Human Rivers; Responsible Human Editing; Relit Street Lights; Duterte's South Sea Dance; Sacrifice in Jerusalem; Tuition-Free in NY; and Waiting for Gorsuch

Worshiping the Creature

Ganges and Yamuna rivers granted same legal rights as human beings theguardian

The court in the Himalayan resort town of Nainital appointed three officials to act as legal custodians responsible for conserving and protecting the rivers and their tributaries. It ordered that a management board be established within three months.

And those rivers weren't even the first. See also This New Zealand River Just Got the Legal Rights of a Person smithsonianmag

Genetics

Toward Responsible Human Genome Editing jamanetwork t

The speed at which the science is advancing raises important questions about human genome editing, such as how to balance potential benefits against risks of unintended harms, how to regulate the use of genome editing and incorporate societal values into policy decisions, and how to respect the diverse perspectives of individuals, nations, and cultures that will influence whether and how to use these technologies. A new report from the US National Academies of Sciences and Medicine nasonline.org addresses these questions and makes recommendations for the application and oversight of human genome editing in 3 major settings: (1) basic laboratory research; (2) clinical applications in somatic cells (whose effects would be limited to treated individuals); and (3) future potential clinical applications in germline cells (in which genetic changes would be inherited by future generations).

If you would like to scan (or even read) the 250ish page report, you can find it here: Human Genome Editing - Science, Ethics, and Governance nap.edu

Tech

A Newfangled Traffic Light Built for People and Robots wired

Arinin’s design is still a concept (and a finalist in this year’s Lexus Design Awards lexus-int), but it spotlights a few cracks in current traffic signage systems. Consider that the traffic light, a 105-year-old design, rarely operates on its own. It belongs to a larger, sometimes scattered, ecosystem of signs that alert drivers to things like roadwork and school crossings, unprotected lefts, and when they can and can’t turn right on red. Drivers have to synthesize all this information as they approach an intersection. Soon enough, so will driverless vehicles. With that technology on the horizon, now is an ideal time for designers to reimagine how intersection signage could communicate all this information more succinctly.

Philippines

Duterte says will reinforce, not militarise, Philippines-controlled islets reuters

The maverick former mayor set off alarm bells on Thursday, including in Beijing, when he said he had ordered troops to occupy uninhabited islets and shoals that the Philippines claims in the Spratly Islands. Philippine officials later said plans were to upgrade existing facilities and not occupy new territories.

Israel

In first, sheep slaughtered in Jerusalem Old City in reenactment of Passover sacrifice timesofisrael

With priests blowing silver trumpets, a group of religious Jews slaughtered a sheep on Thursday in Jerusalem’s Old City to demonstrate the traditional paschal sacrifice, the first time such a reenactment has been held inside the city walls in 2,000 years.

If I understand correctly, this is a little closer than last years sacrifice. Again, we remember that Christ was the final sacrifice for sins and that the Jewish passover sacrifices are no more pleasing to God than other religions' traditions because of the ongoing rejection of His slain Son, who was sacrificed once for all who believe in Him (Hebrews 9:23-28). But we also know the Bible speaks of a "third temple" (Ezekiel's temple) and these sacrifices are but one visual "tell" of the growing desire within Israel that that temple be built.

Education

New York making state colleges tuition-free for middle class, poor cbsnews

The plan crafted by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo will apply to any New York student whose family has an annual income of $125,000 or less. To qualify the student would have to meet certain class load and grade point average restrictions, and room and board would not be covered.

Politics

Six Supreme Court cases Justice Neil Gorsuch could rule on bbc

The conservative judge could be required early on to weigh in on several hot-button issues due before the court, including religious freedoms, gun rights and Mr Trump's travel ban.

Other...

Ford's Crib Concept Tricks Babies Into Falling Asleep pcmag v