Smart Ink

For me tattoos have to have a meaning which is why I like to design my own. Over the years I've designed several of the twenty plus tattoos on my body. In between recording the album I've been working on a new chest piece. It's incomplete because I haven't found all the elements it needs. The other day while searching all spectrums of the artistic field for elements to add, I came across some interesting news.  

Tattoo culture as a whole goes back thousands of years. In modern times tattooing in some cultures is still taboo. While in most western countries tattoos are considered decorative pieces of body art. In the past the most functional a tattoo could be was as a map or a compass. Now thanks to some innovative minds there's smart ink that allows tattoos to be used in a variety of life improving ways. Researchers at Harvard, MIT, Google, Microsoft and several other private sectors have created smart ink using Nanotechnology. 

Smart ink tattoos are being developed that allow users to interact and control electronic devices. Some smart ink tattoos are designed to change color when body temperature fluctuates. Other can be used to monitor heart rate, sugar levels in diabetics, and many other body functions. The goal of the MIT researchers is to combine art and medicine. They want tattoos to overcome some of the difficult hurtles that effect the biomedical field in regards to monitoring devices. In place of wearing some bulky monitoring device which requires batteries, straps and cables. You just get a tattoo that effectively does the exact same function. This is especially useful for people with chronic conditions who may require years of monitoring. 

In the near future researcher will have ink that can interact with the skin in ways that allow for increased durability, sight, and reflexes. Basically, they're developing smart ink that can be applied to the body to make bullet proof skin. Super soldiers. Imagine a world where soldiers no longer wore bulletproof vests. Instead they wear normal clothes concealing their cool tattoos and can stop a bullet with their hands. Or someone being able to control a drone with the tattoos on their head. It may sound like sci-fi out of a low budget Hollywood movie but the fact is...the truth is stranger than fiction. The next decade of smart ink development is going to be very interesting. 

Until Next We Speak, Be Well

Tha One an Only 

New Discoveries

Welcome to 2017! The fields of medicine and technology have expanded rapidly over the last year. Below are a few groundbreaking new discoveries that may have slipped under your radar.

First, is the discovery of a new human organ called the "Mesentery". The Mesentary is an organ located around the intestines that was once thought of as extra fatty tissue. Since its discovery earlier this month, scientists were able to identify its shape and structure. Right now scientists don't know what functions it performs in the human body. Just for the record...There are quite a few disbelievers who think that this is a hoax. They say with all the technology (x-ray, CAT-scan, etcetera) someone would've discovered this organ already. I find the discussion interesting. To learn more about the Mesentery and the doctor who discovered it, watch the video below.

Scientists in Australia have discovered a berry that can cure many types of cancer in just 48 hours. The berry comes from the Blushwood tree, which is only found in the jungles of Queensland, Australia. The seeds from the tree contain a molecule scientist have named EBC-46. Once injected this molecule triggers the immune system to become hyperactive and it attacks cancer cells. The drug has already passed animal trials and is now being tested on humans. Learn more about this amazing discovery by watching the video below.

This is actually an old discovery, but since I'm speaking about seeds that kill cancer, it deserves honorable mention. The apple seed is said to have similar properties to the Blushberry tree. The Apple seed is 10,000 more effective than Chemotherapy, has no harmful side effects, and is effective against any form of cancer. It also has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Apple seeds are also used to remove parasites and worms from the body. If you want to know why they're not being harvested to fight cancer...watch the video below.




Last, is an invention that would benefit people in countries like Africa, Haiti, and the Middle East. The "WaterSeer," is a device that extracts moisture from the air to create water. This innovative device has no electrical parts or chemicals and produces 11 gallons of clean water a day. This is not a concept model; WaterSeer is a functioning and field tested device. To learn more about the WaterSeer check the video and their website www.waterseer.org for more information. The FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions are found at the bottom of the page.

Transforming Humans

Have you ever heard of a type of human that is born one sex then "transforms" at puberty to a different sex? That means you've never heard of "Guevedoces". Don't feel bad because until a few days ago... I hadn't either.

"Guevedoces" which literally translates to "penis at twelve" is a term given to little girls in the village of Las Salinas in the Dominican Republic who turn into boys at puberty. Do I know how crazy that last sentence sounds? YES! But it's true. The boys of Salinas have a rare genetic condition which blocks them from producing the hormone Dihydro-testosterone while their in the womb. Dihydro-testosterone, is the hormone which assigns male sex organs to a fetus.  Unfortunately for "Guevedoces" they don't get the required amount of Dihydro-testosterone until they hit puberty and get a second surge of growth hormones.

In my travels I've heard of the "Hijra" of south Asia, but this is different. Hijra is a term for transgender people also known as the third gender in southern Asia. Let's be clear..."Guevedoces" are not transsexual's. All transsexuals who transition from their assigned gender to the gender they identify with, need surgery to achieve their goal. Guevedoces, are real transforming humans whose transition occurs naturally (without surgery) due to their rare genetic disorder. When they're born Guevedoces appear to have a vagina and no testicles so most medical facilities classify the newborns as female. The exact cause of their appearance is a lack of 5-α-reductase enzyme which triggers the hormone surge that releases the Dihydro-testosterone.

All fetuses develop internal glands called "Gonads" and  a bulge between their legs called a "Tubercle". In normal child development the sex organs develop on a fetus around the eighth week. At that time male babies start producing Dihydro-testosterone in large amounts, which turns the tubercle into a penis. While female fetuses produce a different hormone which turns the tubercle into a clitoris. Unfortunately for Guevedoces this transformation occurs twelve years later. Usually after being forced to wear girls clothes and have a girls name for the majority of their youth.

For more information on "Guevedoces" and their unique genetic lineage watch the video below.

Tech Stuff

It’s been a busy month. Time feels like it’s moving faster than I can keep up.  I’ve been busy promoting the music and new clothing line. While my people have been making updates to the company and my personal website. It’s a rush to get all the projects completed because I leave for Toscane, Italy on Sunday.

Technology is like time. It’s developing at a pace that our society is having trouble keeping up with. Over the last few years technology has made dramatic advancements in the fields of science, medicine, astrophysics and robotics.

One of the most significant advancement is the ability to perform head transplant surgery. Did you read those word right? Yes, you did.  Dr. Sergio Canavero, is a controversial neurosurgeon who believes we possess the technology to complete human head transplant surgery. The surgery will take around 36 hours and needs over 100 surgeons and assistants.  

Dr. Canavero, would not be the first surgeon to perform a head transplant. Back on the 1930’s through 1950’ Russian surgeon Vladimir Petrovich Demikhov, successfully transplanted heads between monkeys, rats, dogs and other animals. You can view some of his results in videos on youtube. One of the most famous is the video with the two headed dog. 

New and larger telescopes have allowed scientists to discover more exo-planets in the last year than ever before. Aside from planets there have been discoveries in black hole research, quantum physics and understanding the very fabric of reality. 

In the field of robotics a homemade Hoverboard has glided into the Guinness book of world records. While advancements in drone technology have produced insect sized drones, and personal drones that track you like GPS.  

Below are a few videos of technology that is changing the world.
 

3D Print Organs

As you know I've been a fan of 3D printers since their inception. Recently they've went from being machines used by engineers and hobbyist, to become a life saving medical device.

In the last few years scientists have been able to create new skin, eyes, ears, tracheas, bladders, and other body parts by utilizing 3D printing technology. The field is called Bio-printing. Like other forms of 3D printing, Bio-printing lays down multiple layers of organic material (living cells), to form a solid mass of human tissue. This tissue is used to replace damaged skin or any of the other aforementioned body parts.

In the past doctor had to create artificial organs utilizing a scaffolding method combined with living tissue. This method was successful but slow in comparison, 3D-printing technology. Bio-Printing with 3D printers is twice as fast and it utilizes computer-guided precision in printing living tissue. The Bio-Printing field has pushed the boundaries of regenerative medicine. 

The San Diego-based Bio-printing company Organovo is planning to unveil the world's first 3D printed human liver this year. Other companies are racing to be the first to print other organs such as hearts, livers and kidneys. This technology will save thousands of people waiting to die on the transplant list.

Recently a man from Wales named Stephen Power made international headlines when he got into a serious motorcycle accident, which left him disfigured. Half his face was so damaged that he had to hide it behind dark sunglasses. Doctors measured the necessary bones and structure then printed out the parts to rebuild his face with a 3D printer. 

There was a similar case where a man had to remove a tumor from his face and ended up having half his face cut off, leaving a gaping hole. His face was also reconstructed with 3D technology. Watching how Bio-printing works reminds me of the med bay in the movie Elysium. A machine that can rebuild any damaged tissue including bones and organs. Check out their stories below.

Semen the Superfood

If the title didn't deter you...then the information in this article will prove quite interesting.

Researchers in Australia discovered that in some species of animals the female voluntarily consumes the sperm of the male. The reason they do this is because semen is highly nutritious. The study was conducted on squids but the finding are cross-species. This means that the results are applicable to other species of animal... including humans. The results showed conclusive evidence that semen is a Superfood.

This information may be new to some people but research into the medicinal properties of semen have been going on for years. Last year I posted an article about a different study conducted by psychologists at the State University of New York at Albany. Who published a study in the Archives of Sexual Behavior looking at the potential role of semen in alleviating depression in women. The researchers presented evidence supporting an earlier hypothesis that the hormones in semen have a mood-boosting effect on women.The article is called Sexist Science and it's based on a study done back in 2002.

So what makes semen a Superfood? Contrary to urban myth it does not provide only protein. The average male ejaculates about a teaspoon of semen. In that semen are over 200 separate proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Naturally the specific nutritional value is determined by the diet of the male, but all semen has nutritional value.The amount of protein in that ejaculation is roughly equivalent to what you would get from two egg whites. What makes semen a Superfood is that in one teaspoon you get all your daily required amounts of copper, zinc, calcium, vitamin C, fructose,  and 7% of your required amount of potassium. It's an all natural superfood that's healthier than taking a multivitamin.

For more information check out the video below.

Raw Living

I recently completed a 30 day raw diet. If you don't know what a raw diet is, let me explain. The "raw" diet means everything I ate was raw (uncooked or processed) for thirty days. The raw movement was popularized in the mid 90's when all the Hollywood celebrities were trying to get fit. At the time it was so new and trendy there were raw restaurants everywhere. Now the trend has died and only a few restaurants remain.

The diet was difficult for the first few days because I would miss simple things like bread and cheese. After two weeks the cravings went away and the real hunger kicked in. I don't know if it was because the body processed raw food faster, or if I wasn't eating frequently enough, but for whatever reason I was always hungry.  

Most people growing up in an urban environment in America don't learn about nutrition. The majority of the Caribbean, Latin, Indian, and soul foods are heavy in fat, starches, and oil. Individually these substances aren't a problem but in high enough quantities they cause heart disease, asthma, diabetes, liver and kidney failure, ending in death.

This may sound a bit extreme to be talking this way about food...but its true. If a person adds a few fresh fruits and vegetables to their daily caloric intake. It can reduce visits to a doctor, prevent sickness, provide energy, stamina, strength, and add years to your life. 

What's interesting about the raw lifestyle is that most cooked meals have a raw substitute. Such as raw pasta with Alfredo sauce, cheesecake, brownies, burgers and hundreds of other foods. At the end of my thirty days, I lost a lot of weight and learned some new things about health and nutrition.

If you want to learn more about raw living check out the video below, and for raw recipes and desserts check out The Rawtarian.

Cure to Aids and Cancer

A friend of mine got diagnosed with type one diabetes, which is incurable. I spent several days scouring the Internet learning as much about the disease as possible. I found no information on a cure for type one diabetes but I did find several videos with cures for Aids and Cancer.

I know that may sound strange since these diseases are the plagues of the 21st, but its true. There was a cure for Aids, Cancer and almost every other disease (bacterial and viral) that effects the blood found by scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City in the early 1990s. They published a paper on the discovery in the March 20, 1991, Science News, page 247. What they discovered was low levels of electrification of the blood was proven to be a cure for almost all infectious diseases. The discovery was tested and confirmed by some of the biggest names in the scientific community. Why have you never heard of this discovery?

The information was suppressed because its more profitable to keep people sick than provide a cure. If pharmaceutical companies cured a disease they can only do it once. If they gave expensive and in most cases untested medication to suppress the symptoms of an illness they can do it indefinitely. This might sound like some conspiracy but the keep people sick formula was discussed in depth on a Michael Moore documentary. I’m not going to preach about how big, bad, business is making a profit of your illness, instead I’ll let you see for yourself that there is a cure.

Another possible cure to Cancer by means of alternative medicine is in the video below. This cure isn’t supported by the entire scientific community due to the demonization of hemp and marijuana. For free-thinkers willing to research the medicinal properties of hemp the information in the video below is beneficial. When searching for a non-invasive cure that doesn’t involve painful radiation treatments like chemotherapy.

Animal Technology

As the 21st century grows more technologically advanced, science and medicine have found that some of the most complex problems have simple answers. Housing and energy are becoming big issues in most developing countries. Modern architects have turned to mother nature for their inspiration.

They have found that designing a building with a structure similar to a termite hill allows better ventilation and needs less electricity to power. Others found that the inner structure of a bee hive provided structural strength, conserves energy and requires less heat. These innovations are barely scratching the surface of what can be found from observing the animal kingdom.

Aside from architecture and engineering using animal designs for robotics has become incredibly popular. The robotic snake is considered one of the best technological achievements of the decade. It moves like a real reptile, is amphibious and can be remotely operated.

Most zoologist agree that if they had a robotic proxy animal in an environment the behavior of the animal being studied would be different. For example in marine biology when studying whales their behavior changes when humans are introduced into their environment. If they put a robotic fish with a camera in place of a person the whales behavior would be more natural and science could learn more about all aspects of their life.

The designers proposed that the robotic snake could be used for search and rescue as well as numerous stealth and surveillance operations. The military applications for this type of technology are enormous. Below I've placed videos of some amazing robotic animals that simulate the motion of their real-life counter-parts.

Smart Testing

I often here the statement “education is the key to success”. That’s true in some ways but misleading in others. Its not how much a person studies that makes them successful. It's a mix of what they study and how they apply those lessons in life. If you’re a Chemistry major and all you study is English literature, it probably won’t help you graduate. Or if you're a History major but spend the majority of the time reading books on plants. You will know how to grow a garden but won't have a degree.When you think about it, the only universal language is mathematics. Why? Math is the same in every country. No matter where you go, whether it be city, town, or village...1 + 1 will always equal 2.

I'm a strong supporter of continuing education and that's why GMAT preparation is useful.  The GMAT is an analytical exam that focuses on learning to think, rather than lesson memorization. In most schools they use standardized tests like the SAT's (Scholastic Aptitude Test) which require students to remember large quantities of information. Most of which is forgotten once the test is over. This type of learning does strengthen the memory but doesn't teach students to think for themselves. This ability is necessary for students doing post graduate studies in fields like Law, Medicine, Business and numerous other careers. 

The GMAT is one of the tests that doesn't just help with school. It helps students achieve their goals in life. For more information about the GMAT and companies that assist in preparation for the exam check out their website.   

Sexist Science

I've been busy working on music and enjoying the warm weather, so haven't had much time to update the blog. Today I decided to catch-up on the news and what's going on in the world. While reading some technology articles at popsci (short from popular science) I came across an article that most feminist would term sexist science. 

Back in 2002, psychologists at the State University of New York at Albany published a study in the Archives of Sexual Behavior looking at the potential role of semen in alleviating depression in women. The researchers presented evidence supporting an earlier hypothesis that the hormones in semen have a mood-boosting effect on women. 

Did you read that correct...are they saying the semen has anti-depressant properties? Yes, you did and Yes, that is what they are saying. This research is not only being examined it has quite a bit of evidence to support the claim. 

Semen is a mixture of several different compounds, and sperm only makes up a small amount of it. When you remove the sperm, what's left is seminal plasma. Three compounds in seminal plasma being researched are estrogen, prostaglandins and oxytocin. Estrogen and prostaglandins have been linked to lower levels of depression, while oxytocin (which women release during birth, breastfeeding and orgasm) promotes social bonding.

Last February, Lazar Greenfield, the incoming president of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), wrote an editorial about this research in Surgery News. The backlash was so strong that he had to resign from his job at the college and position as editor for Surgery News. This is volatile science and even highly respected academics are treading cautiously. 

If you want to read the whole article including the studies done on 293 different women who had protected and unprotected sex to research the results. Do a search for this article Controversial Ideas: Does Semen Act As an Anti-depressant to the Recipient?
Or copy and paste this link in your web browser http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-05/controversial-ideas-semen-natures-antidepressant

 

3D Printers

Normally the only way you would see me posting about a printer, is if it printed money or played Hip-Hop music. Three dimensional (3D) printers are not your typical printer!

They make fully functioning scale models out of plastic and other materials from whatever design is placed inside. This technology is being applied to science, medicine, snowboard design, and even space exploration. These are the printers of the future. I posted a few clips below...see for yourself.   

Remembering 2010

2011 Welcome to the New Year! Its a new year, new plans, and new ambitions. To start it off right I dedicate this post to remembering 2010 with a few highlights and failures.

Last year dance music took the U.S. by storm. Its always been big in Europe but now dance style music is being incorporated into most of the Hip-Hop and R&B released. 2010 also marked the "Death of auto-tune" only to have it return with a vengeance a few months later. Out of all the artists who use auto-tune T-Pain does it with style. Here are a few hot tracks from last year by artists MF Grimm, Brotha Lynch Hung, Wu-Tang Clan, and Wiz Khalifa.

In 2010 was the attack on Wikileaks a non-profit organization that reports news for the people by the people, and its founder Julian Assange. It also documented the privatization of the military and the rise of Black Water mercenaries being deployed in the U.S. and Iraq. Black Water has been termed the secret police working from the shadows to spread terror democracy throughout the Middle-East. Check out the clip below.

Finally, there were technological advancements in cell phones, medicine, aviation, and space exploration. Below are a few notable advancements in 2010.

Birth Control Lotion

For you people in the often considered fabled monogamous relationship. There's a new medical breakthrough that's going to make the need for condoms obsolete. 

Birth control lotion – contraception for women that’s not a pill, patch, but a gel. Women apply a small amount daily, rubbed anywhere on the body, like arms, legs, shoulders or abdomen. Similar to the contraceptive patch, the birth control "lotion" is said to release hormones directly into the skin. 

It has shown equal effectiveness as both patch and pill without the side effects of sickness, weight gain, or a muted sense of sexual desire. This is from a statement made by the manufacturer. If you want to know more check out the video below.