The Unlikely Buddha

How Pig Hearts Are Genetically Altered Genetically altered pig hearts are created by editing the DNA of pigs using a gene editing technology called CRISPR-Cas9. This technology allows scientists to insert, delete, or change specific genes in an organism's DNA. To create a genetically altered pig heart for transplant, scientists typically make the following changes: They inactivate genes that code for proteins that trigger an immune response in humans. They insert genes that code for human proteins that help to suppress the immune response and promote organ acceptance. They inactivate genes that control the growth of the pig heart, so that it does not overgrow after transplant. The Science Behind Genetically Altered Pig Heart Transplants Genetically altered pig heart transplants are a type of xenotransplantation, which is the transplantation of organs or tissues from one species to another. Xenotransplantation has been a goal of medical science for many years, but it has been hamper...

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. It is a time to honor and remember deceased loved ones, and to celebrate the cycle of life and death. The holiday has its origins in pre-Hispanic Mexican cultures, which believed that death was not the end of life, but rather a transition to another realm.  On Day of the Dead, families build altars (ofrendas) in their homes, decorated with photos, candles, flowers, food, and other offerings to their deceased loved ones. They also visit cemeteries to clean and decorate graves, and to leave offerings for their loved ones. Day of the Dead is a time for families and communities to come together and remember their loved ones. It is also a time to celebrate Mexican culture and traditions. Here are some of the most common traditions and symbols associated with Day of the Dead: Ofrendas: Ofrendas, or altars, are built in homes and cemeteries to honor and remember deceased loved ones. They are d...

The 33 members of the Freedom Caucus are: Andy Biggs (AZ) Mo Brooks (AL) Lauren Boebert (CO) Madison Cawthorn (NC) Dan Crenshaw (TX) Scott DesJarlais (TN) Matt Gaetz (FL) Louie Gohmert (TX) Paul Gosar (AZ) Bob Good (VA) Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA) Matt Rosendale (MT) Randy Weber (TX) Chip Roy (TX) Tom Tiffany (WI) Bob Gibbs (OH) Ralph Norman (SC) Jody Hice (GA) Greg Steube (FL) Scott Perry (PA) Jim Jordan (OH) Ronny Jackson (TX) Mary Miller (IL) Anna Paulina Luna (FL) Barry Moore (AL) Clay Higgins (LA) Mary Boebert (CO) Kat Cammack (FL) Jeff Duncan (SC) Andy Harris (MD) Bill Posey (FL) Ben Cline (VA) Mark Green (TN) Rick Allen (GA) Jeff Van Drew (NJ) Victoria Spartz (IN) Elise Stefanik (NY) Byron Donalds (FL) The Freedom Caucus is a caucus of Republican members of the United States House of Representatives. It is generally considered to be the most conservative and furthest-right bloc within the House Republican Conference.  The caucus was formed in January 2015 by a group of conse...

Giant pandas have been a symbol of friendship and goodwill between China and the United States for over 70 years. In 1941, on the eve of the United States entering World War II, the Chinese government gifted two pandas, Mei Mei and Ping Ping, to the Bronx Zoo. The pandas were an instant hit with the American public, and their arrival helped to soften the image of China in the United States. In the following decades, China gifted pandas to a number of other countries, including the Soviet Union, North Korea, and the United Kingdom. However, the most famous panda diplomacy occurred in 1972, when Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai gifted two pandas, Hsing-Hsing and Ling-Ling, to President Richard Nixon. The pandas were a symbol of the new era of friendship between the two countries, which had been estranged for decades. Hsing-Hsing and Ling-Ling were housed at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, where they quickly became national celebrities. Millions of Americans visited the zoo to see the panda...

According to the Bible, Noah was instructed to bring two of every "kind" of animal onto the ark. The Hebrew word used for "kind" is "min," which is a broader term than the modern classification of "species."  Theologians estimate that there are around 1,398 known kinds of land animals and flying creatures, including extinct ones. This means that Noah would have needed to bring around 6,744 animals onto the ark. Some people believe that the biblical "kind" is equivalent to the modern family level of classification. This means that all animals within a family, such as all cats or all dogs, would be considered to be of the same kind. Others believe that the biblical "kind" is a broader category that includes multiple families. Scientifically speaking, it is impossible to say for sure how many species of animals existed on Earth at the time of Noah. This is because the fossil record is incomplete and we do not have a complete unde...

There once was a wolf, so sly and so sly,  He was trusted to watch the sheep in the sty.  But the wolf had a plan, a wicked scheme,  To betray the sheep and fulfill his dream. At first, he was kind, with a gentle gaze,  He guarded the sheep through the sunny days.  But at night, he would hunger, his wolfish eyes gleam,  And he'd dream of the sheep, their tender meat. One night, he could resist no more,  He pounced on a sheep and tore it to shreds.  He devoured the flesh, his hunger sore,  And left the rest of the flock in dread. The shepherd arrived, his heart filled with fear,  To find his sheep scattered, their trust in disrepair.  He knew that the wolf had betrayed him so,  And left the flock incomplete, oh no! The wolf was a creature of deceit,  He betrayed the trust that was placed at his feet.  So let this be a lesson to us all, Not to trust those who are untamed, lest we fall. Unlikely Buddha 2023

There are a few reasons why Trump and his followers disliked Fauci and blamed him for the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci contradicted Trump publicly. Fauci was one of the few scientists who was willing to speak out publicly and contradict Trump's statements about the virus, such as when he said that the virus was not going to "disappear" like a miracle in the spring of 2020. Fauci's popularity threatened Trump. Fauci became a trusted voice on the pandemic, and his popularity soared, while Trump's approval ratings declined. This may have threatened Trump's ego and his chances of re-election. Fauci represented the establishment. Fauci is a career government scientist, and he represents the type of expert that Trump and his supporters often distrust. Fauci's advice was inconvenient for Trump's political goals. Fauci's recommendations for things like social distancing and mask-wearing were often inconvenient for Trump's political goals, such as keeping t...