• DNA is no accident • Look in the mirror • Don’t jump to conclusions • Congrats, Class of 2010! DNA is no accident With manmade bacterium DNA in the news, consider that there are 600,000 letters of code in
• DNA is no accident • Look in the mirror • Don’t jump to conclusions • Congrats, Class of 2010!
DNA is no accident
With manmade bacterium DNA in the news, consider that there are 600,000 letters of code in a bacterium DNA. What are the odds of the correct DNA order starting by chance?
Let’s assume we start with all 600,000 DNA molecules on the table, no wrong molecules, and a mechanism that assembles DNA in a random order.
After that huge assumption, we can now calculate the odds. DNA is a four-letter alphabet, so the odds of this DNA coming out in the right order by chance are one out of 4 to the 600,000th power. This is about 1 with about 360,000 zeros after it.
The number of electrons in the known universe is a huge number, with around 79 zeros. If you said the word, “million” once per second, it would take you 13 seconds to say this number. The odds of a bacterium DNA coming from mere chance involve a much greater number. It would take you 100 hours just to say the number with millions.
This number is just the beginning. Even a correct string of DNA is not life. DNA is like software. You also need proper hardware for the software to work. The hardware of life is mostly proteins. One scientist concluded that the odds of the proteins structures in a bacterium coming together by chance is a number with over 1 million zeros. This would take you another 277 hours just to say the number with millions. Both the software and the hardware must work at the same time, or it won’t live.
These conclusions are mathematical and logical. However, universities and researchers have spent millions of dollars and a lot of brainpower trying to discover a natural or chance explanation for the origin of life.
I love scientific research. But this pursuit is illogical and hopeless. It is like the people who spent years trying to develop a perpetual motion machine to generate electricity. With logic, we can know that both a perpetual motion machine and a random cause for life are impossible.
Whether by a Creator or by humans, life must be intelligently created.
Mark Beeksma, Koloa
Look in the mirror
Regarding the ongoing debate over manager versus mayor, it’s a sad day in the land of Kaua‘i when an average Joe such as myself has takes pen to paper and challenges our mayor, County Council and Charter Review Commission to step up to the plate and do the right thing for the people of Kaua‘i.
It’s a no-brainer to have a qualified city manager in charge of city business versus a likable guy who may have no qualifications at all. With large banks it’s all about the money. With local politicians, it’s all about the power. In both cases, it’s all about corruption and self-gratification. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it’s a duck!
The citizens of Kaua‘i are really to blame if it ends with business as usual. For some reason, most of us are asleep at the wheel and just don’t care. Kaua‘i deserves what it gets election after election. Even after we had an excellent mayoral candidate willing to work for free, we blew it. If those in charge continue to keep this decision from we the people, don’t blame them. Just look in the mirror.
And to that retired judge who constantly defends the status quo system of government, successful business models currently use a quality management style of operation. They don’t subscribe to “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” They constantly inspect and maintain systems to prevent failure, not wait until it happens. Would Kaloko dam defendants hire qualified attorneys to defend themselves or their best friend Joe the plumber? Heck, Joe didn’t even have a license.
Vince Cosner, Lihu‘e
Don’t jump to conclusions
It will be necessary to read (much less comprehend) why KIUC has been indicted by the Department of Justice with regard to the charges made against it for threatening the endangered species of birds with portions of its modus operandi.
While I have raised concerns about the substance of KIUC’s alternative renewable energy portfolio of proposed programs, is this another area where much is being said, but not enough done?
In fairness, it is best for us to await clear articulation in the presentation of evidence (from both sides) to explain what has been done effectively and legally on this matter.
It is also important to know what occurred in the course of time when these concerns were initially brought to the attention of KIUC to assess whether KIUC responded with due diligence in addressing those specific concerns as raised.
It is not fair to jump to conclusions.
Jose Bulatao Jr., Kekaha
Congrats, Class of 2010!
Many of you who have reached this milestone have the foundation to reach loftier goals that are real profitable and beneficial for yourselves.
That is the most important of being an American who has a “dream” for the future. Never ever forget to hold on to gains that make yourselves first and then those around you as your future is there as you prepare for it.
Modesto Rabina Jr., Lihu‘e
