed a mathematical model to explain why we must, by certainty, share ancestry with everyone else:

“all individuals who have any descendants among the present-day individuals are actually ancestors of all present-day individuals.”

Conclusions on pedigree dilution

In sum, within the same general population, the chances are almost 100% that your spouse is a distant cousin, and you share a common ancestor from 20 generations ago. Once you go back 20 generations (a million distinct ancestors), you are almost guaranteed to see a common ancestor, and all ancestors of the common ancestor reduce the overall number of unique ancestors.

In animal husbandry, breeding of cousins is an acceptable practice, and it can greatly help increase desirable traits, even though it dramatically narrows the total number f distinct ancestors.

For example, consider the pedigree of one of our champion stallions, Tha Dude.

Tha Dude – Champion Arabian Black stallion

Dude does not have 16 distinct great grandparents, since the famous Khemosabi appears as both a paternal and maternal great grandparent.


The great Khemosabi

Also notice that the equally famous stallion *Bask++ appears several times in his ancestry, appearing as both his grandfather and as Dude’s great grandfather.

In this case, the line breeding was a smashing success, since Dude is almost a carbon copy of Khemosabi, inheriting both his stamina and stunning looks. These are the lines that are commanding millions of dollars, as with this *Bask++ line horse that sold for $2.8m . . .